Highs, Lows, Unknowns.
A little update on how life has been going in-between Discipleship Training Schools.
The last three months have been more or less a break in-between DTS (Discipleship Training Schools). On the practical side of things, my time has been filled with organizing medical supplies for the next DTS, fixing up and painting places around the Marine Reach base, assisting with student applications, and preparing to co-lead the next DTS. At first when the break was announced I was confused and wondering what I would do. I mean I hadn't traveled all the way from Canada to take a break. I realized though that the staff who had served longer than I had needed the break. If you can imagine I was a wild and gungho staff of all of five months who had been constantly on the go and to think of pulling the brakes in July was a little stressful. Stressful because I wanted to be busy and I also had to say goodbye to some of the DTS staff I was close with. I have since realized that I too needed the slower pace even as I found work to fill the break and as I found new connections with other staff. I struggled a lot in the begining with the transition but with some trial and error, intentionality, and Jesus this 'break' has been a beautiful season.
Join me as I recap the last few months:
July
In this time I reflected on how the last school went and what I learned from leading an outreach team, if you want to read more about my reflections you can find them in my last update. I learnt to slow down and work at a different pace. Marine Reach started the break with a staff retreat that was an adventure and a sweet time to grow closer with each other. My weeks in July would often look like whanau time Monday mornings then occasionally a base staff would give a little teaching or two throughout the week. I would also complete any of the aformentioned practical things above. Fridays were the only other planned days where all the base staff would gather and have a 'Working Bee'. We would start Friday with a song as we were gathered in a circle and took turns following the leader as they danced then pointed to the next person to lead us in their own creative dance moves! After we would have a list of projects around the base that we would split into groups to complete until the afternoon. In the afternoons we would get together and have a meal and a time where staff could present a powerpoint on a topic of their choice, for fun. I ended up doing one on ECGs and the meaning of different heart rhythms and also got to present with other Canadians on base about Canada!
A big project we completed was moving our office to a new location which included a lot of transporting office supplies and beds as we were swaping the locations into an old dorm space. It took time to set up the new spaces for each of the staff who would use their new offices, such as the human resource/pastoral support team, hospitality, operations/grounds, accounts, registrar, media, trainning and more. Another project we completed in July was fixing up accomodation on the newest site. There were already modcoms there where students had lived but they weren't finished. We fixed up the driveway to the place down a hill, we cleaned the modcoms called 'The Outpost' and set up beds for the students to come. This last month we also created a pathway from The Outpost to the base and made a driveway past The Outpost so we could place a tiny house in the area to house a future missionary family. The other major project we have been working on both in July and again this past month was to turn the old office into accomodation which I am staying at currently and has since been renamed as 'The Heights' (because we are on top of a hill). I repaired and repainted the room I am staying in, some of us have worked to put together a staff lounge since our old one was turned into accommodation and many of us have worked to repair, repaint and refurnish four other rooms in the building to house in coming students and guests. There have been many other places around the base that have been fixed up or moved to new locations and others that have been added. It has taken time and a lot of teamwork but the finished results thus far have been very rewarding to see completed. If you'd like to see more current updates to the base then you can follow marinereachnz on Instagram.
(A side adventure to a waterfall during the staff retreat)
August
August was the time when all staff were on a real or full break. A lot of people visited home or traveled around. I took this time to keep helping at the base with things that couldn't shut down like helping with in coming student applications. A few highlights were that I got to travel a little bit around the North Island. I hiked the Pinnacles which is a hike within the Coromandel Range with some of the staff who stayed at base with me. The trip was absolutley beautiful and difficult.
(Victoria, Peter, and I at the top of the Pinnacles!)
(Hiking to the Pinnacles)
(On the way back from the Pinnacles we stopped here)
Oh, side note, I tried to run the 'Herethon' (pronounced: hair-a-thon) but I ended up injuring both my knees and then I hiked the Pinnacles a week and a bit after so that was why it was more difficult. The Herethon was a 10 km non-race that some of the base staff organized and named after the road that we were to run down. I took time to train for it beforehand and I went too hard and fast and ended up with bilateral pateller tendinitis. I took time to heal and am a lot better now although not 100% yet. I still wanted to support their efforts so I ended up walking half of the road with another staff and we called our walk 'the Here-Half'.
