A little about Mike and Nomes…
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Name: Mike Brunner
From: Gahanna, OH, USA
Name: Nomes Waipouri
From: Christchurch, New Zealand
Mike’s Interview
Well, here we go. My name is Michael Brunner; I go by Mike or Bruno for short. I was born in Phoenix, AZ and moved to Columbus, OH when I was 11. I have lived in or around Columbus since then, except for my college years.
I went to Northwestern College in Orange City, IA for four years and graduated with a B.A. in Religion with a minor in Philosophy. I am extremely addicted to caffeine in most forms (coffee, tea, pop, energy drinks). I played lacrosse at NWC and love it. I like to read a bit and I really enjoy talking about faith and issues of faith.
God brought me to JIMS this year. I had really no clue about what I wanted to do when I graduated. I was struggling with whether or not I wanted to go on to seminary right away or if I wanted to find a youth pastor job. JIMS is somewhat both. While I may not officially be at school I will be able to grow substantially this year and really learn a lot about myself. It is also a great opportunity to do youth work.
I’m not really sure what I’ll do when I get home at the end of August. I am still trying to figure out if I want to go to seminary right away or if I’ll be financially able to. And I still have a heart to do youth work. Hopefully God will grant me some discernment throughout the year.
Take care and God bless.
Nomes’ Interview
Introducing Nomes………
My real name is Naomi Waipouri but since I was about 10 or 11 I have been known as Nomes, Nomi, Nomie, Garden Gnome and many other variations on my name but Nomes has stuck, now it’s pretty uncommon for me to be called Naomi and it takes me by surprise almost every time.
I am 22 and from New Zealand which means that while I’m here in Kilkeel I’m about as far from home as I can get without getting closer again! I grew up in Christchurch and spent a year at Canterbury Univeristy before moving to Dunedin to study at Otago University. At university I completed a Bachelor of Commerce and am still studying for a Bachelor of Theology which I intend to complete once I leave Northern Ireland so I can graduate with a double degree, hopefully sometime in 2008!
Drinking coffee is probably my all time favourite past time, especially when it goes along with good mates and good conversation! I am a New Zealander through and through, rugby is my favourite sport to watch (I always used the excuse that I was too small to play). I really like to be in the outdoors, tramping or rock climbing or hanging out at the beach. I will give anything a go and am generally quite practical, NZers are famous for their “no.8 wire” initiative and some of that has definitely rubbed off on me.
How did I get to Jims? I asked God whether once I finished university I was going to be doing Youth Work or Human Resources Management and this is part of the answer, I said when I finished, God sent me now. Only God could have convinced me that I wanted to take a break from study when after 4 & 1/2 years I only had 6 months left to complete, it is just such crazy but perfect timing. I am a relatively new Christian and this sort of mission was definitely not in my plan. So during this year I have a lot to learn and be challenged by but I am really looking forward to growing in God and defining my faith. Once I leave Kilkeel I plan to finish my Theology degree so I can graduate but I have no idea what God’s plan holds for me after that and that’s ok!
God bless, Nomes