Be the Change

Vocation - the New Vacation.

2011-07-31T20:59:00.000-04:00

August approaches rapidly. Tomorrow, the month will change, and it will smell of school supplies and new sneaker rubber. My senses are heightened. I am anticipating a lot of events. In two days, I will begin new teacher training for Knox County Schools. In one week, I will have my first official day at Karns Middle School, my new place of employment - my old stomping grounds. On August 15, students will pour through the doors like eager hide-and-seek hunters (ready or not). Hours of my summer were dedicated to seeking classroom decorations, deciding on and writing classroom procedures, and scouring craigslist for anything I may "need" to make my classroom pop. Excitement pulses through my body. With excitement, however, is also a foreboding sense of worry. New teacher. New employer. New career.
o v e r w h e l m e d
But ready - and right now, that's what matters most. I am ready to stand in front of 7th graders and be whatever I need to be to teach them whatever they need to know.

Vocation can be traced to the Latin vocare. Vocare - to call. More so, a work you are called to by God.
Frederick Buechner says, "The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet." My gladness comes from creating change and making a difference. I imagine that my 7th graders, my co-workers, and my community have a few hungers that have yet to be satisfied.
Ready or not...

Mike Boyd

2011-05-23T17:45:00.000-04:00

My step-father is one of the best men I've known. He passed away on May 18.

Celebrate his life with me:

http://rememberingmichaeljboyd.blogspot.com/2011/05/memories-and-condolences_20.html#comments

Hope

2011-05-03T22:15:00.000-04:00

Broken glass, fallen bricks, and collapsing walls surround me, but I cannot seem to fully grasp what has happened. As I walk through a home that is not my home, my heart breaks piece by piece as if it too had faced the terrorizing storm. Then I realize that I do not know a hurt like this truly. I do not know what it is like to see the home that my grandfather built by hand destroyed by wind. Wind! As I carry out each antique, each picture, each memory, the tears refuse to keep to themselves. I'm overwhelmed for this family, the people of Glade Springs, Virginia, and the region that was hit by the historic storms on May 27/28, 2011.

This post cannot be long, and I do not want to post pictures because words simply do not describe the heaviness of my heart and mind. Lives were lost, homes destroyed, heirlooms ruined, life altered. Yet, today, as I sat on the back of a pick up truck eating lunch prepared by a church down the street in Glade, I saw an old man smile. The background of his smile was his shattered home, but in that smile, I saw hope. Hope is our pulse, and we are alive.

75 + 3 - 30ish x gusto = 13.1

2011-04-19T10:58:00.000-04:00

"I hate running!" Anyone who is anyone is my life has heard this phrase escape my mouth once or twice...a day. I'm famous for making fun of cross country shirts that read, "My sport is your sport's punishment." EXACTLY! I'm no glutton for punishment. However, when the stars align, your time has come. After a two-week vacation touring around the East coast with some Kiwi friends (and EATING EVERYTHING as seen in surrounding pictures), my expanded belly and post-collegiate athlete mindset got the best of me.

I felt a need to do something, but what? Little did I know that fate awaited in a small business in Bristol, Tennessee in the form of an 8x10 marathon training schedule. My friend Bethany gave me the schedule as if I was actually going to do it. I stuffed it in my truck, but it haunted me in the days to come. The next thing I knew, I had two friends on board, and we were training - actually training - for a half-marathon! Over two months of training for one day seems ludicrous, but I like being crazy! Before training, 3.3 miles was the furthest I had ever ran. We kept each other accountable through our training - running further, eating better, trying to sleep. There were days where I would have rather hung upside down by my toes and had a vacuum cleaner attack my face than train, but train I did. Being diabetic created a different challenge for me throughout my training. I had to learn how to control my blood sugar much differently and consistently for each different type of training day. Saying it was easy would be a lie. Many days, I either wanted to quit training or quit being diabetic. However, since neither of those were really an option, onward.

As the day approached, our excitement grew exponentially. FINALLY! We planned the weekend out and familiarized ourself with the race happenings. We set our goals for finishing. We could finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. All of our training, stretching, eating, sleeping - it was time to perform.

Race day - Game day

So many people! Here we go! Cassie, Katie, and I stayed together for about five miles. I realized during mile 1 that I lost all of my sugar tablets and just prayed my blood sugar was as determined as I was. The first eight miles felt pretty good. Checked my blood sugar between mile 6/7. Perfect! My legs began to protest during mile

nine. Walking seemed like such a better option than running. Cassie and Katie were nowhere in sight, and I felt like I was all by myself with no motivation. Then I saw the goofy smiles of Michael, David, and Corey and couldn't help but smile myself. I made it to the gel station at mile 10 and decided to walk briefly, take some gel and Powerade, and give the blood sugar a minute to get fired up for the end of the race. I'm pretty sure mile 11 was entirely a hill. This was the lowest point of the race for me. "WHY AM I STILL RUNNING? WHY AM I ON A HILL!!!!" Then I saw it. The mile 12 shining in its orange glory was just ahead. Suddenly, I felt fine. More than fine. I only had one more mile in this race! Really? Just one more? The finish line was a beautiful sight, even if it was in the worst football stadium in the country.

Katie and Cassie had finished just before me. Reuniting was a celebration! We did it!

We also had four friends run the marathon relay portion of the race. They were representing Rachel Bruce, a wonderful woman who is courageously battling cancer. What a joy it was to share this day with them and support Rachel through them! So many reasons to run, so many goals, so many people. What a blessing!
Friends, boyfriends, husbands, parents - we had such an awesome support crew! These people supported us throughout the whole training process, and I am convinced we would not have made it without them.

75 training days
+
3 wonderful women
-
30 days, give or take, that training was terrible
x
a large dose of gusto
=
Half-marathon completion

Throughout the whole process, one quote kept surfacing in my thoughts.
"Every step you take has to be more unbelievable than the step before." Esther Kahn
It HAS to be. If it's not, you're wasting your time. If you don't train harder, you're wasting your time. If you aren't striving to be better, you're wasting your time. In running and in life. "Thy life is a miracle!" King Lear reads. Shakespeare tries time and again to communicate that our life is a miracle. Miracles are unbelievable. Be unbelievable in whatever race you're running.

It might be painful.
It might be hard.
You won't always feel like smiling.

But you'll smile eventually.

Here's to smiling. And miracles.

Lesson from a Child

2011-01-16T19:26:00.000-05:00

[If you are reading this on facebook and wish to view the original post, please click the link below]

The heart of a child, unwounded yet by the inevitable battles and struggles of life and untarnished by the world that is waiting so eagerly to crush dreams and extinguish hope, is a precious gift. However, as children, we know not that what we have is irreplaceable. Therefore, as adults, we must recognize this gift an enjoy it. Maybe it was meant for us all along - to serve as a reminder of where we come from, to rekindle the hope and rebuild the dreams that we let die to our foes.

My stepdad is battling cancer. He has seen it all; chemo, radiation, surgery - you name it. These procedures have left him with only the partial ability to speak. We understand him well, but he must speak quietly and constantly wet his mouth because his saliva glands no longer work.

My Aunt Jackie was relaying these facts to her boss, Rhonda, during a random chat at the office one day. Rhonda's seven-year-old daughter Chloe was around that day, and she happened to overhear the conversation between the two women. Upon leaving, Chloe asked her mother if they could stop at the store and purchase come Magnet Doodles. Rhonda inquired as to why Chloe wanted to make such a purchase. Chloe told her that she wanted to buy them for the man who had cancer and couldn't talk anymore so that he could write down the things he needed to say.

Chloe's gift of a simple, inexpensive children's toy holds within those magnets the gift of love.

1 Cor. 13:13

Children find everything in nothing; men find nothing in everything. ~Giacomo Leopardi

Thank you, Chloe.

A Thread

2011-01-11T14:40:00.000-05:00

Franklin D. Roosevelt once said, "When you find yourself at the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on." But what do you do when you don't feel like you even have a rope? Sometimes life feels as if it is unraveling at the seams. Sorrow weaves its way in and out of happiness, wearing down the strength you thought you had, until all that is left is one thread.

A thread - not a rope.

Tie a knot in a thread and you may be able to hold a pillow together.

Not a heart.

It's crazy to think that the thread that keeps us barely, barely holding on is the same thread that knitted together the clouds overhead, the fanning feathers of peacocks, and the blooming petals of daisies.

Live and Let Live

2010-12-07T21:34:00.000-05:00

"The definition of tolerance is simple. Live and let live. You live your life and I will live mine."
This quote was given by a speaker at a conference I attended in October of this year. As I listened to the utterance of the words above, I found myself almost mesmerized that this was an option for living. Live and let live? Really?
Is this truly how we are meant to live?
Or are we called to do so much more than this?
I understand this concept when it comes to condemnation. I absolutely do not see how it is my place to condemn anyone for his or her words or actions. But to simply live and let live? To essentially exist without focusing on interaction and engagement? To remove the intermingling of our lives so that we may just exist rather than push each other toward goodness, nay, greatness...
I believe tolerance is the wrong idea.
But what do we replace it with?

Reflect. Rinse. Repeat. (Part 3)

2010-08-02T23:52:00.000-04:00

"We live in a culture where it is easy and acceptable to do what is comfortable." - Francis Chan

"The opposite of poor is not wealth. The opposite of poor is enough." - Compassion International

"I have overcome the world." - Jesus

Stuff. Everywhere. I have it. You have it. I love it. You love it.
But why? What is it about stuff that is so attractive?

Luke 12
"Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions" v. 15
"Fool! This night your very soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be? So is the one who lays up treasures for himself and is not rich toward God." v. 20-21

Francis Chan argues that what the world deems as radical is actually what our life should look like everyday. Am I radical? Are you radical? What even is this word radical?
This ? This ? or This ?
What is radical to you?
And are you willing to make that normal?
Am I?

