This little light..

What a whirlwind of a weekend we’ve had. Since we had Thursday and Friday free we decided to make our own way up to see the first ever Christian church planted in New Zealand up the North part of the island. But right from the start the trip was a disaster! Buses were more pricey than we’d hoped, then on arrival we discovered there wasn’t much other you could do than visit the church (which was lovely) without paying another small fortune.

So we went off on a long search for accommodation until we discovered something missing...my brand new mobile! (I was in much need of comfort chocolate at this point). So the rest of the time was spent trudging around retracing our steps looking for my phone then trying to track down the police for a report before catching the ever-expensive bus home, in fits of giggles at how disastrous it had all been!
So, arriving back in Auckland sleepy and emotionally drained (I made sure we both went through the appropriate grieving process for my shiny new phone) we decided to stop trying to make our own plans and follow those put in front of us. And this began with joining our fellow SU camp leader friend Sam in a trip down to the south of the North Island.

As Laura explained, this led to a brilliant few days full of giggles, learning and demonstrations of extreme kindness. Our brilliant new adopted parents Jennifer and Murray were just so lovely and welcoming to us, we couldn’t have asked for them to show anymore kindness to us. Even to the point that Murray (being a doctor) tended to an infected bite on my leg, ensuring I was sent back to Auckland in complete health. (Don’t worry mum I’m all good now!)

On the family car journey to Rotorua I asked Jennifer to explain the sermon from the church service she had attended that morning (since we were a little bit late to our service!). She described a sermon encouraging us to consider the things we have in our lives that we let hold us back from really living and enjoying life as God intends us to do; things such as unnecessary guilt, un-forgiveness, pride and a longing for independence enforced by our society as the ideal. A common sermon theme really, but it left me wondering what exactly we are meant to do when we leave such services? After we have gotten our head around the underlying meaning, applied this to ourselves to identify what it is that we allow ourselves to be held back by and have gotten ourselves to a place where we are ready to try to give this up, and even after we have started praying about all these things...well then what? How can we retrain our brains to snap out of trying to please societies demands and learn to be brave enough to not just dip our toes into the life prepared for us, but to strip ourselves naked and plunge right in (hopefully without belly flopping!)? I think I may be starting to understand that narrow path Jesus was talking about! Although I am so privileged to even have this time allocated to allow my mind to ponder these things, and I really do appreciate this time for growth. I just hope my little brain might grow and maybe even fit into my strangely large skull by the end of the year!

On the lighter side though, what a great weekend we had exploring the volcanic lands here! We came across bubbling, boiling pools of water and mud, a gyser shooting steaming water from the ground through the rocks, stunning waterfalls and towering volcanoes.




We also had the opportunity to understand a little more about the devastation that can occur through natural disasters (which is unfortunately a problem a bit too close to home right now for so many) as we visited a town that was completely buried in mud and lava after a huge volcanic eruption in 1886. However in the face of these extreme forces of nature which so often bring disaster, we also saw the huge human capacity for kindness and unity for caring for others. Whilst being treated like part of Jennifer and Murray’s family we heard of stories of heroes in the past times giving up their lives to save others, received information about the huge response to the recent earthquake disasters and received kindness and encouragement from every single person that we met when they hear about our trip. It’s really true that people want to help people if they are just given the opportunity.
Letting the little light inside you shine, subconsciously encourages others to let their own little light shine a bit brighter...
So, I hope we can all dance to the same tune in 2010...”this little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine...” You never know where it might lead. 
Jenn xx

Get me to the church on time...

Don't worry, there are no weddings planned. The title will become clear a few paragraphs on.

So we left Auckland with Samuel early (though not as early as planned) Saturday morning for a road trip to Palmerston North to visit some of the young folks from SU camp. Route took a little detour as we were close to Waitomo Caves, after a lot of begging and pleading directed at Sam, he caved in and took us to see the glow worms.

We arrived at the caves and got out the car, gathered our essentials for the tour and turned round to see this in the back seat...












