A Season of Trials

There are so many things I thank God for... every day! There are so many people I pray for, and give thanks to God for... everyday! If you are reading this - you are one of those people. When God called me into this mission field of international students in New Zealand, I never imagined I would be able to do this for so long.

This work is a blessing, but the most humbling and deepfelt blessing out of all of this is that I have such an awesome group of people who have partnered with me. YOU are serving me - with your gifts of love, faith, encouragement, teaching, mercy, giving, intercession... THANK YOU! This is OUR ministry, and YOU are reaching the nations with the love of Christ. YOU are investing eternally in the kingdom.

I saw an awesome message by Louie Giglio (Passport, DVD - get it!). The one thing that really stood out to me was this: "To the degree that you embrace the mission HERE, is the degree that you'll enjoy HEAVEN!"

You see, heaven will be filled with brothers and sisters from EVERY (which in the Greek means EVERY ethno-linguistic people group - not geopolitcal nation) tongue and tribe and nation! Are you ready for that? Well, whether you realise it or not, because you are on my team at International Student Ministries of New Zealand, you are reaching heaps of those people groups listed in the EVERY. So let me tell you... you are going to really enjoy eternity! Because you do play a major role in this ministry!

So, I thought I'd give you a little picture of "our" town square. Our (yours and mine) ministry hub is Palmerston North, New Zealand. It's a wonderful little place and if you are interested, here's a link to our city council:
http://www.palmerstonnorth.com/Default.aspx, and also we are a sister city: http://www.missoulacultural.org/sistercities/palmerston_north.htm to Missoula, MT.

I so often refer to the "Cardiff Chateau". If Palmerston North is the hub (national office) of the ministry we do with ISMNZ, the Chateau is the heart. Thank you so much for helping me offer this home to so many international students. Seriously - if I didn't have your support, there would be no home to minister in. I'd have to say that the majority of money I spend in New Zealand is on food for hospitality, wireless internet for my girls to do their studies and communicate with their families back home, and of course HEATING cuz as one of the new students from Estonia said, "living in the house in New Zealand is like living in a tent!"

Speaking of Estonia... pray for my new friend Merilin that she will continue to enjoy her New Zealand semester abroad, and that her studies will go well. I invited her to join Miyuki (new J2 girl) and I to watch the All Blacks game in our home. Merilin had never watched rugby, nor seen the All Blacks Haka!

I am facing a trial of sorts because of the house. I need your prayers as I seek advice and recruit helpers to do some seriously needed maintenance. I have no driveway - so our three cars have begun to sink in the bog of the wetlands (the mud that has replaced the parking area). We also have a family of mice who are smarter than traps and poison. AND the plumbing - well... in NZ to hire a plumber and replace hardware the cheapest price is $200 for the visit.But, I will not lose heart... because this home is the heart of reaching the nations from my doorstep.


Pastor Kellis has been preaching from Nehemiah! And God spoke to me so much through just the first two chapters. I continue to pray, and seek Him for the right plan. This home is for HIS glory, and I know it will continue to be a blessing, and He will bring the extreme home makeover team that He has chosen!!

http://www.omega-discipleship.com/_online/index.htm

The title of this blog is "a season of trials" and it has been! Recently I helped our church launch a major 20-week disciplemaking series. And the powers and principalities came out in full force. I have never felt so oppressed or depressed since coming to New Zealand. The attack was so thick it was as though everything was shrouded in fog. On top of it, my age & stage in female life is beginning to experience the 'change' - so let's just say... eegads! Meltdown!

But, praise God for my praying family and friends in the states, in Japan, and in New Zealand! I thank God for you all! The Lord has renewed my strength, and His light has burned away the fog of spiritual war.


Lots of busyness on the ministry front. Semester two has begun at Massey University in Palmy. Over 200 new international students arrived the first week of July. Dozens of them are from a major University in China! We've already made some wonderful connections with them, most recently at International Food Night (some of the OCF students shown above) hosted at the chaplaincy by the Overseas Christian Fellowship & Massey Uni Christian Fellowship group. AND, one of the new students from China accepted an invitation to our church and even came to the discipleship class. Pray for "S". He told me he believes there is a God, and has been wondering if there is a way to know Him.

