10 things I've learnt so far on my gap year
Joanna Frith, when she's in the UK, lives in Gloucester. Last Autumn she spent 3 months in Bolivia with Tearfund on their ICS programme and is currently in Spain working alongside long-term mission workers with European Christian Mission. Here's what she's learned so far...
If you’re considering a gap year, do it. It’s the scariest, most challenging thing I ’ve ever done, but I ’ve had the best time of my life – and it’s not even over yet! I think one of the things that I’ve learnt is to push myself. Pushing myself to do things out of my comfort zone, to improve and speak more in Spanish, travel, work, budget, cook for myself and get out of the boat and walk on the water. So here are a few things I’ve learnt along the way:
In a neighbourhood of Tirana, Albania, mothers and caregivers of people with intellectual disabilities are finding something they rarely experience — support, encouragement, and a community that understands their daily reality. 
When the task ahead feels bigger than the resources available, it can be tempting to focus on what is missing. Yet God often calls His people to move forward not with great strength, but with the strength they already have — trusting Him to do the rest. 
In Lviv, Ukraine, Nazar and his wife Iryna continue serving their community amid the ongoing challenges of war. Recently, what began as a simple haircut became an opportunity for encouragement, friendship, and meaningful spiritual conpversation.