Finally at Home

Greetings, Loved Ones!

Well, here we are again: me, sitting in the seat of "I've taken too long to update my blog"; you, sitting in the seat of "yes, you have."

The problem is that I find blogs so dreadfully impersonal. I can articulate whatever nonsense I'm convicted about at the moment and you have to listen. The truth is that I am just so much better at communicating one-on-one through emails and letters. Regardless, I can't write one thousand and some personalized emails however much I would like to and I am against mass emailing, so here we are.

I thought I would open up the windows of our life and give an update to let everyone have a peek inside!

So. We bought a car and it has manual transmission which means I am learning how do drive in the right of the car on the left of the street with my left hand and both feet. How's that for a task! Luckily for me, Australia takes Americans at their word for knowing how to drive and thus I have already procured an open driver's license for myself. Might I add: it takes Australians about three years of training to get an open license and I, with proof of my US license, got it immediately. It took me only six months to get my US license -- all this goes to say, for better or worse, I got to skip out on about 2.5 years of training.

In other news, in the past months I've had some more medical woes and 6 weeks ago I was diagnosed with Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome (without the testosterone imbalance) and a severe iron deficiency. I wish I could have told more of you about it while it was happening but the truth is the possibility of being pregnant had me a bit "non compos mentis," if you get my meaning. Anyway, I'm on medication for the iron deficiency - all who are keen to tell me to start eating meat again, feel no need as it wouldn't help my particular case - and I'm at peace about my cyst filled insides. So, that's where we stand now! For those few who knew before, thank you for your support. For all who know now, thank you for your support! I will say this: it has been very hard on me to feel as though I'm degenerating already and at an alarming rate. So, thank you for your prayers.

As it's mid-Winter here, every day is warm and balmy; 75F is the average temperature. I try to spend at least three to four hours daily enjoying the outdoors whether it's for exercise, exploring, time with myself or with Jesus, or otherwise. I love every moment of it. I've spotted sea turtles, I've seen many a giant manta ray leap from the sea as if trying to fly, I've pet many a puppy on the boardwalk. I'm meeting new people all the time and though my preferred milieu doesn't normally align with that of the Antipodean bourgeoisie, I can normally find at least some common ground with everyone. Most times, that common ground is laughing at my wan and out of place complexion that I've somehow managed to maintain even living in North Queensland -- but it's common ground nonetheless and I'm happy to laugh at myself. Plus, like my grandmother always says, I'll be happy when we're 70 and everyone else looks like bacon. Ha!

Just yesterday I met two more of the lifeguards who fearlessly and selflessly patrol the beaches here in town. Their names were Scott and Jeremy, I think, though Jeremy slurred his name a bit and I'm not sure I got it right. Moving on. They told me about how they had to sting themselves with Box Jellies in their lifeguard training, much for the same reasons that police officers in training get tasered. They need to know how it feels and "what a real bugger of a sting looks like." I was in awe at that and said that, as far as lifeguarding around the world went, Australian guards seemed to me to be in a league of their own.

Lastly, I want to tell you all of a particular blessing I have encountered in my time here! Her name is Celia K. When we first moved here last August, I began to feel a decided lack of quality relationships and a decided surplus of vapidity in those I did have. As some of you will remember, I was lonely and sad and altogether unenthused over the prospect of living my life in a country where deep, non-casual, stimulating relationships were not the norm and indeed were seen as awkward (as were those who sought them out) more often than treasured. Ceal, I am delighted to tell you, has completely revolutionized my initial impression of Australians and their preferred method of casually keeping everyone at arm's length. She is hilarious, kind, warmhearted, exceptionally mature, relatable and everything I could ever ask for in a friend. And more importantly than all those other attributes, she laughs at my jokes. At the severe risk of sounding clingy and desperate, I offer this analogy: I felt quite a bit like a diver who had been stuck below the surface for too long and was just offered a delightfully fresh breath of air from an oxygen tank. Seriously, this girl is the friend that I was praying for. Thank you for those of you who have been praying that I would make a strong and quality friendship down here - it has helped SO much in my endeavor to ground myself here. Finding a close friend and kindred spirit has shot me forward in my venture to send my roots into the ground in this country and, I must tell you: I've finally started to feel at home.

Thank you for caring about me and, as always, please email me here if you'd like to chat! God bless and thank you for your support.

