People still ask me, "what brought you to New Zealand?" -- Of course it is the fact that part of the 'work God has prepared for me to do' (and planned by Him beforehand, Ephesians 2:10) was to serve international students in New Zealand and beyond. I've been in NZ for 5 1/2 years now, and I can testify that God truly has designed me for this mission to internationals. Mentoring, teaching, hospitality... reaching the nations literally from my doorstep: what a blessing!
But of course, how He got me to even LOOK towards NZ was through the Lord of the Rings movie trilogy. While googling websites for the opportunity to serve on a short term mission, God prompted my dear Navigator friend Leihlyn to phone me. She guided me to the Nav website because the opportunity to serve with ISMNZ was posted there. What began as a search for a short (6 months) mission became a confirmation of full time mission (2-3 years).
Back to the LOTR theme... I had wanted to be in New Zealand for the premier of the Return of the King which was early December 2003. And, praise the lord of Lords, I relocated to NZ one week before the premier. I was in Wellington for the week leading up to the 'big day'.
So, in His providence it would make sense that God would bring another woman, an aspiring film maker (who wanted to be in NZ to work on projects connected to Weta and Peter Jackson and perhaps even The Hobbit) into my life. I've introduced you to Claudia before. She is one of our ministry interns from Mexico, and besides having the opportunity to teach her, I am her mentor/supervisor for the internship.
Claudia has gone through much in her time in New Zealand. It has been very challenging, humbling and refining for her these past 18 months. But what is beginning to glow through is a shine and light for Christ that is on firmer ground. As part of her final year, one of the courses I teach is called "God's Workmanship" (1st Semester) and another is "Focus on the Future" (beginning in July). The first semester course focusses on understanding how God has hand crafted you with spiritual gifts, strengths & talents, personality, values, etc. The purpose is to help guide our interns in making decisions as the prayerfully consider how to serve God in ministry and in career & life choices.
It was during this course that Claudia began to receive affirmation of what God has wired her to do.
Okay, so what does all this have to do with anything? Well, in focussing on the future, we work with each intern to guide them in writing CV/Resume's, cover letters, preparing referees, applying for work or further education or mission, etc. Because Claudia had a dream when she came to NZ and entrusted it to God - putting Him first as she focussed on becoming fluent in English and most importantly, grounded in her faith... her desire to work in the film industry in NZ (in order to one day world impacting documentaries) is now the next dream in focus.
Claudia comes from Guadalajara, Mexico. The director of The Hobbit is also from her home town (even suburb). This week he was in Wellington for a book signing (his new book) so Claudia and I fasttracked her next semester course and got that CV and letter done! And, carried by the fervent prayers of many that God would give her favour “amongst kings” and the peace of God, off she went to the booksigning... CV, letter and FLAN in hand.
She is like the farmer who, even though there have been years of drought, planted his seed anyway and trusted God for the rain. She planted her seed AND MADE HEADLINES in the NZ Dominion Post! The rain is up to the Lord. I'll copy the story below, but here is a link to see it as long as they keep it up on the website:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/wellington/2510831/Fan-asks-the-man-for-a-job-any-job
But of course, how He got me to even LOOK towards NZ was through the Lord of the Rings movie trilogy. While googling websites for the opportunity to serve on a short term mission, God prompted my dear Navigator friend Leihlyn to phone me. She guided me to the Nav website because the opportunity to serve with ISMNZ was posted there. What began as a search for a short (6 months) mission became a confirmation of full time mission (2-3 years).
Back to the LOTR theme... I had wanted to be in New Zealand for the premier of the Return of the King which was early December 2003. And, praise the lord of Lords, I relocated to NZ one week before the premier. I was in Wellington for the week leading up to the 'big day'.
So, in His providence it would make sense that God would bring another woman, an aspiring film maker (who wanted to be in NZ to work on projects connected to Weta and Peter Jackson and perhaps even The Hobbit) into my life. I've introduced you to Claudia before. She is one of our ministry interns from Mexico, and besides having the opportunity to teach her, I am her mentor/supervisor for the internship.
Claudia has gone through much in her time in New Zealand. It has been very challenging, humbling and refining for her these past 18 months. But what is beginning to glow through is a shine and light for Christ that is on firmer ground. As part of her final year, one of the courses I teach is called "God's Workmanship" (1st Semester) and another is "Focus on the Future" (beginning in July). The first semester course focusses on understanding how God has hand crafted you with spiritual gifts, strengths & talents, personality, values, etc. The purpose is to help guide our interns in making decisions as the prayerfully consider how to serve God in ministry and in career & life choices.
