G'day Mate

I've just spend three wonderful days catching up with my special friend Inica in Geelong, Australia. We were match-twin sisters with a Rotary Exchange 16 years ago! Since then we've made multiple trips across the Tasman to see each other, with Inica's most recent being for Wayne's and my wedding in April.

I hadn't seen Inica's husband Ben or their girls, Anja and Olivia, for 5 years! They are so gorgeous... we had fun playing knuckle bones, drawing, singing, cooking. Inica and I had heaps of time to chat each day and to pray together. I was also able to join Inica's BSF group - an international Bible study that holds classes in over 40 countries every week. It was an encouraging time for us both xx

I love flying, and it was great to be up and above the clouds again. I always find myself praying and worshipping our Creator God as I gaze out the plane window! "Sing to God, sing praise to his name, extol him who rides on the clouds — his name is the LORD — and rejoice before him." (Psalm 68:4) As I flew back into Auckland I couldn't keep the smile off my face at the thought of seeing Wayne again! It's great to be home xx

Black and White Ball

Last night after a delicious meal at Jo and Phil's, gorgeous friends from St Pauls, we all headed for the annual church ball. It was great fun getting all dressed up and mixing with friends from church in a completely new context. The Crypt was looking amazing with stunning flower arrangements and paper lanterns hanging from the ceiling. Funny looking back a year... even though we hadn't even started dating I didn't want to go last year as I'd already fallen for Wayne and he was off overseas! Amazing to go as a married couple to dance the night away :)

Exams are over!

I've finished my exams which means that I've completed the requirements for my Graduate Diploma in Theology! Wow, it's been an incredible 18 months studying at BCNZ :) I've learnt so much and been challenged in so many ways!

It's taken me a while to wind down and start relaxing after being so focused on study. Some friends who'd also finished exams came over on Thursday morning to celebrate Angelene's birthday.

Wayne and I are finding all sorts of ways to celebrate the completion of my studies including dining out at Leonardo's, an Italian restaurant on Ponsonby Rd, which offers live opera every Wednesday night! We went there exactly a year since we had our first date xx

Marriage Works

On Friday night we had a post-wedding follow up session with our mentor couple from Marriage Works. We really enjoyed catching up with them and enthusing about our first couple of months as newly-weds!

Marriage Works is a wonderful programme for couples planning on getting married. It provides "the tools to build a lifelong, happy, fulfilling marriage with the one you love." The topics covered include:

-Our personalities and how to relate better to each other

-How to drop off stuff that makes us stumble

-Why foundations are as important as what's built on top of them

-How to resolve conflict and restore peace to our marriage

-How to pull together as a team

-Honouring and submitting - what they really mean

-Wise investing for the future

-Keeping romance alive in your marriage

For those of you looking for pre-marriage counselling, but without people who can mentor you, there is an online questionnaire well worth doing!

Our First Overnight Guest

Last week Minako came back through Auckland for a fleeting five day visit. It was our privilege to have her stay one night :) I thought that I'd better try and cook Minako kiwi food rather than our usual Japanese influenced cuisine! So we had a delicious chicken cooked with veges in the slow cooker. We can't wait to have you back MM xx

BCNZ Cell Group Dinner

Last night Wayne and I joined the rest of my BCNZ cell group for a pot luck dinner. It was a fantastic evening getting to know each others' families better, sharing stories about mission in Africa, and eating eating eating! Amazing to think I will complete the course requirements for my Graduate Diploma in Theology next week!! What a wonderful chapter investing in a firmer biblical foundation :) I sure am going to miss our weekly cell group where we share and pray for one another x

For those of you who are interested in studying at Bible College of New Zealand, there is an Open Day coming up on Saturday 4 August.

Doulos in Niigata, Japan

"Built in 1914, DOULOS is 2 years younger than the Titanic! DOULOS is the World's Largest Floating Book Fair, carrying 6,000 titles of quality literature across the oceans to reach different parts of the globe. Staffed by 320 volunteers representing 45 different countries, DOULOS seeks to bring knowledge, help and hope to the nations."

The Doulos has just moved from Kanazawa to Niigata and will be in port until Tuesday 19 June. For those of you who haven't visited yet... you must! They are holding all sorts of cultural events and outreaches that will impact all who step on board :)

Mangawhai

On Sunday we stayed overnight at Paddy's place at Mangawhai. It was great to see the walls on his shed! Fleur and James were up north too :) We had fun huddling around the fire at night, cooking cockles and sausies on the barbie, chopping up wood for our fireplace in Auckland, playing table tennis, and hanging out with Mitch, Paddy's cow, his chooks and roaster. The sheep had gone walkabout! Thanks for a wonderful stay bro xx