Ruthie's Ramblings...

Whew! I know it's been awhile since I've posted on here... but it's been a hectic week, and it's only Tuesday! I am SO thankful that God takes care of us. Monday was really a tough day for me in the classroom, but after much prayer on the elliptical machine yesterday, today went much more smoothly. Thanks Jesus. I'm starting to get used to the pace of my first grade friends, and that's helping A LOT. I'm really excited about the fact that I can teach in a school where I can talk about God. I'm really trying to make the best of it, and show them Jesus as much as I can. Today we during our devotion time we drew something that we were VERY afraid of on our white boards. I read them 1st John 4:18, and we talked about how Jesus loves us with a perfect love and what it means for fear to be cast out. We declared to our boards that "We have a perfect love and are not afraid!" Then we erased those fears as fast as you could blink! Watching over my kids shoulders I saw some of what they were afraid of... frogs, the dark, monsters under the bed.... and it got me thinking. At first I wanted to be able to tell them that those were fears that would soon go away, and that as they grew older "real" fears would follow... fears about jobs, money, sickness, love, etc. But then again... is my fear as a 25 year old greater than the fear of a 5 year old? Not to Jesus. His love is perfect enough for all of them.

I have a HUGE prayer request... some of my VERY dear friends... Joe and Amy Flammer are on a church planting team in New Zealand. They are in the midst of survey work and heading God's leading as they search which city to plant the church in as they minister to the people of New Zealand. They are in the midst of a 24 hour prayer vigil, but your prayers are coveted past these 24 hours. Please click HERE for more information about God's work through them in New Zealand. As someone who spent a year as a missionary abroad, I'm asking you to take the time to pray for this. God does not call all of us overseas, but He does call all of us to support overseas missionaries. Joe was the youth minister at my home church (South Fork Church of Christ) and his wife Amy was a vital part of the youth ministry as a youth sponsor. I was a youth sponsor with them as well as part of the small group that met Tuesday nights in their home. They are incredible people who love Jesus with every part of their hearts... so please lift them up as they serve in New Zealand. Here is some information for you to use while you pray...

Pray for New Zealand
My righteousness is on the run, my salvation right on time, even faraway islands will look to
me and take hope in my saving power.
-Isaiah 51:5
Since the 1950’s Christianity in New Zealand has been rapidly declining. As
Christianity has been declining, New Zealand has seem more crime, more broken
families, more abuse, and become a more desolate place. Please join us as we
pray for the redemption of this country.
Leaders: The Prime Minister of New Zealand is a professed Agnostic. As the
leader of the country, her values set the tone for much of what happens in New
Zealand. Please pray for the leadership and for the Prime Minister, Helen Clark
as New Zealand tries to follow her lead.
Families: The status of the family is in rapid decline. The number of solo (single)
parent homes and defacto relationships outnumber what we would call the traditional
family. The lack of healthy families is having a huge impact on both youth
and adults. Please pray for the state of the family in New Zealand. Pray that our
team can help show the Kiwis what Godly families and marriages look like.
Depression: The depression and suicide rates in New Zealand rank among the
highest of any country in the world. People have lost hope. It has been a few
generations since most families were pursuing a relationship with God. We believe
that disregarding faith has left a huge hole in many lives, giving them nothing
to fall back on. Please pray for people to find hope in life. Pray that our team
can help to offer hope to the many people who are suffering from depression.
Pray for each city
For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching but having itching ears
they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions and will turn away
from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.
-2 Timothy 4:3-4
We will be visiting two cities on this trip: Christchurch and Wellington. Each city
has a distinct culture. Each city has around 10% of the people attending church
on a regular basis.
Christchurch: Christchurch was founded on Christian principals, and even
named for such. In the many years since the city was founded the people have
turned their back on God. Please pray for the hearts of the people of Christchurch
to be open to hearing the Gospel.
Wellington: Wellington is a city that feels alive. People are friendly and enjoy
interacting with others. Pray that we might have interactions with people in this
city that will help lead us to identify more needs. Please pray that our interactions
will plant seeds in the lives of those we are around.
Pray for the people of New Zealand
In their case, the god of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers to keep them from
seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of God.
-2 Corinthians 4:4
One of the unique parts of survey work is getting to meet so many people and
learning about the people of New Zealand through interacting with them in daily
life.
1

