*Editors Note – I am doing this super fast so please excuse any typo’s and grammar mistakes!*
Okayyy….sorry for the delay but it is time for a ministry update!
So, Saturday morning we left Matamata and took about a 10 hour bus ride down to Waikanae (pronounced Why-ka-nye) where we met the group we will be ministering with for month! We are staying and ministering at a Christian kids camp called El Rancho (I know sounds pretty weird for NZ). The grounds are just incredible. Lush green everywhere you turn, a fresh water river that runs right along the grounds, even a beach not to far away.
So far we have been in leadership training to be a cabin leader (same as a camp counselor in the states). It’s been real fun the past few days getting to know the staff along with the other cabin leaders. It is actually turning into another ministry for us as all of the other cabin leaders range from either 15 to 20 years of age. It’s a perfect opportunity for us to come along side, and mentor them for the week. They are a passionate group who love Jesus and want others to experience the joy that they now have. They all have great accents and are lots of fun too!
The camp starts tomorrow as kids from 10-12 will be coming in for the camp. I will be a cabin leader in charge of 10 boys along with my new friend Trevor. It’s a pretty unique ministry because lots of the kids get to the camp through an agency as they have pretty disruptive home lies. Many of the kids have never felt loved, valued, or affirmed by their families. They have been abused and neglected, they can be violent and disrespectful, they need an encounter with our wonderful God. So our plan is to rain down on them all the love of the Father. Please pray that God would reveal to them the incredible love of God through us and that by the end of the week they would understand what it means to have a relationship with our Heavenly Father. Pray that we would have the same love for the kids that God has for us, and that each kid will not leave this camp without knowing what it truly means to be loved.
When the camp gets over we will start preparing for a huge renewal conference called New Wine. Somewhere between 500 and 1000 young adults will be coming to El Rancho to experience the power of God and be restored as they are sent out as disciple makers of the whole earth. Our job will mostly be hospitality and service as they pretty much take over every aspect of the camp. The New Wine staff flips El Rancho upside down to put on the camp so we will be super busy making sure the conference goes well. We should get to pop into one of the talks now and again and also being surrounded by so many believers from around the world will be an exciting experience for all of us as well. 
So pretty much it is going to be a very exciting month of ministry for all of us! We feel pretty blessed to have been paired up with such a great ministry and be surrounded by great people. Can’t wait to tell you all what happens throughout the month, God is going to do incredible things!
Prayer requests:
First for the kids at the camp. What I mentioned earlier and also just that they would truly encounter God here. That they would leave changed, and that God would lead them ot of the darkness and into the light for the rest of their lives. Also that mentors would be put in their lives so that after they leave camp their spiritual growth will continue.
Pray that God would supernaturally move over the camp. Anybody can be a counselor for some kids. It doesn’t take God’s power to play games and have fun with kids. Pray that God would do things that we have no choice but to give Him all of the credit and glory.
Lastly, pray for the unity of the cabin leaders. It could be easy for us World Racers to look down on them since we are older. But instead we want to look up to and revere them. Pray that we would prefer them, honor them, and show them how a deeper relationship with God is possible.
Thanks so much for all of your encouragement and prayers! I love you guys so much, and with your help God is reaching the nations! Praise God!