Much love, Anna (and Aaron!) Click Here to Read More..

Exciting News!

Greetings, Loved Ones!

We are especially grateful to the Lord this week because Aaron and I just bit the bullet and sent $7,000 away to the Australian government. Why, you might ask? Because! This woman right here wants to become an Australian citizen! Don't worry, my American compadres: I plan to attain dual citizenship -- not to give up my right to American soil! First things first, though: I need to become an official permanent Australian resident. The only way to do that is to play my "I married an Australian" card and apply for a Spousal Visa! So, now that we've officially sent in (and paid for) my 38 page application, we can start waiting. In four months, my "bridging visa" will come into effect, meaning that I can legally study and work in Australia. Somewhere between then and 20 months from then, I should (Lord willing!) be granted a temporary spousal visa, essentially giving me the oxymoronic "temporary permanent resident" status. That will stand until the Immigration Department makes a final decision on my visa grant. Finally, at some point after that, our hope is that I will be granted the permanent and luxurious version of the Spousal Visa, bringing along with it Permanent Australian Residential Status. More or less, this makes me a citizen in all but name. All in all, this process takes about 2 years start to finish. I will have travel limitations placed on me and my sweet little passport from now until I get the temporary spousal visa. Unfortunately, this means my visiting the States in the next year is unlikely. We would greatly appreciate prayers and encouragement in this time of agonizing waiting! Patience has never been my strong suit, as most of you know!

In other news, Aaron and I are both doing splendidly. He has been struggling with a bug of some sort these past few days which has been a pain (literally and figuratively), but other than that, we are plugging along, making progress in life as best we can. Aaron just got the last needed component in order to fix his computer tower that he built from scratch many years ago. Thanks to my bother-in-law Ashley, he's been able to start doing things again that he hasn't been able to do since his phone and laptop broke in 2016. Plus -- and this is the really exciting part -- he found a game online called Lego Marvel Superheroes that we can play together. It's my new favorite thing. I play as Iron Man and fly above all the little rooftops, occasionally falling off cliffs and into waterfalls. While we don't have a monitor just yet, we do have a monstrous TV... so if you were to walk into our living room there's a chance you would find on our TV screen Lego Hulk and Lego Iron man running around a digital New York City, smashing mailboxes and pizza trucks by accident. It's a great game.

Last week, I was able to take a miniature vacation with my friend and former maid of honor Katrina. We took a ferry over to a nearby island and rented a private bungalow for a couple of nights. I had a coupon -- as I do for most things on earth -- so it was low cost and high entertainment. We went for walks, had delicious meals at nearby cafes, pubs, and taverns, read in hammocks and went kayaking over open ocean. That was a bit nerve wracking seeing as how it's jellyfish season and Australia is home to the single most poisonous creature on earth: the Box Jellyfish. Apparently there exists no pain like being stung by one; it's also nearly invisible in the wild. Flipping our kayak was on the very bottom of our bucket list that day.

That's all for now, I gotta run! The grocery store is calling. Fun fact: there is a bird nesting on top of one of our aircon window units. It's little talons scratching on the metal are making me smile! Much love to you all. Please contact me by clicking here for my email address.

God bless,

Anna and Aaron Click Here to Read More..

Post Cyclone Update

Greetings, Loved Ones!

It is time for an update.

Aaron and I are doing well. I broke my toe a few weeks ago, but on the bright side, that should fill my quota for bodily injury for the next few months at least. It could have been worse: I could have fallen out of a tree! So, I am gruntled.

The days are cooling as Autumn takes the role of our presiding season. We've moved into mid-to-high 80's as opposed to low 100's! I wore jeans yesterday for the first time in months.

Cyclone Debbie is old news for us but a bit further south they are still experiencing the aftermath. For instance: a fully grown bull shark was just found on a sidewalk in a town just a few hours from us. That being said, a shark of colossal proportions just turned up in our swimming area last week. But that had nothing to do with flooding -- I'm afraid that's just the nature of every day life around here. Anyway, thank you for your prayers! Your faithful love and support have encouraged and spurred us on through so much, and this cyclone was no exception.