Reflect. Rinse. Repeat. (Part 2)

2010-07-28T00:55:00.000-04:00

"Seeing our lives as quests opens the way to our also seeing them in terms of process and possibilities, in terms 'a route, an experience which gradually clarifies itself, which gradually rectifies itself and proceed by dialogue with itself and with others'" (Green, 2000, p. 75).

"To take one road, surely, is to embark upon a quest - and, perhaps, to choose the one that seems to us 'less traveled by' may (or may not) make all the difference. There is nothing objectively certain about either road. All we can say is that from the vantage point of a situated consciousness, perspectives are opening, vistas are appearing shapes - yes, and shadows too - are making themselves visible. This is the kind of moment I hope we can keep alive even though (as Frost reminds us) there is no 'going back'" (Greene, 2000, p. 75-76).

This word quest seems to follow me around wherever I go. I remember being fascinated by it when I was younger. I was always on a "quest" for something. I came to King, and we entered into a "Quest for Significance". Now, as I sit on my hotel bed, I am visited by "Quest" once more. Thus, I am taught, or reminded rather, that quests don't come and go. Currently, I'm questing. Are you?

Greene, M. (2000). Releasing the imagination: Essays on education, the arts, and social change. San Fransisco: Jossey-Bass.

Reflect. Rinse. Repeat. (Part 1)

2010-07-26T18:47:00.000-04:00

Reflection is a necessity. It is not an option or a suggestion. One must reflect to keep going. Some people suppress the need to reflect until they are existing in this sub-world of mediocrity. But richness of life comes through reflection. I have recently come to realize that my need to reflect is not only necessary, but must happen often. When overwhelmed, extremely busy, or anxious, I too trade reflection for productivity, until at last, productivity and life itself function at a bare minimum.

When things become hectic, and stresses enter our life, we begin to think, "I need to approach the throne of God with these things." I argue that instead we change our thought to "I need to approach the throne of God." Maybe we should try sitting in His presence, resting in His grace, rather than running through the door with our arms full of problems.

I devote this week, above all else, to reflection and meditation. Life will still happen - there are places to go, assignments to do, people to help, and lessons to learn - but that's the point. We must discipline ourselves to reflect, to meditate, to approach the throne of God AMIDST these happenings, not removed from them.

Life is an Adventure

2010-07-14T23:37:00.000-04:00

New Zealand has been on my mind all day. Well, honestly, New Zealand is on my mind many days, but today in particular. A year ago, I was flying over the Pacific Ocean, having just said goodbye to what had become like home to me. I didn't sleep a wink during the 36 hours it took May and I to set foot on Appalachian soil. The send-off itself was enough to keep a person awake with joy for 36 hours,

not to mention the thousands of memories I had created with the smiling faces you see above (plus many more!). What a crazy, almost whimsical experience. I would say that it feels like a dream, except that NZ is engrained into my mind and body in ways I still cannot explain. How can someone become so attached to a place after only one year? It is unexplainable to me.

New Zealand gave me so much. First and foremost, it proved (as if I need proof) that God is the same across the nations. He is Love and Grace and Justice, and He is just as much in New Zealand as He is in America, Kenya, and the corners of the earth. New Zealand also gave me friends, family even, that I will eternally cherish. New Zealand gave me new teams to cheer for, like the All Blacks and the Black Caps, and new sports to love (rugby, cricket, netball!).

New Zealand gave me hokey pokey, ginger beer, the Tim Tam Slam, and kumera fries.

New Zealand provided me with the mantra "Why live life on the edge when you can jump off?"

New Zealand gave me a beautiful, wonderful, irreplaceable, blessed friendship.

New Zealand gave me peace and tranquility. Respite in a time when I knew not even that I needed it.

New Zealand gave me new words like sweet as, togs, footpath, torch, flannel, lollies, kia ora, ice block, and mate. I clearly could go on and on about what New Zealand gave me. But let's move on to what New Zealand taught me.

Faith.

Love above all else.

When things get hard, don't wish for easier, become stronger.

There's no such thing as a stranger.

God is crazy and spontaneous.

Everyone's different. I'm not always right. The world isn't fair. These all make life interesting.

Pray. Pray. Pray.

Listen. Listen. Listen.

Praise. Praise. Praise.

It has been two years since I left for my adventure in New Zealand. It has been one year since I returned from that adventure. But I haven't really returned from that adventure at all. Life is not about segmented phases or constrained experiences. Life is life. Life is good. Life is an adventure - an adventure with a miraculous beginning and an eternal ending. New Zealand was just a part of the wonderful journey. Maybe we'll embrace again and travel together another time, maybe we won't, but forever I'll have New Zealand and New Zealand will have me. New Zealand gave me me, and for that, I am grateful.

What fights injustice? Just us.

2010-03-18T23:12:00.003-04:00

Slavery is a word of the past. Pre-1865 to be exact. Right? This is what we think about when we think about slavery. There was the transatlantic slave trade, and Lincoln said he wasn't going to get involved, and then he did get involved. Then there was no more slavery.
Oh...wait...
Except right now there are 30 million people in slavery.

THIRTY MILLION PEOPLE.

One million children are sold into prostitution each year.

When I was 8, I was eating Fruity Pebbles and watching Ninja Turtles.

What was she doing at 8?

During the slave trade, a slave would cost around $400-$500. Now? You can go down on the corner and get a kid for $40. Children are the styrofoam cups of slavery. Use them. Crumple them. Throw them away. Injustice is someone in power using that power to overtake someone without power and holding hostage their life, dignity, and humanity.

International Justice Mission is an organization who just won't take the injustice anymore. Sending social workers, lawyers, communicators, and anyone with a passion for freedom and reconciliation to free men, women, and children from bondage. Visit the website to see the intricate details of what IJM does, but let me give you a taste.

Cebu, a providence in the Philippines, has seen a 70% drop in slavery in less than two years thanks to the work of IJM.

70% in less than TWO years

In Cambodia, police busted a rice mill using slaves. The owner of the first rice mill tipped off the owner of another rice mill and that owner took off with his slaves. The two owners gathered up some of their slave supporting friends, marched up to the police, magistrate, and IJM workers - and charged.

The police ran...

...the magistrate ran...

...the IJM workers stood arm-in-arm between the slave owners

and

the slaves.

IJM workers showed courage.

The police came back.

The magistrate came back.

There are 25 freed slaves in Cambodia.

What can you do?

You could go stand arm in arm against potentially armed and dangerous slave owners until they back down.

You could raise money and support those who are going to stand arm in arm against potentially armed and dangerous slave owners until they back down.

You could pray for those who are going to stand arm in arm against potentially armed and dangerous slave owners until they back down.

You could talk about those who are going to stand arm in arm against potentially armed and dangerous slave owners until they back down.

Men need our help. Women need our help. Children need our help.

Don't close your eyes.

This won't go away. Not without action.

Do something

If at First You Don't Succeed...

2010-02-18T11:24:00.001-05:00

"Never let the sense of failure corrupt your new action." - O. Chambers

Shaun White is known as the greatest snowboarder America has ever seen. Winning his first Olympic gold medal at the age of 19 by throwing down the best score the Winter Olympics has ever seen in snowboard halfpipe was only the start of something great. Shaun holds multiple milestones in the snowboarding/skating realm, including 14 X Games gold medals, and the first male to four-peat in any X Games discipline.

But even the greatest have their flaws, their failures. Shaun White is no exception. Want to know what its like to have your head slam into a block of ice? Just ask Shaun White, or at least watch it here.

But this isn't the face of a failure.
That's because Shaun White stormed the halfpipe again in Vancouver to win his second Olympic gold. Not only did he win again, but he also beat his own Olympic record high score. Not only did he beat his own Olympic high score, but he did it in the first round, not the second (knowing before his second run even started that he was the champion). Not only did he win in the first round, but he threw down the same trick you saw him bail on in the previous video, plus a trick that has never been thrown - double mctwist 1260.

Now, while the lesson here might be "Don't smash your face into a block of ice," I think a more appropriate lesson to take away is found in the aforementioned quote by Oswald Chambers. Do not ever let your sense of failure corrupt what you are doing next. The past is indeed the past. If you let it ruin the coming present, and you build for yourself a life of expected failure and watered down moments, you are doing yourself (and the world) a terrible disservice.

Don't let something like this keep you from doing something like this.

Forget Yourself

2010-02-17T16:16:00.000-05:00

"Self-forgetfulness in the presence of greatness is the capstone of joy." - J. Piper

Many times, the view we have is only extended to the end of our nose. We are so self-absorbed and self-concerned. all. the. time.
When was the last time you forgot yourself entirely? Not out of a lack of concern for yourself but because you allowed something to be greater than yourself.
Because trust me, there are a lot of things in this world that are greater than you.
Do me a favor and set aside 45min of your time to experience just a glimpse of what I'm talking about here.
(The link is to part 1 of 5 parts. Please watch all 5 parts.)

I hope that sometime this week, you find yourself full of joy, not because of who you are, but because of something much greater than you are.

Celebrate the Day

2009-12-25T16:39:00.000-05:00

What could be better than Christmas caroling? Well, arguably, a lot of things, but whether you like to carol or not, I'm sure you have a favorite carol or two that you hum while walking around the house. Maybe you find yourself humming "Silent Night" as you tuck in the kids at night or "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" during the yearly decorating extravaganza of the tree. My best friend probably knows every rendition of "Little Drummer Boy" imaginable. I personally have always been a fan of "O Holy Night" ever since I was a little girl.

