Christmas in New Zealand

Pictures coming soon!!

There is a huge place in my heart and always will be for missionaries and people that live far away from their families during the holidays! This is the first Christmas that I have spent away from my family and I miss them sooooo much but the Lord is so good and blessed me so much this Christmas!

We started out with baking lots and lots of biscuits (cookies) throughout the week and watching Christmas movies. Then Christmas Saturday night we went to a Christmas production at a local church. Christmas Eve was spent playing games, watching Arthur Christmas, and eating fondue! My mom sent me Christmas presents in the mail that came on Christmas Eve how perfect is that!! Christmas was just relaxed as we opened presents in the morning (I got some lovely jewelry) and ate an amazing breakfast completely with “uncle Paul’s” Belgium waffles! And the afternoon was spent at friends house just chilling and talking. I am so thankful for this family, they have made me such a part of their family and I can’t imagine what Christmas would have been without them! While I miss my biological family very much, the Lord has blessed me so much with an amazing New Zealand family!

Sadly even though it is summer we were not able to go to the beach on Christmas as we are in the middle of Cyclone Evan L Which means a lot of rain and wind but we are thankful for the rain as our water tank is now full and we can take showers again!!!  YAY! We did get to go to the beach on Saturday though and it was beautiful but we could see the storm coming!

I am also housesitting for the next few weeks for a family that went on Holiday. They live in this amazing house just outside of town. It is huge and they have so great animals: A bunch of sheep, 2 very friendly goats, 6 chooks, and 2 very friendly/needy cats. So I am loving collecting the eggs and eating fresh eggs for brekkie and taking care of all the animals! I can’t wait till this storm passes and I can use their pool and enjoy the outside!

A kiwi's night before Christmas

I bought this book before I came to New Zealand and thought I needed to share the story with you! This is typical kiwi life :) hope you enjoy!

A Kiwis Night Before Christmas

Twas the night before Christmas, and all round the bach
Not a possum was stirring; not one could we catch
We'd left on the table a meat pie and beer,
In hopes that Santa Claus soon would be here

We children were snuggled up in our bunk beds,
While dreams of pavlova danced in our head;
And Mum in her nightie, and Dad in his shorts,
Had just settled down to watch TV sports,

When outside the bach such a hoo-ha arose,
I woke up at once from my wonderful doze.
I ran straight to the sliding door, looking about,
Jumped out on the deck, and let out a shout!

The fairy lights Dad had strung up round the door
Let me see everything, down to the shore.
And what did I see, when I took a peep?
But a miniature tractor and eight tiny sheep,

With a little old driver, his dog on his knee
I knew at once who this joker might be.
He patted the dog, and in a voice not unkind,
cried, Good on ya, boy! Now, GIT IN BEHIND!

Now, Flossy!, now, Fluffy!, now Shaun and Shane!
On, Bossy! on, Buffy! on, Jason and Wayne!
Up that red tree, to the top of the bach!
But mind you don't trample the vegetable patch.

So up to the roof those sheep quickly flew,
With the tractor of toys, Santa and his dog too.
As my sister awoke and I turned around,
In through the window he came with a bound.

He wore a black singlet and little white shorts,
And stuck on his feet were gumboots, of course;
A sackful of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a postie just opening his pack.

His eyes - bright as paua shell - oh, how they twinkled!
Like an old tuatara, his skin was all wrinkled!
He had a wide face and a round, fat tummy,
That looked like he'd eaten lots that was yummy.

He spoke not a word, but got down on one knee,
And placed a cricket set under the tree,
A present for Sis, one for Dad, one for Mum,
Then he turned and he winked and he held up his thumb;

He jumped on his tractor, to his dog gave a whistle,
And away they all flew, as fast as a missile.
I called out a Thanks, as he flew past the gate.
He called back: Kia ora to all, and good on ya, mate!

Hobbit ville and the like

Last Saturday I had the privilege to go to Anri’s (the girl in the family I live with) dance recital. It was so great and I was so blessed to get to see her and support something she loves and is good at!

I was thrilled to receive a couple of Christmas cards!!

Anri and I went shopping for Christmas Presents!

I showed the family what real American Marshmallow toasting is like!!

Sunday at church Miguel announced the Elders and Deacons for the change of leadership. It was a really sweet time of getting to pray for them and know who to continue to pray for!

After church I caught a ride to Auckland to fly out to Wellington. Wellington is such a beautiful city and obsessed with the Hobbit. It is after all where the studios are and Peter Jackson lives. I will just give you some photos of some of the Hobbit stuff and sorry I didn’t take pictures of everything there was just too much!

Gollum in the Airport (sorry for some reason this picture doesn't want to turn)

I went to the Weta Cave which is where the studios are and where they make all the props. Becky (the pastors wife at CC Wellington) and I even went on a workshop tour where they showed us all props from a lot of movies and showed us how they were made. We were the only ones on the tour so the guys gave us an extra long one. (Sorry we weren’t aloud to take pictures in there)

 

The Airport baggage claim!

Part of the week I ended up helping in the kids school. I helped out with a field trip and helped in the kids classrooms with tiedye. I also got to lead worship for their Tuesday night women’s bible study. The Pham family is awesome. They were so welcoming and I loved getting to spend time with them and getting to know them! I definitely look forward to going back and spending more time with them.

The group on the field trip!

I'm pretty sure this is Rose Tyler's mom from Doctor Who she acted and looked so much like her :)

Women's bible study

On Tuesday night my friend Dwayne and I went to see the opening night of the Hobbit! It was so good and we were so excited to see it opening night in the city that it was made! I was rather disappointed that there was only one person dressed up. I guess it’s more of an American thing?

Wednesday after staying up so late we slept in and did a half day in the city. We walked along the water front and up Mount Victoria. It’s a beautiful view from the top! We found a swing about half way down and were able to swing basically over the city. Although Dwayne had to a tree and cut down a branch that it was stuck in J

Thursday I spent almost the entire day in the Te Papa museum. It was fascinating! There is so much in the museum and so much about the history and culture of New Zealand. I feel like understand Maori culture a little bit better!

Wellington is usually known as Windy Wellington as the wind there is usually CRAZY!!! but while i was there it was perfect beautiful weather! the Sun was out the sky's were clear blue and there was very little wind!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Auckland at night after I flew in!

Auckland in the morning before i caught the bus!

 

Saturday we had Zander's birthday party! He had a few boys over for a water fight!

 

Slip n slide down the hill!

 The Sunset Saturday night was amazing! I wish you could really see the colors!!!

After Church yesterday I was able to meet up with some bible college students who are traveling around New Zealand for their summer break! I took them to the waterfall and to the town basin! It was really fun getting to show people the city that I live in and some of my favorite things here!

 

Please pray for the Pham’s as their visa expires at the end of January and they have not been approved for a new visa or permanent residency yet. Pray that the Lord would lead them as they still feel called to Wellington.

 This a pohutukawa tree!! They are New Zealands Christmas tree. Right at Christmas time they bloom these beautiful Red flowers!! I love them!!