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. :)
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