BIG News!

It's official.

I am going on the World Race!

January 2013

More info coming soon, but here is my prayer card. Please be praying for me as I prepare to raise financial support and spiritually prepare for this journey, because millions of people from 11 different countries will be depending on me to introduce them to the savior of the world!

On Top of the World

A couple days ago, I embarked on a incredible adventure! I climbed the alpines of Mt. Tongariro and Mt. Ngauruhoe.. Many people make this climb...during summer. I did it in winter, when it was full of snow. This means that I had to learn how to use crampons (metal pikes that you attach to your boots) and ice picks. It is an understatement to say that it was the hardest thing I have EVER done. I won't go into details about everything, but I fell down a certain slope for about 30 seconds (felt like hours), partially fell into a snow cave, and to top it all off, because this is a recently very active volcano, I experienced two earthquakes. Even though, it was the most amazing thing I have ever done. The views and experience was absolutely spectacular, even if I couldn't move the next day.

This 11-hour climb really made me think about what I am facing right now. If you read my last couple of posts, there is a major decision that I am trying to make, and it looks like the hardest climb up a mountain that I could take. But I realized that if God really wants me to do this, He will help me through it. That doesn't mean that it will be easy, just like climbing the mountain wasn't easy, but the end result would be something that I can't even imagine.

I am praying about going on the World Race.

Most of you probably know about this program, because we know some people that have gone, or are going. For those of you who have not heard of the World Race:

The World Race is an 11-month trip around the world, to 11 different countries, spending 1 month in each country. While in these countries, participants involve themselves in various ministries with missionaries in those countries. Churches, refugee camps, orphanages, feeding stations, community outreach, etc.

I know that this would be a heck of a climb, with a lot more than two earthquakes and a few slips. That's why I am so dedicated to praying about this decision, and I hope that you can pray with me as well. Like I said in my last post, going on this race, in a lot of ways, doesn't make sense.

 However, I think i'm finally learning to let God make the decisions for me, and trust Him through the midst of them.

Post Script: For you other LOTR fans, I'm standing (well, jumping) at the opposite side of Mt. Doom that Frodo and Sam are walking towards in this picture.

Faith in the Impractical

I don't have much to update, but I had such an amazing devotion this morning that I HAD to share it with you!

If you read my last post, you know that I am praying about a major decision that I am facing. It's major because everything about it screams impractical.

My thoughts:

It doesn't make sense. It's not a good financial decision.
It doesn't make sense. It takes too much time.
It doesn't make sense. It's too difficult.
It doesn't make sense. It's not what i've been preparing for.
It doesn't make sense. It doesn't make sense. It doesn't make sense.

Abel's thoughts:

It doesn't make sense. I'll sacrifice my best.

Noah's thoughts:

It doesn't make sense. I'll build it.

Abraham's thoughts:

It doesn't make sense. I'll go.
It doesn't make sense. I'll offer my son.

Sarah's thoughts:

It doesn't make sense. I'll conceive.

Moses' thoughts:

It doesn't make sense. I'll lead them.

Joshua's thoughts:

It doesn't make sense. The walls of Jericho will fall.

Rahab's thoughts:

It doesn't make sense. I will welcome them.

Thoughts of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel:

It doesn't make sense. I will conquer kingdoms. I will enforce justice. I will obtain promises. I will stop the mouth of lions. I will quench the power of fire. I will escape the sword. I will be strong. I will be mighty in war.

God calls us to have faith in the impractical moments of our life.

I haven't made a complete decision yet, but I'm having faith that if God does call me to go on this journey, that I will have faith even amidst the impracticality.

A Relentless Rain

I know it's been a while since I have posted. I apologize for that, but it's been a while since I have actually been well enough to sit down and write. There was about two weeks where I was fighting sickness. Nothing extremely serious, just a mix of the flu, altitude, and an allergic reaction to a mineral in a natural hot water pool. After finally overcoming the flu and my allergic reaction, there was about a week where I was completely incoherent. It was quite frustrating spending all day every day being extremely dizzy and very confused.

Thanks to many of your prayers I am almost back to normal.

