And Back to the States I Go...

Tomorrow, I leave New Zealand and make my way back to the States... and like I have said on numerous occasions and frequently in blog posts, leaving is extremely bittersweet. 

I'll of course miss the remarkable scenery and the beauty of the country.  I'll miss some of the incredible food they have here (Steak pies, custard twists, DELICIOUS coffee, and Indian takeaways).  I'll miss going into the Rechurch office every week. But really, the things I will miss most about this place are the people... isn't that the case most of the time, though?


I have made some incredible relationships with the most beautiful people here.  I am truly convinced that Kiwis are some of the most friendly and hospitable people on earth.  I look back to January when I first arrived and I am just blown away by all the people I have had the opportunity to share life with - people who welcomed me from day one and were eager to expose me to Kiwi culture.  They loved me from the start without really knowing me... and after six months of living life together, we love each other even more.  The Rechurch community is something that I will always remember - the devoted individuals that attended every week, the younger singles and skeptics that were testing the water, the mums and their kids that came to Sunday school, and of course, the Rechurch staff.  I knew I was going to meet people and make friends, I mean HELLO, I was the community outreach and family ministries intern, but I had no idea how strong those bonds would become.  It's even more of a shame, because I feel like over the past couple of months I have bonded even more with people that it's so sad that we are already parting ways... so so short.  I have loved being able to go out in the community and get involved - whether that included earthquake relief, attending pub quiz every Tuesday, walking around and doing cultural observations (that sometime forced me to talk to people), traveling around most of the South Island, or even working out/going to Zumba.  I have met people in the most unusual and spectacular ways.

I have been continuously blown away by the ways God has been working in the hearts of the people here.  I have been witness to hard hearts softened, gang members turning their lives around, broken families restored, broken people healed, and people really starting to open up to the gospel.  I have seen growth and honesty and love.  I have been able to be a part of a real community that loves and cares for one another for exactly who they are, no strings attached.  It's just unbelievable to look back at the past six months and remember all that God has done for people here.  It's easy to look at all the negative things and think back to the times of suffering, but honestly, I can't help but praise and offer worship up to the LORD for all the amazing things he's done in CHCH.  How lucky and blessed I have been to be a part of his plan for this incredible city.

Don't get me wrong, I am REALLY looking forward to going back to the States... I mean, I get to see my family, friends, and start a new job!  There are SO many good things waiting in Chicago and Omaha and I can't wait to experience them.  Not to mention, one of my best friends is getting married the week after I return.  I think having such incredible things to go back to right away makes leaving a little more bearable.  Just like New Zealand, the reason I love the States so much is the people. 

(But really, if all my family and best friends could come to New Zealand and live with me, I think that would be perfect... I mean, have you LOOKED at any of my pictures? Stunning.)

I just need to keep remembering that God will be using me wherever I go and that it doesn't matter where I am, as long as I am loving the people in that community, building relationships, and giving him the glory and praise in whatever I do and on my journey to be more like His Son. 

I can say with assurance that I will never ever EVER forget my time here in New Zealand, the beauty of the land, the people who changed me for the better, and the incredible ways that God moved and revealed Himself.

Here is a list of some of my favorite things in New Zealand and some of my favorite memories from my six months living in Christchurch:

- Traveling around the South Island and being able to see and do so many beautiful things (Hurray for Bungy jumping!)-  The Rechurch staff - incredible people
-  Ethan being my own personal alarm clock in the morning
-  Reading heaps of books and discussing them with Amy
-  Resound (kid's music class) and all it's hilarity... not to mention frequently making a fool out of myself because I was the only one there without a baby...
-  Having afternoon tea with Yo while Ethan took a nap - awesome girl talk
-  Being a part of two vastly different, but both amazing, Bible Studies-  Sunday night dinners and team time with the Rechurch staff which always ended in either an extremely competitive game or an awkward comment by Nate
-  Making meals for the Student Army after the 22/2 EQ and delivering meals around the Aranui community
- Going whale watching in Kaikoura with my host family
- Seeing 'Harry Potter' before the rest of the world (I love the international date line)
- Watching my friend Ange play ice hockey on Monday nights
- Zumba every week with my neighbor, Carrie
- Running my first 10k
- Being taught the rules of rugby by Samoan Maori guys and in return, explaining them weird things about American culture, like Judge Judy and Twinkies
-  Learning how to drive on the opposite side of the road
- Having the opportunity to ride the bus every day to work
-  Surviving an earthquake
- Teaching kiwis how to play ultimate frisbee
- Going to ridiculous themed parties
- Weekly pub quiz on Tuesdays at the Fox & Ferret... which we NEVER won... shoot
-  Learning the 'Hoedown Throwdown' with the rest of the Rechurch team
- Weird movie nights with Neil and Yo
- Learning the metric system and Kiwi slang... I love Kiwi culture
- Teaching my Thursday night Bible study how to play Telephone pictionary and Mafia.  Hilarious
- Meeting some of my favorite women for fortnightly coffee
- The Naked Baker... probably one of the BEST bakeries in CHCH
- Seeing a Haka performed
- Cricket... kidding, I hate cricket. Wicked boring.

There are just so many memories that I am going to take away from my experience here in New Zealand.  I am so incredibly thankful that I had this opportunity...

I'll be back, that's for sure.

Last Full Day in the Office.

SAD.

Things I will miss about the Rechurch office:

1. Drinking really good coffee with Amy.

2. Nate's ridiculous comments about bowel movements and his impeccable timing with creating and recognizing awkward moments.

3. Having to wear more layers to keep warm INSIDE than outside.

4. Taking naps on the couches during my lunch break.

5. The beautiful Mac desktop computer.

6. Making kids lessons and props for music class.

7. Being yelled at by Joe if I leave his office door open too long and let all the heat out.

8. My super comfortable bright red chair.  I love red.

9. The monster, hormonal printer that only prints, scans, and copies when it feels like it.

10. The endless supply of post-its.

11. All the little tasks that all the staff members ask me to do... like putting stamps on things, stapling, cutting up paper, calling people I have never met... the list goes on... They always feel bad, but I love doing it all.

So many memories...

Kiwi. Sheep.

It's cold here.  Real cold.

I decided to take a walk... and as I did this, I passed by an artisan market.  I love art and I love markets.  Double whammy, helllloooooo.

As I was wandering through the market, I found myself stumbling across the homemade wool hats and scarves.  I probably have enough scarves and hats to last me a lifetime, but I could not resist the merino wool these were made out of.  As I was searching through the boxes of handmade goods, I stumbled across a beauty... a merino wool reversible headband.  One side, kiwis.  The other side, sheep.  SO NEW ZEALAND.  I had to buy it.  Not to mention, it was one of the cheapest things I have purchased here and it is worth every penny.

Long live the reversible kiwi/sheep headband.

Luggage

Last night was my last casual Bible Study.

Joe and I have basically been team-leading this particular group since the end of March/beginning of April.  It's been a great way for me to meet individuals new to faith, just exploring Rechurch, and those who want to gain a better understanding of what Christianity is all about.  I have met some incredible people with some really beneficial things to say and relevant questions to ask.  It's been encouraging to see people grow and flourish... not because of the Bible Study in and of itself, but because of the Holy Spirit working in their hearts.  We are just there to provide an environment open to questions and discussions without passing judgment and He does the rest of the work.  I must say that I am glad and relieved I am not responsible for changing hearts.


For our last small group, we watched the nooma video "Luggage" and talked about forgiveness and how the wounds of our past influence and impact our future.  So good for me to continue reflecting on this topic... And SO thankful for Rob Bell's wisdom when he made the statement that we should always forgive and never say "Yeah, I don't forgive them", because what if God said that about us?  Yeah, we'd pretty much all be screwed.  Just one more reason I am so thankful for Jesus.