Speaking of the Cardiff Chateau... we've had two awesome J2 ladies nights recently. God has brought us so many Japanese girls who are keen to build friendships. Laurel (ISMNZ ministry intern) has begun doing one-to-one Bible studies with two of the girls, and we continue to reach out to them at J2 events.

I am enjoying getting to know so many of the girls and establishing those relationships. Pray for our girls ministry, that God would open their hearts as they sense His love through us. Pray specifically for more opportunities to help them improve their English skills through Bible study, as well as exploring Christianity in their first language.

Above is part of the spread for "Little Italy" Ladies Night @ Cardiff. One of the girls I am getting to know, Manaka, asked me, "how much will it cost?" -- It was such a blessing to be able to say, "nothing - you are our guest". Thank you again for your partnership in this ministry. And pray for Manaka. I had lunch with her on Saturday, and because it is mid-winter's Christmastime here in New Zealand, I gave her a copy of Ruth Bell Grahams beautiful book, "One Wintery Night". Pray that Manaka will enjoy the story and that God will give her understanding.

Below is an image from "Mexicali Fresh" Ladies Night @ Cardiff. Pray for Miyuki, Miyako, Haruna and Mari (left to center). Pray for God to open their hearts and cause His word to be planted in their hearts! Pray too for Hannah, Laurel, and Maki (and me taking the photo) - our J2 leaders. Hannah and Laurel both lived in Japan and can speak Japanese, and Maki is married to a Kiwi she met in Japan (Brendon who is also on leadership and a campus chaplain). Pray for their growing relationships with the girls.

April Showers bring Feijoas & they are still here in May!

It's autumn in New Zealand... the leaves are turning, the wind is picking up - rain is forecast for the next week (with threats of flooding on both islands). But, my feijoa trees are STILL dropping fruit! Dozens and dozens of these little beauties are offering themselves as sacrifices for the many who would feast on them during their short season.

One month ago the first of the crops came in... and yes, I put about one dozen in a suitcase, flew to the USA, and cleared right through customs without ever having to give up my stash! Lest anyone think I broke the law - I claimed "fresh fruit" on my customs documentation. The nice man who cleared me didn't even blink.

So, what is a feijoa you ask? Some call it: (Feijoa sellowiana), also known as Pineapple Guava or Guavasteen, is an evergreen shrub or small tree, 1–7 metres (3.3–23 ft) in height, originating from the highlands of southern Brazil and parts of Colombia, Uruguay and northern Argentina. But HEAPS of them are found in NEW ZEALAND!

The latest news from Feijoa-land!
It's been a wonderful April & May. Praise reports include:

J2 Palmerston North is beginning to grow. God allowed the new leadership time to grow together in His Word and begin to learn how to serve together as a team. And a couple of weeks ago He began bringing new students to fellowship with us. We're still in the "framing" stages, building on the foundations laid in years past, but the ministry will take a new shape without losing the vision of J2 mission. Please pray for the leadership here in Palmerston North, that we will continue to be led by the Spirit and faithful to reach out to these students with sincere love and friendship, and that we will have great opportunity to share the gospel of Christ with them.

I am also thrilled to be moving forward on the ISMNZ DVD project. God brought us a professional who works for the local Christian TV station to help with expertise and production. Please pray for inspired storytelling, so that we can share with EVERYONE we can (via DVD and You-Tube) this awesome ministry of reaching the nations from our doorstep, as well as communicate how everyone with a heart for blessing these students can be involved. Pray I will be able to gather good material from staff and volunteers and students around New Zealand and also from returnees who are back in their home countries carrying on for Christ.

Another praise... the GINGRICH's are here. They are a couple from Ohio who, with their daughter Sarah, came to serve ISMNZ through the Nav's on a short term mission in 2005. As a result of their experience, they began to sense a leading from God that perhaps He was calling them into full time ministry with us in NZ. Mitch sold his law practice, Sarah graduated high school and came ahead of them in February (to study at Cantebury Uni), and Mitch & Beth have arrived in Christchurch to eventually serve as our Southern Region leaders. Please pray for them as they settle, that God would bless their home (already found one to rent across the street from campus!), their shipping and moving in, and the ministry that He has for them.

