27.12.08
Off we go
Tomorrow is the day we all take off to the Philippines.
I'm excited but not as much as I thought I would be. I guess too much has been going on for there to be time to get excited.
It's been a heck of a week. Crazy work hours + last day at work, best friend's grandma died, Christmas, funeral and packing for the trip. It felt like it was too much to cram into the week, like there wasn't enough hours to fit these things in, let alone process everything. Yesterday I was physically exhausted, today I think I have tasted emotional exhaustion as well.
If you're reading this and you're a person who prays, then please do.
These next 3 weeks will be amazing but tough too.
I'm excited but not as much as I thought I would be. I guess too much has been going on for there to be time to get excited.
It's been a heck of a week. Crazy work hours + last day at work, best friend's grandma died, Christmas, funeral and packing for the trip. It felt like it was too much to cram into the week, like there wasn't enough hours to fit these things in, let alone process everything. Yesterday I was physically exhausted, today I think I have tasted emotional exhaustion as well.
If you're reading this and you're a person who prays, then please do.
These next 3 weeks will be amazing but tough too.
9.12.08
It's the final countdown!
2 more assignments.
3 days til I graduate.
15 days til Christmas.
18 day til Philippines.
53 days til I start my new job.
3 days til I graduate.
15 days til Christmas.
18 day til Philippines.
53 days til I start my new job.
2.12.08
"Are you sure you've got the right job next year Sarah?"
Jono very sarcastically asked me this last night after I read out the description of my personality type at our Philippines meeting. We were all a little shocked at first, it was more sarcastic than Jono usually is!
He only joked about it because of how freakishly accurate it was! We did the Meyer-Briggs test. I came out as Extrovert, Sensing, border-line Thinker/Feeler and Judging. ESTJ.
The description in our book said...
Practical, realistic, matter-of-fact, with a natural head for business or mechanics. Not interested in subjects they see no use for but can apply themselves when necessary. Likes to organise and run activities. May make good administrators, especially if they remember to consider others' feelings and points of view.
Combine that with parts of the description of an ESFJ
Warm-hearted, talkative, popular, conscientious, born co-operators, active committee members. Needs harmony and may be good at creating it. Always doing something nice for someone. Works best with encouragement and praise. Little interest in abstract thinking or technical subjects. Main interest is in things which directly and visibly affect people's lives.
It's so me.
Crazy how you can answer 120 questions and come out with something so accurate. It wasn't just this way for me but for all of us. While it may seem to some people like a waste of time figuring all these things out, it really was helpful for us to find out these things about each other. For 3 weeks we'll be living in each other's pockets. We don't have that buffer of the polite getting to know each other stage. We already know the annoying things! This means conflicts could come pretty quickly. Hopefully having a few little insights into our personalities will help us to take a step back and think about why someone may act or react in a certain way. It's all about being understanding.
Also this little description of people like me was another confirmation that I am doing the right thing next year.
Thanks God for the small reminders that you are in control!
He only joked about it because of how freakishly accurate it was! We did the Meyer-Briggs test. I came out as Extrovert, Sensing, border-line Thinker/Feeler and Judging. ESTJ.
The description in our book said...
Practical, realistic, matter-of-fact, with a natural head for business or mechanics. Not interested in subjects they see no use for but can apply themselves when necessary. Likes to organise and run activities. May make good administrators, especially if they remember to consider others' feelings and points of view.
Combine that with parts of the description of an ESFJ
Warm-hearted, talkative, popular, conscientious, born co-operators, active committee members. Needs harmony and may be good at creating it. Always doing something nice for someone. Works best with encouragement and praise. Little interest in abstract thinking or technical subjects. Main interest is in things which directly and visibly affect people's lives.
It's so me.
Crazy how you can answer 120 questions and come out with something so accurate. It wasn't just this way for me but for all of us. While it may seem to some people like a waste of time figuring all these things out, it really was helpful for us to find out these things about each other. For 3 weeks we'll be living in each other's pockets. We don't have that buffer of the polite getting to know each other stage. We already know the annoying things! This means conflicts could come pretty quickly. Hopefully having a few little insights into our personalities will help us to take a step back and think about why someone may act or react in a certain way. It's all about being understanding.
Also this little description of people like me was another confirmation that I am doing the right thing next year.
Thanks God for the small reminders that you are in control!
30.11.08
23.11.08
Office
I was down in the Tron again this week. I've twisted their advertising slogan from, "Hamilton, City of the Future." To, "Hamilton, City of MY Future!" ... I'm moving to Hamilton, madness.
Of all the things a desk could have written on it my new one says 'Hamilton'... just there as a constant reminder of where I am. I'd have thought something like 'Word of Life' might be a little more appropriate?! :P
This is the outside view of our little office. It's cute. And in this shot all the graffiti is hidden. No jokes.... The joys of being on the corner of a pretty busy road. Also note the clear blue skies in the background! "B-E-A-utiful!" To quote my friend Yun.
Of all the things a desk could have written on it my new one says 'Hamilton'... just there as a constant reminder of where I am. I'd have thought something like 'Word of Life' might be a little more appropriate?! :PThis is the outside view of our little office. It's cute. And in this shot all the graffiti is hidden. No jokes.... The joys of being on the corner of a pretty busy road. Also note the clear blue skies in the background! "B-E-A-utiful!" To quote my friend Yun.
A book?
P. Mark at 24 has written a book.
I've read it and feel inspired.
I could write a book.
There are chapter titles swimming round in my head already!
I've read it and feel inspired.
I could write a book.
There are chapter titles swimming round in my head already!
Humble
That's my word for the day.
