First Blog from the Field: New Zealand

I
arrived in LA after a flight from Chicago and a layover in Denver bright and
early on Sunday morning. The sunshine was a literal warm welcome to the nearly two
feet of snow I had just left from the Windy City. I met up with my squad mate
David and we were off on an adventure through the not-so-glorious LAX. After a
run-in with a monk and an unnecessary shuttle ride, we met up with a few dozen
of our squad mates. Within a few hours, we were all accumulated near Air New
Zealand’s counters–an overwhelming sight, to be sure: over 100 people,
backpacks, and all–all preparing to leave the country at once.

 

We
made it to our flight on time, I slept through the taxiing and take-off, only
to wake up for dinner, chat with Susie, Margie, and Jake from the N squad,
attempt to watch “Sideways” and “It Might Get Loud” (but I
was too tired), and once again try to fall asleep for the 13-ish hour long flight
across the Pacific. I was a bit restless, but prayed in between bouts of sleep.
We arrived in New Zealand on Tuesday the 5th–we completely skipped out on the
4th due to the international Date Line.

 

While
we waited in the pre-dawn minutes after customs and a thorough review of my
North Face(c) Tadpole tent, our buses arrived to drive us approximately 2.5
hours south of Auckland, where sheep roam and “The Lord of the Rings”
films were produced. I was blessed to have Andrea to sit next to on this ride
through the hills, in which we chatted as the green pastures flew by and the
blue skies and large cumulous clouds floated above like left-over Cheerios(c)
in my cereal bowl the other day.

 

We
arrived at the base camp for TWR, which is actually where YWAM has a base for
some of their schools and programs. So, if you ever decide New Zealand YWAM is
for you–you will not be disappointed. Even now, after breakfast, a well-needed
shower, lunch, some info sessions, and a tour of the facilities (which includes
fatalistic hot springs), I am in awe of my surroundings. The hills and
mountains are not too far away and their lush shades of green are dotted with
greys and browns of rock slabs that grace my eyes and refresh my spirit. I had
been too long away from mountains. Mountains are where my heart and soul find
rest.

 

Our
base, on a flatter surface, in which I sit before as I write this, is
jam-packed with dozens of tents that remind me of a sea of fish–so many colors
and no one place to set my gaze. The same is true with the two squads. So many
people, stories, love, and passions–but no one place to set my gaze. While I
find myself jet-legged and in want of a nap, I cannot help myself but be
over-joyed to see these people. While we all come from different backgrounds,
we now share the Race in common. Which goes beyond the flights, bus rides,
trains, and adventures that are soon to occur–but reaches out to who we are:
obedient children of God. We heard His call and we listened. We are here,
thousands of miles away from home and our comfort zones, going through a week
of training before we are sent to reach out, serve, and love the locals like
Christ.

 

Thanks
to you–each prayer, encouraging word, and dollar–I am here, preparing a
sermon, working with my team and squad, and getting ready to be Jesus to New
Zealanders. I thank you all for it–there is no way I could be here without
you. (Thank you, thank you, thank you!) I know that this is where God wants me.