13/06/2009 Bonjourno from Firenze!

I'm now in Florence for my last summer school session for my Masters program in International Development. Looking at my website, here, I see it doesn't quite reflect my present situation, and needs a little updating! Some news in brief. Immediately before coming here I was in Israel for 3 weeks of filming for an upcoming It Is Written Oceania series to be broadcast. Israel-Palestine is an amazing place! I have uploaded photos to the photo gallery. I would recommend viewing the photos on my facebook site, however, as it was much easier for me to put captions there. What am I doing with It Is Written Oceania? Since this site says elsewhere that I'm still in Laos (it really needs some serious updating!), I guess I better answer that question as well. I'm now living back in Sydney. I moved back from Laos toward the end of last year to take up a new job as Manager of It Is Written Oceania. This may seem like a bit of an odd career move, but for me this is a dream job - allowing me to combine many of my interests in a job through which I believe God can really bless. What about my job in Laos? Well, I really enjoyed my two and a half years with ADRA Laos. But when this opportunity came up I took it. What am I doing in a Masters program in International Development? Well, it was highly relevant to my ADRA job, and continues to be very relevant for my current job as I'm still in management of a Non Profit Organisation. IIWO also does some overseas humanitarian work. I've also finished and graduated from my PhD in engineering (water management). My graduation was the day after I arrived back in Australia - toward the end of last year. How do all these various things fit together into my current and future plans? Well, I don't know all the answers about the future. It was a big change to move back to Australia and change career. But I can see God's leading, so what I'm doing makes sense to me. How all the loose ends will come back together and finally be tied together, only God knows; but I trust Him implicitly with my life. Right now I'm enjoying being in Europe, and I'm looking forward to visiting friends in Portugal next weekend. The following weekend I'll be in New Zealand before heading back to Sydney. God bless to all of you! Daniel