Tell Us A Bit About Yourself
Hey, my name is Danielle. I'm completing my final year at UofT in my studies in English, History, and Education this coming term. I'm a professional yapper, a flavourful foodie, and a strong lover of broken things God wants to redeem. Last term I was the Co-President of a fellowship called Power to Change, and was a Program Don with University College. I have a big passion and vision of serving students, equipping them with opportunities to encounter the person of Christ and to live faithfully in the love God has for them in serving others.
How has following Jesus impacted your goals and plans this summer?
In following Jesus this summer, I encountered so many "no's" of opportunities and pursuits I thought were in my path for the future (i.e. applying to Teacher's College after 3 years of pursuing a teaching profession, and the end of valued relationships). In the season of closed doors God showed me his deep love in transforming my desires to be aligned to his will and reliant on his strength. In particular, God swung open a door for me to be faithful in choosing to obey him in going to Edmonton, Alberta for a mission trip with P2C. God said yes to fully providing for my 10k support raising goal, he said yes in healing me allowing me to be vulnerable with the community I encountered there, and he said yes in showing me where he wants my ministry to be in the future. God laid out my path so clearly to encounter rest in trusting his good plan for me.
What has been challenging or frustrating in your missions journey recently? How did you find hope in the midst of it?
My mission trip gave me so many valuable opportunities to serve the vulnerable as well as to wonder "who are those we deem as vulnerable?" I was challenged especially with the reality of how in a broken world, we are all vulnerable. When I relied on my own strength, seeing hope amidst brokenness was hard, but God showed me how he is in control of all things. As Col 1:12-23 showed me, God is able to "hold all things together" and "reconcile to himself all things to establish peace through his cross." Growing in prayer and faith to develop the eyes and mind of Christ, I have been able to have a restored sense of hope in how God is working. As I live in the now, but not yet, I am anticipating how life with God will direct how I live missionally, taking steps of faith in obedience to show others God's love and the hope of the gospel.
