Archive for 2010
This December Noah’s parents embarked on the 24-hour journey from Castle Rock, Colorado to Christchurch, New Zealand—they stayed with us for two full weeks, enjoying the beautiful countryside, epic coastlines and the local flavour of our new city. It was a huge blessing having their company during the holidays!
NOAH’S TOP 5
—Being near the ocean
—Simplicity of the culture
—Nearly everyone has a garden/It is a pseudo-agrarian society
—Kiwi ingenuity
—The people are outdoorsy
KATE’S TOP 5
—Most things stay green all year round
—Cafe’s on every corner
—Endless new things to discover (recent find were tree swings by a beach)
—There are no dangerous animals or insects
—New Zealanders have a great gift for hospitality
—Visa application acceptance from NZ immigration
—Commissioning send off from friends and family
—Our trip to Kauai, Hawaii
—Our move to New Zealand in March
—The birth of Kate’s cousin’s baby Miles
—The visit of our friend Stacey
—Meeting our South African friends, the Willems
—Our trip back to the States this summer to see friends + family
—The marriage of Noah’s brother Nathan to Sarah
—The 7.1 earthquake in September + subsequent aftershocks
—Golden Bay beach trip
—Noah’s 31st Birthday
—Grandpa Frank Donner passed away Nov. 11
—Kate flies to Iowa for funeral and time with family
—29 miners die in Greymouth, NZ tragedy
—Kate’s 27th birthday
—December earthquake and subsequent aftershocks
—Noah’s parents two-week visit in December
We have a vimeo page which I recently updated with short snipits of things around New Zealand. Enjoy!
A YWAM missions team came down to Christchurch last week and stayed at our place while reaching the city. They are based out of the north island and have spent the last while working in Tahiti among locals there. Today they left for Greymouth, which is where the miner tragedy happened recently. They were a great group!
The other day we were joking about how nice it would be to live a life for ourselves, heed to our whims, live for stints in Italy, France, Morocco, Greece, buy nice things and never have to skip out on a movie or dinner with friends because money that month was too tight. It’s easy to dream—but we know that this season for us doesn’t entail those things. We know self-sufficiency and self-pursuits would create in us less dependency on God and less focus on His heartbeat for His world. Perhaps more stability and comfortability will grace us with their presence down the road, but for now, we don’t want to miss out on being God’s hands and feet in this unique season of our lives. With less distraction and less comfort, all we can turn to is God.
Obedience takes a willingness—despite uncertainty, despite what others around us say, despite the way of the world. As we’ve journeyed through the last year, we’ve had many opportunities in obedience. And God’s poured back into us through those decisions.
Our hearts are always full. We always have food on the table. He connected us with good friends. He has given us favor with local Christians. He continues to reveal His purposes for the city through prophecies, dreams and scripture, and continually confirms His hand in our lives. And sometimes He does provide us with gifts of those little luxuries, through generous friends!
I look back and remember long periods of my life where I didn’t know what it meant to tune in to the voice of God and walk out faith in this way. I thought faith in God was about where I go when I die. I didn’t know it is an opportunity for here and now to interact with Him, engaging in the world around me with a whole new lens.
We serve a good God. We are continually impressed with his timing, seeing the right doors open, the right connections made, prayers answered, assignments given, love imparted.
The other day some friends were praying for us, when they heard from the Lord to encourage us with a particular scripture verse. When I looked it up, tears stung my eyes. It was about God calling the Hebrews out for a purpose and about promising to fulfill His purposes though them and that when they were done, they could return home. This encouraged us about His faithfulness in fulfilling His promises here in Christchurch. How great and beautiful and compassionate is our God who loves us, who allows us to partner with Him in loving others? Who gives us encouragement and confirmation along the way? We are blessed.
May you also be open to hear, quick to obey, and blessed in the journey of serving God in the way He beckons you. Only you can truly know what God is asking of you. And it’s in your hands what you do with it. —Kate
Our Denver friends, Greg + Jannelle, recently moved their lives to Kona, Hawaii, to use their talents in photography, videography and graphic design through PhotogenX. We are excited to share this video with you—a promo for a project they are getting their hands into for aid relief in Pakistan. Donation link is at the video homepage. It’s a huge undertaking but with your help of a small donation, you can potentially give a family clean water for 10 years. Epic!
Pure Hope Pakistan Flood Relief from photogenX International on Vimeo.
In an efforts to raise funds, Kate has been creating colorful hand-stitched card sets. Go here to check them out + purchase! Check the store frequently as she updates it regularly!
English tutoring is still going strong. I am volunteering with English Language Partners NZ + through Spredydon Baptist Language Center.
Here is my Egyptian learner in class at Spreydon.
One night Noah and I visited him at work and ordered souvlaki!
Here is my other learner I teach through English Language Partners NZ with some of her family.
