Blitzed it!!!

So this is sort of my where originally my travelling story would have ended. So I felt its appropriate to write something memorable and I hope and pray it is also inspiring to you as a reader.

Now at the start of my journey I remember sitting around a table with my mum and my dad and I remember being in tear. I remember feeling emotions I didn't even think I had and the daunting challenges that awaited me as I first stepped on that plane to New Zealand. I had no idea of the plan or the transformation that God had in store for me.

So touch down in New Zealand and I have been blessed there as I have met old friends and met new friends. I have done all sorts of things and I have been to some truly spectacular parts of New Zealand and I have love every minute. 

I have also been able to live in a new community and have been able to spend time with kids from all kinds of hard back grounds, I have been able to work with truly inspiring people who work hard despite there hardships, I listen to elder people who have lead lives that one day I hope I can mirror and I am so thankful for the city of Christchurch and the people I have met and share life with. 

Also I have found Miriam and it has been exciting to watch God not just work in mr but also in Miriam as well and also as a couple we have been able to grow each other, challenge each other in our faith and also grow in relationship with each other. 

Just as I had got myself into a community and a family I had to leave and the prospect of leaving two families was almost heart breaking. I got onto the plan to the US and eventually I arrived at Bethelwoods (Bethel - house of God - in the woods) which lives up to its name spectacularly. Here I got see some really beautiful people giving up there time, energy, emotion and money all for so that kids could come to camp and know Christ and come to know him as there lord and savour, I met kid of the age of 5 preach thing that most adult would understand, I saw as my L.I.T's transform from this awkward bunch of teenager to these leader that I am I pray one day each in there own way will change the world. I also in that respect gained a third family and one which I will never forget. 

So now I am at camp and thinking about how much I miss my three families and how really it's not three it's actually all one family and the only reason that is the because through God and his faithfulness to me. As Paul writes to the Corinthians I feel like this sums up my travelling pretty well.

1 Corinthians 2: 1-5

New International Version (NIV)

 And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words,but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.

So I pray that through me and my blog writing that you will come and know God and that you can be encouraged by the journey that God has/is/will be taking me on. 

God bless

Blitzy

Let all that you do be done in love!

Hello everyone 

Apologies for how long it has been since I last post a blog. These past couple of months at Bethelwoods have just been life changing. 

I came to Bethelwoods two years ago and I can honestly say that the expectation that this years camp would be the same was wrong. God has this strange way of taking your expectation completely flipping it, twisting it and making it into something more beautiful and majestic that we could ever have imagined.

I have met some really amazing people this summer, I have been blessed to enter in to this awkward/diverse/strangely dynamic group of people. There are people at camp from 5 mins down the road and people for the otherwise of the world. There are people who are so extrovert that its annoying and some people that are so introvert that you feel you should prod them to try and get a response. There have been time of laughter, times of tear, time of frustration and a lot if God moments. 

Bethelwoods has been a huge part of my life and It has been an amazing experience watching campers from two years ago coming back and seeing then growing more in their faith. A lot of the campers from two years ago came back to do the L.I.T. (leadership in training) and C.I.T (Counselor in training) which made me very proud and blessed by God. 

Ephesians 3:20-21

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen. 

This verse seem to have been my verse for this year at camp because I have just found this amazing joy from working with these kids. Being able to inspire them, watch them and share God's word with them.

A particular group of camper that I will never forget we're my LIT group. This was a group that I was a Counselor for two weeks and I loved it. These 13/14 year olds amazed me every single day. The way that this group of seven started out this awkward and shy group and by the end of these two weeks and they became this beautiful example of a family. At closing program when I said goodbye to this group of seven I was pretty emotional. The most inspiring part of these weeks was my Co-Counselor Dianna and as we went through the book of Ephesians with our L.I.T I watched in awe as Dianna just filled these young leaders with knowledge and wisdom that could only come from know Jesus. These bible studies we where I saw God beauty as these LIT became more and more in love with the discussion and in so doing so became more in love with Jesus. I am so thankful for my LIT and the this experience. 

