Before I enter a new country I have this picture in my mind about what to expect and what life will be like in that country. New Zealand, as the first first-world country we visited, I imagined to be be this perfect life. I imagined strongholds way different than Asia. Strongholds like materialism and money. But what I experienced in New Zealand was more than just that. New Zealand was a home away from home.
We were blessed with a week at Algie's Bay to focus on debrief and to spend time with God. We were welcomed with so much love and had a great time with some of the locals. We experienced love like true Christians should love their brothers.
After the debrief week we departed to North Shore where we had the privilege of staying with host families. I had the most amazing family - they were truly my family away from home. After six months of traveling I finally felt like I was at home again. They spoilt me with so much and blessed me with just opening their home and their hearts to me. I felt like one of the kids in the family and it was just what I needed after all the traveling. Just what I longed for - to feel like a child again. To feel free, to feel cared for, loved for.
Our ministry was helping out at a holiday program for kids. The theme was circus and it took me back to childhood memories about going to the circus and just playing for hours and hours. My group was the Ringmasters and we had a great time playing games, creating great stuff in arts and crafts, singing songs and memorizing verses.
My experiences in New Zealand was more than just trying to fight against the strongholds. I experienced love, freedom, family life and a group of South African families who gave their all to bless us everyday. I experienced a home away from home.
May God bless New Zealand.
Elzet