God is doing amazing things in South Auckland! If you didn't know, today and tomorrow, Nicky Cruz is leading a crusade here in Manukau (a suburb of Auckland where I live). For the past several months, two guys and one of the girls on my team have helped out in planning and preparing and praying for this crusade. For the past two weeks, they've been going out with 55 other American crusaders handing out free tickets to the general public.

 

First, I have to start out with thanking you all. The time I've spent here in South Auckland has been the time of my life! I have NO idea how I will leave this place in three months...so much so I don't even want to think about it! I couldn't have had any of these experiences or have grown the way I have without your prayers. God bless you for that!

 

A couple of weeks ago we had a car break down in front of our house again, only this time is was filled with members from the gang the Bloods. It was our leaders' first day here and he hadn't been told how to differentiate between the gangs...and, well, he didn't know it was any sort of gang. So he went up to them and invited them to a Bible study that he was going to have and gave them some tracts. Just today, while we were serving at the soup kitchen, we got a text from Christine, our leader's wife, saying that the gang was back looking for Bob (our leader) and was wanting to know when the Crusade was. So Christine gave them a ticket and told them that Bob would be there.

 

I can't remember if I've told you all about Tina, so I'll recap the situation for you. We met Tina on one of our first Friday nights doing prostitution ministry. She bared her life to us, telling us her past and why she's on the streets. She's been the one of the only girls we have a continuous relationship with. A few weeks ago shewas invited over by Vanessa, one of the girls on my team, and hung out with us for an afternoon and had dinner with us. She came back on Monday when Michelle and Vanessa took her shopping for some essential groceries. We discovered on her first visit that Tina is 8 months pregnant and had "worked" up till her 7th month. So, among all this, we're planning a baby shower! Anywho, after grocery shopping, Vanessa went over to her house where Tina told her that she wanted to stop "working" and that she has started going to the church of Crystal, one of the other girls on my team. It's all so confusing, but the basic gist of it is is that Tina, one of the girls we've ministered to, if off the streets and getting involved with a prayer-based church and is also coming to the crusade with us tonight! PRAISE THE LORD!

 

Besides that, I'm fully back into my ministry...FINALLY! I've been going constantly since Monday with my new Explorers group which is sort of like a boy scouts for 5-7 year olds. Emma has created the curriculum and I am leading the group with Julian, a guy from my church. Tuesday was filled with working with Trudy and her kids, Isaiah, Jasmine and Celine. It was a rough morning. Neither of the kids wanted to work and Trudy was just too overwhelmed to really do much good. I even had to take a breather from the kids and sit on the couch for a few minutes. But I was refreshed by the walk down the street to Weymouth Primary and the beautiful children there. I was greeted by a girl named Tayla who I'd met last term. She gave me her cell phone number and I've texted her all week long. She's revealed that she lost her old brother 3 weeks ago and really misses him. I have prayed for her and would appreciate it if you would too.

 

Wednesday was a particularly blessed day! For our discipleship time, we went to the arena where the crusade is being held. We prayed there for two hours and then headed off to our internships. I went off to Emma's house to help her out with the monthly meeting she has with the other women from her prenatal class who had babies around the same time she had Joshua. There were three other women and HEAPS of babies! I got to hold and sing to and love on babies ALL afternoon. IT WAS FABULOUS!

Then Emma kept me around, fed me dinner and told me that she had a "special guest" coming to see me. So, we waited around for an hour, playing games and watching the news (something I haven't done since I left home...we have a TV but no channels here at the base!!). Then the special guests started arriving. Emma had invited all my good friends from church for a late surprise birthday party for me! We had heaps of ice cream, a fabulous cake, cream puffs, passionfruit, and laughter all around! Gosh, I love those people!

 

So, tonight's the night! At about 5:30 pm, we'll all start preparing ourselves for the Crusade. Some will be heading in early to set up; others to prepare to be a part of the altar call team. The few left (one of them being me) will head up about 6. This is the beginning of some miraculous work God is ready to do in the South Auckland area. They are expecting anywhere from 8-10,000 people. They've invited every gang in the region, including the Mongrel Mob, the original gang of New Zealand (who is also providing security...).

 

And because you have supported me in my venture, you are ALL a part of what's happening here. Just because you're not here does not mean you're not involved. That's why I write such detailed, long emails! You need to be updated to stay involved in it all!

 

Hopefully on Saturday I'll find some time to write another update to y'all. By then the Crusade will be over with and God will have started some mighty works (not that he hasn't already). PLEASE pray for the gangs of South Auckland, that their ears and hearts will be opened to what Nicky Cruz has to say.

 

Peace and blessings to you!