21 Days To Go!

...not that I'm counting or anything! Exams are over, field work is finished and now it's pretty much just carolling, in-service bits and pieces, cleaning and packing till D-Day - and trust me when I say that the bags will be packed, the car backed into the driveway and on the "Amen!" of our last meeting I'll be outta here - I'm sooo not kidding!!

I haven't really reflected on the year yet - if it's not in the timetable, it just doesn't happen!! - but I know that this has been a pretty good year all round. I'm incredibly grateful for the break that's coming up and can't wait to spend time with friends and family back home and just relax for a bit - preferably without the fear that I've missed a memo or a timetable change or both!!

I did a message on Mary and Martha just the other day (Luke 10:38-42...some light reading for you all!) and in my hunt for illustrations, I came across the title of an article that summed up the whole passage for me - not to mention the fact that it challenged me hugely. Bearing in mind that Martha was 'distracted' by her preparations which shifted the focus of her serving and that Mary chose the one thing that was needed and sat at Jesus' feet listening to all that He said, the title read:

Are you going to have a Martha Christmas or a Mary Christmas?

Challenged? I know you probably can't imagine it (although I'm sure my family can!!) but my unit is a mess at the moment! I haven't done a thing since before exams! The only washing that gets done are the essentials and only then, when they keep running out!! I was challenged about choosing wisely and about making sure that I have a Mary Christmas that includes taking time out just to sit in God's presence and get to know Him better.

Martha or Mary? What'll it be for you as we come into the busy Christmas season? I hope it's Mary for you all! If I don't catch you at Christmas, I hope I will in the New Year sometime. Watch this space... if the timetable allows there might even be another post between here and 2006 - and if not, at least a photo or two! Take care - miss you all!...

Ciao!
K.

Lily White

Well it's definitely that time of year again. The lilies are out and looking fab all around college (unfortunately there aren't any in front of my flat... just an overgrown bush!) and, of course, it wouldn't be 'almost summer' if the lily white legs didn't come out around campus to join them!

Hey, we're all in the same boat are we not?! Now's the time to get the skirts and singlets out as we try desperately to get that first sizzle on our arms and legs so that we can go into summer with some pride!

Yesterday was just soooo hot down here in the Hutt. There was nothing but a gentle breeze (a rarity for anywhere in Wellington!) so I cashed in on it, closed the books and headed out with the camera! I haven't taken too many shots recently so it felt good to be out and about. The wind did pick up so it didn't last too long but hey, around here, a break is as good as a holiday!!

For those of you that haven't heard, I'm off to Christchurch for my out training next year... a little further away than I had originally hoped for but God is good! I've friends and family in the area and there have been some divine appointments with contacts being made already so God must have a plan and a whole lot to teach me!

We're winding up to exam season soon so it's pretty much 'head down bum up' around here at the moment! If we're not in the books for our classes, we're all finishing off the last of our sermons and meeting leads... never a dull moment! I suppose you could say I'm rather chipper and relaxed about it all at the moment. Somehow I'm managing to keep my head out of the clouds (just!)... more on that another day!

In the meantime, here's my latest little snippet for you all. If decisions have been hard to come by of late, then I hope this helps:

So we have continued praying for you ever since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you a complete understanding of what he wants to do in your lives, and we ask him to make you wise with spiritual wisdom. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and you will continually do good, kind things for others. All the while, you will learn to know God better and better. We also pray that you will be strengthened with his glorious power so that you will have all the patience and endurance you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father, who has enabled you to share the inheritance that belongs to God's holy people, who live in the light.

Colossians 1:9-12 (NLT)

Photo #9

I was sitting at the desk in my room this afternoon trying to psyche myself into doing some more work... actually to start some work (!!) and I ended up spending time looking at all the photos I've got pinned to my noticeboard infront of me... I miss you all!

We've been back since July and I'm ready for another break I must admit! Just a few days away from waking up to the same view, a few days of not having to get up at 7am to mop, clean or vacuum before I'm actually in my body and just... well - a break would be awesome shall we say!

We've got a little over 8 weeks to go so I guess all I can do is count down really... one latte at a time, I'm sure I'll get there!

This photo was taken when the Faith Factory music team visited Hastings... we just had the BEST time as a team! AJ, Andrew, Siobhan and I sung hardout all the way down from Auckland. From Kirk Franklin, to Van Morrisson and on to Ron Kenoly - we sung it all... not the best idea when we all had a concert the next night but hey, it was worth the laughs! I had to pick one off the wall so this was it. It made me smile the most - hope it does the same for all of you. You just can't beat good times with good company!

Exercise Dilemma

Most of you will know that without my shoes, I'm pushing 5'4" ... stop giggling! We shorties have finely tuned hearing!

The latest dilemma to go with my height is my clothesline. For around 8 months of the year it had a serious lean... so serious, nothing could actually hang on it unless I could even it out on the other side! Even then my gracious second year neighbours commented on the 'special treatment' I was getting as a first year - to have such a unique fixture in my backyard! How lucky! Not only could I not hang anything on it, it wouldn't turn around either - no, not even in Wellington's wind!

