New People, Places, Things

I am very much enjoying settling into life in New Zealand. I have been so well looked after by the lovely Pelz family - they really have been so good to me. I am so thankful for such a lovely welcome and a home to live in as I settle.

I've been up to quite a bit since the last update. Had a wee trip to some of the beaches around Auckland - Muriwai in the west coast with the Pelz family and then up to Goat Island and Orewa on the East coast with the Shudall Family. The sea here is a bit warmer than what I'm used to in the north.

We've also had Staff + Families Conference down in Nelson on the South
Island - was great to meet people in a relaxed context, to get to know them and just spend some time looking to planning for this year. We had lovely weather the whole week and so we were able to make the most of the lovely site - lake, slide, flying fox and all!

We were also able to begin the year's study in Acts. It was a great opportunity to get both a good overview of the book but also to spend some time, particularly in the first chapter, exploring things we have never discovered or have forgotten. Amazing to look at the focus on kingdom, the Spirit's work and the commissioning the disciples received.

I was also able to visit family friends down in Christchurch after the time in Nelson, before returning to Auckland at the beginning of the week. I'm now back into sorting flat stuff, tax numbers and visa. Would appreciate your prayer on that front if you are that way inclined - looking a bit difficult at the mo but we shall see - lots of prayer will see the right result!

I did, however, manage to purchase a car yesterday at the auction. I've been to three now and not managed to buy - panicking if I flinch a bit too much that I might have purchased some big BMW that I didn't want! Anyway, there was lots of interest in the car I was after yesterday but I managed to get it and it is lovely! Pictures will follow when I've had time to snap some...!