I had to stand up in church this morning and do something that most people never have to do. I had to ask people to consider supporting me financially next year. It's really a bizarre thought, that people would donate money so that I can afford to live. That they would even give me money full stop. It's humbling to say the least.
I mean, it's so awesome and so encouraging that people believe in the work I'll be doing. I am so grateful to these people. I'm blessed.
I sense too more of a responsibility living this way, by faith, I mean. The fact that I'll be relying on so many people, means that they have a vested interest in what I'm doing. I'll be accountable to many more people than in a regular job. I have to act even more responsibly than normal with how I spend money. I have a feeling I'm going to learn anew he value of what I have. It is at the same time exciting to think that I will be sharing with so many people the joy of serving the Lord in this way, with Word of Life.
Tim was praying during the service this morning too for our new government and things and he quoted this passage from 2 Chronicles 7:14. It is when the LORD appeared to Solomon after the temple had been dedicated. It's an amazing promise spoken right out of the LORD's mouth. It's a matter of the people, or us today, being humble before the LORD, the creator of the heavens. In our humility and seeking of the LORD there he will be. Ready to forgive and to heal.
"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear them from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
I had to stand up in church this morning and do something that most people never have to do. I had to ask people to consider supporting me financially next year. It's really a bizarre thought, that people would donate money so that I can afford to live. That they would even give me money full stop. It's humbling to say the least.
I mean, it's so awesome and so encouraging that people believe in the work I'll be doing. I am so grateful to these people. I'm blessed.
I sense too more of a responsibility living this way, by faith, I mean. The fact that I'll be relying on so many people, means that they have a vested interest in what I'm doing. I'll be accountable to many more people than in a regular job. I have to act even more responsibly than normal with how I spend money. I have a feeling I'm going to learn anew he value of what I have. It is at the same time exciting to think that I will be sharing with so many people the joy of serving the Lord in this way, with Word of Life.
Tim was praying during the service this morning too for our new government and things and he quoted this passage from 2 Chronicles 7:14. It is when the LORD appeared to Solomon after the temple had been dedicated. It's an amazing promise spoken right out of the LORD's mouth. It's a matter of the people, or us today, being humble before the LORD, the creator of the heavens. In our humility and seeking of the LORD there he will be. Ready to forgive and to heal.
"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear them from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
19.11.08
Ever felt like this...?
Do you ever feel completely dry and cracked? Like there is just nothing left inside you to give? Barren. Like no matter what anyone does for you or says to you, it will never be enough to make the cracks go away? To smooth the roughness? To make you less fragile, so you won't crumble at the first sign of trouble? Sometimes I feel like this. Like anything positive I hear or do just slips away through the cracks. It's so hard to give when life is like this. It can seem like things are too far gone at this point. That nothing could heal the cracks and restore life to the soul.
But Jesus came to give life.
Slowly but surely, life with Jesus starts to bring change. The dust starts to clear. It might be hard to recognise at first but sure enough the changes come. Jesus' promises start to wash over a dry and cracked soul and bring relief. Can you see the ground becoming less harsh? Time in God's Word has started a change, a softening. The cracks are still there, but less defined. Things aren't slipping through them as easily anymore. Suddenly giving to people doesn't feel as draining, it still isn't easy, but it's definately easier.But Jesus came to give life.
See now the cracks are gone. Things are barren and dry no longer. The soul has been saturated and lives again. With this life there is joy. And hope. And peace. And grace. This life is found in Jesus. He can take away the pain of a dry and barren spirit and give you life again.
Ezekiel 36:26
"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh."
5.11.08
Worry wart...
I feel like blogging... I have so much other stuff to do though. I just feel there is something in my head that I need to get out. I just don't know where to start though. Sometimes too I question the appropriatness of what I blog. I'd hate to say something here that offends or over steps the mark or whatever. But at the same time I'm not even sure who reads it. And then that makes me think why I even bother with this, why not keep a regular old journal?
*sigh*
My big struggle at the moment is having expectations of people. It's not fair of me to have any sort of expectation about how people behave or whatever. It just isn't my right. However, when you are friends with people who profess certain things it naturally lends to a particular way of thinking about them. It's this perhaps unfair 'boxing' of them that leads to the disappointment that comes when they do something outside of the box.
Hmm, I just said that I'm struggling with expectations I have of people. I think it's actually that I'm more worried about the expectations that have naturally arisen because of the nature of our friendship, looking like a judgement on them or their actions. This isn't the case at all. What people get up to is none of my business. Sometimes I'd rather not know, what is it that people say all too often, "Ignorance is bliss." For me in the situation I'm in now, this would definately be the case. Not knowing would save me the trouble of all this worry.
I over think stuff all the time. I'm worried now that the actions of a friend are really just the signs of something deeper troubling them. I worry cause I care and I'm disappointed because I care. I feel guilty because I wonder if I could have changed the situation.
This worry brings me to another problem!!! The fact that I'm worrying at all! I shouldn't be and I know that. I need to lose this save the world mentality. I need to stop being so naive! Stuff happens. Get over it, Sarah.
*sigh*
My big struggle at the moment is having expectations of people. It's not fair of me to have any sort of expectation about how people behave or whatever. It just isn't my right. However, when you are friends with people who profess certain things it naturally lends to a particular way of thinking about them. It's this perhaps unfair 'boxing' of them that leads to the disappointment that comes when they do something outside of the box.
Hmm, I just said that I'm struggling with expectations I have of people. I think it's actually that I'm more worried about the expectations that have naturally arisen because of the nature of our friendship, looking like a judgement on them or their actions. This isn't the case at all. What people get up to is none of my business. Sometimes I'd rather not know, what is it that people say all too often, "Ignorance is bliss." For me in the situation I'm in now, this would definately be the case. Not knowing would save me the trouble of all this worry.