My home church, Grace City Church, has commissioned Pastor Kellis Byrne (Fiji) as our shepherd for the "English-speaking" international congregation. Whewhew! We've journeyed in the desert 3 1/2 years preparing for the Lord to provide two men to lead us into the promised 'land' (Palmy and the Nations)... first He brought Pastor Richard Tien (Singapore) in 2007 to take up the call of pastoring our Mandarin speaking congregation, as well as providing shepherding to the entire church. And now, Kellis has heard the call to leave the professional secular world and become our pastor. Praise God! "You've worked for men for 31 years, now it's time to work for Me". Please pray for Kellis and Dawn (and their girls, Brittany, Zarette and Giselle)... that God would protect and bless their family, and bring many encouragers and intercessors to support them.

Kellis and Dawn Byrne @ the commissioning in April!

The smiles on our faces (or are we laughing) demonstrate our joy!

Kellis and his girls! Zarette, Giselle, Dawn and Brittany

Will all the Fijian's please stand alongside Kellis and Dawn!
We enjoyed amazing worship with a Fijian choir...

There and Back Again: Across the SEA in Southern California
In late April I was blessed (by my brother) to be able to zip over to Southern California to be a part of my nephew's wonderful day! Sean Mills married his beautiful best friend and high school sweetie, Lisa! God really blessed the day - perfect weather (maybe even a little too warm, eh?), great friends and family, all of it. I am so thankful that I got to be there. Please pray for Sean & Lisa, that their first months will be filled with blessing and unity, and that they would be able to move into their new home (when all the Mills' men from three generations are finished with all the contruction projects they have planned for it) with joy!

My brother, Bruce with Lisa & Sean

What a good looking group! Lisa, Sean and his best man and brother TJ!
The speech RAAWKED!

Guess who my date was for the wedding? NOZOMI!
Awesome as! No-chan joined me for the wedding & I kept her up WAY too late
talking too much (who, me? talk to much? heehee)

Please pray for Nozomi's visit home for the summer on her break from
Westminister. Pray for blessed reunions, rest of mind, and joyful worship.

Still conTagious!
Even though I've been travelling a lot, my heart has not been far from our Grace City Church student group. In mid-April, the youth initiated an "after Easter" outreach for students in the city. They had it on a Saturday night... smoke machine, lazers, lots of yummy food, and great celebration in song and dance. But, I think more 'old folks' were there that night jumping around than students. They invited Stephen McIvor (ISMNZ ministry intern grad from a few years back - married to my dear daughter from Inner Mongolia, Christina) to share a gospel message. It was fabulous.

Still, sometimes great expectations (expecting many more to join us) lead to collosal let downs (God has a way of humbling us). So, I suggested they do it again the next night since we still had the 'equipment'. That night God brought many students and some from our Chinese ministry leadership. The Lord gave me a message to share with them about "Living as a Citizen of Heaven: God doesn't allow for dual-citizenship"... if we belong to Christ we are resident aliens on this planet and need to learn to follow the King of kings and His righteousness.

Please pray for 'conTagious' as we head into June LEADING the church in mission's month! That's a long story, but they have done amazing work finding special needs to introduce to our church... locally and in some of the students' home countries and in Haiti. They chose them and introduced them in our Sunday night meeting. Now we will expand it to the church. Also, we will be starting "My First Steps"... a discipleship series from Omega Discipleship. Actually - this is a church-wide 20 week series we'll ALL begin in various small groups the first week of July. Pray for MANY to commit to this walk.

Whewhew! Look at the pretty lights.

Don't quit your day jobs guys... ballet is not for you! (Kenny, Masa and Ma)

We are from HIS kingdom!

Japan in Japan and New Zealand

J2 Combined (Auckland/Palmy) Camp Crowd! Good times!

All Nations Returnees Conference - Kids presentation
(I am sitting 1/3 of the way back... so this crowd is x3)

Mai-chan (J2 grad) meets Ayako-chan (future J2 member for Auckland)
together at All Nations Returnees Conference. Pray for Ayako as she
awaits word on being accepted for Bible College in NZ.

OHHHHH SAAAAA KAAAAA
These are also generations, who weren't all in J2 at the same time

but back in Japan are gathering often for Bible study and fellowship

and to spur one another on in love and good deeds.
The gal on the right is a NEW friend of J2 that we met briefly
in Auckland but who has become a wonderful part of the Osaka family.

