{"id":2451,"date":"2025-12-22T09:21:34","date_gmt":"2025-12-22T09:21:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/soulsforchrist.co.nz\/blog\/?p=2451"},"modified":"2025-12-26T03:34:37","modified_gmt":"2025-12-26T03:34:37","slug":"113-16-dec-2025-stewart-island","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/soulsforchrist.co.nz\/blog\/?p=2451","title":{"rendered":"113. 16-Dec 2025: Stewart Island"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Hallelujah! We are finally in Stewart Island. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Stewart Island, 18 December 2025\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/41R3-sT9nJ0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There is even resident Wood Pigeon&#8217;s, who regularly pop in, on the Kowhai tree next to the deck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Stewart Island, 18 December 2025\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/woBtkUqsc_Q?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-accent-3-color\"><strong>Mathew 6:31-34 <\/strong>  Therefore do not worry, saying, \u2018What shall we eat?\u2019 or \u2018What shall we drink?\u2019 or \u2018What shall we wear?\u2019\u00a0For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.\u00a0But\u00a0seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.<sup>\u00a0<\/sup>Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day\u00a0is\u00a0its own trouble.<\/mark><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2283\" height=\"1441\" src=\"https:\/\/soulsforchrist.co.nz\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/20251217_105826-scaled-e1766037266128.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2426\" srcset=\"https:\/\/soulsforchrist.co.nz\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/20251217_105826-scaled-e1766037266128.jpg 2283w, https:\/\/soulsforchrist.co.nz\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/20251217_105826-scaled-e1766037266128-1000x631.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/soulsforchrist.co.nz\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/20251217_105826-scaled-e1766037266128-2000x1262.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/soulsforchrist.co.nz\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/20251217_105826-scaled-e1766037266128-768x485.jpg 768w, https:\/\/soulsforchrist.co.nz\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/20251217_105826-scaled-e1766037266128-1536x970.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/soulsforchrist.co.nz\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/20251217_105826-scaled-e1766037266128-2048x1293.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2283px) 100vw, 2283px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-accent-3-color\"><strong>Genesis 9:3. <\/strong>  Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. I have given you&nbsp;all things, even as the&nbsp;green herbs.<\/mark><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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&#8217;s and hiking tracks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Thule Bay, Stewart Island  18 December 2025\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Gq9BYZFZptU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We did try fishing again at the Golden Bay wharf, but didn&#8217;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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-accent-3-color\"><strong>Psalm 27:4.<\/strong>  One\u00a0thing\u00a0I have desired of the\u00a0Lord,<br>That will I seek:<br>That I may\u00a0dwell in the house of the\u00a0Lord<br>All the days of my life,<br>To behold the\u00a0beauty of the\u00a0Lord,<br>And to inquire in His temple.<\/mark><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Oban, Stewart Island. 22 December 2025\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/P9ja640ayQU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-accent-3-color\"><strong>Chronicles 16:34.<\/strong> <\/mark><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-accent-3-color\">Sing to the&nbsp;Lord, all the earth;<br>Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.<br>Declare His glory among the nations,<br>His wonders among all peoples.<\/mark><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-accent-3-color\">For the&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;is&nbsp;great and greatly to be praised;<br>He&nbsp;is&nbsp;also to be feared above all gods.<br>For all the gods&nbsp;of the peoples&nbsp;are&nbsp;idols,<br>But the&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;made the heavens.<br>Honor and majesty&nbsp;are&nbsp;before Him;<br>Strength and gladness are in His place.<\/mark><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-accent-3-color\">Give to the&nbsp;Lord, O families of the peoples,<br>Give to the&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;glory and strength.<br>Give to the&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;the glory&nbsp;due&nbsp;His name;<br>Bring an offering, and come before Him.<br>Oh, worship the&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;in the beauty of holiness!<br>Tremble before Him, all the earth.<br>The world also is firmly established,<br>It shall not be moved.<\/mark><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-accent-3-color\">Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad;<br>And let them say among the nations, \u201cThe&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;reigns.\u201d<br>Let the sea roar, and all its fullness;<br>Let the field rejoice, and all that&nbsp;is&nbsp;in it.<br>Then the&nbsp;trees of the woods shall rejoice before the&nbsp;Lord,<br>For He is&nbsp;coming to judge the earth.<\/mark><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-accent-3-color\">Oh, give thanks to the&nbsp;Lord, for&nbsp;He is&nbsp;good!<br>For His mercy&nbsp;endures&nbsp;forever.<\/mark><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>God bless you all to receive your inheritance and abundance in Christ Jesus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thank you for joining us here, you are welcome to leave a comment if you like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bless you and your families with love from your brother in Christ, <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Paul<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>You can navigate to our SFC YouTube channel by clicking here:&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@ServantsinChrist\">www.youtube.com\/@ServantsinChrist<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>____________________________________________<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>About Stewart Isalnd&#8230;.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Stewart Island<\/strong>\u00a0is the third-largest and southernmost inhabited island of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/New_Zealand\">New Zealand<\/a>, lying 30 kilometres (16 nautical miles) south of the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/South_Island\">South Island<\/a>, separated by\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Foveaux_Strait\">Foveaux Strait<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is a roughly triangular island with a land area of 1,746&nbsp;km<sup>2<\/sup>&nbsp;(674&nbsp;sq&nbsp;mi). Its 164-kilometre (102&nbsp;mi) coastline is indented by&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Paterson_Inlet\">Paterson Inlet<\/a>&nbsp;(east),&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Port_Pegasus\">Port Pegasus<\/a>&nbsp;(south), and Mason Bay (west). The island is generally hilly (rising to 980 metres or 3,220 feet at&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mount_Anglem\">Mount Anglem<\/a>) and densely forested. Almost all the island is owned by the New Zealand government, and over 80 percent of the island forms&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Rakiura_National_Park\">Rakiura National Park<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Stewart Island&#8217;s economy depends on fishing and summer&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tourism_in_New_Zealand\">tourism<\/a>. Its permanent population was recorded at 408 people in the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2018_New_Zealand_census\">2018 census<\/a>.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Stewart_Island#cite_note-Census_2018-4\">[4]<\/a><\/sup>&nbsp;Most residents live in the settlement of&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Oban,_New_Zealand\">Oban<\/a>&nbsp;on the eastern side of the island. Ferries connect Oban to&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bluff,_New_Zealand\">Bluff<\/a>&nbsp;in the South Island. Stewart Island is part of the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Southland_District\">Southland District<\/a>&nbsp;for local government purposes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Stewart_Island\"><strong>Wikipedia<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2451","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-paulsblogpost"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/soulsforchrist.co.nz\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2451","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/soulsforchrist.co.nz\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/soulsforchrist.co.nz\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/soulsforchrist.co.nz\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/soulsforchrist.co.nz\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2451"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/soulsforchrist.co.nz\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2451\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2494,"href":"https:\/\/soulsforchrist.co.nz\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2451\/revisions\/2494"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/soulsforchrist.co.nz\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2451"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/soulsforchrist.co.nz\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2451"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/soulsforchrist.co.nz\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2451"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}