There is definitely a place for carols. But when I think upon my favorite Christmas tunes, I must share with you two songs that have captured my heart. The first is not even a Christmas song at all, but does refer to Christmas, which makes it close enough for me. Better Days by Goo Goo Dolls...a true and pure depiction of Christmas spirit. How easily we are concerned with materialistic gain and want when so much good and hope has been born into the world, not only centuries ago but minutes ago.
The second song that you must experience this Christmas season is I Celebrate the Day by Relient K.
The chorus goes a little something like this:
   And the first time that you opened your eyes
   Did you realize that you would be my Savior?
   And the first breath that left your lips
   Did you know that it would change the world forever?
I don't know about you, but those four lines are some of the most overwhelming lines that have ever stared me in the face. My lips have uttered these words for the past few days in humility, in joy, in awe...
Merry Christmas

Let's Make a Deal

2009-12-23T15:37:00.000-05:00

Christmas used to always be the same. Excitement would fill the air after Thanksgiving as people would put up their lights and decorations, welcoming Christmastime into the neighborhood. Then inflatable decorations came along and a part of my Christmas decoration heart broke forever. But things change.
Every December 1st, I would begin opening the small flaps to my 25 days of Christmas chocolates - one chocolate a day, and I felt indulgent even. That box eventually went away, which is probably good considering I'm diabetic and all. Now I celebrate the 25 days of Christmas according to ABC family's continual Christmas entertainment offerings. Things change.
Christmas Eve was the beginning of the real excitement for our family. All twentyish of us tucked away in a living room that comfortable sat five, the mayhem began. Food galore (always leaving out that one item we hid away earlier in the day for storage), our bellies became the holders of joy for most, discontent for some. I always had the humble pleasure of reading Luke's account of the birth of Christ to the family. Once the wrapping paper went flying, there was really no telling what was going on. Kids first, parents second, Nana last - always last, while we all watched respectfully (the younger, the more impatient, but always respectful). After the extended family antics were over, we headed home for a cup of hot chocolate, a fire in the fire place, and a choice of one present from under the tree. Anticipation of the morning made way into our minds as we rested their vessels on our pillows. Christmas morning consisted of breakfast and presents and gaiety and laughter - slow enjoyment of the morning. Then we would head back to Nana's for another meal that would feed an army and some more time enjoying the company of each other, without the wrapping paper, but just as much chaos. * It's not even Christmas Eve yet and I have opened all of my presents rather unceremoniously at random times over the past month. I spent the past Sunday cleaning my Nana's shell of a house so that prospects could come decide if they should live their lives in the place that houses the majority of mine. I used to open presents with my cat Bowge, and this year my dog Bella was not even home for the pre-Christmas excitement. Some things just change.

Change isn't a bad thing. I mean, I've changed a lot over the years. I used to enjoy the craziest things, and now...well, maybe that wasn't the greatest example. But you know what I mean. Change isn't bad. But it is a thing. An interesting thing. A thing I'm grateful for. But a thing. And things need to be dealt with. Let the dealing begin.

I am not my own.

2009-12-03T00:52:00.003-05:00

Have you ever been floored by a song? I am talking about the kind of reaction that leaves you without words, without thoughts, without breath. The kind where you don't move and you can't remember the last time you did. The kind where your heart shouts "AGAIN!!" and your mind agrees.

You haven't?

You are now invited to the experience.

Buried beneath

2009-12-02T20:57:00.003-05:00

So, I came across this quote today in the Notes widget on my iPod:

The stones, they speak years, and the leaves, they have ears better than we do ourselves.

The indentions are canyons that memories manage and traditions are buried beneath.

And I thought to myself, "Self, that is a really good quote. Why didn't you write down who said it?" And as I tried hard to think back to when it was written (Sept 28, 2008 at 1:21a), I realized that it is an original quote.

Now I am not normally one to brag, but I must say that I did boost my own confidence a little when I realized that without (recalled) knowledge that I had written it, I appreciated what was said. The more I read it, the more I like it. I really love a good quote. I will probably do more with it now that I have (re)discovered it, but for now I just wanted to share it with you.

I'll take credentials for $12,000

2009-11-15T09:59:00.004-05:00

Trying to figure out life takes a lot of work. Have you ever had a day where you really tried to hammer out the details of your life and afterward found yourself too tired to be productive? I've had a few of those unfortunate days recently.

Life, as usual, finds its way concerned about money. I find myself feeling pressured about pursuing my M.Ed., unsure if this is the path I want to take. I keep coming back to the phrase, "Well, I don't want to keep spending money on something I'm not going to use." I'm sure we've all been there before.

I want to be a college professor. Sometimes I want to drop what I'm doing now, enroll in masters program for English, and just start down that road. However, something keeps telling me, "No. Be patient." So, instead of resisting this urging, I decided to join it, to be patient. In this patience, I have realized that yes, I do want to teach at the collegiate level, but teaching is so much more than having the credentials that qualify you to do so. What can you teach if you have no experience? Facts only go so far. We learn to live, and if I haven't lived, what do I have to teach?

The more I think about this, the more excited I become about where I am and what I am doing now. It's fun to think about the future, but being in the present is pretty great too. Nothing that I am doing is really a waste; it's more like building a resume for life. Besides, I may not be in a classroom right now, but I find myself teaching college students every day, another point I've managed to miss over the past three months.

Holmes on the Move

2009-09-15T11:14:00.007-04:00

The URL for this blog is http://holmesonthemove.blogspot.com

Little did I know the prophetic nature of this web address choice when I created it. Honestly, I thought, "That sounds intriguing. Carmen Sandiagoesque even." But on the move is all I have been since the creation of this blog - so much so that this blog does not really receive the love and attention I intended to provide when we first started off in this collaborative relationship.

So, would you like to hear about my recent "movement"? I suppose you do, or you wouldn't be here reading this. If not, feel free to click elsewhere.

America is a different place than it once was. Well, for me it is anyway. For one year I lived with tunnel vision instead of bifocals when it came to my view of the motherland. Now I am back, immersed in this country and all that She is. Surprisingly, this is not upsetting. I can guarantee my mother feared my overseas adventure for the simple reason that she doubted my return. I've always spoken about how this place was not for me. I was meant for somewhere else.

However, now I am here, and I am in love. The mountains that embrace me, the leaves that whisper quietly as they make room for the frost, and the Red, White, and Blue that waves proudly in the changing wind all dote upon a place in my heart I can't quite explain.

Working at King College is such a blessing. I am at one of the places I love most in a field of work that I enjoy most - relational and active are main descriptors for my occupation. My strongest desire is that students will love King as much as I learned to love King. The process of learning to love is long, but the benefits are invaluable.

As I am working here, I am also participating in the Masters of Education program. While this specific decision was almost last minute in terms of the application deadline, it's a decision that has been waiting dormant in my mind for years, now rapidly gaining momentum with every class and assignment. Don't get me wrong; it's difficult. But remember, the process of learning to love is long, and the M.Ed. is a process.

Upon my return to the States in July, I rediscovered many joys that vacated my mind previously. Cracker Barrel, country music, and the Big Dipper to name a few. However, I am now entering my element as college football season is underway and Saturdays are filled with fanatical people, team paraphernalia, and extreme mood swings accredited to the success (or failure) of one's beloved gridiron warriors. College Football, you make me happy.

Understand that upon my reflection of returning home, I am not losing what I gained while I was away. In fact, I am still developing from and marinating in all that New Zealand gave to me. Friendships, lessons, trials, and experiences flood my mind as I write these words. A year like that is not easily forgotten. As I sit at my dining room table and write, I can see many souvenirs that remind me of places I've been and people I met. It's easy to think, "Wow! What a crazy ride!" when in fact I know that it was so much more than that.

Now I must go be responsible. Apparently that is why they pay me.

Ka Kite Ano Aotearoa

2009-07-13T23:36:00.002-04:00

This will be my last post from New Zealand.

America here I come.

Jump Off!

2009-07-03T09:11:00.004-04:00

Saying that the past three weeks have been a whirlwind would be an embarrassment to the title 'understatement'. The past three weeks were filled with so many crazy things and programs and games and fun and people. Looking back over the time, seems impossible that twenty-two days could not possibly hold so much substance, but sure enough, time soaked everything right up.

First of all, Jordan (my boyfriend) arrived on June 10! This may or may not have been one of the greatest days of my life. Having him here was so amazing. I didn't even imagine how special it would be to me for him to see all of the things I have been doing and the people I have met and the places I have visited. I could be mistaken, but I'm pretty sure he loved it here. We'll be back, New Zealand.

Detailing the past three weeks may be too much, I fear, for you to truly handle. I will highlight some things that come to mind, and maybe I will add to the list as the days pass by.

*All Blacks vs France - this game was AWESOME! Great to see the #1 world rugby team have a go at France! Ultimate kiwi experience I'd say.
* Taupo Bungy! - Jumping is always an exciting time! Jordan and I tandem jumped. Why live life on the edge when you can jump off?
*Basketball - this always makes the list. I love the game and I love my team.
*Star Wars Minis night - Lots of people. Lots of minis. We were all geeking out. It rocked.
*Castle Point - Have you ever watched waves crash over the reef, walked out to an amazing lighthouse, and viewed seals at close distances, all within the time frame of an hour? Go to Castle Point
*Food - Fish 'n Chips, Burger Fuel, Kebabs, milk bottles, tim tams, pineapple lumps, cadbury, milo, L&P, Ginger Beer, Mac's Beer, Monteith's Beer, Saviougn Blanc, Roast, Kumera chips, Hokey Pokey, Pavlova. Having Jordan around allowed us all to really get into the Kiwi way of food.
*Crazy weekend - We refer to June 26-28 as the crazy weekend. Hockey tournament, Soul Active, Yea for You, Basketball, spoke at St. Columba, 24-hour prayer, Baptism services at Catalyst. whew.
*Friends - I have decided that I have the coolest, funniest, best friends in the entire world. And since I have been on both sides, I think I can say that truthfully. If you try to dispute me, I'll cut you (that's for you May, Jordan, Ness and Dan!)
*Youth Group - Glow sports night and the indoor hockey tournament were both high energy and too much fun!!! Probably two of my favorite youth group nights in New Zealand.
*Taupo - Brief holiday with Jordan, May, Vanessa, and Dan. I couldn't really think of a better way to spend some time in New Zealand than with some of my favorite people in an amazing and beautiful place doing some of something and a whole lot of nothing.
*Wellington - Did a lot of things with Jordan in town. Weta Cave (Weta is the film studio for Lord of the Rings, Narnia, King Kong etc), Te Papa, Mac's Brewery, Midnight Espresso, Ball Room pool hall, Mount Victoria.
*Pencarrow - Another lighthouse Jordan and I visited. We biked around Eastbourne out to Pencarrow, a now unused lighthouse in Wellington Harbour. The neat thing was that some guys were working on the lighthouse, and they let us have a look inside. They only work on it a couple of times a year. We are so lucky!
*Jordan in general - basically this was MY highlight of the past three weeks. All the other things were just bonuses. Being apart for over ten months is not something that I would want to do all of the time. While it was hard, we survived, but having him close again was one of the more beautiful things I've ever experienced.

