This past week has been terrific, so much fun stuff has happened. Its been really fun meeting people and starting to feel at home. Little things like going to the grocery store and seeing people I know is wonderful.

Last Friday was when things really started getting fun. I went over to a friends place and we met up with a few of her friends that were having a dinner picnic. Their “picnic” was actually a few people making sushi, in their hippy van down by the river. Haha It was Fantastic! I made my first sushi roll and it was given a 9 1/2 out of 10 stars by the expert judge named Si. The next day I worked (which is still loving so much) but after work I me up with all the hippies again. They were camping out at the most beautiful place. It was complete with wonderful wine and cheese, an amazing soup (made in the back of a hippy van) and Fire dancing haha. (I took pictures: http://unt.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2150715&l=524d9&id=23902206) It was such a great night and we actually had some really great conversation. Si saw my cross ring and asked me if I was a Christian, and that lead into a wonderful long conversation. He is an atheist but was really interested to know what I thought and really open to my point of view.

I was able to test out another church this past Sunday. Unfortunately I didn’t feel that comfortable there. I was pretty discouraged by it to be honest. But there is one more church in the area that I am going to test out on Sunday. Prayer for that would be really appreciated.

Work has been going really well still. I finished my 3rd week (time has flown by) so its not as new and exciting as it was, but I still love it so much. I have been able to hang out with a few people that have come into the wall, so that has been fun. I am really trying to be intentional in putting myself out there. I know that if I don’t make the effort in building friendships then they wont happen. It has been really nice in my house too. My flatmates ad I started cooking dinner for each other once a week, so its been fun getting to eat with them and getting to know them better.

But the most exciting thing about my week was yesterday. I was able to go white water sledging yesterday for free! (Benefits of the job… it’s such a ruff life.) Sledging is basically going down rapids in your own personal flotation device. We went down twice the first time in the sledge and the second time I went down on a boogie board! And I got to cliff jump! It was SO incredible. This is the website of the company I went with if you want to see what it’s like: http://www.frogz.co.nz/

I am, as you can tell, still loving it here. I do wish that I was closer to you all and was able to expierance this with you. But I can let those thoughts get me down to much. As far as prayers go, please pray for a church here, I am really in need of fellowship. Also please pray that I would love the people I am surrounded by now well. Lastly, that I would really put myself out there even when it is uncomfortable.

I love you guys!

Ahhhh updates. These things are getting harder and harder because God is doing so much. There is no way I can fully communicate all that my life is, but I will do my best. So this is another long one, if you want to skim through it I have put the main ideas in bold. I love you all.

Home:
Love it and I am getting along great with my flatmates.
My house is freaking awesome and I have fantastic flatmates. I live in the most beautiful place I have ever see and the community is so fantastic. It was interesting adapting to the cultural norm of co-ed flatting here. I live with to older guys (28 & 35) which sounds a bit scandalous, but it truly isn’t. They are really respectful of me and my space, (I don’t think they have even seen my room,) they are really friendly and they keep the house really tidy! I have gone out with them a few times and really enjoy their company. So that its great. I have been able to get my room in order a bit. There is a recycle center here and it is superb. I got a dresser, mattress, bed frame, sheets, comforter, space heater, a vanity mirror and a hair dryer all for about $80 NZD ($60 US) CRAZY!

Work:
Love love love it. Doing reception but I get to cross train in both café and the wall!
My goodness I love working here. I am working reception right now, which can be slow at times and a lot of cleaning and trying to find little jobs here and there. They have asked me to do some brainstorming for events that they could have there. But the thing that is most exciting is that they are letting me cross train in both the café and the wall. So I get to learn how to make drinks and how to intro people into the wall. I am really hoping to learn how to set routs at some point too. I was climbing with one of my co-workers yesterday and she said that I should make some routs for the “short-asses” (I didn’t even care that she called me that. I was just excited that they wanted me to set a rout!) And I am really enjoying all the people I work with. Also since we are and adventure activity company we will sometimes get these quid-pro-quo deals with other companies. Sometime this month we are taking a staff day and going to do white water sledging (basically boogey boarding down rapids!) and we get to do this for free! Ahhhh so blessed.

Friends:
Starting to make some!!! Haha.
I am starting to meet some people and build friendships here, which is great. I went over too a friends the other night and we cooked dinner had great wine watched a movie and had a slumber party. It was wonderful just to have some fun and much needed girl time. Its really nice working up at the wall because I get to meet climbers that come through. The only bad part is that since I work on Saturdays I haven’t had a chance to go outdoor climbing with anyone yet. But now I have Sundays off so hopefully that will change.

Church:
Still trying to find one.
I tested out one church and really liked the Sunday service but I went to the mid-week prayer and it was full on charismatic. I wasn’t super comfortable there, so I don’t really want to go to a church that I can be fully involved in. Loved the people and again Sunday night was good, but not totally for me. The good news is that work just hired on a new girl so I have Sundays completely off now. And they just added some night hours to my schedule so I will still manage to get 30+ hours!!! God is good!

Side note:
I feel the earth, move, under my feet! Two earthquakes.
I expieranced my first earthquake. On Tuesday early morning (2:30am) we got tremors here from an earthquake in Miford. Apparently it was the biggest one here in a long time. I think it was something like a 2.2. Then later that afternoon there was a second one that wasn’t as strong. I don’t think there was any damage, but it was pretty wicked.


