Melting

Back in Oz after 2.5 years. Dinner and great laughs with these 2 lovelies. Couldn't have asked for a better first 24hours. #feelsgoodtobehome #SingaporeMelbourneLondon #badadvertswithcameltoes #iwannakoalahugyoutodeath (at Naked for Satan)

A reunion with Marc and a reunion with Ice Coffee (the way it should be made). Thanks @cheryltancl for the beautiful Sunday. #feelsgoodtobehome #SingaporeMelbourneLondon @marcjacobs @themarcjacobs It feels good to call something your own and it feels good to see things, people and places that remind you of you. #rememberwhyyoustarted (at Strangers' Reunion)

8 years ago, we talked about this casually, that we would come serve together on Mercy Ships. We've officially shared a meal in 7 countries and yesterday we stood above Antananarvio, the capital of Madagascar, indeed serving together on Mercy Ships. 8, they say is the number for new beginnings. In 7 weeks we will reunite and start a new field service together. We are Mater girls, that's where we met and worked together. We represent the Mater Children's Emergency (which no longer exists today) and I'm proud to call her friend. FLYING HOME in a couple of hours, next stop Bangkok-Singapore! #MercyShips #msmadagascar #screening #mater #paedsnurse #ER #childrenshospital #newbeginnings #friends #mustardforlife (at Antananarivo, Madagascar)

It's my GOLDEN birthday today and I'm 29 and alive! I got to have it in Africa, on a mystical island in the Indian Ocean. I've always been an island girl and the ocean is never too far from me. I have been completely surrounded by well wishes, love and more love and I'm heading into the arms of even more love from friends and family dotted over the 3 continents I will be visiting this summer/winter (depending on which hemi you reside in). No big celebrations, just lots of weird and wonderful, awesome and sweet, crazy and lovable humans I call my peeps. And yes... This is the #finalcountdown. Thanks bunkie @shleepalms (photo cred) for our last crusade - bike rides, massage and dinner at super-gout. We are indeed "mirror images"... Haha. I will miss you.... More than mere words. Until next time! Tomorrow, we leave the AFM!!!! |0 days to go| #msmadgascar #madagascar20142015 #VSCOcam #betterbelieveit #latergram #homecoming#SingaporeMelbourneLondon #MercyShips #youthinkimgorgeous #youwannadateme #misscongeniality (at Toamasina Port)

Oh the stories these trees have heard over the ages. Beautiful Banyan trees hanging over a local spot. Nice to see a familiar flora in what was an unfamiliar country. It has now become a lot more like home. |1 day to go| #msmadgascar #madagascar20142015 #VSCOcam #banyan #latergram #homecoming#SingaporeMelbourneLondon #MercyShips

Laughter is such good medicine for the soul and I'm thankful that this place gives me countless occasions for great laughter with great people. Occasions such as this one --> Walk around a remote island off the coast of Madagascar and pose for boyband pictures. It's only natural. |2 days to go| #msmadgascar #madagascar20142015 #VSCOcam #boyband #laughter #nootherway #island #camping #friends #latergram #homecoming #goodmedicine #SingaporeMelbourneLondon #MercyShips (at Prune Island)

Ask the 9yo me if I ever thought I would call a port in Madagascar home, I would have looked at you and thought you were crazy. 20 years after, since the time I felt the call to go and live this life of missions and international aid, I am living my dream. The dream I dreamt when I was 9. BUT like nearly everything, the destination was never the question, the route however, was always up for discovery. A necessary mystery to sustain longevity of life. |3 days to go| #msmadgascar #madagascar20142015 #VSCOcam #port #portcity #latergram #homecoming #SingaporeMelbourneLondon #MercyShips

Bazar Be. The vibrant colours. More Asian than African. |4 days to go| #msmadgascar #madagascar20142015 #VSCOcam #markets #vibrant #colours #latergram #homecoming #SingaporeMelbourneLondon #MercyShips (at Bazar Be)

