My name is Dana Hastie and I'm a international student all the way from New Zealand. I arrived in New York in January 2004, to take up an athletic scholarship that was offered to me at Stony Brook University. I really didn't know what lay ahead of me as I arrived at JFK airport in the most extreme cold weather that I had ever felt. I actually wanted to jump back on the plane and go home. But as always, God had other plans for me. The first couple of weeks at Stony Brook University were a real test of my faith in God as I knew no one and it seemed like every possible challenge was being thrown at me.

I sincerely prayed for Christian friends and for a Church that God could plant me in. Sure enough God took care of me and I found out about the on-campus Christian fellowship group called BASIC. I went along and met some awesome on-fire young people and I've been going along ever since. BASIC has not only been a huge encouragement to me and my walk with God, but it is always a place I look forward to going on Monday nights to find refreshment and renewal, along with the fellowship of other Christians. I also started attending Full Gospel Christain Center and I immediately found my home away from home. Even though my family is around the other side of the world, God has planted me in a church where I have a family in Christ Jesus.

 

You've just got to trust God! He'll never leave or forsake you!