October 1-7

Congratulations - you are a winner! Actually, we're all winners! WINNERS! was the theme for the National Youth Camp 2007 in Hamilton this past week. Ken and I were both leaders for the camp - we led music sessions together, each had a small group for break-out Bible studies, and he also led debriefs after game times (tying the games into the theme for the day.) The camp took a look at what it looks like to be a winner in this world, and how we can apply the principles Christ exhibited to winning in our everyday life such as: winning with humility and leading as a servant. The turnout was great: 25 youth from Christchurch, Marton, Palmerston North, and Auckland came to the first youth camp in almost twenty years! We're hoping for close to 40 youth this next Easter when the next camp is projected to take place.

We drove up on Monday the 1st and on the way saw some more gorgeous land including Mt. Ruapehu! When we arrived at the camp, Ken and I were in for quite the surprise. Being Americans, we are used to professionally run national youth camps that always have something planned out. But that is not how camps in New Zealand run. Here, things are much more relaxed and flexible. There is a basic plan, but how the outcome looks is up to the leadership team each day. Wow...try that on for size! Ken and I at first were greatly troubled by this. And to top it off, Ken gave me his cold from last week and so I was out almost all day Wednesday. With our American goggles on, we couldn't see how this camp would be a success. But then we realized God was answering our prayers...we prayed that He would open our eyes to His will for life, to open our eyes to how He moves. It was then we realied that He is so much bigger than any of us really understand! Because He is so global. As soon as we took off those American goggles and started to view the camp through faith in our global God, we realized that this camp was a great great success! Faith was being renewed, youth were seeking to know more about our personal God who wants a relationship with us, and a family was being formed. A family in Christ. God taught us that it doesn't matter how things are done because He works through all the ways each culture does things. He reaches kids in the states the way we run things, and he reaches kids in NZ the way they run things (although we have been told that some NZ camps run in a more organized, American fashion). He is flexible enough to not lose sight of the ultimate will: to reach all with saving knowledge of Him. Sometimes it's us who get hung up on all the little details, losing sight of His will for our lives.

Eating some grub on our way up

A storm in the desert

Fun times teaching the kids archery and shooting!

Group time

Taking a hike

Ken and I also enjoyed seeing the dedication in some of the students. It is very common here for families to discourage their children from attending church, and yet quite a few of the youth would walk 30 minutes to church alone on Sundays and Fridays for youth nights! As hard as one generation is trying to stop our the church by declaring the nation "non-Christian" and discouraging their children, God is moving in huge ways, giving 13-15 year-olds the strength to follow Him without their families support! It's humbling to see their dedication.

Silly song time!

We also enjoyed seeing how some of the students who don't live the Christian "lifestyle" were really touched by the camp and the love of Christ in it - for the first time, they experienced a family, they experienced true grace, and they walked away amazed.

Bible study led by Pastor Greg


So overall, Winners! was just that - it was a great camp, and Ken and I are both stoked to see what God has in store for the next one!

Closing bonfire

We got back into Palmy on Friday evening and stopped in at Rick and Kerri's for tea - we had borrowed their car for the week since we needed extra seats and so when dropping it off, they insisted we stay for some pizza - can't turn that down! Saturday was filled with unpacking, cleaning, and worship practice at Trinity. Trinity generally does cd music, but for the Oct 14th evening outreach service (the one I mentioned last time that will incorporate BLAST), we decided to try and do live music. The practice was so awesome! We began with a short devotion, and then got to work. The spirit of humility and dedication was so energizing. I know Ken walked away from it feeling rejuvenated from the worship he experienced during the practice! God is so good! Our next meeting is October 13th, so that we'll be totally prepared for the 14th. Please keep that in your prayers.

We ended our weekend recouping from our colds and just taking it easy. It was a great time to rest, reflect, and rejuvenate! Amen