In other news, I would like to elaborate on the upcoming plans I mentioned in my previous post. Aaron is planning on re-enlisting into the Royal Australian Air Force, or the "RAAF." He has begun the process already, and while it is a long road ahead, we are traveling down it steadily. We aren't sure how long it will take and there is still a galling amount of hoops to jump through, but Lord willing, he will be re-enlisted soon. In the mean time, he has a great job nearby that provides solid physical and mental preparation for the military.

He and I are doing so well. In summation, our lives are starting to look more ordinary than usual -- as oxymoronic as that sounds. No more weeks spent in hospital beds, no more sudden, cross-continental trips fueled by the power of love. I have a sneaking suspicion that our lives may take a turn for the outlandish in the near future, but I could be wrong. With histories such as ours, getting comfortable with the ordinary is typically improvident.

Lastly, I wanted to share a little piece of happiness from my week. I've been in the habit of walking to the beach in the mornings and reading whichever book strikes my fancy at the time. As of last week, I've been enthralled by a book titled "In A Sunburned Country", by Bill Bryson. This book, courtesy of my dear friend and constant email pal Alison Mullins, has proven to be an incredulously accurate and altogether hysterical collection of observations on the country of Australia. If you really do want to know more about this country that I'm learning to call home, this is the book for you. It's a perfectly balanced concoction of true facts and personal observations -- most of which I have made myself at some point. It's great to hear them said by a fellow American. At any rate, the book has brought me a good deal of joy and I would recommend it to anyone in a heartbeat.

That's all for now, and as always, we would love to hear from you. Feel free to email or comment below!

Much love!

Anna & Aaron Click Here to Read More..

Finding My Inner Aussie

Greetings, Loved Ones!

I greet you today, enthusiastic about what I have to say yet sorrowful about how long it's been since I've written.

I haven't been writing these past few months because I've been having a seriously hard time. While I'm somewhat used to hard things happening in my life, I'm not as used to feeling genuinely overwhelmed. For the first time in my life I felt completely helpless. Not just "I feel like a doormat" helpless, but also "there is no real help available to me" helpless. Believe it or not, marrying young and moving to a new culture isn't all fun and games. But I have good news: I am making headway in my new life. I am gaining ground. I am plowing through this hard packed, sunburnt earth and shoving my roots down into the ground.

I am learning the language of the locals (sanga = sandwich), my skin has taken on something resembling a tan, I've found a deodorant that works, and Aaron and I are slowly but surely gaining clarity on what our life is going to look like in the upcoming months and years.

I'd also like to mention that Aaron and I have two new housemates: their names are Gary and Gecks, two small lizards that we welcome into our home to keep the ants at bay. They are our friends. Sometimes they even sleep on our bedroom ceiling at night -- that can be a little weird, but what are you gonna do. Roommates, am I right?

After much prayer and deliberation, we decided to move on from Youth With A Mission. This organization has been such a blessing to us (starting with introducing us to each other), but the Lord is moving us forward. While much of our plan is still in the process of being confirmed (things move so slowly here, it's truly a "beach town culture"), I can tell you that I am looking at continuing my studies through the Australian system of higher education (which was always our plan), and Aaron is looking at a career path that would be equal parts trying and rewarding.

As our future begins to come into focus, I will update you in more detail. Thank you for bearing with us. I feel bad for not writing for so long, but had I, it mostly would've been written from an unstable state of mid-meltdown. God bless Aaron for being a patient man.

Thank you all, and we love you so dearly!

Many blessings! Click Here to Read More..

Dwelling in Loneliness

Greetings, Loved Ones.

I wanted to lend you all some real insight as to what my life has looked like this past month. This post will cover the topic of loneliness.

While marriage is wonderful and my husband is my very best friend, any married person would probably agree that your spouse cannot (and should not) satiate all your need for human relationship.

This wouldn't be much of an issue except that I am in the unique situation of having physically left all my deep, life-giving relationships on the other side of planet Earth. Due to this, this past month has been exceptionally difficult for my heart and spirit. I am torn between the bountiful excitement of my new marriage and the heart-wrenching sorrows of feeling deeply alone in my new life. I had become acquainted with loneliness over the last two years due to my multiple surgeries and weeks spent alone in hospitals and quarantine rooms; now, I must say: it seems as though I carry loneliness around on my shoulders every day.

The reason I write this is not to throw myself a pity party (though, it has been hard, and I would appreciate prayers!). Rather, I want to share with you something that the Lord has shared with me this last week...