That would be Sam's car keys, OOPS! We found that when breaking into a car in New Zealand people are very helpful, the ticket office supplied a hanger (apparently this happens a lot!), and after a wee prayer a mechanic appears next to us. I of course had already set everything up for him ;)

So at last we were ready to see the spectacular glow worms, and spectacular they were. I never thought a wee beastie could be soo beautiful, but it honestly felt like you were under the stars. I'm afraid we weren't allowed to take pictures so here's one I stole from the internet.



After Sam presented us with beautiful paua shell necklaces we got back on track to pick up Jason for another 5 hour trip to Nick's house. Might have been 4 hours but the boys seemed to struggle a bit with the AA's directions. ;P



We arrived at tea time, dropped our bags and headed out to pick up Leila. I assumed this was for dinner but the young folks, and Jenn, demonstrated some interesting moves on a skateboard before we finally hit the kebab shop for a munch.





Finally it was bedtime; we wanted a decent sleep before church on Sunday morning...





Up early, the boys made us pancakes with bacon and syrup for breakfast (we were to 'sit and look pretty' as we'd looked after them the previous week at camp. These young people are completely inspiring!), showered and dressed and we were ready to go. We'd been told church started at 10.45am, so were relieved when we pulled up at 10.50am to see the service didn't start till 11am!



Church had a nice feel about it, they were serving teas and rolls (Jenn commented on how nice it was that the congregation turned up early to have a bit of fellowship before the service, and naturally I agreed.) we had a chat with a few folks before taking a pew and preparing for worship. 11.05am and no minister, no one was even sitting down. But hey, they're quite laid back in NZ. 11.10am, we start to get a little restless, what's going on here. At quarter past Jenn jokes that maybe the service is finished. We have a giggle, before noticing the guitars have disappeared from the platform... I turn to a group behind us just in case... (I'm sure you can guess where this is going) AAARRRRGGGGGHHHHHH! Service is at 9.30am during summer holidays.

The boys then proceeded to plan the next couple of days out while Jenn and I sung our favourite worship songs. I'm not entirely sure what happened next, but suddenly Jenn and I had been exchanged for two 16 year old boys and were now heading to Rotorua on a family holiday.

Wow, this family are amazing. Just another example of the hospitality Jenn and I have been receiving since arriving in NZ. Jennifer and Murray treated us like their own children and showed us some of New Zealand's most beautiful landscapes. And 'ORSIM' ice creams!







We visited the Maori cultural museum and witnessed boiling mud pools and hot springs as well as the Maori show, starring the Soul Touchers! Hehe



It really was a fantastic few days touring and being well looked after by some of our new friends. If you’re ever in Scotland…

Make sure if you’re reading the blogs to leave a comment, they really are such an encouragement to Jenn and I!

Loads of love and blessings,

Laura <><

Ode to a shower...

How sweet the feeling of warm cleanliness is,
shooting straight for me from the beautiful mouth of the cleaning machine.
Forcing all dirt away to an underground destiny,
Soap, water and bubbles working together to create a feeling of being clean.
Steam rising around me opening dirt filled pours,
All traces of fields and grime whisked away into a spiral of doom.
Fluffy towels sit soft and waiting for me,
I can’t help but smile as a stand singing in the gorgeous washing room...

Teeheeheehee!

After a week of camping in the middle of a dirty field, surrounded by flies and insects biting you, occasional rain pouring down just when you are getting comfy in your sleeping bag under the stars leads you to a new appreciation of a warm, clean shower. However, a week of camping in these conditions at Ponui Senior Scripture Union camp also results in huge personal growth and understanding, new incredible friends, a warm and fuzzy feeling inside of encouragement and most importantly a huge sense of inspiration. For the opportunity to meet the leaders and campers even once in a lifetime, I would happily give up my beautiful shower. Never have I been so challenged about making quick judgements about people on face value.

