Week 13

Last week of school before Christmas break!!!

The week started off really good with quiet day on Monday. Basically, we were all dropped off at the Waihi gorge with only our Bibles, pens, journals, and lunches (and a warm blanket) and we were told to spread out so that we couldn’t see any of the other students and then to spend the day with Jesus. I was slightly disappointed when I came home because I was expecting much more. The way Dale had talked it up it sounded as if every year, students came back with huge revelations, but I didn’t have any. Upon reflection and looking back over my notes, however, I did find that I had learned quite a bit. Most of the day was spent just being reminded of what I have been learning all year at the Crossing. I read through the first six chapters of Romans and found there the entire truth of victorious Christian living. It was good to get it from the scriptures rather than from various teachers. I think that discovering it for myself really helped my understanding.

I also read through a portion of Judges and came across a portion I had never read before. It spoke about when the Israelites crossed the Jordan River (after the forty years of wandering). God told the priests carrying the arc of the covenant to step into the river. The minute their feet touched the water, the flow was stopped and the water was held back further down the river and so the Israelites were able to cross on dry land. This made me realize that even when it seems like I am walking into an explosive situation, God is between me and the water. Although the Israelites were ‘lucky’ because they could see the symbol of the presence of God between them and the water, Jesus does say in John 21:29 “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” I can have complete assurance that if God calls me into a situation, He will see me through!

On Tuesday night, we watched the Nativity Story for family night. It was a really good presentation of the events! I find that I understand Christmas so much better now that I have spent a semester at The Crossing. One thing that struck me was when the wise men placed their gifts by the manger saying “for the King of kings,” and “for the High Priest of High Priests.” All three wise men were very ornately dressed and they had five camels well loaded with stuff. It made me realize the inadequacy of the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Really the only thing I can bring before such a King is my life, anything less seems trivial to me. Of course, life isn’t an easy thing to give up, but that’s the best part! With His life in me, Christ is the power by which I can give Christ everything. As weird as it sounds, Christ has given me everything so that I can give Him everything.

Since we had no DVD lectures this week, the classes that these lectures would usually take up were used to pack and clean. The house has been transformed as we put stuff away and give it one last thorough cleaning before the break. Since the guys will be changing rooms after the break, they had to empty everything out of their rooms and put it all in storage. I am really thankful that all the girls are in one room because it means that we can leave stuff in drawers and closets, we just needed to get everything put away so that nothing was visible.

On Thursday night, we had a talent show and a white elephant gift exchange. I was really surprised by some of the items in the talent show! Dale demonstrated some of his amazing guitar skills; Joel and Jonas danced to ‘Girls just want to have fun’ (they were dressed in dresses they borrowed from Kelsey and Amber so it was kind of creepy...); Ben and Robert each read a poem they had written; Ben, Robert, and Bryan played two songs (one of which was written by Ben. Bryan used a plastic bucket as a drum and played amazingly!); Amber, Kelsey, and Sheryl read a poem about life at the crossing (packed with awesome memories!); and Colin and Joseph sang a song.

There was also a Te Mapua ‘Oscar Awards Ceremony’ I could have attended on Thursday night, but arranging transportation would have been too difficult L. Te Mapua will be hosting another camp over New Years so that the at risk children will be out of their homes and in a safe and loving environment when they are most vulnerable, so you can be praying for these children as they hear the message of the gospel and are cared for in a way that some of them will never experience in their own homes.

On Friday morning, Amber and Michael made pancakes for everyone for brekkie (that’s what the Kiwi’s call breakfast). I helped flip. And then everyone cleaned and emptied rooms and as I write, students are moving suitcases downstairs and a few students have already left. Cara’s and my bus leaves at 3:20 this afternoon for Christchurch. I will be staying at the Sudima hotel for the night and then heading for the airport at 4:30am tomorrow morning to catch our flight to Sydney (which leaves at 7:00am). I am so excited to come home!