Dec
On Mission
At the end of December, around 40 volunteers from around Sydney was keen to serve and share the gospel with the people of Currarong. As you may have seen from my posts on Facebook, this was unfortunately cut short by a week because someone in our team had tested positive. I really felt for the team who had put in so much hard work but I was deeply encouraged by their love and care for each other and the campers. Even in these moments of disappointment, we can have great trust in an unchanging God who will continue to accomplish His good plan of bringing all things under Christ!
Camp Engage
In December, our youth team was able to run Camp Engage for 35 of our youth which was originally postponed from June. Our team was so thankful to God for lots of things including time spent with the youth, serving together as a team, the ways in which youth began to connect with one another and so on. I was personally really encouraged by my fellow MTSer Nathan who gave fruitful and faithful talks on the topic of ‘Torn Identity’. This highlighted the search for identity during our teenage years, and how broken we can be if we simply listened to the world. Yet Jesus shows us how we can have a new and better identity in Him.
There were many fruitful discussions throughout the camp and around 8 youth decided to follow Jesus as their Lord/recommit to Him so praise God for that! Thanks so much for all your prayers and please continue to pray for helpful follow up as these youth seek to live for Jesus with all their lives!
The Engage leaders have also been a great encouragement to me over the past year as we’ve served together. God has been kind in sustaining us for the year and we had a fun time after camp on a little retreat of our own!
Jan
Engage Leader’s Retreat
The Engage leaders went on a retreat in January to plan for the coming year of youth ministry. It was a great time of fun, fellowship and planning. We spent time in God’s word, played some board games, went out on a short hike and got to know one another deover the weekend! We have 4 new leaders who we’re thankful to God for (Jaison, Beck, Tim and Nikita) and the gifts they’ve been given to serve.
From a personal reflection, it has felt a little bit different in a new role and without my old trainer Ronaldo there. Feeling a little bit of the weight of responsibility that’s come upon me, it’s led me to feel weak but also more dependent on God. I’m super thankful to Him for a team who I can trust and also loves the youth at Engage. A good reminder has been to keep trusting in God regardless of the position I’m in and to take it day by day!
The Marsden Fund 