Hallelujah! We are finally in Stewart Island.
I received a message from the ferry service that our ferry booking had been cancelled, due to mechanical issues. So I called the Invercargill airport to find out if there were any booking available, and there were, praise God.
So we flew across on the smallest plane I have ever been on, full loaded with eight people including the pilot. A twenty minute flight with no waiting on the tarmac, just jump in and go.
We have been very blessed to stay in lovely accomodation in Bathing Beach Bay. It sounds and does look beautiful, but you would need a winter wetsuit to bath there.
There is even resident Wood Pigeon’s, who regularly pop in, on the Kowhai tree next to the deck.
Brother Logen and I decided to try fishing at a local wharf. I was about to cast the second line in the water, when a local commercial fisherman offered to take us fishing on his boat.
Well we immediately accepted the offer and packed up our gear. We both knew this was the Lord blessing us. We jumped in his large dingy and he motored over to his large commercial boat.
Mathew 6:31-34 Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Luke took us to some fowl ground where the Blue Cod were and immediately we started catching Cod, praise God. After about half an hour, Luke said he had to attend to some work, so we pulled the lines in and headed over to Oban Beach. We had caught six Blue Cod, in that time, so a good feed for us, thank you Lord.
Genesis 9:3. Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. I have given you all things, even as the green herbs.
Luke shared with us that he and his family have lived on Stewart Island for thirty years. Commercially fishing for crayfish around Fiordland. He has a wealth of knowledge, of Stewart Island marine area’s and hiking tracks.
We learned there are many tracks and huts all over Stewart Island. But quite a few are for experienced hikers only. Apparently weather conditions on the Island are very changeable, so one needs to be prepared. Luke dropped us off at the wharf and it was a short walk back to the batch.
Needless to say we all enjoyed a lovely feed of freshly caught Blue Cod. Pio made raw fish with coconut cream, Logen pan fried his and I crumbed and pan fried mine.
The next Day we moved to another batch in Thule Bay. This one came with a car, so we were able to get around the Island much easier.
We did try fishing again at the Golden Bay wharf, but didn’t manage to catch anything. Logen had a big strike on his line and we nearly got it to the wharf, but the line snapped. I could feel the line rubbing on the rocks as I was reeling it in. I sensed the way it was acting on the line, it may have been a sting ray.
The next couple of days brought a change in weather. A low came up from the south bringing a very strong, cold wind and rain. So we stayed indoors with the fire going and spent some lovely quiet time with the Lord.
Psalm 27:4. One thing I have desired of the Lord,
That will I seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the Lord
All the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the Lord,
And to inquire in His temple.
We departed Stewart Island, this time on the ferry. The weather was lovely and sunny, so the trip was pleasant, taking one hour to get to Bluff. We then caught a bus back to Invercargill, to our camp.
Thank You Father God for such a lovely time on Stewart Island. Thank You for the precious people, You drew into Your arms. Thank You for all Your blessings of abundance and provision. Amen.
Chronicles 16:34.
Sing to the Lord, all the earth;
Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.
Declare His glory among the nations,
His wonders among all peoples.
For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised;
He is also to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
But the Lord made the heavens.
Honor and majesty are before Him;
Strength and gladness are in His place.
Give to the Lord, O families of the peoples,
Give to the Lord glory and strength.
Give to the Lord the glory due His name;
Bring an offering, and come before Him.
Oh, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness!
Tremble before Him, all the earth.
The world also is firmly established,
It shall not be moved.
Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad;
And let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.”
Let the sea roar, and all its fullness;
Let the field rejoice, and all that is in it.
Then the trees of the woods shall rejoice before the Lord,
For He is coming to judge the earth.
Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.
God bless you all to receive your inheritance and abundance in Christ Jesus.
Thank you for joining us here, you are welcome to leave a comment if you like.
Bless you and your families with love from your brother in Christ,
Paul
You can navigate to our SFC YouTube channel by clicking here: www.youtube.com/@ServantsinChrist
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About Stewart Isalnd….
Stewart Island is the third-largest and southernmost inhabited island of New Zealand, lying 30 kilometres (16 nautical miles) south of the South Island, separated by Foveaux Strait.
It is a roughly triangular island with a land area of 1,746 km2 (674 sq mi). Its 164-kilometre (102 mi) coastline is indented by Paterson Inlet (east), Port Pegasus (south), and Mason Bay (west). The island is generally hilly (rising to 980 metres or 3,220 feet at Mount Anglem) and densely forested. Almost all the island is owned by the New Zealand government, and over 80 percent of the island forms Rakiura National Park.
Stewart Island’s economy depends on fishing and summer tourism. Its permanent population was recorded at 408 people in the 2018 census.[4] Most residents live in the settlement of Oban on the eastern side of the island. Ferries connect Oban to Bluff in the South Island. Stewart Island is part of the Southland District for local government purposes.
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