Number 13

I thought I would add some Photos from the New Zealand trip.

Andy and Debbie's Home at Woodend near Rangiora

Britti ready for her School Formal and G'pa and G'Ma.

Hanmer Springs a Bicycle Built for Four.

En Route for Hanmer Springs S. Island

With Russel and Marion henderson Near Waiau

Inside Anglican Chruch at Cheviot

Emmie and debbie at Akaroa Harbour Banks Pen.

Andy and Emmie on the Bow of the Akaroa Dolphin Cruiser

Emmie making Coffe at the Hub at Rangiora Baptist

Christchurch Botanical Gardens

Jetboating up the Waimakariri Gorge

A Cold front and Snow approaches L. Tekepo

On the Road through the S. Alps to Milford Sound

Final Post from NZ

hello, We are sadly leaving from Christchurch at 6:45am tomorrow Virgin Australia to Brisbane. Andy will get us there by 4:45am. This means a early start from Woodend.

 YESTERDAY WAS  A DAY OUT WITH Russell and Marion Henderson. They are wonderful people and we had so much in common.

They drove us in their lovely JAG through the hills and ranges to Hamner Springs

On the Road to Hanner Springs

People in the Thermal Hot Springs at Hanmer

A Bicycle built for FOUR

Russell  & Marion Henderson and I on the side of the Road to Hanmer Springs somewhere?

 This is the inside of the little Anglican Church at Cheviot NZ where Russell and Marion attended for many years

.As this is our last blog from the Aeteroa Country - The Land of the Long White Cloud, iwant to say that Andy and Debbie have wonderfully looked after us and made us feel loved and blessed. We thank God for what he has done for them all. We will continually pray for the Fulfillment of Isaiah 44:3-5 Promise upon al of them. HooRoo my Loved Ones.

Number 11 Impressions of Kiwiland by an Aussie

What a blessing these people have been to us over the last four weeks since arriving in Christchurch and coming to 29 Woodglen Dr.,Woodend. We have found that the Kiwis are very neat in their housing and especially their farms. All the Wind brakes are carefully pruned and shaped so as to make the whole area very tidy.

Olearia paniculata hedge - akiraho. Formal clipped garden hedge or windbreak, typical hedge height: 2-4m, New Zealand Native plant, fast growing hedge, good coastal hedging choice.

The number of sheep in such a small area is truly staggering. The Ewes have given birth while we are here and each one has had at least two baby lambs. The paddocks are just covered with Mother sheep with their lambs. Much of the sheep industry is for fattening the lambs for the UK Market and the Mutton for the USA market. Others are for their wool.

A 5m Wind Break of Pine trees

We have found the Kiwis very friendly and helpful. However, you don't get to know them in just four weeks but we have found them very accepting. Our Family here are just thriving even more than they did in Brisbane. They miss their friends in Queensland but really they are having a wonderful impact for the Kingdom of God.

Quite a number have expressed the feeling that they really have started to grow in the Lord since Andy became the Pastor at Rangiora Baptist church.

We found the services free and people readily participated with prayer and Words of Exhortation and Encouragement during the services. There was much more Congregational Participation than I have seen in our Assemblies in Australia. May the Move of God that they are seeking in their Fellowship come to pass and may many be swept into the kingdom of God. There will be an Overflow of Praise and a Multipication of Blessing as the Holy Spirit is allowed to work in their midst.

Number 10 Unwinding over the weekend

Thursday we washed all the Linen of the Apollo Camper van. Andy cleaned the outside and Debbie the inside. It never looked so spic and span. Then they attacked their big van loaned to them by Paddy and Carol Henderson from the church. It  was a big English van and was very comfortable. Debbie handled it so well all along the trip It had a fiat motor and central heating. What a boon. We had most of our main meals in there in the warmth.

Emptying the Grey Water.

There was rain threatening and the wind had begun to get up so I said to Andy that we would take the Apollo Hi-top back to its base near the Christchurch airport.
We handed it back no hassles. They don't usually have all the linen done and the vehicle handed back so clean.
The rain started to bucket down on Friday night. It was the left overs from the Snow and rain on NSW and the Blue Mountains. The Alps here had snow down to 1200 feet and the wind was howling all night Friday night. Saturday we went to the Artisan for a Coffee and Muffins with all the family. There were so many there that we had trouble getting a park. They bake all their own eats and this is really a nice place.

Inside the Bakery and Artisan restaurant

Rangiora Baptist Church Sunday Morning.
We sat with Emmie the Eldest Grandaughter, at her usual place in the second row. Andy and Debbie were not back in church yet after their holiday so Pastors Andy Edwards and  Grant Chivers were running the service. It was the last weekend of the School Holidays. The worship was beautiful. They even sang a song from the Seventies The Maori lady leading the Worship was really leading in Worship. She is a godly woman. Grant Chivers preached and he involved many of the children in his message on developing intimacy with God and one another. What an encouragement it was. He also had Carol Henderson give a testimony in his message. The children then acted out his Bible passage on David and his Mighty Men arriving at Ziglag and finding their wives and children had all been carried off by the Amelekites. The rolled on the ground a wept and wailed. it was really great..
After the service we were invited out to lunch at the Ruby's and supper to the Graeme and Merelyn Hayman. It was great fellowship to be with them and share their stories.

Rangiora Baptist Congregation

In just three days we are heading back to Aussie land after a really exciting visit. Many Kiwis say that We've seen more than they have. Its funny how we just get locked in to our own little world. It is good to venture out and see new things. So Be adventurous and try somewhere new for a Holiday Like the South Island of new Zealand. You will not be disappointed.

Number 9 Back to Woodend Via Oamaru and the Scenic route

We did some shopping in the beautifully presented Farmers department store in Oamaru. I got a quality Business shirt and Esther a Long trendy Cardigan for next winter.

Beautiful Oamaru Otago NZ

Port of Timaru

Then we set sail for Timaru another surprisingly large container port on the East Coast. Here we had some lunch in Debbie's campervan by a cricket oval.
We then with some exhorting from ken came home by the Scenic Route along the edge of the Mountain Range and through the sheep lands of the Canterbury. It was simply delightful travelling.

heading home

Debbie and Emily at the Rafaia Gorge

It was great to arrive home one day early as we were all travelled out  after five days on the road. Debbie looked after the two oldies so well that we arrived home in one piece. It was a trip of a lifetime for us. We will probably never do it again. It was simply amazing and the travelling with debbie and the girls made it all the more wonderful.

Number 8 Return via Dunedin

On Monday we headed out from Queenstown on the tourist road to the old Gold Mining place called Arrowtown.

Arrowtown Shops near Queenstown

Then we travelled via Cromwell and Alexandra to Historic Dunedin. It was a much larger place than I expected and the history of the place is amazing. I heard yesterday that My maternal Great Grandfather Dexter came from Dunedin and Migrated to Melbourne on 1880. (From Rob Dexter)

 There we booked into the Holiday park and slept soundly next morning we visited  the Huge Cadbury's Chocolate factory. Debbie is a Cadbury's fan. We say more chocolate in one hour than we'd seen in our whole lives.

Panorama of Dunedin

Who's that peeping through my Window

After Dunedin we went on to the quaint small town of Oamaru were we saw a yellow stripped Penguin coming up to his nest at dusk. 

Number 7 Beautiful Queenstown

Queenstown at Night

Queenstown by day