Away from home?

Ok so these are in reverse order that i wanted to put them on but here is backward since being home... Got engaged Oct. 7, 2010
Moved into my first (and only ) apartment all by myself, downtown Milwaukee August, 2010
I visited Andrew in Canada. We climbed a little mountain Aug. 2010
Andrew came to Wisconsin and we hung out with some mutual friends: Chris and Calvin, plus hanging out with family and friends July 2010

I can't believe I am coming up to being away from New Zealand for almost a year. I miss it everyday, I feel like I am away from my home. It is cool to see what God has done in my life since coming home. In my relationship with my family, deeper relationship with my friends, a God-fearing husband to be ;), my own apartment, a full time job, a Bible study, and much more. It is definitely harder in the real world to keep my heart focused on Christ and to be in His Word and talking with Him. Capernwray had this uplifting greenhouse to grow heaps in my faith, and I am finding it hard being planted out in the big 'woods' of Milwaukee! God has me here for a reason though. (Although I won't be here for long...162 days til the wedding and after that honeymoon-home-pack-road trip to Canada-culinary school-married life forever :)...I love you Andrew)

Purpose of this starting up again was to keep me accountable and I guess uplift and encourage anyone who still reads this long-outdated blog of mine. Thank you Shelly for encouraging me to start this up again. Plan goes as followed: look back on my Capernwray notes, reflect and talk about it. Hope some cool things resurface and I can share what I learned in New Zealand to you.

love,

Elizabeth

welcoming committee

sister, me and laren
shelly, emily, me, and devan
dad, anne, me, christian and chasie (mom was there too, but just taking the picture, thanks momma)

im back in wisconsin.

Coromandel

on the coromandel coast :)
Me, Katie, Claire, Steff, and Justine in front of the huge L&P bottle. yum!
me, Claire, Steff, Justine, & Katie just being silly.
attempting a jumping picture...
beautiful west coastline of the coromandel
us in front of a cloudy view that cleared later

Saturday we attempted to go to Cathedral Cove and hot water beach...that was an unsuccessful trip because the roads were closed. All the rain washed some areas out. But we still had a GREAT time- I love road trips.

6 days and counting...

One day less than a week until in WI

Last week was Ministry week! I stayed with awesome Lennox family (as shown: Me, James, Lynette, Stu, and Olivia) They absolutely made the week. Later I'll put up a picture of the hat and matching mittens Lynette made me that are so beautiful! The week was at Te Awamutu Baptist Church in Te Awamutu and we spent the week running programs, visiting retirement homes, and volunteering etc. I had a great team as well.

Other thoughts:

Wow time flies. It seems like yesterday that I arrived in Auckland New Zealand. This past year has been amazing, so so so wonderful. God has used Capernwray, the staff, these opportunities, and this environment to change my heart. If feels like normal home life here... I feel normal here-so odd. I guess it just goes to show the saying "home is where the heart is" is true. My heart is God's and therefore where ever I go I am at home with Him. (That sounds a bit confusing, but it made sense in my head )

Anywho. I am excited to go back to Wisconsin, I'm ready :) Yep. I love you all, thanks for following my blog!

Beautiful rainbow

Taken at the batch in Waiuku.

"God said, “This is the sign of the promise I am giving to you and every living being that is with you for generations to come. I will put my rainbow in the clouds to be a sign of my promise to the earth. Whenever I form clouds over the earth, a rainbow will appear in the clouds."

Genesis 9:12-14

Bit of a rough day

Today Andrew left New Zealand to go to Cananda. I am sad. My heart aches and I cried heaps. Here's the thing though. Prayer is powerful. Our God is powerful, I should say. The peace from God that I have about everything is amazing. The joy i have from my heavenly Father is so great. Right now i know with all my heart that as long as I am living for Christ and his will, all is good. Not easy all the time, or ever I guess, we arent promised that, but just living for him. Phew. Soon it will be my turn to travel back to north america. Can't wait to share all I've learnt. peace.