Coming to collect the campers on the first day of camp, I stood on the barge that makes the journey between the mainland and Ponui Island scanning across the group of awaiting teens and their families smiling. I learnt in the summer that I really enjoy working with teens as I find they can be easier to relate to than kids, and so I was feeling happy enough about the week ahead. As I glanced across the group I picked out the usual looking suspects: the pretty bubbly girls who had instantly made friends, who I guessed would be wanting to talk about boys and complain about getting their hair wet swimming; the slightly shyer campers that I decided might need some encouragement and may risk home sickness; the alpha males parading their bravado and marking their territory, these of course are the boys that would be fun but at some point I was sure I would be having to tell them to calm down a bit. Just your typical group of teens I thought: they were probably all just coming to the camp for some fun and flirting and I would have to encourage them to come to the bible study sermons and discussions, as “cool kids” like these are reluctant to do anything serious like that aren’t they? ...I couldn’t have been more wrong. Over the week as I got to know this particular group of teens I discovered that amidst the minor fliring and giggling lay a united desire to learn to love God more to allow them to love others. The alpha males openly expressed their love of serving others for God, the “pretty, bubbly girls” splashed around in the sea joyfully describing struggles of finding their identity in Christ as they knew they wouldn’t find this is boys (what?!?!?!15 year olds know this??man am I behind!) and the shyer campers flourished amongst the group as, despite there being the usual issues of some cliques forming and giggling occurring between flirty boys and girls, all the group of campers wanted was to share love in the world, thus making the camp quickly feel like the most accepting and loving family you can imagine. I was breath taken on a daily basis watching huge acts of kindness and encouragement in the campers in the most normal of settings. People were happy to lose team points or swallow a bit of pride to make sure that all the group could get involved in all the activities and feel valued in the group. After completing 500 metres of a 800metre swim campers would tread water to wait for their friends to encourage them. Athletic boys would move aside on the volley ball court to encourage weakling (Scottish) girls to serve the ball for the first time. Boys that once seemed full of testosterone and bravado openly shared about their, often difficult, lives and the things they struggled with, but how they were just so grateful to have had God’s love at the centre of their struggles and shared plans of taking this love to serve the less fortunate.

But I think the best thing for me about all of this was that although there were some really emotional times and writing some of these things out now sounds a bit like the plan of a bad, cheesy movie, this love was all so natural to these people that it was the complete opposite of cheesy. There were no cringey moments as all this encouragement and testimony took place right at the core of a week filled with laughter and fun. Campers and leaders alike spent the week winding each other up and messing about, starting water fights regularly, kidnapping the cooks, bringing a Scottish-like dry sense of humour to most situations. For many the week was one of realisation and personal growth with behaviours and thoughts being challenged, but most of all it was a total messy, giggly, squeeling blast!!

Personally the week taught me that the fact that I quite regularly get called “wise” by people who have just recently met me and those who have known me for ages and regularly tease me for my silliness and blonde comments, maybe isn’t due to a strange and regular combination of coincidence and luck, but that maybe this is my gifting after all. As I prayed and chatted with individual campers that came to me for advice on some pretty huge and deep issues I heard myself giving advice that I didn’t even know I had the ability to verbalise. And the more I watched relief and understanding take over the struggling campers faces it finally hit me that this advice and encouragement I was giving wasn’t from me, but was from my many prayers to be used to help others. There were so many situations this week that God totally used me to share His wisdom and I just moved my lips in time to the words He put on them and then provided a hug and a smile at the end! Although I have always been told I am an empathetic person, wisdom is beyond my simple thoughts unless it is coming from a higher power. And I am sure that gifts from God are simply taking the things you enjoy and hope to improve to a greater level. Now I just thank God for using me to speak to others this way and pray that I can be humble and responsible enough to allow Him to develop this within me. Basically I want God to take me to “a whole nuther level”!! And I cannae wait!!!!

