Christmas in the Sun

Christmas was amazing in New Zealand. More laid back, yet more busy, yet less busy-ness. It's definately more laid back here and many people seem like they aren't so concerned with huge fancy meals and perfect decorations, etc, etc. Just having fun! And since it's summer, I think people are more active.

Hmm...

I suppose I should start with this past Sunday.

Sunday

Church--great message through the use of 3 short skits that Tiana wrote depicting different types of situations people may be in at Christmas: The first depicted a newlywed couple/grieving couple celebrating their first Christmas away from family and coping with being alone without all of their family and traditions. The second depicted a wealthy couple only interested in expensive gifts from others. The third depicted a poorer family who spent too much money on gifts that they didn't have and this led to arguements. Campbell used these examples to deliver an awesome message! It was great with a keen Kiwi flare.

That night Tiana and I went to a friends' birthday BBQ out in the country which = fun times and great conversations. Good on ya!

Monday- Christmas Eve

Lunch and Movies at Chris and Janine's (our Bible Study leaders) house with their kids. Their house and surrounding land is absolutely beautiful! Then we chilled at home and baked cookies, ate Korean food, and watched tv Christmas Specials . Yay!

Tuesday - Christmas Day

We drove to Waihi Beach on the East coast (S. Pacific Ocean) and opened gifts, Barbequed, and relaxed in the sun while everywhere else had rain.

Then we came back to Hamilton for Christmas Tea (dinner) at Chris and Janine's parents house. Another BBQ! It was so much fun!!!We even got gifts! We played games with their kids and just relaxed. We ended up leaving very late.

Wednesday - Boxing Day

Tiana and I decided to make our Christmas dinner (Turkey and all the fix-ins) since it was actually Christmas for America. (Time change, NZ is 18 hours ahead of Ohio)

Then we went over another friend's house for a BBQ and games, and a campfire, and fun!!

So you see, even through we were so far from home and family and missed them very much, we were able to have a great time with newer friends and our church family. I have to admit...I miss the snow and holiday feel of America, but I definately can dig this more laid back Kiwi style of doing things. And the beaches and BBQ's...very nice!

And for your viewing enjoyment, here are some pictures!

This is from the Christmas Parade we saw a few weeks ago where Santa said "HAHA HAAAA! Happy Christmas" and it was hilarious!

These snowman looked very sad. Maye they were melting in the heat and rain.

Nothing says "Christmas" like the Simpsons? Hmm...

Tiana and I watching our friends, "The Holy Rollers" at the Yellow Submerine. Fun times!

Beautiful New Zealand Country at Chris and Janine's House.

Good times with friends at the beach one Sunday afternoon!

Making Christmas cookies with Tiffany. Sugar, Gingerbread, and Shortbread.

Our Christmas Tree before we put Candy Canes on it. There are lights on it too, but they are so dim!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!!!!!

Oh No! Not Tony Again...

Is it actually possible that this guy is following me around? Seriously! I don't really like this guy. And yet he has ended up everywhere I go. Jubilee Conference. Malone College. Lancaster, Pennsylvania when I was randomly flipping through tv stations and I found him on CNN. And now in New Zealand at the Parachute Music Festival in January 2008. Why?!!


Tony Campolo.

Why?

Actually, he's not a horrible guy, it's just ...some things that are unbiblical that he goes around saying. Sometimes he has some good points, sometimes he doesn't. It's hit or miss, but him in New Zealand???? This is a bit far from his normal comings and goings.

Arrrggghhhhh!!!! When will it end? =P

That's all. =)

Arrrggghhhh! and FYI #9 Summertime

I was really missing home again today. It's crazy, but when I really thought about it, I realized that I've been here in New Zealand for 7 1/2 months! I'm adjusted here, and I like the December summer, but it doesn't beat family, and Cleveland's snow storms, and lots of Christmas lights, and eggnog, and baking cookies without having to worry about humidity, and New Years Parties with friends. Though I must admit that having a picnic at the Hamilton Gardens with friends after church was nice. Strawberries in December! Go figure. Baking cookies was also good, though it was so warm that we had to keep sticking the cookie dough in the fridge so we could cut the shapes out. The butter in the dough must have kept melting or something. And ordering Korean food was great!!! Overall, my SUnday with friends was just what I needed.

Arrrgghhhh!!!

