Multicultural fun

LAST WEEK:
Evangelism Conference: I spent the majority of the week at the Evangelism conference for the Wesleyan Methodist church.
Very multicultural and fun. I sometimes wonder if i wasn't meant to be have a different colored skin.

Youth Rally on Friday Night at a Samoan Methodist Church: The rest of the stories come from this rally. There were over a thousand people there!
You can see a some of the performances below.

Can you give a greeting… and solo?!? Ozzie, the host came to me during the rally since the other “European” who was supposed to give a greeting didn’t show. Soon, I was wearing a t-shirt standing up on stage next to guys in a button up shirt and suit saying, “Greetings in the name of Jesus.” Then Oz called us back up and said, "Now they are each going to lead a hymn in their traditional language! Of course English came up first, It was “O for a thousand tongues” which I know some words to, but then I found out they sing it to a British melody which is different than how we sing it in America! talk about suffering for the gospel…

Kids sniffing powder… Crazy! This was mind boggling to me. At the youth rally I saw two boys playing on the floor with paper and dirt or candy powder or what ever they had. What I didn’t realize until they were bending down to sniff it was that they had been pounding the candy down into powder and using the paper to put it in a line to sniff like you would drugs. How in the world would they know how to do this unless they have seen it done before? When I asked them their age they said they were eight years old. I attached a picture.

“We are going to welcome back up the Tongans, Fijians, Samoans, Koreans, and Brent.” As Ozzie called us back up to the stage this was what he said. …apparently I became my own nationality this week.

Wow... I know a Christian now! One of our most talented and evangelistic teens, Sela Sosoli, who played the keyboard and sang said that after the rally one of her old school friends found her and made the comment above. She said she was there because she had to be, but definitely wasn’t a Christian and shocked to know that she had a Christian friend... Sela!

THIS WEEK:

• Heavy week of Master's homework
• Dinner with a young fringe couple in the church
• Schedule prep for the IWU mission’s team coming in 2 weeks
• Organizing an All Youth Leaders meeting across the Wesleyan churches this Saturday
• Inviting nonChristian neighbors to dinner tomorrow night.

Pressing Forward when Life and time seem pressed.

I was emailing my friend Dan Eggenschwiler and decided to pass on my final thought...
I wrote to him

...Life and time just seems pressed right now all the way leading up to this July/August when life will undergo some big changes for my living situation here in New Zealand, so kinda stressed at the moment, but i had a really good moment of revelation yesterday:

God made me to love challenges... why should this be any different. I would do it to myself in other ways if i didn't have these challenges, and although they may stress me out and seem too much to handle, solving these problems and pressing through is exactly what makes good men great and the triumph that much more sweet.  

Like so many war movies or the Pursuit of Happiness or whatever you want to compare it to...
I am tackling my challenge with God and although my body wants to run away, this is exactly what i desire and have been waiting for, although it is never how i pictured it or would've chosen it for myself.

Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 

1 Corinthians 15:58

Last Week This Week Stations of the Cross

Here is me in my Easter Suit! yeah, i was the only one wearing anything close to an easter suit this last Sunday, although people thoroughly enjoy that i still wore brown sandals (called jandals here) with the outfit.




i
Last Week: We had our interactive stations of the cross exhibit running all easter weekend. This was a good opportunity for a few people to visit our church that wouldn't otherwise come. Stations included things such as weaving as an act of committing to help with poverty in the world, observing art, watching a video on suffering, collecting blankets for the city mission, etc. At cell group we had one person discuss how they were trying to reclaim their faith. The solution wasn't as easy as asking them to say a prayer of confession, but you can help me to prayer for a reassurance with this individual in their heart and mind of the truth of God and Christianity.




This Week: Students are on 2 week holiday so this is a good time to connect with teens, and this will also be a big week for easter followup. One of my big responsibilities is supporting the church plant at cession|community and creating a system for contacts and followup to really target and value newcomers will be one of my crowning achievements over the next couple months.

Probably one of the funniest pictures i have seen!

This is my Friend David Campbell from IWU and i took this picture from his facebook because it was just too good not to share!

10 Reasons I am Thankful for my Parents

1. Their Godly Example
2. Their healthy marriage
3. Not forcing church on me
4. Imparting their love for people to me
5. Encouraging me to work hard and follow through
6. They taught me to be aware of how my choices affect others
7. The self worth and confidence that have come from our loving encouraging family
8. The value of sacrificing for family and living in the present
9. Creating a conducive environment for us children to pursue our dreams despite obstacles
10. Showing us what it means to love, lead, and invest in others.

My Nephew Jaylon can dance!

I just took this video from Jen & Bradon's website because it is too cute!

Happy Feet from Brandon Bruce on Vimeo.