It's the rainy season here in New Zealand. I remember one particular day, when the rain was relentless. It was consistently pouring all day. As I was watching the rain, it made me think of how relentless God is when it comes to Him desiring us to follow Him daily. I don't know about you, but I don't want to spend my whole life fighting God's will for my life. I know He won't give up, and I don't want to wake up every morning feeling ashamed and embarrassed for not having enough courage to take a step of faith and follow Him.

To be honest with you, it's been a difficult time here in New Zealand. I don't have a solid plan for when I return back the United States. I've looked into grad school. I've looked into working and teaching abroad. I've looked into various jobs. Nothing seems right. I can't seem to find a peace about any of those things. Unfortunately, i've given Satan access to my mind. It's been consuming my thoughts so much that i've completely ignored the one thing that can orchestrate my future: God.

I spend this morning reading, over and over, Proverbs 3:6.

"In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths"

I've reached a transitional point in my life. Up until now, it's been easy to live out that verse. It's been easy because I have had a clear understanding of the path that God wanted me to be on. Now, I have reached the dead end. The path that I have been on for the last 22 years is finally ending. There's a new path that I am about to embark on. God is definitely 'making straight my path', and what makes it difficult is that it's going to require me to sacrifice more than I ever have before.

You see, we all read Proverbs 3:6 and apply the principle to our life, but we don't always seem to get a clear understanding of what path God wants us on. Maybe that's because we don't continue reading, and we skip over the principle found in Proverbs 3:9.

"Honor the Lord with your wealth..."

God will ALWAYS want us on a path that forsakes the values of the world. In order for God to make straight our paths, we have to give up everything. Remember that at the moment of salvation, we surrendered to life abandonment.

Maybe these are just the thoughts of a ramblin' man, but they make sense to me!

I ask that you pray with me this next week. I have dedicated a week to some serious prayer over a decision that I am considering making. This decision would mean giving up everything, and more, to embark on a particular journey. Please spend a week seriously praying that I can make the decision that God wants me to make. Please spend a week seriously praying for yourself as well. Pray that you would be open to God's strongest desires for your life!

Let's be a generation that's known for a strong faith. A generation that's known for Christ, and not the world. HE is coming, I promise you that. What are we doing to prepare for His return?

 

Haka What?

"She'll be right, mate": A kiwi phrase meaning that everything will be okay; also used in the context of meaning that you don't want to put in the effort.

Example:

"I haven't heard from my friend in a while, I wonder if he is OK?" "Ah, she'll be right, mate."
"I'm thinking we might want to put some more gib on the wall there." "Nah, just throw some of that over there and she'll be right, mate."

It's been a busy busy week! My time has mostly been consumed with tearing down an exterior wall to the church building, and rebuilding it with steel. It makes it difficult when the guys you are working with all call their tools different names than they do in the States. The cool thing about working with these guys is that they aren't Christian. These guys are actually Corrections workers tryings to work off some community service hours, meaning that we constantly have the opportunity to share our love of Jesus Christ with them. Since this building project is pretty major, I haven't been able to get off the property this past week, so when I received an invitation to have dinner at someone's house, I definitely didn't want to resist!

I had the privilege of having dinner over at a woman named Esther's house. Esther recently was paralyzed after a surgery that was necessary for her to have in order to survive. Esther is of a Samoan descent, so communication was a little difficult at times, but we talked for hours. She had such an amazing spirit an attitude despite of her condition. A Maori (indigenous New Zealand people) fellow named Steve cooked the dinner, which was fantastic! I was about to die though because there was so much food on my plate. After I finished my food, they brought me fruit. Then, a HUGE bowl of ice cream. After the ice cream, six cookies and a coffee. While I was suffering through eating so much, Steve and the boys performed a Haka for me. It was quite intimidating! Here is a video of what the Maori Haka is:

After the Haka and singing some songs, everybody in the room went around and gave me a speech. Even though it was a little awkward for me, it was an amazing experience. Esther's mother, whom everyone calls Nana doesn't speak English. So, she gave her speech in Samoan, and Esther translated. It's hard to describe accurately, but it was such a surreal experience. They were all so blessed and grateful for my acceptance of their invitation, but it was truly me who was blessed to have been a part of such an incredible night. Leaving, they kissed me goodbye and all asked me (repeatedly) to tell my friend and family about them. I'm not sure why, but I agreed :)

When talking with people back home, one of the things they always ask me is "What are the people like, there?"