I'm both comfortable here in New Zealand and in America!! People keep asking me if I'll stay. And others are asking when I'll come home. I don't know! If I can't find a job soon, I'll be coming home sooner, though I don't forsee that right now. Otherwise, my visa expires in 4 1/2 months. So...yeah. Life without New Zealand...Life without America...Why must I choose?


FYI #9 Summertime

Summertime in New Zealand is December thru February. This means beaches, BBQ's, sunny skies, warmth, strawberries, picnics, flowers, fishing, cricket, touch rugby, walks, and summer fun during the Holidays.

Just thought you should know.

Jigga what?

It's been a rough couple of weeks for me. A lot has happened. What can I say? I miss home and the familiar terribly. I miss friends and family, especially during this holiday season...and here it's summer, so it makes this holiday season somehow unauthentic, though I know this is a normal occurrence in the southern hemisphere. It's just that most of the world is in Winter. And boy do I miss those snow cold days in Ohio, where the blue sky is hidden behind a grey curtain of cloud and weeps it's snow upon the expectant northerners.

To be home... decorating the Christmas tree, drinking Swiss Miss hot chocolate with normal marshmallows. Christmas cookies. Sledding. Christmas concerts and plays. Christmas lights on houses. Barnes & Noble Booksellers and falling in love with books all over again. Christmas specials on TV. American Chinese food for Christmas Eve. Family...

But no, I'm on my own in the harsh world of "adultness" and "life." Well...maybe not on my own since my sis is here too, but you get my point.

What's up?

About four weeks ago I had to choose between a job at "The Warehouse"(like walmart) and a job at "Pumpkin Patch Kids." It was a hard choice. I hadn't had an official offer from Pumpkin Patch when the Warehouse called, so I took the position there. The next day Pumpkin Patch calls, and I turn down the job since I already was offered the other one. I was also under the impression that I would have the opportunity to work the rest of my time in NZ at The Warehouse, so it seemed cool. But I should've known better. I was offered two days a week at Warehouse with one of the days being late at night, with the knowledge that I could add more hours when I went in. At Pumpkin Patch I was offered 3 days a week in Nov, then 5 days a week in Dec-Feb. Why did I choose the Warehouse? I have no idea.

When I interviewed at The Warehouse, I told them I may not have a car since we're borrowing a car from someone, so night shifts wouldn't be good. Of course they didn't listen and scheduled me for a late night. It was okay since I still had a car. Until now. We have to give our car back this week, so I am unable to work one of my days since I can only go by the bus schedule. I tried to talk to the managers about switching hours/ and adding hours but they said that their daytime hours were full and they actually have too many workers that they hired. But they said they can call me if people cancelled. However, I was called up to the office today because they said that I wasn't on the roster to work. I told them that I was filling in for a girl who needed someone to work for her. They said that it wasn't authorized and they didn't know of anyone who asked to have someone work for them, so they told me to go home. But the girl I was working for had told this manager that she couldn't come in and the manager told her to find someone to work for her because they didn't feel it was their job to call people. Wait. So...the girl, who is also new to working at The Warehouse, did exactly what they said, and they conveniently forgot, even though it's the manager's job to find a person as was told to me today. Typical.. So, I went home, after working just 3.5 hours. Of course I wondered why it took them so long to tell me that I had to leave. Hmm... Needless to say, I was pretty upset coming home. I had been looking for a second job the past few weeks and it's almost impossible to find a job now that doesn't require me to work on a Saturday. So, as of today.,I've been applying for jobs and saying that I am available Mon-Sat, and when I get another job, I'll have to quit The Warehouse.

I really don't like switching jobs so much, but I have bills to pay...which I don't have enough money to pay right now. And to top it off, I had a person who wanted to buy an artpiece from me for $110NZD and then I called to asked her when she wanted me to bring it to me and she seemed confused, and then she kinda remembered and said that she changed her mind.

Is this to be my life? Seriously...a starving artist who doesn't even have enough money to send Christmas gifts home that she bought months ago? Who has to pick and choose who she sends Christmas cards to? Whose credit card is alarmingly close to being maxed out? Whose hope of finding a job dwindles day by day as the temp agencies tell her their going on holiday and won't be open again until January and other jobs are weary of hiring someone who will be going home in 5 months. It's quite depressing. And I'm angry and very emotional. But I will not turn my back on God. I refuse to. He's all I have and he knows my needs. And he cares about me (1 Peter 5:7, Matt 6:25-34). He brought me here to this country of high price and few jobs. He will provide.

I could really use your prayers too.