Yesterday and the day before were absolutely gorgeous days! Yesterday my home group led the church service out at Waverly Baptist (about a 30 min drive) and after the service and lunch we spent some time at Waverly Beach. This is one I haven’t been to before and it was gorgeous! Not all of my home group made it to help with the service or were able to stick around for hanging out in the afternoon but those that did had a blast. Here are some photos from that time! Enjoy!

The big rock

Obiri helping Sarah with a ballet move as they stand underneath the big rock

Part of the day included getting to play auntie to Rosie. This was her first real visit to the beach. Michelle and I are looking on as she is enjoying the beach…

Rosie!
Michelle and I climbed on top of the rock. Here is the view of the coast looking up North

Now to the South…beautiful!

Michelle & I standing on the top of the rock

The Marsh’s- Mike and Sarah are one of the couples in our group. I really admire and appreciate the hospitable and welcoming way they have with people!

The group on the ledge…Michelle, Sarah, Obiri, Kath with Rosie and Me

Random poses

Hello!

I’ve been doing fantastic job of not updating my blog! I’m sorry it’s been ages since my last update! Recently I set a challenge for myself to do a better job of updating so be excited about seeing more consistent updates in the upcoming days and weeks!:-)

Today’s installment involves this lovely photo…

This is Tiffany and me at Stone Soup. We are just about to eat our yummy hangi lunch. The hangi consisted of carrot, pumpkin, potato, chicken, pork and stuffing (they were all out of cabbage by the time we got through the line). The flavour of the hangi is distinct because it’s all cooked in the ground by hot stones and brick. This is the way the maori people originally cooked their food. Tiffany is another American doing work here with Te Ora Hou for a few months. She is from Texas but is almost an Oklahoma considering she can see the Red River from her family’s ranch. It has been a pleasure getting to know her.

Hi!
It has been ages since my last blog. Thanks Larissa for encouraging me to write! It’s nice to know people read my blog. Just a little update on the going-ons of life here in NZ and family happenings here’s a little update…
*My sister is engaged and getting married in May! I’m so excited for her! She’s got a keeper of a guy and we are pleased to have him become part of the family! My visit home in May will be a bit busier now with another wedding to be planning and apart of though. Fun stuff!
*My lovely pastoral care couple with YFC/World Outreach was here earlier this month. I was blessed, encouraged and challenged by having them here. They are such a precious couple! Here we are…

*Y-One was here this past week. It was a full on time but heaps of fun and we had several responses from kids wanting to know more about Jesus at the band’s ending concert of the week!
Here are some pics of us after their concert…

Monique, Bex and me

The boys…Eli, Andre, Brad and Joel

All of us altogether with Willem joining in there on the left. Fun times!
*Last weekend was Easter…hooray! Praise the Lord for our risen Saviour! I was able to go to the Baptist Youth Ministries Easter Camp. It was an encouraging time of being able to help out some at the cafe but to also be encouraged in my personal relationship with Christ.
*I got my NZ driver’s license! I could legally drive on my U.S. license for a year but since my year is up on April 8th I needed to get my license here. Praise the Lord I passed the test 35 out of 35!
Well, I’m gonna go for now. Have a lovely rest of March!
Blessings,
Mel

“Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.” John 3:20-21
I’m currently making my way through John. These two verses stood out as I thought of some of the youth I work with and also reflected on these words for myself. There is such a contrast between dark and light. I think it’s a good check to ask myself if whatever I am doing or if the attitudes of my heart were brought into the light, would bring glory to God or not. How willing am I to allow God to bring His light into every aspect of my life and heart? If I want God’s light to shine into the hearts of the youth I’m working with, am I just as willing to let Him shine His light on me? I want to be in the light. I want to walk in the truth. Lord, help me to be a woman who walks in Your light and shines Your light to those around me!

I have had a fair share of new experiences while being here and this past weekend was no exception. I have gone camping before, I have gone opossum hunting before and I have gone for a tramp (hike) before. However, I have not killed anything intentionally before (that squirrel I killed in the States was not supposed to run in front of my car, really!) but this past Saturday night I shot two opossums! Do take a moment to reflect on the truth that opossums here are considered a nuisance since they kill native birds and animals so I really was doing the environment a favor. It does feel weird to have officially killed something though since I’m not normally a hunting/fishing kind of girl. That night I also helped Michelle look for eels to spear and the next day during a tramp we slid and hiked down this hill without using a path. Least to say I have a fair share of sore muscles, bruises and scratches. *sigh* It’s all part of the experience!

After experiencing the chill of 23 Januarys in the States, I have enjoyed the change of having a warm and sometimes a very hot January. I’ve been to a water theme park, gone to the beach several times and visited a pool a few times as well. Believe you me, I could get used to having warm Januarys! After saying all of that, it is a bit weird to put July and skiing in the same sentence together which I did last year. What can I say, it’s all part of being in a different hemisphere!
January really was a fabulous month of enjoying another camp (my third of the summer), getting ready for school to begin, spending lots of time with friends and just having some down time! Although I did enjoy all of those things I am ready to get back into all my activities and ministries. The full schedule begins Monday! This year I’m letting go of being involved with Rock Solid to spend more time with Te Ora Hou and hopefully with some of the Girls’ College girls. I will also continue my role as the Youth Centre coordinator. I’m looking forward to continuing to build relationships with the students I have already been meeting with and I’m excited to see who else God will bring into my path during this year. It should be a good one!