I over think stuff all the time. I'm worried now that the actions of a friend are really just the signs of something deeper troubling them. I worry cause I care and I'm disappointed because I care. I feel guilty because I wonder if I could have changed the situation.
This worry brings me to another problem!!! The fact that I'm worrying at all! I shouldn't be and I know that. I need to lose this save the world mentality. I need to stop being so naive! Stuff happens. Get over it, Sarah.
27.10.08
2 months....
...til we leave for the Philippines! Very exciting!
I have so much to do between now and then. The time is going to fly by. What with 12 assignments, all the ministry hours left, graduation(!) , Christmas shopping and crazy Christmas retail hours at work, Christmas itself. Not to mention the remaining trip meetings and the busyness of packing and stuff for going away. Ugh, my head is spinning just thinking about it all.
I have so much to do between now and then. The time is going to fly by. What with 12 assignments, all the ministry hours left, graduation(!) , Christmas shopping and crazy Christmas retail hours at work, Christmas itself. Not to mention the remaining trip meetings and the busyness of packing and stuff for going away. Ugh, my head is spinning just thinking about it all.
20.10.08
Influence
It was amazing to watch people yesterday at church. There was loud singing, a lot of chatter, people stuck around afterwards. I think it was clear that everyone was really upbeat, slightly excitied and definately thankfully to finally meet Mark.
On Friday night our new youth pastor arrived from Canada. His name is Mark Moore and his girlfriend Sarah has moved here with him. For most people at church they hadn't seen him or really even heard a whole lot about him. Everyone was really riding on what the Elders had found out about him and the conversations they'd had with him. Kind of a bizarre situation. Guy takes job at church he's never been to, with people he has never met, in a country he's never been to. Not to mention us hiring him sight unseeen.
In saying this, and acknowledging the certain amount of risk involved on each side, he seems like a great guy. First impressions do count for a lot and his was a good one.
It was intersting to see how in his coming alone he inspired things to happen. 18+ Reunion BBQ's for a start! It was nice to have everyone together for dinner and it did give them a chance to meet some peers, people they'll become great friends with I'm sure. But at the same time I'm a little worried that the random gathering together of people will give him and Sarah a false impression of the people who are around and that he will see regularly.
But no matter what, this guy seems keen as to get into everything. He is enthusiastic, loves people and loves God. The kids are going to love him and it's obvious that he is the sort of guy that will draw a crowd no matter where he goes. I was so happy to hear one of the girls from youth group exclaim after meeting him, "Far, I love our new youth pastor, he is so cool!" Our kids deserve to have this investment made into them. It was the best move hiring him. I know that he is going to do amazing things for the Lord while he is here whether it be only a year, or longer. (Hopefully longer!!)
Meeting him and Sarah suddenly makes leaving a bit harder. I'm excited to work with him over the next couple of months, but it is honestly a shame that it isn't longer.
On Friday night our new youth pastor arrived from Canada. His name is Mark Moore and his girlfriend Sarah has moved here with him. For most people at church they hadn't seen him or really even heard a whole lot about him. Everyone was really riding on what the Elders had found out about him and the conversations they'd had with him. Kind of a bizarre situation. Guy takes job at church he's never been to, with people he has never met, in a country he's never been to. Not to mention us hiring him sight unseeen.
In saying this, and acknowledging the certain amount of risk involved on each side, he seems like a great guy. First impressions do count for a lot and his was a good one.
It was intersting to see how in his coming alone he inspired things to happen. 18+ Reunion BBQ's for a start! It was nice to have everyone together for dinner and it did give them a chance to meet some peers, people they'll become great friends with I'm sure. But at the same time I'm a little worried that the random gathering together of people will give him and Sarah a false impression of the people who are around and that he will see regularly.
But no matter what, this guy seems keen as to get into everything. He is enthusiastic, loves people and loves God. The kids are going to love him and it's obvious that he is the sort of guy that will draw a crowd no matter where he goes. I was so happy to hear one of the girls from youth group exclaim after meeting him, "Far, I love our new youth pastor, he is so cool!" Our kids deserve to have this investment made into them. It was the best move hiring him. I know that he is going to do amazing things for the Lord while he is here whether it be only a year, or longer. (Hopefully longer!!)
Meeting him and Sarah suddenly makes leaving a bit harder. I'm excited to work with him over the next couple of months, but it is honestly a shame that it isn't longer.
15.10.08
Wood Pigeon!
This was in our backyard! In the middle of Te Atatu!
It was one of the biggest birds I've even seen!
Moving on
Next year has in store for me some big changes and a lot of firsts. I have a new job, I'll be moving to a new city to start it. I'll be moving out of home and into a flat. I'll be full time in ministry and will be relying on the generosity of people to support me for a chunk of my expenses. I'll also be finding a new church to be a part of too.
I have accepted a job with Word of Life at their New Zealand office as the administrator. As they're based in Hamilton it means a pretty big move for me. I'm really excited about the change, but at the same time I'm under no illusions that it's going to be easy. Even just the whole living in Hamilton thing. I never ever thought I'd live in the Waikato. Sounds very jafa-ish of me I know, but my whole life was comfortably set in West Auckland. That's probably the very reason God called me away! Darn comfort zones.
