The Balancing Act and Transitions

This past month has been one of learning to juggle the various aspects of my life as it heads (slowly) for New Zealand. I have been working six days a week at the restaurant in order to keep myself out of any further school debt during my last semester at Wesley Biblical Seminary. I need as little debt as possible as I prepare to leave the country! Also, youth ministry here at home in the States has been a huge priority as Wired Student Ministries is preparing for International Youth Convention in Orlando, FL next month. I spent a good nine hours in the blazing Mississippi heat with teens this past Saturday for a yard sale fundraiser. It was great--but I almost passed out at work that night from heat exhaustion! I'm also in the middle of a Theology of Evangelism/Missions online course this summer. While I've been struggling to keep up with the syllabus, the material has been awesome as I think and pray toward New Zealand.

On the field, I have been excited to see God at work in various ways! The Wesleyan Methodist Church of NZ just held its annual convention. From the pictures I've seen and stories I've heard from friends over there, it was a great time of spiritual renewal. Also, one of my dear missionary friends, Stephenie Garey, just arrived in New Zealand to fill her position as a youth pastor. She has already been given several amazing ministry opportunities, including sharing the Gospel in a public school to students who had never heard who Jesus really is. Finally, I am so excited to hear about what God has done for the Church through a best Kiwi friend of mine. Jo, my best friend on the other side of the world, was just officially licensed as a minister in the Wesleyan Methodist Church of NZ. It is awesome to see how God has led her to this point! I know the Church in New Zealand will be in good hands with people like her responding to the call! I miss her like crazy, and I so wish I could have been there for this special day! If you're reading this... "Love you, Jo! -Amba." Below is a picture of Jo and I together at the W.M.C.N.Z. convention last year.



Another characteristic of the past month in my journey has been transition. I moved out of my wonderful, "homey" apartment that I shared with three of my best friends to move back into the seminary dorm. One b.f., Tory, just got married and moved to Florida with her husband, Kalon (also a best friend of mine). I was privileged to officiate at their wedding; it was one of the most beautiful experiences of my life. Another b.f., Malene, just moved back to her home country of Denmark, and the third one, Colleen, just left today for Denmark to tour Europe with Malene for the summer. I miss them all terribly, but "see you later's" are going to become a common part of my life, so I'm trying to look at this as par for the course. My dorm roommate, Agnes (who is from Kenya) is spending three weeks in Israel, so I'm spending a lot of time alone when I am at home. It is a new concept for me. :)

Starting this support team building process is certainly a transition as well. When I start to feel overwhelmed, God sends a bit of affirmation and encouragement to keep me going. I am amazed by His provision. In the past few weeks, one supporter paid my car insurance bill, another bought me tennis shoes for work (mine were seriously falling apart), and others have made financial contributions and commitments. Every instance of God working through His people never fails to put me in awe of His work and the beauty of His Body. Within the next couple weeks, I should receive my prayers cards in the mail. This will mean the process can get more underway! I'm excited to keep embarking on this journey of ministering to the North American Church and anticipating ministering in New Zealand! To God be the glory!

Missionary Orientation

"Brain is mush. I'm surprised it is not oozing out of my ears."

That has been my status many times for finals weeks during college and seminary alike, and I have to admit that the feeling after a week of Missionary Orientation is very similar! At Global Partners Headquarters, I was bombarded with an incredible amount of important information and training to prepare for the months ahead of support team building and preparation for ministry in New Zealand. Also, I was able to interact with several denominational leaders; just rubbing shoulders with these godly leaders was a challenge and encouragement. I suppose my greatest "take-away" from the week was a deepening understanding of the philosophy of support team building. Global Partners refers to this process as Home Ministries because they truly understand it as a season during which missionaries minister to the North American Church. Over the next months, I will have the incredible opportunity to invite people to join God in His work in New Zealand. Also, I will have the privilege of interacting with a large number of churches and fellow believers. I look forward to building new relationships, encouraging God's people, and challenging the Church to continue to pour out for God's global mission!

The week would not have been the same experience without some incredible people God placed in it. First, the GP staff was phenomenal. Second, the other missionaries who went through the training with me became instant, dear friends. Isaac and Amy Thompson are headed to Ecuador, and Sean and Sam Schwarze are going to be with me in the South Pacific Area while serving in Australia. In addition, I was honored to be able to stay at Shunem House with Jim and Jeanette Vermilya. They have become like family to me over the past few years, and I am so glad to have them as my Home Ministries Missionary Pastors. Finally, God blessed me with the opportunity to be reunited with some old, close friends along with making some new ones! God amazed me throughout the week as He set up unexpected divine appointments. There is nothing sweeter than praying with people you love and mutually sharpening one another as believers over meals and even through playing games and laughing together. God is so faithful!

So... now that I have been "oriented," I am ready to jump deeper into this process! May the journey to New Zealand continue!

Too Excited!?

This is seminary finals week... and I should be extraordinarily focused on school work. Instead, I am annoyingly excited about New Zealand and cannot focus no matter how hard I try! Hopefully posting will help get it out of my system so I can study!

I am so thankful for God's bits of encouragement before this process even really gets started. (1)In the past two days, two pastors have approached me about their churches joining my support team. While I know I will need many churches' support, it is simply elating to me that God is already preparing the way before I have even proactively started building a support team! (2)Also, last night I checked a friend's blog who is a current missionary in New Zealand. He happened to have written this week about the process of waiting on God before he left the U.S. His words were extremely helpful. Through his blog, (3)I also found a video on the blog of Kris, a youth pastor in New Zealand. The video contains some statistics about the youth culture in New Zealand and the need for people to pray for the teens in NZ. Watching the video just increased my heart for the youth of NZ! Jesus, thank You!

You can view the video on Kris' blog at the following url: http://thebibberblog.blogspot.com/2010/02/will-you-pray-for-me.html#comment-form

The Journey to New Zealand Begins!

Support team building officially kicks off this coming Saturday and Sunday when I will be speaking at my first ever Faith Promise weekend at Olde Towne Community Church (where I currently youth pastor) in Ridgeland, MS. Please pray for the weekend to go well--for awareness to be raised about the Kingdom needs around the world and for God to lead people to join Him in His global work.

Also, after speaking at Faith Promise in the morning, I will fly out to Indianapolis that Sunday afternoon for Missionary Orientation which will last Monday through Friday at Global Partners Headquarters. I ask for your prayers during this time of training and preparation!

For those of you who may not have known, I had been seeking the Lord for about three years concerning where He might have me serve for at least two years on an international level. This past summer, I spent two weeks in and around Auckland, NZ with missionaries from Global Partners of the Wesleyan Church and local pastors and church leaders. While there, I worked with Papakura Wesleyan Church and with the youth at The Gathering--the national Wesleyan convention of New Zealand. In February I was officially appointed as a two year intern missionary to New Zealand!!! I will graduate from Wesley Biblical Seminary in Jackson, MS, in December, 2010. My hope is to be in New Zealand in the Fall of 2011. My role in New Zealand will be two-fold. First, I will be working with students--outreach, running a youth program in a local church, discipleship, and leadership development. Secondly, I will be helping to equip national leaders through mentoring and providing Biblical/theological training and resources.

I am so excited to finally begin this journey toward New Zealand! Thank you for walking with me!

In His Service,
Amber Janelle