Sunday, March 20, 2011

We Have Returned From Our Gates of Glory Over New Zealand Tour!


Click the tab above to read the history of a prophet of God that prompted our New Zealand Tour among the Maori people.  January, 2011,was primarily dedicated to a prayer walk retracing the prophet Ratana's steps and digging up old wells of spiritual encounters and healings in many of the Maraes (Maori communities) in both North and South Islands of New Zealand.  The Maori people as a whole are a very spiritually sensitive culture by nature.  We expect to see many Maori raised up for revival in their land and ultimately sent forth to other nations as well. 

A special thanks to C. and R. Brown for hosting us in their home between travels.  We certainly never went hunger with your magnificent meals.  Your service to us was much appreciated...more than you know.  May the Lord awesomely bless you in the days and years to come!!  And, thanks to Hanehau, our Maori host, for allowing us to participate with you in the Maori Prayer Tour...being a gate of entry for us.  Thanks to the Charington's, for the use of your car...a certain God-sent...though on the left side!  Also, thanks, Mary, for the clothes...since the airlines did not ship my baggage for weeks.  We loved the blessing and sharing in your vibrant home church!  David and Marianne, thank you for all your prophetic encouragement and sensitive awareness.  Richard and Ellie, thanks for the pleasure and opportunity to minister with you in your home church the seer supernatural!  And to the Boyles, thank you for sharing your heart for the nations...blessings as you travel! 

Thank you Pastors Janet and Chris from Queenstown!  What a great movie screen to show off New Zealand's best!!  Thanks again for your hospitality during our stay there.  Many blessings upon your ministry among the students and your church!!  Thanks to Pastor Scott Nicholson at Coolstore New Life Church for the opportunity to share in the ministry of the prophetic and healing.  Thank you Trish for your hospitality...providing clothes, also, in my time of need.  We loved ministering with you in your home church...what a great time, hey!  

To the folks at the Healing Center, thank you soooo much for your generous donation that helped us in gas expenses to make the Maori Prayer Tour happen.  We, also, appreciate the opportunity to minister healing and the prophetic with you there.  Thank you Carolyn for your financial gift from your ministry group in Tauranga...blessings as you lead others to freedom in the Kingdom.  We loved both opportunities to minister among your friends bringing a bit of the Kingdom of God.  Thanks to you, Mary in Rotorua, for your gracious hospitality in your new home! 

Thank you, Rebecca B. and Vaughn, for sharing your fellowship groups and families with us.  We can truly say we have experienced "Church" in many ways and many different formats.  Yeah, God...for His diversity yet unity of fellowship!! 

Kaye and Mandy, it was a delight to meet you and fellowship again at Ian's table.  Many more
blessing and remarkable adventures with Him!

Many thanks to you, Ian and Joye Johnson!!  What a pleasure to stay with you on those occasions for rest and fellowship.  Joye...what a cook you are...and your entertaining hospitality!!  Thanks for the clothes you sent with us and the scarfs.  It is winter here now...and I, Luella, use  my scarf daily!!  Ian you an awesome Prophet of the Most High God...Israel loves you because you love her!  She is blessed to have you in her space of the Kingdom.   Happy travels in the spirit and in the natural with Him...seeing, stirring and creating His pleasure!  Glory be to His Name Forever and Forever!!  Yes, and Amen!!!

  

Sunday, March 13, 2011

"We're Leav'n On a Jet Plane...."

Thursday morning we arrived at the Auckland Airport.  Ian and Joye were such a help at the airport not to mention good fellowship.  They stayed with us until we had to go through security.  No problems with security, customs or luggage the whole way.  It was just one longgggggggggggggggg trip--fly, land, wait, repeat three times.  Roberta's parents met us at the Redding Airport and took us home.  We both really struggled with "jet lag" for a few days.  All OK now.
What a trip!  We traveled over 7,000 kilometers in January and early February (weekend) in a station wagon with four women and luggage around the whole of New Zealand...south and north islands, praying at over 40 Maraes and churches.  February was just as busy only in different ways!!  It is a miracle! 
Thanks to every one in the USA and New Zealand that made this assignment possible...the call to intercede over a nation and it's indigenous people, the Maori.  We expect to see the manifestation of all the diverse prayers made over this nation by the many "no-name" obedient believers God has assigned over the years. 

