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.