Once Upon a Time

Once in a land far, far away I began a new vein of life voluntarily working with a Jesus ministry. Recently in a land far, far away from whence I begun, the end of this vein has been reached.

I hope that the personal and spiritual wealth extracted from the vein is held onto for years to come. The gain is priceless and the cost worth it.

I've constantly been reflecting on the past months and, well, two years really. Especially so as I just completed some sort of email update for all of those people I love to blanket email from time to time (hey, if you want this email then let me know by clicking here).

Since the end of the third week of September I've continued traveling having said goodbye to the students and fellow staff of the past 6-months journey. It's been a time of reflection, solitude, uncertain futures, and hopefully a time of rejuvination.

The time at this computer is drawing near to a close, as our my eyes and attention span for this time.

I hope to be more regular on this blog as I now have caught up with all of the email, communication, and such that needed to be done first - at least I hope that is true.

Visit Stockholm, it's a great city!
AND visit FINLAND!

check out some pics here: http://picasaweb.google.com/northernwood
Facebook? Matt Would

Catching Up

It's true that this blog thing doesn't always work out so nicely. Africa doesn't really help either! But, here sit I in Jerusalem, hoping to play a bit of catch up in the coming weeks. Needless to say there is more catching up to be done than there is time at the moment - we still have another week before graduation!

So, we are now nearly done. Tanzania flew by. Our time as a team debriefing in Switzerland was amazing, busy, and too short. Now we're here in the Holy Land in the midst of the days speeding by.

I regret that there is little else to share at the moment - perhaps a few pictures below - more to follow and perhaps some reflections or stories as well.

Do check out my friend's blog from Plead the Cause (www.pleadthecause.com - the ministry we worked with in Uganda) as Brent has given us a shout on his ministry and personal blogs - thanks for that Brent!
http://pleadthecause.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=79&Itemid=52

http://thefieldexperience.blogspot.com/2008/08/fruitfulness.html

Finally, continue checking in on our team blog - there may be a few more posts yet prior to the end...
www.truthbeautyjustice.wordpress.com

Captions for below:
a) Pastor Zablon's youngest son whose name I can't remember...
b) The church building crew - all that height in six days, or less.
c) A view on safari and wildebeast stretching in the distance - Ngorongoro Crater
d) Above Davos, Switzerland

Internet in Africa : TIA

Well, this is a short and sweet post. Pretty much all I can say is that internet access here is painfully slow and inconsistant - welcome to Africa - it's also quite pricy at over $2 per hour as we are smack in the middle of the Safari Mile (my word for this small village that caters to many passing Land Crusiers or Land Rovers filled with safari clientele).

We're here in this small town along the road to these national parks to help build a church for a pastor and his growing congregation who are of the Masaai tribe. A few of the women are also doing some children's ministry, and Jess and I have had a chance to catch up with Will, our school leader, who has come to be with us for a short while.

Kenya was great and more stories may follow from that time, as well as some pictures. But such will have to wait for another day and a better method of this interrnet thing (TIA -> This Is Africa)!

Do check out the following:
www.truthbeautyjustice.wordpress.com

Moving On

We've come to the end of our time here in Uganda - today we head out on a 14-hour bus journey to Kenya. It's been an intense few weeks - a VERY good few weeks though.

We've spent much time in smaller villages around the shores of Lake Victoria as well as villages on islands and places in between. We've shared at primary schools, secondary schools, preached and performed at Sunday services, taught and shared at church conferences, been a part of youth groups, participated in a number of short open-air crusades, gone door-to-door, and simply spent time with many children and a number of adults.

We've learned parts of their language, adjusted to the nuances of the culture, stumbled over our own perceptions, been challenged by living conditions, spent at least a whole day sick and wishing the fish smell in the air would go away, and pretty much just allowing our bubble of comfort to burst in the context of a starkly different world.

All have been stretched, all have grown, all have lived to see another day.

That in about two and a half weeks of Uganda. Check out some pics from our time below or by visiting this site: http://picasaweb.google.com/northernwood/Uganda

Certainly there is much more to say and many details I could add, but, I need to leave on a bus in a couple hours. It's enough to say that this has been the journey of a lifetime, for now, there is still a month to go here in Africa!

