Thank you so much for your continued prayers and financial support for the ministry here in New Zealand. Our prayer for this year is that we will see many souls saved.
The sun is very intense here in New Zealand, so a shade cloth needed to be put up over our deck to protect the kids from the sun during the children’s Bible classes. We also built a puppet stage. Because of your giving, we have been able to complete these projects.
Recently, we have had several opportunities to witness to our neighbors . One day Reitha was walking down the road and met, Aria. At Christmas time we caroled at her house, but she did not come to the door. We left a Christmas bag of goodies and a salvation letter for her. When Reitha met her, she asked if she had received the bag and if she had read the letter. She said yes. She explained to Reitha that she had been having a bad day that day. It seemed to be exactly what she needed. Since then, we have invited her to church. Please pray for Aria and our other neighbors that they will come to the Bible activities we have at our house and that they will see their need of salvation.
Street Outreach
We have had wonderful times in downtown Auckland passing out tracts and talking to people. One night an Indian man came up and talked to Reitha. She had an opportunity to witness to him. He wasn’t willing to take a Bible, but she was able to give him one of our cards with the radio station information on one side and a link to a Bible app on the other. Hopefully he will read the Bible and listen to the radio station as well. Another evening we met Kevin, a young man from China. He is here going to a university. Kevin’s parents and grandparents are Buddhist. We had the opportunity to witness to him for quite a while. He really listened and asked several questions about Christianity. He took a Bible and has come to church with us once. Coming from a Chinese culture where ancestors are worshiped, he doesn’t understand why we must love God above our families. We have been communicating with him regarding this, but it will take the Holy Spirit to open his eyes. Please help us pray he will understand the truth.
Food Bank
At the food bank we have had different opportunities to witness to people and hand out tracts. It is our desire that not only will people’s physical needs be met, but their spiritual needs will be ministered to as well.
There is a motorcycle shop next the Hope Center. We understand that some of the people that work there are involved in gangs. We have talked to and given tracts to some of the workers there. One day Reitha saw a man sitting in a car in front of the food bank and thought he may work at the motorcycle shop. She felt compelled to take him a tract. As she talked to him she found out that he is the owner of the shop. He said he had been raised Anglican but had a troubled childhood. In her conversation with him, she talked about how we may live 70, 80, or maybe 90 years, but eternity is forever and how we could die at any time. He agreed and said he had been to three funerals in one month. It seems like this has caused him to think about life and eternity. You cannot judge how someone is going to respond by the way they look. That was definitely true in this situation. Reitha is so thankful for this opportunity and felt the Holy Spirit gave her the exact words to say to him. Praise the Lord for these open doors! Please pray for him and his partner (Cailin and Olivia).
Stephen is a man that visits the Hope Center. We have talked to him at different times. One day he shared with us that he was going to have to move after living for over 20 years in the same place. He said because of this he has been having anxiety. Reitha told him the only way to have true peace is to give your life to Christ. He said he knows a lady that seems to always be happy. He said something about it to her. She said, “I have Jesus!” He said Christians seem to always be happy. Reitha said we all go through hard times, but when you are a Christian you can turn to the Lord. We are trusting that he will see his need of salvation before it is too late.
Children’s Bible Class
We covered the story of creation and facts to refute evolution in the Bible class for January. We are thankful for Kade, a new boy who come this month. He told his Aunt Mia (who is in the picture on the right) that he liked the Bible class. He is a very sweet, respectful boy.
We are praying that the Bible class will grow, but we are thankful for the 16 people that came this month.
A Day At The Park
We took several of the young people who come to Bible class out for a day at the park.
Bible Study
In the Bible study this month we continued the study of the Sermon on the Mount talking about retaliation, giving alms, and repetitious prayers. Most of the ones who come are Catholic. We are trusting the Lord will speak to them as we share the truth of God’s Word with them.
Reiawna and Sharei taught the kids about obeying their parents. We are so thankful they love children and want to be used in this ministry.
Ethiopian Church
This month we taught the youth and Sunday School classes, Shawn also preached for the adults.
Youth Night
We are thankful for the young people that came to youth night. We continued studying on Noah and the Flood. These girls have been faithful to come to Bible class and youth night since we have started.
Our Friend Roy
We have mentioned about our previous neighbor Roy in some of our previous posts. He is out of rehab and now in a rest home. From the conversations we have had, he seems to have a clear understanding of salvation. He has peace about his circumstances, and this is not normally how he feels. Praise the Lord for what He has done in his life!
