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It's been a wee while since I last updated, sorry family! I've been kept busy and having loads of fun so it's all good.
I had a great time in Queenstown hanging with Alex and all the Cameron Clan (I was living at Cameron Place). I got a couple of days boarding in at Coronet Peak and The Remarkables, spent alot of time just hanging out in QT, sitting on the beach, reflecting and thinking, and drinking beer. Last Sunday to Tuesday we went on a mini road trip to Wanaka (pic included of the beach). I used the time just to chill out on the beach on the day all my mates went boarding (the ski pass was real expensive so I didn't bother going), but it was a great time nonetheless.
As soon as I got back I was straight into helping lead a retreat at work, and the next day I went on a weekend camp retreat which was all about Leadership and Confidence building. I had a great time, and yesterday involved abseiling and a confidence course/obstacle course of climbing and running and rolling through massive puddles of thick mud puddles that stank of pig crap! But it was so much fun! Afterwords our team had a swim/rinse in the river - soooooo colddddd but so good!
Today I was back in school with a really nice group of students. I'm having a meeting today about our Spring Fest which Im in charge of, and then back to school this evening to hang with the kids and help them prepare for chapel.
I leave 3 weeks on Saturday-very sad, but I'm just making the most of each day and loving every bit of it.
Lots of love, God bless xx
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Ahoy hoy!
It's so good to be back in Queenstown, my favourite wee gem of New Zealand. I arrived on Monday and got picked up by Alex, Kate and Ailie, some of the girls I'm living with. Came back to our house on Cameron Place, Fernhill QTown. The view is awesome, directly overlooking the lake and snow-capped mountains. Monday night we had a few beers then headed to the pub then to a club which involved lots of face paint, it was a real laugh! Tuesday we got up early and headed to the slopes at The Remarkables. It was a really good day up the mountain. I thought I'd be falling over the shop but I only fell a couple of times, mainly due to me trying to 360 spin (no not jumps!) I managed to borrow a board and boots from Jen's work so saved some pennies, but a day pass is real expensive so I'll not be boarding as much as I wanted to Thanks to my lovely father dearest for giving me a loan of money so I could at least get a couple of days in.
Today I had a lie in then walked into town via a wee nature trail - was absolutely beautiful - spent some time sitting in a forest by a river in the sun, overlooking the lake and snow capped mountains..... Pure bliss! I continued into town, found the wee Catholic Church, headed back into town, chatted to Jen at work, bought some fluffy purple slippers out of the $3 shop, then sat in Starbucks with a Hot Choc doing uni work. I actually really enjoyed myself despite chilling on my own. I just love this country so much, there's not
much I can't do without feeling very happy Ive put loads of shots on my Facebook, but here's a few (it's more complicated to upload photos to hear than Fb)
How's everyone at home?? Love ye's
Gb x
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I forgot to include my Irn-Bru shots!!
x
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I'm hereeeee at my favouite place in all New Zealand! Arrived this avo and the lovely Alex came got me at the airport. Its awesome to be here, Ive missed the place so much and the view from our wee house are to follow-check it outtttt!!
Currently sitting having some beer and chattin with Alex, check it out too! I spent some time earlier sitting on the beach then had a wee hot choc, totally love it and it's great to have a wee break from work.
Going snowboarding tomoz, gony be good. Oh and Alex has wifi so I can update and Skype whenever woo hoo!
Speak soon xx
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Just letting you know I'm still very much smiling!
Love and blessings Cx
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Hiya everyone!
I realised this morning that Ive been quite quiet on the updating side of things, but Ive been extremely busy otherwise.
I've spent a lot of time in prayer and discernment, trying to understand the meaning and purpose of what's going on in my life right now. Very pensive, I know! In truth, I'm putting everything of me into my experience out here, and the more I do that, the more I love it, and the more I love it, the more I feel God letting me put more into it, and so the circle repeats.
I've been really busy the past few days, going to schools, leading group discussions, getting to know the youth and the people I work with. Saturday I went to an oblates meeting for the Community of St John (now that Fr Dominique has left, those that are interested in the community gather monthly to further the discussions). It's really interesting and heaped in theology and philosophy.
