In Australia!!

I made it safely to Australia!! Our team has a few minor hitches while traveling but we made it safely. We lost one bag, but it was picked up the next day. We also had to spend some extra time filling out customs notices because it wasn't written in the right color ink :) And then on the way to the base we got a call from airport that Solepoi's passport was found. How that happened we dont know :) Lavenia arrived last night and she was the last of the crew to fly in and we praise God that we are all here in Australia (even though La only has a one way ticket). Solepoi's first time on the plane went well. He asked me midflight if he could take his shirt off cause he was hot and I explained it wasn't appropriate in a plane. He also felt pain after the second flight in his ears so I gave him some gum. When we were leaving Syndney to come to Brisbane he got excited about some lights outside and I looked out expecting to see the beautiful city of Syndney, instead his excitement was over the lights on the cranes of a construction site. But he is right.. it was pretty :). He also got to ride the escalator for the first time with no problem.
We are staying at the YWAM Island Breeze base in Carbrook (its a phenomonal dancing group) and will be here for one month. Our finances are so tight that the little money we have we are using for food on the weekends and transportation. The base is so generous in providing food for us and waving our fee for housing.
THE COLD... oh my goodness. I had been focusing so much on praying for my islanders and their adjustment that I forgot my own! The first day was really tough for me , we woke up and it was so cold we could see our breath (sova joked it was like smoking)... the cold is PAINFUL! I might need more clothes. I think now that Ive been here a few days my body is adjusting back but I didn't realize it would be hard on me! Also some cutural shock things... like wanting to take my shoes off before entering a building, or feeling stuffy in the morning cause im used to an open fale, or needing to buy a watch, or wanting to say Tulo as I pass by (excuse me) etc...So far we have only been off the base once, to a park down the road that is on a main river. We went there to pray and it was pretty, lots of different birds here. My favorite is the black and white one but I dont know what they are called. We are praying about opportunities for next week to start getting into the culture and start ministering. So far we've been serving the base. The boys are out this morning clearing someone's yard, and they will give a donation towards our team (the ladies are in charge of preparing the boys lunch, sounds like a sweet deal to me!). Ive heard a couple of 'Goodayes' since being here but a large part of the base is Fijian (so my islanders fit right in). The DTS here just had their graduation last night and will be leaving during this next week. Some americans. There was a crazy good Moire dance (very warriors/angry/ aggressive type dance) and it was really moving- about Christ's death. I can't even explain it but the men pound their chest and actually scratch themselves... it was good. I need batteries for my camera so I can get some of that on video.
We give praises to God not just for health and safety but even the blessing of little things like the abundance of food, they are filling our fridge with bread and butter everyday and we eat with them so we get meat, and veggies every meal. Solepoi is quick to point out how good the australian bread is (he just means whole wheat or grain bread).
Enough of an update for now, since we have internet on the base I can update more later!
In case you want to send me a card or anything the address here is:

Island Breeze Carbrook, Australia
Attn Alissa, YWAM Samoa
799 Beenleigh-Redland Bay Road, Carbrook 4130BrisbaneQueensland
AUSTRALIA