Since the last time I wrote not too much has change but little things have happen here and there.

I told you last time that basecamp was having a speed dating night and my co-workers signed me up for it. Well it went on last Friday and it ended up being a great time. I definitely was not looking to really date some random person, but it was nice to meet 15 new people in Wanaka.

Work is still going good. It’s really nice there because all the staff are friends and hang out all the time. The only bad thing it that we never have days off together but we do manage to do things after work together. This Monday a few of the girls went horseback riding and it was so lovely. And last night there was a “famous dress” going away party/ I went as India Arie. This should be interesting because I am not skinny, tall, or black BUT… I do have soul and boogie in my bones!

This weekend my best friend here is going home for 5 weeks, so that stinks. But I have been getting to be good friends with one of the new girls at basecamp and the girls from my church. I also have got some plans for Christmas now, which is nice. I will go over to one of my friends place and do a small bar-b-que with them then have a skype Christmas with my family.

Church is still going really well. It’s been so nice once I committed and started going regularly. Like I said before, I am beginning to get closer with the girls. I am starting to feel more like myself around them. I walk with a few of them at least once a week and God has really blessed that time in just developing relationships. I was also able to spend some time with them this weekend. There are a few that are in a band and they were playing a gig at the most AMAZING spot I have seen. It was on someone’s property and they had a stage set up in the HUGE back yard; it was on a river that had a canopy of trees and all of it was breathtaking. There are little places like that everywhere here and I know that if I leave here that is what I will miss the most.

Time continues to fly by here and I am Amazed that Christmas is only 2 weeks away. I am looking forward to things a lot more now with the Holidays. I do have some fun things lined up after the holidays as well, since it is summertime there are heaps of festivals and concerts. Hopefully time will fly by right up to when my parents get here in Feb! I cant wait to show them around this Incredible place I call home. I wish that each of you could come out here and see it.

I think that’s about it. Please please please let me know how life is going for you. I miss you all dearly!

Right now I am sitting by the lake sun bathing in the most beautiful place in the world! (here is a picture of what I was looking at while writing)

Since my last post I have been all over they place, literally, mentally and emotionally. I have been blessed beyond belief by this town (as usual) but it hasn’t been easy at all times. With the holidays coming up I have gotten pretty home sick and often look online at flights just to see if Maybe I could make a trip home; but it is more than impractical. The thing that makes it easier to bare is the fact that a) it is Crazy beautiful here and b) that it is summer time, so it doesn’t quite feel like Christmas. There continues to be amazing things happening all the time that hold me over. One of the many things I love the most is that there are Always opportunities to have picnics with amazing surroundings. (I have about 4 or 5 picnics a week and it is marvelous)
I am continuing to make new friends and develop relationships with people here. I have gotten to be really great friends with one of my co-workers. It has been lovely doing things with her. She is a planner, like me, and we are always up to something. We have made a few plans for camping trips and always manage to get a good girls night out about once a week or so. She is even thinking about joining me for a trip to Fiji!
I have also committed to a church (a different one than I had mentioned in my last post) and I am starting to build friendships with some of the girls from there. We had a fun movie night last weekend and today I had a great sushi picnic with one of the girls on the lake. While I didn’t think initially that this was the right church for me, God has now really affirmed that it is. The congregation is young and they meet at night so I am always able to make it.

My two really close guy friends left this week so that was a bit sad, but I am sure that I will be able to see them again at some point. Right before Pete left we were able to take a wonderful day trip to Milford Sounds. It was a long day (about 5 hours each way) but it was so worth it. The drive was absolutely breath taking. I was absolutely astounded by Gods creation. We had booked boat cruise through the sounds. We got there we checked in and were talking to the receptionist and she asked how we heard about them; we told her we worked for Basecamp, so she let us on for free!!! It was such a huge blessing because the cruises are normally about $60. Since we got on for free we were able to have a nice dinner on the way home.

Work continues to go well. I had started to get pretty board and I was dreading the idea of working without Joey and Pete. (they always made things interesting and fun) But I finally got put on some Café shifts and it has been AMAZING! I was able to do some cooking and I loved it. I didn’t realize that I missed cooking and to be honest I didn’t even know that I love to do it; but it turns out that I do! Anyways the café supervisor really liked having me back there and was impressed by my work, so she told the manager that from now on she wants me to do all the cooking! I think the change is just what I needed. This week should also be fun at work because we have an event this Friday and it’s Speed Dating. My co-workes made sure that I was not working and they took the liberty to sign me up, which I was initially Totally against, but now I think it will be a good laugh. I have actually managed to get 3 girls from church to come and do it with me! (I told them it would be a good outreach, haha)

And now for the warm fuzzy feeling of the week:
God’s provision was incredible that past week. As I told you I chose a church to commit to; well last week they made an announcement that they were doing a big donation pull for their base church’s building fund. When they said this I had a really strong feeling that I was suppose to give them my next paycheck. I wasn’t to thrilled about this feeling, but I decided to pray about it. So I prayed and told God that I didn’t really want to give it and that I wanted to save it for other things. But that since he asked me to I would commit and do it. The next day I was talking to my parents and they told me that both my Aunt and Grandma had sent me checks that totaled Well over the amount of my paycheck! God is good. It just really shows that you cant receive His gifts with a closed hand!

Prayers:
Everything here is really wonderful but please pray for me over the holidays. And that I would find comfort in this time. Please also pray for clarity and guidance on the “future.” Thanks so much! I love you and miss you!

PICTURES!
http://unt.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2162003&l=610a0&id=23902206