12:7 Serve: 1 Year Later

I can't believe it's been one year since I came home from 12:7 Serve! Time flies so quickly, and so many things have happened since then. It's been a great great year, and I'd love to update you all on it. God has been so faithful to me. :)

Before I say anything else about myself, you'll be happy to know that the 12:7 Serve team are all going really well! Over this past year, some married, some got engaged, some started new jobs, and all are serving well in where God has placed them! :D I'm so proud of all of them, and a year later, we are all still in touch! The bond that 12 people can make over 6 months is one that is not easily broken. I thank God for each one of them, that they are part of my journey. :)

So, here it is, a few highlights of this past year.

After a month of readjusting to home in August 2012 (which involved many pyjama days and coffee catch ups), I applied for a job at one of my favourite places in the world - Koorong book shop! It is a Christian book shop, and I have always loved going there, looking around for hours and sitting in the cafe! I wasn't sure what to expect when I handed in my resume, but God must have wanted me there because I got the job! I really love my job: The staff are amazing and the customers are so sweet! Not to mention the many amazing books and CDs that I've discovered there ;)

I knew that coming home, it would be time now for me to stay put for a while, and to study and prepare for whatever comes next. I know that God has placed a passion in my heart for missions, so I thought that in whatever way I could, I would equip myself to serve cross-culturally. This led to me beginning my bachelor of theology this year at Nazarene Theological College! The college is in Brisbane, and I'm in Perth, so I study externally by video conference. It's pretty much like I am on Skype, but I'm in my class so I can ask questions and everything. It has it's pros and cons: I miss being in an actual classroom, but I love being able to snack on whatever I like during my classes (though it's pretty obvious when my lecturers can see me eating popcorn on camera!). I'm also part of a program called GAP YEAR, which is a one year discipleship/training/mission program. So I am being mentored this year and I have also been able to serve for three weeks in the Kimberley (In the north of my state, Western Australia), in indigenous communities there. It was totally amazing, and I learned so much during this time! If you'd like to read more about Gap Year (Yes, my international friends, you can do this course too!), here is the Gap Year Facebook page and the official website for the college! All together, my theology degree will take three years. After this, I hope to study a masters in education, so that I can be a teacher (maybe I teacher in another country?). So that's the five year plan!

Another new thing which happened shortly after my return was I began to work in the NYI of my local church. This has been such a new experience for me! Over this year, we have put together a team of youth leaders - Me, Fer, Tar, Jonas and Yannis - who are all super amazing and inspire me all the time. :) We have held a few youth events and are beginning a small group ministry at the moment. I never really thought I'd be involved in youth ministry, but I've really loved it! The group of young people at my church are totally awesome, and are all on unique journeys with the Lord. It's exciting to be apart of that. God has been so good to me and the team during this year, and I've learned so much about myself, about servanthood, about leadership and about young people.

Well... so there's one more thing. And I don't know how else to start it but to say, "so there's this guy". :) During the course of 12:7 Serve I was able to make the acquaintance of a guy named Abdiel (the brother of my team mate, Carlos). And well, after coming back I began to know him more and realized just how awesome he is. ;) Apparently he thinks I'm pretty awesome too, so...now we have begun a new/scary/different/far away/wonderful journey with each other. :D I love this guy a lot! I love his passion for God and serving Him, I love our friendship, and I love the way he makes me laugh among so many other things! He's pretty good looking too. ;)

Haha okay okay enough of the cheesy stuff!
Can I ask you to pray for a few things?

1. For me as I study, work and serve in church. That I would find a healthy balance of the three. Also, that I would be aware of God's guidance always.
2. For my family. My parents as they work, and my little brothers (Nathan and Josh), as they study
3. For Dianella Church of the Nazarene: For its members to continue to walk with the Lord, especially the youth! That they would seek God more! Please pray for the youth team of Dianella Church as well.
4. For up and coming young leaders/missionaries in the Australia/New Zealand churches.
5. For my relationship with Abdiel: That the Lord would help us to stand the distance, and guide us as we look to the future together. :)
6. For the 12:7 Serve team: That they would continue to listen to the voice of God, and serve Him well, in whatever place they may be!
7. For Genesis Project that has just begun in the Mesoamerica Region (112 youth missionaries sent into the region over 8 years. You can read more about it here!)