I was asked by the WOL board yesterday if I have any concerns or worries about working with Word of Life. There wasn't really anything that jumped into mind. The biggest thing for me is the relying on other people so much. It is humbling to think that people love God and believe in me and the ministry I'll be involved in enough to give me money. That they'd sacrifice something of what they earn to give it to me!! Wow! How awesome that they trust God, (and me to be a good steward) enough to do that. Also, trusting and having the faith that all the money I need will come in. It's kinda scary at this point taking a job and saying I'll move cities when in all honesty I don't have a gauranteed full time income. I'm not afraid to trust God though. It's just testing my level of trust ;)
I'm excited for all the new experiences I will have and the new people I will meet. It is definately bittersweet though, as I am leaving some amazing friends here in Auckland. I have such a supportive network of family, friends and church family here, I will miss that a lot. I'm sure in the first little while I will be up in Auckland visiting most weekends!
It's been really encouraging for me the way this whole thing has come about. I really didn't have any clear idea or direction about what I would do next year. The idea of carrying on in ministry was appealing but I just wasn't sure where or what that would look like. The timing of the offer from Tom was really perfect, not to mention the description of my role there. It really seemed tailor made for me. I'm confident that 2 of my big strengths will be well used there. It makes a big difference too that they're things I also enjoy doing. I really sensed further confirmation yesterday hearing what an answer to prayer it is from the boards perspective. God certainly has honoured a whole heap of people through this process. He is so good.
I have accepted a job with Word of Life at their New Zealand office as the administrator. As they're based in Hamilton it means a pretty big move for me. I'm really excited about the change, but at the same time I'm under no illusions that it's going to be easy. Even just the whole living in Hamilton thing. I never ever thought I'd live in the Waikato. Sounds very jafa-ish of me I know, but my whole life was comfortably set in West Auckland. That's probably the very reason God called me away! Darn comfort zones.
I was asked by the WOL board yesterday if I have any concerns or worries about working with Word of Life. There wasn't really anything that jumped into mind. The biggest thing for me is the relying on other people so much. It is humbling to think that people love God and believe in me and the ministry I'll be involved in enough to give me money. That they'd sacrifice something of what they earn to give it to me!! Wow! How awesome that they trust God, (and me to be a good steward) enough to do that. Also, trusting and having the faith that all the money I need will come in. It's kinda scary at this point taking a job and saying I'll move cities when in all honesty I don't have a gauranteed full time income. I'm not afraid to trust God though. It's just testing my level of trust ;)
I'm excited for all the new experiences I will have and the new people I will meet. It is definately bittersweet though, as I am leaving some amazing friends here in Auckland. I have such a supportive network of family, friends and church family here, I will miss that a lot. I'm sure in the first little while I will be up in Auckland visiting most weekends!
It's been really encouraging for me the way this whole thing has come about. I really didn't have any clear idea or direction about what I would do next year. The idea of carrying on in ministry was appealing but I just wasn't sure where or what that would look like. The timing of the offer from Tom was really perfect, not to mention the description of my role there. It really seemed tailor made for me. I'm confident that 2 of my big strengths will be well used there. It makes a big difference too that they're things I also enjoy doing. I really sensed further confirmation yesterday hearing what an answer to prayer it is from the boards perspective. God certainly has honoured a whole heap of people through this process. He is so good.
5.8.08
Forgotten
It's funny everytime I sit down and write something about the trip or talk with someone about it I seem to come away and think of a million more important things that I should have said.
Even with the 4 blog entries I've written, I still managed to leave out really huge things. I didn't even mention Charles and Tina the couple from Fiji that we worked closely with and came to love dearly. They do so much for other people. They have 12 of the deaf boys live with them in their home and Tina works at the Gospel School for the Deaf. Charles is the face of WOL in Fiji and he is also the paster at Raiwai Gospel Chapel. They are just an amazing couple who live such sacrificial lives. They had a big impact on each one of us.
I also totally left out the major dramas that we encountered. Firstly all our food and sound gear that was flown over earlier was held up in customs. They were demanding a ridiculous amount of cash to release it, we got it out 4 days after we arrived for a lot less than they originially wanted. Then when we got through customs ourselves I realised that some of the kids had only been given 14 days in the country - and we were meant to be there for 20! Thankfully this was also sorted out (eventually).
Huddy also ended up in hospital one night. They jabbed him in the butt a couple of times and then sent him home.
All these things were teaching us to rely on God and to pray and talk to him in everything we did. It was a valuable lesson. We saw many many prayers answered. From big things, to the small. They all mattered to God.
I also made some amazing new friends on the trip. We were paired up with a couple of the teens on the team, to mentor and encourage. Tom mentioned that they prayed about who to match up and I think that was really wise. I was pretty stoked with my girls! (Loved all of them, but Charleen and Beth were pretty special). Also all of us leaders really got on well together. Cath, the other chick leader was really awesome. We were roomies while we were in Suva. She was a great encouragement to me. There were 2 other big city kids on the team, Lyndon and Jared. We really clicked and spent a lot of time having good as conversations. I even held their hands!
Even with the 4 blog entries I've written, I still managed to leave out really huge things. I didn't even mention Charles and Tina the couple from Fiji that we worked closely with and came to love dearly. They do so much for other people. They have 12 of the deaf boys live with them in their home and Tina works at the Gospel School for the Deaf. Charles is the face of WOL in Fiji and he is also the paster at Raiwai Gospel Chapel. They are just an amazing couple who live such sacrificial lives. They had a big impact on each one of us.
I also totally left out the major dramas that we encountered. Firstly all our food and sound gear that was flown over earlier was held up in customs. They were demanding a ridiculous amount of cash to release it, we got it out 4 days after we arrived for a lot less than they originially wanted. Then when we got through customs ourselves I realised that some of the kids had only been given 14 days in the country - and we were meant to be there for 20! Thankfully this was also sorted out (eventually).
