In early 2014 we decided that the time was right for us to put aside our paid jobs to give towards God’s work abroad. We felt a distinct calling here to Marine Reach Fiji and since arriving that belief has been fortified several times over:
– We have been welcomed into a family that has a heart for reaching out to the poorer and more remote Fijian communities
– Our skills and experience have been put to good use and complement those of the staff here
– And just as importantly, we have been taught and shown how to grow in our faith

Our plans to stay here for a year have been extended as we feel God still has roles for us to fulfil. We are currently helping to run the latest international outreach, there will be another Discipleship Training School to staff next year and there are several areas within the organisation where improvements and modernisation would be desirable. Therefore it is our intention to return here once again in 2016 to continue our work.

Beyond that, we have been invited by the director of RescueNet (see our post ‘A Series of Unexpected Events‘) to work as on-site staff at the Australia base in Canberra. He is currently doing a huge proportion of the organisational work himself and is specifically in need of a medical coordinator and IT developer. Dani, in particular, has had a long-growing passion for disaster relief and we are both excited about the potential to be involved with RescueNet.

For those who may not be aware, Youth With A Mission and all of its related organisations are 100% voluntary. Nobody is paid and volunteers are responsible for covering the cost of food, accommodation and general living expenses. We have felt truly blessed to have received some unexpected contributions towards our time so far, but in order to continue working this way we can no longer depend on what is left of our savings to cover our living costs.

If there is one thing there is no shortage of in YWAM it is stories of provision. When people follow God’s calling the resources always seem to be there, and so it is in faith that we have committed to returning to Fiji in 2016. The large majority of long-term YWAM volunteers have generous regular supporters and, although neither of us are naturally comfortable asking for or receiving gifts, we realise it is a necessary and responsible part of missionary life. And so we would like to ask anyone who feels a prompting to help us in our work to contact us. We believe strongly that this is something you should consider doing only if it is your desire, and please understand that there is no expectation from friends and family as the decision to volunteer is ours and ours alone.

Above all, we appreciate your prayers in support of our time here in Fiji. We would like to thank you all for your continued interest in what we have been doing and for your kind words of encouragement.

God bless,

Ali & Dani