Wild Weather

What a wild month it has been! Settling in to life on the road, homeschooling and living in a caravan was always going to have it’s challenges but we never expected flooding and a cyclone to be thrown into the mix. However, our first weeks had very settled weather with several hot sunny days in the Waikato lots of swimming to keep the kids cooled off. 

Cooling off in the pool with the kids after a day at work

We had our first birthday on the road with Thea turning 6 back in January. She had been worried about her caravan birthday for awhile, given that she was away from lots of friends and family, but the team in Pirongia made it a special day for her with decorations, presents and she even got to decorate her own cake.

The birthday girl with her self decorated cake

After Orientation into the MMM Ministry, the first job for Chris began; renovating a half-round barn to be used by young men in growing their workshop skills. Chris had to put his laser level right back into his van after having a look at the concrete slab and heights for his walls there. Although MMM have a high standard of excellence in workmanship, there is a time to just get things straight and make it work, such as an old barn. We couldn’t park close to the job as intended so Chris travelled 45 mins each way to get there from accomodation at Pirongia. Definitely longer commutes than Dunedin had for him.  Chris enjoyed spending good times in prayer each day with the staff at Hope Rising - behind the fantastic work they do is a faith that these people need healing and confidence in their lives, and the ultimate way for that is that they know Jesus and his freedom.

The half round barn being renovated

Some of team of volunteers involved in working on the Hope Rising project

Hope Rising Farm  is a trust that aims to encourage vulnerable youth and women, gives them mentorship, confidence and skills through working with horses and partnering with mentors. It is always encouraging to hear stories from them of how these young people and women, who are often coming from backgrounds where they don’t have the same privileges we do, grow and find hope through their experiences on the farm and mentoring. From a young man who was planning to join the gangs who instead decided to pursue an apprenticeship following his time there to a girl who refused to talk, barely even speaking to her family, who eventually became a chatterbox through the confidence she grew, it was always great to hear their stories.

The girls getting to meet one of the horses at Hope Rising Farm

 There were spectacular views over the Waikato from the top of the farm

After a week and a half on the job it was time to say goodbye and head on to Festival One, a large Christian music festival held annually in the North Island. For MMM it is a chance to have a space to meet new people and introduce them to what MMM is all about. There is lots of good music and this year was no different as the headliner was Switchfoot- one of Chris’ favourite bands! Heading down to festival the rain had already started but we managed to get into the venue towing the caravan. The rain was showing no sign of stopping but we continued on manning the MMM stall for a few hours, meeting new people and challenging them with hitting a nail into a piece of wood for some fun introduction. By the end of the evening we were already having to carefully pick our way back to the caravan to avoid the mud churned grounds and growing puddles. That night the rain was deafening on the caravan roof! (This was about the same time as the Auckland floods occurred). We felt very secure in our nice watertight caravan and felt bad for all the festival goers in their pitched tents. The day broke but the rain didn’t, although it had eased from previous, and by now the main communal areas of the festival was a giant mud pit that teenagers were using as a mudslide. The kids were loving the mud and insisted on bare feet, happily playing in it when the news broke that the festival had to be cancelled. The blow was softened though as they decided to still get Switchfoot up to play before everyone departed. Cue the mosh pit becoming a mud pit! It was a great time, with lots of singing and dancing, although we all needed to get in the shower after to get all the mud off.

The 'Festival One' hill that you could climb and view the whole festival area

Thea enjoying the mud and Chris and Abbey enjoying Switchfoot

The challenge following this was to get out of the farm grounds the festival had been held on… towing a caravan. Luckily there were others who paved the way. There was a lot of breath holding as the first vehicles towing caravans tried to get through the thick sticky mud to the gravel road and eruptions of cheers and clapping as they made it through one by one. A few vehicles needed to be towed by 4WD as they couldn’t make it through themselves- the worst being a camper van that needed a 4WD towing a 4WD to get it out! So our weekend at the festival had ended early and it was back to Pirongia to dry out, wash all the muddied clothes and get ready to hit the road properly for the first time as part of a mobile team. 

Mobile teams with MMM are usually set-up so that there are 2 families travelling together throughout the year to the different jobs around New Zealand. We have the pleasure of partnering with Robyn and Marty McKone, from New Plymouth, for most of this year. We’ve nickmaned ourselves the McMobiles and it has been a joy to get to know them so far- with the same sense of humour I don’t think Chris and Marty have stopped laughing yet! 

