Hey, I'm sorry. I will give you a quick update.

I just came back from Adelaide. Me and my two sisters went down to see our brother together. It was the first trip we had taken together, and we had a great time. Although there were mixed emotions, we managed to lay our current life situations aside and just be with each other.

We visited my brothers church, and although it was about 20 times the size of our church at home, we all found the people real, and inviting.

Because we grew up in a small church, the large churches can be over whelming. You feel like no one walking in and you feel like no one walking back out. I did not feel this in this church. As soon as we walked in I felt like they made an effort, and not just to add another few numbers to their church, but like they had the real thing going on.

There are always some in each church I guess. But we got the right ones. And it was a screaming testimony to the work of the church. It was a good feeling.

Apart from that, I guess I have been a bit flat really.
My own fault I'm sure. But annoying none the less.
It's all good though. Going away for the weekend was good. New people, new church, new friends. I loved it but also still love my church and friends.

I am at the moment just organising how to get to America and do it the right way.
I have just finished my Business Admin cert II, and am now just on staff.
It is a good feeling finishing things.

Well that is about it for now, without going too deep.

Update

Wow, I have not written anything for a while.
Time management Natasha...Time management!

So, things are going well.

Work is challenging. Like trying to establish the role of chaplain and admin lady is tough for the kids to catch on too, but it is getting there.

God is good and is teaching me organization in this job, which is flowing over into different parts of my unorganized life...church, relationships, youth and so on.

The goal is to just keep my eyes fixed on the big picture, so that in the times that things may not seem so clear or, just unenjoyable, I can stand firm on the promise that God has a greater plan to all things and that this is all part of it. I can stand firm on the fact that when I look back, I will be able to see Gods hand dealing with different character building challenges in me, to build into me the things that He needs to.

Although I am comforted by that...what about the 'now'. Well It is always important for me to be reflecting on my life and walk with God so that I can see him moving in my life at the present time as well. Weather that is how I will see it in the future or not, always being aware of God in my life and those around me is an important key in my relationship with Him as well as spurring others on with their relationship with Him.

Testimonies encourage others as well as yourself.

Always be ready to tell people what God has done in your life...or what He is doing.

Identity theft

Last week, we were broken into.

Hayley's (my sis) car was taken and latter found burnt out.

My laptop with a years worth of journelling, photos, thoughts and just personal stuff, my wallet with quite a bit f cash in it, my ipod with thousands of songs, my phone, my brand new tent, my new bible on cd, my everything.

It is a sucky feeling. As I walked into work that day with nothing in my hands, no bag no wallet, no nothing, I felt like someone had stolen my identity. Like I was no one anymore. But the amazing thing is, that got me thinking.

Why did I feel like that? Where was it that I had placed my identity? What was it that I valued?

The fact that I had lost about $3,ooo worth of stuff, wasn't really it. It was that I had all my thoughts and journey for the last year on there. Stuff that I can't get back.

That's just it! What is it that is really important. So I had alot of stuff that I will not be able to replace, but what is the most important? Is it my personal thoughts, the stuff that I want to have for my own benefit, or is it the fact that I have breath in my lungs, roof over my head, and most importantly, my relationship with Jesus, which no one can take away. That is something that has to be given away. Something I will never lose. Something I will never give, but something that I can share as long as I do have breath in my lungs.

Corney???? Truth!!!

So really, they have no hope.

TO LIVE IS CHRIST AND TO DIE IS GAIN. NO MATTER WHAT PRICE I PAY, I CHOOSE TO GIVE THIS LIFE AWAY!

Feeling the pain

New Zealand was the best thing I have every done, in a long time (apart from starting my relationship with Jesus).
I am back home in Australia now and it is tough.
I know I am meant to be here, and I know that this is a good place for me to be, for it is in God that I am here and doing the things that He has me doing, but I miss New Zealand. I know it has only just been a week and I sure that it will get better, but right now my heart is not here. It is not in anything that I am doing. I feel like I left my heart in New Zealand.
I wonder, would it have been any better if I had spent more time preparing and in prayer before I came back? Or was this feeling inevitable.?
I am in a few roles this year that will need my heart to be in it, so I am just praying that these feelings and lack of heart will be a quickly fleeting thing.
New Zealand was a blessing in so many ways. I made new friends, I encountered new challenges, I had new adventures, I was refreshed and relaxed, but most of all, I made great relationships with my family who I had never spent time with before apart from when I was 8.
To be in family with a father a mother and 3 boys was different but an absolute blessing.
I could not have chosen a better place to spend 2 months.