Huddy also ended up in hospital one night. They jabbed him in the butt a couple of times and then sent him home.
All these things were teaching us to rely on God and to pray and talk to him in everything we did. It was a valuable lesson. We saw many many prayers answered. From big things, to the small. They all mattered to God.
I also made some amazing new friends on the trip. We were paired up with a couple of the teens on the team, to mentor and encourage. Tom mentioned that they prayed about who to match up and I think that was really wise. I was pretty stoked with my girls! (Loved all of them, but Charleen and Beth were pretty special). Also all of us leaders really got on well together. Cath, the other chick leader was really awesome. We were roomies while we were in Suva. She was a great encouragement to me. There were 2 other big city kids on the team, Lyndon and Jared. We really clicked and spent a lot of time having good as conversations. I even held their hands!
4.8.08
Get the real Fiji holiday feeling...the pictures - the team
Posing for the annual picture outside the Made in New Zealand shop.
So cute with the puppets
Beth, Michelle and Emily. With Lyndon and Nathan clowning around behind them.
We totally pushed this building!
One of the many bus rides.
...and one of a few Haka's
A few of the team doing a Skit at the concert.
A dance called Your Love is Deep that we learnt for our programs.
Beth, Cath and Huddy and Dan. Chilling after a program.
New Friends. Charleen, Cath and I traveling on a truck to Wailea Slums.
Get the real Fiji holiday feeling...#4
So after a bus ride that included a quick stop in at Camp (enough time to grab a couple of coconuts that I'd oddly been craving) and a stop for lunch at a touristy craft shop, that took the majority of the day we arrived in Nadi at Grand West Villas and yes in our opinion they were grand indeed! The place had a restaurant, tennis courts and a swimming pool with a water slide! Were we suddenly in heaven?!
~ Just as a random aside, it was actually here at the nicest place we stayed that we saw the biggest ugliest cochroach ever! ~
The next day was to be a big one. We set off at 10 in the morning and didn't get back til a little after 10 that night. It was a really hard morning for me. I was feeling sick, tired and was just not able to stick my happy mask on and make it stay. Thankfully by lunch my mood had lifted, I felt a whole lot better. We spent the day visiting 2 schools in Lautoka and then had another combined youth rally at a church there that evening. This was another of the defining moments on the trip for a bunch of the team. It had been a long day and we had a pretty discouraging start to the rally that evening. There was hardly anyone there and it was beginning to seem like a waste us hanging around most of the afternoon, just so we could be there. More people arrived during the evening and by the time Tom came on to speak there was a decent number there. Tom gave a really challenging message that night. Not only did he share the Gospel but he also challenged the Christians who were there about their own walks with the Lord. He gave people a chance at the end to come forward if they wanted to really get serious about their faith and to live lives wholly dedicated to the Lord. If I remember right about 6 or 7 of our team went up that night. There was also a young Fijian J.W. there that night who became a Christian. It turned out to be a really moving night. And if you were to ask the question, "Was it worth hanging around for?" I'm sure you'd get a resounding, "Yes!"
Our last program was scheduled for a High School in Nadi but when we turned up there was already another group from LifeSwitch in Wellington. We'd been double booked!
Charlie and Tom were quick onto a solution though and we ended up being able to go to another part of the school and do our program there. Yet another example of God going before us.
We learnt another interesting lesson that day as a group and that was the importance of contextualising the Gospel. It was something I'd been learning in semester one at school in our Acts paper, so it was interesting to encounter it firsthand. The conversation was prompted after many of the teens hearing what the other group was doing through their super loud, distorting speakers. It was good that they realised that it wasn't about being better or worse than each other but understanding that you have to witness to the people in a way that fits in with their culture. They felt confident that we'd done this well.
Thursday rolled around and amidst the excitement of our highly anticipated day off Island adventure you could feel the uneasyness about leaving early the next morning. No one was going to let that ruin their day though. So we headed off for Mala Mala Island via Denarau Island which felt a lot more like the Fiji people come to see. It really was a great way to end the trip. Laxing out on a beach mat in the sun, snorkling, kayaking, swimming, fishing, playing volleyball, eating and enjoying each others company for one last day. I loved it and kept a deal with a couple of boys to go snorkling together. Back at the motel we packed up our bags and got dressed up for our last dinner together. We got Chinese take out and fizzy and icecream for dessert.
After dinner we all got together for our last family time. Tom had asked us to write down a few things that we'd really learnt or been challenged on during the trip and then we all took a turn to share with everyone. It started out very light hearted with a song written by 2 of the guys that was a bit of a social commentary on the trip. Everyone was mentioned in it. And then 2 others shared a worship song that they'd written. We probably made it a good third of the way through without tears. It wasn't a blubber fest, just tender tears that took the place of words for some people who had really been touched during the trip. It was a fitting way to spend our last night together. Reflecting on all God had done for us and through us over the last 3 weeks.
~ Just as a random aside, it was actually here at the nicest place we stayed that we saw the biggest ugliest cochroach ever! ~
The next day was to be a big one. We set off at 10 in the morning and didn't get back til a little after 10 that night. It was a really hard morning for me. I was feeling sick, tired and was just not able to stick my happy mask on and make it stay. Thankfully by lunch my mood had lifted, I felt a whole lot better. We spent the day visiting 2 schools in Lautoka and then had another combined youth rally at a church there that evening. This was another of the defining moments on the trip for a bunch of the team. It had been a long day and we had a pretty discouraging start to the rally that evening. There was hardly anyone there and it was beginning to seem like a waste us hanging around most of the afternoon, just so we could be there. More people arrived during the evening and by the time Tom came on to speak there was a decent number there. Tom gave a really challenging message that night. Not only did he share the Gospel but he also challenged the Christians who were there about their own walks with the Lord. He gave people a chance at the end to come forward if they wanted to really get serious about their faith and to live lives wholly dedicated to the Lord. If I remember right about 6 or 7 of our team went up that night. There was also a young Fijian J.W. there that night who became a Christian. It turned out to be a really moving night. And if you were to ask the question, "Was it worth hanging around for?" I'm sure you'd get a resounding, "Yes!"
