I'm sure you wanted all those details!

Wow that was a long post-- sorry about that. I am just longing to communicate with the other side of the world!!!!

Internet deprived

31/10/07 (how they write the date here)

Good day! Still no Internet at our flat—we are all starting to feel deprived of contact with all of our family and friends—but no worries mate, we are still working on fixing our Internet problems (If you could pray for a quick fix that would be wonderful). I’ll send pictures when we get our own Internet. We found this great little café that has 1 hour of free Internet for now though—I guess that is what moving to a new city is all about—finding the new little treasures within the city. I really am starting to love Wellington! Every time we find a restaurant, store, cut-through, or church which clicks with me, I truly get excited to think I’ll be living here for a year! The stairs and hills haven’t been near as bad this week, the weather has been the biggest blessing from above (sunny and 70, still windy), and now that we are able to cook my stomach is much happier. My teammates are even starting to feel like familyJ.

As the NZ students begin their summer break this week, we as a staff team have some time to travel, study the culture, prepare Bible studies, and make some Kiwi friends. It is still hard for me to comprehend that my “job” is to help establish a student ministry. My “job” is to walk as Christ would walk so students can see Jesus--yet Jesus’ ministry was often so hidden and within the margins of life. He knew not everyone would understand His ways. I don’t even understand most of His ways. So how do I spend my 9-5 time and how do I not spread my own hierocracy? I guess it really is all up to Him. I’m hoping to connect with a church soon and begin serving there and I can’t wait for some time to read lots of books before school starts back up in February. We also have 2 weeks in Auckland for training coming up and Justin and I will be spending 2 weeks on the South island helping lead a summer project in Nelson (so excited about this!) Lately we’ve been meeting students, learning the city/ culture—(LOVED checking out the national museum it’s known as one of the best in the world), and hearing about the past year of ministry- it’s pitfalls and successes. We took last week as a prayer and fasting week to think about what God wants to do here within Student Life (the name of Campus Crusade for Christ in New Zealand).

Taking in the New Zealand culture has been a bit paradoxical so far—some ways of life here make so much sense to me (they share everything, they exercise and eat healthy, and they are so cheerful), yet other norms are a bit tough for me to comprehend (legal brothels on many streets, lots of drunkenness, and very skeptical students). Known as one of the most liberal places in the world—New Zealand is showing me first hand the effects of postmodernity on politics, sex, and Christianity. Our team has been reading lots of student magazines and newspapers to learn about the universities. One such magazine’s cover was of a student flicking off the camera, it contained an article describing Christians as wolves, and it stated that an average NZ women has 28 sexual partners in her life time. Hard to stomach when I see such beauty and natural glory around me.

Taking in the Christianity of Wellington has also been a growing experience for me. Students here are exposed to so many mixed messages about God-- there are over 100 churches in the city of Wellington—as a believer of Jesus I am confused about how to choose a church—how in the world does a non-believer ever make his/ her choice about an initial belief in Jesus? I can’t deny that there is a Christian presence here- last weekend there were almost 3,000 people who came out to hear an evangelist from California. Yet I also can’t deny that the Gospel is not being embodied in many ways- suicide is common, and depression is rising. I don’t want Jesus to be a quick fix that will eventually fade away in New Zealand- I want Him to capture the lives of students here. How do I exemplify the life-encompassing call of Christ, yet simplify the Gospel so one can choose Him? We pray. And we act in love.

All I’ve got for now. LOVE when I hear back from you on my blogs!! And I am so thankful for each of you—I feel it all the much more when I can’t call or email anytime I want. You are loved and you are missed. Cheers!
--Lacey

Just for laughs.
--The language can be real fun here--we opened a bank account today- the man told us he would bring in extra “chairs” for us- we thought we were getting some extra “cheese.”
--Dishwashing soap does not go in the dishwashers here! Big mess if you do.
--Kara and I almost got kicked off the bus for a misunderstanding of when to ring the bell. Who knew you had to ring a bell?
--Talk about “airing your dirty laundry”—we hang ALL of our clothes on the line here.

hot showers, public transportation, and mangled umbrellas

So this last week has brought more newness and more adventure. We overflowed 2 dishwashers, missed 3 trains, spent a night in a BEAUTIFUL beach house, moved into an amazing new flat, learned how to navigate the bus system so we don't have to walk a half hour to catch the train-- now we catch the bus to ride the train (if you've ever relied upon public transportation for years I now give you my full respect), and we've seen how the Lord works in so many new ways. These last 2 weeks feel all mushed together, but seperately-- each day has truly brought many new words, places, people, foods, and feelings into my life. Trying to process through it all is difficult right now.

