This semester has been fantastic, but fantastic comes at a cost... sometimes sanity, sometimes energy, sometimes both. We are in the midst of what we call Long Weekend, where we send the students off for a four day weekend (Friday through Monday).
Andrew and I took the opportunity to have a staycation. The campus has been our home base and we have been been going out to different towns for the day. Friday we played in Rotorua and visited Okere Falls Cafe, Okere Falls, and the Redwood Forest. Beautiful sites and the ears were delighted with the sounds of nature. We found a new little path at Okere Falls and were sweetly surprised by another water fall. I love the little surprises we find when we are willing to step aside from the known into the uncertain.
Saturday, we enjoyed the day in and around Taupo. We started our day at the Gypsy Fair with delicious sites, images you would imagine in a movie. A high-wire walking dog, a one man band in his own posh trailer concert hall, a pirate helping children with tattoos, tie-dye galore, glass art, homes on wheels, and a variety of goodies for the tummy. We just meandered through taking in the sights.
We then headed over to the Taupo market which was hustling and bustling. I personally was looking for the potato twister booth, but they weren't there. People were selling their wares.. a great place to buy gifts .. hand made soaps, quilts, wood working, and the like. There were a lot of booths but none of them really caught our attention.
Having not eaten yet, and nothing grabbing our attention, we decided to head back to the central business district to find something that would tempt us to eat. We looked at a few places but ended up at Paulys.. this really yummy burger joint. I ate a delicious burger made of venison and pork with plum sauce, mayo, and rum raisins. My oh my, my taste buds were singing. Once I picked up that burger, there was no setting it down again. It was so yummy and I couldn't finish my chips (fries). What?? Me never finish chips? Say it isn't so. It's true. You can ask Andrew. It was delicious and I would get it again as a specialty item once in a while. Delicious! #paulysdiner
Once our tummies were satisfied, we headed to the trails. We ended up at Wairakei Natural Thermal Valley and enjoyed a little trek into the valley. We were issued a temperature radar gun sort of tool so we could see how hot the steam was at different locations in the valley. The hottest steam Andrew registered was just over 180 degrees Fahrenheit. Wowsers! Do not go through this place barefoot (as many Kiwi enjoy doing). We checked the ground at a few places and the hottest registered in the 90s. After our trek through the valley, we enjoyed a nice cold beverage and watched the peacocks, chickens, and other roaming birds.
Today, we headed to church where Andrew played bass with the worship team and I helped set up the kitchen for the tea (drinks and cookies) after church. Pastor Doug delivered a great message from John 10 about the sheep and how they hear their shepherd's voice. I love how God reiterates how no one can snatch His sheep out of His hands, nor Jesus' hands. His sheep are safe and can relish in the fact that they are secure.
Tomorrow, the students will return and we will be in the downhill race towards the end of the semester. Only seven weeks left and we have a very full calendar. Our next big activity is Speakers Week which is November 6th - 10th. It will be an all hands on deck kind of week for the staff and interns and an amazing time for the students to listen to different pastors and ministry leaders from all over the world. Speakers are coming from Japan, Australia, the US, and NZ. I am so excited to put faces with the names of many of these ministry leaders as we pray for many of them at our weekly prayer meetings. Please join us in praying that God uses Speakers Week in a mighty way.
- Speakers Week - November 6th - 10th
+ Safe travels for the speakers and provision for their needs
+ Open hearts and minds for what God wants to do
- Men's conference - November 10th and 11th
+ Some of our students will be attending: pray for open hearts and a
willingness to change
+ Some of our staff will be serving: strength and energy to serve the Lord and
the men well
- Students, interns, and staff to press in and not give in to apathy or tiredness
+ The best is yet to come, let's not give up!
We love you and thank you for joining us on this crazy and amazing journey that God has brought us to. There is no place like being in the saddle of ministry and holding on to Jesus for life and energy.
The Lord bless you and keep you!
Dawn and Andrew
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