What I've learnt from this whole experience...

My name is Holly Neill, I'm 17 years old and I was part of an Ex-press team travelling to Moldova.

Within this Exodus Team, we've travelled on a spiritual journey together; a journey which has dramatically changed my Christian walk; a journey which has involved a lot of laughter and created lasting memories; a journey which has challenged us to no longer keep our faith quiet, but rather live out loud.

As we began to explore the ‘Ministry for Life' course, each meeting confirmed the almighty truth that God had brought us together. Within His perfect plan for each one of us, this mission trip was part of it.

Before I applied for this Exodus team I was a spectator Christian; one who went to Church, went to Scripture Union, occasionally read my Bible and prayed, and was generally a good person. My faith had become bland, safe and boring, an issue that I only discovered as we delved into the course. Yet through our weekly meetings and assigned Bible readings

I began to discover that true faith requires not only a knowledge of the Word but an application of it. For it is only through living out loud that Jesus becomes real in us, a part of our life that shines brightly for all to see. ‘What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don't show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? ...So you see, faith by itself isn't enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless' (James 2:14, 17). It is through this Ex-press course that I have learnt to carry out random acts of kindness, and take my faith to a new deeper level, whilst gaining confidence. Through the meetings we were inspired to take a stand for Jesus, in a world which is saturated by our own hedonistic behaviour.

I have loved every second of being a part of this team and pray that the adventure we embarked upon together is only the beginning.

Holly