As I sit here on a Sunday morning, I've been in New Zealand for ten days.  I have to be honest, though, and tell you that I feel like I've been here much longer than that.  I have tried to be positive but I never realized how difficult it would be to make this adjustment especially without Lori and the kids.  I also didn't want people to worry about me here but I want to be honest about how I am feeling.  I had a rough day yesterday as I thought about the school that I am at which is very stressful.  I have been told that this school is nothing like a regular school in New Zealand as the students here are basically allowed to do whatever they want.  I have already been cussed at several times and whenever I ask them to do things they say "nah" and don't do it.  They simply sit around playing on their phones which the teachers are not allowed to take up.  The administration won't help and says that we teachers need "to get them more engaged".  I feel like I have walked straight into a very toxic situation.  Several other teachers have already quit.  I know I have only been there a week but it is easily the worst school I have ever been in.  Since my visa is dependent on this job, if I were to quit, I would have to come home unless I had another job.
   Then, to add to this, I think I am getting homesick, not so much for my home but my family.  Lori and the kids still do not have their visas yet but the paperwork is being sent in today or Monday.  I guess I never realized how much I depend on them for emotional support and comfort.  I have been talking with them through text messages and Skype whenever I can but it's still not the same.
     I will be visiting the church this morning and I think that will help me.  However, the church is 90 minutes away and I have not been able to find a house closer yet.  Perhaps once I am closer to the church I can be more active in it. After all, that is why we wanted to be here.
     I'm sorry to have such a negative post on here but I have really struggled with this much more than I expected.  I'm not sure what God has planned for me and us here but I hope He will show me something soon to give me more hope.  I don't want to let anybody down and I want to do God's will but I think Satan is attacking me with nearly everything he can right now using isolation, stress, and discomfort all to the extremes for me.  I appreciate your prayers for both me and Lori and the kids.  I love all of you who have supported us in this through finances and prayer.

God bless,

Steven

       Well I have survived my first week in New Zealand!  Most of my experience so far has been very good from the people to the views.  My job here is a bit of a mess and not much fun so far but I have faith that God will give me the strength and patience to make it through this and impact lives in some positive way for Him!  I have enjoyed learning some of the differences between Americans and Kiwis such as "biscuits" are what we call cookies and tea time is very important here.  Most of the houses here in NZ are not insulated and do not have ventilation systems to heat or cool the house.  People leave windows open nearly year round here in the north and use fireplaces or heat pumps (an electric heater mounted in the wall) to heat their homes.  Many people often go barefoot all day long and businesses do not require you to wear shoes.  As a matter of fact, some have signs asking you to remove your shoes before entering if they are dirty!
       The hardest part of my journey so far has been leaving Lori and the kids behind at the Nashville airport.  I felt very sick to my stomach for a couple of hours after that which did not make my flight to LA very fun.  Anyway, I am hoping that they will be here soon to share in this experience with me as we try to do work for the glory of God!  On that note, I have seen a rainbow every day since arriving!  Each time I see one it makes me think of God's promises to us including that He is always with us wherever we are.

May 22, 2015

So here I sit in Totara North, New Zealand, wondering what will happen next.  I have had a lot of firsts in the last three days or so: first time to New Zealand, first time out of the United States, first time in California, first time to drive on the opposite side of the road.  It has already been quite an adventure and I have only been in New Zealand about 36 hours!  Yesterday, Neville Bartle, the New Zealand District Superintendent picked my up at the Auckland airport at 7:00 am and took me to his house for some coffee and breakfast.  A few hours later I was with him at a church in West Auckland helping to clean it up.  Then it was back to his house for lunch before boarding a bus to Whangarei.  There I was met by Alison and Donna, the co-pastors of our Whangarei church.  They could not be any nicer and helpful to me.  From having a hot meal and warm bed for me last night to driving me to Kaeo today to the school where I begin teaching on Monday.  It has been a whirlwind of things in the last 72 hours but tomorrow should be a little slower which I am looking forward to.

Lori and the kids are still in Tennessee and I am very lonely without them.  I cannot wait for them to join me here in NZ so we can go through this together instead of apart as we are now.  I am very thankful for the internet and cell phones which allow us to stay in close contact with each other but it is still not the same as being physically together.

I will leave you with a few pictures.  The first three are from my bus ride from Auckland to Whangarei.  The last two are from the house I am staying in until I find a place for us to live.

Steve

My paperwork is finally done and my visa has been approved!  Lori and the kids have been going through the passport application process and, then, their visas will be next.  I leave for New Zealand in about 10 days and this is all becoming very real!  As we continue to prepare for our move one of our inspirations in this, Alison Weinstock, is preparing a move as well.  Alison is also an American living in New Zealand as she answered God's call on her life.  However, she is preparing to move back to the United States just shortly after we arrive in New Zealand.  I wish her the best of luck on her transition back home and understand when she says she feels like she is living in two worlds at once.

We still have many things to do here as we try to get ourselves and our house ready.  It seems overwhelming at times but I know that God does not call us based on our abilities.  He calls us based on our hearts and then gives us the resources and abilities required.  I have tried to read as much as I can about New Zealand and I am very excited about seeing the Land of the Long White Cloud in all of it's beauty.  However, there are some things here that I will miss like our families, the garden I have worked in of the last five years, traveling to the Smoky Mountains each fall, and our backyard where we like to relax (and where we had turkeys this morning before church).  But God has greater plans for us as we join with the Nazarenes and Christians in New Zealand to spread the gospel!

So it has finally happened!  I got a job and will be teaching at Whangaroa College (a high school) in Kaeo, New Zealand.  For the past few weeks I have been working on my passport application, the visa application, trying to wrap up things at school here in Tennessee and watching the list of things to do grow.  However, we have waited so long for this opportunity I am not going to complain.  It's just that it feels like it is moving so fast now after having waited so long!  I have had to push my flight date back a week or so due to my passport taking so long but that will give me more time at home to finish some work here before I leave.  I am thankful to God that He has this all worked out all ready...I just need to follow his lead.  Please pray for us as we continue to prepare for this wonderful opportunity to serve God in New Zealand!