From Helping to Healthcare
Sarah Norris completed threesixty, the Oasis gap year programme, in 2008. Here, she talks about why she decided to do the year, and how a career in healthcare has helped her to continue serving others.
"I decided to do threesixty because I really wanted to be part of positive change in the community - working alongside people, getting stuck in and doing practical things to serve and help others.
I'd also got to a place in my life where it wasn't about God anymore. I felt like I needed to stop and find out what God's plan for me really was. Proverbs 16:9 says 'A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps'. I felt like I'd been planning on what the world wanted without really asking what God wanted.
I really enjoyed being part of the larger Oasis vision of working and living in community. My favourite thing was just going to have a cup of tea with an old lady for an hour a week as part of the Oasis Church befriending project. I still see her now.
When I completed threesixty I started working as an Occupational Therapist. Throughout the year there were the times when just listening and praying didn't seem to be enough, and I wanted to physically do something. I really believe in trying to be an answer to your own prayers, and help practically, and have it cost you something personally to do that."