But what about second breakfast?

The past week and a half has brought about two major events: My first week of class and my first homestay.

My First Week of Class:

At CCSP, we take our classes one at a time. Each week we take one class (9-12:30 and then 7:30-9:30 every day). Last week we took Sustainable Community Development I with professor Mick Duncan (an awesome Kiwi with an even more awesome story). We discussed why, as Christians, we are called to social action and how evangelism played a part. We discussed different tactics used to build sustainable communities (this included skits we acted out, movies we watched, and a debate on pacifism v. just war).  That week we had a bunch of reading, 4 essays, and a test all due Friday at 4 pm.

I came into this program with what I will fondly call a “10-year, white picket fence” plan. I know what I want, I know how to get it, and I am going after it.  This class may have just demolished all my plans in one short week. The heaviness of heart I felt during this week was tremendous. I am not ready to pack my bags and fly to a Third World nation, but I am very willing to consider shirking the life of 2 cars, TVs, and day dreaming about the weekend. My job right now is to find how my gifts can best serve God. Where can I go that I will be giving until it hurts? Where do I fit into God’s kingdom?

Homestay:

Friday at 4 pm, after the test was completed and the papers handed in, I (along with another girl, Hannah) was picked up by a lovely woman named Margaret. Margaret is 80 years old (going on 45) and lives with her grown daughter, Niki in a B&B on the Kaikoura Peninsula. We stayed with them and basically lived a normal Kiwi life. She took us to see the baby seals in the waterfall and then to an alpaca farm. Every part of every meal was homemade (down to the bread) and incredibly delicious. We watched Kiwi news and Hannah and I used the hot tub (or as Margaret would say, we took a spa in our togs).

Margaret not only runs this B&B, but chops sheds full of wood, raises chickens, and gardens. Her home is beautiful.  Hannah and I had some really great talks (and really long walks-we may or may not have saved a sheep’s life). Margaret took us to her Anglican church Sunday morning where I had wine for communion for the first time. The service was much like those at First Pres. so I felt comfortable and at home. Plus, everywhere you go in NZ there are constantly tea and biscuits. It was a good and relaxing weekend.

Random bits:

-We also went to a sheep farm and learned to shear sheep.

-We went to a Maurae, the local gathering place of the Maori people and were welcomed in a traditional ceremony. We saw some amazing artwork and learned about some amazing history.

-I got to skype with Jason for the first time. I still haven’t stopped smiling.

-We saw a double rainbow (all the way across the sky)

-We started a new Wednesday tradition: running and yoga on the beach as the sun rises over the ocean. (Today’s participants included Kayla, Erica, Josh, Danielle, and myself)

-We leave for Samoa on Friday morning and will not be back for 2 weeks.   During that time I will have no access to Internet or phone (I believe I will be back October 3^rd)

Now it seems I should continue doing a list of things I learned, as people seem to enjoy that.

1. Jason is always right. I should have believed him when he said white picket fences are scary.
2. To know where to help you have to know God’s story and know that the Kingdom of God is already here but not fully realized (there is meaning in what we do and hope for something better).
3. If you are napping during an important movie, God might just wake you up in time to see the very sad, very powerful ending.
4. Food made from scratch is so incredibly good. Get ready, family-I hope you like homemade bread and yogurt.
5. Running with other people is really fun and a great motivator.
6. It is important to speak up and be heard. People aren’t always mean or cruel or out to get you-but they can’t read your mind.
7. The only way to break down the barriers that stop us from realizing that someone else is just as human and worthwhile as our own personal self is to really, truly get to know them.
8. You need to clean the bathroom regularly or it gets really nasty.
9. The idea that people will walk in and out of your life shouldn’t be a deterrent for you to commit to a relationship (friendship). We will all be together again, eventually.
10. When prayer doesn’t seem to be working, keep pushing (Lisa taught me that one)
11. Finally, if you don’t write a blog very often, the ones you do write will be epically long.

