The end of another year...

We have come to that time of the year again, where we have emotional goodbyes, look towards the future, and remember the challenges... and I thank God that people are so willing to give up time, energy and money so that they are able to give something back to community.
There is something so precious about doing something for nothing, and one of the best memories of my gap year was when a bunch of youth I was working with in a school in North Bristol asked me how much I got paid, when I replied 'I'm not paid anything' ... they didn't believe me. And it took three other members of staff and my gap year partner to persuade them I was a full time volunteer. Youth expect these days that people will only care as much as they get paid, as much as they recieve something back, and for them to realise I wanted to be with them, was completely new! And I love the fact that this made them feel appreciated. I hope we all continue to learn what it means to give something for nothing, and never get out of the practice of compassion :)
I sometimes wish we could all live a life of gap years and continue to help with what were passionate about - and maybe some of us will do! But threesixty is such a brilliant opportunity to spend a year loving others who often dont experience love, and to give everything for a community in need.
If you want any more information please go to www.oasisuk.org/volunteering/threesixty

This July sees me coming to the end of my time working for Oasis as threesixty Coordinator in Waterloo. I have had the privilege of ‘looking after’ 6 threesixties over the past 2 years. During this time I have seen them all develop their gifts and skills and grow in their relationship with God. It has been an experience that has helped me to grow, alongside them, as I have sought to ‘practice what I preach’ and to lead by example.
As I have been here, I have had the opportunity to see the bigger picture; to see the work that has been done faithfully, week in, week out, by one threesixty, picked up and developed further by someone coming in the following year. A brilliant example of this has been in the local primary school, where threesixties have been involved in lesson support, sports clubs and most recently a residential weekend away for students with behavioural issues. The school is now set to become an Oasis Academy in September and I believe the positive image of Oasis that the threesixties have displayed over the past 3 years has played a significant part in this development.
God is faithful and powerful. He doesn’t need us to bring about His Kingdom but he chooses to allow us to partner with Him and discover and use the gifts He has given us to serve others. In this we discover more of who God is and who we are in Him and live life to the full.
- Heather Easton