...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.
27.10.08
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.
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