What a month! The 1st brought with it my dear friend Shirley’s wedding in which Hope and I lead everyone in a praise song. I felt so honored to be apart of her wedding! She of course looked gorgeous!
The 3rd-7th I was at camp with about 70 year 10 Girl’s College girls. It was a blast and I was blown away by the heaps of opportunities God opened up to allow us to build relationships with several of the girls and school staff.
The 9th my sister flew into Wellington and for the next two and a half weeks we had a fantabulous time of travelling, making memories, having some pretty fantastic conversations, laughing, crying and just enjoying being able to be together. I so treasure that time with her!!!
Tiff flew out on the 27th and from then until the wee hours of the morning on January 3rd I was with a group from Scott’s church at Summer Harvest, a camp up in Whangarei Heads (about 10 hours drive North of Wanganui).
All in all December was an awesome time of seeing God answer prayer and being gradually refreshed as we head into 2008.
Here are some pictures from Tiff’s visit…enjoy!

Tiff, Karlene (my flatmate) and I dressed up for dessert that we shared after our flat Christmas dinner.

Tiff and I all dressed up for the youth group ball.

Our 1st summer Christmas and we got to celebrate it together!

Looking out from about half way up Mt Ruapehu

Yesterday my friend Joey came by the youth centre and hung out with some of our kids after school. Then, last night at home group he asked me about why things go the way they do and what I do to try manage it. We started three weeks ago having whanau (family) time at the close of the centre for about 10 minutes. It’s not compulsory for you to participate but we encourage the kids to come and listen to some notices and then to a 2-4 minute audio devotional written by teenagers for teenagers. We then close the time with an opportunity for the kids to have us pray for anything that is going on personally or with their family or friends. This time has stirred up all kinds of reactions from the kids. There is usually a lack of respect to whoever is talking and to each other. That is what Joey had observed. On the up side we have a better understanding of where some of the kids are at in their view of God. My prayer is that in some way during the time we have at the youth centre whether it be when we are just talking and playing a game of pool or cards or during our whanau time, God would plant seeds in the hearts of the kids. Before I left the States a couple who prayed with me gave me the picture of seeing me in the youth centre and there were flowers blooming. There wasn’t any fruit from the blossoms yet but there were flowers. I think of that and am encouraged that in some ways I will hopefully be able to see at least the blooms of the truth and care that are being planted in the lives of these kids. Oh, that I would have His wisdom to know how to handle the situations that arise with the kids and to know how many times I need to ask them to please watch their language or to remind them of the rule “if it’s not nice, don’t say it” and when I just need to let it go. Sometimes I feel like a parent! Even with the ups and downs it’s all worth it and it’s an honor to serve Him!
There you have it…where I’m at and what I’m processing through.
Much Love,
Mel

A bit of a random thing happened yesterday. The year 10 girls are in exams this week at school and I was asked to help the art class with their exam. Helping them meant I sat still for an hour reading a book(turning the page as I needed to) in my jeans and t-shirt while they drew me. There was a combination of wanting to go to sleep and almost feeling zoned out as I sat there in the same position for that long. I have a greater respect for models now and feel like I could connect with the verse “Be still and know that I am God…” a little better than before. It was good to be available and to hopefully be an encouragement to the girls in the process. Yea for these unique experiences!

A shout out to those who sent me cards and e-mails for my birthday! I appreciate your thoughtfulness! I thought I would share a few pics from the time and give a little play by play on what happened.
Saturday I had a party mainly made up of friends from church and my small group. It was an “M” party with a shared potluck tea (dinner). Everyone was to dress as something beginning with “M”. There were some creative ideas and some original ones as well. It was a fun time and am truly thankful and blessed to have so many people come especially since I haven’t been here very long.
Sunday- the actual birthday- Jordan woke me up singing “happy birthday and I opened cards and presents in bed (like the Winters’ family tradition), I went to chapel at the hospital since my small group is helping during the month of October. Then I went to a cafe with some friends, had a shared lunch with some more friends, found out when Tiff is visiting me in December!!!, had a cruisy arvo at home, talked to my sis on the phone, went to church and then watched a movie and ate ice cream at a friends house. Then, I stayed up even later watching “The Ultimate Gift” which Kellie mailed to me for my birthday. A very fun day!!
Monday- I talked to Kellie and webcamed with my family!! Two very great conversations!!! Then, I had coffee with my mentor Rochelle and had a few minutes at home before Te Ora Hou that night.
I am thankful for friends to celebrate with and for their willingness to do so many special things for me! God is faithful and good to me! Thank you too for your friendship and journeying with me through the past months and years!
Blessings,
Mel

*Whew* I blew all three candles out! We’ll say that each candle represented 8 years.

The group at the party. Can you find… Mary Poppins, a motorcross rider, a musician, a mummy, a man in black, a mum, Madeline, a Mitre 10 MEGA girl, Michael the archangel, Miss Muffet, Mini Me, a couple of middle eastern guys, a maggot and Miss Oklahoma?

Good friends, that’s us! A Muso, Madeline and Miss Oklahoma

Jordan and I after the party…flatmates and friends!