Sunday I was working. We started our Eastern Lights program and we had about 15 people come along. It was really really good! And I feel my faith getting stronger the more I realise that losing things and leaving things behind, allows us to refresh our faith trust and love for God. Leaving the old leaves room for new, and newness helps us widen the space in our heart which allows the Holy Spirit to enter in. Well, this is what I have found.
So I am on a journey of discernment, and I am loving and losing and living and loving it. The more I give of myself, the more God gives back to me. I just don't want this journey to end, and I have full trust in Jesus that I will grow and be strengthened in every situation he allows me to be part of.
I'm off to school soon, then meeting, then school tonight. Tomorrow and Wed I'm helping run a 2 day retreat, and Thurs and doing a Sacramental program at school.
I've added a few photos from my past few days. The girls who were making their first Confession made the blu-tac crosses
I love this Thank you for all your prayers, God Bless x
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Hi everyone! Ok so I'm feeling much much better than my last entry. Thank you for all the kind words and prayers you've sent me, they've really helped and cheered me up. I spent a good half an hour sitting in the Church across the street yesterday, there was no Mass but I spent the time just getting my head straight and clarifying stuff. The time spent in prayer helped me focus and see that, yeh bad stuff happens, and some times it can be really bad and seem impossible to get over, but, and it's. big but, God never gives us too much on our plate, and when we offer up the bad with the good, he helps us and makes us stronger when we always remember to keep our eye on Him. By emphasising the bad, we focus onto a tiny piece of our lives and forget to zoom out and see all the rest. All the rest, for me, is this awesome opportunity that I still have to experience; the fact my first month is nearly over and there's still so much to enjoy. I'm done with my moping and feeling sorry for myself, and last week is truelly last week.
The past two days I've been at different schools and doing different sessions in prayer and reflection, I've also been to a couple of meetings for the Diocesan Youth Mass for this Sunday. I'm keeping myself busy and focussing on what's good in life. I forgot to mention that my bible, breviary, note pad and diary were in the bag, (and mum, I pure loved that wee diary, and heather, unfortunaty it was the note pad you bought me) and my gran paid for the bible and breviary, BUT, I can get new ones, it's no big deal-Fr Kev has given me a loan of a bible, and Cameron's giving me a loan of a breviary, the iPod can wait, and works buying me a cable for my laptop. So it ain't all bad eh!
I'm going for dinner with Cam tonight, probs to the seminary. I've got meetings all avo so I won't get any gardening done but maybe tomoz.
Thanks for the prayers everyone, there's no doubt they've made me stronger and helped me in this process that is part of life.
Photos of Auckland from my phone I took today, as it's a lovely day, and a photo of me lookin all smart and to show I'm still smiling
Lots of love, Gb x
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this is what I've been up to the past couple of days: gardening, eating teeth sweets, staff training aka playing with playdo, and renovating the old chapel aswell as tidying and cleaning, group facilitation (talking about how ur last week has gone-pos and negs) anddd just having a great time and enjoying every part of this
I'll illaborate later and put more photies up then x
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Lovely innit! x
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Walking to the train station at 7am
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Waiting on Hannah picking me up-lovely sunset. Afterwards we went to her aunt and uncles massive house and had fish and chips for dinner, and I played with their new wee puppy, Rocko.
I've been getting up for work at 645am and getting the train in. It's been a nice wee journey.
Weathers cold today; I'm wearing two Icebreaker layers, a fleece and a hat-see for yersel!
Byeee x
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Here is my desk and the view from my office window-straight over the Auckland Sky Tower, lovely!
Today I've been hunting down gardener s and rope. As I said, it's school holidays so theres not much to do apart from tidy up the place and get the wee things sorted.
I was chattin to my boss today about when I can visit Queenstown and anywhere else I want to. She's very laid back about it which is great! I'll be helping out with a programme called Eastern Lights, I'll let you know more details when I get them. I'll also be visiting Wellington at the end of the month which should be great for experiencing more youth work stuff.
I'm heading home from work now, weeee! Gb x
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