From America to New Zealand with a Tanzanian Twist!: March 2013

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Top Take Away….so far

This week I was asked to share my "Top Take Away" from this past year at Capernwray. It's far from over (though each day comes all too soon and sadly it isn't as far as it was yesterday).
But to describe my top take away? That is a challenge. I spent the week reminiscing and pondering while also learning new things and working hard to apply them.

I thought about the way I have finally discovered the freedom of forgiveness. Not the "forgiveness" of not bringing it up anymore or pretending it never hurt me, but the forgiveness that says I love you in spite of what you did, are doing and will do again. The forgiveness that I have received from Christ. The forgiveness that makes you want to truly bless your enemies and not just say those words to feel better about yourself. But that wasn't it.

I thought about all the facts I've learned. The way everything is so blatantly true when put to the test. I thought about how I understand the prophecies better, and can see the ones which have already come to fulfillment and which ones to still watch for. But that wasn't it.

I thought about the friends I've made and the lives I've watched grow right next to mine each day for so long. We are so very different from the day we entered this place, and yet we are still the same. These people that I will treasure always because they have pushed me, held me, motivated me, questioned me and inspired me. But that wasn't it.

I thought about the scripture I've memorized and the power in the Word of God. But that wasn't it.

I thought about the teachers we've had and the lives they have shared with us. The evidence that they live out each day that the reason for their hope is in Jesus Christ our Lord. These men who have experienced so much and explained things so well were still not it.

My "Top Take Away" from my time here at Capernwray must be this...I've come to realize that I am nothing. That it never has been and never will be about me. That the "glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Col 1:27) has been made known to me. Christ is the reason for my hope and the reason for everything that I do. Better grasping the truth of Galatians 2:19-20 “...I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me." It is all about Christ in you! The only reason for the limits in your life is the limitations you put on God. It is God in you that is so unstoppable, untiring, and amazing! If you are tired, stop and check, chances are whatever you are doing you are trying to do on your strength instead of God's. He will provide everything you need!

There are so many more truths I have learned and lessons I have applied to my heart, but if I start I'd probably never stop and it would be way too long of a blog post! I still find it funny how the 'good christian girl, the missionary kid, the one who loved God with all her heart' before coming to Bible school could fall so much more deeply in love with her Savior in the past few months, but I have. And here is my hope for you...never think you know God enough, love Him enough, or trust Him enough...keep growing closer to Him...it's amazing.

Saturday, March 16, 2013

This Week was Sweet As!

Just to clarify "Sweet As" means "Really Sweet". There were 10 of us...all the students, Dale and Daniel. We left on Sunday afternoon to drive up to Christchurch where some lovely friends took us in. And so began Ministry Week. Here's a quick overview first, then I'll share some of what we saw and heard and felt while we went through these things. There were tons of laughs and heaps of 60 cent ice cream cones from McDonalds, but these were the memories that were and are powerfully pulling on my heart.

Day 1 - Monday: Homeless shelter, Unitarian Universalist/Quaker

Day 2 - Tuesday: 0800HUNGRY

Day 3 - Wednesday: Voice of the Martyrs, Mormons, East Side 49ers

Day 4 - Thursday: Bahai, Buddhist Thai Temple

Day 5 - Friday: 0800HUNGRY

I met a homeless man who has lost everything and everyone he's ever known. He was adopted as a young child, but now had no contact with his adoptive family. He searched and found his birth mom, but no longer has contact with her. He lived for 5 years with an older woman, but she recently had a stroke and her son came and kicked this man out of the house and forced him to break contact with the woman...he does not know if she is dead or alive anymore. And all his documents were locked in the garage, but the son of the woman disposed of them, so he has none of the documents he used to. Pray for Mark.

I met children who at 10 years old are stoned more often than not. They live rough lives and have very few positive influences in their lives. I hung out with some who left half way through to smoke because they knew they weren't allowed to get high where we were. I met a little girl who has a job at age 11 because she needs money to ride the bus each day. I met kids who relaxed and laughed as we sang and danced and played with them. Pray for the hurting children, it doesn't matter where you go in the world...they are there.