Jenn xx

P.S. Can’t explain how much encouragement all your comments and emails are! Logging onto the blog full of comments after an exhausting week is just incredible and is exactly what will keep us going this year! Thanks so much to those taking the time out their busy lives to encourage us! x

Dancing in the moonlight

Hi folks, just back from the most amazing week on Ponui Island on the east coast of Auckland. We arrived on Tuesday for a Scripture Union camp with the other leaders for a bit of training, some of them are only 20 but have had the most amazing lives! I actually can’t wait to hear what they get up to in the future. We all got on so well, all week! I can’t even begin to express how I feel about these guys. They’re out of this world.

The following day we picked up the campers, I was a group leader for 6 teenage girls from Auckland, Wellington, Korea and Germany. These girls were truly inspiring! I’m so privileged to have been a part of their lives for the last week.

The girls in my tent teamed up with a tent of boys (who were equally as amazing as my girls) for different activities... which would earn us points, we were all competing for the Ponui Senior Cup.
Those of you who know me well will know there’s not a competitive bone in my body – HA! So I was a little concerned to hear my Buddy Partner, Samuel, had come last for the last 3 years!!!! I didn’t think I would cope with the shame ;)

Some of the activities were a bit daunting... synchronised swimming, obstacle courses, football, and volleyball... are you kidding God??!! But I got stuck in about it, and although I didn’t score any goals... or whatever you’re meant to do during a game of volleyball, I had a great time, and Samuel turned out to be the ultimate encourager, how difficult I would have found it if someone was getting annoyed with me. We didn’t always come last, so managed to bag some points here and there.
And we eventually cleaned up the tent (there was 10 points on offer every day during a tent inspection).

In the end we did come last, but I was still sooooooo happy to have spent the week with these amazing young people, and I wouldn’t have switched groups for anything.


Throughout the week we took part in two overnighters (we pack an evening bag and head to another part of the island for the night), the first one was with the whole group, around 15 staff and around 60 young people, and the second with our buddy groups (2 leaders and 13 youngsters). These nights were amazing, we heard some inspiring stories and testimonies from the young people and enjoyed fellowship round a camp fire. Oh and slept under Southern Sky! Weird!




I’m really grateful for the last week. For the friends I’ve made. The testimonies I’ve heard. The teams I’ve watched bond together, and the beautiful scenery (and sunshine) New Zealand has to offer!




Thanks so much for all your comments and prayers. Keep them coming cause they’re clearly working!

Loads of love!

Laura xXx

P.S. I didn't see much of Jenn at camp (kinda missed her!) But her blog will follow sometime today...

Pohutukawa

So the incredible hosting has continued at the same brilliant standard the past day and a half. Our amazing host family has been kind enough to show us around Auckland and give us the “couldn’t find it in a book local info about the place” which includes teaching us some crazy new Zealand terms such as Pohutukawa (which is the name of a flower that blooms around Christmas time)which lets me practice my awesome kiwi accent (Laura laughs at it but I know she’s just jealous!).
Had such a nice time visiting stunning views, where I can somehow magically hold the famous Auckland Sky Tower in my very own hands!



We have also visited some lovely churches from the super old to the super huge! Just back from playing with our hostess’s gorgeous 18 moth old at the beach and are now waiting for our lift to the Scripture Union camp where we will be working for the next week with 16 – 18 year olds. We will probably be out of any wireless network considering we are camping on a random beach for the week (although I’m sure we will be carrying the beach in our shoes for much longer) so we will be writing the blog as we’re there and post it when we’re back next tues (our time). So gotta run for now! Will be in touch when we can! Praying we can share loads with everyone this week as we all hopefully learn from each other! Missing you guys and you’ra all in our prayers all the time! So thankful for all the great encouragement we’ve been receiving from home!! Anyhoo, we’ll be in touch!

Jenn xx

Auckland

Left Los Angeles at 8pm Friday night for a ten hour flight. Arrived in Auckland at 8am on Sunday morning. (Seem to have lost Saturday 9th January along the way?!) Wasn’t on the tarmac 10 minutes when my phone rang, Jim Bonnar letting us know where we should meet. Made it through customs – despite Jenn’s crazy bouncy ball!



