Mission Adventures NZ

1. Youth cannot do anything worthwhile anyways.
True… haha, well not absolutely true.  While a lot of the older generation may think this, it’s probably because they know of some really dumb stuff that we have gotten into. My grandfather thinks I am dopey looking because I wear shorts that cover my knees rather than the stubbies that he thinks are more appropriate!  Sometimes we need to convince our more senior counterparts that youth can achieve and be effective on the mission field – and a great chance to do so is a short term mission.  Remember, they say Jesus’ mother, Mary was only around 14 years old when she had Jesus, and most of the 12 disciples were in their late teens – and they changed the world!

2. The money spent on short term outreaches could be better used elsewhere.
True. But only if you have a limited view of God’s resources. I can see how in the past some teams could have put more of their $$ into other things and been more effective, but the reality is that if the youth are not going on the trip, they are massively more unlikely to fundraise and save to the same amount that the youth who are going on the trip would do. It is also great seeing the older relatives and community of the youth join in and support both prayerfully and financially.

3. Our community needs God just as much as they do!
True.  Everyone needs God, one as much as the other, black, white brown – it does not matter. In the long term however, a team of youth that travels out to do a short term trip is 10 times more likely to start something back in their community once they return, than a team of youth who stay back. Those numbers are a conservative conclusion based on 5+ years of youth and mission work.

4. Nothing will be accomplished in 2 weeks.
False. All our teams work alongside long-term missionaries to serve practical and spiritual needs of the community they are based in. For example: One Water tank (built in two weeks) can provide 6000-8000 litres of fresh water that will bless a village of up to 500 people. Saving them from hours of work, strained muscles and backs from carrying water, numerous sickness’ such as campylobacter and dehydration.

5. Short term missions hinder long term missionaries.
All our contacts love short-term teams… (most of them anyways!!).  We work alongside pre-existing ministries to make sure there is follow-up after we leave and so that the work that is done contributes, and not detracts from work that our long term contacts are doing to bless and serve the nations they are in.

With all those excuses nailed, it’s time to do something about Matthew 28:19!

Whitby’s Anchor youth group just recently spent two weeks in Vanuatu. This team of 14 youth, instigated and led by Polly Dacre, focused on the Eratap village just outside of Port Vila, the capital of Vanuatu. The team built a water tank alongside locals over the two weeks they were there, and also led a number of children’s ministries.
Highlights summarised:

500 stoked Eratap villagers who were blessed with the love of God in a practical way!

Team leader Polly Dacre talking to locals in Eratap village. Vanuatu, April 2010.

Have you ever had that mysterious feeling that something big is around the corner? Not like the feeling you get when your driving long distance at night and are drifting off into dreamsville and you see the lights of a semi truck rolling from around the curve, but a feeling like a change in your life is about to happen? That is the feeling that I have had burning in me for the last few months.

Last year during the season of Lent I went through a justice prayer calendar put on by these dudes out in the UK. Every day there was some info on an injustice and a way to get involved. I had also been going through 30 day’s of Prayer by the fine people at Photogenx. While I was going through it I had a thought that it was time for me to create my own justice prayer guide. This is when I had the feeling that something big was…

Click here for more

A while ago my friends and I were serving at a church in Auckland, preparing food. As dinner time came around we ventured out of the deep, dark recesses of the kitchen to join the back of the food line. The line started in the cafe area where there were a bunch of kids running around and screaming, most likely abandoned by their parents for some refuge. (It’s funny how the only place where it’s considered normal to ditch your kids is church). One of the young women who had been helping out that day was behind me in the queue, and I kept seeing her turning around in annoyance studying the young kids. As I was doing the same, I thought nothing of it – probably some delightful children’s pastor had fed them up on a massive sugar high.

After 20 minutes I managed to grab some food (although the salad had been picked dry of olives), and as I was approaching my table I was accosted by the same young woman who I had seen “giving the evils” to the rowdy kids earlier. “Did you hear that flippin’ kids language!?” she stated. “Nah” was all I could say before hearing a minutes worth of obscenities communicated to me that had come out of a particular young girl’s mouth, and how irresponsible her parents must be. The young child was pointed out to me and although she looked familiar, I couldn’t help cracking up when I was told that this young three year old girl had told one of the other kids to “Shuddup or she would get the bash!”. “I just don’t think a girl that young should even know what the ‘F’ word is!” I was told before I moved on. As I sat down, I saw (and heard) the young girl quite articulately pronounce the ‘F’ word more than once and then saw her run to the door in excitement as her father entered the room. Again I had to laugh out loud ( lol ) but this time it was because this child’s father is actually the pastor of a local church I know.

Ends up there is a reason this child has bad language and it does have a lot to do with the parents – but not in the way you think. You see these pastors have moved from the ‘nicer’ parts of Auckland to the poorest part to serve God and love their community. They have not only decided to serve the people God has called them to, but they have moved their family to live in the neighborhood. They are now fully integrated into the community and their children go to the local preschool, so it’s no wonder they come home with some colourful expressions! I am sure this is just a small part of the sacrifice this family has had to make here. Another friend of mine once asked this young girl about her doll. As my friend was being told all about the doll she was surprised to hear that the doll’s father was in prison. In what world do young three year old girls know that fathers are in prison and the mother stays at home to look after the children? That world is not many minutes drive from where I currently live, and that world is sadly becoming more a part of the world in which we all live. But, do we want to be a part of the solution? That’s the question.

What a powerful testament to living out Gods calling! Can you imagine the flak that these parents must get at Christmas or other family holidays? What would your parents say if you came home with some new vocab after playing at the local pastors house? Somehow in a weird way I reckon Jesus probably cracks up too when he hears these things. I also reckon he has a huge smile when he looks down and sees this pastor and his family loving the community that they are in so much, that at times they may get a bad name from it.

So, ‘Should three year olds know the ‘F’ word?’… I’ll let you decide. I did however tell the young woman that the reason behind that three year olds language was that there is a deep sacrificial love for the lost… maybe more three year olds should know the ‘F’ word and this world would be a better place!

This a must see, when God comes home to New Zealand.

(Part of the genius marketing of ‘100% pure’ New Zealand which has increased NZ tourism, despite the tourism worldwide trend which has declined throughout the recession.)