The Journey God Is Writing
These are our testimonies — the way God has been faithfully shaping our lives and drawing us toward Portugal.
Nathan's Story
Since I was around ten years old, I have felt God calling me to plant churches and serve as a missionary outside the UK, with a deep heart for those who don't yet know Him.
At fourteen, I had a powerful encounter with the Lord in a dream where I saw Jesus seated at the end of a long cathedral-like aisle. In that moment, I knew He was calling me closer to Himself and showing me His heart to draw people back into relationship with Him. From then on, I carried a strong burden to see people move from religion into a real relationship with Jesus.
During my final year at university, 2024, God began speaking to me about stepping further into ministry and missions. In early 2025, I received many prophetic words about being on a "springboard" into a new season — I had no idea how significant that step would be.
Around the same time, I heard about a part-time Global Awakening course on the day of the application deadline and had to apply within an hour. Looking back, I'm thankful I only found out at the last minute, because I would likely have talked myself out of it if I had more time.
God began opening doors, including a connection to Iris. I was later prompted to attend a conference in Bournemouth, where I discovered scholarships for their Harvest School in Portugal. I applied, and despite delays in communication, I was accepted into one of the three scholarships—receiving the news the day after finishing university.
During this season, God also answered my prayer for mentorship by bringing Raj into my life, through whom I have had the privilege of ministering across the UK, South Africa, and Brazil. I have seen God heal, restore, and save many people through these opportunities, all of which have prepared me for what is ahead.
During my first ministry trip with Raj in London, I also met Diana's spiritual Mother and got introduced to her. What began as a brief introduction eventually grew into a relationship, and she is now my beautiful fiancée.
Looking back, I can clearly see God's hand in every step—the prophetic words, the last-minute application, the scholarship, the ministry doors, and even my future marriage. What God called a "springboard" has proven to be far greater than I ever imagined.
Diana's Story
My story is not one of tragedy, but of hope and redemption.
I grew up in a very broken family environment marked by addiction, violence, and mental illness. I was bullied for many years and abused as a teenager and as a baby.
From a young age, I struggled with overwhelming voices and compulsions. Whether people called it OCD, schizophrenia, or something spiritual, it was a constant torment. By my teenage years, I was self-harming, convinced that terrible things would happen if I didn't obey these thoughts. I became increasingly suicidal and was told that medication and psychological support would be something I would need for the rest of my life. My teenage years are a blur.
After moving to England, I desperately searched for answers. I explored New Age practices, Hinduism, and Buddhism, while struggling even more with my mental health. Eventually, someone invited me to church. I kept attending, not because I knew Jesus, but because something about it gave me hope.
In the summer of 2023, something happened and my world fell apart. I felt completely alone and ready to give up.
In desperation, I fell to my knees and cried out to God: "If You are real, You need to show up right now." And God met me right there!
I bought a Bible, and from that moment everything began to change.
As I surrendered my life to Jesus, He convicted me of sin and filled me with a desire to follow Him completely. And Jesus healed me!
The constant torment disappeared. The peace I experienced reminded me of Jesus calming the storm and saying, "Be still." It took time to adjust to the stillness because I had never known it before.
Jesus has restored my relationship with my family, healed deep wounds in my heart, and taught me what it means to know God as Father. He also physically healed me from scoliosis after years of trying different treatments without success. My leg grew!
He has done more than I could ever put into words. I used to wake up devastated that I was still alive because life felt unbearable. Today, I love life. He literally gave me life. When I say He saved my life, I mean it quite literally—I would not be here without Him.
I used to believe I was destined to suffer forever. Now I live with joy, freedom, and hope.
I laid it all down, deleted everything and allowed God to write a new story, paint on a white canvas!
As He transformed my life, He also began to speak to me about church planting and missions, which until today I don't know what it means. After completing an apprenticeship with my church, God opened the door for me to attend Harvest School through a scholarship at an Iris conference. If I'm honest I did not want to go to Portugal when He first spoke to me about it, but I still walked in obedience and at the conference God completely broke my heart for what breaks His, through a vision full of children and I just wept for hours. Since then, I have been serving with Iris, moved to Portugal, and continue travelling between Portugal and England as I prepare for the next season God has for me.
One of God's greatest gifts to me has been Nathan. We met after I received the scholarship through someone who connected us, and he is a beautiful testimony of God's goodness and faithfulness in my life.
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