I had read five chapters of Katie Davis' book Kisses From Katie when it hit me, this is why I do it. Why I have to take vacations to America and why the term "home" has become completely relevant to my current location. It's the reason why I sleep on a bunk bed and eat dinner with 100 people every night. The opportunity for teenagers to come to this beautiful country and have a "Katie experience" is worth it. Katie's book is a memoir of here life-changing missions trip to Uganda and everything that God has done through her in the past few years. While expresses her love for Uganda even through the difficulties she says

“I want to be challenged endlessly. I want to be taught by those I teach, and I want to share God's love with people who otherwise might not know it. I want to work so hard that I end every day filthy and too tired to move. I want to make some kind of difference, no matter how small, and I want to follow the calling God has placed on my heart. I want to give my life away, to serve the Lord with each breath. At the end of the day, no matter how hard, I want to be right here in Uganda.”

I cam back to Australia afraid that I wasn't doing enough to change the world; to reduce the number of orphans or hungry people. But by reading the stories of a twenty-something American girl in Uganda I've been reminded that for now, I have been called to this. I have been given the privilege of disciplining passionate teenagers to experience Jesus and go and love and feed and clothe his children. This July I have been given the opportunity to be a staff member for the Classic Discipleship Training School (DTS) which is running along side our Creative DTS. This is my heart for our potential students. As they begin to apply for the DTS, the cry of Katie's heart is what I pray over each of their hearts. This is my ministry. To see broken and passive vessels be refilled with the Spirit of God and long to be in His will for their life, no matter where that takes them. In that way, I am changing the world. I am equipping, disciplining and sending out the people who will adopt the orphans and feed the hungry. I will love them and they will love others.

While God has been moving greatly in my life and teaching me more then I thought I could handle I have also been learning a lot about the Australian government. About a week ago, through a series of misunderstandings and lack of communications, I was informed that my current visa had expired and had to rush to Sydney to explain myself to immigrations and apply for my next visa. Long story short, I was given a “Bridging Visa” that allows me to live legally within Australia until my pending application is put in the right hands and approved. However, while I'm on this visa I am not able to do any form of work. Sadly, preparing for the upcoming DTS, participating in Youth Street and many other of my daily task are not allowed. To be honest, I left the Immigration building feeling defeated and close to tears. It seemed so unfair. Why would God allow me regain my passion for DTS and become so excited to be back in the office only to have it taken away only a few days later. I haven't gotten an answer yet but I have come to understand that God is always ready to use hard circumstances for good. Rather then letting these next few weeks be filled with anxiety and frustration, I plan to fill them with prayer and reading and discipleship and an attitude ready to serve. These weeks will not be a waist but a time of preparing the soil for the seeds God desires to plant in my life and in my future students lives. Prayer for a quick grant of my visa and no need for medical checks would be greatly appreciated.

Much love,                                    

Hannah