Connecting Through Surfing

So anyone that knows me, knows that i use my recreation as the easiest way to connect, teach, and enjoy other people.
Well this last weekend, i was able to take 7 others down to a batch overnight on the east coast of New Zealand called Tairua. This was the sunset on Saturday from the place.
The first night we went out to the beach adn the stars were beautiful, here was my picture of the southern cross
I was testing out the waters on teaching people how to surf because i have had so many people that are interested in learning. So i organized this trip to see how i would do.
I was also really excited about the group. Vanessa and B are twins from Vanautu and Vanessa helps out with a Nazerene youth group that the Wesleyan churches have tried to be working more closely with. It was fun to see them connect with Paul who is the youth pastor at the church where i am at cession|community. Daniel(between them) is their good friend and also goes to cession. Jason is one of the teens in the youth group and it was good to see him stretch himself. Rachel (to the left) is a youth leader with Paul, and Evy is now a good friend who is my surfing buddy and was helping teach a little. He gave a morning thought about how the waves are like our lives that was really thought provoking, which was also awesome and a big step for him.
It was cool to see the group gel together and to see new and deeper friendships being formed. God was awesome for providing a good and safe weekend. On a social front it was a total success. On a surfing front, I wish the first time surfers would've stood up, but it was a good learning step to see what i am capable of in leading. Cool.

Mowing the Lawn in style... yeah it's like that!!!

For those not in the world of facebook, my friend Heidi made fun of my lawn by posting this video she took of me.


I in turn, not only mowed the lawn, but mowed the lawn in style!

Coolest Flight Attendant Ever

CLICK HERE to watch this guy rap the safety instructions to a flight. Impressive and fun! I wouldn't mind having this guy and i probably would listen to the instructions more than usual :)

My Peanut Butter and Jelly/Jam Dilemma

Strawberry or Grape?

Which goes on a PB & J sandwich?

Since i was raised on grape, i just assumed that grape was the standard.

I was thrown off when two American girls outnumbered me over here in NZ in shock, saying they grew up on Strawberry and pointing to me as the outsider for having grape spread on my PB & J's instead of strawberry!

I know there may not be a right or wrong here, but i am just curious as to what the average person grew up on.

I mean it is not end of the world, but IT IS!!! That is breaking one of my stronghold assumptions and beliefs for about 20 years of my life!

It is called Peanut butter and Jelly (in US) & Peanut butter and Jam (in New Zealand)
Jelly in NZ is what Americans call jiggly Jello

"Is your accent American, Canadian, or Californian?"

I laughed out loud when a girl i had just recently met asked me this. She seem confused, like she didn't know whether to be offended or embarrassed or not. I tried to explain the difference between a whole country and state and that the incongruity would be like asking a New Zealander whether their accent was from New Zealand, Australian, or Auckland, but her initial response was, "We don't have an accent here in Auckland do we?" so i still don't think she completely got it.

A lot of people tag my accent as being from California. I honestly don't know if that really is the way i talk, or if it is one of the only accents people here really have to reference because of traveling through LA or watching stuff on gangs, Hollywood, the OC, etc. Either way, i know i don't fit in with my accent, but more and more often i feel like i could actually pull of being mistaken for a New Zealander as long as i don't open my mouth. :)

Pimp this bum

Just saw this in a news article and thought it was interesting. it was an advertising plan so i don't know anything about all the motives, but it was really interesting to listen to a little bit of Tim's story and way of living on the streets.

www.pimpthisbum.com
His joke was humorous too.

Fun Past TImes in New Zealand with Dan Eggenschwiler

Dan just shared this application video with me that he made for a pretty sweet traveling internship. You here my voice a lot in the background...hahaha... but i think he showcased the fun, beauty, and past adventures in mainly New Zealand pretty well!



You can help him out by
spreaingd the word about the video I would be very grateful. What people need to do is to check out his video on YouTube at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CxH21471-E
Then, if they can leave a comment on that page as well as rate the video (hopefully with a 5 star rating), that would be awesome.

Kiwi on Obama's Team

No, I am not referring to myself in the title... :)
This title was the latest national news article posted on the New Zealand herald.
Click Here to Read "Kiwi on Obama's Team"

The article just caught my attention, and intrigued me to see how a person and/or country will take ownership and pride in their people who accomplish things around the world.

I mean, i don't think this is supposed to be a satirical comment about his new status

"What is the difference between a Catholic and Christian?"

This was the question i was asked by neighbor's friend today!

I apologize to those who were excited by the title because you thought i was actually going to discuss the differences in religions. sorry this is not the case. If that is what you are wanting, CLICK HERE

The hard part was that i missed a chance to share about my faith. It is amazing how quickly those opportunities can come and go before you even realize it!!!  

By the time i was formulating what was actually important, the guy had already responded confidently smirking, "i already know the difference... which one is it that believes in Mary and stuff?" I chuckled and replied, "You would be thinking of Catholics there." and he responded, "Told you i knew" made some stereotypical joke about the flack Catholic priests have taken in the news and he was on to the next topic before i got anything out, but it was in a crowd and it was the first time we met so i wasn't convinced it was the place or time to push the issue.

But it really got me thinking as to what i would want to say in future conversations like this.

I got lost in my own brain and political correctness!
I was trying to figure out how to explain the theological differences between Christianity and Catholicism when i don't think that really was the question or even interest...

What i really found myself focusing and clarifying on the way home was," What is the beauty of what i believe?"

