More Travels...

This week we are flying down to the southern part of the north island of New Zealand to survey three cities. We will be looking at Wellington, (the capital of NZ), Lower Hutt, and Palmerston North. During our time there, we have meetings with the pastor of a church, a member of a church that is no longer existing, and a youth minister who is also a professor at a Bible College in New Zealand, and hopefully a school administrator. We will also be conducting street interviews and going to some of the popular cultural centers in these cities. 

Would you pray for us while we are away? Please pray for Molly and baby Liam and Whitney as they stay home in Auckland. Whitney will be within a month of her due date so please pray for the days that she is home alone to be problem-free. Pray for the contacts that we will be making as it has been more difficult to set up meetings for this trip than most. Please pray that we follow the leadings of the Spirit and not  just our own plans!  Last, please pray that we will be able to keep up the pace we need as this will be a very fast trip for looking at three different cities.  Thanks for your prayers - we will update you with the trip when we get home! 

 

More Easter Camp....

Though Easter Camp was over a month ago now, we just had our Easter Camp Reunion with the students who went. The Reunion day focused on prayer and talking about the decisions that were made at Easter Camp this year. For the reunion, Joe made a video with some footage from Easter Camp. If you have a few minutes, check out the video, you will even get to hear some people with the New Zealand accent! 

Happy Birthday, Abby!

Happy Birthday, Abby! A couple of years ago my older brother finally got some sense knocked into him and decided to ask his high school sweetheart to marry him! Our family was so excited because we already loved Abby and knew she would be such a great addition to our family. 

Abby, you fit into the Huette family perfectly! The past few years have been so much fun for me. You know that you and Andy mean the world to me. You are one of the most faithful women that I know. I am inspired by your love for God, for Andy, and your heart for ministry. You are a woman of integrity and a strong pillar in our family. You have such wisdom and are such a great listener, I admire you for that!

I have so many memories that I could share about you! Last summer was great being able to be near to you. I loved the walks, the shopping trips, and preparing for the much awaited family photos, matching outfits and all! I think some of my favorite times were the sleepovers we had at mom and dad's house before we left, especially the pumpkin carving contest! Of course the thing that I think of the most when I think of you is your laugh! It is my favorite- Joe and I miss hearing your laugh all the time, it is contagious! 

I wish we could have been there to celebrate your special day and your birthday dinner. Know that we love you and think the world of you. In honor of your birthday, I have laid out what I am going to wear tomorrow! Let's face it, that's an honor I do every day, but tonight, I will think of you laughing at me as I do so! 

River Tragedy

This week has been a very emotional week for many people throughout Auckland, and even New Zealand. On Wednesday of this week, seven lives were claimed in a flash flood that swept through the middle of the North Island of New Zealand. 

Students from a Christian school in Auckland were away at a weeklong camp. The students were visiting a national park and doing different excursions. During one of the canyoning excursions, the Mangatepopo River began to flash flood. The river was at half a cubic meter at the time the excursion began and in an instant swelled to 18 cubic meters claiming the lives of six students (age 16) and one teacher (age29.)

With these seven people all going to different churches and being involved in different social circles in Auckland, you can imagine the quick impact of this tragedy. None of the students were involved at our church, but the students in our youth group were familiar with the students whose lives were claimed. Today at church our minister preached about where God might be in such a tragedy. Being as all seven of the victims were Christians, this has been a real time of doubt and growing faith. The administration, students, and parents are all turning to God throughout this tragedy. The media has been all over this incident, but the people involved have been shining bright. This incident has been shedding a new light on Christians in New Zealand. These students were all said to be remarkable students, ones who would be leaders and world changers; it may be that they are changing New Zealand, even in their deaths.

Please continue to pray with us for the restoration and healing of the many people involved with this incident. You can read more about it at the following links:

River Tragedy  

Students 

School Tragedy

New Experiences

There is a first time for everything, right? This week was our first experience with the  medical systems in New Zealand. While Joe was away, I had part of a tooth fall out. I went to the dentist last Saturday and he immediately put me on antibiotics and scheduled me for surgery. I had to go to a specialist on Wednesday morning and have spent the last few days swollen and recovering. I am on pain meds and soft foods until Tuesday when I go back to get my stitches out. 

