Matt Short

So it’ll be two weeks since I got here tomorrow and God is good. He has blessed me with a wonderful staff and great friends in this place. Fellowship, community, and hospitality are extremely important in this place which has made things easy for me to adjust to new people, surroundings, and climate.

I’ve joined four other interns who are hoping to staff the backpacker’s DTS with me. They all did their DTS here last year together so I’d be quite the odd man if people weren’t so nice. Along with us doing this internship we’ve all been given roles throughout the base. My job for the next two months will be maintenance of the bikes and regular vehicle checks. I believe they’ll be giving me a few more things to do as well although those are for sure as of right now.

 I have had the opportunity to sit in on a few of the Snowboarder’s DTS lectures and God has been teaching me SO much! Last week a man named Femi came in and spoke on the Holy Spirit and he taught in a completely different angle than I’ve ever heard anyone else teach from. It was good to hear how deep and involved the Holy Spirit truly is involved in our Christian Lives.

Oxford is a wonderful little town that is tucked back near the hills and about a 45min drive to Christchurch. Many of it’s residents have small pastures with sheep, although, who doesn’t on the South island I suppose? The base is in a subdivision so it’s not like we’re completely surrounded by fields but none the less it’s nothing but around the corner you can find all sorts of farm animals. It’s about mid to late winter right now so the snows still around from time to time but not often and the evenings can get pretty cool. Since I’ve been here it’s been the warmest it’s been all winter apparently, so we get to enjoy the suns warmth during the day and big warm blankets at night. Check out my pictures in my photo gallery to view the beautiful scenery around here.

All of your prayers and encouragements are greatly appreciated. Thank you SO MUCH for making this ministry possible.

God Bless, and contact me at anytime if you have any questions.

Well, today I arrived at the Oxford, NZ YWAM base and got settled in. Oxford is absolutely BEAUTIFUL. I feel like I’ve hardly left home seeing how my mental picture of “home” has always been graced by CO’s luming Rockies and well it’s not much different here. The mountains are within hiking distance, the caps of which are glazed with fresh pouder and a cool breeze slips through the small town of Oxford. A breeze that brings the crisp expectancy of fresh snow and is highlighted by the smell of a nearby chimney’s smoke.

The highlight of my flight had to have been when a gentleman approached me in the LA airport to evangelize to me. He asked me, “If you were to die tonight, do you know where you would go?” as he handed me a tract that I knew very well. I had handed out the exact same tracts out on my DTS, so I couldn’t help but chuckle. I was actually in a bit of a run when he stopped me so I quickly stated I was a missionary on my way to New Zealand and that I had passed out that exact same tract. His face lit up as I told him to pray for me, he yelled back, seeing how I had moved a bit past him by this point, “What’s your name?!” So I told him and it wasn’t till later that I should have stopped and prayed for him in his work. I ran back but couldn’t find him, but may that man be blessed to know that I am praying for him.

God has blessed me with many great leaders at this base. Without a doubt, I will learn plenty and grow closer to him. I got to see a couple people from my last visit, Mark Parker, Ben, Ben and Natalie which made my day. It’s made it quite a bit easier to feel at home seeing how I know a few people already. In other words, I’m not constantly stuck with the basic “what’s your name?” ” and where are you from?” conversations that take forever to go anywhere interesting.

I have my own bedroom here on base which is more than I’d expected, it’s rather nice. Being just about a fourth of the size of my room at home it’d be a bit cramped if someone did live in there with me. Tomorrow will be my first full day at the base and it starts bright and early with a morning intern devotional meeting. I have no doubt I’ll sleep GREAT tonight in this cool weather. PRAISE GOD! I’ve gotten maby 4 hours of very uncomfortable sleep in the past 36+ hrs.

 Thank you for your prayers, they mean more to me than you know! May God bless you and be with you in all you do.