Camp Preparation

During these past couple of weeks we have had some time to relax and visit the beach. Starting in the middle of December when kids get out of school most people leave and go on "holiday". They go visit family, head to the beach, or take a family vacation. This means we have not been in our normal routine, because we have not had Rock Solid, Kids Club, Food Bank, or Wednesday night bible study. However, we have been busy preparing for something else... Youth Camp! 
Before coming to New Zealand, we both felt that God had laid camp on our hearts. We have both had experience with camps in the past and at the time did not know how God was using those experiences to equip us for what was to come. A couple of months ago we were informed that the current Nazarene District Youth leaders in New Zealand would be stepping down from the position. Once we heard this we felt the Holy Spirit tugging on our hearts to organize this year's district youth camp. Soo... we have stepped up to the challenge! 

This year's camp is called EPIC (Eternal Prize in Christ) and will be held at Paura Bay's HOLY Ground Camp. We have met with the leaders of this camp and formed a strong partnership with them. They have informed us of government funding that will allow us to host a FREE camp for all 11 to 17 year olds. PRAISE THE LORD! We know that many times camp fees can get expensive and hold youth back from attending. But this year God has broken down that barrier. We also thought that transportation for 50 to 60 youth and leaders from Auckland up to the Northland (about a 2 hour trip) would be an issue, but once again God has provided for that as well! There will be a 47 passenger bus bringing youth and leaders up from Auckland. 
In order to make this camp possible and receive funding we were told we had to have at least 65 campers. The registration deadline was on January 2nd and we only had 3 people registered. Our humanness was beginning to doubt if this camp was really meant to be. However, yesterday we received a call from the district superintendent and were informed that he had been speaking to all of the local churches and totaled up 72 campers and leaders coming!! Thank you, Lord. 
God has been so faithful! Will you please continue to pray for this camp that will be held January 21st through 24th. Pray that all of those who attend will be impacted for Jesus and that it will be the most life-changing week of their lives. We know God has gone before us and has great things planned for this camp and we will continue to seek his guidance and direction. We will also continue to keep you updated. 

Also... next week we will be attending Breakaway Summer Camp. This camp is for Rock Solid- the outreach for 11-14 year olds that we have been volunteering with. This is a 6 day camp and we will be sleeping under the stars in a tent on the beach. Please also be in prayer for this camp. We both remember attending camps as kids and teenagers and know how impacting they can be on the lives of young ones.

Goodbye 2012, Hello 2013!

Wow... What a memorable year this has been! In May Jenna graduated with a bachelors degree from Olivet College, in June we got married, in July Jesse was ordained as an elder in the church of the Nazarene, and in September we moved to New Zealand. Some people would say we are crazy (and they have) for all that we have accomplished this year, but we know that it was all done in God's timing. It is awesome to look back over the year and see how He was with us through it all. We have each endured trials and been taught different lessons throughout the year, but through them we can both testify to an increase in our faith. We are excited to see what 2013 is going to bring! And we will "press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us" (Philippians 3:14) 
 

May God richly bless you in 2013!

Christmas Video

Enjoy our Christmas Video! We hope everyone had a merry Christmas and has a happy New Year!

Homesick (Posted by Jenna)

As the holidays are approaching it is stirring up more feelings of homesickness within me. As many of you know, I have never been away from home for more than 2 weeks. I have always had my parents, brother, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins right there beside me for every birthday, Thanksgiving, Christmas… and every holiday. This year is a little different. However, even though we are separated by distance, they feel closer to my heart than ever before.

