It’s been a while since I last wrote here. I must admit, life has been quite busy over the past few months, but today I decided to pause and write a little. One of the challenges of writing is that the longer you go without putting words on paper, the harder it becomes to start again.
I’m in my office with half an hour to spare on a rainy afternoon, and I just made myself a cup of lemon and ginger tea. It feels like the right time to try writing. This past Sunday marked three months since I moved to New Zealand.
It feels like just yesterday that I left my homeland and set off on this adventure, but a whole term has already passed. I’ve lived many incredible experiences—most of which haven’t made it into a blog post or onto my social media. During this time, my English has improved, I’ve learned to drive on the other side of the road, and I now have a postcode to call my own.
The last time I wrote, I was living in temporary housing. But now I have a home on top of a hill with a view of the sea. Little by little, I’ve been furnishing and decorating my place, building a home in Napier.
The biggest experience I had during this time was my trip to Australia. In early May, I flew to Sydney—a city I had dreamed of visiting since I was a teenager—to attend a worship conference led by the legendary Matt Redman: Wor/th Worship.
I was excited to see Sydney, but even more eager to learn from leaders like Ben Fielding, Matt Redman himself, and Darlene Zschech. This woman has been a role model in my life as a worship leader and pastor ever since I was a child.
I still remember, back in 2008, when Darlene came with Hillsong to lead worship at a concert in Balneário Camboriú, the city in southern Brazil where I used to live.
I only have to close my eyes to relive that night—especially the fresh anointing that rested over the more than 100,000 people gathered on the beach, as Darlene led us in worship to the Lamb, with people from across South America united in praise.
Then in 2011, once again, Darlene came to Brazil and sang in my home state. I was living in Maringá, Paraná, and she came with the Hillsong band to lead worship in Foz do Iguaçu, right by the sound of the majestic falls, at the tri-border area where Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina meet.
I was there again, soaking in that fresh anointing and freedom in worship, being blessed and learning. Darlene Zschech carries a deep intimacy with God, and when that’s combined with her musical gifting—so graciously offered to the body of Christ—it creates a unique spiritual atmosphere every time she sings and leads worship.
Nearly 15 years later, I was the one visiting her country. When I arrived at the conference, I was warmly welcomed by the reception team, who, impressed that I had come all the way from Brazil (via New Zealand) just for the event, gave me a seat of honor in the front row.
Though a bit embarrassed by the kindness, I accepted their generosity. As I waited with expectation for the first session to begin, I suddenly realized I had been seated among the worship leaders. I considered moving, but a staff member kindly told me I should stay.
And so there I was—unexpectedly—seated among leaders who have inspired me my whole life, songwriters whose music shaped my journey of faith. I laughed, talked, and simply existed among those brothers and sisters in Christ. And at last, I got to meet in person someone who has inspired me all my life: the beloved Mrs. Zschech.
It was amazing to see that the anointing was still there when she sang—fresh, and even deeper. Even more beautiful was discovering the reason for that freshness: a disarming humility, a hunger for God’s presence and Word, and a maternal kindness that radiates from her eyes to everyone around her.
I learned so much that day, especially from Matt Redman’s teaching on the theology of songwriting. I also had the chance to sing my favorite song of the past decade—What a Beautiful Name—led by its writer, Ben Fielding. It was such a powerful moment, where the veil between heaven and earth felt thinner than ever.
Still in Australia, the day after the conference, I caught a train to the Central Coast and the town of Charmhaven, where Darlene and her husband Mark pastor a church. I got to visit a community that has inspired me for the last ten years and spent Mother’s Day with that family of faith. Dear Darlene not only prayed for me but also kindly arranged a ride back to the train station.
I completed my tourist checklist in Australia by visiting the Sydney Opera House and taking a boat tour around the harbor. I even went to the zoo and finally saw a kangaroo and a koala up close—something I’ve dreamed of for years. It rained all day (though not the whole time), which still allowed me to snap a few photos. The only disappointment? The koala was asleep—but I still got to see its cuteness up close.
I have many more stories from New Zealand to tell, but my half-hour is up.
See you in the next post.
With love,
Diego