With only just over a week to go, my mind is being stretched and pulled in so many directions. Having Jordan here put America back into perspective - like it actually still exists and I am going back to it really soon. But I have done so much here and built so many relationships. This has been my home for the past year and leaving it will not be easy, even though Tennessee has been beckoning me since my departure. Talk about an emotional rollercoaster.

The Circle of Life

2009-06-09T06:38:00.004-04:00

As most of you know (or all of you, actually), I am in New Zealand. I have been here for ten months and one day and it has been a wonderful adventure. What I would like to do right now is tell you how I ended up in New Zealand.

I have always voiced my opinion of not liking America too much. My mother will probably reprimand me for writing that in my blog, so at least let me explain. I am thankful for where I was born and all of the blessings that I have because of that. However, I have always wanted out. I have always wanted to experience more than America because, believe it or not, there IS more than America. A lot of times we Americans forget that. I had a brief taste of this during a one month excursion to Africa, but lets face it - we all knew I would leave the country when I graduated. The question was only where? not if?

I recall a warm spring evening when May and I (as juniors) were working together, serving at King's bachaloriatte. We were talking about when we graduated and what we would do. That date seemed like it would never come for us. We spoke of things we liked, things we dreamed of, things we wanted. We tossed around friendly ideas of moving to the beach together and working (on our tan). Then I said, "May, we should do ministry together." A cordial "yeah" escaped her mouth and we went on our way. Neither of us ever actually expected us to come to fruition. That's what you get for expecting.

Then the magic happened. I wanted to leave the country. China? Kenya? New Zealand? Where would I go? Mom thought I was a little too much for China, so she pushed against that every chance she got. That left a strong two options. Then the magic happened. Between Dan Kreiss and Jo & Kerry Logan (my supervisors here), they began to work out what would be the next year of my life. Along the way, May was picked up.

I would like to briefly say that May is one of the biggest blessings I have ever been given. New Zealand would be impossible without her. I would also like to interject here for a moment and speak of Dan's role in my life. Getting to know Dan was one of my favorite things about King. He is a wonderful man who gives so much (too much, a lot of the time) because he knows what it means to tend to souls and dreams and aspirations. He poured so much into me and I owe a portion (and a big one) of who I am today to him.

I tell you that because obedience deserves to be accounted for. Our lives are a conglomeration of previous acts of obedience. Dan was obedient in coming to King and therefore, could invest in me. But who was obedient for Dan's sake?

Today, I heard a man named Duffy Robbins speak. Some of you may know him. He has written many books on youth ministry both by himself and with Doug Fields. He has transformed the way we look at a lot of our methods and ideology when it comes to youth. He has helped hundreds, probably thousands of ministers through his speaking, writing, and teaching. What you may not know about Duffy is that he advised and mentored Dan while Dan was in college.
Duffy poured his life and his energy into Dan.
Dan poured his life and his energy into me.
And today I sat in New Zealand, because of Dan, listening to the man who helped get Dan where he is today.

Do you grasp how insanely beautiful that is?

Just Like on Television

2009-05-27T06:56:00.003-04:00

For those of you that do not know, I was in a rather unfortunate car accident in February of this year. In this accident, I essentially knocked a man off his motorcycle as he was trying to overtake me in a residential area. Somehow, what seemed like an obvious contributory fault turned 100% toward me. Hiring a lawyer, I pursued to defend myself, finding faults in the police report and summary of facts. However, after understanding the cost of the lawyer compared to the cost of the fines and after weighing all of the consequences, I decided to simply plead guilty and put the incident behind me.

Well, behind me is not at all where this incident has gone. In fact, here we sit, May 27, and this issue still is not at rest. However, I am not actually here to talk about my situation with the New Zealand judicial system. I am here to talk about two cases I witnessed while waiting for my own to be called.

1. Middle-aged european businessman, pursuing a marketing and accounting degree, is charged with insurance fraud. Tried to claim insurance on a camera $1800 more expensive than the one that was broken. The fraud took place in two stages. First, making the initial claim. Second, changing the claim sheet to read for the more expensive camera. The man's lawyer tried to plead his case saying that it wasn't a premeditated action and that the judge should have mercy because the case isn't serious and the man is trying to pursue a successful career in the business world and insurance fraud would basically end all of that. The man also wished to travel to the USA to work, and a criminal conviction would make it practically impossible to reach America. The lawyer asked the judge to consider all of these facts while making his decision, as this man's life was in the hands of the judge.

2. Middle-aged polynesian blue collar worker. Previously imprisoned and permanently disqualified from driving. Since imprisonment, he has made an effort to stay solidly employed, and now has the opportunity to buy the business where he works, which the current owner of the business supports. He has no alcohol or drug offenses. He is solely supporting his partner and her three children. Plus, since his release from prison, he has reestablished a relationship with his own daughter and now supports her as well. In March, he was pulled over for an unrelated incident, was found to be disqualified, and that was why he appeared in court. His reason for driving was that his partner had been out drinking, felt it unsafe to walk, and was unsuccessful in calling a taxi. All of this was confirmed.

The judge was what you would call a patriarch. Not a dad. Not a father. Not a judge. A patriarch. He was warm, stern, helpful, disciplinary, and firm. He handled each case as a personal case, and not another document on his podium of endless paperwork. Every decision he made seemed well thought out and processed. Never have I seen a man portray so much discernment consistently as this man showed on Tuesday.

But shall I tell you what happened to the men?
The european was convicted. The judge told him that he understands that once decided to pursue the path of insurance fraud, no matter how spur of the moment the decision was, one may feel trapped and thus follow through until the end, but that doesn't change the fact that what he did was wrong and premeditated. Not only that, but the business world is unforgiving and he deserves to face up to the consequences the business world has to offer a businessman convicted of insurance fraud.
The polynesian was free to go. The judge, fully supporting his 180 degree turn around in life felt that convicting him of infringement would be detrimental to his family and his future business prospect. The judge reminded him that until he requalifies himself, the man is still unable to drive, but that no further restriction would be placed on him and that he is expected to never be seen in court for this again, otherwise the consequence will be heavy.

I cannot believe the power a judge holds over the lives of so many. Instantly, two men saw their lives on the chopping block. One wiped the sweat clean from his brow and the other couldn't find his head after it rolled away. Yet both decisions seemed fair and right and just.

I really have no great theological wisdom to share after you've spent so much time reading all of these stories. Maybe in retrospect I will find something wise and superior to say, but for now, I simply wanted to share my interest in this weeks unique experience. I did come to New Zealand in order to learn all facets of the culture, but I wasn't planning on befriending the court quite so easily. I guess everyone needs a good story. Besides, I look good in orange.

"I'm a believer with a sense of humor!"

2009-05-14T05:46:00.002-04:00

Don't you just love when weeks present you with something different and exciting? Well, I do, and that is what tonight gave to me. Some mates and I went into town to The Fringe Club to hear this guy, Dave Wiggins, do a comedy act. I'm a fan of stand-up comedy so no one really had to sell this idea to me, but what it really cool is that this guy is a Christian (and an American!). While clearly this was a fun night out on the town, I'm also left with a few larger concepts that Dave provided to reflect upon as the night wears on. I would like to address two of those concepts here.

1. I felt quite comfortable at this show. Maybe that should be normal, but let me create the environment for you. This Christian guy does comedy in the darkened room of a bar on the corner of Cuba Street. In the middle of the act, he claims, "I love Jesus." Now, for a Christian, you could be like, "Whoa, a bar? What's a guy like him doing in a bar like that?" And, for a non-Christian, you could be like, "Whoa, a Christian? What's a guy like him doing in a bar like that?" From a lot of people's views, these would be two puzzle pieces that just don't fit. However, it was a beautiful thing. Who says a Christian can't do that? If anything, he SHOULD do that! I mean seriously guys, this dude is FUNNY! And, as I've talked about in here before (and if I haven't, well I should have) that laughter is universal. It transcends culture and language and religion. This guy makes laughter and he should do it wherever the heck he wants. St. Johns on Wednesday, The Fringe Club on Thursday, the Vatican on Friday, and Soho on Saturday. We can actually co-exist. It's possible.

2. In his show, Dave told the story of Jesus healing the blind man with mud. He said, "Can you imagine Jesus spitting in some mud, picking it up, and just rubbing it all in that guys face? I mean, that is funny!" And he is right! How many times have you laughed at someone getting pied in the face? God is probably looks down at that joke everytime and thinks, "Man, they stole my material!" Jesus rubbed wet dirt in this guys face! So often we place Jesus in this really serious role, and why? Isn't he human? Have you ever thought about this - Jesus farted. No. People don't talk about that, but it happened. Can't you just see it now - disciples all sitting around listening to something Jesus has to say and he just lets one rip. Do you think they just sat there, straight faced, refusing to smile? Doubt it! Thomas probably fell off his rock and Peter was like, "Man Jesus, talk about uncleanliness!"

We're [Christians] so rigid. Loosen up. Be strong in what you believe, but really, get a sense of humor.