The other night I laid in bed praying for my family and for myself dealing with this homesickness when the lyrics from MercyMe’s song “Homesick” came to mind. The lyrics say:

You're in a better place, I've heard a thousand times

And at least a thousand times I've rejoiced for you

But the reason why I'm broken, the reason why I cry

Is how long must I wait to be with you

I close my eyes and I see your face

If home's where my heart is then I'm out of place

Lord, won't you give me strength to make it through somehow

I've never been more homesick than now

Help me Lord cause I don't understand your ways

The reason why I wonder if I'll ever know

But, even if you showed me, the hurt would be the same

Cause I'm still here so far away from home

I close my eyes and I see your face

If home's where my heart is then I'm out of place

Lord, won't you give me strength to make it through somehow

I've never been more homesick than now

In Christ, there are no goodbyes

And in Christ, there is no end

So I'll hold onto Jesus with all that I have

To see you again

To see you again

And I close my eyes and I see your face

If home's where my heart is then I'm out of place

Lord, won't you give me strength to make it through somehow

Won't you give me strength to make it through somehow

Won't you give me strength to make it through somehow

I've never been more homesick than now

As these lyrics played in my head, I thought about how no matter where on this Earth we go, God is always there. We never have to say goodbye or give one last hug. “In Christ, there are no goodbyes. And in Christ, there is no end.” Although distance can separate us from friends and family and cause us to feel homesick, nothing can separate us from Jesus! I also thought about how this earth is not our home. “For this world is not our home; we are looking forward to our city in heaven, which is yet to come“ (Hebrews 13:14). Therefore, we should be homesick for Jesus! He is preparing a place in Heaven for us and we should strive to be closer to him each and every day. He tells us “draw near to me and I will draw near to you.” All he is asking is for a loving relationship with each and every one of us. All we have to do is accept! I am so blessed to have spent all of those holidays with my family. But, I am even more blessed to know that even if we never saw my loved ones again here on this Earth, we will get to rejoice in Heaven with each other and with Jesus for eternity!

Learning, Serving, & Growing!

It is hard to believe it has been 2 months since we arrived in New Zealand! As we have developed more of a routine and become more acquainted with the culture time seems to be flying by. During this past month we have built many more relationships and have had the opportunity to get involved with more ministries. As we are heading into summer and approaching Christmas, we are learning that this is a busy time of the year in New Zealand.

You are probably wondering what a typical week is like for us here. Well here is the quick version… on Sunday mornings we have our church service  at New Hope Church of the Nazarene where we (yes WE Jesse AND Jenna!) lead worship and then take the children for children’s church. On Sunday evenings we have Kid’s Club. We usually have between 10-20 kids who come and we play games, have a bible lesson, do crafts, and eat a healthy snack. On Mondays evenings we have prayer meeting at our church where we come together with others from the congregation to pray for our country, our families, our ministries, and anything else on our hearts. On Tuesdays we will be volunteering our mornings at the Salvation Army Food Bank. We also have Rock Solid Club in Whangarei (our home town) on Tuesday evenings. At Rock Solid Club 11 to 14-year-olds come and we play lots of crazy games, hang out, and usually do some kind of devotion or lesson that relates to their lives. On Wednesdays we also be spend our mornings at the food bank and in the evening we have a bible study at our church. On Thursdays we help with Bible in Schools at one of the local primary schools and then go to Dargaville for another Rock Solid Club. On Fridays mornings we also volunteer at the Food bank. On Saturdays, we usually wake up early and go to the market and then hang out with people or catch up on homework. In between all of these activities we also make time for grocery shopping, housework, homework, and just spending time with people. Although it sounds like a lot, it is amazing to see how God provides the energy and endurance for us each and every day and how he has directed us to specific places and people.  When we called the Salvation Army to ask if they need any extra help they were so thrilled that we called. They said they have been praying for extra help, because things are starting to speed up with Christmas approaching and they are currently shorthanded. It’s amazing how God’s timing is so perfect!

Along with getting involved in ministry, the 365M program encourages us to be cross-cultural learners. We have been reading about the history of New Zealand and we recently took a trip with the other 365M students to very historic sights. On our adventure, we visited Waitangi where the famous Treaty of Waitangi was signed. This is the treaty that allowed NZ to be governed by British rule while the Maori people were allowed their independence and were able to keep their land and all their treasures. We have learned how the early missionaries played a huge role during that significant time period. We visited several other places during the trip but one of the most memorable was Marsden’s cross. We took a long walk down a large hill to find the ocean front and an old cross that marks the spot of the first sermon ever to be preached in NZ. It was an awesome experience to witness the land that was first inhabited by early missionaries and is now nothing more than a cross sitting alone. It was neat to stand there in the presence of God and hear nothing but the wind and crashing waves and think about how God used those missionaries to first bring Christianity into New Zealand and now he is using us for the same purpose. It just goes to show how God has a much larger picture than we can ever imagine!

