your sister, cig: Peace!

If you'd asked me this time last year if I'd ever want to go to Australia for a year to live in community with peers, serve on a team as a Catholic youth evangelist, and be anywhere near large spiders, I would have said, "NOPE!"

I never, EVER wanted to be a youth minister (ever) before coming to New Zealand. When my brother Richard first asked me to live in NZ with him and his family to assist them in their missionary work, the thought of babysitting my two little nieces and nephew in Middle Earth was incredibly appealing. The thought of youth ministry....not so much. Youth ministry? No way! That's not "me." I'm the last person you want to ask for that sort of work.

My thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways My ways. (Isaiah 55:8)

Eventually I came to see that saying "No!" to Mission New Zealand would be saying "No!" to an adventure with the One who knows and loves me with an everlasting love, who promises, "I am with you always, to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20).

So, I said, "Yes!"

These past several months on the other side of the world (from Steel City, USA) have been the most challenging, uncomfortable, crazy, and AMAZING months of my entire life. Through all aspects of my time here, in my duties as both "Aunt Cig" and a volunteer youth minister, I've discovered that I want to go deeper into youth ministry.

Once I arrived in Kiwiland, I started hearing a lot about NET Ministries - particularly NET Australia (www.netministries.com.au) - from the youth and former "Netters" here in NZ. I thought, Sounds awesome...but not for me. Yet I was encouraged to prayerfully consider doing it myself, despite how crazy it seemed. It's not why I travelled across the globe! I've had other plans for my life! Why Australia??

"Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid!" (Matthew 14:27)

But it was Love who brought me to New Zealand. And this Love, this Person, has saved me - brought me to life! - and given me joy beyond anything I could ever imagine. It would be crazy not to trust Him, even if that means going unexpectedly Down Under for a year, large spiders and all; and I believe God is now calling me to dive once again into unfamiliar territory - into the deep - to bring His Gospel of Life to young people who so desperately need to know that they count - that they are LOVED!!

On January 5th, 2012, I'm heading to Brisbane to begin 5 weeks of intensive training in youth ministry, after which I'll spend 10 months serving with NET by doing peer-to-peer evangelisation. Through this ministry, I hope to bring the Love of Christ to the youth of Australia, to grow into who He's calling me to be, and to bring you with me.

"Come, let us walk in the light of the Lord." (Isaiah 2:5)

Your prayer is the most important thing I can ask of you. My time in New Zealand is coming to an end. During this time, my focus for MissionNET is fundraising and spiritual preparation - and I need lots of prayer for both these areas! Most importantly, please pray that I become totally docile to God's perfect Will.

I also ask for your financial support. I have yet to raise $6,000 for my year with NET! If you'd like to make a donation to this mission, please send it to: NET Ministries, 110 Crusader Ave West, West St. Paul, MN 55118-4427. Check out the right-hand side of this blog for more info, and feel free to email me at christine.sealy@gmail.com with any questions.

Whatever way you're able to support this mission is truly an invaluable gift. NET reaches thousands of young people each year, and for you to share in any way - spiritually, financially...spinancially - is to reach those thousands through me.

I hope you join me in this adventure. God bless you!