TIME TO CATCH UP AGAIN... BEFORE I TRAVEL THOUSANDS MORE MILES AGAIN!

What day is it? What city am I in? What country am I in?

That’s pretty much what it’s been like since my return to New Zealand in early February. Beginning my time back in the country with a J2 retreat was DIVINE providence. It was like my Sabbath rest in Christ to prepare me for the “week” of weeks ahead.

Do you realise that while God rested on the seventh day after He created everything, the FIRST day He gave to man was a day of Sabbath rest. We are so used to thinking of Sunday as a recuperation day, that we fail to realise that God in His wisdom knew we needed to first abide in Him before we faced our next six days of labour. Pretty cool, eh?

If you have Facebook and see any of my posts, you’ll know that I’ve been travelling quite a bit. In New Zealand as well is to Japan and back. There are so many stories I could tell, but I’m not sure where to begin. It seems this year my focus has a lot to do with our Japanese ministry, including the five J2 ministry interns, my household, J2 in Palmerston North, returnees in Japan… I love how God is in control of the harvest field He asks us to labour in.

God has also been doing amazing things amongst the other international students in New Zealand, and as I’ve travelled the country and met with various interns and staff and been able to hang out with some of their ministries, one thing stands out – God is still changing hearts and lives and adding to our numbers daily those who are being saved.

Recently at a student Easter camp which included the Palmerston North OCF (Overseas Christian Fellowship) students and the “Odd Fellows” (Chinese university student ministry), eight students gave their lives to Christ! It was truly an Acts event… the main speaker was Dr. Palatasa Havea (Tonga). He’s on the ISMNZ board with me, and has been such a blessing to the Pasifik Islanders throughout NZ and many students in Palmy. Two of the students are from Malaysia, and six of students saved are from mainland China… and even though the messages were pretty deep and in English – they UNDERSTOOD the heart of God’s message to them and received His salvation! It was AWESOME!

I am so filled with praise for what God is doing here in NZ and in Japan, it’s ridiculous. Truly wild. Thanks to the Navigator students at Cal State Long Beach, I was able to travel to Japan to attend the “All Nations Returnees Conference” in March (http://www.allnations.jp/an10/index.php?lang=en)

There were many highlights for me. The best part of course was having me dear Mai-chan there for most of it. It was exciting to see God give her the desire of her heart by connecting her with young women in her area who are meeting weekly for a women’s Bible study. Two of the gals live one train station away from her station! Another highlight was worship with hundreds of Japanese Christians, most of whom are still in their 20’s. Vibrant growing believers who believe with all their heart that their homeland is their mission field! WOW! And yet another highlight was being able to lead the New Zealand returnees reunion (about 30) in a short devotion, then have small group discussion. My group was awesome, and full of vision about the future of the gospel reaching their generation in Japan. I could go on and on, but if you click on the link I gave above you can get some idea.

My time outside of the conference with returnees was just as wonderful. Staying with Mai was like old times here at Cardiff. She has been blessed with an awesome job and she and Daniel are growing as husband & wife, ministry partners and friends. They head to Thailand and Bangladesh in May to experience mission amongst the poor and hurting in those areas.
Osaka was great as well, spending time with my Sakai Eiko church family, staying with Nozomi’s mum and dad, as well as reconnecting with Shoko and Kayako Morimoto for a few nights. Then, meeting up with the Osaka returnees… generations of them.

People often ask me why I’m still doing this and what keeps me going despite the decrease in funding, and all I can say is THE FRUIT. Seeing these awesome fresh international followers of Jesus continue to grow and continuing in their faith. Knowing that God ordained that I get to have a tiny role in that for the short time they are in New Zealand… it is a privilege and these beautiful kids from around the world are my heartbeat. I can’t THANK GOD and THANK YOU enough for your prayers and encouragement and support in allowing me to be here.

This post is getting WAY too long… so I’ll sign off with this final praise report… In addition to our wonderful pastor, Richard Tien (from Singapore), God has affirmed in KELLIS BYRNE’s heart that he’s the man to shepherd our English speaking congregation. Since late 2006 we’ve all believed Kellis was ‘the one’. But, God had to take our people through the desert to teach us and discipline us and make us strong in Him, and now Kellis had heard from God’s own Spirit that he is to be our pastor. WOWIE! A Singaporean and a Fijian! GREAT STUFF!