The Moment

2009-04-27T04:57:00.003-04:00

To bring to a more advanced or effective state; to bring out the capabilities or possibilities of; to cause to grow or expand

D e v e l o p

Helping and watching people develop may be one of the more fascinating areas of my job. The beginning of a process is so intense, so detailed, so time-consuming. As time rolls on, an individual usually begins to take ownership over more and more of the process himself. Usually this is where mistakes are made and mistakes are good and challenging, essential to continual growth. If you aren't making mistakes, you may need to check how deep the rut is that you are stuck in.

I am sure there are many detailed lists of how development is meant to take place. I took an entire course called Adolescent Development during my undergrad degree. This course taught us each step of an adolescent's growth. I learned all the warning signs, quirks, and processes that highlight an adolescent's physical and emotional development. But there is one thing I didn't learn about in that class, or any class - the moment.

Do you know what 'the moment' is? It is when all textbook information is thrown out the window, when facts and lists and processes don't have a role anymore. The moment is when it finally clicks, when the only thing you can do is sit back and watch the fireworks. I have come to love the moment. The moment is what makes my job worth long hours, low pay, and emotional stress. The moment is why I put so much time into the silliest things like exam packages or fifteen conversations over the same three-line prayer or a game where you blend disgusting foods together to create a choice milkshake. The moment is why 3am texts only make me slightly upset instead of terribly angry. The moment is why I give until I have nothing left.

I experienced a lot of moments over the past ten days. We took nineteen youth to the south island for a mission trip / leadership experience. There were times on that trip where I wanted to be anywhere but in a house with nineteen teenagers. At midnight, when the decibel levels were higher than ever, I thought my blood pressure would match their height. In the morning, I was ready to follow my patience out the door when we could never leave on time. Yet, I'd do it every day and every night if their lives continued changing as they did on this trip.

The trip was all about the moments. The moment they gave their testimony with confidence. The moment they performed a skit they'd worked on for months. The moment they prayed for an intermediate kid and talked to him or her about life and Jesus. The moment they took initiative. The moment they sought after answers for tough questions. The moment their passion exploded. The moment they felt joy in changing lives. The moment they finally let the Holy Spirit do something big.

I find great value in the process. If you don't understand where you've come from and you don't remember the work it took to get there, than a lot of your growth is lost. But, with that being said, I never, EVER want to miss the moments.

GO BAREFOOT! CHANGE A LIFE

2009-04-13T06:10:00.004-04:00

The impact of a pair of shoes has on a child can be life-changing.

The Facts:

* Fact #1: In some developing nations, children must walk for miles to food, clean water and to seek medical help.
* Fact #2: Cuts and sores on feet can lead to serious infection.
* Fact #3: Often, children cannot attend school barefoot.
* Fact #4: In Ethiopia, approximately one million people are suffering from Podoconiosis, a debilitating and disfiguring disease caused by walking barefoot in volcanic soil.
* Fact #5: Podoconiosis is 100% preventable by wearing shoes.

On April 16, 2009, no matter where you are in the world, you can go BAREFOOT to raise awareness for the simple shoeless epidemic. Go barefoot to the supermarket, to the office, to the laundry mat. When people ask why you are being weird, tell them you just want to live a day in someone else's shoes, but since those people have no shoes...

You can continue to support this idea by purchasing some shoes at TOMS. They do a sweet 1 for 1 deal. You buy a pair of sweet, stylish shoes, and they give a pair of shoes to someone somewhere in the world who would normally be shoeless.

Not only can you do that, but you can join up to TOMS on facebook, or you can follow them on Twitter. More importantly you can blog about this event and even tell people in person (gasp, imagine that)! Spread the word, tell the world. How easy it is to solve this problem. How easy it is to help!!

Song of the South

2009-04-06T06:46:00.002-04:00

Everything becomes magnified when you are living overseas. Upon your arrival, even the most trivial pieces of life turn into epic adventures. Just the other day, May and I were recalling a time during our first few weeks in New Zealand where we found ourselves lost in the rain trying to find our house. At the time, it seemed as if we were lost in the middle of nowhere, when actually that street has become a part of our every day journey. Another huge shocker is shopping for groceries. The supermarket is a new country within the new country. Different brands, less choices, oddities on end. The worst was ordering KFC to find a BREAD ROLL in my box. Where is my biscuit!?!

As you can see, the smallest things truly affect your sense of being. Who actually feels out of place when they receive a bread roll rather than a biscuit? I tell you this because I have recently been dealing with a lot of legitimately large, frustrating episodes lately. Can you imagine how much more mammoth they seem here than they would back home?

Living in a different country for an extended time makes you feel quite lonely. You begin to distance from a lot of people back home except those who are dedicated to you and put up with your screwy new accent, yet the people you've grown close to here really only know a small amount of the being that is you. Loneliness + difficult situations = a depressing Saturday night.

But do you want to know the saving grace? Mothers. That's right - good ole mommy, err, mummy if you're a kiwi reader. Not only because they listen and support and send you jeans when you only have one pair that hasn't ripped and even those have a hole. Not only because they hate that you are gone but hold their tongues and tell you everything is fine. Not only because you know they will be the first arms you feel as you come prancing (jetlaggedly) through the airport. But mostly because they just KNOW.

One might miss home and view a picture and not be satisfied. One might miss home and catch a fragrance that smells familiar and not be satisfied. But when one tastes home...oh the glory.

And moms KNOW what home tastes like. For me, it is the beautiful southern delicacy of biscuits and gravy. I was lucky enough to receive a packet of easy-to-make gravy in a package from the motherland (ha) and decided to unleash the fury on my depressed Saturday night.

As I delighted over my overly carbohydrate-loaded meal and May indulged in her new found love Fruity Wheat bix, we let loose the frustration and complications of life. I alluded to the fact that our evening could be similarly compared to two dudes huddled at the end of the bar in some pub down the street drowning their sorrows away.

I'll just reiterate again that it is the small things here that become quite epic. Breakfast gravy is just a note in the song of life back home, but here, its the song of the south - the beautiful melody of mountains and Bud Light and dogwoods and pickups and family and NASCAR.

Thank you, gravy. Thank you, mUm.

What was that? I can't hear you...

2009-04-03T06:30:00.003-04:00

St. Orans always seems to inspire a blog from me. This week was year 11's last week talking about service and values. To conclude the term, May and I decided to speak on what is most important when it comes to others.

We chose five stories to serve as catalysts for discussions about serving: persecution in North Korea, unrest in Kenya, domestic violence in New Zealand, refugees in the UK, and children soldiers in the Congo. We had each group of students take a story, read them and then discuss the summary of facts, what the main problem was, and what could be done to help the situation.

They performed brilliantly. Their answers were straight on. Unfortunately, I think for a lot of them, the stories are more 'fairy-tale' than anything. It is hard to bring the horrors of tribal war or starvation and torture to middle/upperclass Western teenage females. Maybe hard is an understatement.

While all of the groups chose a main problem for their story that was legitimate, we tied together all the stories in the end by presenting what we felt to be the biggest problem of them all, one that permeates all five situations. The people in the stories do not have voices. They cannot speak for themselves.

You know how sometimes you feel that you completely understand a topic, but then you realize you really have just scratched the surface. That is how I feel about what we've just tried to teach at St. Orans. I understand what it means to serve and I've served. I understand what it means to be a voice and I've spoken.

But whose voice am I today? Whose voice was I yesterday? These people don't need a one time voice, a random cheer from the stands. These people need a VOICE. Let's give them one.

Start here: Falling Whistles

If the Earth were a Golf Ball...

2009-03-30T22:37:00.002-04:00

Looking into the night sky is quite a humbling experience, isn't it? To stare beyond the messiness of this world and look into the chaotic glory that is space seems almost unfair, like we aren't meant to be witnessing the beauty that is set before us. Sometimes it seems easy to wrap up what we are seeing in a tiny little gift box and present it as 'the stars' or 'the Milky Way' but what we are seeing compared to what we are not seeing is like marveling at one grain of sand amongst the masses. Can you handle the true magnanimity of our universe?

Me either.

Psalm 33:6 proclaims that "by the word of the LORD were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of His mouth." God BREATHED and the stars were born! He didn't work meticulously all night or spend hours upon hours deciding on the blueprint and gathering materials. He simply breathed.

In Louie Giglio's talk 'How Great is Our God' he talks in great depth about why being a star-breather is such a tremendous concept, as if we needed more proof that it is an amazing feat. He discusses the size of four stars that make earth look like a golf ball, a pen mark, a molecule. In this talk, he says that 'the star-breather became the sin-bearer' which completely blew my mind. You mean to tell me that you expect me to go along with the fact that the guy who created things that I can and cannot see that are infinitely larger than myself cares about me, personally, enough to not just simply say hello, but to give up everything - for me?

Wow.

A few photos from our travels.

2009-03-19T19:37:00.007-04:00

May and I!

Beautiful!

View from Mt. Ngauruhoe

Mt. Ngauruhoe, also known as Mt. Doom from Lord of the Rings.

Our New Zealand family!

Richard, May, Holmes, Jo, Jenna, Kerry, Allison, Natalie

Love Mercy, Do Justly, Walk Humbly

2009-03-04T23:37:00.003-05:00

Today May and I had the opportunity to speak to year 11, 12, and 13 at St. Orans. This term, they are studying about service, and we were asked to come and share some our personal lives and experiences with the girls. First, I should mention what a humbling experience and what a blessing it always is to speak in front of youth. One would think after a few years of ministry that the feeling would wear off, but it only intensifies each and every time. To be presented with a chance to teach them, help them, lead them somehow ... I am just constantly amazed that I am allowed and able to do this.

May and I usually tag team these events and it works out quite well for us. We showed a powerpoint presentation that went along to the song Micah 6:8 by Charlie Hall which reads:

You could feed the whole world with the crumbs of old bread
Spread the good news through dreams and stones
With a breath of the wind You could raise up the dead
But You ask us to go

Help us love mercy, help us do justly,
Help us walk humbly with You God

Forget not the widow, the orphan, and slave
O God please remember the helpless today
Call on Your children repairing the breach
There is no place too far that Your mercy can’t reach

For the children who sleep beneath cities at dark
let love go and touch them with your Father’s heart

The presentation was just meant to show them how many service opportunities were out there, and bring in a world perspective on the ideas of service by listing third world countries, populations living on $1 a day, and sex trafficking statistics.

