By Angela Mari Opiniano

To Greenhills Christian Fellowship Baptist Church.

Kia Ora from New Zealand! It's been more than a month since I left my home in Canada to follow the call God has placed in my life here at YWAM Zion. I'd like to thank you all for your prayers and partnership. I know that I wouldn't be here if it weren't for God and the church.

The school started about a month ago and it's been an amazing 4 weeks. During the first week both staff and students told their life stories, we were assigned one-on-one's, and we had our first set of lectures which were about the Character and Nature of God. The weeks to follow were filled with teachings that many students never experienced but surely needed. Week 2 was about Hearing the Voice of God and the week after was about the Father Heart of God. Learning how to be in deeper relationship with God as a loving father was definitely needed, especially with the school being 3/4 female and the common testimony within this school being divorced homes, fatherlessness, or abuse. The students who used to think that God was just a distant dictator in the sky got to learn how loved they are by their relational Father in Heaven.

At the end of week 3 we had what we call, Burn Night which is 24 hours of straight worship. During those 24 hours Holy Spirit was definitely moving. People were on the floor crying, feeling God's love and His embrace, and that was only in the first 2 hours! People were getting revelations and being set free from the chains that had been holding them. God did powerful things that day and we're excited to see what He will do when we go up north, about 4 hours away, to a place called Kaitaia and we do it all again for 72 hours this time. I know it's going to be a powerful 3 days.

The First Hour of Burn Night

I mentioned “one-on-one's” before and being assigned to them. One-on-one's are basically students that we mentor and walk alongside during their own walk with Jesus. God definitely believed in me because despite this being my first school, He gave me 2 one-on-one's which is both a challenge I'm up for and something I know I'm going to grow in. I'm mentoring Dana, a 19 year old girl from Alberta Canada, and Cassidy, a 17 year old girl from Kansas City. Both different in personality, but both so beautiful and open to what God wants to do in their lives.

This is what God called me here for: Discipleship. I'm so thankful for the opportunity to do this for the next 2 years of my life. I'd like to personally thank you all for your financial partnership. Every little bit has been so helpful and appreciated. Thank you so much for letting me speak at your church!

As outreach draws closer and closer and with Outreach teams being sent to New Zealand, Fiji, The Philippines, India, or China I get more and more excited to see how God is going to use these wonderful students. Not only that, but I'm excited to see in which country God wants me to lead a team. I hope to keep you updated on where God sends me on outreach but until next time, God Bless!

From Left to Right: Cassidy, Me, Dana