My story so far has not been particularly amazing or drastic but I have had a few adventures and I am proud of the person I have turned out to be.
I grew up an only child with 2 loving parents. I would call it a happy childhood, my parents told me about God and we called ourselves Christian but I didn't know what it meant to be Christian. I remember when I was about 8 I called my mom in the middle of the night, freaking out, because I didn't know what would happen when I died.She patiently explained Heaven and God to me and I was semi-pacified, though it posed a whole new set of questions.
In high school when I was about 14 I was reaching that turning point where you either become a "good kid" or start partying and pushing the boundaries of the people who love you. I took a look at the party scene, I wasn't that impressed. I never have really followed the crowd whether it was because I am an only child or just slightly mad I am not quite sure.
Then some of my other friends were talking about a youth group they went to and laughing about some of the funny things that had happened. Fear of missing out struck me so I asked some questions. I found out that it was a Christian Friday night church meeting for young people. I thought "I am Christian so I can go to that" little did I know it would change my life forever.
I still remember the moment when I felt the Holy Spirit for the first time. It was during worship, the lights were off and everyone was singing. I opened my eyes and my heart swelled with a love I will never understand.
From there I gave my life to Jesus. Shortly after I joined the church and brought my mom with me. A former catholic she quickly found a new connection with Christ and has kept the journey with me.
My dad loves God and is getting to know Jesus.
When I finished high school I decided to be a chef. Following my dad's footsteps I went to culinary school wanting to become a professional pastry chef. I quickly got swept up into chef life and convinced myself that I wanted to work in the top kitchens, feeling that kitchen rush only chefs will understand.
I struggled to find a new church and so back-slid to a point where I was clutching a fragile shell of connection with Christ, feeling He was distant and only turning to Him when I needed Him. One night I hit a emotional, spiritual low where it came down to one question, did I believe in Jesus Christ or not? I reviewed my life and decided that there was no way I could deny Him. From then on I slowly started to walk back to Him on my own, finding Him in the spring flowers and the raindrops dripping from the lamp outside my window late at night.
In my third year I had started to resent the chef life noticing that I didn't fit in, looking around and not seeing a life I wanted or could aspire to. I joined a church called Shofar Stellenbosch and from there God laid claim to my life again. He called me back powerfully and my life that seemed hazy slowly came back into focus. I realized that though I loved Him I had never asked Him what He wanted me to do with my life.
I finished my third year and then decided to hand over control completely. He led me to join YWAM (Youth With A Mission) and do a DTS (Discipleship Training School). I am now in the final weeks of training before we leave on our first outreach mission trip. We are going to Madagascar and the Islands.
We are a mixed group of people from all over the world and all over South Africa. I have never felt more whole or complete. God has taught me how life with Him looks and I will never go back to who I was before. I love the person He has made me. I have a family that now extends to all the corners of the earth and all the way up to heaven. My happiness is indescribable and overflowing. Life has become deep, colourful and full of adventure and new discoveries. I have found the love and optimism I had as a little kid before the world happened. I have been healed and restored, purified and filled with the living water. I will never thirst again. Here starts the journey of a lifetime.
