Postby Kaori » Tue Jan 04, 2011 9:19 am
Can you share with us why you feel that God is calling you to Holland? Is there a specific work or ministry you have in mind?
I agree with Risa that moving to a different country is a major decision. Does it have to be now, or could moving there after college be an option? Right after college is a pretty good time to move to a different country—speaking from experience, since that is what I did myself. Alternately, echoing Risa again, are there any opportunities for you to go to a university in Holland? I don’t know what university is like in South Africa or Holland, but in the States, a large part of the college experience is the friendships you can make with other people who are about the same age as you and share your interests; it’s harder to have that kind of bonding experience if you don’t go to college straight out of high school, and it’s also hard (in the States, at least) to go to undergraduate college full-time if you don’t go immediately after graduating.
It’s a bit difficult to really give advice without knowing anything about your circumstances, your reasons for wanting to go, or what universities are like in South Africa or Holland, but my general advice would be to talk it over with your parents and at least think about the possibility of either going after getting your bachelor’s degree or pursuing a university education in Holland. My observation has been that if you go to do work or ministry in another country, it’s pretty hard to get any further credentials once you’re out in the field. So, I think it’s better to first get whatever credentials you need for the ministry you want to do, which enables you to make a long-term commitment to whatever opportunity it is that you’re pursuing. But that’s just my viewpoint as an American working in Japan (completely different circumstances).
Anyways, God does sometimes call people to follow paths that are not ordinary; I will pray that God will give you the wisdom and discernment to know which path is best.
Let others believe in the God who brings men to trial and judges them. I shall cling to the God who resurrects the dead.
-St. Nikolai Velimirovich
MAL