hot DAWG

ooh boy. it's chilly in here. maybe this'll be quick (then again...)


last week I had heard that some americans were floating around Whangaparaoa. they're missionaries- 11 of them. all college-aged, from incoming frosh to junior, plus an older adult named margaret who's running the operation. i met a few of said americans during the evening service this past sunday, and was informed through the grapevine that they keep a pretty open house (they've rented a house and host people at all hours of the day and night to my knowledge and experience!)... so i hopped in my car after i did my church thang and drove down the road feeling hopeful. i knocked on their door and was welcomed in. seems they were just as delighted to find me as i was to find them, though in different ways. still, a taste of home. they're from a church in Atlanta, and Margaret has lived on and off on Whangaparaoa and so since they had housing hookups and such, they came here to minister to the churches and youth in the area, as well as to do some general community outreaching. they are super!! the majority of them dont even have a southern accent.
there's Erin, who i met at church at first and who is extremely welcoming and friendly; Carl, who reminds me of a guy at gordon who's name i dont know, but in any case Carl is completely cool, easy going, and a little toned down from some of the more excitable ones in the group; Morgan, who is the closest girl to my age and who i have little trouble conversing with; David, who has striking eyes and bears a very strong resemblance to someone i cant quite put my finger on; Van, who's face looks just like Jon Misarski (and i told him so, as well); Austin, who is the closest guy to my age along with David, and who seems to be very keen on getting a try at driving my or any car he can- he hasnt driven here yet at all; and my fingers are about to snap off. there are more- Anders, Lauren, Jordan Lee, John, and then Margaret. they're holding a 4th of July party this saturday, on the 1st of July (haha...???) which is just spectacular because otherwise, who would care? but i'm excited. initially i was going to head to coromandel on saturday but i think i'll push my trip back because a woman from church wants to take me to a local rugby game and then i have to celebrate my country's independence (early)!

i visited them again tonight, and more wonderful times were had. they held a Bible study as well, and we talked about life in Christ. the idea that hit me today was that we can tell what or who we worship by where we put our time. erin voiced that concept and of course, it resonated because it's something i've been thinking about. i have come a long way since i've been here, but as always i have a long way to go. this is not discouraging to me, but rather heartening, because i know that every step of the journey will be with God, and if i stray, He'll find me and set me right. priorities. where are my priorities? where are yours? and how can we tell? actions speak louder than words, both written and spoken. but thankfully God sees past our contradictory actions into our hearts. we do the things we dont want to do

i talked to my family today. and that gladdened my heart.
i also received a letter from stacey. i read it on a walk around Gulf Harbour (well, it didnt take THAT long, hahaha).
i'm running out of steam here... but know that if you read this i am thinking about you. for sure. i miss life per usual but God once again has proven that His timing is perfect and His plan unmatched in the arrival of these new friends. within minutes of entering that house i had more connection with the people within than i had been able to gather up since i've been here with the kiwis. God knows what we need, and He'll provide it.

i'll post some pictures soon. the only reason that the flow of pictures has dried up is because they take time to edit down to size (they are gigantic when they come straight off my camera).

lots of love, heaps of blessings on you.