Departure

Well the time has come for me to depart New Zealand.  It isn't at the time nor the circumstances that I wanted to, but it still has to be.  For those that don't know, I am heading back to the states earlier than I anticipated.  My Pa, grandfather, is not doing well in his fight with cancer.  So I am coming home to be able to be with him and say good bye when the time comes.  I haven't exactly had the trip I was hoping for either.  Arrie, the South African chaplain, who I was hoping to get in touch with, was never available to meet up.  I tried multiple times to get a hold of him, but never heard back in the end.  Likewise I was unable to find an opportunity that was working with World Cup specifically.  Luckily I was able to get with a local congregation and assist them.  This was also limited to only a few days a week.  I have been feeling really down with the amount of work that I have been able to accomplish.  However, I have had a few thoughts that make it worth it.  First off is that God wanted to test me to see if I would follow his will.  I remember a couple of weeks before I left, God asking me this question.  He asked, "Will you still go even if I tell you right now that you will fail?"  Now a friend of mine has been asked the same question and he says that he would like to say he would.  I can say that I did.  I don't think that I really understood what God was asking of me at the time, but now I really understand the gravity of following God's call.  I am also reminded of the story of Jeremiah.  Jeremiah is tasked bringing news of Judah's destruction to its people, even though he doesn't want it to happen.  Jeremiah ends up following God's commandment because he knows that it is more important than his personal feelings or ambitions.  Like wise, my personal feelings had to be put aside in order to follow God's will.  So even though my plans fell through, God's plans were still at work.  In fact Jeremiah 29:11 is ghe verse that has been giving me peace.  I also think God brought me here on behalf of a few others.  Even though I did not intend on working solely with the missionaries that are here, I appearently elped them out a great deal.  Cody expressed to me how much he was missing Chris, his partner for the AIM program, and said that I had been a real blessing to him.  He enjoyed having someone that was around to help and just hang out with.  I also really encouraged the full time families as well.  They were impressed that I was able to jump right in with what they were doing and encouraged by my demeaner.  In fact, the way things have gone I am the reason that they are considering bringing in interns on a short term basis.  Currently they are taking AIMers which commit to a 14-18 month stay.  It was mentioned that, that wouldn't be the most feasable for the ministries plans.  They are toying with a short term basis which would allow for a bit more flexability.  So I am glad that I ended up having such a positive influence on my new friends.  However, I do think that this trip was also a bit of training for me.  The first thing that I learned was paitence.  Waiting on what God is doing and reveal what he has done, is not an easy thing.  In fact it is down right hard.  I must admit that I can be a lazy bum some times.  However, in the mission field that is not the case.  I have to do something in order to feel accomplished.  That is where this trip was different.  There was no tangable evedince that I was doing anything productive. As a result I became frustrated, though I didn't show it, that I wasn't accomplishing anything and the whole trip was for naught.  However, after hearing that I was such an encouragement to the people here, I know that good things come to those who wait and persevere.  The knowledge that I was such a blessing, was good.  Another thing I learned, though not necessarily a good thing, is how messy mission work can be.  Currently the team is having to go though a situation in which the views and values of a couple do not line up eith te views and values of the rest of the team.  It has been really good and eye opening to see how they deal with this issue.  I find it important in case I just happen to be lead into the mission field.  Then again this concept can deal with any other team situation as well.  So looking back on my short time here, I would say it was a success.  Though I didn't get to take as many pictures or see as many things as I would have wanted, God was using my time here in New Zealand.  I am glad I was able to make the trip and would do it again if I had to.  Well I will be flying out at 10:30 pm on Thursday.  I'll put pictures up when I get home.  This is Ryan Dillon signing off.