TEA 05/09 - Bridges? Where we're going, we don't need any bridges.

This week started off with a new, temporary TEAm member, fondly known as George II. He came with us from YWAM and shared in our adventures for a few days. We drove from Oxford, through Arthur's Pass to get to Greymouth, on the west coast of the South Island. On the way, we had the privilege of seeing the very same backpackers hostel that George (the original) came up with the idea for TEA! We didn't get to stay there, but it was cool to see and hear about how it all got started.

The first night in Greymouth involved a dinner big enough to feed (literally) 20 people... at least! We had so much good, we weren't sure what to do with ourselves. So, we worked some magic and found strangers to share in our feast with us! One of them stayed and talked with us for awhile after the meal was over and George II actually ran into him a few days later on a completely different part of the island! God sure knows what he is doing! : )


A couple of weeks ago, we met a man who claimed to be an atheist. Some of us talked with him and all of us have been praying for him. Well, as we pulled into our holiday park in Punakaiki, guess who was there waiting for us?! This time, we were able to invite him to eat dinner with us and share Jesus' love with him. When he left the next morning, he promised that he would read his untouched Bible when he got home : )

The weather wasn't very cooperative with us this week, so we had a slight change in plans that resulted in first: a quiet, relaxing free day and next: an 8 and a half hour tramp through mountains and (unbridged) rivers. Hmmm. I'm not sure this is quite what I signed up for ; ) But! The light at the end of the tunnel was worth it! We camped at Ballroom Overhang - a natural overhang that sleeps 80 people comfortably! The natural acoustics were pretty neat. George tried to make us tramp out the same way we came in, but we wouldn't have it! So. A short two hours later, we were safely at the van!


Now we are in Westport for the next two days until our five day tramp through St. James Walkway starts on Monday! Today we got to visit a seal colony and watch huge waves crash over even bigger rocks! We are visiting an Apostolic church on Sunday morning and then packing everything up for our tramp.

This past week we really focused on serving one another. This week we are analyzing our own attitudes and noting how our actions reflect Christ's love to each other and those around us. Please pray that we will continue to serve one another and to really keep our attitudes in check. Pray for the people that God has already decided we will meet at some point. Pray that their hearts will be open to what we have to say and that we will know just what needs to be said. Pray that our attitudes show goodness, understanding, self-control, patience, devotion to God, concern for others and love (2 Peter 1:5-7) to everyone we meet and that they will question why we are different. And that in return we can tell them it's really Jesus shining through us.


We are officially halfway through TEA! 5 weeks down... 5 to go!