I am thankful for the precautions that the dentist took in sending me to a specialist; because of the location of my tooth there were some dangers in doing a routine extraction. One of the differences is that the dental assistant has called me multiple time since surgery to make sure that I am recovering at a normal process. We realized that these calls were in place of all of the warning pamphlets and care packets that we would get in the states! Instead of reading through any of those for questions, I guess that I would ask questions to the assistant when they call! 

The same process goes for medications. When Joe went in to pick up my meds, the chemist (pharmacist) handed him two bottles of pills and nothing else! There is a label on the bottle of what the med is and who it is for, but that is about all. We used the internet to look up any warnings or precautions that I should take with those pills! 

There have been many differences and it has been quite the learning experience, but there is a first time for everything! 

Party Bus!

Friday night's youth activity for this week was renting a "Party Bus." If you are American, like us, you might think "woo-hoo, a party bus" and picture sitting on a school bus listening to music trying not to get sick while driving around for three hours. Let me introduce you to Party Bus-New Zealand Style:

We drove around the city for three hours making three stops at two beaches and the Auckland Museum. When we stopped the students were allowed to get off the bus and run around for the alloted time, and then had to meet back at the bus. The bus was loud and crazy with music blaring, windows open, no one was seated, everyone was dancing. There was soda and candy and heaps of junk food being passed around. We couldn't believe this was legal, neither could the cop who is also a youth leader! The pedestrians on the streets of Auckland seemed to enjoy us as we passed, some even joined in the party with dancing from the streets. 

The kids had a great night and the party bus was a hit. We are learning so much in helping with this youth group!

Two Arrivals!

It has been an exciting week for our team! Today, Joe arrived back home from his trip to the States. He spent four days traveling, but really enjoyed the six days he had in the States. They were packed full. He got to see his family for a day before he flew to Florida, where he was the best man in the wedding, then he flew back to New York and got to spend one last day with his family before he flew back here. He arrived home with a lot of goodies for me from Wal-Mart and the GAP! 

The second arrival this week was the day before Joe got back: Liam Michael Taylor was born to our team leader and his wife, Hamish and Molly! Our team is so excited to have this beautiful new little member! Both Molly and Liam are both doing well and adjusting to life after birth. Please join us in praying for the Taylor's as they begin this new chapter of life. 

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Happy Birthday, Dad! I just had to use these pictures...one of you with your "At the Lake" hat in hand, and the other is my favorite of you having the time of your life...planting trees! I know it's not the most flattering, but it is so you! 

There are so many wonderful things that I could say about you and about how you are such an awesome dad. I have always known that I am so blessed to have a mom and dad who love each other SO much. I also know that I am so blessed to have a dad that loves me SO much. 

In moving to New Zealand, the importance of our relationship means even more to me. One of the most heart-breaking things for me in New Zealand is the way that so many girls never see their dad, do not know their dad, or are scared of their dad. I can't even imagine that. So many of my best memories are of times that you and I have spent together. I am so thankful for a dad that was not only present, but who was actively involved in my life, and has taught me so much.

It hasn't been easy living so far away from you, but it means so much to me the way that you are still so actively involved with our lives in New Zealand through email, skype, and prayer. You are one of the most faithful men of prayer that I know and that has been such an example to me. 

There are so many things that I just love about you, so I have decided to make a top ten list for you...Enjoy! 

10. You think I am a great singer

9. You laugh at all of my jokes (and it sounds genuine) 

8. You wear a hat that says "At the Lake" only when we (you) are at the lake

7. You love stock-car racing 

6. You sneak ice-cream when you think no-one is looking 

5. You love to take a day off work to do other work (see picture above!) 

4. Your wardrobe is made up of mainly anything that has the NU-WAY logo on it (see picture above!)

3. You have a knack for telling the truth in the most exaggerated way

2. You make spending time with your family a top priority

1. You are a great example to our family of a solid man of God 

We wish we could have been there to eat pizza, strawberry pie, and play Rack-O with you for you special day! I love you! 

