These testimonies were collected by Jordan Weatherall during a mission trip to the school he worked at as an English teaching missionary for the Trans Pacific Union Mission in Southeast Asia.
Keira, Hannah and Marco were born into Adventist families in Australia, where faith, service and community became central to their lives. From an early age, they were brought up in environments that encouraged spiritual growth and active involvement in the church. These foundations shaped their journeys as they learn to balance their goals and the demands of school with their commitment to faith.
Keira Agustian
Going through year 12 in 2025, gaining my high school certificate in Victoria, was one of the most stressful experiences I’ve ever had. I studied harder than I ever had to try to receive the results I wanted. At the end of the year, when I didn’t receive the score I wanted, or they seemed too low for the university courses I wanted, I felt disappointed. I understood that God always had a reason, but I couldn’t accept that He would allow that outcome when I had already tried my best.
Despite my disappointment, I was blessed to received offers to both of my top two course preferences. Looking back, I can see that what felt like a setback was actually God positioning me where I needed to be. It also reminded me that doing my best and letting God do the rest was key.
This experience taught me that God doesn’t always remove confusion or disappointment right away, but He is always faithful if you trust in Him. Even when the journey doesn’t turn out the way you want or expect, God is still leading us exactly where He intends.
Hannah Kim
Earlier this year, a friend messaged me about applying for part-time jobs and sent me a link to a job search website. While scrolling, I found what felt like the perfect job: a Korean restaurant only two minutes from my school, looking for a Korean-speaking casual worker with no experience required.
The job was perfect, it felt like it was tailored just for me! The problem was the hours. The job required me to work Friday evenings and Saturdays, which is the Sabbath.
At first, I didn’t want to let the opportunity go. The rates were almost 1.5 times higher than normal, and I was really tempted to give in. And to be honest, for a while, I was very set on working there.
I tried to justify myself and push back against my parents’ concerns. But after many conversations, prayer and my parents’ continued support, I started to realise that this wasn’t just about the job, it was about whether I truly trusted God’s commandments and His promises.
The Bible says in Psalm 37:5, “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will act.”
Ultimately, I didn’t get the job, and until now, I don’t know whether giving up this opportunity will lead to something better or if I will come to regret it. However, I trust that following God’s commandments and promises will lead God to honour my choices in His time.
Marco Agustian
Basketball is one of my favourite things, but in Australia, many high-level teams play on the Sabbath. I prayed that God would open a way for me to still compete while staying faithful.
God answered that prayer through my school. One of my teachers, also our basketball coach, is a Seventh-day Adventist. He makes sure our team never plays on the Sabbath while still giving us chances to compete.
When I first started, I wasn’t very good. In Year 9 I played at the Adventist National Games in Sydney, but I was the youngest and smallest on the team, so I spent most of my time on the bench. After that, I started training much harder, but the next year I still didn’t play as much as I had hoped and I felt frustrated.
So I kept working hard and also started praying more before games. Later that year, we played at the Footlocker Nationals on the Gold Coast—one of the biggest tournaments in Australia. This time, I prayed before every game and I noticed a big difference. I played more calmly, got more time on the court and was really happy with how I performed.
Through this experience, I learned that while hard work matters, trusting God and praying is the key.