SO this is just barely scratching the surface of what is going on in my life, but you get the idea. I really wish that I could just bring everyone here so that yall could experience all of this first hand and really see how wonderful it is here. I am pretty positive I will stay here the majority of my time here and maybe just take a month or so at the end to tour everything else. And I am sure even with that plan it will be hard to leave. Trying not to think about it too much, its so far off and I need to just enjoy it for what it is right now.

Questions, Comments, Concerns? E-mail me! Mags_02@msn.com

Wanna Know Wanaka?

Let me first say the life has been way way beyond Amazing lately. So much has happened in these past few days that it is frustrating thinking about trying to put it into words. I have decided that I will break it down in to short outline and a long explanation for those of you who want to read on.

I) Leaving Methven (pictures of Methven and such: http://unt.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2146539&l=73c93&id=23902206)
a. Took a long road trip on my way to Wanaka. Stayed in Oamaru. (pictures http://unt.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2150462&l=6df9e&id=23902206)
b. Saw the Moeraki boulders; they were increadible.
II) Got to Wanaka: It’s the most beautiful place I have ever seen in my life. (pictures: http://unt.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2150715&l=524d9&id=23902206)
a. Got called for an interview at Base Camp Wanaka, a climbing wall
b. Looked for a flat to move into. Through that, talked to a guy living here that use to work at NASA for 3 years. (10 minutes away from my parents home)
c. Got a job as reception at the wall!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
d. Moved into a flat that is freaking Incredible.
e. Now I am living in a complete state of euphoria.

Long Version:

I left Methven on Tuesday and was really excited to start something new. I took a long way around things so that I could see some of NZ on my way down to Wanaka. I stopped in a town called Oamaru, its an old historic coast town, sort of like Galveston but more colonial and more beautiful. They are known for their penguin colonies, and I was able to see a little blue penguin. The weather was a bit crummy on the first day and some of my drive the second day as well, but I still got to see so much beauty.

On the second day I drove down the coast some before going inland and it was the most beautiful day of my life. I saw the Moeraki boulders, they are these huge natural boulders that sorta just grow out of the cliffs, (I didn’t take the guided tour so I don’t know all the scientific facts, but I still appreciated them) Seeing things like that just make me love Gods creativity more and more. It was amazing taking this drive because the more I drove the more beautiful it got. I was absolutely blown away the whole time.

Day one Wanaka:
When I got into Wanaka I was completely overwhelmed by the beauty (this feeling hasn’t stopped since the time I drove in.) I was pretty tired from the long drive so I got to my hostel and laid down. About 10 min. into my nap I got a call from Base Camp (BC) asking me if I could come in for an interview. So I got that set up and of course couldn’t sleep at all after that.

Day 2 Wananka:
I started looking for a flat. The first one I looked at was amazing and it was actually right around the corner from BC. (It was funny because as I drove by BC for the first time I thought wow it would be really cool if I got this job then found a flat in that neighborhood.) I looked at a few other houses, none of them were quite as cool as the first one, but I did talk to a guy that lived in Clear Lake for 3 years through the searching process, it’s a small world. I also had my interview this day and it went really well. They asked me if I could come in a few hours the next day for a trial.

Day 3 Wanaka: big day
I went in for my trial and it went so well. I got along really well with the other 2 receptionist and really enjoyed working there. After about 3 hours I had a debrief with the supervisor and she offered me the job! Apparently there were 2 other people that came in for trails, but she said I had the most enthusiasm and clicked the best. (I think the enthusiasm may come from the fact that I have wanted to work at a wall for over a year now, or maybe because I am just a spaz.) Since I was officially staff now they invited me to the staff night that was going to happen that evening. It was so fun being able to meet everyone and to hang out with people that shared the same passion as me.
Today I decided on the first house and moved in. The house is incredible, it was built by an artist ad is totally eccentric and completely unique. Its hard to explain everything but I have posted pictures so you can take a look. The selling point for me was the fact that there is a mini climbing wall in the stairwell!!!!!!!!! Living overseas is a bit different in the fact that everyone lives wherever there is a room, you don’t come across too many same sex houses. So I am living with two guys and another girl right now. They are all really kind and so helpful and clean! I have been getting along with them so well. An added bonus is the fact that they are pretty stinkin funny, it has been really nice to be able to laugh really hard once in a while.

Days Following:
Everything has been so good I cant get over all the blessing that have been poured out on me. Its crazy to think about it all and how the timing of everything was perfect. I just found out that BC had just changed ownership and had been closed for a transition month. When I had called to ask about jobs they were at the end of the hiring process. And this past Monday was their grand re-opening. So if I would have waited any longer to call or come out here there would have been no positions open. Its also perfect timing because the ski season is ending this weekend so, people are moving and that’s how I got hooked up with such a sweet flat. Who knew that a month in Methven would have set me up in such a sweet way?!
In the past few days I have really enjoyed getting to know my flatmates and co-workers. I truly love this place and will have no problem staying here for a while; I think the problem will come in leaving. Right now I am really looking forward to testing out this church tonight. I seems like it will be a great fit so I am interested to see how it all goes.

I have put the links to all my pictures above. You can get a little glimpse of what life is like for me here. Its had because pictures hardly capture everything, but it can be a starting place for you imagination!

I miss you all and love you. Thank you so much for your prayers, I know they are the reason for all of this!