Our group was smaller in numbers than it usually is, but our conversations were really good.  I feel like people shared more openly the wounds of their past than they have before - including myself.  I am so excited to hear about future meetings from Joe and my friends in the group.  I am really hoping that people continue finding a strong community in the group and become eager to know more.

EVERYBODY HAS TO LEAVE, EVERYBODY HAS TO LEAVE THEIR HOME AND COME BACK SO THEY CAN LOVE IT AGAIN FOR ALL NEW REASONS.

-- Donald Miller, "Through Painted Deserts" --

Arithmetic

     Today, I've spent the morning contemplating God's love - How simple of a concept it is, yet so complex that I'll never comprehend it.  How undeserving I am of His love and affection.  How I fail to give Him glory and simultaneously work way too hard on giving myself and my accomplishments glory.  How everyday, God is singing us a love song and yet we neglect and ignore it.  How He is the only one that knows the deepest realms of our hearts and loves us still.  He's madly in love with me and is the only one that can love me completely... yet some days, for some reason, it's not enough.  

Everyday, I want to wake up and listen to the love song God is singing to me in hopes that I can get some notes right and sing them right back to him.  Thank goodness for Jesus.

"Arithmetic" 

Brooke Fraser

I've been staring at the sky tonight
Marvelling and passing time
Wondering what to do with daylight
Until I can make you mine
You are the one I want, you are the one I want

I've been thinking of changing my mind
It never stays the same for long
But of all the things I know for sure
You're the only certain one
You are the one I want, you are the one I want

I've been counting up all my wrongs
One sorry for each star
See I'd apologise my way to you
If the heavens stretched that far
You are the one I want, you are the one I want

[Chorus]
I won't find what I am looking for
If I only "see" by keeping score
'Cos I know now you are so much more than arithmetic

'Cos if I add, if I subtract
If I give it all, try to take some back
I've forgotten the freedom that comes from the fact
That you are the sum
So you are the one I want

When the years are showing on my face
And my strongest days are gone
When my heart and flesh depart this place
From a life that sung your song

You'll still be the one I want
You'll still be the one I want
You'll still be the one I want
You'll still be the one I want 

And the Relief Continues: Family Fun Packs

To help continue with earthquake relief, Rechurch has been organizing and putting together (thanks to some incredible volunteers this morning) family fun packs!

Earthquakes, because of the consistent presence of the shakes (as well as fear for more/bigger shakes to come), has had more of an emotional and mental impact on the Christchurch community.  Also, as earthquake-related stress is invading every single household around CHCH, there is more violence, sickness, depression, and even fear of leaving home than ever before.  Therefore, Rechurch had to assess the current situation of Cantabrians and came to the conclusion that relief should come in the form of something emotionally uplifting and relationally stimulating for families.

Amy, Joe, and I were searching for ways to reach out most effectively for families in our area and eventually came up with the idea of creating 220 family fun packs - bags filled with prizes, food, and other goods that could help a family host their own "family fun night". 

Inside each Rechurch bag includes: A bag of lollies (candy), a packet of biscuits (cookies), a pack of popcorn, a board game, a family-friendly movie, an UNO game deck, a set of family table talker cards, and a $30 voucher to Pizza Hut.  In 20 of the bags, we are going to include a "special prize", like a weekend getaway to Hanmer Springs or a voucher for ten-pin bowling with the family.  These 20 bags will be given away based on family nominations!  We contacted local radio stations and have advertised for people to nominate a deserving family and the 20 who receive the most nominations will get one of the special packs.

I honestly am really excited about these family fun packs.  As we were putting them together, I was a little jealous because I really wanted one - Ha!  As we explained what we are doing to the church and to strangers and friends around town, everyone has reacted positively to this plan.  Families just really need to be given the opportunity to relax and grow with each other and we are really hoping that these family fun packs provide a positive experience for them.

 

(Side note: Just imagine Amy and I going around the supermarket and getting 220 bags of lollies, 220 bags of popcorn, and 220 packs of biscuits... we had three trollies... it was an epic purchase to say the least.)