What a wonderful feeling to be back in “civilization” after 2 months. Clean streets, western food and a clean, soft bed. This was my first feeling after arriving in New Zealand at the end of April. “The West” however was not without its own challenges. What we gained in comfort and familiarity, we lost in lenience though.
After touching down in Auckland, we had to go through customs and this is where our excitement was halted for about an hour. While Ivan and Darko were taken to one end of the customs hall, Stoffel and I were escorted to the other side. I presume that Stoffel seemed the more suspicious one, because his bag was the first to be opened and taken apart... and by taken apart I mean they checked everything and asked most of the questions imaginable in the situation. That we didn’t have to strip into our jocks
was a surprise ... and a relief! After Stoffel got off the hook with a stern warning for not declaring dirty shoes and his tent, they must have realized that these two young Safas (South Africans) didn’t want any trouble and they freed us into the land of the long white cloud.
Yolandi (a member of the North Bound team from last year who lives in NZ) picked us up at the airport to take us to our respective homes for the following 4 weeks. Stoffel, Darko and I stayed with a lovely couple and their two boys just north of Auckland. A near perfect smallholding fully kitted with garage/workshop, braai area, four wheelers and farm animals.
Our humble abode.
During the first week in NZ I read a book by Graig Hill titled The Ancient Paths. What a great impact this had on me. In the book he says that every day, each one of us must answer 2 questions.
What is my identity and my destiny? Essentially, who am I and what am I doing here? I realized that I didn’t have the answers to these questions. This led me to do a bit of soul searching and after some prayer and... well, the food was too good to fast, God revealed to me my identity. Not the way that I perceive myself, not the way other people see me, but what God sees when he looks in my direction. He told me that no matter what others say or think about me, He sees me as His child and no one can ever take that away from me. That is who I am!
Our ministry was at the Afrikaans church in Auckland and I was amazed to see the work that God did in the youth through us. We had such a blessed time and met so many wonderful young people that are on fire for God. My highlight every week was a prayer session that we had on Saturday mornings. It was social, intimate and powerful combining coffee, eats and fellowship with prayer and
just speaking blessings into each others’ lives. What a privilege! We also handled the youth sessions at the church on Sundays, went to the youth small group on Mondays and to a young adults small group on Wednesdays. We also had the chance to spend time with these people socially and built some great and intimate friendships.
Saturday morning prayer meetings (Willem, Yolandi, Anthony)
Cheesecake on the rocks (Darko, Caren, Yolandi, Anthony, me, Stoffel)
Since I have left I have learnt of the revival that has been taking place amongst the youth in that church. Young people committing their lives to the Lord and getting involved in the small groups so much so that they have to split the groups because the numbers have grown so much. All glory to our God for doing this.
I’m just so happy and thankful that I can be a part of this and see God moving. “The harvest is ripe, but the workers are few.”
Some of the youth.
The social calendar was also not neglected and apart from the braais, including a spit for Anthony’s birthday, that we had, there was deep sea fishing with Henk on his boat, sightseeing in Auckland and surrounds and watching a Super 14 rugby game at Eden Park. We also drove south to Rotorua and Lake Taupo for a day. The Waikato countryside is beautiful. Oh, and if you ever have the privilege of visiting the home of the Maori people, Silver fern and the Kiwi, please do yourself a huge favour and go have some ice cream at Movenpick. It is heavenly!
The Boys with Auckland city in the background.
nAt Goat Island north of Auckland.
On the hill above Rotorua.
Ivan, Anthony, Darko, Stoffel, me.
So, after 4 blessed weeks with our guest parents and spending time with the youth, it was time to leave NZ and cross the Tasman to Australia. It was hard to say goodbye to our new friends and “family”, but the Lord’s work never stops. I left NZ a changed, richer and more mature man. Our time in NZ was sometimes hard and challenging, but all worth it in the end. I hope to return for the rugby world cup next year!