This past week has been more incredible than my words can express to you, but I'll do my best to convey it as best as I can. We had the first week of kids camp, themed "The Amazing Race." There were about 80 kiddos here at El Rancho, and heaps of them got saved! God was working so mightily in their lives and the lives of their leaders, and it was a BEAUTIFUL thing to witness and be a part of. Also, one of the international volunteers who has been here for almost a year gave her heart to Jesus last night!! We have been praying for and with her ever since we arrived here about a month ago that God would speak to her and call her home, and she responded in a huge way. 🙂
This week, I get the opportunity to be a cabin leader for a group of nine 7 and 8 year old girls! One of the female leaders for this week had to cancel at the last minute, so I got to step in. I am so grateful and know that this week is going to be so different than any other week so far in an amazing way! I can't wait to get my campers tonight and just begin to love on them with everything that God has given me. This weekend for leaders training has been so full of the Spirit that it's been overwhelming at times. Just bathing in God's presence, speaking life over each other, and seeing people completely sold out for God is more than I could ever ask for. God has such a special place in His heart for New Zealand, and He is calling this country to Him.
I can't even imagine going home, but I know that God's timing is so perfect, so I'm praying that He will prepare my heart for when I have to leave this place. The people are incredible, and it has been a joy and honor to live life with them. I have laughed so much, which is not unusual for me, but to the extent where the tears just start flowing cuz I can't breathe…haha. You know exactly what type of laughter I'm talking about. Every day His mercies, love, grace, compassion, redemption, and forgiveness are new, and I have seen this played out constantly.
Oh, and here's a funny story! I have a lot, but I'll just include this one. There was a 7.0 earthquake here this past week that began in the ocean and spread throughout several parts of New Zealand. I had never been in an earthquake before, so it was pretty thrilling I must say. Kirstyn and I were sitting in a couch right by the sliding glass door when it began to rattle like crazy. I looked at her and heard her scream something that I couldn't understand and then proceded to book it to the other side of the house. Little did I know that Kailey had been sitting in one of the kitchen table chairs and got up when she saw the rest of us acting like maniacs and scrambling away from the glass door. I then ran right into the chair and pretty much laid it out flat on the ground. I hit my knees pretty hard on it and heard something snap…the chair didn't even see it coming. It's back leg completely broke right off, and I laid on the ground for about a minute dying of laughter. By that point, the earthquake was completely gone. The chair is still in our kitchen, the broken leg laying right beside it. You know it's a small camp when you wake up the next morning, head to worship, and most people already know that you destroyed an innocent chair.
