September 2022

Dear friends,

It is hard to believe that over a month has passed since I last wrote. I am still getting used to an October spring "at the bottom of the world" in Aotearoa New Zealand. September here was a month of continued holding pattern for us in the area of housing, but we have a big move ahead of us. We move to 14 Advocate Place, Randwick Park, next week! Our shipping container is set to arrive next week as well! This is a HUGE blessing as we are moving into a house in the exact location we wanted, and our rental agreement begins and our belongings all begin/arrive in quite a miraculously timely way. Praise God with us! as we eagerly anticipate starting to settle. We have enjoyed our Queen Street apartment, but we have struggled to feel like we are waiting, and not quite settling. Now begins the work of unpacking, "setting up house," finding a permanent church home, getting to know neighbors, etc. 

Michael's work is going splendidly. It is an amazing combination of teaching, researching, writing, and meeting with other scholars, students, and community and church leaders. The kids and I eat lunch on campus every Tuesday, and it is such a blessing to "join his work" in this simple way, eating together with the students and seeing him flourish in his place of work. Most of the students at Carey are in school to train for ministry, but the vast majority of them are already heavily involved in ministry. So they seem to be full of eagerness to learn while also full of real life experience, joy, and weightiness in being ministers of the gospel. This is an intense time of the school year for students (and lecturers) :), so feel free to pray for Michael as he teaches and supports his students as the school year wraps up in the next month or so.

Jubilee enthusiastically telling a story to Grace, an eager listener, and Carey student

Other highlights... honestly, so many! As usual, here are some photos to give a window into our lives this past month.

Nova's birthday. We are grateful for new friends that jumped in 100% to make a special party for our beautiful seven year old young lady! Bouncy castle, balloon games, Pizza Hut pizza, fairy bread, and Sisu cake (splendidly created by Rebecca, a friend and a student of Michael's, pictured below) made for a delightful celebration.

South Island Holiday. Michael was invited to speak at Oxford Terrace Baptist Church in Christchurch in the South Island, so we joined him and made it into a holiday (that's Kiwi for vacation). :) We did our usual tour de playgrounds, while also bundling up and revelling in some truly magnificent natural wonders. We cabined one night at Lake Tekapo and were stunned at its aqua waters colored by silt from glacial melt. Then we stayed three nights at the base of Aoraki Mt. Cook, tallest peak in Aotearoa, and were spoiled with incredible views, a blanket of snow fall that made hiking rather magical (and then just a bit wet and grumpy for our smallest crew member), and a hike that ended in seeing icebergs. Oh, and we heard several avalanches. The grandeur of these places cannot be overstated. And what a gift to play in and enjoy such places, as a gift from our creative and grand God.

Early morning flight (we had to wake up at 4am) almost did some of us in. But baked goods upon arrival in Christchurch gave us the fuel that we needed to carry on for our Little Blue Penguin Tour we took later that same day!

Just a couple of hours away from Christchurch, we drove along a long-extinct volcano crater that nestles in its center the town of Akaroa. There we met up with our Blue Penguin tour (4-wheel drive) van and French tour guide Kevin (somehow I found this amusing) who led us in seeing beautiful sites, feeding lambs, and viewing blue penguins in disguise. 

Sunset walk along Lake Tekapo.

Day hike up above Lake Tekapo. At the top, we were rewarded with a 360 degree view of the Southern Alps.

For all you Hobbit fans... this is where Laketown was filmed! No signs of Smaug, although there may or may not have been a brief (undocumented) viewing of an underdressed Michael taking a dip into this glacially cold lake.

Hooker Valley hike (yes, those are icebergs!)

The Tasman Glacier Hike included 6+ miles of winter wonderland, the haunting sound of distant avalanches, and a view of an ever shrinking glacier at the end point. And then when we got back to the parking lot, we had a splendid snowball battle, snow angel making session, and snowperson building competition.

THIS was our view at meals during 3-night stay at the Glentanner Park Centre. If you can't tell... that's the sun setting in golds and pinks on Aoraki Mount Cook peak. On the other side our table was a wood burning stove. The perfect end to a snowy hike sort of day.

Other every day adventures. 

A sword-wielding afternoon of fun at dad's work (outside there is a basketball court). Isaiah kindly obliged to be a dragon that was soundly defeated (and only mildly bruised) by the fierce warriors.

We spent one rainy and chilly Saturday exploring the Auckland Maritime Museum.

Ames baking French toast casserole. Impressive work with a knife! All the kids have grown in their interest and skills in the kitchen. YAY for long term benefits for me and for us all. :)

Lots of time for school, be silly, go on nature walks, cuddle together...

Grateful for each of you. Thanks for reading and keeping in touch.

Love,

Rebecca for all of us 💚💚💚💚💚💚