New Zealand- To know God and make Him known

What am I doing New Zealand? Since I’ve been here for almost a month (weird ), I thought I’d share what a daily schedule is like here in Oxford, New Zealand. From the day I arrived, October 8 until a few days after Christmas, I am here at the Oxford YWAM base in classes learning how to be a disciple of Jesus.

I get up between 6am-6:30 and have until 7am to shower and eat.  A few of the mornings I get up before sunrise and walk up to the Oxford overlook. It’s a little area with a view of the valley and a few picnic tables. I have seen some of the most beautiful sunrises…it’s always worth it!!! From 7am-8am all students and staff have devotions (quiet time reading the Bible, journaling, praying, etc). From 8am -8:30am all students have a chore. We are a community, so we have to take care of the place we live. I clean the main house upstairs bathroom every morning. It’s humbling and joyful!

At 8:30 sharp, we have announcements and a sermonette (brief 5 minute sermon) from one of the students. I did my sermonette on the first day and got it over with early. At 9am we start lectures. We have a guest speaker come each week and speak on a specific topic. For instance, this week is Biblical Worldview. It’s all about how do we know what truth is, how do we know the Bible is true, why do we believe what we believe and how does that fit into the world? Some of the other topics we will have in our three months is: Father Heart of God, Holy Spirit, Prayer, Spiritual Warfare, Love of Jesus, etc. We have lectures all the way until lunch with a tea time in between. Just like England, everyone here in New Zealand like to have tea times! It’s fun…I just wish I liked tea more. :^)

This morning scheudle is the same every day. Our afternoons differ depending on the day. Some afternoons we have Bible Study, community work duties (around the base and in Oxford), small group meetings, WAM (World Awareness and Missions) Night, outreach team meetings (my Thailand team!!!) and worship nights.

Every Friday the whole team goes into Christchurch for evangelism. And then the during the weekends we have planned activities. We don’t have to participate, but it’s a great opportunity to see more of New Zealand. This weekend we have a choice of a day hike or mountain biking. I think I might go mountain biking…we’ll see.

After these three months, our school will split into our outreach teams and we will go into the mission field. Two teams are staying here in New Zealand, one team to the middle east, one to India/Nepal and my team to Thailand! We will be gone for two months…mostly we will stay in hostels and evagelise to people we meet that backpacking their way through the country. Our Thailand group will also hopefully get to stay at and orphanage up north for a while.

So, for those of you who wondered what I’m up to…there it is. God is radically changing my life and perspective here and I can’t wait to see what he has in store for me in Thailand!

I would like to share a few stories from our Friday night Evangelism in Christchurch. Every Friday, the whole team heads into Christchurch. We choose to be a part of Evangelism teams such as the skatepark, climbing wall, soccer in the square, Zebadees (teen music venue) and hanging out at the main square. I am supposed to be a part of  Zebadess…but they haven’t had a friday night concert yet. So our team has been hanging out at the square. What we’re supposed to do on Friday nights is meet people, build relationships with them, help them/serve them in any way possible and just overall make a positive connection. We’re not there to preach to pass out pamphlets and tell people they are going to hell. I would not be okay with that. If we feel led to, then we can ask to pray with them and/or talk about God…but there’s no condemnation involved. It’s all about sharing God’s love.

Two weeks ago I walked around with Rach (from london). I wasn’t sure who to talk to and what to do. I’m not very good at walking up to people and starting a conversation…I’m definatley an introvert. Well, there was guitar music coming from somewhere and I was interested in going where the music was. There was a man playing electric guitar in a central shop area. We stopped to listen for a while. I noticed this older woman, she looked as though she might be homeless, sitting and listening as well. I sat down next to her and asked her how her night was. I am glad that I initiaed the conversation. She was open to talk and we chatted for a while. Her name is Monica. When i told her that I’m here in New Zealand for a christian school, she immediatly asked if I was going to hand her a pamphlet. She was wary. Apparently a lot of people in the streets are used to people preaching at them and telling them they are going to hell. It just turns them away from God!! When i assured her that I was not about that, we continued talking. It was just a great time to share. We shared some thoughts about God as well. The hard thing for me was that she had been visibly drinking and smelled of alcohol. I hope that God can use our conversation, even though she might have been drunk. I just don’t know. When it was time for me to leave, i asked her what I could pray for her about this week. She was hesitant at first and said that she didn’t need prayer and that I didn’t have to. I insisted that I would love to and she finally said “lonliness.” We said our goodbyes and I left. I realized after I left that I should have prayed for her right then and there. I wonder what held me back? well, I’ve been praying for her this week and was hoping to see her again this friday.  I looked for her this friday but did not see her.

