In the words of Catherine Booth
I know not what He is about to do with me, but I have given myself entirely into His hands.
Catherine Booth
24 April 2008
1 March 2008
Breaking In and Entering
So I've been back in Wellington this week for meetings with various people, and have been staying with my Midland counterpart, Rebecca, back at Booth College of Mission.
Then yesterday, we moved across campus into Karen (our Central courtpart) and Shaun's spare bedrooms. But since noone else was moving in, we kind of took our time moving out. Like Rebecca hadn't still until this afternoon.
Karen and I ended up doing some retail therapy in Lower Hutt, leaving Bec going to visit her friends. Rebecca left a message that she had finished tidying/cleaning up our previous unit but I had to finish the dishes. Easy enough, so you'd think.
So when we get back to College, I run over to our unit, let myself in with the key I still have and notice in the bedrooms that there are bags and suitcases I don't recognise. So I ring Karen, "Oh my gosh, someone has moved into our unit and I haven't finished the dishes!" and while on the phone, in walks a woman who heard my entry!
I hung up on Karen, and in between my giggles (my nervous reaction) I tried to explain why I was standing in her foyer on her phone, before drying dishes at record speed and escaping out the door I came in.
Oh, only in the world of Corryn!!
Then yesterday, we moved across campus into Karen (our Central courtpart) and Shaun's spare bedrooms. But since noone else was moving in, we kind of took our time moving out. Like Rebecca hadn't still until this afternoon.
Karen and I ended up doing some retail therapy in Lower Hutt, leaving Bec going to visit her friends. Rebecca left a message that she had finished tidying/cleaning up our previous unit but I had to finish the dishes. Easy enough, so you'd think.
So when we get back to College, I run over to our unit, let myself in with the key I still have and notice in the bedrooms that there are bags and suitcases I don't recognise. So I ring Karen, "Oh my gosh, someone has moved into our unit and I haven't finished the dishes!" and while on the phone, in walks a woman who heard my entry!
I hung up on Karen, and in between my giggles (my nervous reaction) I tried to explain why I was standing in her foyer on her phone, before drying dishes at record speed and escaping out the door I came in.
Oh, only in the world of Corryn!!
19 February 2008
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.
4 February 2008
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!!
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!!
4 January 2008
Coming Home From My Summer Holiday...
Seems like a bit of a weird title considering I'm kinda not really home. Depending on your view of things. But I've left my "north" holiday in Hamilton/Waihi Beach/Rotorua and I'm back, albeit ever so briefly in Wellington, before leaving in the early hours of tomorrow morning to catch the ferry to move south to Christchurch. But enough of that ... time to reminisce ...
My final night at College was meant to be a prank night, and I had it planned, but alas it all turned nasty on me and I ended up the one being pranked by Robert. Thus, my pride is still hurt and I shall wait on telling you about that for another time.
Saturday morning before Christmas I drove to Hamilton, via stopping for shopping at the outlet stores in Otaki (if I'd known how good they were, I would have stopped more frequently in my two years living here!) and also at Wayne and Bridget's new place for lunch. It twas fab seeing their mansion (literally) and I've picked my room for when I stay. Isaac and Joel were fun to spend time with, and it turned out it was Bridget's birthday, so a great little break.
After that, I pretty much drove straight through to Hamilton, stopping for a drink at Taihape, and arrived at Mum and Dad's for a late dinner.
Spent the next few days just meandering round my old haunts, taking Matt Christmas shopping (seemingly a new tradition!), and catching up with friends.
Aunty Jocelyn, Uncle Ian and Olivia stayed with us from Christmas Eve, so they joined us for our family present opening and BBQ bfast with Popa. Lunch Uncle Wayne, Aunty Carolyn, Michael and Hannah added to the chaos at our house (nah... not really ... was fun spending time with them all!) and at dinner we went out to the farm for our Smith Christmas.
Boxing Day I took Olivia out to the sales ... nothing like shopping ... and even ran into an old guy (Joe) from the youth group I'd lost touch with years ago, which excited me much - I had been praying about him just recently and had asked God if I could run into him so was absolutely stoked.
Spent the next couple of days just resting, watching DVDs, reading books etc at Mum and Dads before heading over to Uncle Alister and Aunty Sue's bach at Waihi Beach for a few days, including New Years. Was great catching up with family again and friends I haven't seen in ages, and in particular Haley and her growing baby bump! We kind of had three New Years celebrations around midnight, because we weren't too sure who had the right time, but eventually conceded it must be 2008. (Scary - where are the years going!?)
Matt and I drove from there to Rotorua where we picked up Kelly, Lucy and Michael and then went to Blue Lake to spend the day with Jaci, Carl and Joel and Jac's whanau. They've been like a second family to me growing up so was awesome to spend time with them, and play around with Levi and Joel.
Then Matt and I stayed the night with my cousin Linda and her family before I went and met up with Jaci and Carl again to head out to Lake Rotoiti where we met up with Sue, Simon and the girls. Much fun heading out on the boat into the island hot pools. Nice. Methinks I'm slightly browner than when I left. (I do mean slightly!)
Then I drove back to the 'Tron, where I spent my last day running around doing final errands, catching up with the Siufangas and Rachel, before flying down this morning.
Anywho, that's the basic gist. Had a few great laughs etc, and will post some photos at a later date, but my fingers are getting tired and I'm sure you've had enough of reading my bleating. I just now need to figure some way of getting everything to fit into my car somehow ready for the morning .... eh.
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