Summer. Summer. Summer!!!

So it's nearing the end of January and I've had a full two months of summer here in New Zealand!! Since my last update, I've been in Tauranga with friends celebrating the holidays and enjoying New Zealand summer culture.

During December I attended Rebecca and Nick La Spina's wedding, went camping with the Nelson and Pratt families in Hahei, and I celebrated New Years with close friends.





Some January highlights: I went to my first and hopefully, last cricket match, went to the horse races, went on a catamaran to celebrate Brooke and Kelly's fifth wedding anniversary where I kayaked and saw dolphins and the rare Sunfish. I helped the Nelsons move houses and have enjoyed many barbecues and fellowship.





I've been so blessed to be a part of the Otumoetai congregation here in Tauranga. I was an intern with this church from 2006 to 2007, and I am so pleased to be worshipping with them again.

I've been enjoying myself and having lots of fun. However, I am still waiting for my working holiday visa to arrive. It's taking double the amount of time I suspected, so I'm just waiting until it arrives. I've been missing everyone back home a lot, so please keep in touch!! LOVE YOU ALL!

Southland

I have been in the South Island for 16 days now. I miss my job at Starbucks!! I love that place and people so much. This was on my last day.



Thanks to google maps, here is a picture of where New Zealand is and also a map of New Zealand.



I am currently near Invercargill, which is at the bottom of the South Island. On Monday, I'll be taking a road trip to Milford Sound, Te Anau, Wanaka, and Queenstown. In another 17 days, I'll be in Tauranga, which is on the North Island on the east coast. On Christmas Day I get to go camping in Hahei which is two hours north of Tauranga in the Coromandel.



This is the DuBose's home where I'm living right now.



I'm enjoying the farm life where I've been able to feed baby lambs. The DuBose family has two pet lambs named Sophie and Michael Jackson. Their home is surrounded by beautiful gardens that allow us to put together gorgeous flower arrangements every few days.
Here was my first attempt:

I was able to spend time in Invercargill hanging out with my best friend Alyssa and her new husband, Daniel. Along with some of her family and friends from the States, we ate some yummy pizza and watched New Moon last Saturday :)

Safe Arrival

I landed last Tuesday morning in Auckland, New Zealand after a long thirteen hour flight from San Francisco. It was outrageously painful to say my final goodbyes to my family. I just did NOT want to let my mom go at the airport. Her hugs are like a healing medicine to my soul. I thank God for my safe arrival and for my safe travels down to the South Island. I flew from Auckland to Queenstown then had to drive to Invercargill and then onto Mataura. Mataura is a small, sheeptown that is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. The rolling, green hills and beautiful blue sky just melt my heart. I've come to Mataura to attend my best friend, Alyssa's wedding. She met a New Zealander, also called a Kiwi, and they are settling down here.

This week I got to see:

The Caitlins


McClean Falls


Alyssa and Daniel Johnstone's Wedding


Today, I went to church and we had a picnic then played some card games and fellowship!

My first week has been so great!

The Game Plan

I am moving to Tauranga, New Zealand on Sunday, November 8, 2009. I will fly straight to the South Island to a town called Mataura where I'll be living with a mixed New Zealand and American family. Chris and Abby DuBose and their two kids will be putting me up for a month. I may be working on a sheep farm.

We're all attending our friends' wedding and then I'll be flying up to the North Island for a graduation, another wedding, Christmas, a camping trip to Hahei, and to find a job. I'll be living with a family that I grew very close to when I lived there as an AIM student from May 2006 to November 2007. This is their home.



As most of you know, I work for Starbucks here in California, but I can't transfer internationally. I've been in contact with the Starbucks in Tauranga and they said I should talk to them when I arrive.

I appreciate everyones interest in my life. God has definitely been the one leading me every step of the way. Prayers as I say goodbye to my family would be very appreciated. Thank you for your friendship, love, and support. God bless you!