The Beard...


So it started off as a lazy thing...










Then it just kept going....








And going....until people started called me things like a yeti! It did keep me at the centre of attention though - as the accent was starting to wear off! But Amy said that once it was gone - it was gone for life. Mum said she didn't like it and even Grandma (having seen the photo's over email) gave her disapproval.





So I'm currently at the goaty stage and quite enjoying it. Gives me an older edge and something else to keep me at the centre of attention :) How long it will last? Maybe Amy will have a say in that...

September 2005...

September 2005...

The youth work is generally going well and we are seeing many great things that were not here one or two years ago! We took the core group of Sodium young people on a mystery trip to Queenstown and had a blast (see photo)! They loved it, the leaders loved it and only when Jesus returns will we know the true fruit of the camp. Our focus of the camp were the two greatest commandments; Love God, Love Others. Please pray that the young people will continue to ponder over these vital themes and make them a part of their everyday lives! Our church has just completed the 40 Days of Purpose and is now taking on a Purpose Driven Church Strategy. There is a new momentum in the church, yet because of change and changes in personnel, there is also an unease. Our church has Huge potential, as it has brilliant facilities, a good outreach programme and some great people. I’m praying for a move of God that will change our church and the community in only a way that God can! Our group of young adults (R18’s) have decided to start meeting on a weekly basis for more Bible Study. The older teens are starting their own weekly Bible Study and one of the young adults has just started a weekly breakfast prayer meeting. We are starting to work more with other local churches (even if we did loose a game of soccer to them a couple of weeks ago) and becoming a bigger part of the local community. Of course, there are things which aren’t going brilliantly, but we have to trust in God and believe that in our weaknesses He will be our strength!

Youthworking...

Youthworking…

In 2004 I was working full time for Youth For Christ, on an unchurched Youth Club and in a local school. This year I am working part time for Youth For Christ and part time for my local church, Seaview Christian Centre. They have taken me under their wing and made me a part of their family. It’s a church with a big community outreach and has a Trust called ‘Youth Alive Trust’. I lead the Youth Group and Friday night Youth Club (Sodium), as well as help with the R18’s group (young adults) and music ministry (worship leading and playing the keyboard). It is a privilege to speak into the lives of young people, through youth clubs, one-on-one, camps, school, through music and through friendships. It is even more of a privilege to help volunteer leaders to do the same thing and provide an opportunity for them to express their faith and develop their skills too. I am realising more and more that God can do more through me through other people, then he can just through me! (it does make sense – honestly!) I want/need to develop my leadership skills further and pray that the fruits of the spirit will be seen in my work with others – so that more fruit can be planted! The photo is of our amazing young Youth Group leaders. They inspire me!

Football Mad...

Football Mad...

The year I leave England, Hull City get promoted for the first time in years! They build and move into a Super Stadium and then get promoted again! Alleluia! Even Hull FC won the Challenge cup for the first time in decades! Shame I was away and missed it all! I still keep up with the football via Sky Sports (my idea to get it!) and still play for a local club called Nomads! In fact, we did a ‘Hull City’! Last season we won and were promoted from Division 2. This season we won Division 1! (there are still a couple of divisions above us – but still good going – eh!)

Trip to UK with Amy...







Within a week of our relationship becoming official, Amy had decided to join me on my trip back to the UK. We did a round the world trip in less than 28 days! Visiting LA, Disneyland (Photo 1) and Hollywood on the way. Then a 4 day tour of all the key London sights (Photo 2 outside the Houses of Parliament), before heading north to meet/greet the parents & the rest of the family (Photo 3 shows the whole troup)! It was lovely being back at home and allowing Amy into part of my life nobody in NZ had seen before. As expected, she won them over with ease and fitted well into family functions (including my Dad’s retirement party!) It was an amazing world-wind tour of seeing people and places – wish we could have been there for longer. Visited York, Carlisle, Devon, Milton Keynes before heading back to NZ via 2 days in Singapore(Photo 4 in the Botanical Gardens - stunning & very hot)! Loved it! Unsure when I’ll next head home as I bought a one-way ticket to NZ. Hope it’s not too long.

My Love

My Love…

Soppy as it sounds, it was a gradual process that developed from a friendship into something I didn’t want to live without!

Name: Amy Beker!

DOB: 4.3.83

Occupation: Primary School Teacher – teaching 7–9 year olds.

Family: Loves them and still lives at home with Dad (John) and sister (Jen)

Hobbies: Music (plays guitar and sings – leads the school choir)
Sport (plays most sports although competitively plays netball and scored the winning goal for the teachers in a game of soccer recently!) Youth Work (volunteers as a leader at a club James leads. Used to lead the churches Youth Group and mentors teenage girls in her spare time).

Strengths: God centred, confident, strong, caring, gentle, kind, funny, spontaneous.

I’ve often been told that I’m aiming too high and that I’d never find the perfect girl – but having travelled to the other side of the world – I’ve found her! The friendship we developed in my first year in NZ was a brilliant foundation to what we now have. We made our relationship official in February 2005 and I honestly believe she’s the best thing for me! (& I’m the best for her!) This unexpected twist in my NZ life has obviously changed my priorities….yet in God’s hands I leave my future.

NZ Life

NZ Life…

So I flew into this sheep infested country Jan 04 to do a year-out as a Youth Worker with YFC. Living in the capital city of the South Island, Christchurch, I’m now starting to make this rugby loving nation my home. My current work visa and permit expires in January 2007 so there is a lot of life to live before making any long term decisions. A few misconceptions I should clear-up however:

1. We don’t see sheep every 15 seconds


2. The All Blacks are by-far the best rugby team in the world and have been ever since the creation of rugby!


3. Although the English Pound is worth about 2.6 NZ dollars, everything isn’t 2.6 times cheaper! We complain about the price of petrol (although it is half the cost of English petrol), but most commodities are similar priced. Housing and wages are a lot lower then the UK - but I get the best deal possible! (I pay £45 per week for rent, food, power, phone & Sky TV!)

I love my work! Doing a job I enjoyed doing voluntarily is a dream! Sometimes it’s a nightmare too – dealing with hormone raging teenagers – but I realise it’s for a higher purpose and seeing young peoples lives changed for eternity is certainly rewarding. New Zealand is very similar to England in many ways – most of the people here come from England originally anyway! Similar foods, weather, culture, tv! I was quickly made to feel at home and have been living in the same flat since the second month I moved here. It’s a large 5 bedroomed Christian flat that looks after each other as a family! A few people have moved in and out – but it’s home! The picture is of my 4 other flat mates at our Super-Hero Flat Warming Party – Fun! Then, all of a sudden, unexpectedly, something happens that has never happened to me before. I fall in love!