Our last program was scheduled for a High School in Nadi but when we turned up there was already another group from LifeSwitch in Wellington. We'd been double booked!
Charlie and Tom were quick onto a solution though and we ended up being able to go to another part of the school and do our program there. Yet another example of God going before us.
We learnt another interesting lesson that day as a group and that was the importance of contextualising the Gospel. It was something I'd been learning in semester one at school in our Acts paper, so it was interesting to encounter it firsthand. The conversation was prompted after many of the teens hearing what the other group was doing through their super loud, distorting speakers. It was good that they realised that it wasn't about being better or worse than each other but understanding that you have to witness to the people in a way that fits in with their culture. They felt confident that we'd done this well.
Thursday rolled around and amidst the excitement of our highly anticipated day off Island adventure you could feel the uneasyness about leaving early the next morning. No one was going to let that ruin their day though. So we headed off for Mala Mala Island via Denarau Island which felt a lot more like the Fiji people come to see. It really was a great way to end the trip. Laxing out on a beach mat in the sun, snorkling, kayaking, swimming, fishing, playing volleyball, eating and enjoying each others company for one last day. I loved it and kept a deal with a couple of boys to go snorkling together. Back at the motel we packed up our bags and got dressed up for our last dinner together. We got Chinese take out and fizzy and icecream for dessert.
After dinner we all got together for our last family time. Tom had asked us to write down a few things that we'd really learnt or been challenged on during the trip and then we all took a turn to share with everyone. It started out very light hearted with a song written by 2 of the guys that was a bit of a social commentary on the trip. Everyone was mentioned in it. And then 2 others shared a worship song that they'd written. We probably made it a good third of the way through without tears. It wasn't a blubber fest, just tender tears that took the place of words for some people who had really been touched during the trip. It was a fitting way to spend our last night together. Reflecting on all God had done for us and through us over the last 3 weeks.
Get the real Fiji holiday feeling...the 3rd installation
For the next week we traveled to different Primary and High Schools in and around Suva. Probably one of the craziest days we pulled up outside a High School and all over the front of it was stuff like Allah is God, Mohammed blahdy-blah. So off we go cruising into this Muslim/Hindu (there were mixed stories about what it was) school ready to preach the Gospel! It was pretty intense there though. You could feel that there was something really spiritual going on. Praise God that a couple of Hindu kids came to faith that day. It was huge us being able to go in there and share openly about Jesus. There were Christian kids there, one in particular who'd been sharing with some friends and had been praying that a group like us would come into their school. How awesome is our God!
There was one teacher who works there who is a Christian and his wife taught at a nearby Hindu Primary school. He jumped on the phone to her and we were able to go there and do a program that afternoon. God had it all worked out. We originally had something planned for the afternoon but it fell through that morning before we left. It was encouraging to see how flexible the teens were. It was hot and we were tired and expecting to head straight back to the hotel, but they realised that God had opened the door to get us into that school and so they gave it everything they had.
Bus rides were becoming the perfect time to have deep and meaningfuls. That day I had a really awesome talk with 2 guys, who were quickly becoming great friends.
It was during this week that we visited the slums I mentioned in the first post.
We also ran a couple of combined youth rally things and were able to reconnect there with the people we met at camp. It was so good seeing them again, especially the deaf boys.
We got bits and pieces of down time that week. Went and explored Suva a couple of times. Found the fruit and veges markets and the handicraft markets as well. Some of the boys came away feeling like they were pretty good at bartering for cheap prices. It was funny to watch them come away with massive war axes they were planning to hang on their walls at home!
Family time was a really important part of the trip. We'd all get together to share from QT's, pray and sing together. Tom would also give a talk on different issues relating to being a teenager. These were really special times together as a whole team. Being out at programs forced us to work together and to rely and trust each other but it was in the family times where we really became a lot closer to each other.
Leaving Suva was kinda hard. It signalled to a lot of us that the trip was nearly over. 5 more days and we'd be back in New Zealand getting on with life once more.
We headed for the Westside, to Nadi and Grand West Villas. Just how grand we were soon to find out...
There was one teacher who works there who is a Christian and his wife taught at a nearby Hindu Primary school. He jumped on the phone to her and we were able to go there and do a program that afternoon. God had it all worked out. We originally had something planned for the afternoon but it fell through that morning before we left. It was encouraging to see how flexible the teens were. It was hot and we were tired and expecting to head straight back to the hotel, but they realised that God had opened the door to get us into that school and so they gave it everything they had.
Bus rides were becoming the perfect time to have deep and meaningfuls. That day I had a really awesome talk with 2 guys, who were quickly becoming great friends.
It was during this week that we visited the slums I mentioned in the first post.
We also ran a couple of combined youth rally things and were able to reconnect there with the people we met at camp. It was so good seeing them again, especially the deaf boys.
We got bits and pieces of down time that week. Went and explored Suva a couple of times. Found the fruit and veges markets and the handicraft markets as well. Some of the boys came away feeling like they were pretty good at bartering for cheap prices. It was funny to watch them come away with massive war axes they were planning to hang on their walls at home!
