God's Favour and a Quite a Thrill

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

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.

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.

Anyone Seen Star Trek yet?

ISMNZ Ministry Interns

A lot can happen in such a short period of time. It seems like I just returned from Japan. I really want to see Star Trek, but week after week goes by and I'm still saying it. Of course, I was distracted by the Ducks vs. Redwings NHL playoffs... and up until 2 minutes before the end of game 7 was hopeful. But alas, there was no joy in the Cardiff Chateau that night! But, that's a distant memory now and things have really been rolling in Palmerston North, New Zealand. First of all, I finally scored a photo of this semesters ISMNZ Ministry Interns. So, here they are:

back row: Alan (Vanuatu), Victoria (Scotland), and Vani (Tonga)
front row: Claudia (Mexico), Yuki (Japan) and Koyo (Japan)
**not pictured is YY, but she's in my March update :-) & as you can see, Koyo & I are kindred spirits all the way to our ROOTS! heehee

Please pray for these awesome interns. Study of theology, discipleship, ministry principles and practice is a heavy load in any language, but in a second language it has even more weight. Still, each of these is growing and being refined (sometimes painfully) by God's grace and through His word. Pray they will stay in the light and draw closer to God through it all, and be able to complete their assignments and balance part time work and ministry at the same time. I am enjoying teaching the 'Being Disciples' course and the 'God's Workmanship' workshop. We have a few more classes to go before the end of this semester.

Grace City Church - CONTAGIOUS under the influence of RC Sproul!

Anyone who knows me knows it was bound to happen. I'd pass on what was given to me when I was a young follower of Christ. During my last visit to the states, I stocked up on three DVD series by RC Sproul. Three weeks ago, we launched our first series - "Choosing My Religion".

A little ice breaker gets everyone going... from fragments to a group!

Our youth group, Contagious, opened their night to include our university students. So, now we have a sort of a "student" (plus the graduates) group going. Only the Lord knows how it will evolve. Each week we see new faces and I am encouraged. At it's heart, it is a mission to get young people grounded in TRUTH and equipped to stand in the Word against the lies of culture, so-called science and relativism, while at the same time building a heart to worship God, know God for who He really is (holy, holy, holy), build a loving community of believers, and ultimately RAWK for God! "Watch this space" is our motto, because we want God to take the lead.

Our worship team has grown from 0, to 1, to 3 in just three weeks... who knows what it will be this week...

Fiji meets Kiwi meets Singapore... JR Tolkien (Giselle) & CS Lewis (Josh) find each other
during ice breaker

Last Sunday the video focussed on the wrath of God. Not something you hear a lot these days. People think if God is loving He can't be wrathful. But, it's His wrath that gives His love a context. God is holy. We are not. God hates sin. We do not. God's holiness demands justice. God's justice must be satisfied. Either on the one who sins, or the ONE (Jesus) who while we were yet sinners took the wrath of God in our place. "For God so LOVED the world, that He gave His one and only Son..." (John 3:16); "This is how we know what LOVE is, Jesus Christ laid down His life for us." (1 John 3:16). The passion of Jesus wasn't shown in His beatings and persecution at the hands of man, it was His passion to drink the cup of God's wrath in order to save us from the wrath that is to come. Meditate on that for a bit.

Pray that God's love would truly be Contagious. There were several non-Christians there Sunday night! And they said, "see you next week" when they left. Whewhew!

ISMNZ Impacting AsiaNZ relations:

One of the blessings that God has given to those who are a part of ISMNZ is that we also have an impact into the 'secular' world. That is, groups like the Ministry of Education, Professional & Business groups, Cross-Cutlural training, and foreign relations often work with many of our staff and volunteers (a lot of graduates) on research projects to better the relations for migrants and international students in New Zealand, as well as with their home nations.

The latest project that my boss Terry has been working on is a research project that involves Business graduates from Asia. Hwang Lin Cheng is heading up the coordination of the research, along with a team of our staff and volunteers throughout New Zealand. Ministry to internationals goes deep with ISMNZ. Our heart is to see as many people become followers of Jesus while in New Zealand and helpt them become established in Him. And practically speaking, our service to them goes even deeper. The Scriptures teach us to show love and hospitality to the strangers in our land. Our hope is that the fruit of these research projects will provide just that! The opportunity for New Zealand to treat all cultures who come here with dignity and value, welcoming them into the richness of culture that makes New Zealand so special.

Hwang Lin (in white jacket) instructing our team of interns and volunteers
how do arrange interviews with graduates during the recent Massey University Graduation day.

Deuteronomy 10:17 "The LORD your God is the God of gods and Lord of lords. He is the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and takes no bribes. 18 He gives justice to orphans and widows. He shows love to the foreigners living among you and gives them food and clothing. 19 You, too, must show love to foreigners…

Introducing: my (Mrs) Mai Meyer (my, my, my)

Mai and her dad entering the chapel...