So I feel like this post was a bit all over the place and I feel like there are a lot of spelling and grammar mistakes. I'm not to worried about that as long as God is glorified through this blog then that's all I care about.

So thanks for reading this blog and for your prayers and concerns.

God Bless

Blitzy

 

May- hem - Christchurch!

So this is my last post to you from New Zealand for a while. I am currently in Auckland international airport and am about get on a flight to LA! 

Instead of my usual listing off what I've been up to I figured that instead I would write about my very own Kiwi experience and the growth I have noticed in me since my arrival in New Zealand! 

The day I left for New Zealand I remember I was sat around a kitchen in Ringwood as my parents prayed for me. I remember the prospect of going away for a year was a scary thought! In fact (and I'm not ashamed to admit it) I cried! Fear of the unknown is a powerful thing! 

Although one thing I have learned is that it is also what makes travelling, being a Christian and life in general so exciting. I have been on a journey which I will never forget.

 I have met some amazing people, I have seen some amazing scenery, I built some amazing friendships and one very special relationship ;), I have skydived, I have jump of a bridge into a freezing cold river, I have kayaked, I scene film sets, I've seen awesome bands, I've seem view that are just breath taking, I've seem house sunken because of earthquakes, I have seen kids transformed by te mapua and God warriors, I have travelled to towns most kiwi's have never been and ones that I could never pronounce, I've even done a Haka, I fallen off my bike, got some cuts, burns and bruises, I've worshipped with many different cultures, I've heard stories and testimonies, I've learnt from people older and been inspired by people younger and I have done it all with God! 

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangled. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy that was set before him he endured the cross, scorning of shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such oppression from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." (Hebrews 1:1-3)

So now I head on to the states and I know that the boy who was sat crying at that kitchen table in Ringwood is now still a boy but one that is becoming more and more secure in his faith everyday. 

So thank you New Zealand so far and bring it on you Yanks! Ha

God bless

Blitzy 

April Showers - Christchurch

Greetings everyone, thought I would just say a quick thank you if you have been reading my blog since October I am always really encourage by when I can see people have been reading my blog.  

So here is another of my entries and this one is actually on time (as in at the end of the month!!). This Month there have been some trial and also some real moments of joy and blessing. 

So here I go again!

Work

Right so I have started with TreeTech and I am currently work there as a tree surveyor this means that I get to go into the Red Zone (the areas of Christchurch that are still really damaged by the earthquakes) and my job is to identify tree and put information about those trees into an ipad as in the species, height, etc. I could go into more detail but I feel you would only end up with a keyboard imprint on your face due to falling asleep whilst reading this. Anyway TreeTech has been great so far and I am learning a lot.

Lifestyle

I have not found a football team on a regular bases yet although I did play a full 90 minute 11 aside game with the Spreydon church team. It was great although it has been a while since i played for 90 minutes straight and so I felt it the next morning. At the start of April I fell of my bike going down a hill and graised myself pretty badly. Thankfully there were enough people to help fix me up and I even went to the doctors as I was waking up feeling dizzy. God had my back though and so there was no major damage done and my wounds are healing up well. I still don't have a car of my own but I still borrow Miriam's car and am able to get by for the time being. I also am eating my greens and washing behind my ears (something for the mum readers there) :)

Church

Church is good and I am still attending Spreydon Baptist and am still involved to an extent. I regularly go to Focus group (bible study) and have been making good friends. recently we went down to New Brighton beach and baptist one of the girls - Rachael - to be honest God kind of did anyway as the waves were pretty big that night and before they had finish the father son and holy spirit bit the wave had already knock rachael over. made for an interesting baptism anyway. They are all really interest bunch of guys and it has been really nice to socialise and get to know some of them. I also have been looking at sharing my Testimony at Spreydon and so have chatted to A.J. (the senior pastor at Spreydon) and he is going to give me a call when he find a suitable service for me to share it at.