Check out our team blog for a few more details (providing we get the posts up before we leave)... www.truthbeautyjustice.wordpress.com

*****************
The road traveled has given way to a path undiscovered
I look through tearless eyes on a broken country surrounding this path
It is of little help to look ahead into the deceptive though of what the next turn may hold
The path behind intrigues equally, yet I stumble often looking over my shoulder
There is little choice but to continue looking at where I walk, step by step, turn by turn
And where I walk, I walk not alone, but abreast with seven others
Sometimes pushing one another
Occasionally pulling one another
Often encouraging one another
Needing to simply love one another on one more step
We walk, eternal beings amongst many other eternal beings, challenging mindsets, sharing stories, interrupting our own paradigms, shifting expectations, clarifying our beliefs
This path has brought much - nothing to think the least of, only the most
The path ahead brings as much but I must learn to walk tall living my heart in the path I walk

*****************


Our method of transport the first few days on the islands of Lake Victoria


With some of the amazing kids at Osanidde (oh-sunny-day; it means 'you are worthy') orphanage


Jonathan & Diane in the midst of a skit at a Primary School


Brent and Uncle Michael preaching at a impromptu open-air event


Flat tires on not so nice roads - yes!


Brent, Virginia, and (King) Josiah - wonderful people living in Uganda and serving through Plead the Cause www.pleadthecause.com


Group photo just prior to our departure for our few day holiday in Kampala

Uganda!

Well, here we are... 4 days into Uganda! It's been great so far, but quite full!

I don't have time now to write much more than than - we are leaving tomorrow morning for 9 days or so on the islands of Lake Victoria!

For a bit more of our story please check out the following...
www.truthbeautyjustice.wordpress.com

AFRICA!

We made it... 10 days ago or so.

As a team we've already had a number of roller coasters to ride. Sickness. Communication. Jet lag. Cultural adjustments. Blah. But, at the end of the day we can honestly look back and say it's been a good day.

There is much going through my mind at the moment - things to share, emails to write, bed to seek out, and finding a cup of tea in the midst of it all. Yes, I fancy a cup of tea often, quite often.

The team has settled in well - better than I expected anyway. I probably had the most difficult time of adjustment with learning how to lead in the midst of this new experience. Thankfully, my co-leader Jess, can now count this current trip as her third leading such an adventure - experienced to say the least.

We've been doing what we can at a community project and 'orphanage' (not really, the kids are placed with 'adoptive' parents in on-site apartments). Many of our days have looked like manual labour and/or working in the day care centre with kids from the surrounding 'informal settlements' (or shanty towns).

The vision of this place is amazing - it's really about the WHOLE Gospel message - providing life for all. The community of mainly Africans is dedicated in their mission of not just seeing through the lives of 48 (or so) children but also providing opportunities for those local people who come into the sphere of influence. Quite an amazing place I say.

I've had the opportunity to learn how to hand-mix more than one cubic metre of concrete and brick mortar. Jonathan and I have been sharing the last couple of work days in constructing a brick wall with Innocent and Victor. The girls have been sharing their time between other site work (like weeding or creating tire retaining walls), spending time in the day care, or visiting the informal settlements nearby. There is always opportunity when we are not 'working' to just hang out with the kids here. It's currently a school holiday (or break) and so the kids are outside much of the day. We've also all shared in a bit of a youth program last Friday evening, going so far as to make the first performance of a skit and chatting with the kids about it.

Weekends have provided a chance to get out into the city of Johannesburg and visit a few malls as well as a friend's home for some African braii (a barbecue). We've visited a church in the city as well as the church her at this community project. Next weekend we hope to adventure into the lands north of the city and witness some of the beauty of the land.

In the midst of this all we've made at least three trips to the clinic for two health problems which are now on the mend. We've also been learning the finer art of communicating as a team and as co-leaders. Certainly there is also the day to day art of figuring out where people are at and walking with them through the struggles of the day.

Here's some pics to throw your way! (not the greatest - more to follow in coming posts I do hope!)


Jonathan & Innocent at work on the brick retaining wall - Innocent wouldn't pose for me...