It was during this course that Claudia began to receive affirmation of what God has wired her to do.
Okay, so what does all this have to do with anything? Well, in focussing on the future, we work with each intern to guide them in writing CV/Resume's, cover letters, preparing referees, applying for work or further education or mission, etc. Because Claudia had a dream when she came to NZ and entrusted it to God - putting Him first as she focussed on becoming fluent in English and most importantly, grounded in her faith... her desire to work in the film industry in NZ (in order to one day world impacting documentaries) is now the next dream in focus.
Claudia comes from Guadalajara, Mexico. The director of The Hobbit is also from her home town (even suburb). This week he was in Wellington for a book signing (his new book) so Claudia and I fasttracked her next semester course and got that CV and letter done! And, carried by the fervent prayers of many that God would give her favour “amongst kings” and the peace of God, off she went to the booksigning... CV, letter and FLAN in hand.
She is like the farmer who, even though there have been years of drought, planted his seed anyway and trusted God for the rain. She planted her seed AND MADE HEADLINES in the NZ Dominion Post! The rain is up to the Lord. I'll copy the story below, but here is a link to see it as long as they keep it up on the website:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/wellington/2510831/Fan-asks-the-man-for-a-job-any-job
Claudia & Guillermo del Toro (dir. The Hobbit)Fan asks 'the man' for a job, any job
By NATHAN BEAUMONT - The Dominion Post
Last updated 05:00 18/06/2009
Most people used a book signing by Mexican film-maker Guillermo del Toro as a chance to snare a autograph and have a chat, but one used it to further her career prospects.
Hundreds of people queued to see the Oscar winner at the Weta Cave in Miramar last night, some coming from Auckland and Nelson.
Claudia Juarez, who hails from the film-maker's home town of Guadalajara, had been waiting for months to meet "the man".
As he signed her copy of The Strain , she handed him an envelope which had a job application for a role in his upcoming movie, The Hobbit.
"I don't care what the job is, cleaner, whatever, I just want to be involved in the movie. The chance to work with him would be awesome," she said.
"He is such a cool guy, very humble. I have been waiting for this opportunity my whole life." Ms Juarez, a university student in Palmerston North, had previously worked as an assistant producer in Mexico.
"I love working in the industry and I thought if you don't ask, you don't know, so we'll see what happens."
The Strain is the first part of a trilogy in which a mysterious virus turns large numbers of people into bloodsucking vampire creatures and a New York disease control team tries to contain the outbreak.
Del Toro, 44, has been based in Wellington for the past eight months preparing to direct The Hobbit. He will stay again while the film is shot here next year and till the first part is released in 2011.
By NATHAN BEAUMONT - The Dominion Post
Last updated 05:00 18/06/2009
Most people used a book signing by Mexican film-maker Guillermo del Toro as a chance to snare a autograph and have a chat, but one used it to further her career prospects.
Hundreds of people queued to see the Oscar winner at the Weta Cave in Miramar last night, some coming from Auckland and Nelson.
Claudia Juarez, who hails from the film-maker's home town of Guadalajara, had been waiting for months to meet "the man".
As he signed her copy of The Strain , she handed him an envelope which had a job application for a role in his upcoming movie, The Hobbit.
"I don't care what the job is, cleaner, whatever, I just want to be involved in the movie. The chance to work with him would be awesome," she said.
"He is such a cool guy, very humble. I have been waiting for this opportunity my whole life." Ms Juarez, a university student in Palmerston North, had previously worked as an assistant producer in Mexico.
"I love working in the industry and I thought if you don't ask, you don't know, so we'll see what happens."
The Strain is the first part of a trilogy in which a mysterious virus turns large numbers of people into bloodsucking vampire creatures and a New York disease control team tries to contain the outbreak.
Del Toro, 44, has been based in Wellington for the past eight months preparing to direct The Hobbit. He will stay again while the film is shot here next year and till the first part is released in 2011.
He was not revealing many details about the project, but did tell The Dominion Post that he would be flying over New Zealand in the next few weeks to look at possible locations for the film.
"We have been scouting locations by using photos so once we get up in the air and see them properly it will really help us make some decisions." The elaborate Hobbiton village on a farm in Matamata, which was used in The Lord of the Rings, would also be rebuilt. The movie will be released in two parts in 2011 and 2012.
No comments:
Post a Comment