hola amigos!



i hope you are well. the past few weeks have been a bit of a blur; i have become really thankful for this blog - an archive of my advenures here.



i realized how quickly time is passing by today as i began to realize i am quickly approaching the end of week 4. that puts me at about 1/3 of the way done with my trip! yikes.



this week has been very strange on account of a few new changes:

1. 2 of my classes are taking exams for a week and a half. this means i lose 2 of my 4 classes that i teach. this leaves me with a great deal of free time... I thought this might be a welcome thing, but have since learned that my mind tends to wander homeward when left with idle hands. i am learning that i need to have an undivided heart (thanks erin!) here so that i can fully enjoy this blessing. it doesnt mean that i dont or shouldnt miss home...just that i want to be all here. it's strange to want to be in two different places at the same time.



2. i am preparing to be observed by someone from the university of auckland. her name is jenni jongejan (pronouced yawn-ee-yawn...). i dont really like being observed - i feel like i have to perform more than teach. this observation will come and go quickly.



3. i am learning more about the class i am enrolled in for uga stuff - man the amount of work that takes is incredible. the e-portfolio thing is going to take years to create!!!!!



4. i am finding community!!!!! Ruth is a girl who goes to the church i was telling you i found (at least i think i told you abotu it...if not...i found a church!). she lives about 10 minutes from my house in Mareatai. we got to grab some food together and go to a home group/house church/small group thing on tuesday. it was so good to be able to fellowship with some believers. they were so nice to welcome me into their homes and their study. i was amazed at how the Body of Christ really worked : ) I know that i had jsut met these people, but b/c we are part of the Body together we are brothers and sisters and we acted like it. it was a really beautiful thing. i was humbled to be a part of it and really thankful for the blessing of community. i am learning how important it truly is. we are not meant to go through this life alone and i now think it would be near impossible and absolutely miserable if that were the case. Praise the Lord that he blesses us with friends that we can share life with, share dreams with. He has proven Himself faithful over and over on this trip. I cannot wait to see what's in store as my trip continues.



5. reading. amazingly, i am finding some time to read here. this pace of NZ life is about half that of the US (erin and blake, i feel your pain about having to adjust to this...it's tough, isn't it!). but one thing that is able to happen b/c of the slower paced life is a good reading almost every day. i am reading Humility by cj mahaney; passion and purity by elizabeth elliot; redeeming love; reason for God by Keller. very very good stuff in here. i have also had really amazing chances to dig into the Word. this is precious time and i am so thankful for it.



6. I AM GOING SKIING THIS WEEKEND!!!!! check out mtruapehu.com to see some of the slopes i will be going down (hopefully not falling down...). pics will be up soon : )



time to go.... love you all : )



oh - make sure to cheer on the Dawgs!