A view of the wall in progress - to the right are steps we are working on as well



Some of the girls and site crew at work on the tire retaining wall - beautification in progress!



Rochelle, Dortje, and Cheryl enjoying some coffee at Mugg & Bean this past weekend


The lounge of our apartment - just Cheryl and Jonathan hanging out with Piet

A Sudden Departure

And so ends the story...

Well, not so fast. My team and I leave the country soon. Something like 11 hours from now, but who's counting?

It's not clear what this blog will look like over the coming months. We'll be travelling through four different nations in Africa over the next two months.

The next season of our journey is what we call Outreach. Simply a time of travelling to different nations with different cultures and different people that we might serve and bless them in whatever way they may need. It's about sharing life with them, loving them, knowing them. I could spiritualize the language I use to describe what we do if that would make more sense to you - honestly though people aren't really going to care much about knowing who God is if our actions don't demonstrate who we know God is. Hopefully that makes sense.

We're you aware that according to the U.N. projections the median age of Sub-Saharan Africa is 18 years old (http://esa.un.org/unpp/p2k0data.asp) - that means that half the population is below 18 years old (the total population of Sub-Saharan Africa is ~ 769 million). Do you wonder why this is?

Our coming journey isn't one of comfort. It's meant to stretch and push against the grain of our Western upbringing. We will experience much in the way of the local way of living through simply living alongside people of the ministries where we will serve. Sometimes it's quite clear that we in the Western societies deem our culture and way of life as the 'right' way. Certainly there are a great many positives of our Western ways - however, it's quite a paradigm altering shift to go out into other cultures and nations and experience their way of living first hand. We depart here on a budget of $19 USD per person per day (which includes accomodation, food, ground transportation, entry visa's, etc.). I say that only to put a bit of perspective on the journey ahead as I desire to communicate just the reality of what we do.

We're you aware that according to the U.N. projections the median age of Sub-Saharan Africa is 18 years old (http://esa.un.org/unpp/p2k0data.asp) - that means that half the population is below 18 years old (the total population of Sub-Saharan Africa is ~ 769 million). Do you wonder why this is?

Check out our team website at...
www.truthbeautyjustice.wordpress.com

Prayer Requests!

For Those Who Pray! - Prayer Requests for the Africa Journey!
* God's Hand in the Midst of Our Steps : hey, if He isn't involved then we're just out for a bit of a feel-good journey - we NEED Him to be a part of this
* People of Africa : for those whom we interact that we may have a positive and lasting impact, and really just everyone in Africa - throwing money at Africa isn't the answer
* Travel Safety : we complete many different legs of travel, hours on planes, many hours on buses, many trips within taxi's and local transport
* Team Love : we can't operate well outwardly if we are having problems internally - it's called 'out'-reach not 'in'-reach
* Health : with all the travel, different bacteria, different food, and simply long days of hard work our immune system will be stretched

Back on the Horse

Some would say that returning to a place of challenge is something akin to 'getting back on the horse'. This is my attempt in the written update form - becoming once again 'current' with this online journal.

And, so, to that end I'll submit the following journal entry from 7 June - I've given up trying to record or reflect in realtime on my days. Writing only becomes a release if I'm able to express something more than simply what the facts are.

*******
We sit, watching, waiting, looking
The warm blanket of the dawn has brought a drizzle of rain on the tail of the morn
The story behind the glass speaks of a day ordered by the clouds
The pages turn as the hours fade
Trees dance, shaking the water from their leaves
A constant fall of the heavens replenishes the earth, thirsty from the weeks past
We sit allowing the peace and warmth to wipe clean our souls
Rest fades into rest as the weeks sluff into the valley of the days ahead
The soul knows the depths of the rest
The body knows the depths of the warmth
And the spirit seeks the depths of Peace

******

On a very much related note, this weekend allowed the school staff of this current training school to escape to a seaside town for a bit of R&R. Well needed and too short. The day of departure we awoke to find snow - a less than common thing for this part and elevation of NZ!!!

Only 2.5 weeks remain until we depart New Zealand for the endz of the earth.


Sunset over Akaroa Bay


A few minutes later...


Sharing a meal


SNOW!


Not quite like home, though...


Southern Alps and the Canterbury Plains - covered!

