OKWUeagle.com

New Zealand: A New Perspective

by Desiree Garcia
OKWUeagle.com Contributor

The one thing I hate about traveling to another country—besides packing, long flights, and jet lag—is answering questions upon my return.

“Did you enjoy your trip?” and “What was it like?”—the broad, general questions that would take a whole lifetime to respond.

I understand friends and family have good intentions. Most of them have never had the experiences I have. Still, I wonder how can I answer such questions in five minutes, which is all the explanation they want anyway? How do I convey the change inside of me?

I was thrilled when I found out I had the opportunity to go to New Zealand. God’s hand was definitely in the process. I got my visa within three days, Voice of the Martyrs USA was going to pay for my roundtrip ticket, and I had just graduated from Oklahoma Wesleyan University with no clue as to what I was going to do. This trip was perfect timing indeed.

My assignment was clear. I was going to the VOM office in New Zealand for a year as an intern. I graduated with a Communication Arts degree, so they would use my skills to help out with their monthly newsletter. As my pay, I would receive room and board. A pretty simple exchange.

Within six months (I found out from Dr. Jarmola in October and left in March), I was on my way. My friends and family thought I was doing a good deed, giving my time and energy for a good cause, the persecuted church.

I knew there were going to be lessons in store for me as well. During my prayer time about His will in this commitment, the Lord spoke very clearly to me: “I’m taking you away to isolate you and mold you.”

My first thought was “Why do you have to take me to the ends of the earth to change me? Couldn’t you do it right here?” It is not that I was not grateful, but what lessons would I learn and would they hurt?

One of my missions when I got to Christchurch, New Zealand, was to find a church to attend during my stay. I ended up making Calvary Chapel of Christchurch my church home.

Obviously, I changed through my work for Voice of the Martyrs. Besides dealing with the cultural nuances of the office, it took me quite some time to get used to “Kiwi humor” as it can very biting and sarcastic.

I also had to read through story after story of Christians who had undergone immense suffering. At times, my heart became callous, but most of the time, it bled. How could I not be sad when I read of girls in Pakistan and Egypt who were abducted and married to Muslim men against their will? Or the story of an Indonesian mother who lost not only her legs but also her children because of Muslim bombers? A young tribal boy who was strangled to death in Chiapas, Mexico?

There was one story in particular that shook me so intensely that I questioned everything I believed in. While I was looking for news for the World News section of the next month’s newsletter, I stumbled upon a story from one of our most trusted sources, Chinaid. A Chinese human rights lawyer and Christian, Gao Zhensheng, had been missing for a few days because of a letter he wrote to the U.S. describing his treatment during a previous abduction.

After reading his letter I sat stunned for what seemed a lifetime and then later cried in the arms of my friend. I could not believe how inhumane men could be to each other. I could not fathom how God could allow this to happen. In the end, all I could do was trust in His sovereignty and strengthen my resolve to help the helpless, especially those persecuted for their faith.

Over the past year, I have had amazing experiences and made some great friends. I have visited places so beautiful it is hard to believe they really exist. I have snowboarded on Mount Hutt on the South Island, zorbed in Rotorua in the North Island, driven on the left side of the road without crashing, and seen the famous All Blacks rugby team play.

I also have a completely new cultural mindset. I say “heaps” instead of “a lot.” I love “fish ‘n’ chips” and “hokey pokey” ice cream. I am more passionate than ever about global issues and being “green.” I have tried to remember to stop and talk to people because you never know what treasures they may share. Being away from home has given me an opportunity to break out of the mold people at home have placed me in.

But more than that, something deeper than culture has changed too.

I have realized that sometimes God has to take us away from our comfort zone into a new environment to teach us a lesson. I believe He gives amazing opportunities to us, and they are there to mold and shape us into His image as well.