The McMobile team!

There were two north Auckland jobs, the first being with the Donalds, a family working for Athletes in Action (Tandem Ministries), renovating their bathroom, and the second just a few day job relevelling pavers to make a functional patio area for the Carrolls, National directors of Student Life.

Athletes in Action is an organisation that ministers to students and athletes. They are involved in coaching and refereeing, being a visible presence and representation of Jesus to students, and in particular athletes, on campus. Student Life is also involved with working with students, to encourage Christian students in their Christian walk and growth and to introduce students who don’t know God to Jesus.

  The Donalds bathroom was not only unfunctional and outdated, but a leak around the old bath meant that when all the linings and flooring were removed a lot of the structural timber had rotted away to nothing. Jobs like this were bread and butter for Chris back in Dunedin so he and Marty took no time in getting stuck in. 

Chris getting stuck into the bathroom renovation

Auckland jobs often have one issue- the ability to park on site, and this was also the case for the Donald’s and Carroll’s jobs. But, as we have been learning time and time again, God will provide, and when he does it’s often above and beyond what we expect. We have been fortunate enough to be hosted by a couple from  the Donald’s church, the Forsyths, on their lifestyle property 20min north (in good traffic) from the job. There has not only been ample room for parking, but a small cottage with a functioning bathroom including proper shower, heaps of room for the kids to spread out with all their toys and lots of space outside to ride around on their bikes in a beautiful location. We have also been spoilt with baking, barista style coffees and good fellowship by this wonderful couple. It was such a blessing to be hosted in such a generous way by people who didn’t know us, but who love what MMM does and want to support the body of Christ.

Our amazing accomodation at Dairy flat

There was even a pond and dingy that Chris got to take the kids for a ride in

The last few weeks have sped by. Once Chris and Marty had got the first part of the bathroom done it was over to the gib stopper and Donald’s to start painting. This and cyclone Gabrielle didn’t slow them down though. In the days of bad weather- rain and high winds, the men were able to continue working on jobs in the Forsyths garage building doors and painting trims. We were lucky enough to not be badly effected by the cyclone where we were- there were a couple of power cuts that lasted most the day, but when you have a caravan and can live off grid most things continued as normal. The property we were on didn’t flood and there was no damage from falling trees (but plenty nearby).

Keeping busy making doors in the garage while the rain came down during cyclone Gabrielle

The weather cleared in perfect timing to be able to do the Carroll’s job while the painting at the Donalds was still happening. This was also an opportunity for the kids that spend a school day each with dad on the job- helping to clean pavers and earn extra screen time (one minute per paver)!

                                          The kids helping to clean pavers on the Carroll's job

Despite the weather we have still been fortunate enough to enjoy some of what the North of Auckland has to offer. The kids loved the beaches on the days when the weather permitted, we found some bike tracks and short walks to waterfalls, caught up with family, played some disc golf and also had a special day trip to MOTAT (Museum Of Transport And Technology) among other things. 

Biking the Orewa estuary trail

                                                        The kids loving the beach in Orewa

Enjoying the interactive displays at MOTAT

Waitangi falls at Omeru Pā scenic reserve

Making flags to fly at the Hamilton Arts Festival using a bike powered sowing machine

The four weeks up in North Auckland have flown by and now we are heading down to South Auckland Manuwera to help a pastor with various work of his house. 

Thank you so much to everyone who is journeying with us, supporting us with words of encouragement, prayer and financially.

Praise points:

• We thank God for Thea with her recent 6 birthday
• Praise God for the first 3 ministries we have been able to serve and bless, and we have had great success in them.
• Praise God that we are slowly getting into the swing of homeschooling
• We thank God for his provision of accomodation and our amazing hosts
• Chris’ injuries seem to be healing, thanks for all prayers!

Prayer points:

• The kids have been struggling to sleep probably due to being in close quarters and the heat. Pray that they will be able to get to sleep easier and sleep well
• Chris’ thermostat - he is constantly ‘overheated’ and wants to acclimatise.
• Pray for Athletes in Action, and Student Life, that their year may be full of joy and impact
• Pray for safety and protection as we travel and live in different locations this year

If you're interested in hearing more about MMM NZ, or supporting Chris and I financially please get in touch with us, we'd love you to share the blessing of what is going on this year!


For more information about MMMNZ (Mobile Mission Maintenence) - see their website at mmm.org.nz