Starting to feel the pain.

Well, I have a week left here in this wonderful place called Aotearoa.
I spent Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday with Rachael from Buffalo. We walked Mount Rangitoto,
(this is one of the caves), and had a bunch of fun then headed off for Rotorua for 2 days. Man that place stinks. The locals say they don't notice it. I don't know if that is a good or bad thing. I must admit, I heaved at one stage. We had so many laughs and I learnt so much about the Mouri culture. I loved it. The museum was my favorite. The story of Rotorua is incredible. I so loved hearing the myths and true stories.

I am starting to feel the pain. I don't want to go, but I know I have an amazing year ahead back home.
I will be a mess when I leave my family behind. I love these guys so much and I hate the thought of not being able to have a laugh with Jan, or get a hug from James, or get tackled by Sam, or have the heck squeezed out of me by Rick, or have a thought-processing-conversation with Rod. I feel like I have just found my long lost family and now I have to leave them.
Everything here is telling me to stay...well, come back and stay, but I know I need to go back, it's ok everyone. I have a wonderful Job and my wonderful family (I don't know how I have lasted this long without them), but I just want to take New Zealand with me. These guys have filled another place of me which I so don't want to leave behind. They have become so close to me. My new best friends.
I know it is coming to an end and I guess I am just trying to come to terms with it. Of coarse I am going to be feeling like this. To leave family, friends and relationships behind is the hardest thing to do. But it must come to an end, and to tell you the truth, I am really excited to see the growth and challenges God will bring my way this year through my Job, family and church.
God is faithful.
I so long for us all to be together and I will continue to pray for this for as long as it takes. Until then, who knows. But I get to travel, and I so love New Zealand. If it wasn't for my church, job and family being in Australia oh, and the fact that God wants me there hehe...(so, in other words, my life) I would move here in a second... well, maybe for a while. I do love Australia.

So, I have the last week ahead and I so want to make the most of it. I have loved every moment of being a part of this New Zealand life. What an amazing country, and an amazing bunch of people who God is so obviously working through.
Everyone needs to come experience the New Zealand culture.

Family Time

This has been an amazing time of being with the family, and I really couldn't think of anything better.

I have been wanting to do a bit a traveling around the country but by myself could be a bit scary besides the fact that I would hate to miss any second with these guys.
I am scared to leave...honestly. I can't picture life without these guys. I don't want to.
Sometimes it feels like we just go through life doing what we think is right, but we totally miss it.
That's how I feel about these guys. My family. I had not even met my youngest cousin till he was like, 8. My uncle I had met twice and my aunty maybe 3 times. The older boys, well we have just missed being a part of each others lives and I don't want it to continue like that. Especially now we have formed relationships.
These guys are important to me and I don't want to go through life missing their's. Corney, I know. But true. I don't know how God is going to do it all and what my future is. All I know is that I have an awesome job that God has blessed me with back home and my family there too.
I have decided that we all need to live together. One big block of land, alot of little houses and some pets. Yep, that it! Please God?

Changing seasons

4 months ago I got the most awesome Job. A month ago I left Australia and came to a different country. Tuesday, Hailz went back to Aussie and now it is just me for the next month, and then I go back to Aussie too.
I love change, but man it is hard sometimes.
It was so sad to see Hayley's trip come to an end, and I know it is going to happen to me.

What to do while I am here?
Well, there are heaps of things to do and places to see, but I think the most important thing for me to do with this time is to enjoy my family...all of them, and to process through some things with lots of time spent in prayer. I want to be refreshed and fully there when I go back to Aussie, but I'm scared that I am just going to miss it here. I need to spend time thinking of the things I have learned and the fun I have had, and the things I have been able to be a part of.