One Defunct Blog

It's become quite apparent of late that this so-called blog suffers from writer's neglect.

Thus far it seems that the greatest intentions have given way to the greatest delays. My sense of time is heightened only by the lack thereof - if that makes any sense whatsoever.

Past weeks have absolutely flown by - I didn't realize how quickly until someone recently said 'hey, you should update your blog!' It's nearly been TWO MONTHS since a entry free of overly creative writing. I better get on writing something...

We've not been up to nothing, that's certain:


Camping near Lake Tekapo


guitar solo


Fellow Travelers


Airborne


A Week Serving at a Nearby Camp and Our View


Family Brunch


Oh, right, work...


How awesome is that?

Another Journal Entry, 9 May 2008

Still standing
Today, a day of new beginnings
Tomorrow, a day of undiscovered potential
Yesterday, a day where I learned about tomorrow
And still I stand
Here go I wavering in the wind, listening for a voice in the whispers
Clear and true ring the words once heard
Phrases of wisdom pulling towards a chasm of unknown
Shall I trust?
I cannot say as the wind buffets against my will
I know I cannot stay where I stand
Perhaps that next step will find my answer
A hastened glance over the edge straining for a glimpse of the beyond
Yet I cannot force the new perspective into that chasm of the unknown
I find that each step appears to give a slight increase of light
Each step gathers with it a slight decrease in the depth of that chasm ahead
It is as if the simple desire of moving toward the unknown brings revelation

*******************


TEAM AFRICA
[back row, left to right : Bethany, Cheryl, Dortje, Diane]
[front row, left to right : Jonathan, Jessica, Rochelle, and I]

A Recent Journal Entry...

I cannot recall each step of the journey
Some steps were along a river
More steps brought me through a desert
Still others climbed a narrow ridge
And a few more cascaded down a dark slope

But, here stand I, scarred, bruised, occasionally battered
and set free
Free from my shame
Free from guilt that was not mine
Free of expectation
Free of doing
Free to be
Becoming a being as I pause my doings

***********

A New Season : Diversification

Moving across the face of the waters (Milford Sound)

Seasons of change are on the nearing horizon. Nearly 14 months have passed since I arrived in New Zealand. The role I stepped into upon last year’s arrival has not ceased vocalizing an ever-present hunger of desires. I will complete this role within a matter of weeks, moving into a position that will likely cause minor mental whiplash upon my initiation.

To attempt and summarize the previous months and the role for which I have invested much requires far more than a simple letter. Further reflection may breed more questions than answers. To say I’ve been involved as a Project Manager for the opening stages of a new building project is perhaps fair, but appended to such a title would be the certain inclusion of additional responsibilities: transportation manager, facilities maintenance, supervision & coordinator for weekly work crews, occasional teaching sessions, organizing & leading base prayer sessions, creating budgets for traveling teams, and generally trying to practically intervene where intervention is necessary.

Diversity.

What lies ahead extrapolates diversity from the context of my role at a missions center and plasters diversity across the canvas of my life.

On or around March 23 I will begin a 6-month journey as a School Staff member for the April 2008 Around the World in 80 Days Discipleship Training School (April AW80 DTS). This is an intense period that will focus on the 15 - 20 students who will come for a time in their lives to know God and make Him known. Myself and four other staff members will spend 3-months here in New Zealand with these students growing and walking a journey with them, followed by an additional 3-months out in the world at large. So, the next 6 months holds many unknowns!

What’s life without a bit of diversification?

*************************************************

Recently my parents came through to visit for a bit over two weeks. I think they had a good time and it was grand to be able to share with this place where I live for a short time.

We covered a southern tour of the South Island together. After some confidence in their 'training', I sent them off on their own on a northern tour of the South Island.

We survived each other - I think - and lived to tell the stories. Here's a few pics.


Mom and I


Dad and I


Mom and Dad at Slope Point


Sheep from coast to coast

The Early Season : Prayer Requests

On or around March 23 I will begin a 6-month journey as a School Staff member for the April 2008 Around the World in 80 Days Discipleship Training School (April AW80 DTS). This is an intense period that will focus on the 15 - 20 students who will come for a time in their lives to know God and make Him known. Myself and four other staff members will spend 3-months here in New Zealand with these students growing and walking a journey with them, followed by an additional 3-months out in the world at large. So, the next 6 months holds many unknowns!