Well, I followed procedure, put in my blue maintenance form and waited patiently... and waited... and waited... and then one day, I went to try the clothesline again, just in case it had been fixed, only to discover one slight problem - I couldn't reach it! I kid you not! Try as I might (with some serious looking around in between I might add!), it alluded me! That is, until I jumped - now there's a mental picture for you all! The kind maintenance man had done a great job on my clothesline - fixed it all up like brand new! ... and raised it an inch or two in the process!

Now, hanging out the washing (which I must say is a rarity as I'm a tad lazy and can afford a laundry room inside!) is now a sporting event! Complete with pegs in mouth and clothing in hand, I have to jump to reach the outside lines, all the while providing yet more sport for my neighbours should they look out their windows at the opportune moment!

But alas, there's hope! I'm not sure if it's due to my 'sport' or not, but the outside lines have... stretched a little!

In my zest to get the washing dry on the first fine day we've had for a while, I psyched myself up to hang the washing outside this morning only to find that I could reach the line on tippy toes - hence the blog... I kinda miss the exertion, though few and far between the moments may have been! Now I have to find something else that counts as exercise as - at the peak of physical fitness (hard to believe I know!!) - walking up the 'hill' to class ("It's a slope!" quips Nicky!) no longer counts!

Photo #8

While women weep as they do now

I'll fight

While little children go hungry as they do now

I'll fight

While men go to prison in and out

I'll fight

While there remains yet one dark soul without the light of God

I'll fight

I'll fight to the very end.

General William Booth

Founder of The Salvation Army

Activities Week

Wow! What a whirlwind month it's been! During the second week of the holidays, College stop classes and we have an Activities Week which has been a bit of a blessing for me.

There was a First Aid Course for everyone on Monday and Tuesday, but thanks to my boss at school last year (may God bless you abundantly Howard!!), I am already certified and did not need to attend - 2 days all to myself, thank you Lord! So the first part of the week helped me to catch up on my work after being sick a few weeks before and meant I could feel a little bit more human... no classes, no uniform, no pressure!

Wednesdays picnic was put off until Thursday and that was a good chance to get out (albeit into a pooey sheep paddock!!) and mix'n'mingle for the day. Some great photos should come out of it hopefully.

And Friday you may well ask? Well Friday was the tramp...uphill, sleet, hail and lots of rain - sound like fun to you?! Well, despite my determination to enjoy it, I must say I came home a tad cold... actually freezing would better describe my general well-being on arriving back at college! The feeling of success on completion wasn't quite the same but alas, I can at least say I have conquered (some of) Mt Holdsworth! The walk definitely blew out the cobwebs and I must concede this time (to the aging Major Noakes) to having wet socks! I was so cold my toes weren't just pruny they were blue as well! A 20min shower followed by a night in front of the heater almost cured all.

Well, despite my fairly relaxed week, I've still a little bit more to do tonight on some assignments but it will all get done! The holiday week is over and its back to uniform, classes and structure tomorrow. Exams are fast approaching and the workload will continue but its all good. We find out our out-training appointments for 2006 in just over a week so I'll make a special blog as close to the date as I can.

Dan & Rach, thanks for dinner the other night. It was great to see you both again and I thoroughly enjoyed the conversation. It's always nice to have a little bit of home down here in Wellington!

Don't hold your breath, but I'll do my best to pick a photo or two and put them up... it's just so hard to choose now! And it just wouldn't be me if I didn't leave you with a little something... hows this for challenging lyrics from Kate Wray (I'm assuming they're public domain by now!):

I make a vow
My life will always honor Christ
Whether I live or die

I belong to Him
He bore my sin
I owe this life to my saving King

I am not my own
You are in control

For me to live is Christ
And to die is gain
No matter what price I pay
I choose to give this life away

Challenged?

LiveFire

WOW!... is all I can say about my weekend. It was just AWESOME! The youth conference was just the tip of the iceberg for me. I’m always amazed at how much God manages to speak to me and teach me when I’m SO busy I can hardly see my way ahead. Does that ever happen to anyone else out there?!

I have enough work on at the moment to make the average person squirm but such is life. I do what I can each day and try and look after myself in the process – you know, early nights, good diet, a little *admitted very little!* exercise … blah! blah! And yet, amidst it all, God speaks to me so clearly its like he’s calling through a megaphone!

The first little revelation came last week when I finally realised that, despite my best efforts to stay on top of the workload, I was not going to make one of the deadlines. So, I had to tackle my pride and go and ask for an extension. Having that ‘in-the-bag’, I decided to go for peace of mind late last week and shelve the assignment the night before the youth conference so I could get my house in order instead! – Laugh you may but those of you who know me will know that that truly did give me peace of mind… and can I say that I managed to pack my bag and NOT forget anything the next morning as well! Being organised has its benefits!

Secondly, having made the mental decision to shelve the assignment along with the rest of the workload until after the weekend and then focus myself on the conference, I had so many divine appointments that I’m still reeling! God used so many others to speak to me – to confirm and even answer some prayers of late – that I had to head back to my room at one stage just to get it all down on paper! That, I can safely say, has never happened before – not when life has been so busy anyway! From illustrations for my sermon next week to prayers both on my heart and others that were answered, to just ramblings and thoughts… my brain was on overload several times.

