Today concludes our busy week and a half of ministry here in New Zealand. There has been an incredible variety in our projects and the kids on the team have really shown a servant’s spirit.
Ministry to the Elderly
Adrian visiting with some of the ladies at the nursing home.
The Arahina Training Centre is planning a banquet for the widows in Marton next week.The team took care of many of the projects to prepare for the occasion—everything from wrapping their gifts to creating chair covers out of sheets to ironing tablecloths. We were also able to go out to some of the widows’ homes and help them with gardening and other projects that are difficult for many of them to manage. Singing at the nursing home and visiting with the people there was also a lot of fun. We’ve been told that the older people are still talking about the team’s visit and how much they enjoyed it. One of the widows the team visited at home called the training center to tell them how much she appreciated the work of the “lovely group of American young people.”
Helping out at the Training Center
Painting crew—we did a great job getting paint on all surfaces in sight.
The staff here at Arahina just finished a busy month of ministry through their IMPACT course. The team helped them get caught up on projects they just lacked the time and manpower to tackle. Freezers and storerooms are now reorganized, the workshop is cleaned up, a bathroom is repainted, and one of the houses is pressure washed in preparation for repainting. We also took turns helping out with the ministry to the Leaders in Training (LITs)—young people who have been rejected by the school system and come to Arahina for an education and discipleship. Many of the team members were able to share their testimonies with the LITs either one on one or in small group settings and help them with projects like memorizing Scripture.
Children’s Ministry
A treasure hunt at the Kids on Track program
In New Zealand, children are allowed to get 30 minutes of Bible instruction each week in the public schools. We took turns helping out with this ministry. (Sorry, no pictures of this one. Cameras aren’t permitted in the schools.) On Friday night we joined the training center staff in putting on “Kids on Track”—a bi-weekly kids’ outreach through one of the local churches. Using “treasure” as the theme, all of the activities and stories centered on encouraging the children to live lives that are focused on eternal treasures.
Appreciation Banquet
Katrina put together some amazing desserts
To honor the staff here and show appreciation to them for all the long-term work they do serving the Lord in New Zealand, and also to thank them for the work they have done for the team, we made dinner last night into an appreciation banquet. With Lydia directing the kitchen, everyone did a great job of pulling off a very special evening complete with great food, excellent service, and live music. Quite a few of the staff told us, “We have worked at quite a few banquets at the training center, but this is the first time we have been able to sit down and enjoy one of them.”
On to Australia
Helping out with the sheep at the training center
The time here in New Zealand has seemed so short, but we are already packing our bags to leave this afternoon. We will be heading to Rotorua to spend one day in sightseeing before flying out early Wednesday morning. Then it is on to Australia!
Rachael teaching her little group at Kids on Track
Team choir practice
Joi with Glory Lim–daughter of one of the families that works here at the training center
Singing at the nursing home
Preparing for Kids on Track
And this is the crew that put together that incredible banquet!?! Wow!
Incredible New Zealand greenery!
Working at a widow’s house
More painting!
I think we managed to serve the food without any major mishaps
Pictures courtesy of Emily Barker, Sheri Daniel, and Elizabeth Fox.
