So remember how in my first blog I talked about how I have done a lot of really cool stuff? Well This picture is of me and a sweet girl named Mia at Hillsong in Sydney, Australia! Mia was nice enough to show me around the campus and let me follow her to some of her classes as she attended Hillsong College three years ago. This was such an incredible experience.
Before this point in time I had been playing in the youth band for a few years and I just knew that God had something for me through music. It was what I was passionate about and what I wanted to do. I had been taking voice, piano, guitar and bass lessons for years and I was pretty set on getting a vocal performance degree.But I knew that once I got out of high school that I really wanted to dedicate that first year to God.
So I began to look at different schools/internships. There were a few that really caught my eye -- Hillsong being one of them. So when I heard my dad say he was going on a business trip to Sydney I quickly threw out the idea of me traveling with him so I could visit the school. Crazy enough he said I could come with him! Through some mutual friends, I got in contact with Mia and talked with her more about the school and asked if I could hang out with her for a few days while I was there. Guys... Being there was so amazing. I still remember being in a worship class and being amazed at it all. This was it! This was where I wanted to go! Except, it was half way around the world and I had only just turned 17. That was a long way from my family and everything I had ever known! So I said no to the amazing but far off school and picked another internship.
Last year toward the end of my internship I began praying about what I was supposed to do next. I had laid out my options on the table in front of God and told him to choose for me. To my surprise He did not pick one of the options."Hillsong", was what I heard God say as I was attending Sunday Night service. I quickly began arguing with God and told him of how it was not to be. "Its too far away. You said no to me going before, so now why should I go?"
"You were the one who said no."
He was right... He is always right. I was the one who said no years before. I was the one who was afraid. I remembered how much I loved it there. But I had convinced myself that it was not Gods plan because it was so far. So I said ok God and I applied. And as I began listening to God and show me the plans you have for me doors began to open. But not the doors I thought. I was also looking for a job at the time and I ended up working at a bridal boutique. This cause my application process to completely stop as I was now working full time. Through this job I began to learn more about myself than ever before. I grew in maturity, work ethic, and self confidence as I worked with a wonderful group of Holy Spirit filled women. I also began counseling to help me walk through my not so innocent past. In this time I had finally found who I was in Christ and my purpose as a wooer of My Lord.
As this season ended, I once again began asking God what He wanted for my life. I had no options already picked out this time -- and I still heard Hillsong. So I emailed the school and asked to re-apply, explaining to them my growth and how my Love for the Lord had grown immensely. I began to send in more letters and recommendations to the school and I was so excited to hear back! I heard nothing.
In my first blog I mentioned how I heard God say, "seek me and I will give you the desires of your heart." It was then that I realized that if I was going to go to Hillsong that it was not going to be because I am an amazing person and they should love me. If I went it was because God wanted me to go. So I gave it to God. I began to seek him out and read His word. And as I gave him my future and my everything, He showed up. I got an email from Hillsong saying that I had been accepted! I would be attending college in January of 2015 as apart of their song writing course!
But with all the excitement of being excepted also came a fast understanding of how expensive the school was. My sister already had plans to go to college in the fall and I have been watching the process of my family applying for student loans. I know that my family will help out with cost as much as they can, but with the two of us going to college so quickly I would need a job-- and quick. Then I heard God. "seek me." So I did. Two days later I was hired at a golf course as a beverage cart girl. God is so good!
So that leads to now. I am saving all my wages for school and continuing to seek God in all of it. There are moments where I become overwhelmed with the fact that I have around six months to earn a lot of money. Knowing that it takes up to three months to get a student visa and I have to have my first semester payed for before I can even apply for my visa. But then I am reminded to seek God. I know that God is good and I trust that is this is where He wants me to go then it will happen.
If you feel led, I have a donation button on my contact page where you can donate toward my tuition, visa, and living expenses while I am there. Anything helps! I plan on getting a job once in Sydney to help with expenses as well, but for now I am trying to raise the money how ever I can. I will also be posting more information on the school as well so you know exactly what it is you would be donating to. Prayer of course is also needed! So please be praying for me and my journey. I am so excited to see how God reveals himself!
"Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4
Before this point in time I had been playing in the youth band for a few years and I just knew that God had something for me through music. It was what I was passionate about and what I wanted to do. I had been taking voice, piano, guitar and bass lessons for years and I was pretty set on getting a vocal performance degree.But I knew that once I got out of high school that I really wanted to dedicate that first year to God.
So I began to look at different schools/internships. There were a few that really caught my eye -- Hillsong being one of them. So when I heard my dad say he was going on a business trip to Sydney I quickly threw out the idea of me traveling with him so I could visit the school. Crazy enough he said I could come with him! Through some mutual friends, I got in contact with Mia and talked with her more about the school and asked if I could hang out with her for a few days while I was there. Guys... Being there was so amazing. I still remember being in a worship class and being amazed at it all. This was it! This was where I wanted to go! Except, it was half way around the world and I had only just turned 17. That was a long way from my family and everything I had ever known! So I said no to the amazing but far off school and picked another internship.
Last year toward the end of my internship I began praying about what I was supposed to do next. I had laid out my options on the table in front of God and told him to choose for me. To my surprise He did not pick one of the options."Hillsong", was what I heard God say as I was attending Sunday Night service. I quickly began arguing with God and told him of how it was not to be. "Its too far away. You said no to me going before, so now why should I go?"
"You were the one who said no."
He was right... He is always right. I was the one who said no years before. I was the one who was afraid. I remembered how much I loved it there. But I had convinced myself that it was not Gods plan because it was so far. So I said ok God and I applied. And as I began listening to God and show me the plans you have for me doors began to open. But not the doors I thought. I was also looking for a job at the time and I ended up working at a bridal boutique. This cause my application process to completely stop as I was now working full time. Through this job I began to learn more about myself than ever before. I grew in maturity, work ethic, and self confidence as I worked with a wonderful group of Holy Spirit filled women. I also began counseling to help me walk through my not so innocent past. In this time I had finally found who I was in Christ and my purpose as a wooer of My Lord.
As this season ended, I once again began asking God what He wanted for my life. I had no options already picked out this time -- and I still heard Hillsong. So I emailed the school and asked to re-apply, explaining to them my growth and how my Love for the Lord had grown immensely. I began to send in more letters and recommendations to the school and I was so excited to hear back! I heard nothing.
In my first blog I mentioned how I heard God say, "seek me and I will give you the desires of your heart." It was then that I realized that if I was going to go to Hillsong that it was not going to be because I am an amazing person and they should love me. If I went it was because God wanted me to go. So I gave it to God. I began to seek him out and read His word. And as I gave him my future and my everything, He showed up. I got an email from Hillsong saying that I had been accepted! I would be attending college in January of 2015 as apart of their song writing course!
But with all the excitement of being excepted also came a fast understanding of how expensive the school was. My sister already had plans to go to college in the fall and I have been watching the process of my family applying for student loans. I know that my family will help out with cost as much as they can, but with the two of us going to college so quickly I would need a job-- and quick. Then I heard God. "seek me." So I did. Two days later I was hired at a golf course as a beverage cart girl. God is so good!
So that leads to now. I am saving all my wages for school and continuing to seek God in all of it. There are moments where I become overwhelmed with the fact that I have around six months to earn a lot of money. Knowing that it takes up to three months to get a student visa and I have to have my first semester payed for before I can even apply for my visa. But then I am reminded to seek God. I know that God is good and I trust that is this is where He wants me to go then it will happen.
If you feel led, I have a donation button on my contact page where you can donate toward my tuition, visa, and living expenses while I am there. Anything helps! I plan on getting a job once in Sydney to help with expenses as well, but for now I am trying to raise the money how ever I can. I will also be posting more information on the school as well so you know exactly what it is you would be donating to. Prayer of course is also needed! So please be praying for me and my journey. I am so excited to see how God reveals himself!
"Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4