When Salome Kohli Googled Bible colleges from her home-town in Switzerland last year, she never imagined she would spend 2008 in Sydney completing the Year 13 Youthworks Gap Year program.
With a passion for Christian ministry, and a childhood fascination with the land "down under', Salome says she was immediately attracted to the Australian Gap Year's mixture of "theological and everyday life stuff" when she discovered the Year 13 website.
"I just had the desire to go a year abroad to a Bible college, to learn about God, to meet other people, to see into other churches " how they do their ministry stuff, to open my view for life, but also do Christian studies in ministry", she recalls.
Finding the Year 13 program affordable and particularly suited to her interests in theology and mission, Salome decided to leave her home-town of Bern and embark on a year of study, ministry and personal growth in Australia " becoming Year 13's first international student within its three years of operation.
Calling Australia home
Despite the obvious difficulties of adjusting to a foreign language and culture, and being away from family, Salome feels she has settled in to her new lifestyle quite well.
She adores the family (of a fellow Year 13 student) that are hosting her, and is already serving at Richmond Anglican Church by assisting with Sunday school, school Scripture and babysitting for mothers during Bible study.
Having now completed the first term of the 2008 Youthworks Gap Year, Salome says she is thoroughly enjoying the challenge of combining theoretical study with practical ministry work throughout her week.
Weekly outdoor chapel services, small group time and service projects, such as the Welfare Awareness Day, have been highlights for Salome, who says being involved in these has enabled her to quickly establish herself in a close community of friends.
The now and the not yet
At the moment, Salome is excitedly anticipating the month-long Fiji mission trip in July which is to be launched this week.
However long-term, her goals are much more profound.
"To have more of God's view, to let him fill my heart more so that he can put the desire in my heart to worship him through my whole life".
Although unsure as to whether she will begin full-time mission work in the future, Salome aims to return next year to Switzerland better equipped to serve Jesus in whichever area he calls her.
Whilst Salome is the Year 13 Youthworks Gap Year's first international student, Australian students have enrolled for intensive mode subjects from as far as Townsville, Lord Howe Island and Newcastle.
The 2008 continuous program has even attracted full-time students from Dubbo, Scone, Lithgow and Bowral.
