Tauranga: the city's name is a Maori word meaning “resting place,” or “safe anchorage.”
Since I last wrote I have flown over halfway across the world- from Canada to New Zealand. I am now living in Tauranga the east side of the North Island.
If you haven't read my other posts that's ok, I will explain. I am a missionary at the moment helping to teach the next generation of young adults at Marine Reach YWAM. I am leading the Medical Compassion DTS stream (MedCom).
First and second week of February:
These weeks were hard if you spoke to me in this time you will know that I was anxiously awaiting to get my NZ visa so I could fly to Marine Reach for the upcoming Discipleship Training School (DTS). I was struggling with not knowing if my visa would come in a matter of days or months. I knew God was leading me on this path but I couldn't understand the delay. I had plans and I needed to go and complete them, so I thought. I know I mentioned this in my last blog but it needs to be reiterated, if not for you then for me, had I flown on the original dates I booked my flights for I would not have made it to NZ. The exact dates were the same times the Auckland flooding took place and the airport shut down.
But God is good and my visa came.
I already had my flights booked for another date, one I was certain I would have to change again. If I could make this flight I would arrive one day before the students were supposed to. I had already missed staff training so I was very excited to be arriving in time to welcome the students. Now, I'd like to tell you that I didn't change my flights again but my journey didn't go nicely like that. I ended up getting all packed up, said my goodbyes and got dropped off at the airport. I even boarded my plane and got on the runway, but then we were called back to the gate. It was a full day of waiting at the airport but in the end my flight got canceled due to mechanical issues. I was on the phone most of the day in the airport, gate 21, trying to change my connecting flight to Auckland, NZ. My attitude was one of frustration and defeat, I had waited and waited for this visa with the faith that this was where I was supposed to go next and I got so close to going but didn't take flight!
In the end though I was able to change my flight and actually got to fly straight to Tauranga, the city I needed to be in. My parents came and picked me up from the airport and I got to stay with them one more night before I flew out the next day, a sweet end to a stressful day. Then the next day, the ninth, I went back to the airport and actually was able to take off- first to Houston then to NZ.
Third week of February:
I arrived the same day as some of the students. It was fun to all be jet lagged together. I got to finally meet the other nine DTS staff as well as the base staff. We (all the students and I) had arrived over the weekend and then on Monday began base orientation. During this time we had Cyclone Gabrielle visit us. I can now say I've survived a cyclone. For the base and the close surrounding area there wasn't too much damage, thankfully. Our property had no power for three days, some fallen trees and mudslides in the valley, but we stayed safe. I know that the cyclone hit other areas a lot harder.
Near the middle to end of the week the students had the opportunity to share life stories with our group. It was a vulnerable and fruitful time were we could listen and even relate to what some of us had gone through. It was powerful to see the students share things that were on their heart, some of their stories were very difficult to tell and for some it was the first time sharing everything that they had gone through and felt.
As a staff it was challenging to jump in and learn everyones name and who they were/where they came from. I was learning so much in the first week: names, rules, a new culture and so much more.
I was asked many times what is it like to be back in NZ, back at the base that I had been at nine years ago. My response was, it feels the same but different. Since I left NZ in 2014 I knew I would come back. Now that I am back and at the same place, it is dream like. It is wild. It is where I am meant to be for now.
Fourth week of February:
This week was the first week of our regular DTS schedule. We had a speaker (the base director) named Dan teach on Biblical worldview and what it looks like in our day to day lives.
I also got another cold so I wasn't able to be at all the activities some days, which was sad. There was a cold and flu going around the staff and students and even now most are recovered but a few are still sick. If you'd like to pray for health that would be welcomed.
My schedule as a DTS staff is quite busy and demanding so I have been learning to take my free time and fill it with intentional things. As a DTS staff I meet with the other staff each morning to reflect, encourage each other and plan things- and pray. We have Whānau time (Māori word for family) Monday mornings and night. Ministry nights Wednesdays and on Fridays we have evangelism. Thursdays I have my stream time for MedCom. Friday night till Saturday night we have Sabbath to rest intentionally. I get to have some one on one times with a few students and small group times on Fridays. I will explain each in more detail in another blog, later.
My MedCom stream time was really good. If you are confused I am the MedCom staff and I have eight students in this stream/group. The students are also apart of DTS but are broken into groups depending on their desired area of focus. Other streams within the DTS are: Prayer and Passion, Worship, Wild Heart and Go. It was the first meeting for my MedCom group and a guest speaker spoke on the developing world health. We learnt about a lot of valuable things from our speaker. One point that stood out to me was meeting people's 'felt need' first and by doing so it would open doors to other healthcare and education opportunities- even if that 'felt need' was something that seemed very random or pointless to us.
This past week:
Over the weekend we had a school trip with a youth group in the area to visit a historical place called the Elms. It was a beautifully reserved place where the first missionary came to live in NZ. The same day I had to take a trip to the hospital with a student who had severe hip pain. In the end we left with no answers and the pain went away. I was 'weekend warrior' on Sunday meaning I was in charge with four other students to keep our living area clean and make sure meals ran well. It was all tiring if I am honest and didn't quit feel like a break from our week schedule like the weekend was meant to be.
Come Monday and I was feeling overwhelmed with the things I needed to complete and the fact that I didn't feel rested but instead tired. I thought at least I will make it to lectures this week because I am recovered, the topic was on Spiritual Warfare. I didn't make it to lectures that morning. The same student who had experienced pain on Saturday had the pain return even worse this time. The pain wasn't lessening and we couldn't do anymore with what we had at the base so we took another trip to the hospital. It was a long day and thankfully they were able to give stronger pain medicine to take the pain away but the cause of the hip pain was still not discovered. By the night we all returned to base. The next day the student was still recovering but not in a lot of pain. Some of the people felt like it was spiritual warfare and I could agree in more ways than one. As a school we prayed and interceded for this student and by the end of Tuesday they were feeling a lot better and even now the pain has not returned.
I was able to make the other lectures/teachings from the Canadian speaker Boyd. It was so interesting to learn about his deliverance ministry this past week. In the MedCom stream time we learnt more about Biblical Compassion from our base founder David.
I was also able to hand over my to do list to God and work through it without feeling overwhelmed but at peace that everything would get done in its due time. This is still a work in progress but improving! If you saw my recent Instagram post it speaks of rest and trusting in the Lord. I didn't look up this verse it was conveniently the verse of the day on the Bible app. Then as I was writing this blog and looked up the meaning of Tauranga the name of the city I am living in and realized it means 'resting place'. As you can tell I am being taught about resting and trusting in God's timing of things and not doing everything in my own strength. I've been taught this before but have not fully stayed in this truth but now I am changing. To hand every little thing to God, not to get it out of my hands or have no responsibility, but to instead do it together because I learnt the hard way my strength is not enough.
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Psalms 91: 1-2
Upcoming week:
This upcoming week we are moving away from the base to a Marae (meeting grounds of the Maori) because the previous DTS is coming back from outreach and will be doing their debrief week and graduation. Please pray for a smooth week away and for rest in my week and also for the other staff and students. Our topic this week is Hearing from God.
I look forwards to hearing from you and know that even though I may be busy I love receiving messages and emails from all of you.
Manaakitanga!
(Blessings)
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