3rd and Final Ministry Week in the Kiwi capital of the World where we served coffee in the rated best cafe in all NZ!

This ministry week has been amazing. We went to the Orchard church in Te Puke, NZ, which is the kiwi capital of the world. God has taught all 9 of us so much. In Bible in Schools, I taught on Perseverance and then various students implemented that important concept into the story of Paul and Silas for the kids. While we taught on perseverance, it was ironic that we actually were thrown into practicing perseverance ourselves by relying on God’s strength throughout the week. We would have fallen apart if we hadn’t persevered with God’s strength this week due to a number of incidents that happened. At the start of the week, we had Jaedyn and Brodie who both were pretty sick. We managed to do morning tea for oldies, Sunday school, college youth night, dismantled a kiwi orchard, and more. We were playing smash face with the youth for youth group on Friday night when Jaedyn’s foot decided to sprain/fracture itself. She was taken by ambulance to the hospital while the rest of us which had shrunk to five to carry on the night quickly readjusted ourselves and led games, worship, testimony, and swing dancing. Later on at about 11, we learned she was ok but has the crutches. Some new things for me that I experienced was being so close to such a bad injury and feeling helpless because you can’t take the pain again but you can turn to God and I really felt thankful that He can be there always. 

Another new thing was a Progressive dinner. The first house was appetizers, second house was main meal, and the third was dessert. I’d never heard of it before so it was really fun to try. The only stressful thing was a game that we played in which you start out with 5 clothespins and if you say yes or no or nod your head then you lose a clothespin to the person who made you say or do the taboo. I’m a very verbal empathetic to people talking so my talking was very stilted and my neck got stiff from not nodding at every word. The worst trap was I’d be talking and then they’d say, “really??” How do you answer to a question like that without saying yes or no or nodding the affirmative!? 
We also worked at the voted best cafe in New Zealand which was an amazing opportunity. They are Christians who got together a couple years ago and decided to start a cafe for the community. They love volunteers and do free pizza nights with about 200 people coming to that now. Also when you buy a cup of coffee, they donate part of the money so you’re actually buying clean water for folks in Cambodia.

Jaedyn (pictured above) and me cut up kiwis and bananas for smoothies and had the opportunity to serve coffees, yes!

A tea for FairHaven schools on a sprightly afternoon. 

GF Waffles topped with butterscotch syrup, walnuts, bananas, and cream at the Daily. This was the morning. Little did I know I'd be back 2 more times that day for more! (Not Waffles - other yummy goodness) 

 Our billet hosting Corina and I was super nice and I loved being in her home. We were only a 2 minute walk from the church and there were kiwi orchards all about the place. She made it so cozy to come back from busy days to a warm atmosphere of fire and tea and conversation.There was a piano there with vintage sheet music that we rummaged through. I played select Sound of Music songs while Corina sang. Good days. It's actually not quite cold for winter or rainy. We've had beautiful sunshine and short sleeves - a good old sixty degrees about every day. In the back yard of our billets Karen's house were mandarin, lemon, and persimmon trees ripe with fruit. So good!