Thirdly, I had the time of my life playing photographer for the weekend and see that as nothing short of a blessing from God! I thought that I would pretty much have to give up my passion for photography on coming into College as I just couldn’t see how it could be used… until this weekend! I had a ball getting up close and personal with all that was going on and just getting trigger happy when I felt like it! A lot of the weekend was experimenting though (with permission of course!) so I hope there’s a decent amount of good shots amongst all the trial and error!

Well, despite the high of the weekend, the workload has not disappeared and so it is to the books I head for the better part of the next 2 weeks. I will fulfil my promises and get at least one photo up before the month is out (!!) but until next time, let me leave you with a verse from one of the meetings on the weekend - a little gem which I had forgotten was hidden among the minor prophets!...

The Lord your God is with you,
he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing.”
Zephaniah 3:17

Ciao!
K.

Alright already!

Alright already – I get the hint! … only because it’s been nearly a month since my last rambling!

I must update you all on Hudson. Not long after that photo, he tripped over and fell awkwardly on his ankle resulting in a fracture (which took the radiologist a few days to find!!) and a cast the full length of his leg! Needless to say, he was miserable for a good while but is now back to his usual self – albeit hobbling! – and is still able to point his wee finger and express himself completely!

Life has been ordinary to say the least – the pile of study waxes and wanes, week in week out. I suppose, really, that life has been so quiet there just hasn’t really been a lot to blog!

The yellow haze of pollen that settled on the Hutt (and can I say my clean car – no less than a day after it shone so brightly – ruining my bi-annual effort!!) is beginning to lessen and if anything, our timetable is about to really take-off. Come Friday, we’re off on another Mission Weekend this time to Hastings, the following week is full of assignments (four due on the Friday to be precise!) and then it’s the North Island Live Fire Youth Conference.

I could admit to being bitter about going to Matamata instead of Timaru (like some lucky people are!)… but I’m not! I get to spend a weekend just a few hours from home *sigh!*, I get to catch up with everyone from the Faith Factory that will be there AND I get to go with some pretty cool young people from Wellington City corps.

There is one thing that I truly, truly am missing and envy all you Aucklanders for having at your fingertips and that is… the NZ Herald!! I mean who really cares about news in Wellington ANYWAY!!! I’m stuck reading The Dominion Post every morning and well, quite frankly, I’m left feeling like I need something else to come before my morning cuppa!

Do I care that I won’t be able to cash in on any of the specials advertised – nope!
Do I care that I won’t be able to see with my own eyes the developments of troubles mentioned – nope!
Will I just be soothed by the thought-provoking, sometimes a little radical yet wildly honest Letters to the Editor, Side-Swipe and its funky little magazine additions – yep!

Well, that really is about the extent of it all for now! Standby for a few photos... still playing with a few from my holiday. God is good – I’m still learning so much everyday both about myself and about Him, and if I was to leave you with anything it would have to be this… it has made the constant process of refining a little easier to take!

In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. 2 Tim. 2:20-21

Photo #7

The tenacious 2 and a half year old... isn't he just gorgeous!

His imaginative play just cracks me up. Yesterday, while Marcus and Jen had a break, Hudson and I headed off to the playground where he proceeded to jump from a great height (off the seat of the bbq table at the playground) into his 'pool' (a pool of bark chips that would be!).

At one point, he jumped off then suddenly turned to me, eyes wide, and gasped:

"Karen!... I need my goggles! You wait right here (his little finger points to my seat) and I'll go home and get them!"

...I just couldn't argue with that so after laughing we decided we should both go and get his goggles!

Hudson would have to be a sure cure for those long, intense days!
... Gotta love 'em!

A Truly Lazy-Hazy Day

Today was a scorcher in the Hutt!... no seriously! It was!... as long as you weren't in the shade that is!

Life around campus was just great today. After sleeping very nearly half of the day away, I managed to come to the surface about 11am and venture outside to hang out some washing and oh... beautiful! Wished you were all here with me!

I took my morning cup of tea, ambled on over to Jen's, went to the playground with Hudson - who proceeded to tell me what to do when and where... the power of a 2 and a half year old! Sometime after lunch we all gathered on the field by the playground to watch Nicky and Ralph's efforts to launch Luke's rocket - a birthday present for a 4 year old that took more than a few attempts I might add! Who would have thought mixing vinegar and baking soda was really that hard! *Nicky cries: "It reeeeally was!" from beside me* To say they provided the afternoon's entertainment would be somewhat..... fact!

The car cleaning bug was contagious from Nigel to Christine to me to Ralph... our carport out the back looks pretty impressive about now - and under the carport they shall stay as we've had more than a few icy frosts of late! I think everyone has caught up on washing as everything just seemed to dry in an instant but, needless to say, no work was completed other than Marcus... *geek*... the rest of us just sat around in between little jobs and made a decent attempt at baking in the sun!

Well, in a few weeks time we'll all be frantically studying in the library till late ... Marcus will, however, be wandering around looking for a table tennis partner!

Procrastination never pays - except when everyone else joins in!