This last friday night, a group us from the square team decided to pray over a music festival that night. We’ve noticed posters around town for a SatanFest happening on friday. It was held in a bar in town. Some of the team decided to go inside and the rest of us prayer walked around the building. I really felt the spirit of deception there that night. Some of the people we talked with said that it was just a concert and nothing bad. But, it was put on the AntiChrist church! If that person thought that they were just going to a concert…they were being decived. The music is against Jesus and is satan worshiping…whether they realize it or night. Some of the students on the team were subdued by the calm atmosphere and the “just a concert” talk. They thought that perhaps we had expected wrong. Once again, it felt like the spirit of deception. God needed to be in control of this event and place! Our big group split up…some wanted to go back to the square and meet more people. Five of us stayed and we continued prayer walking around. We stopped next to the building and started singing praise songs! It was powerful. Just that week during lectures, our speaker talked about how Praise is a Weapon. It drives out the enemy!! We praised for a long time, clapping our hands and worshiping God. There was no fear…God is in control. Praise God! When it was time to leave…i couldn’t help but feel joyful. God had his protection over this building and the people. I just pray that the concert attendees saw the light of God and don’t fall into satan’s deception.

God is working in this city and in my life! And the great part is that Praise is a Weapon!!!!

Our speaker this week (Mandy) said a quote that really stuck with me. I think it’s because of what GOd is showing me recently about not living a safe christian life, but being out there in the world rescuing people from the darkness. Here’s the quote: ” Some want to live within the sound of church or chapel bell; I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of hell” C. T. Studd (1860-1931) I don’t want to live safe, and I don’t mean physically safe. I’m not saying that I want to live in a war zone. What I mean is that I don’t want to live feeling comfortable and not growing or challenging myself. God wants to stretch me and use me to for rescue missions! Amen!!!

Tonight we had a worship session for all the students and staff on base. But instead of just regular worship we decided to do dancing worship. We played up-beat worship and everyone was encouraged to step out of their comfort zone and dance for the Lord. It was amazing! We spent two and a half hours just praising and dancing to God! He deserves all the praise and glory!!! I am in awe of the freedom we felt and the chains that were broken. God is amazing and he works in our lives to bring us joy. I haven’t felt so alive and in joyful in a long time!!!

I have arrived in the beautiful hills of New Zealand and it’s definately sheep country!! Here at the base our main meat source is lamb…which is really good. we have started our training classes and it’s amazing. I really feel like all this focus on God is where I needed to be. I’m hearing God’s voice and he’s starting to really show me what He wants from me out of my life.

The people here are awesome and come from all over the world! Tonight we are going into Christchurch…the nearest big city…to do some evangelism. When i think of evangelism, i think of people who are confrontational and in-your-face about sin and all that. However, that’s not what we’re doing. We are about building relationships with people, getting to know them and sharing our own experiences with God. We get to pick where we want to reach people and as some of you may know, I have a heart for troubled teens. I will hang-out with teens at a music venue every friday night! I’m ready to see what God has in store.

good news…my health is getting better. I was pretty sick with a cold when I first got here and now I’m finally getting some rest and getting healthier! Praise God!

the lectures and classes are applicable and I love how it’s not just about getting more knowledge…it’s training for life and how to live. It’s about knowing God more and changing my perspectives on the world and my relationship with God! Thank you for all of your prayers, financial support and encouragement. Please don’t stop…it means so much to me and you’re helping to further God’s kingdom!

Love and God Bless,
Nicki

the day has arrived and in a few hours I’m on my way to the airport. It’s hard to believe that I can actually get any more excited…but I am!!!

Funny and intertesting story: I was searching on myspace for people who are also on this YWAM trip. I was curious about who they are and wher they’re from. WHat a small world we live in. THere’s a girl, my age, from Hillsboro, OR. THat’s like ten minutes from where I grew up. We’re pracitically neighbors! So we met a few days ago before leaving town and I already have my first friend on the trip. Isn’t that great?!

 Also great news is that I’ve raised a little over $3,000!!! I’m getting closer to the goal. THank you to all my funders. You are such a blessing to me and this trip where God is leading me.

Well, time for me to board a plane and head south. My prayers are with you all.

Love, Nicki