We thank our awesome and gracious God for the privilege to participate in His work!!! 



Bus to Auckland before Leaving New Zealand

Charlie, thanks for the ride to the Tauranga bus stop early Tuesday morning.  Once on board with all our luggage stored, what a pleasant ride...that driver could really make that bus move.  We switched buses in Hamilton and proceeded to Bombay, a small town south of Auckland.  Ian picked us up and our luggage was stacked in the "boot" and back seat.  Joye Johnson had prepared a beautiful Greek supper for us that evening.  We chatted some and napped a bit.  Later in the afternoon, I got up and found a coin on the floor.  I had the thought to put it on the trim of the door to the kitchen...it stuck!  Still there when I left!!  A sign and a wonder!!!


Wednesday we joined Ian and Joye on errands in town.  We shopped and found another sports bag to carry our stuff and to even out  the weight in the suitcases.  Got home and found an Israeli coin on my window sill.  Put it on another door trim near the stairwell  to their rooms.  It stuck!!  Showed Ian and he gave me another larger coin from Israel.  It only stuck for about 10 seconds at a time before falling.  We prayed over the door area.  This time it stuck.  I believe these are signs and wonders.  That evening Joye put on another amazing spread for dinner; she loves cooking.  Kaye and Mandy drove down from the northside of Auckland, about an hour's drive, because they wanted to come and honor us before we left.  Wow...how special is that!


Ian had another guest and we all sat around the table sharing testimonies and other stories.  I noticed Ian's coin fell down...so I got up to put it on the wall trim again.  It stayed until after we left.  The other two coins continue to stay up.  Now that's not something to think about.

Saying Goodbyes in Te Puke

Monday, Roberta and Lue took Hinehau and Kimberly out to our last lunch together in New Zealand.  We did a little last minute shopping together...looking for New Zealand maps for all of us.  Hinehau and Kimberly had to leave to go minister to a lady with a tumor who lived out of town...they would be spending the night there.


Kimberly was not going to return with us as she had decided to extend her stay another three weeks....


Early Monday evening saw us returning Mary's car, visiting with Irene and praying for her and her son, meeting up with Merecia and saying our good-byes to the wonderful people that we had meet.  Packing filled the balance of the evening.

Another Great "Home Church" Meeting

Sunday morning we met with Richard and Jan to chat about the angelic.  It turned out to be their group meeting and I was speaking...wow!  Well, we shared our experiences, had lunch around 2 p.m. and ministry needs where casually made known over lunch.  So we ministered (healing and prophetic deliverance) and prophetic activation all afternoon...until everyone got what they came for.  God is so gracious...they encouraged and prayed for us, too.  Jan did not plan for dinner...I looked at the table we ate lunch from and I could not believe there was still plenty of chicken and other food left.  It crossed my mind that the same food multiplied for our dinner feed.  Another sign and wonder was the manifestation of coins sticking to the door jam.  We had a great time...needless to say!  We confirmed and encouraged Richard and Jan that their home church focused upon the exploration of the supernatural.  That's his ministry.  Didn't get home until about 9:30 p.m. Sunday night

The Te Puke Well

Saturday afternoon we joined Mary, David B., and Marianne with Hinehau in downtown Te Puke to pray over a well they found.  Our prayer was to "Let living waters spring up again in Te Puke...."  Across the street was a Marae looking archway which was dedicated to 8 nations coming together in the town.  Hinehau joined with me to pray for the Kingdom of God to manifest in this town actualizing His unity among the believers.  Hinehau left after that.  And, the rest of us drove to Makatu (sp.) and prayed over the area where a waka landed (large canoe-like boat) related, I believe, to some of Hinehau's family.  We had "cuppa" near a beach in a small cafe.  Had a good encouraging talk with them...precious people!  I see their home church as a healing, encouraging and a prophetic launching group.  I saw their apostolic functioning Friday night as: encouraging, healing and equipping people, launching them by helping them get where they are suppose to be...praying and prophetic intercession.  I saw their purpose as a launching group releasing and blessing people to be free to walk into their destiny however that looks for them:  starting a new group, joining another group, traveling, assignment(s), or whatever form their journey takes.  
   
Saturday evening we went for dinner at Dale and Donna's home.  Had a delightful meal and chat until 12 a.m.  We encouraged them to pursue their desire for prophetic intercession and travel to areas as lead by the Holy Spirit to perform prophetic acts preparing the way for others.  They already had been to Germany last year, I believe.  

