Sunday the day of... KIWI!!!

Sunday morning when we woke up and had brekkie down in kitchen of our backpackers stay. I'm finding that I really wouldn't mind being a backpacker the joints that they get to stay in a sweet as! Next we were off for some geothermal activity and other nonsense, but not until we had had our tea. Tea is pretty much the staple to life over here, you don't work, you don't smile, you don't exist without first have a nice hot cuppa tea! When we got into town we noticed a market was open and since none of the church services were going at the time we decided to do church in a much different way. We grabbed our teas and headed out into the market. Aunty Jane and I stuck together (I'm not much of a good loner, especially in market places) and Sonia and Aunty Jill went off in different directions. The morning was about appreciating what God had given us, the diversity of the people, the beauty of their works, and the nice prices on souveniers! just joking...well sort of. I found a few things to add my New Zealand apparel collection. I love market places, I find that the hustled and bustle of everyone around me is quite peaceful really. Such diversity in such a small place, it was fantastic. Lunch was eating oceanside, we had pies. For those of you who think like I do, that sounds extremely exciting and just a hint of odd, but pies aren't really pies, well they are but they were meat pies. Really good meat pies with veggies! They were similar our "pot pies" (which are my favorite food in the states) but not quite the same. Very good nonetheless.

With lunch in our tummies we were off to see some goodlooking thermal activity. The first thing I got to see was boiling mud. Doesn't sound interesting at all, and it's quite understandable but up face to face with this smelly, disgusting bubbling matter.. it's actually quite cool. I kept referring to it as Jabba the Hut. If you've ever seen Star Wars you'd understand my reference. If not, well Jabba is this disgusting glob of.. who knows what. Anyway ( I get off subject easily) the mud boils and spit out more boiling mud. It's like watchin a big pot of potato soup cooking on the stove top. oh and the smell.. hahah.. the smell never really leaves you. It floats in your subconcious. The mud smelled like... boiling.. eggy... yuck. But other than that it was really cool to watch the mud launch into the air. It was the larget thermal mud pool in New Zealand. All the trees around the mud pool were white from the effects of the ash and the dirt on the ground was so smooth between my fingers... almost like baby powder! AND OFCOURSE.. there was a cache near by. After finding their cache we were back in the car to see what I was really looking forward to!!! It was a 15 mile hike up the mountain various turns and slopes but eventually we made it. The path began to level infront of me and I knew we were close the viewing area. Just as I came over the last incline of dirt there it was in all it's glory. (bet you wanna know what it was dontcha?) A magnificent pool of terquouis and emerald water, serenely just existing in it's only little valley. I've never like the turqoiuse jewelry that was once such a big fashion statement but this I LOVED. The water didn't appear to be just water it was a foreign pool amongst the beauty of mountains. Like an alien space ship had a leaking valve and it's energy source had been left for us humans to just stare at in amazement. I wanted so badly to climb down the mountain walls that hid this small oasis, to swim in water the color of tranquility. I think an "oh wow..." escaped my lips the first time my eyes set sight on it. This please Aunty Jill and Aunty Jane, I suppose they thought I would find the "nature stuff" boring. I didn't ogle at the mud... it did not contain such mystery such intrigue but this, this did. I attempted to catch the pool's beauty with photographs but nothing could capture something so wonderfully out of place. I gave up quickly realizing that some of God's wonders must be seen with the eye to appreciate. The hike down was enjoyable with Aunty Jill rambling on about The Lord of the Rings. I giggled to myself realizing that we all have geeky tendencies.
A quick trip back to the hostel to change clothes and the bus was already waiting for us.
A nice Maori man was driving the bus trying his best to fill his visitors with information of Maori tribes and customs. Many of which I'm sure went over the heads the germans sitting closest to him. I caught little bits but was distracted by the very uncomfortable stuffy heat that surrounded us in the back seat. We were on our way to a Mai Thai, which is a maori festival of sorts with a buffet of food and a show before. We were seated with our German friends from the van. Their accents reminded me of my foreign exchange student/sister from Germany. I couldn't help but strike up a conversation with one the them. We were interrupted by the speaker of the night who began the evening by addressing all the nationalities in the room, in their own language. I belive there were 12 different countries gathered all in one tented dining room, so to know all the greetings was very impressive. We were led to the hungi, which is an underground way of cooking meals in the maori tribes. He unveiled all the wonderfully smelling food including chicken, lamb, pototoes, sweet potatoes, and all sorts of veggies while reminding us we wouldn't be eating for another hour. It was quite cruel to my already growling stomache but still funny. Next we followed a path way that led half the group to one side of a river and the other half to the parrallel side. A waka (similar to a canoe) filled with maori natives then came down the stream. They chanted as they rowed. From my experience in the kayaks I know how much of a pain rowing can be but they seemed to just glide across the water like as if the waka was a puck on an air hocky table. So effortlessly they came and went up and down the river for us, tourists, to gawk at them and blind them with the flashes of our cameras.

