What’s been going on

Hi all!!  August was a crazy good month.  We celebrated our seventh anniversary, Dawn had a birthday, and school started!  

Taken on our anniversary

Most of the interns arrived on August 19^th.  Cami, Andrew, and myself got to host three guys as they acclimated back to New Zealand’s time schedule and season.

Students started arriving on the 23^rd and most of them had arrived by the 25^th.  We are waiting for one more student to arrive, so pray with us that God will help take care of what needs to be taken care of.

Orientation weekend went really well.  Students were a little shell shocked but enjoyed the abundant baked goods that Tecla and Cami dished up for the breaks and welcoming atmosphere.

Registration is now complete and we have 25 students enrolled in classes and sinking their teeth into the goodness of the Word.

The weather is starting to warm up which is so wonderful since we left Denver in April and winter had not finished its snowy craziness.  We arrived at the tail end of Fall only to go into a damp and chilly winter.  Glad to say that we didn’t have to shovel snow during our winter here.  Pastor Ed would probably like these winters in Rotorua with the exception of a few days of iced windows.

At the tail end of July and beginning of August I saw so many beautiful rainbows.  It was fantastic to be reminded of God’s promises ... and often.  He is a good good Father!

Outside our front door

Now we are enjoying colorful sunsets.  It truly is a land of beauty.  I forget that we live out in the country.  Just now as I am writing this, Shadow, the resident donkey, is braying at the other end of the campus.  She is probably asking for a carrot to enjoy.

Outside our back door

A new term we have learned.. Tea means dinner.  If someone asks you over for tea, they are saying that would like to have you over for dinner.  Super cool to be able to learn more and more!

Today Andrew is teaching his first session of the Gospel of Mark.  I am so very proud of him and all of the steps of faith he is taking.  This winter he led worship multiple times at Shoreline while playing the bass guitar and Gordon accompanying him on the electric guitar.  The Lord is stretching and growing Andrew and it has been a privilege to watch.

We are completing our first week of classes tomorrow and I must say, I am excited to see what this semester is going to bring.  We have four outreaches planned for the students: 1) Wellington CC to help with their VBS, 2) Fiji – to help with their disaster recovery from Cyclone Winston, 3) Lakes Ranch Youth Camp, and 4) Raglan, NZ – to help with their youth camp.  There are a lot of great things going on and I can wait to share with you what God is doing here. 

Please keep us in your prayers!  There are a lot of moving parts and so I hope to be able to share with you at least once a month.. if not more.  Here are some of our prayer requests:

-          Wisdom, provision, and safety for the outreach teams

-          Health and healing for both of us (Andrew’s foot and my back)

-          Guidance for the decisions that we have to make

-          Continued growth and connection with the students, interns, and staff

-          Our visa renewal will be coming up in January or February.  Pray for God’s perfect will.

-          Discernment for the situations we encounter

-          Keeping our eyes fixed on the Author of our faith

A great quote on a wall in alley in Napier

We love and appreciate you!  Having your support has been a blessing in many ways.  Your kind words have been encouraging and we love to hear from you!  May God richly bless you as you continue to seek His face.

Dawn and Andrew

If the Lord leads you to support us, please click on this link to our support page with Shepherd's Staff.

The McBride's Support Page

Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.

Romans 12:10-13

In Preparation...

 Hello friends and family, it has been a little bit since we gave an update on what is going on for us here in New Zealand.  We are currently in between semesters for the Bible college but this is an important time for us.  This time allows us to be better prepared for the different types of ministry upcoming.

First is learning the culture, customs, and the geography of New Zealand.  Learning these now will help us with the first-time students as they settle in when they arrive.  We will be able to point them in the right direction as needs arise.  For example, if someone needs vitamins, they should go to a pharmacy instead of a store like Kmart. 

Second, becoming a part of our new church family.  We are attending Shoreline Church (www.shoreline.org.nz) in the Tauranga area which has a congregation of about 40 people. Over the summer I have been involved in leading worship and running sound.  Dawn has been getting to know the ladies in the church on Sundays, helping with hospitality as well as attending the woman’s Bible study.  We are able to pour into people and be poured into by this loving family in deeper ways than what would have been possible during the semester.

And lastly, we have been able to observe and talk with people who call New Zealand home.  What are they struggling with?  What do they love about Rotorua?  Where are the best places to buy groceries!  Most kiwis (what New Zealanders call themselves) love their country, but they are concerned about the rising cost of housing, the rising up of local gangs, immigration, racism and the pitfalls facing the youth, like suicide.  While pain and suffering are universal, how much greater is the love of Christ.  While our main ministry is serving at the Bible college, ministry does not stop during the semester breaks.  We need to be aware of the opportunities of ministry all around us.

“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 8:38-39 (NKJV)

The next semester is coming up in a little over three weeks.  There will be almost 30 students/interns this semester and almost half have never been to this location.  We will begin ramping up our staff meetings shortly and preparing for all that God has in store for us this semester.  We thank you for your prayers, emails, and encouragements.  God Bless!

Andrew and Dawn McBride