May spoke about loving humbly and what that looks like - how love is not meant to be given because of selfish reasons and how none of us wants to be loved like that. She then led onto her experience with FCA and how she used her gifts and abilities to serve athletes in the inner-city areas of Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey. May has such a heart for serving, especially when it comes to sports, and it is always such a joy to hear her speak about these things.

I proceeded by reading a piece I wrote in my honors project for graduation about Methare Valley, a slum area in Nairobi, Kenya. Then I showed a 9 minute clip from Methare. The craziest thing happened during this final viewing of the clip - I was broken. I had been watching it all week to see what to show or how to show it or what to say about it, and this time I was just watching it to watch it. It occurred to me that half the children in that video clip could easily be dead right now. I was overwhelmed with sadness. I think it showed through my talk after the clip, but that is okay. I would rather be real and 'unprofessional' than show those girls anything fake.

I ended the talk by giving them two rather controversial statements to think about (controversial for high school girls anyway).

1. The life that you are living is not about you at all.

2. If you are living your life only for you, then you need to reevaluate some things.

Frederick Buechner says that to live life for our own sake is to cease to really live. He says that it is only when we live for the world's sake that we begin to come fully alive.

So my question to you is, who are you living for?

Drift Away from City Lights

2009-03-04T04:11:00.002-05:00

After a wonderful basketball training tonight, I found myself driving home later than normal. Darkness had already encompassed the Hutt, and as I made my way over the Wanui hill, the city lights of Wellington hit my eyes faster than the boxing circuit I just completed in the gym.

Usually you hear of the beauty of city lights constrasted against the dark surroundings, but I found myself feeling quite the opposite. Somewhere in my mind, I've always known my distaste for this so called 'beauty'. Only tonight has it come full front. I do not find it pretty or lovely or enticing. If anything, I find it appauling. Maybe it is because I don't like the busyness and quickness of the city. Maybe those lights are just a reminder of the absence of simplicity and natural beauty. In a country where green is a color that refuses to relent, the Hutt city lights are a reminder that infiltration has begun.

Simplicity and natural beauty. I find myself being pushed closer and closer to these things. The good thing is I won't resist.

Quit Speaking American, I Don't Understand It.

2009-03-03T03:05:00.002-05:00

Believe it or not, I have made a few friends since I have been in New Zealand. Most of them are Kiwis, varying in birthplace and background. However, I have the delightful pleasure of knowing Miss Courtney Montague, fellow American (hailing from Colorado). Our first meeting occurred upon my realization that Courtney too has visited Kenya. Needless to say, I immediately knew we would get along. She is your funny, outgoing, typical friendly American.

The other night at Catalyst (Knox's contempory service), I had a minute to catch up with Courtney who has been both busy and traveling. I was happy to see her, but I was really struggling with concentrating on what she was saying. "Man, she sounds funny," I kept thinking, "What did they do to her over in Australia?" The thought bothered me quite a lot actually, until I realized that no one else had an accent. Everyone sounded fine to me, except Courtney.

You can understand the type of bewilderment one might feel stumbling across this discovery. My ears have been so submerged in Kiwi speech that the language of the motherland is a foreign voice (We should note that May does not count. I live with her. Her voice does not sound funny, except for the whole Yankee thing, but that's another debate for another day). I am not quite sure what to do with my new discovery yet. Ultimately, I could care less, and I think that more than anything, I find this hilarious. The quirks of the human mind are astounding.

To my American friends - Please be sensitive to this fact when you bombard me at the airport or on my cell phone upon my return to the states. Not only will I be severely suffering from jet lag, but I really just won't have a clue what you're saying, and you'll probably have a hard time with my new vocabulary as well. This should get interesting.

Fall into the New

2009-02-28T22:51:00.002-05:00

Today is the first day of fall in New Zealand, or rather, Autumn. While I have never experienced an NZ autumn, I have a feeling that wind and rain are around the corner. This is mostly because they are always around the corner, but intuition tells me to expect more and more. The mornings are cold already and I have to bundle up to walk to work. However, there is something exciting when entering this new time, mostly because it is new, and definitely not because it is cold. The cold and I have never been very good friends and even New Zealand can't change that.

In addition to the new weather, I am starting new activities. May and I have been asked to teach Christian Studies to fifth form students at St. Orans College. This will take place once a week. We are also entering into new stages of a mentoring program with the NZPD. We are not too sure what all this entails, but we are looking forward to the new opportunity.

If I had one wish right now, I think I would wish that you all could travel to New Zealand and meet the people that I've met and see the places that I have seen. Constantly, God shows me another blessing he has in store for me. Recently, the generosity of my friends here has overwhelmed me. I have this whole group of people in New Zealand that I love and care about and no one in America even knows who they are. And I have this whole group of wonderful Americans that no one here knows. I believe that may be one of the hardest parts - the disconnect between the people that mean the most in my life.

More to come...I am actually going to keep this up better than I have, believe me, or not.

Twenty Minutes

2009-02-22T17:37:00.002-05:00

That is the length of time required for one of my skin tone to burn when in direct New Zealand sunlight. Unfortunately, due to my inability to walk swiftly, most destinations are further than twenty minutes away, and so I am constantly being reminded (with itchy skin and radiating heat) of my slowness .

I tell you that story because I am proud of my slowness. In a world that thrives on speed, slowing down is not only looked down upon, but considered a flaw, a disconnect in the mind. May always has a go at me because I frequently stop when we pass a dog or a flower on our way down the footpath.

I used to think that New Zealand was a place that allowed life to be slower, but now I am realizing that the pace is up to us no matter where we are. Brought up in a society that shouts 'BIGGER, FASTER, BETTER,' I have to learn to break that cycle that has found itself in my habits and actions.

Because New Zealand is so foreign to my American brain, I have been forced to slow down and absorb the details. The good thing is that I really like the details; a child's laugh, a sprig of grass from a crack in the footpath, a puddle big enough to jump in, and a drop of overflowing cream from my moccacino.

Gravity Never Sleeps

2009-01-09T22:47:00.002-05:00

Sometimes you think you have a good idea, and then right before you go through with it, you feel like you've made the wrong decision. Has that ever happened to you? Well, I experienced that feeling today as I stood 43 meters over the Kawarau River, the birthplace of bungy jumping. "Here ya go, miss. Please just throw yourself off of this bridge." Adrenaline coursed through my veins, and my heart forced its way through my chest. A.J. Hackett was a madaxe.

By far one of the coolest things I have ever done. You are able to choose if you just jump, touch the river, or submerge in the river. Of course I chose to get wet because you can't just do that anywhere. What a rush! So, at that moment - when my head re-emerged from the ice cold Kawarau water, I decided bungy jumping is for me. Tomorrow I am jumping the Nevis - a 134 meter jump, 8.5 seconds of freefalling heaven...

Other than that, the trip has been going well. Queenstown is a good city to visit, but I wouldn't want to live here. Too much busyness - a crazy, chaotic, concrete creation. However, you cannot come to New Zealand without swinging through Queenstown, so here we are. We visited the market here this morning and had a walk around to see what the place had to offer. Queenstown caters mostly to the travellers with every sort of adventure activity you could imagine. After we leave Queenstown, the adventure level drops and the relaxation meter increases. I will probably be ready for that after tomorrow.

Godzone

2009-01-08T01:17:00.002-05:00

When you live in a place that is often referred to by its people as "God's Own Country," you immediately try to become a skeptic of the country. However, when you live in New Zealand, you find yourself realizing that this is indeed God's own, or Godzone.

May and I are halfway through our south island holiday. We arrived January 2 on the Picton Ferry which crosses the Cook Strait. While in Picton, we saw the breathtaking Marlborough Sounds, and then made our way to Nelson for their Saturday markey, only to end that day with an adrenaline rushing skydive. If you have never been skydiving, I urge you not to wait for the perfect opportunity to come along because I am convinced that everyday is the perfect day to skydive.

Our next leg consisted of a two day hike in the Abel Tasman National Park, possibly my favorite place to hike in the world. With mountains, native bush, golden beaches, and rare wildlife, the Abel Tasman cannot be beat. With an eight hour tramp one day, and a cruisy four hour tramp the next, our trip was the perfect mix of challenge and relaxation.

Other highlights of the trip have been blackwater rafting - unfortunately too take for my liking, visiting Punakaiki & the Pancake rocks/blowholes - an amazing natural masterpiece, viewing Franz Josef glacier - a gorgeous world of its own, and picnicking on Gillispie Beach, a popular goldmining location in its day.

My favorite thing thusfar has been our full day knifemaking experience in Barrytown. We drove up to a small house along the west coast and met Steven and Robin, our hosts for the day. A few minutes later we were surrounded by twelve other people, none from the states, that we would be spending our day with. We took a stick of carbon steel, some random pieces of brass, and a big hunk of wood and turned them into knife master pieces. From forging to grinding to perfecting, the knife experience was one I won't forget.

We did have a pretty rigid itinerary, but we decided to throw that out the window and fly by the seat of our pants, and that has worked pretty well for us over the past couple of days. In fact, I am sure that some of the things we have done and the places we have stayed are better than what we originially planned. As I type this blog, my view is the wonderful Lake Wanaka, surrounded by hills and mountains that I cannot even describe to you because of their overwhelming presence.

This trip has really opened up my eyes about traveling, people, and the world. Things don't have to be so ridiculously planned out. Some people come here to live for a year without a job, a place, a car, or anything - and they end up leaving with some of the best experiences of their lives. We have met people from Holland, Germany, Switzerland, Australia, Italy, France, Canada, and even Pennsylvania, and we have realized that we are all just people - people that laugh and seek adventure and watch movies and eat food. Our experiences are separate, but at the same time intertwined with everyone we come in contact with on this grand journey. A lot of our trip has been determined by the reccomendations and experiences of others. We have had many barside talks with people about life and how its lived and what its all about. We have met people that have altered our NZ experience permanently and that is really what it is all about.

