Here.

Hey everyone!

I have so much to tell you! It's been crazy, exhausting, stressful, challenging, and overall a growing experience...and that was just the travelling.  Oh boy.

For those of you who aren't aware, this was my first flying experience.  Before I knew it, I was hugging my family and feeling terrified of the daunting security line that I was about to go through to get on my first flight out of Newark.  I had this horrible feeling: loneliness.  I went in a line, not knowing if I was right or wrong.  But just as I weighed how logical my position was, the woman behind me started talking to me, thus opening the door to ask her questions.  She assured me, talked me through security, and then I never saw her again.  Perfect timing.  Travelling companion number 1. I then got on the plane, and had a whole row to myself.  The 6 hours seemed long, but not too long.  I was able to sleep and watch the end of The Blindside, and I was feeling pretty good when I got to LAX.  I found my gate with no problem, and even made some really light conversation with this nice guy about my age who was in pajama pants.  Upon boarding the plane for a long 14 hours ahead, I sat next to two women, one college-aged and very talkative.  She had flown to Australia several times before, so she knew the ropes.  Anyway, the 14 hours that followed were the most uncomfortable hours of my life.  I slept maybe a total of two hours, watched at least 3 movies, listened to 3 complete soundtracks, and enjoyed very little.  The moments I enjoyed were looking out the window and not having to look up to see stars...just looking out.  It was pretty awesome.  And then watching the sunrise from above the clouds.  It was a completely different perspective, and one I don't think I'll soon forget.  Awesome is the only way to describe it.  

And these don't come close to bringing this aspect of God's creation to justice.  

As the flight ended, I was exhausted, but the process of customs was about to come as Brisbane.  The baggage claim took more patience than I could muster in the physical condition I was experiencing, and the lines were so long.  Remember that talkative girl? I ran into her at just the right times, passing in the line as it zig-zagged back and forth and just when I was doubting the most that I was in the right place at the right time.  She assured me I'd make my flight and eased some of my worries.  Travelling companion number 2.  I raced through the airport, the departure for my flight  coming sooner than I would have preferred as a newby to flying.  They took me to the front of the baggage check, and made it to the terminal as the flight was loading.  Only two hours more until I finally arrived in Townsville.  Finally.  But it was only too good to be true.  We sat for a while, then were told they were having technical issues and it would be delayed half and hour...no big deal.  Then they told us it would be a good hour and a half and let us off the plane to wait.  As I was waiting, I ran into the guy with the pajama pants again.  He asked me if I was a YWAMer.  Yes, he was one too. He's doing the school of music in missions at the same time I'm doing the DTS.  We talked about YWAM, I asked questions about what to expect.  He told me when he saw me in LAX, and knew thought I looked like a YWAMer...whatever that means.  Then he pointed out a guy on my flight who is also going to YWAM on the staff leadership internship and I took note of what he looked like.  My flight boarded again.  We sat for an hour...then they filed us off again, and told us the plane was not serviceable and they'd arrange other flights for us.  Great.  I didn't know what to do...I needed to get ahold of YWAM and let them know that I'd be really late to the airport.  The YWAM guy was transferred to a flight that had really limited seats and was leaving right away.  I had no idea what was going to happen.  So, right after said YWAM guy left, they announced that the original plane was serviceable.  By that point, over half of the people had left, so I had 3 seats to myself.  The plane was 5 or 6 hours later than scheduled, but was the most comfortable 2 hours I had spent in a while.  As soon as we were in the air, I was sleeping, stretched out over a whole row of seats.  And they fed us.  That was good too.  

We landed in a beautiful town, mountains, tropical trees, warm breeze.  As soon as I got into this blessedly small airport, I saw the YWAM guy who got on the plane before me.  Amen! If he was there, that meant that someone would be there to pick him up.  I said hi and introduced myself, and we talked non-stop until the person came to get us.  It really cheered me up.  I was ready to go.  We piled into a van with a bunch of staff and students, did a double take when the steering wheel wasn't where I thought it was, and then we were off. A couple minutes and we got there.  They showed me around, fed me, and then gave me the evening to myself. 

I think I was introduced to at least 50 people and I remember maybe a total of 5 names.  I spent the evening unpacking my stuff and trying to get internet to work on my computer unsuccessfully.  I was starting to stress out.  It's crazy how vulnerable you are to Satan's attacks when you're running on only a four hours of sleep over the past 36 hours.  I really wanted to talk to home, and had trouble not breaking down when I couldn't spend all the time I wanted talking.  Thank goodness, a girl let me use her computer so I could make sure the family knew I was safe.  I went to bed worried, frustrated, and overwhelmed, and officially knowing the meaning of jet-lag.  I woke up somewhat refreshed, hopeful, and with the internet.  Learning to completely lean on God is becoming a daily habit.  I have to remind myself constantly about His faithfulness.  This experience is going to stretch me further than I've ever had to reach before.  I'm going to be made uncomfortable and pushed out of the safety of my identity as Nikki Keister.  I got through phases of excitement and dread for this transformation that I know is going to happen.  But God's got me.  I'm here, so I can only pray the He works the way He wants in my heart.  It all starts on Sunday, this journey with God that I know won't leave me unchanged.  Here we go.

Jet-lagged but content,

Nikki