I met people who don't have a clue how lost they are. People who could look me in the face and tell me they don't believe in satan. People who think that everyone will go to heaven and they just want world peace, harmony, and unity. We went to talk with people from 4 different religions and they all basically said they want world peace and everyone can get to God. It's sad to belong to a faith that doesn't push so hard for world peace, because yes, that would be nice, but we are in a battle! This is a war and satan is powerful. We cannot just sit in false peace, we have to fight for what we believe. One of them said believe whatever you want and you'll be fine. One said Buddha and Jesus and Mohammed are all the same person. One said that if they work hard enough they will get to heaven. One said be careful what you think about, because that is what you will become in your next life. Pray for Peter, Tui, Howard, Grant, Jenny, Sud Chai, and the others we talked to who think they will be in Heaven someday, but deny Jesus. They need Him to save them still!

I met a man who told me that he was so thankful for the food we were dropping off for his daughter. She was at work for the 2nd time in 2 weeks, because that's all her job required and she had no money to buy food. He told me joyfully that his stove was finally working again now...since the earthquake 2 years ago. He told me how they survived 11 months without a working toilet in their house while sharing the home with 2 other families whose houses were in worse condition. He thanked me again and again. I wish I could have done so much more. Pray for him and his family, and the many others who still live with holes in their roofs, cracks in their walls, appliances that don't work, destroyed belongings, all because of the earthquake 2 years ago.

I met a woman who as I handed her the box of food from 0800HUNGRY her eyes lit up and she said "oh! Vegetables!" and my heart broke that what I had given her was the veggies the store could no longer sell...pray for those like her who cannot buy their own food.

I met people who work 70 hour weeks to feed the people in the two stories above because they feel that's what God had called them to. It's not for pay either...they live simply by donations. I met a man who gave up his career to work with those stoned and high children mentioned above...not because he thought it would be fun (he didn't like the idea at all) but because God called him to that ministry. I met people who do the office work and sign thank you notes, so that illegal believers all around the world and those imprisoned and beaten can be remembered, prayed for, and supported. And I spent the week surrounded by 9 others who used every moment as best as they could to share God's love - by debating with those who are confused, hugging the hurt children, packing food and diapers and dog food to be delivered, praying continuously, listening to the stories, playing basketball with strangers, signed hundreds of letters, decorated boxes, shared their stories, and serving well. I was so honored to be a part of the Capernwray Team this Ministry Week. Your prayers will keep these ministries going. Thanks for being a part of our team!

Thursday, March 7, 2013

IGNITE - The Pirates of the Crossing

What can you do with 20 people, a month, a few donations and lots of imagination and determination? Well, probably lots of things, but we hosted a crazy awesome youth event last weekend, and I just wanted to share a little bit of it with you, but I really couldn't narrow down the pictures very well, so here are heaps for you…enjoy!

IGNITE 2013

The gang all dressed up on the day of waiting for the arrival of the students

Our classroom got the nickname "sweat shop" because it was the main center of creating and building and sewing and gluing and painting and all that went into this.

The boys stayed very busy, because we all decided we wanted a boat. (All good pirates have a boat) and we didn't just want a boat in the water, but one that was strong enough for people to sword fight on. Oh, and it had to have a plank as well...

I have no idea how they did it, but our boys are great...

Coley sewing the Captain's jacket

Me sewing a leaf skirt for the people in Papua New Guinea to wear.

Steve held them for us all night so the leaves didn't get smushed.

Jess working on the Turkish headdress

A sign pointing to the "overlords". We had one from Singapore, Turkey, Scotland, and France

Treasure chests! - we made almost 400 pieces of treasure out of cardboard and gold spray paint to fill those!

Making a pirate hat

It tried to eat me...

Hand painted dragan for the Asian market

Flags for each of the overlords countries

The event would not have come together without lots of yummy coffee!

Some of our donations were kinda weird…so we had mini breaks to have fun with them…Matt is under there somewhere or else Schaeffer just grew really fast!