And grabbed a bunch of flowers for our hosts before heading into the 20+ degrees of sunshine. We were greeted with a gorgeous wee girl ‘are you Laura and Jenn’ ( no idea how she possibly recognised us haha), and then she proceeded to show us into a car, the driver was frantically shaking his head as Jenn and myself pointed for him to open the boot. Surely this man didn’t want us to keep our rucksacks on our laps??! But it turned out he just didn’t want us in his car period, fair enough considering he was a complete stranger and Jim’s car was a few yards in front...

We hopped in and off we drove to Mcdonalds for a quick drink. Vanilla Milkshake for me please. No, we do chocolate, strawberry and lime... yes LIME milkshake. After a quick ‘eww’ from Jenn and I, we ordered two LIME milkshakes. I do worry about us sometimes haha. And might I add this was a good choice.

We got a quick wash at the Bonnars and our amazing tour guide, known as Catlain, walked us to the Botanical Gardens via her primary school. This old building has reached the grand age of 7 years!!!! Quite miraculous it’s still standing really.

The gardens are beautiful, Catlain took us to the childrens area, and had an amazing time digging up bugs, crawling under tunnels in the dirt and hatching out of a huge egg...




gives a whole new meaning to the phrase ‘born again christian’! We spent an hour playing before we were due back for lunch. Which was a delicious salad, Jenn tried her first pickled onion. I’m completely amazed! She didn’t finish it, but I’m trying not to take it to heart. Those of you who know about my relationships with pickles will understand where i’m coming from. And we chilled out for the afternoon.

Later on we took a trip to the supermarket for BBQ food, sorry if that’s a little insensitive to our Scottish friends that are still trudging through 6 inches of snow in welly boots. A drive up to the look out point was next, this hill offers a view of ¾ of the gorgeous city of Auckland.

Both Jenn and I attempted to be awake for the sevice in St Andrews Bo’ness this morning, but our jet lagged boddies were having none of it! In bed by around 11pm (10am back home), and now awake to the familiar soothing pitter patter of rain on the bedroom window. But it’s now the back of 4 in the morning, and my eyes are threatening to close again. I’ll be off, but just glad I had an hour awake to fill you in on our adventures in Auckland. Looking forward to another day here before heading to a Scripture Union camp for older teenagers on Ponui Island, Tuesday morning.

Before I sign off just want to thank everyone for their prayers. The trip so far has been unbelievably smooth, planes on time, food delicious and host family incredibly welcoming. We officially love New Zealand.

Look forward to hearing from you all.

Loads of love and blessings,

Laura xXx

P.s. I’m imagining internet will be limited, if not nonexistent from the Island for the next week, so please don’t be concerned if the blog is quiet... enjoy the peace and we’ll be back with a vengeance in a week.

Introducing Leroy...

So since Laura and Jenn are too concerned with their own journey to mention me I thought i’d better introduce myself to everyone! My name is Leroy Mackezie and I am the third member of the second soultouch group. I will be joining the girls on their travels and working in the projects with them, and although I may have a slightly higher intelligence and a deeper insight than the girls, we all get on like a house on fire. And luckily for anyone following the soultouch blog I intend to make the most of the times I am unkindly shoved into a hand luggage bag to update (and most likely improve) the blog with my own reflections on the experiences we have.
So here it goes...The journey so far to New Zealand has proven to be extremely blessed considering how smoothly we’ve caught each flight despite the terrible snow and ice that is currently bringing Scotland to a bit of a stand still. It’s an exciting time as I have now been promoted from my resting place on Jenn’s windowsill to pride place in the hand luggage. I even got my own seat on the flight from Glasgow to London!
The girls also seem to be extremely bubbly right now, squealing with excitement at the idea of being “able to serve” (although that seems a bit rude considering they have yet to share their food with their number one puppet friend!) Speaking of friends, I hear the leaving event at St Andrews church was really brilliant and hugely appreciated by the girls. I personally didn’t get an invite, but the effects of the support shown that night is now clearly embedded in the girlies and is rubbing off on me!
I better go, I am sitting under the seat in front of Jenn on the plane and as I write this her smelly feet keep creeping closer and closer to me! :( Please keep praying for the girls to be led into the right places and to meet the right people to allow us all to serve God the best way we can...afterall wherever they go I go too so I don’t have time for them stumbling from that narrow path!argh...uck...spwww.....ick...foot in the mouth!Got to go! Will be in touch again soon!
Bleesings from under a seat somewhere 10972m above sea level! Auckland here we come!!!!!
The one and only Leroy!