The path then led us to a stage of sorts, looking like something you would find in Walt Disney World as a Pocohontas set up or something. Then the show began, first with a demonstration of a welcoming from the chief of the tribe and then with a haka, a warrior dance to intimidate it's competition, and a demonstration of the art of their musical instruments and tools. I couldn't take my eyes of the people. They moved so, so swiftly but almost like a dance in every motion they did. Their muscles drew attention to their numerous tattoos. Each proudly wore a moko which is a tattoo on the chin, which means they have earned some kind of honor in their tribe (men and woman both wore these). The tattoos were explained to be the shapes of owls, kiwi birds, and bats. Each had it's own meaning but I can't recall them all know. Then it was eating time!!!!!! The buffet was beautiful loaded with all kinds of goodies. We all loaded our plates and enjoyed a nice meal with our German friends and an Italian guy at the end of our table. Cross-cultural conversations at a cultural experience.. how ironic!

Now for my favorite part of the night... A kiwi encounter. The tour was led by a young maori man who pointed out various wild life and animal life( such as kuikeas, rainbow fish, fingerlings,and pigs) around their land but led to a fenced in area where we were to see... the kiwi bird. A path led through the area I followed the small moving que that formed. Elevated ground surrounded us and the movement of plants could be heard accompanied by the slight sound of kiwi feet. Everyone huddled around different areas trying to scope of the kiwi bird. I found on that seemed to be pacing along the back wall, he seemed to be panicing. I would too if I were surrouned by humans with only a three and a half foot barrier seperating us! I was dragged away from my repetitive friend to a kiwi bird that was running back and forth right along the barrier. I should say it because I dont know if it was a female or not. It was absolutely magnificent, it's legs were short and caused it to run with a waddle and it's round little bottom was absolutely adorable in the darkness of our setting. I was lucky enough to watch as the kiwi bird sent a call out the the others, it's head tilted all the way back and a high pitched squeal almost escaped it's beack. Multiple times it called the others, it's open beack luminated by the light from outside us. I must have stood there watching the same kiwi for a good 10 minutes as it returned to it's back and forth running only inches away from myself. It stopped quite a few times infront of me, it seemed more comfortable and at ease here but another observer would shift their weight and the long dark shadow would frighten the kiwi bird and off it went. I think that had to have been the most amazing part of my visit here. The kiwi are growing extinct with only 40,000 wild kiwis at large and I saw one. I was literally inches from it!!!! The adrenaline rush that came from the moment carried me through the rest of the night and to my dreams.

The only thing that ran through my head was the scene in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory when the very spoield Veruca says "I want an oompa loompa now daddy!!!" I could only imagine how the bad egg would react to an encounter with the rare but entirely adorable kiwi bird...

Weekend Road Trip!!!!

