Busy, Busy

Clever title, I know! It has been a while since I have had a chance to sit down and update you with our lives. The reason it had been a while is becuase life is busy right now! Since summer break is officially over, all of the regular programs have resumed. In additional to regular programs, our team is busy with many other responsibilites.

Joe has begun leading a "Life Group" or small group for 14-16 year old boys. He is excited about this as are the boys in his group.

Children's programs have started back up on Sundays. Joe helps with the "SuperKids" program on Sunday mornings, which is year one through year six (kindegarten-fifth grade.)He does large group teaching as well as helps with a smaller group of kids. I help with the "Dynamites" on Sundays which is two to five year olds. I will be doing some large group teaching with them but I also just help set up and play with the kids. Being as Shore does not have their own facility, it is important for us to get to the school where we meet quite early to begin the set-up process.

This weekend we will celebrate Shore's ten year anniversary. When our team first arrived in New Zealand we were told about this event and also given a lot of responsibility for helping to make it happen. We have been working on the the collectiona and presentation of memorabilia, videos, interviews, and getting things together for Sunday morning service at a different venue. In addition to a celebration service on Sunday morning, there is a talent show on Friday night and a cookout at the beach Saturday afternoon.

Next Tuesday, our team is taking a trip to the South Island of New Zealand. This trip has many different purposes. We will fly into Christchurch where we will spend three days doing survey work. We have spent the last few weeks doing all of the studies that we can from Auckland, and now we are ready to go and see what these demographics look like in real life, we will conduct some street interveiws, and learn from church leaders with whom we are meeting. From Christchurch we will drive down to Gore where we weill spend 4-5 days working with the Christian Church at Matuara. Our team is lined up to be in charge of the church service on Sunday, hold youth events, train youth leaders, and get to know people in the church. From Gore, we will drive back up to Queenstown where we will be assisting at a weekend of family camp. Camp will not only be a great time to work together as a team with more planning of services and events, but a great way to conntect with leaders from around New Zealand. I have been the point person for this trip, so it has kept me busy with travel arrangements, making those connections happen, and putting an agenda together for our team.

The week we get back from the south is the "Week of Prayer" at the church. We are helping a little bit with the set up of events for that week. Though we will be gone for the start of the "Week of Prayer" there are many preparations that need to take place!

In addition to the extra activities, we have been doing our regualr weekly survey survery work, our regualr work at the Hub, meeting with a Life group (our age) and continue to meet new people and have people over as often as we can!

I know this update was long and pictureless, but I hope it catches you up to speed with what our lives look like!