It is of utmost importance to dwell in loneliness at the feet of the Lord.

Loneliness has a unique way of bringing us to the very ends of our little ropes of self-sufficiency. For instance, I like to fancy myself a pretty independent person. Right now, newly married in a new culture, surrounded by brand new people, I feel, for the first time, incapable of adjusting. There is simply too much to adjust to. Suddenly, my self-sufficiency rope comes to an end, I slide off the end of it, and I land hard with my butt on the gravel wondering how I devolved into such a horrid state of friendless-ness and frustration. I know that sounds a bit melodramatic, but bear with me. Suddenly my independence is gone and I am left with my husband and Jesus.

Those last two words are the most important in this post: and Jesus. My current state in life demands that, when despair and longing and bitterness creep into my heart, I say back to them: "You are not welcome here, for I know that my God will never leave me nor forsake me. He is close to the broken-hearted and He saves those who are crushed in spirit." I often find myself singing the comforting song: Almighty, Infinite Father. Faithfully loving Your own. Here in our weakness You find us--falling before your throne." I find it helps me when the endless supply of chocolate bars I've stored up doesn't.

I received a card from my grandmother yesterday that said: "God never wastes a trial." How true those words are! My heart hurts with homesickness and longs for normalcy, but I can feel the Lord refining me. I can feel Him teaching me to let the things of this world--things like popularity and the comfort of familiarity--grow dim. There are some lessons that simply cannot be taught when everything is right in life. The Lord never wastes a trial; He works through them, using them like fire to make us malleable. The fire is painful and uncomfortable--it often seems like I cry more often these days than I ever have before--but we must experience it in order to be molded into vessels of Jesus Christ.

If I can quote my father, officiating at my wedding: "I pray that the Lord would bring trials your way." I want to second that prayer and ask Jesus to please-- bring me hardship. Keep me in this place of alienation and loneliness for as long as it takes to cause me to fully rely upon Your company. Place me over the fire in order to make me malleable. I will consider it pure joy, even through the tears, because I know that it produces perseverance, making me mature and complete, not lacking anything.

That's all for now-- thank you for journeying with me in this time.

Much love,

Anna Click Here to Read More..

First Thoughts On Marriage and Other News!

Greetings, Loved Ones!

Well! Here we are again, me in Australia, you in the States (most of you, anyway--apparently I have some readers from Russia!).

Thank you for bearing with my not posting for a while. We have been scrambling to find our feet here in the "Land Down Under"!

Now that we have become a bit more stable, I'd like to give you a quick update. First, I have just recently passed the "Married for One Month" mark, and I have thought up a few observations that I'd like to share with you:

1. Everyone steals covers at night, and that's not bad. You just have to be the stronger one.

2. People are less likely to tell you that you're bad with people if you're married.

3. Your spouse will still tell you that you're bad with people. (Throwback to last night when I walked into a room of men and practically shouted "Goodness, it reeks of sunscreen and B.O. in here," warranting a very kind "sometimes you say things a bit too loud." from Aaron.)

4. It is SO handy to have someone to steal you free food when you're not around to get it for yourself.

5. Every "parent in law" relationship is unique and multifaceted and requires understanding prior to judgement.

6. Single people become much more hesitant to befriend you once you get married, presumably on the grounds that "you already have a permanent friend."

7. Not everything needs to be talked about. Some things need to be overlooked.

8. If you have an introverted husband, don't tease him, even lightheartedly. They take it seriously. (I suppose I should've learnt this already from watching my parents interact at the dinner table--shout out to mom and dad!) : )

Alright! Now that I've gotten those nuggets of wisdom off my chest, I'll let you know "the haps"!

Aaron and I have settled into Australia fairly well and we have news! We have decided that we will not stay at YWAM beyond our short term commitment. YWAM has been a wonderful place for us in so many ways, and it will be difficult to say goodbye to this campus and this ministry for the foreseeable future as it has a significant place in both of our lives. We are not exactly sure where the Lord is leading us just yet. We will, of course, continue ministering to our communities and those beyond, it just appears it will not be in this context for much longer. We will let you know more soon!

Health-wise, we are also doing well, though my teeth are still not in good order. I have become used to only using one side of my mouth to chew; I know this is not good, but I am still working through how to access the healthcare system here, etc. Please pray that I would find a Christian dentist and perhaps be able to determine the root (no pun intended!) of the problem quickly and at minimal expense.