I want to try to keep you all updated not only on what the Lord is teaching me, but also on what life in Windy Welli is like-- weather, language, ministry, travels, all the details of life. One of last years Stinters told me that she was going to begin taking pictures of every mangled umbrella she sees stuffed into a rubbish can (trash can) to explain the weather here and she has indeed captured what I've experienced the last 2 weeks. No native New Zealander would ever carry an umbrella-- the wind and rain can't be stopped. But the beauty that the same wind and rain brings-- absolutely amazing. So even though the cold rain seemed unending the first week, the greeness around me makes up for every bit of it. And I love watching people walk barefoot through the city this week as spring has finally arrived. I wouldn't personally walk barefoot in the city-- but it's still a fun thing to watch.

Adjusting to the temperature here is funny-- you leave your house and feel a sting of coldness no matter how many layers you are wearing, you begin to warm up as you walk briskly to the train, and then you start sweating as you begin to run uphill to catch the train. You strip off layers of clothing as you walk inside a building, but because no building has central air or heating, you find yourself putting every layer back on in time to walk outside and begin the whole process anew. I'm starting to master this grand plan. My personal favorite temperature changers include the hot wattle bottle I sleep with everynight, and the 211 stairs we climb to get to the guys' place. The first time I climbed these stairs I was pretty angry-- now I've kind of bonded with them and love that I don't have to work out while living in this city.

We've moved into our new flat this past weekend and I LOVE it. We don't have any hot water or Internet right now-- but it's still a very cozy new home. I must head out now to catch the train so I won't miss the bus... but at least you have a small idea of Windy Welli now. I'll update more again soon. Cheers mates!

Waiting.

It seems like we're always waiting for something doesn't it? I have been waiting for months to arrive in Wellington to begin a huge new adventure of ministry, love, and growth. I have been waiting to see God's faithfulness in raising all of my support money, and I have been waiting to begin a whole new life.

Now my wait has begun all over again. At least that is what it has felt like this first week in New Zealand. I had total expectations that it would take me time to adjust to my new home, but now that I am in the midst of the transistion, I am very eager to be adjusted. Nothing has been more comforting than knowing that I have so many faithful family and friends who are praying for me and our team. Truly-- I have never been so thankful for prayer! I know that I am being sustained by your loving prayers, so thank you heaps for your support in that way.

This last week has been quite a journey! God has carried us successfully accross the ocean to an island full of very friendly people, cold rain, new food, amazing cafes, and a helpful team. I have yet to meet a person who is not gracious to "the new Americans." Taking in this whole new culture has been overwhelming at times; I wanted to cry when I had to climb 210 stairs just to get to our teammembers' house and I wanted to scream when I got honked at becasue I don't understand the traffic coming from the other direction; but I am learning that waiting is something to be treasured. I know that right now I am not treasuring all the waiting in life, but when I look at God and how He builds His Kingdom-- He waits. He is okay with waiting for us to choose Him. He is okay with waiting for us to mature in our walks with Him. He is okay watching and waiting patiently as we struggle and grapple with the tough parts of our faith. And He waits knowing that hurrying us along will not help and will only ruin the journey. It takes a lot of faith to wait. And it takes hope.

So-- I'm still waiting for anything to taste normal, for the language to sound normal, or for my new teammates to act normal (joking)-- but most of all I'm waiting to become okay with waiting. Part of our call here is to build a lasting movement of Christ followers-- this won't be done instantly-- and so my waiting will probably continue. But I know that God will continue to wait for me-- to mature, to see that all of this is about Him, and to learn to love.

Praying that all of you are seeing God in your waiting-- whatever it is that you are waiting for-- God is faithful, and He gives hope. Wait for him. -- Lacey