CANADA

My first 2hours in Canada were spent in Vancouver International Airport.  It turned out coming in wasn’t straight forward and spent that time in lines for immigration and waiting for officers to decide if my visa would be valid for working at Blueberry. Praise God that there is some law that allows people from NZ to work with Children in Canada without the medical check that I had not had. I now have a work permit in my passport saying I can work at SCA Blueberry Ministry Centre.

The plane that I went from San Fran to Vancouver. Stopping in Portland and Seattle

Once I made it out of immigration I was met by the Jim, Linda and Stephanie Loney. It was Stephanie’s birthday so we then went out for dinner.  Today Linda and Stephanie took me sightseeing around Vancouver. My favourite place was Lynn park and the suspension bridge. It was lovely to go for a walk in bush and see waterfalls. All our photos were done is quick snap fashion as the high for the day was 6^C. One of the last places we went was Granville Island - a very arty place that had a indoor market which was warm and full of interesting smells. 

Stephanie and Linda on the Suspension Bridge

Me in one of the many hollow trees.

Indoor market at Garnville Island

Early night tonight as early start to begin my last day of travel to get to Fort St John. 
Please pray for continued improving in health, safe travel for the last day and that I will be able to fit straight into life at Blueberry.

California

The first thing I noticed as we were coming into LA was GREEN. There were trees and they were green. 

Our first day in LA was spent at Universal Studios. Kelssa and I had our own personal tour guides, Nigel and Sereena Shailer. It was a fun day, we got to go on all the rides. My favourite were the ones the moved around lots like a rollar coaster. Due to the wonderfulness of our guides we had time at the end of the day to catch the train to downtown Hollywood, see the sign, stars and handprints.

The end of the Waterworld show that we watched. 

In the distance you can see the Hollywood sign on the hill

Our time in LA was spent staying with Kirk and Tiffany Meyers and their family. It was such a wonderful time. I was spoilt for choice in books to read..... well I spent pretty much all my time there reading and sleeping recovering from whatever bug I had. They took good care of me. We had a great many laughs and lots of yummy food,  including Monkey bread, while staying there.

Yummy Monkey bread.

 To end where I started we stayed in San Fran for two nights. The day was spent walking around and seeing the sights. It is true that there are lots of steep roads around. The trend around San Fran's fisherman wharf seemed to be statue people. There were some that were all painted and then the ones who were homeless with a sign next to a cup saying help me move.

In the window of the Boudin bakery you could watch them making all these cool looking sour dough breads

At fisherman's wharf walking distance from the hostel, a little bit of spring before returning to winter.

I have now said goodbye to Kelssa, my awesome travel buddy :-(, and am on my way to Canada, YAY!!!! Two more airports then I will be in Vancouver.

Navada Highlights

Josh and Michelle’s Wedding
What a privilege it was to be able to be at their wedding.  It was fun to be a part of the set up and then to see how it all worked out. The wedding was beautiful. Both in the looks of both the decoration and people and what was said. The whole ceremony was Christ centred. It was abundantly clear how much Josh and Michelle loved God and one another and wanted their marriage to be a good picture of Christ and his church. Each of their parents had written letters that were very encouraging to hear as they were read out in the ceremony. Kelssa and I saw different sides of the wedding day, as she was part of the bridal party and I was with Michelle’s mum helping with the final details of set up and pack down. The reception was fun with very yummy food, I got to know some other people talking at the table. The only sad bit was saying quick goodbyes at the end as we all left quickly.

All the decorations for the ceremony packed in around us.

The final product, looked even more amazing with Michelle and Josh standing there.

Josh giving his speech at the reception.

Grand Canyon

The sun was rising as we were being picked up a little before 6am. After our short ride on the transit bus to the tour depot  we all piled onto our tour bus. There were 49 tourists and a very enthusiastic driver (aka Coach operator transportation specialist).  After a short 1.5hr drive we made it to the Hoover Dam – what a spectacular sight!! But onwards we travelled through Boulder, this place was memorable to both of us as we were informed that there is NO GAMBLING allowed and Alcohol was only made legal 30 years ago. Then we passed the road that Forest Gump was filmed on and also the Flintstone village. After a total of 5 hours travel  (a horrible movie and air conditioning breaking down included) we arrived  at the Grand Canyon. What a REMARKABLE sight!! We spent the next 2.5hours walking along the south rim soaking in this attraction. Kelssa just happened to be a little more daring and comfortable around the edge of the Canyon- making other tourists nervous. Teresa was very excited to add a squirrel, raven, and a deer (within arm’s reach)  to her local wildlife count.  We departed from the Grand Canyon national park as the sun was setting- arriving back to our busy hotel at 1030pm.