My Weekend Away

"We cannot pass over a mountain. Let us go under it! Let us go through the Mines of Moria."

First and foremost, for those of you that heard about the Earthquake in Christchurch, I (an all the rest of the group) are alright. I felt the earthquake in a tramping hut in Kowhai Valley, but no damage was done. We are all safe and sound.

This past weekend we were all kicked out of the convent to explore New Zealand, needless to say it was one of the best weekends of my life. I will try to convey as much as possible here. Adam, Kooba, Josh, Ben, and myself headed out for a three day tramping trip through the Mt. Fyffe track.


Thursday 2:45 PM
We are dropped off by a staff member at the base of Mt. Fyffe. Each laden with a 40lb pack. We climb up in the heat and arrive at the hut in the cold. When we arrive at 5 pm, two people are already in the hut and have started the fire. The boys set up tents, hammocks, and tarps in an attempt to stay outside. Due to a mischievous oppossum and some very cold weather, 2 boys found their way back inside. 

Friday 5:00 am
We wake up to watch the sun rise and get ready for the day. We pack our bags and begin climbing up Mt. Fyffe (at least the very top of it) The ground is covered in snow and the wind begins to pick up. By the time we reach the top the temp has dropped to 18 degree F and I suspect the wind was over 50 mph. We crawled across snow covered ridges, clinging to anything we could get. We eventually made it to the top, but discovered that our path down the other side is too dangerous. The mountain defeated us, so we must go down to the Valley. We begin our decent, slipping, sliding, and laughing the whole way down. We stop for lunch at the hut and are are on the trail by 11:30. We descend the mountain, running into wild boar wallows and various pricker bushes. We climb through forests (where pigeons live in trees) and finally make it to the way to the Kowhai River (prononced ko-fye). From there we hike for another hour and a half until we reach the river crossing.

2;45 pm
For me the river crossing was terrifying. Josh and I got stuck up river where the water was fast and deep. With a little help from a friend (mainly Josh who made sure I didn't wash away down the river) we all made it across and were at the hut by 3:15. Around 4 clouds moved in and it began to hail. Rain followed and that turned to snow. We sat nice an comfy in the hut, eating food, playing cards, and just hanging.

Saturday 4:30 am
We were awakened by an earthquake rocking our hut. We sat up in bed, determined that it was an earthquake, wondered about rock slides and Big Foot, and then went to sleep. At 7:00 we woke up and ate breakfast. By 9:30 we were off to climb a waterfall we could see from our cabin. Two of the boys (who will remain nameless for their mother's sakes) climbed to the very top...probably around 10 stories. Myself and the other two boys climbed half way (maybe 6 stories) up the slippery wet rock and just hung out. Later that day we sun bathed since it was warm and went for another day hike with many river crossings. The day ended with a game of home run derby, yoga, and washing dishes in the river.

Sunday 7:00 am
We wake up and begin our long trek home. We crossed many rivers (and i needed a lot of help) After 6 hours of hiking, we finally arrived tired, but very happy.


Here is what i learned from this weekend:
1. I am a lot stronger than I thought. The human body is an amazing thing, capable of great feats.
2. I am not strong enough to do this on my own. I needed help, and learning to ask for help was greatly liberating.
3. I am strong enough to give help. I should help more often.
4.Our bodies are meant to be used, bruised, and a little broken. We live in fear of destroying ourselves, but really we are destroying our bodies by doing nothing with them.
5. God is an amazing creator and protector. He loves what he has made and he protects it at all times.
6. Tuna straight from a can tastes better when you have hiked all day.
7. Being homesick in an amazing country is a testament to what a loving, amazing, incredible support system i have back home
8. Big Foot just might be real, and he might be gnawing on boar legs outside of huts in the backwoods of NZ
9. Friends are amazing, even if you don't know them well yet.
10. Always bring extra socks and 4 strong men when going tramping (kiwi for backpacking)