Snow at Sea Level...

A very warm thanksgiving greeting to all in Canada- or where ever I've met you. It's just about to go sub zero in Oxford- not to keen at all, but I'll get over it. The students arrived last weekend, and it's been so great to have them here. Our earthcare team is cracker jack to be sure; we're only missing one student who arrives this weekend, she's from Germany but studied all over; including CND! I love living with these girls, they are wonderful, all 19 of them! I love my room mates! It's been so fantastic to have God restore so much to me. I knew I wasn't right when I didn't want to talk to anyone, or go anywhere and put an effort into much of any of my passions. Now though, so many things are getting restored to me- but I'm not striving this time. I get to just be, and love and learn with God's strength and knowledge. I enjoy so much of the quality that goes on in this base, from the top down. Hard work, well prepared, supportive and willing to draw a line to raise the bar in excellence and biblical living. It's inspiring to me and so uplifting.

I'm in Christchurch this weekend, and I'm getting re-certified in first aid kiwi style. It's the perfect outlet to take time out- and I'm not missing ANYTHING. The weekends are going to be packed. ( I know, I helped plan the backpacking trips!) and our curriculum is so fantastic!! Every day just seems to be getting better and better. I feel like I can be around people and not be completely drained. I'm learning so much about boundaries and just asserting myself- and also being more reliable. :) Love you fam, I hope to call, or maybe skype.
laura

The Students Arrive!

We're slowly having students trickle in this week- but the bulk make they're way come friday and saturday. I just got my Kiwi license, so I'm stoked to have it done, I get it in the mail come next week hopefully! We have a total of twenty girls living in this 5 room house- 3 showers and three toilets. Yep.

The Blakelys (earthcare dts leaders) and I are finishing up student manuals, welcome cards and all the fun details. It's been a bit of a whirl wind week, but I am finding space- which is so valuable right now. There isn't too much to write. It's funny how productivity is relative. Maybe it's more priorities really. If keeping good relations is the key, then we're doing REALLY well. If its tangible workload output, it's a bit lower. I'm very happy though to keep it relationally based. Efficiency can be over rated. ;) If you're reading this and want to support me in prayer, it would be for health (I'm getting the stuffy head thing) and a genuine enthusiasm for this DTS program. It's everything that I'd hope this program would offer, but I'm still weary and a bit skeptical at times. God's restoring so much, but there's a ways to go. Loves to you all!

Laura

Week three..

Hanmer was a lovely gett-a-way for us staff. We spent heaps of time in intercessary prayer for the direction of the base and the schools. It has been so refreshing and I appriecate seeking God for the small and big things. I've finally settled in my room with the three other backbacker staff. It's been fabulous, I'm still with everybody, but can be a bit more independent. Us girls have moved our double beds together as one gaint queen sized bunk bed. I share a douve with a Kiwi!

My room mates are:
Kerian (NZ)
Natalie (USA) but lived everywhere, Germany, Thailand...
Nicki USA (OR)

We've been winding down staff training which has been a 9-5er every day, which can be a bit draining. We did personality and spiritual gifts tests yesterday and I loved getting the insights on people. It's been a wonderful month of close, but unforced community! I don't think I'd have the energy for the fast track right now anyways. God is slowly bringing back the joy in YWAM community, and I don't feel like I need to "get space". I've been reserved here, but I know it's not the time to hold back. It's a second chance really, and I'm so thankful God gave me the 2 yr time frame, otherwise I couldn't imagine where I'd be if I hadn't gone back to deal with this. I can see how toxic Oak Ridge was, and even in our staff training things are jumping off the pg in warning to what was happening. I feel so much stronger and sure of myself this time around. A shout out to Marion and Jackie, who read my blog every week together! I'm stoked this is a routine activity! It's inspired me to be faithful to write weekly on time!

My parents are coming to visit on the 24th of Nov. If ANYONE else feels inspired to come on down, I'd highly recommend it! Thank you sisters for your cards of support- I've started a new journal, and they've all made the first pg! I appriecate mail so much!
Loves from the South side,
Laura

To Hanmer we go!

It's staff retreat for 3 days up Hanmer in Cantebury NZ! I've got new addresses, phone #'s and house! The staff training has been wonderful- and thourough! It's great to have the vision of 3 schools (earthcare/ backpackers/ cross roads father's heart) dts's all run together in unity. My personal aim is to "walk through the cool of the day" with Jesus through every step of this DTS. Everyday I have chances for healing and restoration and "renewing" my heart!