City Profiles
Christchurch
Making up the second largest
city in New Zealand, Christchurch
is home to over 400,000
people. Christchurch is a very
English city located in the middle
of the south island. A big
influence in Christchurch are
the social classes that tend to
divide the people into distinct
social circles, leaving many people
to be marginalized if they do
not fit in to the ‘in’ crowd.
Christchurch is also home to the
Wizard of Canterbury, a mascot
that says very little but has a
definite presence in Christchurch
as a being of power and
influence. Many people in
Christchurch see Christianity as
an obsolete tradition.
Wellington
Being the Nation’s Capital, Wellington
is home to almost
200,000 people, many from
around the world. Wellington is
a geographically segmented city
located at the very southern part
of the north island. Wellington
has a vibe to it that gives the
city a sense of life and excitement.
You will find many well
educated people here who are
interested in exploring spirituality.
The also tend to be very
knowledgeable about different
religions and spiritual practices.
West Auckland
Making up the most diverse
area of Auckland, West Auckland,
or the Waitakere region, is
home to almost 200,000 people.
This is a growing area with
much diversity. A large percentage
of Pacific peoples make
up the population. In West
Auckland you will find a variety
of cultures, ethnicities, and
socio-economic classes. The
ethnic diversity is reflected in,
the religious community which
is composed of many small
house churches that each have a
different flavor and culture.
the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective
james 5:16
prayer guide for New Zealand church plant team

Street Interviews: One way to get an earful of information about the church is through conducting
random street interviews. Please pray for the people that we encounter. Ask God to
cross our paths with the right people and people who are willing to share information about
their faith, the community, and their life. We also pray that we might be a light or plant a seed
through these conversations. Will you do the same?
Kiwis: The people in New Zealand are searching. Life is hard and they are looking for answers,
if the church isn’t there for them, they will find something else. Please pray for a softening of
the hearts of Kiwis. Please pray for more Kiwis who are searching to turn towards God and not
the many other religions/spiritualities that are so prominent in New Zealand.

Pray for our survey work
Therefore, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord, your
labor is not in vain.
-1 Corinthians 15:58
Plans: We have learned that it doesn’t matter what we plan for our trips, God will find a way to
lead us to see what he wants us to! Please pray that we are flexible with our plans, leaving room
for the guidance of the Spirit. Also, please pray for the plans that we have to meet with principals,
ministers, community experts, and other events to help us learn about the city. Please pray
that these things go well and serve their purpose to give us a better understanding of the needs
in each area.
Perseverance: We will be traveling for eight days. These trips tend to be very high energy, information
packed, with many meetings, less sleep and fast food! Please pray for patience and
perseverance as we do our best to work together, process information, and keep going as our
time is limited. Please pray for perseverance in our street interviews as well (see Pray for the people
of New Zealand.)
Pray for the team (Hamish, Molly & Liam, Nate, Whitney & Lane, and Joe & Amy)
But wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good , impartial
and sincere.
-James 3:17
We have been blessed with an amazing team with six different personalities, gift sets, and passions.
We are thankful for each member and what they have to offer. Thank God for the blessing
of our team as well as praying for the following:
Families: This is the first survey trips for the new babies and new parents. Please pray for
health and safety, an ease in the constant transition that will take away from regular routines,
good nights of sleep and extra energy for the new parents.
Unity: We will be visiting churches, talking to people on the streets, praying, interviewing
community experts, and immersing ourselves into each community. Please pray that we will see,
hear and learn the same things about each community that will help us all to come away with
the same thoughts and feelings.
Wisdom: There are so many things to choose from to help us learn about each community. We
will also be learning a lot of information and looking for specific areas in each city that need a
church. Please pray that we will have wisdom in our choices, decisions, and discussions regarding
each area.

Thank you for partnering with us through your prayers. We are excited to let you know how we
saw God work during this time.
prayer guide for New Zealand church plant team