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.