Many more steps along the world we go...

After a fairly emotional, sleepless 24 hours, we’re on our way. Looking fair braw kitted out in our Soul Touch 2010 gear! Taking Soul Touch to ‘A whole nuther level’!

Some friends organised a wee send off for us in the church last night, which went really well. There was a fantastic turnout, especially considering the weather in Scotland the last three weeks. Had some delicious soup, cakes... oh the cakes! worship, prayers, chat and a personal favourite of mine ceilidh dances. HUGE thanks to Sarah for the creation of the Soul Touch cake, and also Eliza for all the food! Was fantastic, and delicious!!! And Can’t forget Mike for showing up early to set up, and everyone for clearing up after so Jenn and I could say our farewells.

Was great to have a wee crowd at the airport, bit emotional when heading into the departure lounge, but surprisingly to both Jenn and myself I made a speedy recovery. I’m so full of emotion!!! Excitement about what God has planned for us over the next year, and a sadness at leaving so many loved ones behind. There’s no doubt in my mind that this is where I’m meant to, and also want to be, so I’m pretty sure that’ll keep me upbeat ;)

I’d like to thank everyone for their support over the last nine months while Jenn and I have been organising this trip (oh my word – I can’t believe we’re actually on our way to New Zealand!). The advice, prayers, cards, gifts and love we have received in our preparation time have definitely brought a lot of comfort to both Jenn, myself, and our families. Some of you have been so generous, and have really brought Soul Touch into life for Jenn and I. So Thanks!
Please continue to pray for us, that God will provide and protect us in all situations. I’m confident He will though ;)

Loads of love and blessings! <><

Laura xXx

So we are into the 6th hour of the New Zealand flight and I’ve just realised something...Laura and I are going on the second soultouch trip!!!A heads up would have been nice guys! Cannot believe it’s here! It’s such a strange feeling because it’s been our whole lives the past 9 months and now it’s here it’s hard to take in. The leaving night at St Andrews church was really brilliant and we were both soo chuffed and grateful at the turn out. Was so nice to see our lovely family and friends faces supporting us, even if some were more reluctant to dance than others! The idea of having all that support behind us though is just incredible and really builds us up to face the journey ahead! There are so many people we will miss and I’m sure it’s going to take some time getting used to having Miss Taylor following me everywhere , but we’re both so confident we are exactly where we should be. As a very wise lady said to us at our church woman’s day, we are always in the right place when in the will of God, so even if that means we face being smelly, uncomfy sleeps and some homesickness we are right where we should be.

I just can’t wait to see all the things in store for us over the year, and the many lessons I’m sure we will be learning. Even the journey so far has taught us so much about the kindness and generosity of so many close to us, which is such a huge encouragement! So we do thank you all so much for that and hope you stay in touch over the year, as we will with you.

I’m going to go now, to curl up in my extremely unpractical, but very cosy, blanket and try to get some sleep as we still have many hours ahead of us on this first leg of the trip! Please do keep us in your prayers, as we will you.
As my mummy said to us....”Many more steps around the world we go!!”

Jenn

And they're of!

Ok so today is the day! Laura Taylor and Jenn Ewing have officially left to around the world. Over the next 12 months these two gorgeous girls will visit a variety of different communities, making a practical contribution to the work of ministries and inspiring and encouraging them to keep running the race with perseverance and joy, joy, joy!

Meanwhile back at home, wherever that may be, please remember that we love you, we are praying for you and we absolutely believe in you and the cause of Christ you live for!

We’ll be reading the blog every step of the way!
Love Miss B and all the troops at Wallace High School xxx