Friday I went to a settlement support meeting with jill nerheny. My
Time with her was short because aunty jill, aunty jane, sonia and I
were leaving as possible for a weekend road trip to waitomo and
rotarua. Driving in the car with them is always fun. We played our
music loud and sang even louder, laughing at jokes and memories. We
geocached as we went, even though we didn't find all the caches we
went after, it was a good time. We ate dinner at a place called "the
thirsty weta". A weta is similar to the grasshopper but they are heaps
bigger, grosser, and creepier!!! Next, we were off to the backpackers
place where we would be staying the night. It was a cozy little place
with loud orange paint on the walls and screaming yellow paint for the
doors. I've never stayed in a backpackers stay before and didn't know
what to expect, but I really didn't expect the backpackers to be from
America! There were two girls one from Pennsylvania and the other from
New Orleans. The accommodations were pleasant and the company made
them even better. An unplanned pillow fight and wrestling match later
we were all in bed giggling about who was snoring and who talks in
their sleep. ( a little note for melissa wisley: I can see how
backpacking could me so much fun!)

Saturday, we got up and left our happy little stay to head for the
waitomo caves, but not before grabbing brekkie at a place with
wonderful French toast. The caves were awesome!!! It takes about a
half an hour by van to reach then. The road wound around mountains,
valleys, and erosions alike. The hillsides were filled with untamed
plant like and grazing cattle including sheep and turkeys. New Zealand
can not be photographed properly. The caves were drafty, muddy, and
all together something you would think twice about waking into
atvanytime, but when the lights went off the cave transformed onto a
third demension. Glow worms lit the celings like a starry night. The
sound of a waterfall seemed to come closer bit no sign of movement was
made as our boat floated down a small river. This was a sight that not
even Disney could recreate. Other caves were well taken care off with
hidden lights, cathedrals, and tomos. Timo is the Maori word for hole
which is likewise the word waitomo means waterhole. Some kind of
festival was being held when we returned from our adventures. We were
able to catch sheep shearing races and wood chopping races. This was
the real New Zealand, or so i'm told. The sun was still shining so we
went i'm search fornkore caches which meant tons and tons of topsy
turning mountains sides that even made me car sick!!! It was
completely worth it though when we came to a thing called the natural
bridge which was absolutely captivating. The green light filling the
canyon only magnitizes the beauty of this place. As a trickling steam
ram just beneath my feet I thought to myself "wow God, now you are
just showing off". The ride back to the main roads was much better and
with only few more stops for toilets, pictures, and caches we were
back on the road again to rotarua. I must have fallen asleep on the
way because before I knew it I was dreaming about omelets. Nice, hot,
and mouthwatering omeletes... But before I knew it the beautiful
fragrance my omelets was slipping away and the stench of rotten eggs
then filled the air around me. Welcome to Rotarua. The stench did not
exist in my dream but in my actual existence. Sulfur. Many of you have
experienced the smell of sulfur in water but sulfur in the air is a
completely different experience. Like the smell of coal in a small
mining town the smell of sulfur just hangs in the air of my little
rotarua. We dragged our bags into "the crash palace" and climbed in
our bunkbeds for a well deserves nights sleep.

a.

Week of Madness

Monday-
I finished my support letter, now I am just waiting on addresses to send them out to! I'm not a great writer if you can't already tell so that was quite a challenge for me. By the end of it I was drained but then had to get the house ready for life group that night. So, I cleaned the rooms and waited and Aunty Jill made SPAGHETTI! Usually I do alot of the cooking so it was a very nice suprise to have aunty jill's specially amazing spaghetti sauce. My friends arrived sooner than planned but the night went on without a hitch. We all seemed a little starved for insipiration for our study so most of the night we spent just in community with each other. After it was all over I enjoyed a nice big bowl of Hokey Pokey Icecream while Aunty Jane asked me questions for a homework project she is working on.

Tuesday-
Tuesday, I went to Massey University to serve. There was a fundraising kind of meeting with the Chaplains and I was to be available for whatever work that would make things run smoother. My first job was to spread small bits of American chocolate amongst our friends in the Admin. part of the building. Next I rearranged the room to encourage community and at the same time instill comfort. I assisted the very frantic caterer with all the odds & ends that were to be done and after it was done I cleaned it all up. We grabbed kebabs for lunch in the courtyard with Sonia, Rachel, our friend Joe, another friend from my life group dropped in. It's so cool to now people able to know people in a crowded place!!! Of course by the end of the day I was exhausted like usual and glad to be able to enjoy being a couch potato.

