Momentum (noun): the force that keeps an object moving or keeps an event developing after it has started.

Lately the word ‘momentum’ felt like a good fit for how life has been to us. Let me share more.

When I first began the Mobiliser role, I knew there was going to be a learning curve. Returning from cross-cultural mission last year from a simpler mindset to a westernised society, where people engage intelligently and philosophically, required a decent amount of time to adjust back to. You might find it interesting to know that, back in Asia, it was mostly ‘being’ and ‘doing’ with a lot less thinking. Here in New Zealand, it is a lot of ‘thinking’ and ‘doing’ but feels like a lot less ‘being’. Something to mull over for myself. Work and life is so efficient and abundant here, you have to slow down and take a break. But abroad, resources are limited and decisions take a long time. You are forced to move at a slower pace. Both have their benefits and drawbacks I suppose.

The good news is that after nine months in the job, I feel much more at ease and connected. The staff team are really supportive and we come together twice a week to pray and update each other.

MomentumYes:

 June

I continued to meet with enquirers. Two medical students seemed really promising for a placement in Africa but, after careful consideration, they decided it wasn’t the right time. Still in progress is a doctor with a background in infectious diseases thinking about serving with us.

And then all of a sudden, my colleague DaNae and I began facilitating a six-session mission course called MomentumYes. We run it online weekly, and everyone on the course is enjoying it so much! We recommend this free resource to anyone wanting to learn about the basis of mission and what that translates to in action locally and globally. A helpful intro for those who don’t know what UPG is.

July

I stepped into the Kiwi student scene for the first time, attending the national TSCF Summit or conference for half a day in Ngaruawahia, short but worthwhile. TSCF stands for Tertiary Student Christian Fellowship; this is equivalent to AFES in Australia, or Intervarsity in the USA.

I was there to represent SIM NZ, be available to talk to interested students and share my experiences with them in their free time. There were two females, one studying physiotherapy and another in paramedicine, who were especially keen to learn about short term vs long term mission. One asked me ‘how has cross cultural mission affected the way I relate to people now?’ So I gave her an anecdote about my time in the rural hospital when I first started out. It still clings to me today. I think she appreciated my story.

I also met two TCK’s; one grew up in Nigeria whose family served with SIM for over a decade there, and another in Cambodia. Both these families have relocated back to NZ now. It is always a special occasion to connect with TCK’s (third cultural kids) or MK’s (missionary kids), because we can understand each other on some levels.

Praise & Prayer Points:

• Praise for the strength He gives us daily in our work and life. Dan is doing well at the school and Kat is finding momentum in her work (building student connections and the ongoing online mission course).

• We are thankful for the gift of this child, in Dan’s words “here but not here yet”, just like His kingdom. May the rest of the pregnancy goes well and the baby is healthy. August is a busy month for ministry with the both of us visiting churches. Pray that the travelling will be smooth and manageable.

• August Mission Month is happening in many parts of NZ –

1. Kat is attending events as Mobiliser at Laidlaw College for a number of days.
2. 21-23 August – we are flying down to Palmerston North to help with two youth outreach evenings at St. Albans Presbyterian.
3. 31 August – we are sharing at Auckland Christian Mandarin Church and representing SIM at their mission expo.

• Dan passed his driving theory test, and is now learning to drive. Hoping he will get his licence before the baby arrives in November.

• Finally, the 3-month bakery course with the Student Centre in Asia has finished. There has been encouraging and positive feedback from students. Please continue to pray for our next steps, whether a new course can begin this quarter with the teacher’s availability. Also a replacement teacher for 2026. We need God’s guidance and wisdom as this curriculum gets more developed.

Thank you for your prayers offered up in faithfulness.