So there you have it, 12:7 Serve one year later. Thank you for reading, for praying for me, for being my cheerleaders, for being my friends, for being part of my life.

My hope is that you, too, can serve well, wherever you are right now.
"If your gift is serving others, serve them well." - Romans 12:7

On the journey,
Dani

PS. One last thing. I just got back from Scotland! I was on a family holiday in Europe. :) This is something that my family has hoped for and saved for, for a long time, and it was cool to actually be here! We went to Greece and France, and then to Scotland. Oh gosh, I love Europe! Sometimes I wish I was European so I could travel around so easily. ;) But this has been one of the highlights of my year as well. :)

I love my 12:7 Team!

So as my time as part of 12:7 Serve is coming to an end, I'd like to share with you all how much I love my team, and the things I've learned from them over the past 5 months. :)

1. Estela - Thank you for your selfless servant attitude, and your willingness to give anything and everything a go. Thank you for teaching me to be honest, with my self and with others. I will miss the way you hug me and encourage me!

2. Lynda - Thankyou for your honesty. You have taught me things about myself through your words. I love it when you laugh and joke, and I love sharing those moments with you. You have leadership qualities which the Lord is going to use in so many ways!

3. Alan -  Jefeeeee, thank you for being my big brother! You have cared for me and others on the team in so many ways, even just by a simple hug. You are a gifted preacher, teacher and evangelist, and when you open your mouth to speak in these ways, I know your words are straight from God himself. I can't wait to see you serve the Lord in the future. Oh and I will miss dancing like a Mexican with you!!

4. Maura - Oh Mau Mau, thank you for always watching out for me! I will never forget our numerous nights sharing beds and hugs and laughs with each other. You have taught me through your words of wisdom and gentle spirit. You are such a beautiful lady, and by far my favourite Nicaraguan on the planet! 

5. Chennice - Thank you for believing in me. Thank you for the way you were always listening, you have made me want to become more of a listener. Thank you for the hilarious memories we've made together! I will miss your quiet but constant presence in every room, in every situation. Thank you for never giving up.

6. Erika - Thank you for being an incredible leader. You are a sensitive, beautiful woman of the Lord. Your attitude is truly that of Christ, and you have lived it out every day of this trip. Thank you for keeping your eyes open to the needs around you, and for always meeting those needs. I want to be more like you!!

7. Carlos - Oh Carlitos, the team wouldn't be the same without you! You are a constant mood lightener, and positiveness giver. You are such a relational person, and people just always want to be around you! God has gifted you with this personality so that you can serve others by building relationships. Thank you for being such a great friend and brother to me. I will miss learning Spanish with you, baking carrot cake with you, and I will even miss your horrible jokes! ;)

8. AJ - You were MEANT to be part of this team. It has been a blessing for me to see you grow more and more into a man of God over these past months. You have taught me a lot about my attitude, and how to serve without complaining or thinking the task too hard. I will miss your hilarious jokes, your angry games of Monopoly deal, and taking photos with weird faces with you!

9. Jana - Thank you for being so understanding! We have many similarities to each other, which we have found out over our journey. But even our differences have brought us together. :) I love the way you have let the Lord heal you, teach you and grow you over these past 5 months. You are always up for anything, which is such an encouragement as one of your team mates. I can't wait to see you serve the Lord in missions in the future! You're going to be a great missionary. :)

10. Helen - Oh beautiful He, my big sister. You are an amazing woman with an amazing story of God's power working in your life. It has been a joy for me to see your childhood dreams of being a missionary come true through 12:7 Serve. You are such a humble servant, and it is clear that you are always listening to the voice of God in every situation. I am also so proud of the way you have learned English over our trip. Wow, you have improved so much, it's so amazing! He, I will miss your hugs, and when you say "Que?!" like a Tica! ;)

11. Absolu - My friend, there wouldn't BE a 12:7 Serve team without you. Thank you, thank you, thank you for your joy. You light up every room that your in. Your attitude is always positive. Your work is always the best that you can give. You are an example and inspiration to your country that Haiti CAN send missionaries! You have started the rising up of more Haitian youth to serve in the nations. I am so proud of you Absolu! Keep spreading your joy to the world!

So there you have it - The 12 people who over the past 5 months have changed my life for the better. You will always have a place in my heart, and I hope to serve again with you one day. Thank you all for serving well, and for inspiring me to do the same. I love you! Les amo! Je vous aime!