Enid & I on a beautiful wedding day...

It couldn't have been a more perfect day in Tokyo... after two days of rain the sun took control. Friends and family of Daniel Meyer and Mai Asamizu flowed through Shibuya station from all over Japan (and Samoa and New Zealand and the USA) and journeyed through busy streets down the 5th Avenue of Tokyo to celebrate a special wedding. Mai and Daniel were married on 26 April 2009! They met in 2004 in New Zealand when Daniel was here serving us thru the Nav's for a couple of years. After he finished his mission he returned to Tokyo in 2006 to begin his career in Japan - and began his long-distance courtship with Mai (skype-ship) during her final two years of study in New Zealand.

Enid, Mai & I the Friday before the wedding...

It was a whirlwind trip for me, but a joy. Thank you to those who supported me and helped me make it happen. God really blessed me to be able to afford the airfare, and accomodation & food & transport in Japan were covered too. It was a true fish & loaves testimony. I arrived on Thursday evening into Tokyo, had a fun evening with Mai's family (mom, dad, grammas, grampa and sisters) and Enid. Friday Enid and I had a great day with Mai, and then met up with Nozomi and stayed at Japan Bible College where her brother-in-law is studying. Had dinner with the students then onto Yoshimi and Nozomu's place for more fellowship. Saturday was super rainy and after a bit of a long train ride Enid and I ended up in Shinjuku station (the busiest train station in the WORLD! it's a fact)... we've gotten to know it quite well now. It was a neat time hanging out with Enid. She's doing well in Samoa and is still debating the next stage of her life - master's degree in Auckland and a short term mission serving in Japan. Pray that God will give Enid wisdom and that she will continue to yield to His guidance.

Meeting at the station (Nodoka, Rino, and Nozomi)

The beautiful cake made by Mana; me with Mai's gramma, mum & dad
Mana, Maki-chan & Ryohei Cardiff Street spirit - Kaori on the right...

So, finally the wedding day arrived and several of us congregated at exit A5 of Omote-sando subway station... graduates Nodoka, Nozomi, Rino, and Yousuke, along with Taka (now lives in NZ), Rahel (stayed at Cardiff when in NZ), Yvonne (Kiwi friend who attends same church in Palmy as J2 members)... and walked together to the venue (posh place)... and met up with Mana, Ryohei (with Maki-chan), Natsuko (with Mei-chan), Risa, Kaori, Yoshie, Mariko, Hirohito, Bobby, Yukiko, and I know I'm forgetting names because I'm in that stage of life.

Taka (left) surprised Daniel by flying in from NZ... (rt) Cardiff girls with Mei-chan.

(left) Risa and Mariko (rt) ... with Nodoka

After a tearful reading by one of Mai's elementary school friends of 1 Corinthians 13, Daniel's dad (Wayne Meyer, Japan Navigators) did the marriage service. I was beyond humbled to be asked to pray for the couple after the vows, along with a friend of Daniel's. The reception was a great time to talk with lots of folks. Mai's family buzzed about the room without ceasing and made sure everyone felt welcomed and loved. Pray for them - they are an amazing family. We concluded the day with an afterparty reunion in a private club a few blocks away.

After the party we migrated back to Shinjuku station to be on our way. What a vibrant place! Still thousands of folks rushing around at 10.30pm on a SUNDAY night. Electrifying! Of course, all the while the top news stories in Japan included the Pig Flu epidimic and the indescretion of a famous J-pop icon from the band SMAP (who was caught drunkenly in the streets naked).

I am still as passionate about these Japanese returnees as ever. Please pray for the returnees as they face the struggles that come with remaining strong in their faith and integrated into the Christian community there. It was a blessing especially to have some sharing time with Kaori, one of the Cardiff street alums. Her work is demanding and her time is so limited - she is weary. Pray that God will give Kaori a female co-worker to meet with to have devotion and prayer with. She teaches in a Christian school, but the work is still rediculously demanding and draining. And pray for Daniel and Mai as they begin their new life as one! Pray that Mai would find a warm group of women to study the Bible with and some girls to disciple, so she can continue shining in her gifts and calling, and be encouraged in the Spirit.

In our final day, after a morning farewell call from Mai (at the airport heading to their honeymoon) - Nozomi, Enid and I met up with my dear friend Shelley (who I went to uni with & now lives in Tokyo) at Shinjuku station. After seeing Nozomi off to her Osaka train, we did a little shopping before heading to the airport. I thank God for His blessing to allow me this trip.

Back in Balmy Palmy (NZ)

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...

Above: top - with Hiroko & friends in Nagoya
lower - with Kodai also in Nagoya

Since my last update I travelled to Nagoya, then Sendai Japan to visit with more of our grads. It was a wonderful time, but one that highlighted how important it is that we focus on being available to encourage our returnees, and be diligent in finding ways and make connections towards helping them grow and be established in their faith in new ways in their home countries.

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.