Survey Says- Part II

Today we completed our fourth survey trip, this means we are about halfway through the first stage of survey work. We have learned so much during our time surveying different parts of New Zealand. 

 

In traveling to different areas of New Zealand we have really seen some of the statistics that we have studied come to life. We are finding that less than 10% of the people that we interview are regularly involved with a church. We are also seeing and hearing about the desperate family situation in New Zealand. 

One of the survey methods that has been most helpful is interviews. We do interviews with a variety of people such as school administrators, church leaders, christian leaders, and random people who are out and about. Below are some of the responses that we have recieved.

"One of the main issues I deal with is relational conflict in students. The conflict is usually based upon issues happening in their family, and the family is usually a solo family (single parent) or a blended family." 

-High School Guidance Counselor 

"I don't attend church but I think about sending my kids for educational purposes"

- Young Mom from Street Interviews

 

"I've tried going to church, but the people are evil and they judge me so I have started my own religion"

-Young Mom from Street Interviews 

"New Zealand is beginning to experience the total breakdown of the family." 

- Bible College President 

"I don't think there is anything wrong with church, but I just don't go."

-Young Adult Street Interviews 

"I went to youth group once-it was fun!"

-Teen from Street Interview

"I don't go to church because it doesn't make me feel good about myself. I have left the church and am looking for the light, once I find it I might go back to church."

-Middle Age Woman from Street Interviews

"Sometimes I think about going to church, it might be good for my family, but we just don't. There is actually a church down the road from our house, but we just don't go"

- Mom from Street Interviews

"The best way to reach people is through relationships. We need a Christian on every street showing other people the love of Christ. People might see a need for the community of the church then."

- Christian Curriculum Representative 

These are just a small sampling of some of the many responses we are getting. We are continually reminded of the challenging road that we have ahead of us. Some of the main issues that have continuously been revealed to us is the state of the family and the way the people just don't care about church or see a need for God. We have much more information from the cities that we have visited as well as interviews we have done, if you are interested to know more, please let us know! 

Travel Time

It seems like we can barely unpack from one trip before we need to pack for another! We have been very busy traveling over the past few weeks. Three weeks ago, we went to the Rodney District about thirty minutes north of Auckland for survey work. This was just a day trip which was nice. Last weekend we had Easter Camp for which we packed alot for since we were camping! We had two days of 'normal' work and life before we packed up again to go to Tauranga which is about 3 hours south west of Auckland to do more survey work. We spent two full days there interviewing school and church administrators about the community as well as conducting street interviews and doing some observations at cultural centers. We were home for about 12 hours before we left Sunday afternoon to go up further north of Auckland to a friend's bach to get away for a night. 

This morning I dropped Joe off at the airport because he is taking a quick trip back to the States. Just after we moved here Joe was asked to be the best man in his best friend's wedding. His friend's family wanted us to be a apart of the wedding so helped to fly Joe back. Joe will be gone for ten days but will be traveling for three and a half of those days. The wedding is in Florida so he will get to see his family in between his flights from New York to Florida. He also gets to go to Wal-Mart with a list I have crafted very carefully! 

While Joe is gone I have many things to keep me busy. I will be helping with the regular activities at church (Mainly Music, MOPS, Friday youth group, Sunday teaching and women's ministry meetings), I will continue working with our team (we have survey research and demographic days on Thursdays and we have another survey trip this Friday to west Auckland), and other regular activities. We also have a special youth follow up day this Saturday for all students who have made decisions this year so far that I will be helping with.

I also have a list of things that I hope to get done while I will have some extra time! I started on my list and cleaned out and organized the spare room closet. Another goal of mine is to study the New Zealand Rode Code and have a New Zealand license in hand when Joe gets back. On Sunday I will be taking part in a women's tri-athlon in Auckland. I also have some new things at church that will be taking up some of my time. I imagine that the time will go fast as my evenings are filling up with social activities as well. 

Please pray for Joe as he will be doing heaps of traveling and be going through a lot of transition and emotions as he makes this quick trip to the States. We have recently felt some of the 'twangs' of culture shock which could really affect his transition back into the lifestyle of the US for such a short time.