Rebecca's Birthday Celebration!

Friday night, we enjoyed Rebecca's marvelous and exciting birthday dinner at "Hot on the Rocks" in Tauranga.  The food and fun were "way over the top."  We went with Rebecca's favorite, Scotch fillet...pronounced fill-it in Kiwi.   It was memorably delicious...cooking your own steak on your own sizzling hot ceramic rock!  After dinner, we did a little site seeing...Charlie's business had just set up humongous bleachers (raised seats) stretching along the beach in Tauranga for a special citywide event.  Quite impressive!!!  That's just one thing our Charlie does!  Thanks, again, Charlie and Rebecca!


Afterward, we slipped over to the Friday night gathering at David and Mary's.  We had a great time at David and Mary's along with David B., Marianne, Lois, and many others.  God arranged a gathering of people many of whom we had met and ministered to in other non-associated groups/churches.  What a surprise.  Well, that lasted until 2 a.m....wonderful worship, ministry, destiny words, and activation.

Maria's Home

Thursday morning we drove into Tauranga so Roberta could get a tooth filled at the dentist.  Upon returning to the car, we met a youth pastor we had met at one of the previous group meetings.  Another divine encounter.  We prayed for him and encouraged him in his work.  Afterward, we shopped a little before heading back to Te Puke to Maria's home to pray for her husband, Phil, who was fighting a serious cancer.  There was a group meeting in their home already.  They were worshiping and praying.  It was a group that Kimberly and her friend, Vaughn had been meeting with.  Roberta and Lue also visited this home church group earlier in the month.  This precious group focuses upon the Christian's idenity..."Christ in you..."


Lue's driving was getting pretty good!  And, Roberta's navigation was gettng even better!

Cool Store Church Pastor's Conference with Ian Johnson

Tuesday, February 22, we all attended the pastor's conference with Ian Johnson located in Tauranga's Cool Store Church.  Ian has pastored for many years and is now itenerating.  He is a seasoned Kiwi prophet who also has a heart for Israel and is taking a tour group there this very month, March.  He had a great word about different fears (fear of man, fear of failure, fear of being deceived, etc.) we have that impede the church from growing in God...  He ministered to everyone and stayed as long as they stayed.

Later, we joined Ian and Joye for a "cuppa" at McDonald's until our ride arrived. While drinking our coffee and visiting, pictures on his laptop began to slowly trickle in over the internet about the damage in Christchurch from the  earthquake.  For the balance of the evening, we were glued to the news reports on what was happening and praying for the safety of people in that area.

Days of Driving in Te Puke

Monday, February 21st...First things first...let's go shopping!  We, that would be Roberta and Lue, did indeed!!  With our four eyes...we did not skip a beat...it was think left out loud!!  And, always look right and indicate...in round about intersections.  We had a good driving teacher, Rebecca!  Thanks Rebecca!!

Mary Loaned Us a Car...Hurrah!

(This news is 2 weeks old, sorry.)  We traveled to Rotorua for the weekend of Feb. 19-20th  for a ride on "TheLuge."  We stayed with Mary, a school teacher, and precious woman of God.  She is a bilingual teacher speaking Moari and English.  We visited her classroom and prayed for her students as pictured on the walls.  What great hospitality! 

Saturday three of us rode the gondola and the Luge while Roberta basked in the mineral springs spa.  It was a weekend of R&R.   On Sunday afternoon, Roberta and Lue were invited to a "tea" (lunch) with some friends in a quaint park type cabin around the rim of the lake crater in Rotorua.  We had a wonderful time of fellowship.

We all arrived back in Te Puke that night.  Then to our surprise, we got a call on Monday from Mary of Te Puke who offered to loan us her car for the rest of our stay in the area.  Yeah!!  By the way, gas is not cheap here...over $2.00/liter...approximately $8/gal.  Now the adventure really took a twist...learning to drive on the left side of the road!  Roberta agreed to navigate and Lue drove...because navigation was not her strength.  What a blessing!!!   Well, you're probably wondering what happened to Kimberly...she is in the good hands of a young Kiwi male she met...need we say more.  We lost our blog scribe.  And, Hinehau has been back at her job driving a school bus.  Her vacation ended early February.