(Hereford Rd., the Mt. and the ones who ran)
Another highlight from August was that I got to go on my first official roadie with Victoria, a co-worker. We planned to go to Hamilton gardens and then to see the Rotarua redwoods before heading back to base. It was quite the adventure both seeing the places we drove to and sleeping in the car and I loved that it was a lot of being outdoors which broke up the driving.
(The vehicle bed- serious planning to make this come together)
(Hamilton Gardens: the Italian Renaissance garden)
(Rotorua Redwoods with Victoria)
(We also went on a night walk through the redwoods)
The rest of August was filled with things from the Fun List I created for the staff who had stayed over the break. Things like having a picnic in a park near by, star gazing, Christmas in July, and exploring a lot of hikes in the area were things we did. I also got to travel to Auckland to visit some friends. I will say another big highlight from August but majorly over the whole time up untill now was that I was able to connect with a church here named Bethlehem Baptist Church (BBC). At first I went with two of the staff here and we got connected with the young adults small groups then as September rolled around and staff came back more came out to BBC. I really enjoy the community I have found outside of Marine Reach and as I go into leading the next DTS the new friendships I have made will enrich each week.
(Went to gaze at stars and Saturn with telescopes, also had a little lecture on the night sky)
(Christmas in July: paper snowflakes, igloo blanket fort, cookies and Christmas movie)
(Auckland friend visit at a farmers market)
(Still the Auckland friend visit)
September and Half of October
September I already kind of added into July and August but mainly as all staff returned we had a lot more Working Bees to prepare places for families, staff and students. We also had morning teachings on many different topics such as YWAM values and good communication.
(A friend outing on the windiest- and rainy day)
(A friend adventure also a windy day)
(A fire and smores night on a less windy evening)
October has been staff training so far. I have worked with Ashley and Peter my co-leaders to put together two weeks of training for the DTS staff. We have covered topics like healthy leadership, Jesus as the model, one-on-ones, small groups, time management, and more. As the DTS team we have had time to listen to each other share and time to do some fun things together like swim in the waterfall and play volleyball. Overall, this time between July up until now has been a sweet time to reflect, work in new areas, adventure and connect more, grow in my faith and trust God more, as well as prepare to step into the next roll as a DTS leader. Now only one more week remains of staff training and then next weekend is arrivals weekend, when all the students come to Marine Reach for the next five months! Please be praying for the students to have safe and effortless travels and as they begin DTS.
(A quickly snapped staff photo while we were all at the Mt.)
What other random things can I tell you? It is Spring here at the moment so I have been enjoying the slighly warmer weather. I have been surprised at how constantly windy it has become. Many new things are growing! A few of us staff have put together a little garden that I have enjoyed watering and weeding in. I have re-taken up playing the piano and have been practicing some new songs. Every day I walk down the hill that I live on to the base and get to see the rolling hills, the Mt. and the ocean and think I am so grateful to be in this place. Oh, this past week we started back into a new schedule that will continue when the students arrive. Each morning will be filled: Mondays- whanau time, Tuesdays and Wednesdays- time for all staff to meet shortly and communicate what we are doing but also DTS intercession and worship, Thursdays- base intercession, Fridays- base worship. This past Thursday as a base we prayed for the war in Israel and specific people we knew who were there, it has been weighing heavy on my heart. On Friday the DTS staff helped around base because the hospitality team was all sick and needed help preparing rooms and beds for students. I think that in any organization and place there are seasons of heavier spiritual warfare that take place for many reasons and Marine Reach is no exception as we gear up for the students. If you think of me then also pray in this aspect!
I think that is all for now, as the next DTS starts I will be busier and I probably won't post another big update until the end of the year or around the begining of the new year when we are heading on outreach. However, please feel free to reach out to me and ask me any questions you have. Other prayer requests would be for physical health, to continue growing closer to God, for God to help me lead the the next school, and for the staff and students to know God in new ways throughout DTS. Financial needs are still for my rent in this season ($150NZD/week). Thank you for following along on my journey.
Much love,
Lianna
Bonus Photo:
(The first time I saw wild seals!!! (The other one was at a different part of my walk))
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