Quick Post

Just checking in for the week...it's been crazy! On the Praise List: medical check-up for new visa finished, X-ray complete, blood work-complete. I am healthy! the only thing that needs adjustment in my iron level, which makes my blood count a little low right now, but I'll start eating some more spinach:) The doctor said I should be fine to receive my new visa, Praise the Lord! CIA this week Friday..expecting it to go well and God will be glorified. My eye is healing and feeling much better from the stye I had in it last week-Praise the Lrod!

Prayer list: ERO-education review board is coming to school next week! A bit stressful! Visa application is processed quickly, I need to prioritize life a bit better, and school in general. Thank you for your prayers!!!

Sunshine on a rainy day

Today was rainy all day! That doesn't really happen that often and honestly, we needed the rain. At least it wasn't ultra windy and rainy. We had the wind yesterday. Despite it being a yuck day outside, I found myself in a coffee shop agian...surprise! I was reading/writing/studying for a bit in the afternoon. As I was at Gloria Jean's (name of the coffee shop) there was a little polynesian boy who was playing the silly face game with me. He was absolutely adorable! He was probably 3yrs. old and way too cute. He would run around the corner and see how close he could get to me before I'd look up, then he'd make a silly face, smile, and run off. I loved it. He had super curly hair and the biggest, cutest smile ever! This went on for about forty minutes...haha. This little boy was just the right kind of sunshine on this rainy Saturday in Auckland:)

Universal Gospel

Today I was sitting in Boarders reading children's books. I like to sit, read, and relax every now and then. Today I had just met with my mentor and dear friend Julia and decided to take some time to read for a bit as well. I read one of my favorites that I haven't read in a long time, "The Giving Tree" by Shel Siverstein. I enjoy being reminded of the selfless love of the tree. The tree wants nothing more than the happiness of the boy. She gives everything she possibly can so that he can be successful and have a "good' life. In the end, the boy comes back and just sits with the tree. The tree is finally happy herself because she is with the boy.

I am reminded of my relationship with my Lord and Savior. He left His home in glory to come live among us, so that one day we could be reunited with Him in that glory. But in the meantime, so often I ask for blessing, and happiness, and a "good" life. Christ is not so much focused on my happiness, like the tree for the boy, but enjoys blessing me to bring glory back to His Father in heaven. Because of this undeserved love and grace beyond measure, I am allowed to live in communion with the Lord here, but even more, I will be allowed to live in His presence and just sit with Him in heaven. The joy that fills my heart just thinking about that day cannot even compare to the Joy of the Lord when all His children are restored unto Him and with Him in glory.

Next, I read, "Glass Slipper Gold Sandal" by Paul Fleischman and Julie Paschkis. This is the Cinderella story told through the different cultures of the world. It takes the story through Iraq, Indonesia, Japan, India, Zimbabwe, Scandinavia and more. The pictures change from page to page to depict the culture at each point in story. This is probably one of the coolest books I've ever seen! I sat there in Boarders reading this Cinderella story with a huge grin on my face...the whole time I was taking in the cultural diversity of the story and the beauty of it, I was thinking about How the Gospel is even more cross cultural than a simple fairy tale. The Gospel of our Lord is Universal! Not just Jewish, Hebrew, Greek, or even English (as I know it). The Gospel transcends every culture. Praise the Lord! I could probably go on and on but I don't think I really need to. I'm just thankful that I serve a Lord that came to bring reconciliation and salvation for all who recognize and have faith in Him.

Not My Own Ability

I can do nothing on my own. Yes, the Lord has gifted each of us with talents and abilities, still I can do nothing on my own. I cannot trust my own expertise, I cannot trust my own ability, I cannot trust my own responsibilty even...I can do nothing but dig myself in deeper. UNLESS...Christ is at the core of it all.

Right now I am figuring out how I'm going to stay in New Zealand. I working through visa/work permit applications and procedures. I'm getting incredibly overwhelmed with it all! I don't see how it's going to happen..yet in my heart I hear the voice of truth saying, "I will make a way, where there seems to be no way!" I am desprate need of your prayers for peace, quick processing and patience. This may seem like an odd combination of prayer requests, I know. However, I need the peace that passes all understanding to affirm the Lord's calling on my life here in New Zealand, I need the application process for new visa/permit to happen in swift fasion, which is not common with any government. I need to be patient with myself and the circumstances that I'm in, in order to continue living one day at a time.

I am fully confident the Lord's ability and His faithfulness, please just pray that my heart and mind connect with these issues and I can be actively living by faith in Christ.

Some funnies at my expense:)

"Miss...You got punked!"

So I've been playing a rhythm game with my year sevens, they have to come up with a rhythm that has the same number of beats as they have syllables in their names. We go around the circle twice, the first time we all just do our own, the second time you have to start from the beginning of the circle and do everybody's name up to your own. By the end of the the game, I have to say everyone's name in order. Ok, seems simple enough, and it really help all of us to learn names. Until I had two boys get a little tricky. I was so focused on remember names at the beginning of the circle that I didn't see them switch places. When I got to Eli (who was really Patrick) everyone started to chuckle...he was like, "Miss, I'm Patrick." I said, "No your not your Eli because your sitting in the second to last seat! (I memorize in order) Then I realized they had switched seats, we all started laughing, then one student shouts out, "Miss, you got punked!" Let's just say, I lost it, I was laughing so hard and so was the whole class. Thankfully we were able to get class back on track and we kept going.