Kelssa and I nearish the edge of the canyon

The deer right beside the path at the Grand Canyon

Me in a more adventurous moment standing on the edge of the Canyon. 

Las Vegas

The view out of our hotel room

Sign for the Circus Circus Hotel we stayed in.

LIGHTS and more lights and people everywhere. We stayed at the Circus Circus which is on the Strip (main street with all hotels). The inside of our hotel was crazy - people everywhere, shops, slot machines, adventruredome. However our room was lovely. We were on the 29^th floor with a view nice view. It was a comfortable, spacious room allowing for some good much needed sleep. After we were check in we went for a walk down the strip in search of the water and light show. Outside the Bellagio we watched the water dancing to music which was real neat.  We enjoyed a buffet breakfast in the hotel before leaving for LA, another 5.5hr bus trip.

SNOW!!

It was snowing in Reno……. Last night we went to Reno to go to a very cool restaurant and the largest sports store in the USA. For dinner I had a buffalo burger, the other options were elk, ostrich and turkey. The store was huge. It had an archway fish tank, heaps of trophy animals, a shooting game, a faires wheel and models of all the American presidents giving speeches.

Today I was in even more snow. Jackie took Kelssa and I up to Apline Meadows Resort to go skiing. Jackie was great and was patient with me teaching me. It was my first time on skis! By the end of three hours I was able to go down the beginners slope without falling off and going what I thought was fast. I had lots of fun, laughing lots with all my spectacular crashes. Thankfully I have come away with only bruises. The other thing we are thankful to God for is that while we were about to buy pass a gentleman came up to us and gave us two passes for the day as he had finished his days skiing. What a blessing, the whole day only cost me the rental of skis and boots.

Just about at the bottom of the beginners slop I spent my time on.

Jackie, Kelssa and I just before leaving to go see the view from Squaw High Camp

Still no cool wildlife but lots of beautiful views and sunsets.

From California to Nevada

Much to our surprise the weather in Waterford was quite summery.  Warm clear blue skies. I absolutely loved the time we got to spend with the Woodfields. On the Wednesday morning we went to the women’s bible study, it was so encouraging to be able to meet with others sisters in Christ to pray and study.

Thursday was spent travelling. We went on the train from Modesto to Scaramento. It is a two deck train and is really comfy. At the train station in Scaremento we meet a lovely baggage man who put our bags in the hold area without charging us the full amount meaning we could explore/find lunch before Michelle, her Dad and Josh picked us up.

The drive over the border into Nevada was beautiful, it got up to 8000ft and down to 2^C. There was snow (which I was excited to see), frozen lakes and stunning sunset. Now we are in Nevada till the 19^th which will be spent helping Michelle and Josh however we can. At the moment it is sunny, 15^C and there is snow on the hill seen out the kitchen window but on Monday it is supposed to get cold and snow here.

Still have not seen any exciting animals

February 6th, the longset day.

For Kelssa and I Monday lasted for 45 hours. And it was a very exciting day too. 17 hours were spent on an aeroplane and more spent in airports. Our exciting moment was in Sydney airport when my name was called over the loud speaker, that made us move quickly. They just needed to issue me a new boarding pass.

We arrived at San Fran Int’l and got through processing quickly and were picked up by a friend Nicky. Before heading to Barb and Andy Woodfields place in Waterford we spent the day seeing parts of San Fran. We saw the Golden gate bridge from all angles, drove down the steepest street and had 'In and Out'for lunch. The thing that impressed me most was the architecture of the houses and buildings. There are so  many cool looking buildings. The crazy things were the roads. They were like patchwork and I could not work out what the road rules actually were.

After a 12hour slept I am now ready for Tuesday 7^th of Feb.