Family time was a really important part of the trip. We'd all get together to share from QT's, pray and sing together. Tom would also give a talk on different issues relating to being a teenager. These were really special times together as a whole team. Being out at programs forced us to work together and to rely and trust each other but it was in the family times where we really became a lot closer to each other.
Leaving Suva was kinda hard. It signalled to a lot of us that the trip was nearly over. 5 more days and we'd be back in New Zealand getting on with life once more.
We headed for the Westside, to Nadi and Grand West Villas. Just how grand we were soon to find out...
Get the real Fiji holiday feeling...Part 2
So the camp was a really unique experience from the point of view that we were right in there with Fijian young people for an extended amount of time. We were actually able to get to know them and form friendships. I know this was really valuable to me. At the same time it was really familiar, going on camps is a huge part of youth group culture in New Zealand so we all understood the value of it.
We did a sports rotation before lunch on the Saturday and it was so funny to watch them play netball on grass with no positions or real boundaries and basically no rules! Probably the wildest netball I've ever seen played. It was heaps of fun! I was really shocked to find out that they all go on camp with the expectation that they'll wake at 4-4.30 in the morning to do their QT's and to pray and spend time with the Lord. Really put us to shame as some of us pretty much rolled out of bed just in time for breakfast! We were blown away by their singing as well. They just all naturally harmonised with each other and sung so powerfully. It was beautiful. (This was fairly typical of everywhere in Fiji).
Another huge part of the weekend for us Kiwi kids was the food! They brought in their own cooks for the weekend...I know I was more than a little nervous! I tried everything on my plate - and then learnt very quickly who were the guys on our team that ate anything! Mostly it was really good. Rice, curry sort of things and Chop Suey, potato salad. It was the taro, cassava and taro leaves stuffed with tinned corned beef and stewed in coconut milk that I couldn't stomach. There was no chance of me wasting anything so Bronson was my garbage disposal - that guy would often finish a meal with 3 or 4 empty plates in front of him. Someone summed it up well when they said that the Cassava was like eating a candle. Couldn't have described it better myself!
The rain came down just as we got our gear loaded onto the bus ready to go to Suva. It was only about an hour before we pulled up outside our new accomodation, Tropic Towers! What a novelty, glass in the windows, hot showers (more often than not) and air-con! This was like Heaven!
We changed and raced out to what would be another defining night on the trip. We had our first official program at Adi Caucombau (*sp) the biggest girls boarding school in Fiji. It was the perfect way to kick the next 2 weeks off. They were so enthusiastic! They LOVED the puppets! And they put us to shame when they sang for us! It was hilarious when we went through and introduced ourselves, the boys got huge cheers, yells, screams, wolf whistles, claps and even a standing ovation at one point! They were loving it and clearly the girls were too! The most significant thing was the response at the end of the night though. It was clear that some of the girls just wanted to talk to the boys, but a huge number responded to the Gospel message that Tom so clearly gave. We were swampped, but in the chaos I was able to have a really cool conversation with about 5 girls that were squashed in around me. We all knew it that night we were in Fiji for a reason and it was clear God was going to use us. In fact, He already was.
We did a sports rotation before lunch on the Saturday and it was so funny to watch them play netball on grass with no positions or real boundaries and basically no rules! Probably the wildest netball I've ever seen played. It was heaps of fun! I was really shocked to find out that they all go on camp with the expectation that they'll wake at 4-4.30 in the morning to do their QT's and to pray and spend time with the Lord. Really put us to shame as some of us pretty much rolled out of bed just in time for breakfast! We were blown away by their singing as well. They just all naturally harmonised with each other and sung so powerfully. It was beautiful. (This was fairly typical of everywhere in Fiji).
Another huge part of the weekend for us Kiwi kids was the food! They brought in their own cooks for the weekend...I know I was more than a little nervous! I tried everything on my plate - and then learnt very quickly who were the guys on our team that ate anything! Mostly it was really good. Rice, curry sort of things and Chop Suey, potato salad. It was the taro, cassava and taro leaves stuffed with tinned corned beef and stewed in coconut milk that I couldn't stomach. There was no chance of me wasting anything so Bronson was my garbage disposal - that guy would often finish a meal with 3 or 4 empty plates in front of him. Someone summed it up well when they said that the Cassava was like eating a candle. Couldn't have described it better myself!
The rain came down just as we got our gear loaded onto the bus ready to go to Suva. It was only about an hour before we pulled up outside our new accomodation, Tropic Towers! What a novelty, glass in the windows, hot showers (more often than not) and air-con! This was like Heaven!
We changed and raced out to what would be another defining night on the trip. We had our first official program at Adi Caucombau (*sp) the biggest girls boarding school in Fiji. It was the perfect way to kick the next 2 weeks off. They were so enthusiastic! They LOVED the puppets! And they put us to shame when they sang for us! It was hilarious when we went through and introduced ourselves, the boys got huge cheers, yells, screams, wolf whistles, claps and even a standing ovation at one point! They were loving it and clearly the girls were too! The most significant thing was the response at the end of the night though. It was clear that some of the girls just wanted to talk to the boys, but a huge number responded to the Gospel message that Tom so clearly gave. We were swampped, but in the chaos I was able to have a really cool conversation with about 5 girls that were squashed in around me. We all knew it that night we were in Fiji for a reason and it was clear God was going to use us. In fact, He already was.
3.8.08
Get the real Fiji holiday feeling...
Well I definately saw the 'real' Fiji while I was away, but not so sure about the holiday feeling?! We worked pretty hard.