Got Ice??

So tonight I was on my way home from Bible study and I really wanted some ice. I know this is random, but love me anyway please. I decided that I'd stop in at Subway and get a drink so I could fill the cup up with ice..they were closed. I kept heading home then I decided to go just past my road to the petrol station to get some ice...they were closed too! By this point, I was annoyed, so I kept going to another spot that I knew would be open (totally out of my way home). I got there, and they didn't have any ice!!! I was like, "Are you kidding me?" So I settled for some kiwifruit flavored water and went home. No ice, the end.

School Update

I suppose it's time for a school update:) Overall, I think school is going well. I am excited to get going with the new year sevens. I think they are going to do a fine job this year. I haven't had too many major problems with them so far. My year eights on the other hand have issues with way way way too much talking. They don't hear the direction because they are too busy using their mouths instead of their ears. The primary unit I'm doing with year seven in Ukulele. I am also incorporating singing, some theory, and some listening into each lesson. With my year eights, I am using the guitar instead of the uke, but continuing with the singing, theory, and listening. My class periods are still long blocks, so I'm getting used to breaking up the class period with different activities. We're finishing up our second week of school this week and getting well along into the school year. I'll keep you up to date with what's what in the music room in the upcoming weeks as more music programs get going.

Thames, Coromandel, and Kauaeranga Vally

My latest random adventure was a day trip to Thames, Coromandel and the Kauaeranga Vally. The above picture is a taken from a scenic lookout while driving through the Coromandel Peninsula. The views were continually breathtaking! I was only a couple hours from Auckland but it felt like I was in the jungle. You can see that in the picture below:)

My friend Joanne and I decided to go for a day trip. I enjoy random day trips like this emensly. We started out by going to the Kauaeranga Vally because we were going to a "pool" in the middle of the bush. It's not actually a pool like you would think, it's a spot in the river where the water pools up, great for swimming and jumping off rocks. I didn't get my nerve up to jump this time, but I think I will next time.

After swimming for a while, we went for a bit of a drive down a long gravel road then a short walk and we came to the bridge in the above picture. So Cool! The water was really low at this point in the river, but the swing bridge was great fun.


Then it was off to Thames for lunch, where we found our favorite Subway:) After that, we drove up the coast for about an hour enjoying the beautiful landscape, until we arrived in Coromandel. We drove up into the hills a bit to take in the sights and enjoy God's absolutely amazing creation, then we started on our way back home. This day was truly great and I know why i enjoy spending quality time with people outdoors....it's always an adventure!

Food for thought

God is still teaching me about faith, His faithfulness, and trusting His faithfulness. Today, I read this quote from the study, "Living Free" by Beth Moore.

"Christ isn't asking us to believe in our ability to exercise unwavering faith. He is asking us to believe that He is able."

This is a huge idea to process. I find so much hope in it. Recently, there have been countless times when I know God is teaching me something, but I must plead for Him to increase my faith. I know that He is able to do whatever He wants or chooses to do, I also know that He does what He says He will do. At the same time, it's like God is trying to get my head knowledge to connect with faith in my heart in order to sincerely believe Him. Anyway, that's what I've been chewing on today.

On a more light-hearted note, I was able to go to the beach today with my friend Joanne. We had a wonderful time relaxing in the sun and swimming. Joanne and I also decided to be accountability partners to encourage each other and grow in our spiritual walks. I feel very blessed by her friendship. My dear friend Julia also celebrated her engagement today and it was a joy to go celebrate with her. Today was a wonderful holiday. I'm headed back to school to finish up the week tomorrow and friday.

Math Test What?!?

So today we had our day of meetings to start off the new school year. It was going fine until....Maths! (Math is called Maths here) Mr. Horan pulled out a maths test that we all had to take. I was horrified! For all of you who don't know, I avoid math like the plague. There probably isn't anything in the world I like less than math. Well, it wasn't too bad and I survived but I didn't like it. There is a reason I teach music, math is not my strong point. I know plenty for living everyday life, but I would not want to teach math at the intermediate or secondary level ever. I stick with music thank you very much. Well, that's the news for the day. Oh and my luggage finally came for those who read the the drama post about my trip over here. I'm very thankful that it arrived as it has some of my teaching resources in it. School starts next week, so I'm gearing up and trying to get focused. Peace out everyone.

Psalm of the Day

Psalm 32 is my Psalm of the Day today. Verse 8 hit my heart and made it sing for Joy! I know this Scripture has been lived out in my life in so many ways and it will continued to be displayed in all I do. How do I know this? Simply because it's about what God does and He is alway faithful.

The Lord says, "I will guide you along the best path for your life. I will advise you and watch over you."

The Lord has done this day after day, in every circumstance that comes my way. Sometimes I don't see it at the time and wonder where God is at work, but deep down I know this Scripture reigns true.