Well, since I don't do a good job describing people, I thought I would just show you! These are videos of two islanders that call themselves Laughing Samoans. These guys are hilarious...and I am NOT exaggerating when I tell you that this is exactly how the islanders here act like. You have to be careful to believe what they say sometimes, and definitely have to be careful to not laugh at their accents and sayings  :)

Tea Masala and Samosas

Two of many great discoveries that I have been introduced to while in New Zealand are Samosas and Tea Masala. Both are Indian, which is most of the food that I have had while eating here.

Samosas is a fried pastry with spicy potato, onion, peas, and sometimes lentils. They are wonderful. They especially go well with a great cup of Tea Masala. I'm not sure of everything that is in Tea Masala...but I do know that pepper is added, which  makes it nice and spicy. It may sound strange, but it's wonderful! The pair make an awesome afternoon snack!

New Zealand is a different mission field that I am used to. Yes, I have running water. Yes, everybody here has a car. Yes, I have a heater to run at night (it's wintertime here). No, I don't see a ton of homeless children on the street. There is one similarity between New Zealand and Colombia, and the slums in Kenya, or the ravaged villages in South Sudan, or the dark ministries in Europe: people need Christ.

It's easy to feel burdened for people when you can physically see their need. Here, their need is purely spiritual. They don't need a jacket, or a plate of food. They just need Christ. I'm definitely not saying those things are wrong, because that's where a major part of my vision is in serving Christ.

I'm just saying that it makes it difficult to minister to people because the only thing you have to give them is the one thing that they don't want.

I had the chance to visit a Buddhist temple the other day, the one pictured here, and witnessed men praying to a god that doesn't exist. Looking for help in a void. I know a lot of you are praying for me daily. It's something that I appreciate so much! Can I challenge you to also start praying daily for people's hearts to be opened to the power of Christ here in New Zealand. Also, pray for me as I preach on Sunday morning.

Cheers Mates, and as you leave, enjoy some of New Zealand that I have been able to enjoy!

Happy Queen's Birthday!

It's Monday, June 4. Today is the Queen's birthday. This means that everything has a 10% price increase. I won't be doing much today! Everything is already so expensive on its own. Would you want to pay $30NZD ($23USD) on a 4-pack of batteries?

It's been a crazy week already. I haven't been able to see a whole lot for a couple of reasons. First, I'm 17 hours ahead, which makes for a nice nap at 4:00 in the afternoon, and a rude awakening at 5:00 in the morning. I'm almost over it, though. Second, there has been quite a bit of work to do as well.

One of the most surprising things I have had to face here in New Zealand is the variety of nationalities. There are the British, South Africans, Filipinos, Maori, Chinese, Japanese, Koreans, Cambodians, Vietnamese, Balkaans, Bavarians, Latinos, lots of people from India,  lots of Kiwis (white New Zealanders), lots of Polynesians, and lots of Brazilians. There aren't just a few people roaming around from each of these countries. There are significant populations from these various countries. It's quite a strange but normal occurrence to begin  speaking with someone from China who has a thick New Zealand accent. I know that technically they speak 'English' here, but it is definitely quite a different language.

Example:

"Sure is choc-a-block, ay?" (Something is overflowed/crowded)

"Good on ya, mate" (Greeting)

"I'll shout" (I'll pay)

"Where's the rubbish?" (Where's the trash can)

"I'm keen, yeah" (Sounds good)

"It's really posh" (It's really nice/rich)

"Ah, choice!" (Very good!)

"Cheers" (Thanks/Goodbye)

"Hiding" (Beating)

And that's just some that i've only begun to understand. There are heeps more I'm confused on!

Pakuranga Underground Night Market

Ice Cream was served in pineapples!

Auckland City view from Mt. Eden

Aside from the confusion and busy-ness of these first few days, I've enjoyed my stay on the Island. It's definitely beautiful. I will post a lot more pictures when I am able to get around and see some more things.

Prayer Needs:

I can't put everything on here, but just pray for the people here, that they will experience a brokenness for Christ.

Talk to you again soon!