So... Ran a Half Marathon Yesterday!

No, It wasn't an official race. it wasn't planned. I just moved into my temporary spot and decided to go for a run. As i was running i spotted Mt Wellington (below) about an hour or so before sunset and wondered if i could make it there before the sun disappeared...
I was more focused on the challenge than the fact that i had to back track to get home and only realized that getting to the top of the hill by sunset (which i just barely did) meant that i had at least an hour run home too!
It wasn't a full half marathon, it was more like 12 miles (19.3 kms), but i am justifying it in my head as a half! :)
The view from the top was amazing and i was really stoked because my personal goal is to run a half marathon every year. I haven't run a half marathon in over a year and i am signed up to run the Auckland half marathon in Oct/Nov, but i still had a year gap where i was missing out and this pretty much made up for it!

me legs are a little sore today...

2 Stories from the last 2 weeks.

THE POWER OF A QUARTER

Matt Guerin(right) from the Indiana Wesleyan University mission’s team brought over some quarters to share in NZ. He was skeptical with the suggestion since it seemed so petty but he ended up giving out a few quarters to different guys in New Zealand that he connected with. I didn’t know this and we were all eating dinner together on the IWU team’s last night and I saw one of the teens named Alex(left) spinning a US quarter. Perplexed I asked, “Hey, where in the world did you get an American quarter.” Alex responded, “It’s mine.” His friend Nick skeptically chimed in, “No, its not…” and Alex explained, “Yes it is. Matt gave it to me. I’m gonna hold on to this forever. You’ll see, Matt, if you come back next year, I will still have it.”

I would’ve never thought of this gift, but It was really cool to see how such a small token could signify so much meaning and friendship.

DISCUSSIONS LEADING TO POSSIBLY MORE MENTORING

At the family camp called the Gathering in the beginning of June, I ran two youth seminars. The first was a discussion on, “What does the Bible have to say about Drinking, Drugs, Tattoos, Smoking, and Dancing.” The second was titled, “How do I know when I have done enough for God?” Anyway, weeks later I was approached two nights ago by one of our new Youth Leaders in the Wesleyan Churches who will be serving at Streams Community named Ernest(top left) who attended my seminar. He has asked me to start meeting with him on a regular basis to answer questions, at least towards the beginning, as he is figuring out ministry and how to answer the teens’ questions. Really cool!

Sometimes i feel like a stalker...

I feel like a stalker… unless proven otherwise.

Just in case you are not a single male over 20 years old, let me let you in on one of the newer feelings I have experienced. It is completely awkward to find yourself walking behind a teenage or elementary aged girl by myself.

It doesn’t matter how nice i am dressed or if it is on the side of the road or in a mall or wherever. If i am heading in the same direction as a girl and find myself walking behind them, I will almost always get the awkward side glance from the girl to see what I look like or how close I am and then the girl quickly looks away and keeps walking staring on a straight line forward or down to avoid eye contact as though I am an immediate threat.

Sad days!

Somewhere along the lines of being over 20 years old I went from being an innocent fellow child or teenager to an immediate threat and older man unless proven otherwise.

Last few Weeks and This Week

Last Few Weeks:

Thank you for those who prayed for my health while the IWU(Indiana Wesleyan University) missions team was here. After 2 days rest I was back in action although I lost my voice and haven’t completely gotten it back until a couple of days ago!

Evy's Last Dinner

The IWU team Leaving

At the Gathering family camp where the (IWU team helped out) we had 12 kids make decisions for the Lord.

On June 10 I sent the IWU team and Evy Mazellan who had become a close friend and surfing buddy back home to the US. (it is ridiculous, but you can watch part of my goodbye present to him here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQ4VXKCREnI)

I took a few days to rest that weekend afterwards!

This Week:
I found housing for me after my roommate Graeme Els gets married to Annie Wright on July 4 and they live in our current place.

I have a great opportunity to go to the nights of Hillsong Conference July 7-10 in Sydney Australia, and then spend a few extra days in Australia.

Following that, My parents have also made it possible for me to go on the family vacation July 18-30 in Lexington and Holden beach North Carolina. This will be great so I can spend time with the family and meet my new nephew Kylan Jackson.

We will also be visiting my grandparents on the farm who are in their later years of life. They practically are the coolest and godliest grandparents ever!

What this means:
I move to a temporary spot for two weeks before I head to Australia and the US in July.

When I return I will move into Jeff and Beth Fussner’s place.

Since the Fussners are moving to the US I will be without the huge support I have received from them, although cession|community and the Jones family will be a big help.

It will also mark close to the midpoint of my 2 year commitment here in New Zealand and so I will have to more seriously start prayerfully considering my next placement after my 2 year commitment here is done.

Tongan group praying

God answers prayers:

Although my voice was gone longer, my actual sickness only kept me down for a few days.

God has provided a great housing opportunity for me in this high stress time.

My ministry is expanding: I was able to sit down with a Nazerene missions team and brief them on New Zealand.

I will spend a day prepping Phil V, an exchange student from Germany, who became a Christian here in New Zealand and is returning to a less spiritually encouraging situation back at home.
I came expecting God to affirm a call to evangelism, but instead he is really reaffirming my heart to disciple and mentor: I am closely involved and working with a lot of young adults who are either up and coming youth leaders or people who are trying to reengage and take their life and Christian walk more seriously.

Videos, Videos, Videos of the past month

here are ten or so different videos of happenings over the past month or so.

The Indiana Wesleyan Mission's team was hear for two weeks in May and June. Here were a few videos from showing them around at the beginning and end

I took them downtown to see the city and walk by the Harbor


I took the team to the Auckland Museum to give them a taste of Maori culture


We went kayaking to Cathedral Cove where the filmed part of Prince Caspian


Evy, Grace, and I went surfing on a really cold day at Muriwai. Here were their responses



at The Gathering Wesleyan Family Camp the teens were entertaining themselves before the meeting


My good friend Evy Mazellan headed back to the states. Two nights before though we went to an open mic in grand central, auckland new zealand


Evy and i also went surfing the night before he left


Before Evy left i made him a rap to reflect back on our time together. It turned out pretty good and i am actually pretty impressed with my artistic ability and lack of shame in making and showing this video! haha


This is just Sam Mackay being truly Sam Mackay!

Diamond Ring Treasure Hunt in Wellington!?

Apparently some guy is giving away an engagement ring he can't return by doing a treasure hunt today down in Wellington.

I am glad i just read this article today that my friend Emily Batman in the states sent me...

 http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSTRE55240020090603?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews&rpc=69&sp=true

or else i seriously may have considered driving down to Wellington just for the novelty of the idea, a good story, and the chance of saving a few thousand bucks later on! :)

Happy Birthday from Evy

This Is AWESOME!

This is a video Evy Mazellan, my young padowan, made for my birthday.  It's Really fun for me to watch.  There are a lot of memories and surf trips packed into this short clip.