It sounds a bit mellow-dramatic but I was having a hard time laughing and giving hugs and enjoying being around people- but this place is so open and friendly and the staff have totally embraced me- even though almost all of them have been together either as staff/ students or outreach. I'm a solo staffer with the DTS leaders (Rob and Jenny Blakely) who are living about a block from the base. So it's really nice that I'll be in a house sharing a room with one of the other backpacker staff- to be around kids my own age.

Kids may be a relitave term here too- all the staff are about 20-30, and the cross roads are 60+. It's a great mix and I'm stoked to see how such a diverse collection of students will learn and challenge eachother!

It's been a shock of a week, as everything has happened so quickly that it takes a minute to catch my breath and God's purpose for the next year, because it all changed in a flash. I miss the Blythen family (the ones who took me in) and Justin and Lisa (Oakridge staff) but things are moving so quick it makes it easier.

Loves!
Laura

Arrival In OxfordI

I made it into Oxford with out a hitch on Monday after a lovely drive into Auckland with Justin and Lisa. I was so hard to say good-bye to them and the Blythen family too. It was hard to leave, and I am starting all over again- one year later almost to the day! I can't believe the difference a year makes actually! One thing that I wish I had was the same wide eyed enthusiasm that I had coming to Oak Ridge. First impressions have been wonderful though- I feel like I already have met the whole base in one go! Everything looks and sounds wonderful and organized- well thought out and visionary! It's warm today it looks and feels like the Kootanys! its little Invermere really. It's been a fairly strange time being away from family and not going to the first funeral that has happened to my nuclear scope. Phone calls and answering machines and call back times would be the sum of the last week between home and Oxford. But I got to do everything that I had wanted to do up north! I was very spoiled by the Blythens and Justin and Lisa! I got to go cray fishing, goat hunting and possum shooting all in about 2 days! I finished making possum skin boots and now I can just be here and move on to the next season of this time in NZ

loves and prayers

Laura

Waiting

It's been raining and sunshine all week long. It's very beautiful, and there are so many lambs out and about on the farm- Grant brought one in because it's been abandoned so I got to feed it! Not as cute as it sounds because the lamb was still covered in placenta- it's not as romantic this farm life, because evertyhing is covered in something, dust, ticks, poo, mud...

I've still been waiting on the base in Oxford, I'm feeling a bit more at peace with even just being in New Zealand, just waiting. It's been wonderful over all at this Blythen home, I've really got the Kiwi experience. I've seen a mixed field hockey game, and a silver ferns tournament, day trips to Whangerei, horses, lambs and so many cups of TEA!!! Glenda Blythen just got a new latte machine and I'm in heaven, it's so easy, and half the family are trying out different drinks (i'm converting them!) NZ is a bit behind in the coffee scene. It's more an unwillingness to the American "individual custom way" than anything, I think.

Two of my very good friends are back Justin and Lisa. They've bought a car and are fixing up there house, and in there spare time they come up to visit the Blythens or take me somewhere, it's so wonderful. Lisa's trying to get me on the ship tour, an option that I'm tempted by- it's very exciting, but I still have hope that Oxford is where I'm suppose to be. There are 3 schools running at one time- the back packers, the Earth Care, and cross roads (for 35+ and married couples) it's very exciting. I would be staffing either the earth care or back packers, but we'll see what happens. I'm happy that faith is actions right now- because I have so many doubts in my mind but my actions keep moving me towards what I believe to be the next step.

Thanks for you support and prayers again- miss you all and think about you so much!

Home Coming...

Hey Everyone!

It’s been a really awesome transition from Oak Ridge, saying good-bye to the students and move up to a family up the road. The youngest girl just got a horse, se we spend after school times to brush, saddle and ride “flint Lock” an all brown through bred cross. (15 hands high). It’s a lovely spirited horse. This is one week to the day that I’ve arrived in New Zealand, and it feels like a new start for me, I feel totally released from my base. I’m meeting up with the base director later in the week to catch up. I have someone interested in buying my bike and I furiously working on my application. Your prayers have really meant so much to me- I’ve found it fairly hard to pray these last few weeks. I still need to actively forgive, and move forward into the next thing.

Loves

Laura Yemen