There really should be sheep in this picture instead of cows, but here is an idyllic NZ shot. It's just incredibly beautiful here!!!

The big event of our week was Hannah getting her learner's permit to drive. She studied very hard (with the help of Dad) and had to learn things in meters instead of feet, etc. We're proud of her!

Heather enjoyed speaking at a ladies' breakfast on Saturday morning down in Beachlands and we spoke nearby where we are living on Sunday.

We borrowed a little ATV from Steve's nephew that wasn't running. Steve and the boys have been enjoying the project of getting it back in running condition and it went for it's first test run tonight.........

Rotorua

We just got back from a great long weekend in Rotorua. Steve spoke to a student body on Wednesday several hours south of here so we went on to Rotorua where we had to be on Sunday instead of driving back here and then back down again. We had a great time doing things like watching sheep shearing, a sheepdog exhibition, riding The Luge (downhill go carts), and seeing the bubbling mud pits and steam that put Rotorua on the tourist trail...and also make it smell interesting!

While the kids were sitting in some hot pools a few days ago we noticed Adam deep in conversation with an older German tourist. I asked him later what they were talking about and he replied, "Oh, you know stuff like where I'm from and how long I'll be here. Oh, and I told her about the prostitutes." Hum, not something you would hear from most six year-old mouths!!!

I can't really criticize what did or didn't come out of his mouth, though. When we were having our garage sale in Phoenix someone was asking why we were selling everything in the house. Without thinking the first thing that came out of my mouth was, "We're moving to _____ to work in a red light district." The look on the lady's face was priceless!!! Hum, Steve probably has his script down but maybe the kids and I should work on one!

It was great to meet Steve's sister Vera when we stopped by her work as we went through her town on the way home today. Hopefully we'll get to have a longer visit soon. Only two more of his siblings to go!

The boys cuddle sheep dogs in Rotorua

Last night we saw the movie 'Slumdog Millionaire' with some friends. The movie takes place in Mumbai (Bombay) and is a rag to riches, good vs. evil story. It is a movie, of course, and not totally realistic, but it does give some good insight into the conditions of the poor in that part of the world and very real social issues (like unrest between different religions, professional beggars, forced prostitution-handled discreetly). It has many great scenes showing the mass of humanity there and just what the place is like. It is disturbing (and has some swearing, mostly in subtitles!) but worth seeing if you want to understand that part of the world a bit or just be challenged to better understand the poor and the outcast. And that there are many, many of them still on planet Earth!

We just spent four days in Thames with Steve's parents. It was very enjoyable to spend relaxed time with them and get to know them better! And for them to get to know us. We enjoyed seeing some of the sights of their area with them and introduced ourselves for a few minutes in their fellowship on Sunday. Nana and Pops are now thoroughly adopted by the kids now as well.

We stopped at the doctor's office in Beachlands on the way home yesterday. We didn't tell the kids until shortly before the visit because the purpose was shots in preparation for moving to S.E. Asia. Not too long ago Adam would cry if the word 'shot' was even mentioned. When he got his last shot it took 3 nurses to hold him down! We all had to get Typhoid shots so fortunately the other kids all bravely got theirs first (and the nurse was very good with a needle!) and Adam received his without TOO much trauma. Steve and I each needed several injections so while the nurse was giving us those she discovered that Adam actually needed one more. I called him back in from the waiting room and it was over before he could blink! The other kids say that he bravely walked back out and announced that he'd had another shot. Hopefully this good experience will pave the way for better ones to come. The kids are finished for moving for now but I still have more in my near future.

We had our first language lesson this afternoon. Someone who used to work in a country next door to where we're going and lives in our area has graciously agreed to teach us. I was comforted to learn today that the language is a fairly logically arranged a bit like Spanish or Latin. We have a loooooong ways to go, though!

We're spending this evening with the older brother and sister of the kids who our friends will get to know first in the city we're moving to. They are in university in New Zealand now. It will be nice to meet them and have that connection!

