Support Long-Awaited Return to Australia & Missions Trip

In late March 2020 I huddled over my laptop in the Edinburgh Airport, scouring websites for a flight to Australia.

Earlier that morning, I'd been woken with several missed calls and text messages from friends telling me to get up and get to the airport NOW. The Aussie Prime Minister had announced he was shutting the country and all residents of Aus outside the country had 48 hours to return to Australia.

At first, I didn't understand the problem, my flight was leaving later that same day but then I looked at when my flight was supposed to arrive in Brisbane and I was going to miss the cut-off by 10/12 hours!

So, I rushed to the airport to try and find another flight, only to discover my only hope was to look online. After hours of searching, I concluded that my current flight was the earliest to leave the entire UK.

And just like that, my whole life changed.

I'd said goodbye to friends, who felt like family, saying, "I'll see ya in a month and a half." I had no idea that goodbye would be for years. Four to be exact.

And now the chance has come for me to return to say proper goodbyes and hug people I've sorely missed. Hopefully, I'll create some beautiful memories and be able to sort through the last of my possessions.

Even though it's been four years, there's a part of me that still feels like I'm just on a REALLY long "holiday". Every time I sit at YWAM Harpenden's reception, if the phone rings, I have to repeat to myself, "YWAM Harpenden, YWAM Harpenden." Because "YWAM Brisbane" still flows more automatically.

When I talk about Aus, I say things like, "Well we do this ..." even though it's not "we" anymore. I need closure and I desperately want to see my friends again.

So when I heard there was a massive get-together of Y in the Philippines, and felt the Lord telling me to go, I asked if it was possible to tack on a return trip to Aus. In faith, I filled out the Tourist Visa, and -- I'm not exaggerating when I say -- ONE MINUTE later, I received a decision of my visa being "GRANTED".

I wept for a solid hour.

The place I called home for 12 years is now open to receiving me again (after two denied visas in the past).

I can't tell you what that's done for my heart already.

But, the truth is I need help with the cost of the whole trip:

I've mulled over whether or not to put this together as a fundraiser because I NEVER want to take advantage of my friends and family and their financial resources. But someone recently told me that at the very least you need to let people know so that IF they want to help they are aware of it. So, that's what this is.

It is incredibly humbling to ask for your support, truthfully, it's very uncomfortable but if you are willing to help even the smallest donation blesses my heart more than I can fully express.

Thank you for reading this and for those who chose to give, thank you so so so much!