I am getting involved in the youth while I am here, just to help out a bit, so that will be a great experience.

I don't know if any of that makes sense to anyone, but I just felt like writing some stuff down.
So, I did.
God is good and in these times of change we are able to see his hand at work.
Now that is worth changing for.

Update on things.

Well, Hailz and I have been in New Zealand for just about 1 month now. Hailz leaves on Wenesday. That is sad! We have had so much fun here with the family. Tonight James, Leon, Zoe, Hailz and I are going to Snow planet to do a bit of snow boarding. That should be fun! Although yesterday when we went to go and pick up Zoe, we decided to go to a park and go a bit crazy. There was like a mouse wheel there and Zoe had a accident and sprained her ankle. Now she will have to be the photographer at snow planet tonight. Sux heaps.

Well last weekend I went to a Wesleyan Youth camp. I got to be one of the team leaders. Yellow team. Which was my friend Brents team last year. Shout out to Brent, I took them to the top. But unfortunately because of some cheats we got put in second place. Not naming any names...Josh and Rick. Anyway, we won and thats all there is to it.
Apart form that I had an amazing time. It was an honour to be a part of what is going on here in New Zealand with the Young people. I loved being a part of it and God really showed me some great things in me and in others at the camp.
I have already commited to coming back next year to it. It as amazing to be a part of something so connected with so many different churches and places. That is something that really stuck out to me, was the family and the connectedness of the churches here and in the USA. What a great thing the Wesleyan Church have going. I was blessed to be a part of this camp.

So that is it for now.
Next weekend I go to Parachute. So excited. There are so many bands going to be there. Wooohooo.

God is good and He is continually at work in our lives.

Waiting...

Wait on God for a Job!
Wait on God for a Husband/Wife!
Wait on God for children!
Wait on God!


All you see in book shops about single life are books to prepare you for what is ahead. For your future partner. How God can get you prepared for true love, and so on.
Well what if you just want to be happy and content where you are? What if you don't want to put your heart out on a ledge waiting?

I just got a book called 'Who has your heart? The single womens pursuit of Godliness.'
Finally, I have found a book that doesn't tell you 101 ways to prepare for marriage, or what to do to find the man God has waiting for you, and so on.
I have found a book that speaks to me where I am at, and where I need to be. A book that faces me back to my father in heaven and sets my focus on Him.

Waiting is something that a single person hears a lot of. And this is what Emily E. Ryan writes about it...well these are my thought on what she writes anyway.

To wait means to stay in one place and do nothing until something happens or in the expectation or hope that something will happen. Wright? Wrong!

The meaning of waiting when God says it in this sense is to be ready or available for someone to take or use... God!

To wait on God is not something that we should cringe at because, come on, think about it, waiting is boring.
It is a call to action!
To serve!
God says, "Wait on me while you wait on me"! Take action while you wait.
This is a perfect opportunity to spend as much time as I want or need to, to focus on who God is and what He has got me doing now.

I am in a good place. And I am happy...no, thankful, that I am here.

Finally Here

Well, I am finally in New Zealand with my little sister.
The count down has ended. Woohooooooo!
For those that don't know, the plan was to get here on Christmas day with a massive box that would fit, say... two girls in. We were going to get in the box at the front door, knock on the door close the box and when they answered, we would jump out and surprise them, as they did not know we were coming. Great plan hey?
Well we thought so... until...

The story goes something like this...

We got up nice and early Christmas morning at Grandmas to get ready. By early I mean 3:30am.
We had to leave there by 5am to get to the airport 2 hrs early as our flight was at 9 :15am GCT (Gold Coast Time). We would get to New Zealand at 3:20pm NZT(New Zealand Time).
Part of the highlight of the surprise was the way we dressed. We wanted to look outrageously Australian, so we found some great green and gold out fits.
We arrived at the air port at 6:30 full of excitement and nerves, ready for our 2 hr wait. We checked in, gave them our huge TV box (thanx Matt ans Maria), and headed for the coffee lounge. Because of our outfits we were attracting quite a few funny looks and a few funny comments too.
Matt and Maria sat with us for a while until it was time for us to go through customs and down to our terminal. Off we went, full of beans and ready to fly out.
We sat down at out terminal waiting and waiting till about 8:00am when a call on the speakers went through saying something like this, "due to a cracked window on your air craft, there will be up to a 2 hr delay on your flight. We apologize for any inconvenience and we have food vouchers for you to come and collect from gate 83."
Well some of the faces were not good. It was Christmas day for goodness sake. We sucked it up and thought, well at least we will be there by 5:00pm NZT.

