This is me

Hi, I’m Amber. Some of my favourite things in the world are coffee dates with friends (where I drink tea), dancing around my home whilst singing at the top of my lungs, and good meals – especially with potatoes- and the more conversations at once the better!  I feel most alive and passionate when helping people, which explains why I studied a degree in Applied Public Health and Global Studies. But most of all, 

I love God! 

I grew up in a crazy bizarre Christian home. I say crazy because we sing a lot  loudly and off key  we laugh even more, and we make up silly traditions that make no sense to anyone except us –  for example a 10-minute birthday song. But they are also the reason that I daily experience God’s love and grace and are the people who have had the most impact on my life. 

When I was in year 7 my parents took us overseas for the first time, and I was shocked to see how other people lived. I knew that we had a good life in Australia, and that it wasn’t the way the rest of the world lived. I knew that around 1 billion people in the world live with less than 1 dollar a day. But knowing that and seeing that are two different things. 

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  Can you tell how uncomfortable I was? 

My twelve year old self was shocked and I would never be quite the same. 
I came back from that 3 week trip with my world-view shattered. It stayed with me. Seeing the lives of some of the least fortunate people in the world will do that to you. 
But what could I do as a twelve year old? 

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Years went on and we took more trips, and with those trips came opportunities to share with others. My brothers and I, with the help of our parents, did a number of fundraisers and awareness campaigns. We saw a need and had to act. 
And more and more the Lord was drawing me to himself. I prayed the prayer “Break my heart for what breaks yours”, and He answered. 

So what do you do when you’re struck by the complete imbalance of the world’s money and power? 

Well, I went to university for four years to learn more. And wow, did that also shock me. I was exposed to so much injustice in the world that I got overwhelmed. At times I stuck my head in the sand and cried out help! I went to get answers, but often came out of those lectures with more questions and more disheartened than ever. And the only answer I seemed to have was Jesus. 

I realised that what this world needs is not more infrastructure projects, healthcare or education. Whilst these things are all really good, they’re not solving the world’s problems. Because we have a heart problem.

We need God!

Not religion, but personal relationships with God. 
According to the Joshua Project 41.2% of the world is considered unreached! 3.31 billion people have never had the chance to hear about Jesus Christ. And that breaks my heart!  

So what am I going to do about this? 
Well after being a Mission Intern for WEC Australia, and seeing the work they do in East Timor, I’ve started my applications to be a candidate.
I definitely don’t have all the answers, but I’m hoping that through this journey I can answer some of your questions, especially if you have a heart for the lost but don’t know where to start. And that we can be challenged together.

But mostly, I pray this brings glory to God. 

Psalm 127:1 says 
“Unless the Lord builds the house,
those who build it labour in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
the watchman stays awake in vain.” 

Thank you so much for joining me on this journey!

With love,
Amber