As to our emotional well-being, we (and, in particular, I) are remarkably well adjusted after such a whirlwind of change. From getting married, to leaving my family on the other side of the world, to showing up in a country where I have no friends and no citizenship, I have to give myself a pat on the back for adapting so quickly. One thing, though, I will never accept: they make you pay for ketchup packets here. I don't mean bottles, I mean PACKETS-- 50c to $1 per packet!!! PER PACKET! As in, go to a fast food chain, pick up some chips (fries!) for $7, and then pay an additional wallet-full for the necessity of ketchup. As my mother has often said in my support: ketchup is a universal right.

I will tie off this post with an update on how we are doing spiritually: we are well. In the midst of such change and wonder, the Lord has continued to lead us with His steady hand of guidance. A couple of days ago as Aaron was praying over our meal, he said: "Thank you, Father, for the ability to work hard and for Your pleasure." What a gift to be able to work hard for the Lord alongside my best friend.

Well, that is all for today! Thank you so much for your prayers and your friendship. We cherish them.

Much Love,

The Fischers Click Here to Read More..

Farewell For Now!

Greetings, Loved Ones.

Well! I'm off to the great unknown to begin what many say is life's greatest adventure. Aaron and I get married in 10 days! There is so much to be thankful for and so much that we don't know! As we journey forward, we hope to stay in close touch with every last one of you. Whether through email, phone calls, text messages, this blog (NOTE: Aaron and I will be continuing this blog under a new name - www.Fischersofmen.blogspot.com - please follow us there!) or social media, we plan to stay connected with our faithful community of supporters. This being said, please bear with us for the next month or so as we do our best to settle into a brand new life and, for me, an entirely new world.

Because I am only going to be unmarried for a little while longer, I want to write this last post before my wedding about my expected perks of married life. I hope to share my realized (and unrealized) perks later on! Hope you will laugh with me as I fumble through my ignorant, wedding-preceding thoughts.

Perk #1: I can say goodbye forever to bunkbeds.

Perk #2: When I get tired, I have someone to carry my groceries, my luggage, me, etc..

Perk #3: I have someone to tell me I'm fantastic when I get tired of saying it to myself in the mirror.

Perk #4: I have someone to commiserate with over how this world has simply not been made for people over 6' (I'm looking at you, chandeliers-that-hang-over-tables. And you, department-store-pants. And you too, every-group-photo-ever-taken [flashback to high school where I was always made to "stand in the back with the boys" or "squat down to look normal"].)

Perk #5: No more having to share a bathroom with 5+ roommates.

Perk #6: I will always have someone to hold me accountable.

Perk #7: I will always get a courtesy laugh, even for the lamest of jokes. (Nod to all elephant jokes, especially "how can you tell an elephant is in your fridge?" #footprintsinthebutter.)

Perk #8: I have someone to school me in the importance and tenderness of being silent.

Perk #9: I have someone to figure out the TV for me when I hopelessly throw in the towel after half-a-minute of fruitlessly trying to turn the thing on.

Perk #10: I have someone to keep me from being killed by 99% of the wildlife in Australia. (Nod to Drop Bears, and every Australian who has ever told me about them.)

Well, that's all for now; please pray for me as I enter this new chapter with Aaron. Specific prayer requests include: A) one of my teeth has been giving me trouble and it doesn't seem like I'll be able to fix it before I leave, so pray the pain goes away, or that I find a Christian dentist in Australia who will do the work for free! B) that Aaron and I would be able to settle in financially and be able to afford my $6,000 visa, my dental expenses, if need be, etc. C) that I would be able to acclimate well to my new community (and my new family!) and find good women close by to teach me and travel with me in life. D) pray that our wedding would honor Jesus Christ and that He would be seen and heard from on that day.

If you would like to email me, call or text me, or write me a letter (personally, letters are my favorite- I promise to return them!), my email address is here and my mailing address in Australia will be YWAM - Townsville, P.O. Box 6221, Townsville, QLD, 4810, Australia. If you need my cell number, email me and I will give it to you!

Thank you all so much.
Many blessings in Him who leads our lives,
Anna (and Aaron!) Click Here to Read More..