Wednesday-
Usually, I spend my Tuesdays in the hub but this week is all jumbled up and switched around so I spent wednesday in the Hub instead. Maxine, the children's minister, had a list of things for me to help with. I took a bag of chocolates with me to pass out to the staff workers. Debbie one of my favorites was over worked and truly enjoyed my little gifts. I do alot of work for the children's program at Shore making visual aids for their various themes and lessons. The thing about me, is that I love being creative!! I love being able to do whatever I like and make it look good. So, it's no suprise that I put a 100% of my concentration and energy into my work, may I say my "armor of God" man was looking REALLY good... but all my energy was OUT THE DOOR. I pretty much collapsed when I got back home and didn't more after that. With a tuck-in from Aunty Jill I was out like a light. I didn't even move all night my sheets were perfectly in place when I awoke.

Thursday-
Today I spent the day at the Highbury House helping them prepare for a big fundraising plan that includes BINGO! I like going to the HIghbury House they give me things to do that save them days of work. The tasks may seem small and trivial but necessary, highly necessary, nonetheless. I returned back to Jill Nerheny's office and had a good conversation with her assistant and then headed home around 3. I put on the leftover Spaghetti for Jill, Sonia, and I to eat and got ready for a night church service with Primal. Dinner was nice, it always is. I really enjoy my company here, I never get sick of them! haha Took of for Primal where a couple of girls invited me to join in on their coffee group that I had accidently crashed a few weeks earlier. I was excited about the invite so I jump for the opportunity. THe girls are a lot of fun and I really enjoy hanging out with them and the good conversations that spur from our time together. Primal didn't go as planned but I think it made it better. I've been a bit frustrated with the organization that it runs to and their constant focus on money and offering that they've had for the past month. The teachings weren't the most profound but I sitll greatly enjoyed my time with all the youth. Tomorrow I'm off to a community meeting with Jill Nerheny and then leaving with Aunty Jill, Sonia, and Aunty Jane for a weekend away in Rotarua! I'm so excited.

peace to all of you and a happy happy weekend!

Friday, Candyland, Sunday

Friday, Friday, Friday...
weekends seem to fly by so fast that when it's time to blog about them I have to sit and think what exactly I did that day.
Friday afternoon Jill and I met Sonia up for lunch at one of our favorite places called "Nando's" they have one of the best Hot Chicken Burgers around! Sonia wasn't having the greatest day so we did our best to put a little sunshine in her graying day.
Then we were off to meet up with two of the refugees that Jill has been resettling. Omerance & Grance are their names and we are preparing them for the wicked winters that are soon to follow the nice sunny days we've been enjoying.
Belinda, the youth minister at Shore Christian Church, asked me to host a girl's night at the house and I was happy to help. There were snacks, karaoke, laughter and a lot of off-key sining but over all a fun night. We were intruded by the boys of the youth group. With minimal damage to anyone and anything the night was a lot of fun, and I must admit I enjoyed it, even if I'm not the girliest person!

Saturday was the day that I had been looking forward to for awhile!!! it was CANDYLAND DAY!!!!
We got up early to go and visit to Otara Market Place which is the WestSide of Auckland! I love going to the market places it's so busy and there is always so much to look at! I had been complaining that I didn't have enough NZ clothes so I picked up a few T-shirts while I was there. An amazing food that I tried there was "coconut buns" they are coconut bread rolls swimming in coconut milk!!! they are to die for! no joke.

We stopped to grab a few chaches on the way to candy land and grabbed some food to tide our hunger because we all know what happens when you're buying food and you're hungry. not good. Candyland is an old cheese factory that was converted to make candy. there is a room just covered head to toe with rows and rows of candy made there. It all looked sooo good. We even go to go on a tour of how they make their lollies and we got to make our own! I couldn't resist buying a chocolate sheep and some kiwi lollies. We grabbed lunch at a cute hidden sort of place and then spent the rest of the day caching. I was definatley spent by the time I hit the pillow!

