Hi, my name is Tara Murray. I am 19 years old, I live in Ottawa Canada and I am in my final year at college for culinary management. I was born and raised in Zimbabwe and I moved to Canada with my family 5 years ago. I grew up in a Christian home, going to church on Sunday, I also went to an all girls private school where we sang hymns and said the Lord's prayer but I didn't know God, church was just part of my schedule, somewhere I went every week.
The situation in Zimbabwe began to get worse, so we decided to move to Canada; we didn't know anyone in Ottawa but an amazing family that my Uncle had meet before offered for us to stay with them while we got settled. This family took us to their church, City Church, which is where I go now.
On Sunday morning in jr highs the youth pastor asked me in front of everyone "who is God to you" and I panicked and said the first biblical thing that came to mind "he's my shepherd", the pastor looked at me and asked "what does that mean to you", and I had no idea. It was after that I started pursuing a relationship with God.
I love working with kids, I teach Sunday school at my church and am part of the opening session where we do skits (I'm the puppet J), games and worship with the kids. I also love counselling at kids camps during the summer. I am also a youth leader at my youth church "The Called", where I do a lot of cooking for the team.
Last summer I went to Banff to work at a resort and it was there that God turned my world upside down and showed me he has given me his heart for his children in Africa. So I am extremely excited to see what God has planned for me and the team in SA.