Right back into it!

This week just gone past was our first week of lectures, after being on outreach for three weeks.
The topic that the speaker spoke on was 'Missions'.

It was a really good, inspiring week of lectures that we went through.

When the week started out, we looked at a whole lot of different statistics about christianity. That was encouraging because there was a lot of people who were Christians. After that we looked at statistics for the world, where people haven't been reached with the gospel.
There was a lot of people in that group too! It was kind of overwhelming all the statistics we saw I thought.

We were encouraged to read Deuteronomy, or Leviticus, because those books have a lot about the law that God put in place for how to live righteously and be blessed in the way we live.

We also had a look at the scripture Matthew 5:17-20 which says:
¹⁷ “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. ¹⁸ For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. ¹⁹ Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. ²⁰ For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

It says that when we don't obey the least of these, and teach others to disobey the least of these, then we will be the least in the kingdom of heaven. One thing off of that, is to learn to read the bible and not think everything is being pointed at us individually when we read it , because it was written for  reason in a certain context.

When we look at the scripture as relating to nations, even today, because at the same time as this was written in history, it still relates to our world today; I saw it in a different light.
The law is not only about obeying God to tell people about how he is the worlds saviour, and he wants relationship with us and things about od along the same lines as that, the law is also the practical things like how to keep healthy.
When you read in Leviticus and Deuteronomy, there are alot of differnt laws, and some of them are about how to keep clean and healthy, and about being a generous nation looking out for the poor and then the nations would not be the least in Gods kingdom.

I had a thought during the lectures about how there are so many christian nations in the world, but at the same time they are still living in poverty. They have heard the message of salvation and that God is their hope, but God doesn't want it to stop there. He wants us who are rich to give to the poor and teahc them how to have a better life that is more blessed then what they are walking in. Even in the western world too.

This is a challenge to me too. So many times, I have walked right past people who are needy and poor and not done a thing to help them. We have to get out of our comfort zones and lay down our plans for God, adn I know how hard that is to do, even in the small things; but that is how we are going to make change in the world!

I know that even after writing this out, so many times I am still going to find it hard to surrender fully to doing what God asks of me, but I do really want to improve in that area of my walk with the Lord.

We were encouraged to think about the way we help people who are poor and needy to though. We don't want to create a mentality of welfare when we help the poor and needy, but teach them how to take responsibilty for their lives.

This week was so encouraging and refreshing too because it wasn't about us, but it was about helping other people!
One of the biggest challenges I have being back at the base is that I get comfortable and get into the mindset almost that I don't need to reach out to people while I am here, because I am not on outreach, and because there are so many distractions.
It is a challenge to get over that mindset while I am at the base.

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This week outside of lectures, I have been hanging out and watching movies a few times because we have had a few nights where we havn''t had anything to do!
We watched Miss Congeniality, and Miss Congeniality 2, and City of angels.
When we watched City of Angels, I decided that the angels were not a good representation of real angels :)
But of course it is only a movie... :D

I have been thinking about my home in NZ alot lately - I have missed home so much lately!
I am looking forward to sleeping in my own bed again, and seeing my family again, and my church again too!! It is going to be so good to be home! But of course I don't want the rest of the time here to go too quickly either, because I have such a cool group of people on the school , and so many cool closer friends made with people in the school!

Other things that are going on is that not long ago now, the April ship DTS has started. They have been here for about 2 weeks now. All the people in the team are really nice too!

This week has been another really challenging week, and I am learning to lean on God more and more!

In a week we will be leaving for our major outreach, our first stop is Darwin. We will be going on the plane to Darwin, with a couple of different planes to board, and we get to Darwin after 9pm. I don't remember what time we leave
I am so excited especially for East Timore. We got told that when we get to East Timore, we go on the back of the truck to the village we are staying at, and depending on what village you go to, you could be on the truck for up to 10 hours. I don't think where we are going is going to take 10 hours though.
It is going to be such an exciting, challenging adventure!!
I can't wait!!!!!!!! :D:D