Okay, I feel like the luckiest woman on the planet. A few days ago, we had a brief layover in L.A. and got to frolic a few hours in the Pacific Ocean. This morning (Monday here in Australia) we took a family walk along the beach overlooking the Pacific Ocean from the OTHER DIRECTION from just a few days ago. I can’t believe I get to call this “work.” Traveling to far off places, meeting interesting people, and getting to talk about my passion for sexual integrity and sexual intimacy within marriage. Gee, it’s a tough life, but I guess someone’s got to do it. May as well be me! 🙂

Seriously, the groups I’ve spoken to so far (one group of high school girls, and one group of high school girls and guys mixed together) have been incredibly receptive to the message. They’ve laughed when they are supposed to, and paid close attention, and asked great questions.

I’ve also asked a lot of questions about the culture here. What I’ve learned is that Australian teens face the exact same pressures as American teens, but the whole “True Love Waits” movement hasn’t changed much of the sexual patterns here, and with a legal drinking age of 18, alcohol plays a HUGE role in their sexual choices. The seriousness with which they approach me afterward to ask personal questions seems to announce, “Thank God that someone is finally talking straight to us about all this stuff!” Many have been very vocal with their praises, and I’m blessed to meet so many who’ve already read Every Young Woman’s Battle (it’s my Australian book distributor’s #1 best-selling book — how cool!).

I’m just so grateful that I get to do all this for a living. I’m so grateful for what God has done in my life and the testimony He has given me that He CAN take the sexual lemons we’ve picked for ourselves and turn them into lemonade that can bless others.

More from the Land Down Under in a few more days,

-Shannon