It's hard to even know where to begin with something like this. The experience was totally life altering. It's one thing to hear or see about the way other people live, but another to actually go and see and experience it with your own eyes. To sit in the so called lounge room of a corrugated iron shack with 5 little kids smiling up at you and their parents welcoming you into their home. To be made a cup of coffee and offered a plate of cakes and not know how clean the water is or if the milk is off, but in your heart knowing the insult it would be to turn it down because of the huge sacrifce they've just made offering it to you, their 'honoured' guest. To sit and listen as they share a little with you about life as they know it. To see how little they have and yet how happy they are and to think how miserable we'd be if we suddenly lost all the material things we have.
To have 5 sweet, sweet little girls with toothless grins singing their hearts out for you. And then to watch them giggle as you sing something back to them.
We spent all of 1 hour visiting with people in the Wailea slums in Suva and yet it had such a profound impact on so many of the team, including myself.
I'm sitting in bed with my electric blanket on, tapping away on my laptop and really struggling to understand it all. How fortunate I am to have been born, when and where and to whom I was. Life could have been much harder than it is for me. My silly moans and groans seem grossly insignificant in comparison.
We spent the first part of the trip training at Coral Coast Christian Centre a camp at Dueba near Pacific Harbour. We practiced our dramas, songs, puppets, testimonies and the 'Your Love is Deep' dance to near perfection (haha). It was a great week of being in fellowship with each other. Afterall we had mostly all just met. It was clear that friendships were forming already. I guess that's a result of living in each others pockets.
During this first week we were able to do 2 smaller programs that were a good intro to things and a chance to practice our dramas and songs. It was awesome to see people make decisions for Christ while we were there.
The first weekend there we had about 50-60 young people from Suva come in for a camp. We discovered that a whole bunch of the boys were from a deaf school. This kinda threw me at first but we all quickly settled in to a routine of spelling out words using sign language that was very hastily picked up!
Little did we know that in the 2 short days we'd spend with those boys that they'd change some of our lives.
It's hard to even know where to begin with something like this. The experience was totally life altering. It's one thing to hear or see about the way other people live, but another to actually go and see and experience it with your own eyes. To sit in the so called lounge room of a corrugated iron shack with 5 little kids smiling up at you and their parents welcoming you into their home. To be made a cup of coffee and offered a plate of cakes and not know how clean the water is or if the milk is off, but in your heart knowing the insult it would be to turn it down because of the huge sacrifce they've just made offering it to you, their 'honoured' guest. To sit and listen as they share a little with you about life as they know it. To see how little they have and yet how happy they are and to think how miserable we'd be if we suddenly lost all the material things we have.
To have 5 sweet, sweet little girls with toothless grins singing their hearts out for you. And then to watch them giggle as you sing something back to them.
We spent all of 1 hour visiting with people in the Wailea slums in Suva and yet it had such a profound impact on so many of the team, including myself.
I'm sitting in bed with my electric blanket on, tapping away on my laptop and really struggling to understand it all. How fortunate I am to have been born, when and where and to whom I was. Life could have been much harder than it is for me. My silly moans and groans seem grossly insignificant in comparison.
We spent the first part of the trip training at Coral Coast Christian Centre a camp at Dueba near Pacific Harbour. We practiced our dramas, songs, puppets, testimonies and the 'Your Love is Deep' dance to near perfection (haha). It was a great week of being in fellowship with each other. Afterall we had mostly all just met. It was clear that friendships were forming already. I guess that's a result of living in each others pockets.
During this first week we were able to do 2 smaller programs that were a good intro to things and a chance to practice our dramas and songs. It was awesome to see people make decisions for Christ while we were there.
The first weekend there we had about 50-60 young people from Suva come in for a camp. We discovered that a whole bunch of the boys were from a deaf school. This kinda threw me at first but we all quickly settled in to a routine of spelling out words using sign language that was very hastily picked up!
Little did we know that in the 2 short days we'd spend with those boys that they'd change some of our lives.
11.6.08
2 years of the 3 Musketeers
In Aussie Jan 2006
My 21st April 2006
HM Rage Jun 2006
My Birthday April 2007
Becky's Engagement Party May 2006
August 2007
We need an update!
Change
This is something I seem to be thinking about a lot! I guess doing the sort of study that I am we are constantly being challenged to reflect and learn from what we are doing. I was thinking back to the person I was 2 years ago when I started writing this blog and I have changed so much! Not just how I look - black hair and unplucked eyebrows, but who I am on the inside too. I've met so many people who have challenged what I think and the way I think. I've sat in classes and learnt from people who are world experts in their fields of study. Knowing that it would be shocking if I hadn't changed.
When I really think about it, I'm relieved that I have changed. God is central in my life and the decisions I make are centered in his will for my life. I can't say that was totally true for me back then. I understand more fully now what it means to love God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength and about loving my neighbour as myself.
I'm not really sure where I'm going with this. Sometimes words just spill onto the screen. I guess looking back to the first few posts on here got me thinking is all.
When I really think about it, I'm relieved that I have changed. God is central in my life and the decisions I make are centered in his will for my life. I can't say that was totally true for me back then. I understand more fully now what it means to love God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength and about loving my neighbour as myself.
I'm not really sure where I'm going with this. Sometimes words just spill onto the screen. I guess looking back to the first few posts on here got me thinking is all.
5.6.08
Rage
Oh what a fun theme... Nerds Strike Back. Actually levelled the playing field a bit... there was no way of telling who really was a nerd! And it was particulary fitting that we won the Quiz! Haha, not the sports or Talent Quest, but the quiz! Perfect!
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