The next time i am asked this question i think i will respond in that moment by saying something like, "Well we both believe and preach that Jesus is the only way to heaven and to really find answers in this world. We go about that in some majorly different ways, that is where some people get hung up on prayers to Mary or the saints, etc. but the important part i guess, is that we are starting with the fact that we find our answers with Jesus and the Bible.

In short, i will probably take a question like this and use it more as a springboard for curiosity rather than focusing no answering the question unless that really seems like the issue on the table.

All that to say, God has been good in providing me with new opportunities to talk to my neighbor and his friends.

I saw soccer(called football here) as a good connection tool and was worried about playing with my neighbor's team for the first time last Tuesday..
I scored the game winning goal (2-1 final score) the first game and the two teams were debating on which side i would play on the second game! It was almost like God opened the door and rigged it so that i would have the opportunity t0 play in the future. Really cool.

I will probably going to try and take a few friends and go hear a comedian at my neighbor's parents' restaurant next thursday as an opportunity to mix our worlds a little bit. we will see!

The Hinterman's visiting were a nice reminder of Home

(Brett & Kristen Jones on the outsides holding their two kids Rhys and Raegan, and Kristen's parents Chris & Marcia Hinterman)
I work with Brett and Chris works with my brother in law Brandon Bruce for those not in the loop.

This last Monday I was able to go and say goodbye to Chris and Marcia Hinterman with the Jones' family at the airport. It was amazing how quickly 6 weeks can go! They were here and then they were gone. I got to spend some good time talking to Chris about my time over here as a missionary with cession|community which was good since Faith Church in Lansing, MI has been a huge support for me being over here, but I did not see them nearly as much as i might have suspected.

They left definitely left their traces though. The Jones' place has been transformed with their help including newly painted walls, a fresh deck, a redone bathroom, etc. The whole house was a construction laundry party for about six weeks running!

Chris also brought over a digital camera from Faith Church to replace the one that was stolen a few months back. This is why you have begun to see me post pictures again! Such a blessing and need. They also brought me videos of Jaylon from Jen and Brandon around Christmas time.
I loved it so much that I compiled the videos for you to see. I repeated my favorite part in the movie to make sure you didn't miss how hilarious my nephew is!


It has been cool to see especially in the last month how God has provided in my life and prayer requests.

Everything's amazing & nobody's happy...

This is a comedian commenting on how we have lost perspective on how good we have it. Sorry for the one censored part, but i think his point is worth the post.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH

Gratitude is good.

A Shout out to Crave in the US

My friend Brooke is developing a college program in the US and this is their first promo video. With a video like that i would be checking out their ministry just for the sheer entertainment of it!!!

In God I Am...

Accepted, Significant, and Secure.

I have been intrigued this past year with proclamations that we can make as Christians and I really enjoyed reading down this list I stumbled across at the page below:

http://ficm.org/whoiam.htm

It is worth the 3 minute read for the truth, hope, and encouragement that it reminds us we have in Christ.

Videos of New Zealand and Surfing

Some New Videos for you!
My friend Evy Mazellan from Marion, IN is over here in Auckland staying with the Fussners and his main two goals are to surf and paint. I can't help him with the painting, but i can with the surfing!

Evy graduated from Marion high school a term early and is living in NZ until June instead of in being in school. It is fun to see New Zealand and to get a feel for some of the roads, landscape, and ocean through younger fresh eyes, so i am sure you will enjoy the 2 videos he has made.

This first video is of Evy and me surfing at Hot Water Beach.
This is the first time i have ever seen myself surf on video!



This second one is Evy's fun video he made for friends.

Video of the New Van (video works now)

Here is a video for those who are interested in seeing my new wheels and laughing with me about how Ridiculously awesome it is that i am driving this around now! enjoy

Barefoot at Church

I played barefoot on the worship team this week and then looked around and realized that two others were too! I am still so used to the whole "no shoes, no shirt, no service" that it is still hard for me to get over that people can go into most restaurants, grocery stores, etc barefoot. I still feel like i am breaking some law when i do it or like my feet are missing something?

"You're the Pastor who was Barefoot!"
I even remember taking off my sandals to feel comfortable and preaching barefoot at a school assembly once while i was in college and I didn't think anything of it at the time.

A year later i met a student who was trying to remember how they knew me and they finally remembered, "Oh, you were that pastor who was barefoot!" Apparently i stood out more than i thought.

and NO is the answer for those who were wondering if this was me.

Superbowl Commercials for my friends in New Zealand

Since most of my friends in New Zealand didn't get to watch the Superbowl let alone the commercials... i have included some of the main commercials from this years superbowl so that everyone here can enjoy as well! :)

Auckland Traffic

Summer Media Fast

Not necessarily on purpose, but since camp at the beginning of January i have really cut back on my media. I really enjoyed the quality time with people instead of looking at a screen.

That and it being the main part of summer, i found myself heavily involved with people and spending little time at home and in front of a screen.
That has meant few TV time and Movies
Little email and facebook time
and few phone calls
I apologize for the lack of updates and communication to some after camp, but know it is not because i don't love you, it has just been that time of year! :)