Matakana island outreach

Hi fellow prayer warriors and supporters of this ministry,

We have just had our third weekend trek to Matakana island this last weekend gone by( 30th of October 09)

We had 14 signed up and Brian and I came as leaders.
The guides from the island rode accross to meet us and Colin and Bob came with a truck to take our gear over by ferry to the island.
We had come early enough because we needed to transport 7 horses. The loading went very well, all the horses went on straight on the truck including Venus!!!!

After the second load was on I then drove them again to the end of Matahui Road where we tied up the horses along the fence line and saddled up. Brian parked the truck in the orchard next door and we had lunch there before we started riding off.
All good timing, everyone had arrived on time, and everyone was excited to be going on this trek.
We took about 1 1/2 hours to ride accross and around to our camp.
The horses were happy to be placed in a good grass filled paddock together with new horses, but all got on well and there was no fighting.
We got welcomed onto the marae formally and we had a welcome speech by Hone and a song was sung for us.
I was welcomed back with open arms by all the whanau( family) and the aunties that cook the food.
We had a great dinner that night and a good time of talking about the island( Hone) and then we all went around about who we  were and why we are involved with horses. Great stories.
Brian and I sat up camp and other slept in the one room, matrasses on the floor, sleeping bags on it etc.

Day two, Saturday, a big ride out on the island. around the farms and forest and to the ocean beach, went for a good gallop with the others and spashed through the waves with Venus.

After this we had lunch in the forest house. Hone always says grace, but usually before everyone has come in, so the second time, I caught him, I then said grace with the others inside translating the grace from maori into English.....

I noticed a bit of spiritual resistance when I talked to one of the whanau about a specific christian CD, although she said she liked the music I didn't get very far other than that.

But it is a start, it will be maybe years before they really open up to the love of God, I don't know how long it will take, only God knows.
All they need to know is we love them,God loves them  and we want to continue bringing people to them to bless them. More later, but first some pictures....

Day three was riding back to the mainland but not straight away. First we had a great breakfast and then a farewell speech by Hone followed by us, thanking him for his and the whole whanau's hospitality.
Riding again, after saddling up through farmland and cropping land to the top of the hill looking out over the long pineforest island.

We had lunch at the top of the hill and then after lunch rode towards the beach to go accross again on low tide.