So we sat around for a bit then decided it was time to get our free food. Yummy. Off we went, all the while meeting some great people that just couldn't help but say something.
We went back and sat down and ate. At about 10:00am GCT we heard the next message which was about to change everything. "This is for flight DJ 186 flying to Auckland New Zealand. There has been further delays and your flight will now be leaving at 5:30pm GCT. Sorry for any inconvenience, and we have more food vouchers for you if you would like to come and collect them from gate 83."
Oh dear!
Everything suddenly changed. Our world was being turned upside down. All our months of planning... out the window. We looked at each other and sighed, "Its ruined". We would now arrive in New Zealand at about 11:30pm with know way to get to there house as no one thought the shuttle buses would be running that late as well as the fact that we now had the sit in an air port for another 7 - 8 hrs.
Not happy Jan!
Well to make this story a bit shorter, we found ways to amuse our selves for 7 hrs. Movies on the laptop, cart wheels, hand stands, funny stupid photos, playing with a bunch of little kids that were on our flight, who couldn't keep away from the bright colours we were wearing. We actually became friends with like everyone on our flight. We played hacky, which God blessed us with for free from a shop in the air port, and had a bunch of fun.
At 4:30 another call came. "Your flight is now leaving at 6:00pm". We had now decided we would sleep in the New Zealand airport so we didnt have to wake the family at 3am.
At about 5:30pm came another. "Your flight is now leaving at 6:40. We have a plan, we have the crew but we are waiting for a pilot to arrive from New Zealand".
Well sure enough, after 12 hrs at the air port on Christmas day, we were on the plane by 6:20pm and flying out by 6:40pm GCT.
We Got to NZ by 1:30am NZT, found a shuttle bus, got to the road at 3:20am and walked down with all our luggage. We didn't want to wake them so we laying in the bow looking at the stars.
I woke up to water on my face. "Hayley... Hayley. Wake up, it's raining". She looked up and wanted to cry. The light was on in the garage. That was weird and I was freaking out. We grabbed our stuff, freezing cold and ran to the garage. The light turned off before we reached it. I stoped but Hayley kept going. "Hayley, stop" I said. She wouldn't. I followed. We put our stuff there then went for a walk as I was too scared to stay there. We sat at a bus shelter that stunk like wet dog at the beach. The seat was slanted so we could not lie down. We had slept for about 20 minutes in about 24 hrs and we were feeling it. We were pretty emotional. We left there and went for a walk down to the dairy, thinking we would wake them at about 6:30am. I went to a phone and rang the operator to ask the time. Hayley guessed 4:36am... it was 4:37am. We sat and sat ans sat.
Hailz checked the time this time. It was 5:40am.
We walked back to the house and sat on the front porch watching the sun rise. We now decided not to wake them till 7 being the day after Christmas and all. I put my head in my hands. "Tash" Hayley said. I sat up. Hayley started cracking up. I had ribbing on the sleeves of my jumper which I had just had my face on. I now had lines across my face, bags under my eyes, and we both didn't look quite how we looked 24 hrs ago. We got up went to knock on the door but I chickened out. Hayley told me to go have a look at myself. There was a mirror in the garage. Oh dear!
Thats it, we're going in. I gave one look at Hayley and said, "you sure"... "do it" she said. I walked up and knocked. My uncle Rod answered. The face was great.
We walked in and sat down. They gave us breaky and a shower. Then we sat on the lounge.
We were here. It felt so surreal. The wait was finally over, and we thought, thank you God for not letting us take it for granted.
And the rest is another story.

Click on my flicker photos to see some more of our New Zealand photos.