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What are you going to pursue this year?
A couple of weeks ago 3 children of the college staff and students competed in a triathlon. They trained hard and completed the swim, run and cycle race. Each child who finished was given a medal for persevering and finishing the race. They were pursuing that medal that was waiting for them at the finish line.
Paul, in his letters to Timothy, gives him some good advice about what he should be pursuing. Paul says:
" Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness" (1 Timothy 6: 11). Then in 2 Timothy 2:22 he again encourages Timothy to pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace.
As we start into a new year at College with many challenges, aspirations and ambitions we hope that we, as a community, can take on Paul's desire and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, peace, endurance and gentleness. We hope that we can learn how to live out these qualities while seeking to appreciate different cultures and ideas. And, to think about how to encourage others to do the same as we learn about sharing God's love in the world.
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Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young.
But set an example in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.
2 Timothy 4: 12
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Welcome to new staff-
Nitika Ennion,
our Caterer
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My name is Nitika, a born and bred Southlander of Kiwi and Cook Island descent. For the past couple of years, my husband Jim, our 5 kids and I have lived on the border of Thailand and Myanmar. I helped establish an Early Childhood Development programme for Migrant families by training Migrant women to teach. I will continue to return to Thailand now and then to upskill the teachers. Jim and I have a great passion for the displaced and those with no place to call home. Jim lives out this passion in his work in an Immigration Advisory firm. I am excited to begin a new role as the Catering Manager at Eastwest College, and look forward to journeying with students as they prepare to serve Christ internationally.
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Mike Higson-
Assistant Property Manager
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Mike writes- I ran my own landscaping business for 5 years then managed teams and projects in the Parks and Reserves industry for 15 years before coming to Eastwest College to train for the mission field. I am married to Linda and we have 3 children: Jesse, 19, lives at home: Libby, 29, lives in Melbourne Australia and Carmyl, 35, is married and has a 7 month-old girl. So we are first time grandparents. Linda and I were both born in NZ and raised our children in Orewa, Auckland. God led us to work with Betel Ministries in the UK, planting churches amongst drug addicts and the homeless for 5 years. We both have a passion for the broken and for other cultures- to come alongside them, to show them the love of Jesus. I am on staff at Eastwest College and Linda is on staff at WEC.
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Over the summer the college has been a busy place.
During the month of January there was a TESOL course running, training people to be English teachers.
The first two weeks of February saw a Masters cohort studying through Redcliffe college in the UK, doing a two week block course in Leadership and Member care.
If you are interested in finding out more about this course contact info@eastwest.ac.nz
Work has started on the new accommodation building.
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January 18-22 found the campus coming alive with over 40 young people aged between 14 and 24 having fun together, telling stories and learning how to thrive as TCKs. The theme of the camp was, “The Amazing Race”. The dining room was buzzing with a myriad of accents and experiences.
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TCKs (Third Culture Kids) are those who have spent significant time during their developmental years in a culture other than that of their parents. They are also known as Global Nomads, people who have moved often and call many places home but cannot answer simply the question, "Where are you from?"
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Here, however, at the camp, they found others they could relate to and identify with, comparing favourite airline food and airports, border crossings and languages.
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We had sessions on how to handle transition, making the most of your strengths and the challenges associated with being a TCK, as well as more practical things like ‘what is NCEA?’. The team competitions included pavlova baking and making a tuktuk (rickshaw) which they raced round the college.
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There was a trip to Raglan beach, complete with fish and chips, and lots of time just to play table tennis and chat. Telling stories around the camp fire of snakes, monkeys and a particularly gruesome one of a goat hanging off the roof of a bus, was a favourite time for everyone.
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If you are a TCK or know a TCK who would like to attend the camp next year, contact the office here at the college at info@eastwest.ac.nz. We would love to have as many TCKs (those beginning year 10 and older) come to the camp as possible.
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Update on some of our Graduates:
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Jonny and Glenys Watson, with Katie, Alana, Danielle and Lucy who are serving with Mission Aviation Fellowship in Papua New Guinea
14 December saw us fly to our new home in Goroka, in the Eastern Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea. It's taken us a bit of time to feel settled here, but this is becoming home as we develop routines, discover the shops, start school, make friends and get to know our MAF colleagues.
I (Glenys) finished my flight training on the Twin Otter in early February which now means I'm able to start operational flying. My first two days included flying pastors, health workers, students, trade store goods, coffee, and peanuts to and from six different bush villages within the Eastern Highlands and Chimbu Provinces - all which are only accessible by air.
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Todd Miller
In January 2017 we celebrated the arrival of the Miller family, Todd, Jenn, Kierra, Brynn & Micah. Todd and Jenn came with a wealth of experience from 20 years in Central Asia and a desire to pass on that experience to others. This summer, just a year and a day after their arrival, Todd had a cardiac arrest while out running in Ngāruawahia with Jenn, and suddenly passed away. It has come as a great shock to the Miller family and to the whole community.
While we grieve his passing, and the pain of this loss, we are deeply comforted by the fact that, for Todd, his race is completed and he has won the prize - he is in the presence of the Saviour he has followed throughout his life. For us, he has joined the great cloud of witnesses who encourage us to persevere with our own race and we are privileged that Jenn and the family have chosen to continue their race here in New Zealand. Please pray for them as they adjust to life without Todd.
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Please pray for new students who have arrived and started on February 19th.
Be in prayer for the Miller family as they adjust to all the changes they face.
We are thankful for our new caterer, please pray for Nitika as she settles into her new role and juggles work and family.
We are thankful for Mike Higson joining our team. Pray for him as he adjusts to his new role.
Be in prayer for our graduates as they move on and seek ways of using the training they have received here in sharing God's story across cultures.
We continue to be so thankful to God for his blessing and provision.
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Do you feel inspired to look further into doing cross cultural training at Eastwest?
Do you know someone who would like to work across cultures and would benefit from training?
We would love to hear from you. Have a look at our website, send an email or come and visit.
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21 College Drive, Gordonton,
Taupiri 3791, New Zealand
- 0800-89 64 77
- +64-7-824-3417
eastwest.ac.nz
info@eastwest.ac.nz
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