During the week, meals were provided for us by different families from the church. Some of them in the place we were staying (Capernray-a Bible college) and some in the homes. It was so much fun to be able to meet and fellowship with these families! Saturday afternoon we were able to do a little bit of sight seeing and went to Rotaura to see the hot springs with the youth Pastor, Dave Maugham. Because New Zealand is an island made from volcanoes, the warm sulfur underneath the surface occasionally will come through and make a muddy steamy mess. It smells like rotten eggs! There is this one place where two rivers come together, one being cold and the other hot, that you can swim in. The water is hot because of the sulfur and stuff under the earth heats it. It was so much fun to spend that evening there.
so we could swim in our suits!
we could see when it got dark
New Zealand is absolutely beautiful! We spent much of our car trips taking pictures through the windows and just breathing in the beautiful sights. We couldn't believe that it could be winter and still be so beautiful! There were many different types of trees, beautiful sunsets, amazing countrysides, lakes, waterfalls, and much more.
They have funky trees! Beautiful sunset!
Saturday evening we had a time of just relaxation and a crazy dance party mostly just relieving the built up stress from entertaining of 40+ kids all week. We also got to hang with Jordie & Livy, two of the other GLO camp teachers, that we connected with. We played some games with them and then got to do a little bit of worship while Jenna played piano and Jordie played guitar. It was a really fun time! New Zealand also has some funny signs and names for things that we couldn't resist taking a picture of. I also got to try the famous L&P drink, kinda like Sprite, and had more than my fill of delicious kiwis!
Our final days in Cambridge, NZ included a Sunday morning service where the team improv worship danced during worship and then had a short dance performance. Dr. & Mrs. Kawase shared their testimonies and then were interviewed by the church on the theme of reconciliation.
On Monday we had to travel to Auckland so we would be able to catch our flight early the next morning. So Pastor Murray took us to a marina where the US keeps its boats, the beach, and an incredible underground sea world of New Zealand. We caught a flight early Tuesday morning to our next brief stop in Sydney, Australia!
look left, look right...." It didn't help. =)
Auckland skyline
different times, we all had this same photo!
Up next is Sydney, Australia and San Fransisco! =)
