Hey everyone!
So far so good.. This past week has been going pretty well… I hope you are all doing well in this new year! This week was the start of the ministry we are doing here in Gisborne. The Lord has been giving us insight into the lives of these kids and the things they face. The other day, we learned that many of the kids here are beaten pretty regularly and watch their moms get beaten. This town is pretty mixed up-between the wealthy crowd and the Maori tribes, there is a lot of diversity. When we walked into this, we really didn’t know what we would be facing. Pretty quickly, we are realizing the strongholds that have this place tied down. The past few days, the YMCA has been taking a few of us out to a little town about 30 minutes away called Te Karaka. It’s a pretty small town and all of the kids know each other. Some of them have shown up without shoes and with holes in their socks. They are pretty sweet kids. Most of what we do is just show up and play games with the kids, eat lunch, play some more and then go home to our comfortable house while these kids may be going home to abusive parents, friends or brothers and sisters. Many of them don’t get anything to eat besides what we give them when they come out to play. Yesterday, I was in prayer most of the time that we were in Te Karaka. Every kid has a story and something that God wants to do in their life. While praying, there were so many doubts in my mind about how nothing would ever change-BUT in the middle of all my doubt, God really spoke to me. He said that nothing is beyond Him. He can bring down any stronghold; He can change any abusive parent; He can move any mountain that stands in the way! I was so encouraged and was led more to just keep praying. For any of you who need to hear this right now-JUST KEEP PRAYING! I now know that God has big plans for Gisborne and Te Karaka. He has plans to prosper them and not to harm them; thoughts to give them a hope and a future. DO IT LORD!
A few of the kids in Te Karaka
Some of the kids playing Ki-O-Rahi (A Maori game)
Some of the kids playing in the pool
I love you all!! Please keep me posted on how you are all doing!!!
Love, Karen
