These have been so positive and out-there that I have taken up the first lot for this article to illustrate what our young writer team members are busily engaged in.
Elesha Edmonds from Auckland New Zealand is a journalism graduate and as part of her end-qualification worked on assignment for one of the major New Zealand national weekend newspapers. This is Elesha's six lines.
Elesha Edmonds (NZ)
Just found out I won a scholarship to move to Denmark to learn how to a foreign correspondent. I leave just after the new year. Which is quite soon. Oh, mum and dad were ecstatic... But probably more for the reason that they had an excuse to go to Denmark and visit our church missionaries in Germany. I have to travel round Europe doing live crosses so if they're streamed through the internet ill give you a link. If you know any good churches in Denmark then let me know! Whoooo so excited.
Jared Diprose (NZ)
I taught English and Maths on the Thailand/Burma border for one month. I loved it and was so blessed to be there! I then rode with one of my closest friends across Thailand on a scooter (one scooter, two people), this was a great adventure. I spent two weeks in India with a team from our local cafe looking at some missional business options. Finally I spent 8 days in beautiful Tibet staring at the Himalayas. A great time!
Blaine Packer (Aust)
This year I've been finishing my Bachelor of Cross-cultural Ministry at Worldview in Tasmania, and had the opportunity to do a short-term internship with a missions team in Theassaloniki, Greece at the beginning of the year. Since then, I've been studying the justice of God, the Christian and hope, and recently leadership - which also presented an opportunity to attend the Global Leadership Summit. I'm interested in media, technology and music (love videogtaphy), and I serve at my local church on the media, tech, youth and worship teams.
Charley Goiris (Aust)
For two years I'm working 3 days a week at Crossway Baptist Church in their Youth Ministry doing admin and running their annual week long camp; I am studying at the Melbourne School of Theology; recent subjects Greek and an exegetical subject in the Book of Hebrews [English]. I have felt challenged to get out of the 'Christian bubble' and connect with people who don't know Jesus which has led me to doing some work in modelling and acting; using the talent training I received in my teen years. This has led to a variety of fun opportunities being on set short films, commercials, music videos and photo shoots and awesome conversations with make up artists, floor managers, budding actors and other randoms who happen to be floating around.
Dan Peterson (Aust, from the US)
One class left of biblical studies in this my second year at Worldview in Launceston Tasmania. I hope to fruit pick over the summer. I have just returned from a time on mission in Burnie where I worked alongside an Anglican church for about two weeks. I am currently planning my practicum for mid February in southeast Asia. I have been pretty involved in a couple preaching ministries throughout Tassie and hoping to expand this more as the opportunities arise.
Gemma Taylor (NZ)
While in India - saw me making bangles with beautiful and resilient women, avoiding stray dogs and urine on the street, tending to the fingernails of a blind lady named Neha who I think will be etched into my mind forever. I had the most amazing time, I wanted to cry almost every day and did some days but for the majority of the time, I was in reverence of the joy and love that inhibited the people of India. I am planning on going back next summer once I finish study for that year. There are going to be some pretty sweet calendars for sale filled with beautiful pictures from our time away if anyone wants a trendy and socially just gift for Christmas- actually can't promise it's socially just but buy it anyway!
This is just the first taste - we have the most amazing group of young people in this young writer program.
There is an annual turn over and we're saying good bye to Andrea Earl (NZ), Lehi Duncan (NZ), Natalie Van Egmond (Aust) and Adam Schoenmaker (Aust). We have seen some take a rest and then return such as Ben Kitzelman and Merewyn Foran (Aust) and a bunch of new young writers for 2014 – Cody Knox, Harriet Campbell, Helen McIntosh, Amos Sale (NZ), Janetta Hayden (NZ) and Tim Robertson (Aust).
In rest mode hopefully returning in 2014 is Tisha Williams, Belinda Croft (Aust), Peter Rope and Joelle Bautista (NZ). Plus the 50 young writers in the system. It's remarkable.
Dr Mark Tronson is a Baptist minister (retired) who served as the Australian cricket team chaplain for 17 years (2000 ret) and established Life After Cricket in 2001. He was recognised by the Olympic Ministry Medal in 2009 presented by Carl Lewis Olympian of the Century. He has written 24 books, and enjoys writing. He is married to Delma, with four adult children and grand-children.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at
www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html