We arrived in New Zealand after about a 12 hr flight. Following the flight, a member from YWAM (Youth With A Mission) picked us up from the airport and we then took a bus for another 2 hrs to our destination. New Zealand is every bit as beautiful as we see in the movies. Also, the Shire from The Lord of the Rings is about 20 min. away from our campsite. Next week our team will be partnering with Narrows Park, our local ministry contact. We will be involved in a lot of maintenance type projects to prepare for the upcoming year. There will be outreach opportunities to work with the homeless in the community as well as the local youth group that Narrows Park works with.
The weather is nice here. It’s warm, and the breeze is refreshing. The grass is soft, the birds sing constantly, and there is a sense of peace in the air. Everything is so calm. We’re surrounded by mountains, hills, and pastures. This is the scene I picture when I read Psalm 23.
God brought me a long way from home just to remind me how much He loves me. Just to show me how beautiful are His words, when He speaks them into motion. Just to walk with me as I enjoy what He has made. And in the beauty of all I see, He says, “Enter my rest.” I can only pray. Words of praise. Songs of joy. A prayer for His children:
Father, let them see what I see,
Let them feel what I feel,
Reveal to them all that they can understand,
Join with them in laughter,
Draw near to them when they are broken,
Remind them how much You love them.
Amen.
