An NZ bush walk

On Saturday, Andrea, Dad and I went for a walk along the Manawhutu Gorge track. It was a lovely walk through beautiful NZ bush.

Afternoon at the Park

Had a lovely Sunday afternoon going down to Raumati Railway Park with my grandparents and meeting Dad and Mum with my oldest niece and nephew. 

We watched the trains then had a turn ourselves.

This is such a neat idea. Someone loads but the container with sand then it is pulled up and then tipped down a pipe taking it back to the bottom. Curtis loved it and spent ages there. Required working together with which ever other children were around.

Leira thought the seesaw was great fun.

2 Weeks with CEF

I have now been with CEF for two weeks and it has been a busy two weeks which I am enjoying. 

This is a view that I get on the way to Levin

A big part of my time is helping with the Wonder Club on a Thursday afternoon and the Good News Club on a Friday afternoon.

This is the building that we hold the Wonder Club in. It is a 2 house unit that the Levin Church Association purchased, name Hinemoa House. It is used to serve the community in which it is located. This past week we had two girls come and two more planning to join us next time. It is a discipleship group for those who made a profession of faith at Good News Club last year. 




This is the prefab behind Hinemoa House that is a boxing club which we have the Good News Club in. We have now had 19 children come in the three weeks in which we have had club, with 12 being the biggest this past Friday. The children all come from the school that is close by. 

New Home

I have now moved to the next place where I will be living. The contrast is great, hot and sandy compared to cold and snow. 

It is living up to the name with 26 and sunny in the time I have been here. 

The view from my bedroom. I can see the ocean and hear the waves which is pretty cool. When I watch and listen to waves it just makes me think of how mighty and powerful God is. 

    

"Who shut up the sea behind doors
when it burst forth from the womb,

⁹ 

when I made the clouds its garment

    and wrapped it in thick darkness,

¹⁰ 

when I fixed limits for it

    and set its doors and bars in place,

¹¹ 

when I said, ‘This far you may come and no farther;

    here is where your proud waves halt’?
Job 38:8-11

Only a couple of doors down and I can go for a walk along the beach and enjoy the beauty of sunsets.

Today I met Pam Brooking who I will be working alongside. On Friday I begin my time with Child Evangelism Fellowship. 

Enjoying Summer

It seems strange to think that a week ago I was riding bare back in snow all bundled up. It has been a lovely stay in Wellington catching up with family and friends and the warm weather is a bonus.

I went for a walk with my sister and brother-in-law

Found a good tree to climb and climbed.

Waded in the river, I will admit it felt cold when I first stepped in!

I have been able to get a good car at a good price, for which I am thankful to God for. So with that I am going to travel up to the Bay of Plenty and then to the Hawkes Bay before moving to begin my time with CEF. Looking forward to spending time with more friends and some more summer.

Back in NZ

I have made it safely back to New Zealand after a year in Canada. The trip took 34 hours from when I left home to getting out of Auckland airport. Apart from a rush at Calgary the trip was uneventful and even managed to sleep on the long flight.

The first glimpse of NZ land after 29 hours of being in airports and on aeroplanes.

Back in NZ it was strange to be on the left side of the road but lovely to feel the warmth of the sun. It was a cool 21 degrees which was a nice temperature.

It was lovely to catch up with friends in Auckland and then to see my family again. I got to met my newest niece for the first time and looking forward to meting a nephew and seeing the others tomorrow.

Final Week

I am at the end of my final week of my time in Canada. It is with great mixed feelings that I leave. It has been a busy week with the final of Roots and Awana and saying farewells.

The temperature has been cold again. The contrast when I get to NZ will be noticeable I think. Today it has warmed up to -4 so the shock shouldn't be as great.

Yesterday I went for a ride with Kristen and Karis. It was nice to be outside and fun to ride bare back even if I got a new experience of falling off. Unfortunately I landed on the hard packed drive instead of the soft snow. 

After an approximate 30 hour trip back in NZ I will have two weeks to visit and catch up before I begin the next step. I will be moving to Levin to do a 6 month internship with Child Evangelism Fellowship.