15 MINUTES WITH
Phoebe
After high school, Canberran Phoebe Siers deferred her
Education degree and moved to Sydney to undertake the
Plunge young adult discipleship program at Morling College,
which included a mission exposure trip where she was
captivated by South East Asia. After the trip, she returned to
Canberra, switched to Asia Pacific Studies and started Global
Interaction’s i68 internship.
In uni I did an exchange semester
in the city where Global Interaction
team members Dave and Caz live.
A few weeks after arriving, I caught
a motorbike to the office of the
Education Foundation they head up and
introduced myself. I mentioned that as
part of my uni exchange I was required
to volunteer for 200 hours, and they
offered to take me on!
I was part of their morning devotions,
contributed to their marketing and
events, and taught some English classes.
I loved getting to know the local staff
and practicing the language. When I
hit the inevitable low points, the ever-
welcoming Global Interaction team was
there to remind me of God’s love not just
for me but for the whole world.
What sparked your interest
in mission?
Dad used to sing us a song about ‘being
a missionary every day’ and he always
taught us that showing people Jesus
was the best thing we could do!
Describe how your trip was
challenging?
When I was overseas, I would only ever
get a hint of someone’s story. Language
and time barriers prevented me from
sitting down and getting the full story.
COME & SERVE
Have you ever wondered if God
may be inviting you on a new
journey? If you love God, love
people and are willing to share
your faith, then consider cross-
cultural ministry.
However, one friend and I chatted
about topics within my word-bank;
food, study and clothes. I later found
out that through her relationship with
the Global Interaction team, she gave
her life to Jesus. I couldn't stop smiling
for a week!
What are you enjoying about the
i68 internship?
It has brought like-minded people
together. Though we are called to
different parts of the world, we get
to encourage each other. We also
get close contact with cross-cultural
workers – seeing them with their kids,
in their homes and in their work. When I
was little I thought only certain types of
people could do mission but I've seen
that the only common denominator
is responding to God’s call and being
ready to learn!
We have learnt that cross-cultural
mission is not a one-size-fits-all
prospect. Rather, it takes a multi-
talented, diversely gifted team of
people to share the message of
Jesus in a community.
Short-term or long-term, single
or family, Africa or Asia? Take the
next step on your journey and
contact your state office or head to
www.globalinteraction.org.au/serve
Even though I was always interested
in mission, I didn't have the motivation
to go to a Bible College and dedicate
my whole future to it. However, doing
i68 and seeing how people’s lives are
changed when they come to faith
makes me so keen to go back! So
I guess the ‘taste’ has changed my
perspective! I know God has a good
and perfect plan for my life, and I have
an inkling it's going to include returning
to Asia.
To find out about the Plunge young
adult discipleship program check out
www.plungegapyear.com.
To talk more about the i68 mission
internship in NSW and ACT, contact
the team on 02 9868 9250.