Sunday Aunty Jane and I went to church while Aunty Jill decided to have her own church at home. The speaker was one from the university Aunty Jane attends. She seemed to have loved it. Lunch was chinese leftovers from a night before and I spent the rest of the day working on a newsletter for my supporters that WILL BE COMING OUT VERY SOON! :) I went to c3 the church program and wasn't too thrilled that the last three services had all been about money and how we should give it to them. I don't plan to return too soon. When i got home, aunty jill, aunty jane, and sonia were waiting for me in the lounge and we all talked about our days and I went to bed... it's almost embarassing that I'm always the first one in bed!

well more adventure to come in the following week!!! wish me luck to not get hurt.. fell down the stairs the other day, my ankle didn't like it too much!

love to all!

Tues, Wed, & Thurs

Tuesday:
In every life a little rain must fall. Today it poured. When preparing for my trip I told some that "I don't mind going, it's the leaving I don't like." today it was more like "it's not being there that's the issue, it's me missing it" Today was my best friends birthday and I was a bit down and homesick. As any other person would I stuck myself in the house all day trying to get over my gloom with a good book and some comfort food. It worked a little but my cloud still hung over my head... so there isn't too much to report for the day. God stayed with me till the end however and made my lonliness a place of comfort to spend with my Father.

Wednesday:

Jill Nerheney the community coordinator I've been working with has been putting me with a different community group each day that I work with her. Usually they all do the exact same talk, the same interesting fact (that become not so interesting after the 3rd time) the same walkthrough, and the same pointing out things that are trivial to my existence there. BUT, today I went to the Highbury House and they put me to work!!!! How overjoyed it felt to be doing something and contributing. It wasn't life changing work or anything like that but it was work that shaved a lot of time of their schedules which made it all worth while. Then I was back to the office to work on computers until it was time for my new bible study which I really enjoyed. We talked about how you can worship God through secular music.

Thursday.. aka.. .. Today.

Another community house.. another talk... another walk around...

BUT!!! I helped Nerheny with a display for the kids we dressed up manicans as Goofy and Donald Duck (only after I had run around the office in the costumes ofcourse!). It was a lot of fun!!! Jill always entertains me. More computer work and then back home to rest for the really busy upcoming couple of days.

Life away from home isn't necessarily hard.. but it is tiring so I wish you all a happy day/night/evening whichever cause I'm going to bed!!


love to all!

My Apologies

When God makes your schedule it's no longer YOUR schedule so I have some hard times finding time to blog.

Saturday Aunty Jill, Aunty Jane, Sonia, Rachel, Becca and I went kayaking up and down the Puhoi River. For those of you who know me well, you know that I am not a terribly physically active person so this should make you proud of me. The trip up the river seemed to drone on forever. At start it was fun and easy but I realized early this wasn't going to be a piece of cake. I fell to the back of hte pack quickly but was able to keep up and finally gain central position through most of the trip. Becca and I find ourself completely alone towards to the end of the upward trip and we were quickly accompanied by a nice shower of rain... and when I say nice I mean... UGHHH! We decided to make the best of our unfortunate circumstances and made a never ending song about our trip. When we arived at the river side pub where we would eat my left shoulder what hurting me quite some bit. I was soaked from head to toe somewhat due to the rain, somewhat due to the water I splashed into my kayak from my paddle and greatly due to Sonia splashing me with her paddle as I tried to pass her and Jill in their two seater canoe. I was exhausted emotionally and physically but was able to get back in my kayak. The trip home seemed heaps easier until the wind picked up and the rain did too. I struggled with my hurting shoulder but pressed on until I got stuck on a mud bar. Somewhere in the act of struggling to unstick myself I further injured my shoulder and then had a quite a way to go to meet up with the rest of the group. The wind was blowing against me making it hard to feel like I was moving at all the waves didn't help that either. God stayed with me though and I was able to make it to the rest of my fellow kayakers. They instantly attached the tow rope to my kayak and knew that I could go no more. The pain in my shoulder was to much to paddle and my body just couldn't take it. The group of us attempted to get a cache while out on the river but Aunty Jill discovered some quick sand and we had to make a line of paddles to help her back out of it. It was no longer to safe and we headed back where dry clothes awaited our arrival.

