STORY OF THE MONTH - Samantha Vaartjes

Samantha (Sam) Vaartjes had been praying for a long time for guidance.

She was feeling lost and was struggling with chronic illness for 11 years which had left her without vision and limited in the options for her future.  

At age 29, she was back living with her parents in Wollongong, near Sydney, Australia.

Like so many people had experienced, the pandemic had closed down businesses and she was without a job.  She had a strong desire to make a difference in the world.
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NEW DIRECTION AFTER THE PANDEMIC thanks to gps life journey online

Sam knew that she was gifted and loved dancing but for her it felt like a selfish pursuit. “I also had no specific direction for it. I had been praying for almost a year for clear direction and truly asking God to reveal it. I was really frustrated and disheartened and felt like I had little vision and hope.”
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When she discovered GPS Life Journey online, it was the only Christian course she knew that seemed to suit her needs perfectly! She said, “I was doubtful that this course could still be offered to me in Australia (before finding out about the zoom options) but I was so keen to try and reach out anyway because I felt like I had nothing to lose and everything to gain! 

I really wanted God to speak to me through this course and give me the vision and direction I had been praying for so long for.”

Thanks to connecting via Instagram @gpsjourney she was able to chat with Emily Miller.  In October 2021, they started the GPS Life Journey process online via Zoom.  Meeting weekly for up to an hour to discuss the eight sessions.

Vaartjes shared “The weekly classes were really manageable (as long as I had done all my homework!) and the short snippet videos gave a good little intro into the class for the week. I felt excited for the weeks to come (especially the one where we hear from God) because I was expectant concerning what I was going to hear.”

She felt encouraged and felt like she had ticked off another piece of the puzzle towards understanding herself and her calling better. “It was really eye opening finding similar patterns, or themes through my answers, which helped give me clarity, confirmation and confidence.”

“I am so extremely thankful for the GPS life journey. It was the vehicle through which God answered my prayers and gave me vision I had been praying for, for so long. 
 
It was such a wonderful journey, through which I discovered the way God has intentionally designed me, the passions He has given me, and the values I hold dear - they are not a mistake, but carefully given to me for what I am specifically called to. 
 
This process has restored my hope … it has given me vision for the future, and every day is exciting as I take one step forward into the calling God has for me. 
 
I cannot recommend the GPS life journey enough! If you embark upon it though, be prepared - come expectant and get ready to hear God speak and release you into the wonderful exciting future He has planned for you! 
 
The best thing about it is that it can be taken from anywhere in the world ... I was blessed to be able to go through this process via zoom. It was so personal and really allowed for extra time to be given to explore my calling and answers with my wonderful facilitator (Emily). 
 
Thank you Nolen Rollins for creating such a God inspired course. It is something that has changed my life, and will be something I come back to time and time again as I age, and step into new seasons in my life.”  Blessings, Sam

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Sam has been working since December at Luna Park as well as a few more job opportunities here and there. "I have moved back to Sydney and am loving being part of the industry. I am working to settle in a new church up here and really get connected to be anchored in God’s community before going back out to do my work."

If you would like to participate in GPS Life Journey online, then please check the EVENTS page to find out when the next group begins.  ​