P.S. We apologize for the lack of posts!

Rock Solid Kicks off in Whangarei!

After many prayers, meetings, and planning Rock Solid has finally begun in Whangarei. In our last post we explained how God has opened the door to bring this awesome ministry to Whangarei, the city where we are living. It kicked off on Tuesday night with a Mega Pizza Party. Unfortunately, Jesse was unable to attend because he was sick and had to stay home. However, it was a great time and there were 35 kids there. We played tons of silly games and stuffed ourselves with pizza and fizzy (pop). God also provided us with many helpers in order to make the night successful and not overwhelming. Please continue to pray for this ministry. On November 9th (Jenna's Birthday!) we will be taking 3 van loads of kids down to Auckland for Rainbow Rampage. All Rock solid clubs from around New Zealand will be going to Rainbows End, New Zealand's one and only amusement park. Please pray for safe travels and that God will open up many opportunities to share Jesus with the kids who do not know Him!

First Month in NZ

We have now been in New Zealand for one month! This past month has been spent adjusting and learning the culture. We have had the privilege of meeting many wonderful people and getting involved with exciting ministry opportunities. We have been blessed with a beautiful 2 bedroom flat that is starting to feel more like a home to us as we are getting settled in.Our home is in walking distance of the church and just about everything we need, which is a huge answer to prayer so that we do not have to get a vehicle or find transportation too often!

We are serving at New Hope Church of the Nazarene in Whangarei and God has been opening doors for new ministries. One of the ministries of the church is Engergise Kid's Club which is held every Sunday night. This past Sunday the kids showed off their talents in a Kid's Club talent show. We had over 50 adults and children attend! The kids had a great time singing, playing piano, doing gymnastics, and showing off a variety of other talents! We are currently planning a children's Christmas program and practices for that will be beginning soon. We pray that God will continue to guide us in serving these children so they may grow to love and follow him always! This Sunday we also kicked off Children's church during morning worship. Previously children stayed in the service with their parents, but now they will have a church service of their own to sing songs, play games, and learn the stories of the bible.

Another ministry we have had the opportunity to get involved with is Rock Solid. This is a youth club for 11-14 year olds that meets one night a week. Rock Solid is currently held in Dargaville (about 45 minutes from Whangarei), but this month it will be starting in Whangarei as well. For the past 2 years there hasn't been a facility to host Rock Solid in Whangarei, but through lots of prayer God has opened the door for it to be held in a local Intermediate School. They also haven't had leaders, but God's timing is perfect and we are here now to help lead this ministry. This is a great way to reach youth who do not know Jesus and are looking for direction in their lives.

Another awesome ministry opportunity we have is through Bible in Schools. Some of New Zealand schools allow bible classes to be taught. However, some schools have been eliminating these classes because of a lack of teachers. In the next couple of weeks we will be going to Bible in Schools with Pastor Alison, who currently has a class of her own, to observe and train. Then, hopefully in the next school term after Christmas Holiday we will be able to have a class of our own!

In January, the Nazarene district will be hosting a youth camp. We have taken on the role of planning and organizing for this camp. We have been involved in many camps before and the past 2 years Jesse has been the assistant director of Boys and Girls camps for the Michigan district. It is neat to see how God has been preparing us when we didn't even know it!

Jenna is also excited to have the opportunity to utilize her marketing skills. She has been asked to make the weekly bulletin for the church and numerous other flyers and advertisements. She is also helping Rock Solid in their efforts to advertise for the new Rock Solid Club coming to Whangarei. If you are interested in learning more about Rock Solid, you can check out their new Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/RockSolidClubWhangarei

Thank you for all of your prayer and support over this past month. We can feel the prayers and we great appreciate it. Please continue to pray for these ministries and that God would lead us and show us how he would like to use us during our time here.