With another week left, I am sure that this will be one of the best segments of my life. Adventure still lies ahead with bungy jumping and canyoneering ahead, but we will also reunite with friends who have left Wellington and have a more relaxing time. All the while, the scenary never gets old and the views never cease to take our breath away.

New Zealand truly is a place unlike any other.

Evening Service Talk

2008-12-18T18:47:00.003-05:00

New Zealand has proved to be more than an adventure already. All of the changes and differences not only in my life, but in my environment, has forced me to change and grow and learn about myself. That process is broad and complicated. I am not sure if I could communicate with you half of what goes on in my head and my heart, but I would like to try. I guess the best way to do that would be by sharing with you a talk I gave at our 7pm service one evening a few weeks ago. It is not terribly formal, but then again, I am not a terribly formal person, so I suppose it suits.

Holmes - 7PM Talk

Here is the link to part 1. After part 1, you should find both part 2 and part 3 available to click on directly from the YouTube website.

My job basically rocks.

2008-12-18T16:43:00.006-05:00

In this post, I will try to run you through the different things that can happen during a week on the job. A lot goes on...too much to capture by photograph, and some of it you don't want to see, but here are a few views of what I do. While my job allows me to do some of the most fun things out there, it is also quite demanding. Most of what I do involves building strong relationships with each person in each ministry that we serve in. May and I serve in many different areas including youth group, bible studies, Knox Young Adults, Seismic (middle school), KidzAlive (primary), 7PM (evening contemporary service), St. Orans College (the sister high school of Knox) + more. I cannot possibly communicate to you how amazing it is and how humbling it is to be involved in the lives of the young people of Wellington.

We do a lot of crazy things at youth group. Some of the events we have done over the past few months include: $5 receipt grab where we try to get as many receipts as we can with $5 begging places to sell us straws or napkins for 10 cents - a scavenger hunt with a twist, making each group carry a toilet around the city with them as their storage vessel - and pictured below is Messy Games night, involving searching through spaghetti for m&ms, drinking blended happy meals, relay racing with scoops of ice cream in each hand, and more!

How many fruit loops can you stick on the whipped cream?
This is what happens when you cram a whole banana in your mouth, have to put panty hose over your head, and then squish the banana out of the panty hose :)
Happy meal in a blender anyone?
All the teams showing some spirit!
There I am trying to keep the peace with the microphone.

Besides all of the goofy, crazy stuff that we get to do as a youth group, we also have some really sweet times as well. May and I lead a bible study called Nineveh, and on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, the family that lets us use their house for the study put on a 'traditional' Thanksgiving dinner. We enjoyed turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, macaroni, dressing, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, and pecan pie. Some of the youth had never even had turkey before...ever!! Also, after dinner, we threw football. This is a big deal because American football, or gridiron, is just not the normal activity over here. But seriously, what is thanksgiving without football?!

The whole Thanksgiving crew
Katherine, David, Cameron, and Aaron actually being calm enough to take a picture.
Some of the girls.
Kate, Awhina, and I.
Everyone at the Thanksgiving table :)

One of my favorite parts of my job is that it is very flexible. I am not stuck to my desk during the day, and I can take that time to hang out and build relationships with the youth. The next few pictures are from a biking trip I took with one of our high schoolers, Katherine Dobie. We are very similar in personality, so she is really easy to get along with and fun to be around. We biked from our church in Lower Hutt out to Eastbourne which is on the harbour, and out around the coast to a couple of lighthouses. The trip their was beautiful and practically perfect, but coming back, the wind was violent and made biking very hard. But no wind is as ferocious as the wind at the top lighthouse, where we had to stay low to keep our balance and not get blown over.

Here we are! We finally made it!
Penncarrow Lighthouse was the first fully operational lighthouse in New Zealand, established in 1859 after being constructed in England and shipped to New Zealand in 480 parcels.
A view of some hidden lakes opposite the harbour.
Penncarrow

Just another reason of why I love this country so much.

Another part of our ministry is the Young Adults ministry. For this, we usually try to have a house party every month at one of the young adult's homes. Everyone will make a dish and bring it and it is usually just a good time of fun and fellowship. May and I hosted one of the house parties and here are a few photos from that time. Our theme was that you had to wear your favorite t-shirt and you had to bring a dish that started with the same letter as your name.

The remains of a violent candy sweep.
We decided to have a night pool fight!
Sitting around having a chat.
Some of the girls.

Pre-party, we went shopping and here is what we bought. You walk a lot of places around the hutt, so you are allowed to take the carts around, and then they collect them from the sidewalk sometimes. Well, we thought we would just bring this one inside with us :)

A quick photographic tour of the Abel Tasman National Park

2008-12-18T15:57:00.006-05:00

The Abel Tasman National Park is located in the northern tip of the south island. Along with five others, I was able to discover the beauty that is New Zealand on a four day - three night tramp on the Tasman's Coastwalk, the most walked track in New Zealand. The weather for the trip was more than perfect with rain only entering the picture for one night and stopping before we began again the next morning. Two of the four days, we hiked inland tracks which proved more of a workout than the mostly flat coast walks. However, the inland tracks provided superb views that coast walkers miss completely. I saw, for the first time in the wild, both seals and eels. One of the more adventurous parts of the trip was when the group had to cross through a 'river' a few football fields in width. The track has many crossings that can only be made at low tide, and even though we arrived at the crossing at the appropriate time, it had been flooded by the last night's rain, and thus came up to our waists as we crossed. Other than that, the journey was mostly calm and enjoyable, but extremely tiring. A trip like this wears you out in a good way, so that you are glad to be there, but also happy to come back and shower and sleep in a proper bed.

You would feel this way after 50-something Ks
Marshmallows by the warm, warm fire.
When I saw these rocks on the beach, we had to go exploring around them. I mean, is there really any other option?
The highest swing bridge I have ever been on. It was great!
One of the low-tide crossings. Imagine this thing filled up with water above our heads at high tide! It's so crazy!

All the way in the Nelson market, what can one find? A Tennessee license plate :)
The view from Greg's Knob if I remember correctly. Amazingly, there is sea on both sides.
I cannot really think of a more Kiwi picture than this right here.
The last lodge we stayed in during the tramp. You don't really know relief until you've reached a lodge after a full day's tramp.
This is the first seal I've ever seen in the wild - and it was a glorious day.
I was very impressed with how long the bird stayed this way. It's as if he knew he would become famous on the internet.
Just one of the many breathtaking views I was blessed with over the four day trip.
Half of the track was right on the beach like this.

The girls. And our finger puppets we bought at the Nelson market.

Catching up

2008-10-23T23:22:00.005-04:00

Thankfully, I have never had a job where paperwork was a major priority. However, I imagine that the daunting feeling one gets when faced with a mountain of paperwork overflowing from the cubicle is similar to the daunting feeling that has kept me away from this blog for so long. With so much happening, the days slip away, and as the days slip away, so much more happens. Soon, I felt unable to justifiably write about all that has gone on because there is just so much. But I shall be no longer fearful. Bear with me and my randomness.

Summer is slowly creeping into the New Zealand air. I'm unsure, but I think that it is confused as to whether or not it belongs here just yet. They say you can't beat a good day in Wellington, and that is an overly true statement, but the good days are as sporatic as the bad, and even if a day starts off one way, it usually ends up another. The winds here would baffle most of you that will read this. Imagine walking down the sidewalk, turning the corner, and having to clutch to the lamp post in order to stay standing. That's not an everyday occurance, but it has happened more to me here than the never of Tennessee.

Ah Tennessee, the Volunteer State. The home of southern hospitality. I have truly come to appreciate Tennessee in its fullness since I have left. Apple butter, autumn leaves, biscuits, the Smokey Mountains, Knoxville traffic...wait, nevermind... I've studied time and time again in literature classes that there is something about a southerner that is unique - the desire to be at home. I guess you have to leave the South to understand what that means, but here I am, as far from the 'South' as you can be, and I'm saying, "Yes, Dr. Brown, you are right. I need those mountains to rest my eyes upon."

May and I have lived in three homes since we arrived. The first was the Manse with the pastor and his wife. The second was about ten minutes further down the road, and that was with the parents of our boss. Now we live thirty minutes walk from the church in the biggest house I will most likely ever live in, including tennis courts, a swimming pool, and an actual back yard (a rarity amongst city-dwelling Kiwis). We are house sitting for a family who has left for our homeland. However, their daughter is still here and lives with us. She is 19 and heaps of fun.

The newest addition to our workload is working with the New Zealand Police Department in a very new mentoring program. By very new, I mean we are the starters, so this could get interesting. May and I will each separately work with a girl who the Youth Aids at the department feel could do amazing things with her life if she was just led in the right direction. This is an exciting and unexpected part of our ministry here. I can't wait to get started.

Between all of the work-related activities, May and I have each found a place where we can feel more at home than ever - the pitch and court, respectively. We both have been able to become involved with our sports down here. May plays on a soccer team called The Terminators, and I am playing pick-up with heaps of girls at Whanui High School from ages 14-40+. This weekend I have the opportunity to even play for the WMC Whanui team in a tournament out of town. Trust me, there will be more to read about this later.

This past weekend I particpated in an Eat So They Can dinner party. You can read more about the event at http://www.eatsotheycan.org/. The event was started by a company called the Global Volunteer Network http://www.volunteer.org.nz/. The dinner was to raise money for children in Kenya, and dinners were held all over the world for the same purpose. Any party that raised over $500 USD held a drawing, and the winner of that drawing goes into the Grand Prize drawing to win a free trip to one of four countries: Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, or South Africa. Guess who won the first drawing? Me! The final drawing will be held on November 22 and I am anxiously awaiting.

