Dentists, Travelling and New Things.

It's hard to believe I've so far lived in Chch 6 weeks and have racked up more kms in travel than I dare to work out ... I've been as far north (in the division) as Nelson, visiting Dunedin this weekend, and finally trekked (albeit not that far) to Akaroa FINALLY ... which was where my great, great, great grandfather and his whanau arrived on the Comte de Paris from France in August 1840. We even found the last of his earthly remains - albeit he was very dead. Ashes to ashes. RIP Joseph Libeau.

Mum and Dad went back to Hamilton on Saturday and it's weird now with nothing to look forward to (as in none of my northern whanau or friends visiting) ... at least until to the arrival of the Benefields in June. That does exclude my visit to Hamilton at the end of April for my cousin's wedding.

But I get to go back to BCM for just under a week at the end of February for Candidates QIWP, Youth QIWP and then the Cadets Welcome and I am so looking forward to seeing some of my Wellington whanau again.

I'm not feeling the best today and what with a toothache (dentist tomorrow whoop whoop!) I must confess I am guilty of having a little pity party and I had a little cry and told God I'd had enough of the new things. Which is true - I'm sick of going to new places and meeting new people, and visiting my new corps, new Bible Study, working out my new job and new passwords, driving around new streets in a new city, sussing out new shops and new malls ... not to mention finding a new dentist and doctor and hairdresser! They were a big adventure the first couple of weeks. Now I've had enough. I'm ready for a little bit of monotony - even if it just means sleeping in the same bed for seven consecutive nights! (A feat I've only attained once since leaving College before Christmas!!

However, God has been good throughout it all ... and hasn't given up on me yet (and thankfully isn't going to!) Despite the weeds beginning to show in the garden and the rubbish needing to be put out for tomorrows collection (something I've managed to miss all weeks I've been in Chch bar 2!)

Here's to hopefully soon finding routine. And a cheap dentist.

More Make Change and Parachute Photos as I add them...

Mat and Jules

Juanita, Josh and Cameron
Switchfoot at Parachute
Nicky's party trick

Make Change Photos

Matt, Sam and Jacobme with Hannah and Emma
Shar, me, Karen and Bec
Daybreak

These are the Days of our Lives

It seems like I hit the ground running and I haven't yet come up for air - this is the best description of my first month in Christchurch. I pretty much arrived, then within a week took off north for Make Change and Parachute, and arrived back in the middle of last week, went back to the officer, spent the weekend at the Linwood Corps Camp, and here I am again, with Nelson looming on the horizon.

Make Change and Parachute were awesome. I met heaps of the youth from down this way - even if I didn't realise there was any from Blenheim or Belfast until the final Sunday - oops! God fully showed up at Make Change (as we had prayed for!) and heck ... well, it's hard to put into words aye sometimes all that happens. But God is good and He is faithful and He met me as well as many young people there and spoke pretty powerfully into our lives.

It was cool catching up with so many old friends from around the country, and of course, making new ones, though I found it quite strange to be at this event that I hadn't really been part of organising but was labelled as part of the team because of my new role. But I tried to help out where I could, and it was definitely helpful that I knew my way around Hamilton well still! I often was out buying things that we had forgotten or run out of!

Definitely a top notch affair.

Anywhos ... back to the drawing board. So much to do!! Mum and Dad arrive tomorrow night for a holiday, so I'm very looking forward to that - the first of my friends and whanau to whom I can show off my new digs!!