Go Sailing's Outreach Adventures!: Wrapping Up and Outreach Highlights

Blind Bay to Orama:

We wrapped up our stay at the Backpacker’s hostel helping more widows and widowers with practical yard work, gardening and wood-cutting during the days, volunteering at the Department of Conservation, and cleaning up at the local art gallery. We even got to work on some different art projects that we later donated to the gallery. We attended St. John’s community church on that Sunday where we performed our dance and sang a couple worship songs. After about a week near Blind Bay, half of us sailed and half of us drove up to Orama Christian Center on the other side of the island for a couple nights. We helped out with hospitality, cleaned up the grounds, and had two awesome nights of worship, which ended up as ministry time to a group of Pacific Islanders staying at the center.

We sailed/drove back from Orama to where we had first arrived on the island and were blessed to stay at a big house right on the beach! We had a day of reflection and fasting where we were able to spend time on our own reflecting back on our journey. We had dinner together one last night before we headed out to sail back home.

And…. We got Grace! We were all able to sail home together on Grace (and The Mandolin) thanks to the owner, Mike- who graciously sailed up to pick us up from Great Barrier and take us back to Tauranga. It was an awesome sail, where we saw dolphins, kayaked through caves, explored the Mercury Islands, paddled through bioluminescent plankton, and had perfect weather! We arrived late Sunday night and will be here at the base through the weekend as an entire group alongside the Pilgrimage school- then we’re all off in different directions again!

Here’s everyone’s outreach highlights!

Amy: I’ve so enjoyed this time, we’ve had so many amazing experiences and been open to some awesome opportunities. Overall I mostly enjoyed the natural conversations we had with both the people in Vanuatu and New Zealand. Being able to speak to them openly about Jesus and pray and encourage them was such a joy. Knowing that we were able to allow the people we met to feel loved by helping them in whichever way we could. The adventures of sailing, sunsets, exploring caves, kayaking and snorkelling also made this whole experience so epic!

Kiki: To come to New Zealand and join the DTS was one of the best decisions of my life! It was really life changing and it opened my eyes in many ways. What is most important in our lives, what we think is best for us is not always the best. I have realized how much I need God in my life with every step I take. As a Christian you always want to be a light, a light that is different and shines so bright that others ask themselves, ‘’there is something about those people something that I also want’’. One thing that I really learned over outreach is that to be a light means to help others and love one another. Do not waste your time on things that are not important just focus on God and He will be with me wherever I go!

Ayla: As a New Zealander it was really eye opening to go to Great Barrier Island. There’s only solar power (and wind power in Winter) and they use rain water or river water. Sounds like Vanuatu. We saw two classes from South Auckland colleges and we were able to minister to 16 and 17 year old Islanders. They were really receptive having a basic knowledge of God and church through their parents forcing them to go to church. However they were really interested in our worship and testimonies.

Matt: At first it was hard to pinpoint what my highlight for outreach was because there are so many things that I loved about our time. But I realized that my highlight for this DTS was seeing the growth in our team; as individuals and together. Seeing God’s love work through all of us healing wounds and growing us spiritually is so inspirational. God has so many amazing plans for this team and I’m excited to see where all of us go in Him.

Joshua: To show the people God’s love through practical work was my favourite experience. The people on great barrier island were so thankful for our help. I learned how easy it is to show God’s love even through small things. Another highlight was to see the positive change in each of us.

Anna: There are so many highlights from outreach that I can’t name just one. The thing that I enjoyed the most was meeting the various people and being a small part of their lives, whether delivering Bibles in Vanuatu, serving in the Marae kitchen in Waitangi, or helping older people in their gardens in Great Barrier.

Violin: My highlight was to share people about Jesus wherever I met people randomly on my outreach. Another highlight was to see my team mates grow/change in Jesus Christ, and to see how God works/changes the circumstances around us when I pray to Him

Sophie: I loved to share and help the others during outreach, the thankful heart is the reward for us. It’s a blessing to serve the others. Joy and peace filled our hearts. Thanks God for giving us this opportunity to serve Him.

Andrea: One of my many highlights was our time in Nguna! It was a beautiful island and had such a unique culture to it. I loved going into each house and just being able to spend time with the villagers and show them God’s love by listening to their stories, handing them a Bible and praying with them. I've loved blogging and updating everyone through out these past weeks- thanks for taking the time to check up on us!

Hadleigh: My highlight for outreach was hearing the ways in which all of you have grown and strengthened and deepened in your relationship with God, yourselves and eachother. It has been wonderful sharing the journey with you all!