Needless to say I took a hot shower and then lounged my pain away.


Sunday I woke up with the an awful pain across the muscles in my shoulders. I couldn't move my arms without sending a streak of pain through them. I realized why I wasn't an atheletic person.. it hurts!!! I tried to be a trouper though and went to church to be a good example for my fellow peoples. I'm glad I went though. The message was truly amazing and seemed tailor fit to my needs. It's amazing how God works a message into our hearts when we allow him in. I couldn't have been more glad that I didn't just stay home that morning. Although after church I did return home to lay on the couch with Aunty Jane trying to wait out our pain.. it didn't happen but we did spend some great quality time watching movies and not moving! That night I decided to cook dinner and Aunty Jill pitched in too. We make a pretty good team if I may say so myself! The pain was awful but the food was good.. an even trade in my mind.

Monday
Today when I woke up my paint was considerably less and I found it easier to jump out of bed. I spent the day reading and in meditation and reflection. My head had been filled with so much, too much to think about at one time. Aunty Jill helped me escape and we went out to lunch and shopping for a fleece for me. Jill had encountered a girl who seemed homesick and just needed a friend and having an 18 year old living with her she grasped the opportunity and had me tag along to the meeting with the girl and we hit it off pretty well. I ask you to pray for opportunities with this girl and that God be in our relationship. I also ask you to pray for all relationships that I had created and nurtured. This is my half-way mark and I feel truly at home. I've made connections with people here that are genuine and I've earned their acceptance! Oh what a great experience. It's bittersweet to think that I'm halfway done.. so bittersweet. The little boy from downstairs walked down to the shops with me to grab a pizza and we ate dinner watching the Lion King. It was great!! The life group I've been attending has gotten much homier and I feel very at home and welcome. Conversations there are growing and that's a gift from God considering that recently I nearly had an anxiety attack because of how uncomfortable I felt.

God Bless, and thank you for keeping up with my random mumble jumble.

A Couple of Matters to Take Care Of

1) If you would like to comment on my blog but aren't familiar with this process all you have to do is sign up for a blog spot account. You can do this by visiting www.blogspot.com and press the "create a blog" button. fill in the blanks it gives you and then don't worry about the blog you only need an account to comment on others blogs! hopefully this helps!

2) I would like to express my thanks for all of you without the generosity and prayers of many this this would not be possible. Thank you all so much.

Now back to the norm:

These past two days have been rather relaxed which is just what I needed. My energy level here is much weaker here. It seems like everyday I home back to the house and just drop! Thursday I was able to spend the day in the word. Oh what a beautiful book it is. My readings focused on love, the love that was given to us, the love that we just also give, and the love that makes all possible. I prefer the message bible, I feel as though I can relate better to my readings that way. In one of my readings a read a passage that said that if we do not love God, we do not know God. This isn't a relatively new thing to me but then I reapplied it to others. How many people do I know that I do not love but claim to "know" them. We all have people that rub us the wrong way and because of this love is almost impossible to find for them but how can you say you truly know them if you cannot love them. We are all made in God's image and are beautiful because of Him. Do we not fall in love with the beauty around us and the beauty in others? So, if this beauty can be found almost everywhere it would seem just ridiculous to think it does not exist in the ones we do not love.

Today, I volunteered at Shore Office Hub and made a display for the "Armor of God" lessons for the children. I love hands on work and the joy it gives me to see a project through!! They looked pretty good too, if I may say so myself! : ) thanks again Mrs. Beltz! A day as a servant not a learner but as a servant makes us humble and appreciate everything we have so much more!

God is beautiful and magnificent. The things I'm learning here could never have been explained to me. You can not teach knowledge nor experience, you cannot show a child how to blend into cultures if they are not also made to blend, it is like trying to paint with all the colors of the wind.

I thank God for each and every day He has given me and each and every person He has put in my life and continues to do so.

