- What parallels are there between the journey of a threesixty year and the story of the birth of Christ?
AN ANGEL APPEARS TO MARY: how do you experience God, or see God in others?
Gareth - I try to spend time just by myself, Bible in hand, just being alone and reflecting. The way I hear God is in the quiet when I can think and pray.
Josh - While working in the academies we've had the chance to work with TOTAL or (Time Out To Access Learning). Its mostly there for students who persistently break the rules but most of them are there because they have been fighting. Being there has given me a great opportunity to get to know these particular students and chat to them about why they are there, but also about the wider aspects of life. There are times when I really see God working in these kids, and I think its such a privilege to challenge the mentality of low aspiration.
MARY VISITS ELIZABETH AND MARY PRAISES GOD: explain a time you've felt great excitment whilst on threesixty?
Gareth - I feel excitment every time I spend time with my mentee's. I feel I've grown really close to the youth I work with at Coulsdon and look forward to it all week!
JOHN IS BORN AND ZACHARIAH PRAISES GOD: what's it like being a pioneer?
Josh - I have found being a pioneer really hard work, we got some training on being a pioneer and found that the key really is just perseverence. There are times when it is really lonely, and times when I feel proud of all that we've achieved in the past few months, but its really encouraging to be paving the way in a new hub for future threesixty's.
THE JOURNEY TO THE STABLE: what hardships and trials have you faced on your journey?
Gareth - I've never been very good at communication with people I don't know very well, but I am learning slowly and feel I have grown already this year.
Josh - One of the toughest problems I've found this year has been dealing with the behaviour and disrespect of some of the students. It can be hard to find the will to work with some of these young people, especially when there is no pay check at the end of the day! If it wasnt for God being with me, I'm not sure I would have the strength to carry on each day! But, with the encouragment and support of those around me, I manage to walk into work with a smile on my face each day!
SHEPHERDS ARE VISITED BY AN ANGEL: what have you learnt so far on your threesixty year?
Gareth - I've learnt that God is with us all the time and he wants us to cast our anxieties on him. This year will equip me for the rest of my life and has helped me experience all kinds of different cultures, communities and people.
Josh - The journey I'm taking this year is showing me how to live God's love for everyone. Its a real challenge to show love to everyone, especially when sometimes its thrown back in your face. Only by remembering that we do this because God loves them all completely, can we find the grace to continue to show love - though we often fail.