During my time in New Zealand, I have realized even more deeply my desire for learning. I was not ready to leave school when I left, so why would I feel any different about it here? I miss the thrill of learning and discovering new things. I like the motivation of a classroom setting to cause you to learn. So, I have decided to design my own study of the New Testament as a means to satisfy my hunger for knowledge. While we were required to study the New Testament at King, I realize my immaturity as a freshman to truly put forth the effort that the New Testament deserves. Being a huge part of my life, the NT should be something I am more than just familiar with, and so this study will serve multiple purposes...the whole two birds with one stone thing.

The youth here grow on me daily. Youth are the same everywhere really. They just need attention. We hang out with them in a variety of settings: youth groups on Fridays, church on Sundays, Small group on Tuesdays, and then random meetings throughout the week. Its nice to finally be over the 'look the new American interns' phase.

Also, over the past month or so I have experienced my first travel by public busing, spoken at a Girls Brigade, spoken at St. Columba (the sister church for Knox), gotten lost alone in a random forest on an intense 8 hour bike ride, been to the dentist far too many times (did I come to New Zealand to learn about ministry or dentistry?), driven, experienced many of the fine wines of New Zealand, watched (field) hockey, and EATEN LAMB TAIL. Kiwis don't REALLY eat lamb tail, but apparantly some do, and you can, and so the family who hosts our small group grilled lambs tails for us. They were...interesting.

While good things surround me constantly, the struggles of New Zealand are not easily forgotten. I am homesick often. We are usually dependent on people for rides or other things, and so we lack a certain freedom that we are so used to. EVERYTHING is different. Stars. Seasons. Outlets. Driving. Markets. Money. Words. Freezers. Etc... Introducing myself over and over adn over again becomes tiring and annoying. And, as a generalization, Kiwis are much more disengaged than Americans, or rather, Southerners I suppose. Hugs are rare or never. People do not slip easily into conversation. Affirmation is next to nonexistant. Just a cultural difference. The good things is I have been very blessed by the people close to me here because they are so kind and generous.

These former points are not bad points. Just differences.

Well, enough babble for now. I won't wait 1.5 months to do it again.

Shots around the Windy City

2008-09-03T21:24:00.007-04:00

Wellington Harbor. The town in the back is where I live - Lower Hutt

August Fest '08 - A musical festival held at Knox Church for all musicians wanting to play. May and I were the MCs of the event.

First Rugby game. This is called a scrum. No one, even Rugby players REALLY understand what goes on in a scrum.
There are way more sheep than people in New Zealand apparently, so I had to show you some sheep. The hillsides are covered with them.
This view overlooks the city of Wellington

This view looks out to the Cook Straight. In the very far distance sits the South Island.

A Week of Firsts

2008-08-31T08:26:00.002-04:00

I have spent so much time missing America that making New Zealand home has seemed like an impossible task. However, I was once told that home is wherever God calls you, and I have been called to New Zealand - this has never been more evident.

This week has proven itself as week of firsts for sure. May and I stayed on our own for the first time as we watched the pastor's house while he traveled to the South Island with family. On Tuesday, we held our first homegroup with the youth. The group is called Nineveh, and it has a strong faith focus. As you may recall from long-lost childhood bible stories, Nineveh was the wicked city Jonah was sent by God to prophecy against. When he finally reached Nineveh, after the whole whale thing, and told them their city would be destroyed, everyone from the greatest to the least proved faithful and God spared their lives. This group will run every Tuesday night while we are here (and hopefully continue on afterward as well). On Thursday, we went to watch some of the youth in their Karate class, and the teacher allowed us to participate as well. Many childhood dreams came true. Ninja Turtles, 3 Ninjas, Karate Kid...they all rushed through my head as I kicked and punched the air with force. It was a glorious time. On Friday, we experienced our first FilmFest, which is where a lot of the youth groups from the area gather together and present films they have shot and edited over the past months. Our youth group won Best Comedy and Best Set. Saturday, the Pollock family allowed us to join them for our first rugby game! We watched the Vodafone Wellington Lions play Bay of Plenty. The Lions wone 48-12 which is a huge margin.

The Pollock family is from Scotland and they have only lived in New Zealand for three years. Ailsa, the wife and mother, is our 'emotional supervisor' and we meet with her weekly to discuss life and how things are going for us in New Zealand. She is particularly helpful because she knows what it is like to be an outsider. God has granted her with much wisdom when it comes to speaking with us and helping us. She always knows exactly what to say or how we are feeling concerning different issues foreigners might face. She is a huge blessing in our life right now.

Anyway, back to the week of firsts because we aren't done yet! Tonight was our first Augustfest, which is a music festival the church puts on every year so that talented musicians from the church can perform. May and I were the MCs of the evening and that was definitely a fun time. Lastly, the sun has been shining brightly and warmly. I wore my Chacos. This is a monumental first!

Obviously much more has happened over the course of the week than just the few things I mentioned, but I don't want to bore you with the details.

Overall, New Zealand is becoming better and better as the days go by. Everyone is so friendly and helpful, inviting us for tea or allowing us to borrow bikes or catch rides. The country is absolutely beautiful, and we haven't even visited the well-known places yet. Most importantly, we really understand what we are doing here. Last Sunday, Nigel Pollock (Ailsa's husband) spoke in our contempory evening service at church about having a motto for life. His motto comes from Luke 9 and 10 and it has three parts. The first part is simply 'Follow Jesus'. During his talk, he looked straight at May and I and said, "What are you doing in New Zealand? You're following Jesus." How easy is that. This whole time I have tried to make it so complicated, whenever Nigel gave us the most simple and yet greatest answer for something we have seemed unsure about from time to time. When you are far away from everything and everyone you know, and you miss it all so bad it hurts, it can get hard to remember why you're doing what you're doing. But God is the same God in New Zealand as He is in America or Kenya or China.

As I walked along the beach Friday morning, I thought, "Wow, I'm going to miss this place when I'm gone." It doesn't take long for something or someone to leave a mark on your heart. Because home is where God calls you.

A briefing

2008-08-16T22:07:00.002-04:00

Hills to the left. Sea to the right. Add a lot of wind and you have a recipe for Wellington and surrounding areas. No matter how clear the skies are or how warm the sun feels, the wind is always there to come crashing down on the day's parade. I suppose its a trait I will need to become used to if I plan on enjoying a day down here.

Yesterday was a beautiful day. No rain. High sun. A northerly wind (which is the wind you want, for sure). May and I were toured around the city by a fellow named Matt Henderson who is about our age. He carted us off to Eastbourne and we took a walk along the beach there. Sand is really nonexistent - its more gravel than anything. From here, we viewed the South Island for the first time. Hopefully, at some point, we can travel there, but not now. Its a snow covered place currently. After the beach, we went to warm up in a small cafe called Chocolate Dayz. Chai lattes were the way to go apparently because we went three around. A fine art gallery and shop sits next to the cafe, so we popped in there a minute. After that, we drove all the way around the harbor to Wellington itself and up to Mount Victoria, which is the highest (and windiest) point in Wellington. I'm pretty sure you can see absolutely everything from up there. Its breathtaking.

May and I have actually started working with the youth, for those of you who think we've been holidaying the whole time we've been here. On Sundays, she works with Kidzalive (ages 7-11 I think) and I work with Seismic (11-13). We both went GoKarting and MiniGolfing with Seismic last night though. When we are with the kids, we feel both really out of place and really at home. So many things are different, and yet kids are just kids, and they just want attention and love. We'll also be leading home groups throughout the week with high school students, which is what I am looking most forward to so far.

And if you want to know the state of the people around us, just check to see if the All Blacks won or lost. They've recently beat South Africa 19-nil and moods are soaring today - so its a good day in the Hutt and a good day in New Zealand.

In the beginning...

2008-08-14T07:30:00.003-04:00

New Zealand - a land of greenness, sheep, Ozone holes, and unspottable Kiwi birds. This shall be my home for the next 365-ish days. Settling into this country has been a rather easy task considering all of the craziness i.e. accents, slang words, left side driving, rugby, winter, time change, etc. As if being halfway around the world isn't enough, we have to wear scarfs, boggins, and ski jackets in August. It's as if the world has been turned upside down, or maybe its just me that's upside down.

My journey started in Knoxville with a chorus of friends and family sending May and I off. We travelled from Knoxville to Denver, Denver to LA, LA to Auckland, and Auckland to Wellington. We were greeted by Kerry Logan, the youth director at Knox-St. Columba Presbyterian Church. After retreiving our bags, we ventured out into the winter weather, including a miserable southerly, and I proceeded to enter the car on the right side...the driver's side.

From there it seems as if the past week fades together into a sea of faces and names and events. Most of them your typically boring introduce yourself to this person or that group, speak at church on Sunday, shake 10,000 hands. However, some comedic events cannot go unmentioned. 1. May and I walked to the bank (approx. a 1.3k away) and turned ourselves around and ended up walking the wrong way for quite some time, as a storm settled in quite nicely above our heads. 2. May decided to cross the road while out for a jog, looking left first instead of right. 3. We participated in a race at youth group which ended with eating a cracker lathered with Marmite. Trust me, eating Marmite at race pace...or at all...is not something an unknowing American should try. ever.

We are spending our first month staying with Alastair and Jackie Smales, the pastoring family of Knox PC. They are delightful hosts and treat us as their own, which has created much humor in the house. From evening tea to laundry, no household event goes without laughs.

Actual occupational information will have to wait until a later post to appear because we are still sorting out the details and praying about the vision. The young people here are wonderful and friendly, eager to spend time with the odd new Americans. We can only use this to our advantage for a while, but we will use it while we can. I've learned that you can't get through everything with charms and good looks, only most things.

I'll leave you with a list of foods that I cannot believe we live without.
Hokey Pokey Ice Cream
Lemon Lime & Bitters Soda
Twisties
Pineapple Lumps
REAL Cadbury chocolate
L&P Soda
Pavlova

Cheers!