Travel

At the start of April I went up to Auckland to see the Script with Miriam. We had a really great time and the script we're amazing as expected and it was a really good weekend with my amazing girlfriend. I fell off my bike Thursday before Script and so was still saw in Auckland and Miriam was a good nurse looked after me well and even helped me chance one the bandages on my arm outside shopping centre in public view and no elderly ladies fainted in the changing of the bandage either.

Other News

I have officially been addressed as Miriam's boyfriend and so that makes it official. It's really good and I am excited to continue the journey with her.

Next month I am going to be doing Camp America so I am excited to see some old faces and spend some time with the kids on camp.

God has answered some major prayers and I am beginning to feel more settled here in Christchurch. There have always been those time where I just want to go home to England, but God has always been there through those times and I really have grown a lot in my faith and I have met some amazing people and heard some amazing stories. So thanks be to God.

Anyway that's enough information for now!

Thanks

Blitzy!!

Mayhem in March - Christchurch

Hello again everyone, Apologies again for the late March blog (to be honest i should stop apologising as all of my posts have been late and should really be expected now! :) ) but at the title suggests March has be a bit crazy. Again though God has been at work and continues to challenge me in a lot of aspects.


Work

So I am still working with City care at the moment. I have met some amazing people at work and in a few days time I will be finishing with City care and join a council run tree surgery crew called TreeTech. Like i said City care has been great fun and the people I have worked with have been fantastic. It's been great listening to peoples stories and the amazing thing people go through in life. One example is in fact my supervisor who when he was younger collapsed and had critical brain injuries, his had to have part of his skull removed and is now on medication for the rest of his life. Although like a lot of supervisor he can be a bit hard to handle he is also an incredible character and in fact has saved me in his contacts as "The Pom "as well as using one of his favour phrases " Don't be a Gumboot!". A real inspiration to people that work with him.

There are many reasons for the change of job the main one is simple to do something more along with my qualification. I have been praying about Treetech for a long while now and feel that God has set this up pretty nicely.

Lifestyle

So I have continued to played football on a Tuesday and would like add that i have played 10 game and scored 10 goals. Although I don't think I'll be playing headers and vollies with Messi just yet. The summer football has just finished so I am currently looking for another team to join. I have continued to keep my commitment to the Mountforts and have attend Mountfort Thursday very frequently for a meal once a week.
Also Miriam has now moved out her parents place Huntsbury (where i am) and into a new flat. Which is a bit nicer now that we both have our own space. Still I have no car, so I cycle everywhere which is keeping me fit although am hoping to get a car soon and have a New Zealand drivers licence.


Church

I am still going to Spreydon Baptist and am enjoying being a bit more involved in the Church. Recently I was part of the security team at Easter camp. I had a really amazing time and meet some really cool people. 4500 young people all worshipping God under the same tent was just incredible. I was more impressed that they let my immature self use an RT, for requesting cups of tea be brought and for listen to the Easter camp Bear Grills how to climb up a tree. All in all it was a good chance to meet some new faces and get to know some more familiar one.

As well with Easter camp i am still attending Focus group every Wednesday and even lead a bible study group which was British theme which was fun for teasing the kiwi's. They are all really relaxed and chilled out so it a lovely group to attend.

God Warrior is still all go and we have been looking at the Lord's Prayer with the kids and it been really good fun teaching the kids stuff and going with them on that journey to discover Jesus.

Also I have been building a good group of friends and have been spending some good time with them.

Travel

I have alright on the old travel front this month, I have managed to go through Arthur Pass with Miriam and recently I have travelled up to Auckland to get my US visa and even managed to go to Eden park to watch England play the Black Caps in Cricket, managed to stay with the knights and have now obtained a my visa.

Other News

So me and Miriam are still an item and are enjoying the start of the journey. Although during our trip through Arthur's pass Miriam got a phone call saying that her gran had die and so this has been a very hard time on Miriam and her family.