We had a fantastic weekend down in Beachlands where Steve has lived a good part of his life. It was great to see places and meet people who have been important to him for years and years. It felt like a 'his past connecting with our present' experience. Very nice to fill in some gaps! We all stayed in the little batch where he has lived for the past few years. Good experience since it was probably still larger than our living space in S.E. Asia will be! And we won't have the AMAZING view that he has (should have taken a picture) there.

We spoke at the service there on Sunday and had a wonderful time of fellowship at a potluck afterwards. The girls enjoyed attending their youth that evening before we headed back north.

(Rachel turned 14 on Friday!)

The kids up a tree with Steve's long time friend Sean (and now the kids firm 'Uncle Sean').

We have had a very memorable first week and ½ in New Zealand! It’s been a whirlwind of activity that I know we’ll look back on as very precious in the future. It’s been wonderful to finally meet Steve’s family. We’ve had a number of his close friends come up from Auckland for meals this past week, too, and have enjoyed fellowshipping, hiking, fishing, etc, with them as well.

Steve’s sister and her husband are very generously letting us stay in their batch/cabin. It’s obvious why this area is popular for holidays since there are numerous beaches around, quaint villages to explore, and trails to hike. The weather has been amazing since our arrival, too, and we have spent a lot of time outdoors.

Heather’s been homeschooling the kids and Steve’s been busy organizing things for our time here. We have quite a few places lined up already to share about our future with. The trick is going to be not to over commit ourselves! We have also heard of a retired couple just up the road who speak the language we need to learn and might be willing to teach us, so we wouldn’t have to drive to Auckland (an hour away) for lessons.

Hannah has been studying the road code/driver’s manual here in hopes of getting her driver’s license before we move, not for there but just towards the future. It’s been very cute to have her reminding us how exactly to handle the intersections here, etc. Cute for Steve, but actually helpful for Heather who is trying to learn the different driving rules anyway!

We have been overwhelmed by the hospitality offered to us since our arrival!
For example:
-The amazing corner of Creation we are staying in complete with a veggie garden already planted by Steve’s sister and her husband
-Thoughtful things like meal ideas, spices, books, and caterpillars to hatch from Steve’s niece
-Welcoming us to the area by inviting us to dinner a couple of times already, inviting our kids to fun things, even a party on Saturday night for teenage girls to meet our girls (even though what she has is teenage boys) by a wonderful lady who lives up the road that Steve grew up with.
-And more!

Heather and the kids look forward to meeting many more Kiwi friends!

We made it!

We’ve had a wonderful first few days in New Zealand! Steve’s family that we’ve met so far is fantastic. Not that I’m surprised that a man as superb as he is comes from such good stock. (He’ll hate that sentence when he reads this!) We’ll meet more of them at a gathering tomorrow.

We think this season is going to be very good for us. We are getting to practice adapting to a different culture, but not one as radically different as the one we’re going to. Good practice. We are blessed to be staying at Steve’s sister’s batch/cabin which is just a short walk from a beach (we never even got that in Fiji!). There are numerous hiking trails around, too. Basically we’ll be spending a LOT of time outside and it is still summer here. What a wonderful blessing for kids who will be living in the confines of dense urbanization later this year to be able to run free now! We ate cockles at dinner tonight that the kids dug up on the shore this morning. Neat experiences!

Other little things are good, too, like the fact that this morning I hung laundry outside to dry for the first time since Fiji. Good preparation!

We’re looking forward to a visit from good friends from Fiji who will be passing through on Monday. Then it’s back to homeschooling on Tues. We’re getting acclimated now but soon we’ll kick into gear meeting lots of Steve’s friends and visiting different Fellowships on the weekends to share about where we’re headed. It’s been great to have a few days to get over jet lag and relax after packing up house in Phoenix and sad farewells. If you're one of those people, we'll miss you and please stay in touch!