YES - I am alive and back to a more normal daily schedule. My last update was so long ago - So first let me catch up on the past few weeks... 
....and it was also a blessing to be a part of the Trinity Church Missions Conference:
...and I was blessed to have quality time with dad this trip, though with all the travel and commitments I missed out on enough time with my brothers and nephews. My final day in the country was spent trolling the halls of Toyota Financial Services' corporate office and enjoying good moments with my 'family' of friends there... then onto LAX and 12 1/2 hours and skipping a day later...
...I'm BACK! I landed in Auckland at 6.10am on Saturday, March 7th (where did Friday go?)
At 12.30pm I had a long lunch meeting with our newest intern, YY (pictured above) from 'east asia'! She'll be doing her internship ministry experience in Auckland. What a delight. She's on a campus there serving with the chaplaincy and building a ministry of discipleship with international students over the coming year. Sunday I met with her tutor and supervisor, then attending Global, an international church service hosted through the Baptist Tabernacle. What an awesome ministry to 2nd language students, many of whom have never read a Bible or been in a church.
Finally after a long drive through NZ, I ended up at 11 Cardiff Street. It is good to be home. God has already answered prayers that I shared with some folks while in the states (thank you for your love!) He has provided 'brothers' to help me with some yard and home maintenance (not at my request either, my house was SHINING this morning); and He has given me a peer sister, a really kindred spirit, to spend quality time with in study, prayer and encouragement.
Thank you to all who have been praying for me. We have 5 (+1 recently joined informally until her enrolment for next semester) ministry interns this semester in Palmerston North (plus YY in Auckland). Yuki (Japan), Claudia (Mexico), and Victoria (Scottland) are all in their 2nd year. New this year are Koyo (Japan) and Allen (Vanuatu)... and Vani (Tonga). Praise God! Being their 'teacher' as well as Claudia's supervisor in addition is a delight.
I should be better about updating now that I'm back. I look forward to hearing from people... please write! And seriously - if you are encouraged by what God is doing in our ISM ministry - talk to me about opportunities to serve. NZ is not a bad place to live either. The harvest is plentiful and the nations are on our doorstep - all we need do here in NZ is open the door.
Above: top - with Hiroko & friends in Nagoya
lower - with Kodai also in Nagoya
My Cardiff Street girls (Kei 04, Kaori 07) in Sendai enjoying some
of my homecooked Mexican delights
I returned to the USA for a final 'tour' to meet and thank supporters, visit my official bosses at Navigator Headquarters and spend time with friends (and especially my Klein girlz shown below: Tori [3rd from rt] & Chloe [2nd from rt]).
....and it was also a blessing to be a part of the Trinity Church Missions Conference: ...and I was blessed to have quality time with dad this trip, though with all the travel and commitments I missed out on enough time with my brothers and nephews. My final day in the country was spent trolling the halls of Toyota Financial Services' corporate office and enjoying good moments with my 'family' of friends there... then onto LAX and 12 1/2 hours and skipping a day later... ...I'm BACK! I landed in Auckland at 6.10am on Saturday, March 7th (where did Friday go?)At 12.30pm I had a long lunch meeting with our newest intern, YY (pictured above) from 'east asia'! She'll be doing her internship ministry experience in Auckland. What a delight. She's on a campus there serving with the chaplaincy and building a ministry of discipleship with international students over the coming year. Sunday I met with her tutor and supervisor, then attending Global, an international church service hosted through the Baptist Tabernacle. What an awesome ministry to 2nd language students, many of whom have never read a Bible or been in a church.
Finally after a long drive through NZ, I ended up at 11 Cardiff Street. It is good to be home. God has already answered prayers that I shared with some folks while in the states (thank you for your love!) He has provided 'brothers' to help me with some yard and home maintenance (not at my request either, my house was SHINING this morning); and He has given me a peer sister, a really kindred spirit, to spend quality time with in study, prayer and encouragement.Thank you to all who have been praying for me. We have 5 (+1 recently joined informally until her enrolment for next semester) ministry interns this semester in Palmerston North (plus YY in Auckland). Yuki (Japan), Claudia (Mexico), and Victoria (Scottland) are all in their 2nd year. New this year are Koyo (Japan) and Allen (Vanuatu)... and Vani (Tonga). Praise God! Being their 'teacher' as well as Claudia's supervisor in addition is a delight.
I should be better about updating now that I'm back. I look forward to hearing from people... please write! And seriously - if you are encouraged by what God is doing in our ISM ministry - talk to me about opportunities to serve. NZ is not a bad place to live either. The harvest is plentiful and the nations are on our doorstep - all we need do here in NZ is open the door.
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