Answers to Prayer

If you've read my previous post you will remember that I felt God calling me to Christchurch and was praying for vision and clarity. Well the amazing thing about God is that he doesn't just answer prayer the way we expect them he does things his way and the generally better than we imagine. So I was sitting in a car and just had a moment of just silence and I realised that I spend a lot of time trying to do stuff instead of just taking the time just to be silent. Also I been trying to pray more about my situations and I have been praying about this TreeTech job and it was amazing at the interview as all the thing i went into that room concerned about just were solved. I really feel this is a good place for me to be.

More Prayers

Miriam and her family as they try to get over the death of her gran.

My work that I will leave City Care on a high note and go into TreeTech on a high note as well and I can really feel God's blessing in this job.

Anyway that's it for now catch you next month

Blitzy

Fantastic February - Christchurch

Wow! February has just been jam packed and Christchurch continues to inspires me. It's a weird feeling through the people I've meet and the stories I've heard and there is an incredible excitement that I just can seem to get away from. So at the end of last month I was praying that things in here would be a bit more consistent and less up in the air and well God has answered my prayer and not in the way that I expected...

Work

So I have now got myself a job and am now working for a company in Christchurch called City Care and I am part of the spraying team and my job is to help look after the waterways and road ways. The guys i work with are great and there has been plenty of banter and joking around. The days are long and im work mainly 10 hour day and so far the work has taken place in the red zones and these are areas of Christchurch that have been affected worst by the February 2011 earthquake and the city council still haven't really decided what they are going to do with these areas. All these homes and streets are just empty and its a weird feeling seeing all these abandoned homes. Like I said work is great and plenty of hours and good fun.

Lifestyle

So I have now moved home I was staying with the Mountfort family (Jaisha's family) but due to work starting back and Alison needing her office. Although I promised Alison That I would have at least one meal a week with them and so Mountfort Thursdays were created. Also I have moved and am now staying with the Scott family (Miriam's family). They live in a beautiful house on the side of a hill so every day I get to wake up looking out at Christchurch. Bryan, Galen, Frazer and Miriam have been looking after me well and have been a really blessing whilst I have been here. Also I have currently joined a 5-a-side football team and am playing there regularly on a Tuesday night after work. I mainly bike around town for transport and living on the side of a hill is tiring on the old bike, but its good for me.

Church

The church I have been going to Spreydon Baptist and I am getting myself involved with that as well, Spreydon recently joined churches with Halswell baptist and have now become South-West Community Church. We welcomed them into being part of the church last weekend where I learned (along with other people in the church) and performed a Haka and I loved it - Talk about a Kiwi experience!!! :)

I have also joined a cell group called focus and we meet regularly on a Wednesday evening and do food and bible study and the people at cell group are lovely and just awesome.

Also I have been helping with God warriors. This is an after school program at Linwood Junior School which runs every Monday and it's been great as the kids are awesome and I just hanging out with them.

Travel

I have only done a little travel whilst in Christchurch but obviously having a full time job there is only a limited amount of travelling I can do for the time being. I was invited to Cromwell by the Mountfort family and I have a fantastic time and enjoy the best BBQ I have ever had. So much good food, and was a good time of relaxing, I even feed a lamb and went swimming later on in the lake (not at the same time). Still got a few place still left to tick off on my Kiwi adventure and I am looking forward to more travel.


Other Exciting News
About two years ago on an Oak Hall Europe Tour I met a lovely girl named Miriam. Since then we have spent a lot of time together as good friends whilst she has been living in London. Miriam is now back in Christchurch and we have be spending some really good quality time together. So as of last week I ask Miriam if she would be my girlfriend and thanks be to God she said yes. Of course I am over the moon and I look forward to the journey ahead.


Points of prayer

Obviously eventually I will have to leave New Zealand and with Miriam I have been discussing the possibility of extending my visa to another year. Also I have been praying myself and really feel a sense of calling to Christchurch I can see a lot of potential and its exciting to see where things could go. So I guess just praying that God will guide me and protect me and help both me and Miriam to make the right decision.


Anyway God is still working in me and I'm really excited to grow in faith as I see his hand on me and Christchurch.

Thanks for reading

Blitzy!!