In Prayer
+ Listening for the rhythm of the Lord's heartbeat
+ Renewing of my heart, soul, and spirit for this new season ahead
+ Those 14 students now accepted and preparing to journey this direction
+ 5 school staff (including myself) preparing to come alongside and share our hearts and lives with these students

To Help Financially in 2008

I don't expect anyone to give money! However, I have made the option available to those who feel led to give. I do truly appreciate your generosity and am humbled by your donation. THANK YOU!
The budget I've created for the time period of April thru October 2008 is pasted below. Hopefully it makes cents.

There are two US tax-exempt methods and other "international" methods.

Preferred US Method:
Please send a check to:
YWAM
Accounting Department
PO Box 3000
Garden Valley, TX 75771-3000

The check should be made payable to YWAM, however, PLEASE DO NOT WRITE MY NAME ON THE CHECK. Include a separate piece of paper indicating the check is intended for Matthew A Wood of Eagle River, Alaska. The helpful folks at this address can also receive funds using automatic withdrawal from a bank account or with a credit card - please inquire of them if you should so wish (ph: 903.882.5591).


Secondary US Method (Anchorage, Alaska area):
Please send check to:
Skyline Family Fellowship
18239 N Eagle River Loop Rd
Eagle River, Alaska 99577

The check should be made payable to Skyline Family Fellowship. Please do write my name on the memo line of the check.


International Method(s):
A form of electronic monetary transfer may be made through www.ywamoxford.org or paper forms may be accepted at the postal address below:
YWAM Oxford
PO Box 47
Oxford, North Canterbury 7443
New Zealand

*********
(best viewed with Mozilla Firefox! - a shameless plug)

Matt's YWAM Staff Budget
Estimated Timeframe:		April 2008 - September 2008
Estimated Duration:		6	Months
	Items		One-Time Costs	Monthly Cost
1	Lecture Phase Costs		$2,790.00	$465.00
	includes room & board & transportation fee
2	Outreach Phase Costs		$5,400.00	$900.00
	includes travel & accomodation & food
	during the DTS 3-month outreach phase
3	Personal Care			$20.00
	i.e. shampoo, shave, clothing, etc
4	Health Insurance		$800.00	$133.33
5	Miscellaneous			$40.00
	entertainment, school shirts, etc
Monthly DTS STAFFING Costs:				$1,558.33
Total DTS STAFFING Costs:				$9,350.00

High Country

Looking west towards Erewhon Station



Perhaps its time to admit that posting on this blog site is a losing battle. Seemingly each recent post becomes a fascination of why it has taken me such a long time to put together a coherent note deemed worthy of blogging.

Truthfully, should I take the time to sit quietly and type away on this keyboard, many more posts may appear - writing is more of a desire than a reality at the moment.

The actual reality is that I fail to write because there are those moments that I get in the way of myself. Some people may liken this to pride, which it is. If we were to ever stop for a moment and consider why the individual fails to aspire to their hopes and dreams I would venture to submit that a serving of said failure is due to pride of various shades.


A visit to the Botanical Gardens

Captivating is not just how we simply look at the world as if there is something owed to us, but rather how many of us might expect that our dreams, hopes, and fortunes might someday fall from the sky.

We admire those that have accomplished what we envy and acclimate easily to those whose vision is wider and taller than our own. Such is not poor, simply a dangerous idea should we believe that the path for which the admired travel is easy and the burden light. I am beginning to further understand the weight of the small moments within life; the journey of climbing a mountain where each step is placed confidently.


Mt. Sunday, aka Edoras in LOTR


Upper Waimakariri River Valley

The Return

So, they (the pastor or pastors?) actually let me do another Sunday 'sermon' this time around while in the US of A. AND, it's online for those that would like to listen to it.

Please find it at the following link:
http://www.skylinefamily.com/sermonarchives/dec302007.mp3

Today will mark the beginning of the return journey to New Zealand, arriving there on Saturday. This marks the end of the 'vacation' and the beginning of another season.

Stay tuned...