Frustration

I'm the kind of person who grades my days by how much I've done. So, yesterday when I was sitting in Rawene Community Center feeling completely useless and felt like I was wasting my time I was irritated. I was only there for about an hour and a half and that's all they had planned for. This is not what Jill Nerheny had in mind for me at all. It was noon when I was done there so I walked to the local bakery and grabbed some lunch and then took a bus back home. I had some journaling to catch up on and there was a baby shower at the house so I hid in the office and enjoyed myself. Later on Aunty Jane, Sonia, Aunty Jill and Odette and I went and shot some pool to relieve the stresses of our days.

The one great thing out of the day was that I got to talk to an Iraqi woman who was taking an ESL(English as a Second Language) class. Her son is was a Tampa Refugge who came over and was stuck on the Tampa for almost 14 (months or weeks I can't recall). Due to the war in Iraq I was a bit nervous about talking to her, I feared her disaproval of my heritage. It was such a reality hit!! I was talking to someone first hand who is from the country my own country is fighting with. We were able to talk and hold a civilized conversation with her and we were peaceful and friendly. She hugged me as the conversation ended and I thought to myself "wow... if only it was this easy for others..."

Today I went to the Northcote Community House. THe NCH is available to different organizations in the community to use. Today, there were ESL classes going on. I sat down with the manager and he was able to describe all the contributions they are able to do for the community. It's crazy how big of hearts these people have!!!! They way they talk about helping others is absolutely inspiring. His name is Wallice he's got the body of Hagrid, the voice of Dumbledore, and the beard of Santa Clause. He was pretty cool! I really enjoy being able spend so much time with organizations who are out there in the community and improving it! These people have a heart for others that can only come from God Himself but, it's interesting to see how God isn't even a facter in their lives.

Pray for continuous knowledge.


a.

Sorry to keep you waiting

When serving God you'd be amazed at how days pass like hours. I lose
myself in the conversations and relationships with others.

This weekend was aunty Jane's birthday so on top of serving we
celebrated aunty jane.

Friday I was absolutely exhausted and tried to regain my energy.
Although I was able to drag my body to youth group to bond with the
youth over a good ol' game of ten pin bowling.

Saturday we all got up early to start the celebration. Aunty Jill and
sonia took our birthday girl to an art exhibit while I stayed behind
to cook deserts for the night festivities. They say the art was nice
but but nothing could compare to the next event. Off to circus oz we
were, it's an Australian circus and a halarious one at that. Although
the Australian humor was crude at times the acrobats, jugglers, and
comedians made it a great time. Had lunch at aunty janes favorite spot
called the mezze bar and then went off for a game of ten pin. Funny
how it seemed to become the theme of by weekend. It was a great time
with many laughs and great company.

We retired to the house were a suprise get together was arranged full
of yummy deserts of new and old. Guests stayed at mingled as they
pleased as sonia and I took the positions of house elves. Pavlova is a
special new Zealand desert that is key to a party, it's nearly
impossible to describe but it sure is good!

Sunday at shore was cut early as I volunteered at an event known as
seniors in the park. We set up gazebos and umbrellas as a live band
played in tui park. Whine was available for the seniors. It was a
lovely day and the breeze blew just right to keep the sun from warming
you up too much.

Sonia and I spent the rest of the day with some good Thai food and a
litttle tv.

Life is good.. But God is better, He is the source our comfort, our
enjoyment, and our love.

a.

A Day of Rest

Wednesday and Thursday I spent the day working with the community coordinator in Birkenhead. I'm meeting a lot of different people and networking tons. The way the community leaders work together is extremely impressive. They get together all the time to discuss issues in the community and how they can work together to improve the living conditions.

Since I had no plans today and I've been on the go so much lately I took a rest day. I slept in and spent time with Aunty Jill.

It's been rainy here. They say that last night's winds were hurricane winds. I like it when it rains though, I can just walk out my window and sit on the roof. New Zealand doesn't have thunder or lightening so I'm completely safe on my little roof top.

mmmm... what a great day it is when you can just soak up all the beauty of your surroundings.

Also, today I recieved a large envelope filled with letters from my friends at 10th Street Elementary! It made my day to see the picture they included!!!! Thanks guys, I'll be writing you soon!!!

