When I was asked to present a speech at our graduation this year I was a little surprised. There were people graduating with me that were far more capable and had a way more interesting story to share than I thought I did.

However, when I was writing out the change of heart that has developed in me over the year, I can honestly say I don’t think there have been a lot of people as pessimistic about this course as I was when I first drove in over those gigantic Eastwest signature speed bumps.

But it’s been a year, and the rhythms and seasons of Eastwest gradually softened me, and when writing this speech, all I had to share were positive memories of a year well spent.

So without any further ado, here are the words that I had the privilege of speaking out to a packed Chapel, full of supportive friends and strangers alike as we graduated on a sunny Saturday afternoon in December 2020.

Hello! My name is Naomi Johnston and I’m a missionary.
12 months ago I wouldn’t have felt very comfortable using that word to describe myself, and I swore I never would. For me the word missionary always held connotations of boredom, unoriginality, long skirts and low buns.
My husband Glyn and I had already chosen a mission organisation, One Mission Society, and we had been accepted to work with their team in Budapest, Hungary.
However, 12 months ago, we found out that study at Eastwest was a non-negotiable step on our journey. And we were upset, to say the least.
I didn’t really know Eastwest that well, apart from a few fleeting visits 10 years prior. But what I did know was that I didn’t want to be a typical missionary. I wanted to do things in a new way, a current and fresh way. And I wanted to do it on my own terms. Isn’t that what the 21st century is all about? Doing things on our own terms? So being told by a Missions Board that we needed to study wasn’t really factored into my Declaration of Independence.
Our first issue was that by being asked to study we were being called to give up a few things. Namely and, quite quickly, our two beautiful dogs, our well-paying jobs, our second vehicle, and along with it all, our independent lifestyle. It was all a bit overwhelming given that the school year was due to start 3 months later.
Looking back I can see that we were trying hard to do missions without the sacrifice.
But sacrifice and missions go hand in hand. And our teachers here know that. They have all been involved in crossing cultures themselves, and most of them have been missionaries, some in extraordinarily hard situations, where sacrifice is a daily offering.
Eastwest has taught me many valuable things: some of which being the beauty of cross-cultural living, the cyclic nature of generosity, the consistent faith needed for this journey, and the steadfast reliability of good pastoral care.
But the ultimate lesson that I have learnt can be summed up in the words of Sir Isaac Newton, “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” And that’s what Eastwest is to me, a collection of giants, whose shoulders are firm and supportive. Shoulders I can confidently climb onto as I peer out into the unknown future.
After 12 months, I think I understand a little more some of the depth behind the title of missionary, I have soaked myself in some of the stories of those that have gone before us, and I’m honoured to use that word to describe what I’ll be doing for the next foreseeable future.
I’m Naomi Johnston and I’m a missionary. Thank you so much.

A massive thank you to everyone that supported us this year in a number of different ways. We won’t forget, and we’re so grateful for every one of you!