It’s taken me months to get around to writing about my time away in Australia…
I’ve sat down with the intention to write of it many times, but I found it exceedingly difficult to put my experiences into words.
I welcomed in 2018 with a shadow hanging over me. I dreaded the months disappearing as mist in the sunlight.
I didn’t feel ready.
But as I wrote in the part 2 of this adventure, ( you can find that here ) I found strength and hope was given to me when I asked for it.
And while the months and weeks sped past, I felt that I was being shaped and prepared for the absence.
I chose to feel that I was being sent for a reason, instead of feeling like I was being sent away.
With hope held firmly in my heart and strength walking beside me, I flew half a world away.
I was retrieved from the airport in Canberra by a lovely friend, who then took me to one of my favourite places.
It all felt surreal, as Claire, her daughter and I sat there with our coffee.
The Arboretum was a place I’d visited so many times with my family, and yet there I was without them.
A whole year had passed since I’d sat in that same place, but it felt like a moment and lifetime ago.
As soon as I unpacked a few things, I was on the phone to my husband in the UK, as we finished the last sections of my online application.
(It was so complicated!)
I needed to finish it before I could make an appointment to hand in my application and get my biometric data recorded.
After we sorted out the visa stuff over the phone, we talked about how our children were coping.
There were tears at bedtime of course, but otherwise remarkably … ok.
As was I.
Miraculously, I was able to get done quickly what needed to be done in Canberra, and my completed visa application and all supporting documents (so many documents!) made their way to Sheffield, UK.
All that was left to do was wait…
I had a wonderful 12 days with Claire and her family.
God knew exactly what I needed, and being with her beautiful children gave my arms two small people to hold and love.
We played and read many, many stories.
I kept my empty hands busy by helping around their home, which gave me some sort of routine and normality.
I was extremely grateful to able to spend the time I did, with my friends while I was in Canberra.
When it was time to leave, saying goodbye to everyone for the second time in the space of almost a year, was especially hard – I didn’t know when I’d be back.
I found people kept making similar comments, of me and my situation.
They were frustrated and angry on my behalf at having to be separated from my family, and were astonished at how well I seemed to be coping.
The truth is, I didn’t want my time away in Australia to be something I had to survive, get through or suffer. I didn’t want to be viewed as a victim, or to be pitied.
I chose to see purpose in what I was doing.
And I wasn’t doing it alone, or in my own strength. When I am weak, He makes me strong…
I wasn’t just working towards the visa that would allow me to live and work in the UK, but making the time I had to mean something.
If I look back over my life, I know I missed many opportunities, because I didn’t recognise purpose when it was right there in front of me…
After Canberra was the next part of my adventure – Alice Springs
Carrie Baker - The Growth Collective 
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