8/22/09

Well, the end of Repentance week with Ken Mulligan from Australia. It was good, well, it was ok. It seemed as if we never got very deep, but I think it was hard going from such a great week and then to this, not that he was a bad speaker, he was really interesting, but you know? It just seems lacking when there’s no huge breakthrough. So let me just tell you about last week, it was the Father Heart of God week, and it was good. Our speaker was Steve Aherne, he’s the head person in Australia now, I think. But the week starts out and you’re just so confused about tons of stuff, he brought up all these things that nobody had even really thought of, like where did we come from? Did God have anything to do with our physical appearance? Does God have anything to do with the timing of children or is it just us? Is God sovereign as much as we think? So he just threw out tons of questions and things I had never thought of, or thought to go deeper in. I realized that I have a shallow faith where I take things at face value and I never went deeper, never researched or asked God about whether it was wrong or right. So that was a crazy thing to realize and now I am going to be doing a lot more digging. But the end of week really tied together, on Friday last week we had confessions and then ministry time and it was good. Our school just really opened up to each other and a lot of healing happened. Lots of tears, but very needed tears. It was a great week. So by the time repentance week came around we were all like, “really? What else could we confess?” But it was good.
Anyways, back to where we are living. All this week we were at Faith Bible College in Tauranga which is over the mountains from Matamata, we did this because our staff members with family would be closer and also it was cheaper for us. But now we are moving on Sunday to go to the boat! We are going to welcome it in on Sunday and then we have to clean and then we’re moving in! I’m excited, we all are excited. We are finally to our final destination; we can settle in and know we aren’t moving for a while. But we’re still not sure if we are going to be able to get bunk beds or not. There’s another married couple so I think we’re just fighting them for it, so pray that we win.
Also some more news, we met someone here at the college who is a pilot and we are going to be able to go up for only 15 nzd, which is like 8 us, maybe. But yea, we’re going to be able to go up for about 15 minutes and see all the country side. So that’s an exciting new thing. This one isn’t really news but just an exciting thing, our entire DTS family really does seem like a family, I never expected us to all become so close, and so soon. Everyone gets along with each other and we’re all very encouraging to each other. So that was more of a praise then a news update. But yea…
We miss everyone at home and can’t wait until we can see everyone again, not looking forward to winter again, but that’ll be ok. Pray for us so that we keep healthy, that Andy doesn’t get a sinus infection! Also that we just keep up good spirits and keep on growing in our relationship with God and also with each other, which by the way we celebrated our 2monthaverssary this week.

Week 2

It is now time for an update from Andy! Hope all is going well with every one, things here in New Zealand are going great. Since our last update we have done a lot of things. Two weeks ago we visited Tauranga which is on the east coast and were we will soon move to. While we were visiting we went to a place called Gideon’s field. They are just starting construction on a building were Marine Reach will house students and hold classes when the ship is unavailable, instead of where we are now in Matamata. Right next to the construction site there is a valley, they call it Gideon’s valley oddly enough. So the valley is a very beautiful place with waterfalls and thick flora and fauna, it was good. We also got to see some of downtown Tauranga, which is lots of cafes and little shops right on the beach.
We also just finished our first week of class. We learned about hearing the voice of God. It was very good. Our speaker was Mandy Hudson, she did an amazing job of letting us experience hearing God’s voice as well as teaching us and letting us practice intercession. This week we are learning about the father heart of God, our speaker is Steve Ahern and apparently he is a legend around here.
We are getting along nicely with all the other students. They are a fun bunch of people and they enjoy sports. So we play a lot of soccer and Ultimate Frisbee.
The really cool thing that I did this weekend was have a guys surf trip. We went to Raglin (not sure if that is the right spelling) which is on the west coast. The first night when we got there we went to the point to surf. We did not have enough surf boards so I boogie boarded it. It was really hard without a surf board and it turns out it is kind of dangerous to start out as a beginner at the point. We stayed the night at a friend’s house and the next day we went out again. This time I had a surf board. It took me a while and I finally got up and rode out a bunch of waves standing up. I was really excited and everyone was surprised because it usually takes like two months to stand up. Anyways it was a lot of fun. And I think that God has shown me what I should for the rest of my life. I am going to drop out of university and take up surfing full time.
We will get some pics. Up some time.
Until next time Andy&Heidi