John-Paul's Kiwi Adventure Blog

Tomorrow I’ll be in Vanuatu!

Tonight was a bit difficult, after dinner we had hugs all around as the Australia team began their journey. At 6:30 tomorrow morning, Team Vanuatu heads off! My 7kg book bag has everything I’ll need for the month. We’ll fly from Auckland at 12:30 and spend a few days in the capital, Port Vila, getting used to the climate and culture.

After that we’ll take a tiny plane to our final destination, Ambrym Island! Over the course of a month we’ll be in 15 different villages, making new friends, helping restore their water infrastructure (so they can have clean drinking water again) and sharing the good news. 

Hopefully when we get back to New Zealand I’ll get a chance to post an update. After a day or two rest at base, we head down to Ragland to work at a Children’s Bible Ministries camp for two and a half weeks. (Mom & Dad have worked with them before, and they say they’re brilliant!) And then we’ll head up north to Dargaville to partner with a few youth groups and churches in local ministry.

I wish I had a team photo to post, but we have yet to take one. It’s an awesome and diverse team. Shin & Laura from Korea, Scott & Jacinta from Australia, Maddie, Isaac and myself from America, Sasha & Steve from New Zealand, Pau from Spain, Sarah from Canada, and Eleanor from England. I count myself blessed to be sharing the next eight weeks with such an extraordinary group of people.

A few prayer requests for the first part of our trip:

1. For fully surrendered, servant hearts and attitudes.
2. For perfect love that both casts out fear and covers over a multitude of sins.
3. For sensitivity to the Spirit, that we’ll be joining him in ministry.
4. For protection, both physical and spiritual. 
5. For a new revelation of God’s love to share.

Thanks for your prayer support, it is greatly appreciated! It’s going to be an incredible adventure in following God!

Heaps of love,

John-Paul