Am I really in New Zealand? Well actually I’m in Australia now…but better late than never.
When I arrived at the Auckland Airport in New Zealand it still hadn’t hit me…Am I really here? Am I really on the World Race? After being in New Zealand for almost a month, reality is slowly sinking in. This is not a short term mission trip. This is 11 months. In this 11 months, I’m missing at least 2 of my friends’ weddings, my cousin’s 1st baby being born, one of my best friend’s graduation and so much more. However, I know God called me to the Jan 2010 WR. I’m looking forward to my journey with God, but I know my invaluable experiences won’t come without struggles.
YWAM Crystal Springs:
When we arrived at the YWAM base, we were welcomed by the rest of the World Racers, AIM and YWAM staff. We slept in tents, but we definitely weren’t roughing it. The thing that was most impactful at launch was the worship services. During worship I can be me. The real me, the messy me, the I don’t have it all together me. I pretend like God and I are the only ones in the room. I can come to Him with all my crap, imperfections, failures, and fears and He isn’t fazed. He welcomes it! It’s hard to understand if you’ve never truly experienced God’s presence. I don’t know how to explain it. The best I can do is I feel completely satisfied in that moment and nothing else matters.
After launch, my team (Trumpets of One) and 2 other teams took an 11 hour bus ride to El Rancho Christian Holiday Park to help with their kids camp and conference in Waikanae.
The Naked bus: (yes, that’s what it’s called)
(To preface this I hope Matt, John, and Carl are following me on my blogs) On our way to El Rancho (which by the way doesn’t have anything to do with the hispanic community) God gave me opportunities to talk with 3 different guys on the bus. The first guy was Matt. He was a really cool Australian probably in his upper 20s. We talked about New Zealand, sports,and beaches for several hours.
The 2nd guy was John. I’d say he’s about my dad’s age with a gray mustache and cowboy hat. He was from Oregon on a 3 month vacation. This time Emily, another World Racer, joined the conversation. She shared her testimony and how God impacted her life.
The 3rd guy was an 18 yr old guy named Carl from the UK. He moved to New Zealand with his family and loves skate boarding. Carl was on the bus with me for at least 6hrs.
Even though I don’t know them well and I’ll never see them again I pray that God blesses them and that one day they’ll have a personal relationship with Jesus. This was a learning experience. I learned that God gives you opportunities to witness and you have to take them right then and there because you can never go back. I think God was preparing me for next month in Australia where we will be doing beach ministry which involves primarily building relationships and sharing our faith.
We were welcomed with a sacred ceremony called a Powhiri by the Te Ata Awi, a local Maori tribe, in the Apiti Chapel. The traditional way to greet is to touch your noses and foreheads together. The night before we left El Rancho. We went to a farewell ceremony and ate a traditional Maori meal called Hangi. The men prepare it by digging a pit in the ground and using hot irons to cook it. The meal is wrapped and buried in the ground for several hours. I love experiencing the Maori culture because it’s such a big part of New Zealand.
After the kids were gone, we started to set up for New Wine. 2 more World Race teams joined us. A group of us were put on a marketing team made up of many degrees like graphic design, international business, journalism, etc. Ricki had told me to do something uncomfortable every day and it would get easier. Well, this was very uncomfortable for me because I was the least experienced and least confident person in the room. I let the Devil tell me I wasn’t good enough and that I had nothing to offer. I felt my insecurities from my past creep in and the only thing I could do was turn to God. In reality, I wasn’t a major part in the marketing, but I grew from it and I tried my best.
God is continually stretching me and teaching me through my experiences. After washing dishes and serving food, I’ve grown to have a deeper appreciation for people “behind the scenes” who many times get overlooked. God used cleaning toilets to humble me. Living in close community I’m learning to put others before myself in everyday living just to bless them without getting recognition. I’ve learned whatever you do God can get the glory if you do it with a joyful heart and without complaining. These may be things you and I already knew, but to live it out is another thing.
Colossians 3:23-24
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