Had a date with the cutest guy on the ship. I'm a lucky gal! |5 days to go| #msmadgascar #madagascar20142015 #VSCOcam #babysitting #latergram #homecoming #SingaporeMelbourneLondon #MercyShips #AFMfamilies #WallFamily #JackWall

This wonderful and crazy woman who just waltzed into my life in Cape Town became such a staple to my well being over the past 6 months. A friendship and sisterhood forged. THANK YOU for being my cuddle buddy and I know our one day again is not too far away. My little heart has a little crevice with your name on it and I'm glad it hurts to say goodbye because it only means it was that GREAT a friendship. Ever one to count on for silly karaoke songs, silky faces and silly antics. I love you and I miss you terribly!! |6 days to go| #msmadgascar #madagascar20142015 #VSCOcam #taxibrousse #latergram #homecoming #SingaporeMelbourneLondon #MercyShips #120percent #iloveyourweird #youlovemyweird #unbreakmyheart #rude #lockedoutofheaven

Embarking on a road trip, witnessed the unusual. Goose for dinner anyone? |7 days to go| #msmadgascar #madagascar20142015 #VSCOcam #taxibrousse #latergram #homecoming #SingaporeMelbourneLondon #MercyShips #publictransport #ThisIsAfrica #TIA :) (at Tamatave City, Madagascar)

She said, in a familiar Aussie accent, "Hey Mel, I'm just going to have a lunch time snack" and pulled this ludicrously petit banana out of her scrub pocket. Needless to say I had a huge outburst of laughter. Gotta love her! |8 days to go| #msmadgascar #madagascar20142015 #VSCOcam #petit #banana #aussie #homecoming #SingaporeMelbourneLondon #MercyShips (at Africa Mercy, Toamasina-Madagascar)

"When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time." - Maya Angelou. The raw and beautiful encounters I've had and to be had. Blessed to live this life this way. |9 days to go| #msmadgascar #madagascar20142015 #VSCOcam #preciousencounters #homecoming #SingaporeMelbourneLondon #MercyShips (at La Pirogue Mahambo)

She left. I wept. I remain speechless. |10 days to go| #msmadgascar #madagascar20142015 #VSCOcam #unexpectedencounters #sanity #friends #sisters #SingaporeMelbourneLondon #MercyShips #goodbye #aurevoir (at Africa Mercy, Toamasina-Madagascar)

A bunch of my favourite Malagasy peeps. A lot of what we do would not be possible without the love, skill and trust of individuals like these! They translate the stories of our patients, they take on their culture and make it into bite sized pieces for foreigners like me to understand. They carry the burden of knowing every complaint of our patients and skilfully sift through it all. Needless to say, they are important to me. And these three, Maria, Pierre and Joannita, they make me love this country more. They are the gems in our team. They are conscientious, jovial and loving. I am glad I got to work with them and I get to do it all over again next field service. Pretty neat. |11 days to go| #msmadgascar #madagascar20142015 #VSCOcam #summer #homecoming #malagasy #daycrew #translators #SingaporeMelbourneLondon #MercyShips

Here pousse-pousse... |12 days to go| #msmadgascar #madagascar20142015 #VSCOcam #summer #homecoming #malagasyroads #weekendaway #SingaporeMelbourneLondon #MercyShips #homeawayfromhome

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my amazing #bunkie!!! I have loved every moment sharing our little personal bubble space. From the random mornings when I wake up and shou-sper (whisper/shout--> yes it is a word, a word I made up) your name (why? Because I am just "special" that way) to the outbursts of laughter in our cabin. You really are one immense blessing to me and this entire field service would have been so much less without you in my life. My constant biking adventure buddy, my dependable friend, my late night chats companion. May you have a wonderful year ahead filled with many more divine encounters and heavenly adventures. The fat lady has not yet sung, to many more memories together! #iloveyourweird #youlovemyweird |13 days to go| #msmadgascar #madagascar20142015 #VSCOcam #summer #homecoming #SingaporeMelbourneLondon #MercyShips #homeawayfromhome #3412 #cabinmates #bunkmates #cabin