There are many fun things about the bus system in Auckland. This week:

• Bus driver of my bus honking wildly at the bus in front. Possibly due to my bus driver parking too close to the second bus and being unable to leave the bus stop.
• As I stare blankly into space while riding to work… screeeeech… wait, was that the sound of metal scraping against the side of the overpass we just went under? I’ve seen some close calls, but never seen the bus actually hit something before!
• I’m walking along the footpath — as one does — only to realise that there’s a bus heading towards me, also on the footpath!

I guess that getting used to Auckland may be a little more difficult than I thought…

Things I’ve spent way too long on this week:

• 1 hour 15 minutes, waiting in line to get a bus pass.
• 2 hours 15 minutes traveling on said buses.
• 2 hours rescuing my CDs from the CD stacker that was damaged in the car accident.
• 2 hours trying to diagnose a problem with a server, over the phone.
• Many hours not sleeping when I should have been…

On the upside, I’m slowly getting settled in to Auckland (bus-related incidents included). More to come on that front.

Yesterday I got called a Woman Driver… by a woman!

The Story: I was pulling out of the driveway so I could back my car in (to hook up a trailer). As I backed out, I checked to make sure nothing was coming either way (we live on a narrow street). After I had pulled out, and was preparing to back in, a lady drove down the road, not bothering to slow down as she approached me. The only reason she didn’t hit me was because I quickly backed into the driveway.

Was she talking to herself?! Perhaps it’s just an Auckland thing?

Praise God I now have somewhere to live in Auckland! Completely out of character for me, I haven’t even seen the place (left a flatmate to describe it, I hope it’s good)! Move in date is unsure yet, but probably around the 11th of Feb. It’s in the Kingsland area, so easy to catch a bus to uni, and I can walk to the office where I’ll be working once a week!

Thanks for your prayers!

Update: Move in date is the 11th!

Pre-post Side Note: I was going to title this post something along the lines of “The True Cost of Meetings”, but then realised that wouldn’t do it justice. I then thought something like “Counting Blessings” might work, but it occurred to me that this could sound boring, meaning people wouldn’t read it…. alas, now you’re left with the title I ended up choosing…

There really is no catchy way to say this: At approximately 10am this morning, in the fast lane of the Southern Motorway into Auckland, carnage happened. The guy in the car in front of me slowed down suddenly, meaning I came to a screeching halt to avoid hitting him. Unfortunately, the guy behind me also came to a screeching halt, the halt part of that event provided by the rear of my car! …Subsequently causing my car to be pushed into the car in front.

Thankfully no one was seriously hurt… well, except for my poor car. Chances of survival: minimum (still waiting for the insurance assessor to call, but it doesn’t look good). The good news is that I don’t have to pay the excess on the insurance, because I’m not at fault.

Please pray for the three of us involved that there would be speedy recovery from any whiplash (I’m feeling it, so I’m sure they are too). Please also pray for the other two guys that they don’t get too stressed out by the ordeal! (Especially the guy who is legally at fault; thankfully he did have insurance though). Please also pray that if I have to find a new car, I can find the right one quickly! (I don’t know when I’m going to have time? How do I finish support raising without a car?)

Oh yes, that other thing. Both car accidents I’ve now been involved in were on the way to staff meetings… I knew staff meetings had hidden costs!

When you’ve got a job that’s never really “off”, how do you separate your personal life from work?

In campus ministry, it’s very easy for the job to become life. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy campus ministry (or else I wouldn’t want to do it). But how does one separate work from “not-work”?

Should I want to separate the two? During the campus year, outside of campus hours, there’s a lot to do. Because I want to be friends to the students I work with, I want to spend time with them outside of campus (lest they think I see them as “projects”, or worse, should I actually start to see them in this way). At the same time, I don’t want to spend too much time with students, because then they’ll become my only friends. (I wonder if I’ve fallen into that trap somewhat, to the point where I haven’t had as good of a relationship as I could have with those from other circles this last year).

One thing I’ve done this year which has helped me in my work/not-work separation, is to place my computer in a room that is not my bedroom. Prior to this, if I tried to relax, I’d feel guilty about not doing work. When I tried to work, there’d be too many other distractions. As I prepare to move to Auckland, I expect to lose this privilege (with higher rent prices in Auckland, getting a spare room to use as an office is unlikely).

I mentioned that it’s easy for the job to become life. I’m not sure if that’s a bad thing (I’ve chosen a job which requires something other than the standard 9-5 work week — if that even exists anymore — and so for that reason I’ve hesitated asking how to separate work from “life”. I always want to be doing something that I’m passionate about (building God’s kingdom) for a job, because that is the purpose of my life (not saying that’s not possible in a secular job; that’s a whole ‘nother topic!)

So how do you separate work from not-work?

I’m trying to find around $1200/month to continue with Student Life/Campus Crusade, but I don’t have any contacts for people who would like to hear about/support my ministry. It appears that a door has been closed with regard to some contacts I had hoped would be of help, because I am moving to Auckland (they wanted to support local ministry). Please pray for God to show me who I should approach, and pray that I would see where he is working and pointing me to! Thank you.

It is with both excitement and (somewhat nervous) anticipation that I am pleased to tell you all that follows!

I’d like to begin with a “summary” of 2007. As I have taken the time over the last few weeks to seek God, there are two things he has taught me that stand out above all the rest.

The first thing — which may sound obvious, but I sense God has been saying to me directly in recent times — is that he wants me to trust in him more. Psalm 143:10 stands out to me, it says

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!

My natural response is “Lord, I am already trusting in you as much as I know how.” He has responded, “Yes, I know. I’m going to teach you how to trust in me more, so that you can.” That is both a scary and exciting prospect!

Secondly, recent times have brought along many challenges, both in ministry and personally. Romans 8:24-28 is encouraging,

For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Despite any difficult challenges that come along, I know that God uses all things for good, because of his purposes and salvation that he has called me to!

So, what of the future?

With these things in mind, I believe God is leading me away from Waikato University for 2008. I have been asked (and confirmed) to work in Auckland next year! This will be a significant change in many ways. My role will include 4 days a week doing campus work, and 1 day helping with IT in the national office. In this, I’m looking forward to working with Murray Johnson, a Canadian who is coming over specifically to help with IT.

With the change of location will come many challenges! Probably the hardest thing for me will be leaving behind my friends here in the Waikato, this is especially true of the staff team that I have been working with this year. I’ll also need to sort out living arrangements, a church, and all sorts of other details too! (I’m not sure of the exact date I will be moving, although it will likely be sometime in January).

Please pray for me during this time as I prepare for and begin to make this transition! I’ll post further updates on the move when relevant.