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.