Craig Rayner
Greeting from Aotearoa. (A-O-te-ar-ro-a, New Zealand) The first week of my journey with YWAM is almost completed. I arrived a little later than expected after Mr QANTAS decided that I would be better suited to a rest in the Melbourne Airport Hilton. My flight to Auckland from Melbourne having been cancelled for reasons not able to be communicated to the travelling public. Being that the flight was on a 737, they probably need to take the time to check that the engines were still connected to the wing, and if this was the reason, then I am extremely grateful for the rest in the Hilton.
All this air travel came about after some intervention from the MD. I had been chasing a number of leads with regard to a DTS (entry level training requirement for YWAM,) all of which had come to nothing, with the majority not even bothering to reply. One I had not found on the web was Auckland, New Zealand. The DTS leaders at this base wrote to Graeme (friend in Australia) in response to a letter that he had sent to them some time ago. The response to Graeme was short as the couple were busy preparing for a DTS that was to start within 10 days (of the time Graeme received the email.) So, I looked up the web site, downloaded the application, filled in the form and faxed it to New Zealand (doctors forms, references, photos, etc.) Found a ticket on frequent flyer points to Auckland and waited for acceptance by the DTS. This happened on Tuesday, before the Saturday of the flight. So, pack, and go was the order of the day.
The first week of the school has been a time of orientation and getting to know the other students and staff as we briefly share our stories. As the average age of students, except me, is 19, there is a large difference between me and the others in experiences. It has been interesting to hear these stories, and reflect on how limited the tactics of the opposition is in his attempts to destroy people's lives. Including me, there are 16 (4 men) students and 4 full time school leaders, plus two part time leaders. Participates come from Austria, Germany, Wales, Scotland, Canada, USA, Switzerland, Denmark and Australia. Each week we will have a new lecturer, teaching on their speciality. Something for me to look forward too. In myself, I feel that I am an intruder on their journey. This is not how they have treated me, but how I feel.
How does going to New Zealand to do a YWAM school help with the vision of working with the people of the Silk Road? What a good question,
so glad that you asked. The group that looks likely to take me on board is a YWAM group based in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. To work with this group
I need to have completed the entry course into YWAM. One thing I have noticed is that most MD organisation do not trust another MD
organisation to train people correctly. This thinking really limits MD organisations, as it effectively limits the call on peoples lives to
within the organisation that they have trained in, and is perhaps a reason why so many people drop out of MD organisations, unwilling to start
again should they move or hear a new call to some other destination (organisation.) And then there are stubborn people like me, who grit their
teeth and carry on regardless. I would suggest that this non-acceptance is not something that our leader would embrace and it is also an issue
that I continue to wrestle with, both in the issue itself and my own reaction to it.
The YWAM base is located in Mangere, South Auckland. It is reported to be one of the areas that is to be avoided. Most of the people on the street appear friendly, with a white face such as mine standing out in the predominantly Maori area. For those of you at Crossroads in Hong Kong, many of the locals here know a certain Anthony Wong, and they send their greetings.
I have been able to capture a little of the Auckland sky-line and shots of the participants on the course which I will add to the website photo gallery. I hope that you are all well, living life to the full that only he can provide.