A Day, A Life, & A God to Celebrate

Today started out with a great beginning, I got to the Community Coordinator's office all by myself!!!!! That in itself is an amazing thing usually Sonia has to come find me when I've gotten off the bus at the wrong place. But no, not today, today I got there all on my own.. well and help from the big guy upstairs.

Went to some meetings with Jill Neherny one with a lady named Dude who works with housing New Zealand I hope to start working with her and a program called "Champs" that is keeping the kids from living lives of gangsters. Next we were off to Rawene Center where I will be volunteering next week. The meeting were all well and good I helped one of the ladies from the center write a request for a grant to refurbish the center.

Jill Nerheny dropped me off a bus stop and I jumped on the first bus to pull up. I ended in the city. I had been feeling a bit homesick the night before and it hung over my mentality all day. I decided to try and lose myself in the city. I walked up and down the streets, music blaring inmy ears. I had no goal, I had no direction, I just existed. I walked where my feet led. I was just another person in a crowd of others. Once I'd walked all over one street I'd find a new one walking down both sides gazing over the different shops and people that filled them.

My feet led me to a cafe not too far from the sky tower. It's open doors welcomed me in. I decided to indulge after all I'd walk off my indulgence if it got out of hand. I had a chocolate muffin and an iced mocha. This cafe is unique and offered a free hour of wifi with any purchase. I was able to catch up with my mom and a few friends as I enjoyed relaxing in my non-existant state. A head nodding kind of music played above as a nice breeze blew in from the streets. Horns blared in the background accompanied by the sound of breaks doing their best to not hit the vehicle infront of them, and the sound of busy city folk scampering from one building to another. Even with all of this noice I found peace... my soul felt rejuvinated, like God new that this was just the thing I was in need of. A cute little bird flew in through one of the open doors. I shared my muffin with him and slowly he came closer and closer until the bird was almost eating out of my palms.

I jumped back onto another bus and made my way home as just another nobody on a bus.

Sometimes not existing was the best existance ever.

I ended my day with a nice sit on the roof and some one-on-one time with God. My windows open up to a tin roof that when crossed lead to another roof that have an oceanic view. Laying against the roof with the wind in my hair I felt God's presence and all homesickness was gone. I was where I was supposed to be. I had to be, I was nothing but and Indiana girl with a love for adventure and a need for something more and now... here I am... surround by more "more" than I could ever ask for. More understanding, more meaning, and more insight on my life and who I am.

today is the day, not just another one.

I love inside days..

Yesterday I spent the day inside studying and doing a favor for a
friend. Genevive is turning 13 soon and they needed help making
invitations. Thanks to mrs. Zerkle my 4th grade teacher for starting
my transformation to a computer geek!

Later that night I had fish & chips on the beach with jill and sonia.
Jill kept throwing chips at the birds sitting by me which resulted in
my chasing of the big mean birds who squsked and stole food from the
smaller ones.

Off the lifegroup after that, we spoke about the direction we believe
we have for our lives... I seemed to be one of the few who had a clue!

Today I went and volunteered at the shore offices. My friend maxine
hooked me up with a paint brush and I painted shields all day for the
armor of God. I can't decide which one was my favorite. It's between
the one with the lion or the one with the fluer de lee. Either way I
enjoyed putting my creativity to work even if I was covered in paint
in the end. Thanks to my great art treacher Sharon beltz for
encouraging my imagination!

Off to Birkenhead tomorrow. I have yet to make it there by myself, I
always get off the bus too early or too late. Maybe tomorrow will be
the day!

Please be praying for the people I come in contact with and the
conversations I have. God works through many ways my job is to use as
many as possible!

God bless and all the best,
a.

Living' la vida loca!

Today I went back to the camp to help with another round. This time
there were no fights at all!!! Yay!

I ended up washing dishes too... Boy did it bring summer flash backs.
Thanks to the rcc staff for unknowingly preparing me for new Zealand.

Went to c3 church for worship and met even more people!!!

God is opening up so many doors and windows here you'd think you were
outside!!!! ( that probably didn't work how I wanted it to...)

Tomorrow is inside rest day of studies!!! I'm trying to be excited
about all the reading I'm asked to do!

a.