I am sitting here in an orange security
vest guarding a tent for the call2all conference and thought what a great time
to write a blog. Where to begin – the past week I will truly keep close to my
heart. We had the great privilege to join in on the celebration of the 50th
year of Youth with a Mission (YWAM). 
The native culture of New Zealand
is called Maori; they have a tradition for the people entering into the land called
the Hongi Celebration. We and 200 others from other outer islands (Ex, Papua
New Guinea, Bougainville, Solomon Island, Vanuatu, Fiji, and New Caledonia) walk
into their land (which was just walking across the field) as a group of warriors
greeted us with cries of celebration and presented the leaders with gifts. It was truly an experience I will never
forget, it was a celebration of nations joining. At the end of this celebration
we greet each others with the traditional greeting, where you go nose to nose
and breathe in one breath together. As God created Adam with a breath of life,
we share that breath of life together- God breath into one another.
We also joined in with the
preparing of the Hangi feast. This was something I have never seen before started
by the Polynesian and spread across the islands. We prepared a meal for seven
hundred people; ok it was more like a feast. We washed and cut hundreds of
potatoes, pumpkins, and Yams, prepared stuffing, chicken and pork. Now this
feast is prepared not on a stove but in the ground- let me describe it. They
dig a hole (kind of like a grave) and then put red hot rocks on the bottom,
then put the food in layers (you must know how to do this for it to turn out
correctly), cover it with a wet cloth, then wet potato sacks then cover it with
dirt, so all the steam stays in- really it is just like a big steam room. It
then cooks for 4-5 hours. We did not get to see it come out but we did get to
serve it to the seven hundred people. At the end we got the amazing opportunity
to try this meal- like the Maori people said it is a required taste, because it
is very strong in taste- very smoky.
The Maori Natives are full of
love, compassion and have a heart to serve. As the nations joined in from the
islands to celebrate this 50th year, the feast and greeting was a
great way to get started. Millions of people have been touched by Ywam and the
vision they have. I cannot even describe to you the feeling I had to see
nations coming together to celebrate one God. As we worshipped, a joy filled
the room, as hearts leaned into God- seeing nations, countries, and cities,
reached by God. 
I will share with you one moment
that brought me to tears; I could have not been more joyful. Everyone in the
auditorium was singing “our God reigns”. A smile and a joy came upon that place
in a beautiful sound as we all lifted Gods name. God was shining over that place and angels
were celebrating.
It was beyond a privilege and
truly an honour to serve at the celebration, it was live changing to see
nations come together to lift our God up, and praise Him together. God is
working in the nations.
