It has been another awesome week in New Zealand. This week, Paul and I prepared for next week's camps. There are two winter holiday camps running next week in Kaikoura. Paul will be working with one of the camps, and I will be working with the other, plus there will be additional leaders on both trips. The trip that I will be leading is for kids in years 7-10 (the equivalent of 6th-9th grade). We will be staying at the Marae, which is a village of the native people (basically a lodge), and engaging in many activities throughout the week, including mountain biking, sea kayaking, and a day hike. The other camp is for youth in years 11-13 (10th-12th grade) and includes a backpacking portion.
So a lot of this week was spent at the office: preparing gear, restocking First Aid Kits, sorting through food, making copies of risk management paperwork, etc. There were lots of tasks that needed done, but there were also opportunities for great conversation, for growth and learning, and for play of course.
I have particularly enjoyed becoming more acquainted with the culture here and with some language differences. Here are just a few of the things I have learned...
So a lot of this week was spent at the office: preparing gear, restocking First Aid Kits, sorting through food, making copies of risk management paperwork, etc. There were lots of tasks that needed done, but there were also opportunities for great conversation, for growth and learning, and for play of course.
I have particularly enjoyed becoming more acquainted with the culture here and with some language differences. Here are just a few of the things I have learned...
- "College" is another term for high school. It typically refers to a private high school. So if I were to say "I am going into my third year of college," people would think that I am a junior in high school. Rather, people use the term "uni" for college. So I am going into my third year "at uni."
- "Toasty" = grilled cheese
- There are a lot of words in the Maori language (te reo) that sound like swear words. They begin with the letters "whaka," in which the "wh" is pronounced as an "f" and the "a" sounds more like a "u." So when Moana says that she is going to "whakapai" (clean up), I now know that she means no offense.
- "Tramping" = hiking
- "Torch" = flashlight
- "Jandals" = flipflops (in Australia, "thongs" = flipflops apparently)
The fun on this reminds me a bit of Chiapas last year. Navigating language differences is a good time. Thankfully, I have Paul to translate for me.
I have also enjoyed opportunities to run each day. On Thursday, Paul and I took a play break from our office work and went for a run in "the hills" (it was indeed quite a hilly run). It was perhaps the most beautiful place in which I have ever run. I neglected to take my phone with me, so I apologize for my lack of pictures, but our plan is to return in the coming weeks for future play breaks, so I hope to post pictures eventually. It was magnificent. On the other days, I run along a stopbank that is only about a mile from the house. Running has been a great way to process what I am learning and clear my head, and it is fun that Paul and I can bond over our love for running.
Speaking of what I am learning, I have had a lot of insight this week - about myself, about Adventure Education, about faith, and about life in general. It has led to some quite long journal entries. I am learning about the role of play in good work habits. It is good for me to establish the pattern of taking play breaks now, as I am one to never stop working until the task is done. I am learning what a family in ministry looks like - the great balancing act that it is. I am learning about processing, particularly about the importance of sharing and the importance of listening. I am learning about how I define "success" each day and how this has shifted over the past few years.
Hence, what has been most valuable about this experience thus far is not the beautiful place I am in or the tasks that I have been doing, but the incredible people I have the opportunity to live life with this summer - the relationships that are being built and the conversations we are having.
Seemingly, these next two weeks are what I came here for - the opportunity to lead trips, develop my skills as an outdoor leader, and minister to campers. I would argue that the moments of "kairos" are what I came here for - the encounters with God, self, others, and Creation. Nonetheless, I can't wait to see what this next week brings. I look forward to the adventures that lie ahead with the group of campers we have the opportunity to serve this week.
Please pray for a fruitful week of ministry, for safety on our adventures, and for God to be made known this week. Pray for me as I give leadership to camp. One particular task that I have is leading a service of welcome for campers tomorrow, so pray for that to be a meaningful start to camp. Pray for guidance in the challenges that we will face.
And pray for Abby's bridge-building team as they return from Bolivia this week.
Sunrise over the farm
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