The Switch.

Today was a big day! I got up good and early to meet up with my tutorial leader to discuss switching streams (programs). What I didn't expect was that before even getting to the meeting all the details would be finalized. So basically, I just walked into his office and he said, "You're good to go. Sign this piece of paper. Here's your new schedule!" Done and done!

And now for the back story:

Ever since I got here to Hillsong I have loved hearing all about the great stuff the Pastoral students get to do. Worship students do great stuff too but I liked what the Pastoral crew told me more. But before classes started, even though this was already on my mind, I didn't want to switch out of worship in case my reasoning was mostly due to being intimidated by the number of other vocalists in the stream.

But on Thursday, my buddy Lewis was telling me about all the cool projects they were doing, and said the magic words, "Allie, you would love this". And I just knew that was it. I had already decided in my mind that I would do Pastoral next year because their classes sound ah-may-zing! like, Family & Ministry, and Preaching with the most all-star teacher/trainer we have here at Hillsong College. I was basically frothing when I was told that. So I spent that evening enjoying the greatness that is Creative Team Night [Sidenote: Hello!! How special is it to go to a place/church where the Creatives in particular are so valued and celebrated!? Creative Team Night is an evening for the Creatives - think those in TV, graphic design, production, worship, photography, etc - where we can have acoustic, low-key worship since many of us miss actually being in a service over the weekend, or through the week even, and there are master classes after to hone in on our skills and build community with others who have similar creative interests. So cool!] but mostly I just pondered whether or not it was a doable, appropriate thing to switch streams. I'm not really a switcher or a quitter, but when I really thought about it, the only reasons I had for doing worship were because (1) I love to sing and (2) I'm at Hillsong and I love Hillsong MUSIC! But then I asked myself, what do I want to do with this? And the startling reality was, nothing. I have no real desire to pursue anything with worship. I always want to sing and I always want to be in a worship team, but I don't need to lead it. So I don't want to spend my days doing vocal exercises just to meet some criteria half-heartedly. But Pastoral subjects, they light me up. They challenge, and scare me, and also really excite me. I want to be with people, talk to people, educate them maybe. Organize them, lead them, and write for them. Like here. Blogging, lights me up. I love it when I feel like I have good flow. Which I feel I haven't had in a while, but when things were good, this space brought me so much joy and forward motion; community and blessing. 

If anything, I have had a real revelation about what I'd like to do in my future and - you win Mom! - I want to teach. Ideally at a higher education level (ie: college... not Uni though coz I don't want no PhD!) and religious subjects would be cool. Actually, I told the lady I was serving with at Sisterhood that I would love to teach a college course looking at the Bible as base literature for Classic works of Literature, and she said that gave her shivers and she believed that was a Holy Spirit/God idea. Hello! I'm saying all this to paint even more clearly how Pastoral is more 'for me'. 

The fact that it all came together so wonderfully too helps to affirm the switch. I'm just really excited now about what's ahead and I didn't feel this way before about Worship. I can't wait to be challenged and provoked and pushed out of my comfort zone. And to share and study and write and read and talk. Yes! 

As for which "pathway" I'm doing - there are a bunch to choose from, like, Youth, Young Adults, Kids, Events, Church Ministry, Pastoral Care, and Social Justice - I chose Pastoral Care which is described as, "Teaching practical skills and ethical principles to come alongside those facing challenge or crisis and helping connect them with God's answers and practical ways to establish healthy life-style patterns". I think of the different options, Pastoral Care sounds most applicable to my life and future and the gifts and talents and ambitions God has equipped me with.

And now, I have Monday Fundays off, which kindly allowed me to go to the beach today with some people in my new Pastoral family ;) [Sidenote: We are all grouped off for Tutorials and we stay with those same people all year. Everyone says they become like family. So we're diving right into being that way and I love it already]

I need your prayers in regards to a job. I need one soon! Money is running out. I was called by the University of Sydney about a job as a Counterhand but I cannot make their interview times due to class sooo I'm hoping for something else or for there to be another opening with them (they pay really well and seem very flexible, acknowledging student school schedules etc!) This is the first time in 8 years that I've not had an income. I'm excited too to have another outlet aside from the Church and College - as great as they are - another mission field and the opportunity to be around different people, getting to know more than the couple walls at 188 Young St Waterloo! 

Another very exciting thing from this weekend is that I had the opportunity to photograph at 2 Sunday services, including the brand new 3pm service, which is very exciting for the City Campus as it acknowledges the growth and need for more space for more people. 

A new City campus opens in a few weeks and the carpet is being all rolled out for that. How crazy and amazing it is to be here at "such a time as this"! Seriously. Most days I don't grasp that at all, but sometimes I find myself just looking around, being lost in my own head, when I realize, "I am here. This is my dream come true. This is everything I thought it would be and so much more". I wish I could accurately describe what this place - Hillsong - is like, but all I can say is, take the greatest, most special experience you've ever had with a stranger and then multiple that by all day every day. If I've said that already, I'm sorry to repeat myself but I can't express it enough. There is something in the water, and that water needs to spread into all our systems!

That's all for now lovelies! Thanks for reading! xx