So I’m finally getting a chance to write a new entry. Today is basically our first free day since I got here, and that’s only if you decided not to go to church. It’s been really hectic, but it’s actually pretty fun.
So now I get to have some writers block…
Well first off, New Zealand is awesome. At first I wasn’t too sure about it when we were in Auckland because it was all just city, but once we headed out to Matamata (2 hours away) I quickly realized how wrong my initial asumption of how wrong I was about this place.. was. …If that makes any sense. It’s gorgeous here. We’ve had a LOT of rain this past week too, which has helped it get prettier, because apparently they were in a 6 month drought up until the day after I got here, and everything was golden brown. Now I feel like I’m in a rainforest.
But yeah, our days are pretty packed. Breakfast at 7:30, worship and lectures at 9 till 12:30, lunch at 12:30, lectures from 2-5:30, dinner at 5:30, then lectures from 7:30-whenever. It isn’t completely consistent every day– Wednesday and Thursday nights we have off, and I think occasionally we won’t have an afternoon session, but our first week has also been a lighter load than the rest of the DTS. Work duties, one-on-one’s, a couple other things start tomorrow.
We have a different person come in and speak each week, and our first lecturer wasn’t the most interesting guy. I think we all had trouble staying awake through his talks. He barely whispered, was incredibly repetitive, and made me feel like I was in sunday school again… Except a sp-ed version. We were warned about him, and the other speakers are supposed to be more exciting, but that’s basically the only qualm I’ve had so far.
Umm, but yeah… one of the staffers just told me that someone called for me and is calling back in ten minutes so I have to go hang out in the phone booth, which is sweet, so you can blame whoever that was for me ending this right here… (dad)
I love you guys, and obviously miss you.
March 2, 2008 at 1:43 am
Well it sounds awesome! Sorry to interrupt the flow, but Dad and I had to hear your voice! Also enjoyed hearing about the huge hike to the waterfall(“hardest workout of your life”) and the beach with a mountain in the water! We are praying for you everyday. use the gift God’s given you! Love you!!xoxo
March 2, 2008 at 2:05 am
how about some pictures??
souns pretty cool–how’s the music element tied in?
mucho love!
March 2, 2008 at 2:59 am
sounds like a blast. is anything different than you thought? have you made any friends? send pics!
March 2, 2008 at 3:10 am
Hey Ben,
Glad to hear that things are going well. Jerry had a dream about you the other night, he will send it to your email address in a few days. He keyed it in on your blog and erased it by mis take…..got frustrated and went to bed. oh well. Is the food different than what we are used to? How about any cute girls? We pray for you every day and know that this is going to be an awesome time for you. Sounds like they need to get rid of the boring teacher!
Love,
Marion
March 2, 2008 at 2:24 pm
Hey, Ben. It’s Kim (Gallagher) Henry here. Hope you don’t mind that I’m jumping into your blog, but I found it through Jon and Ali. What a great opportunity for you. I hope this is a trip of a lifetime for you! I can’t wait to hear all that God does while you are there. We’ll be praying for you.
Keep the updates coming.
March 3, 2008 at 2:54 am
HI Ben!
I love you and am praying for you every day. How often are you going to be able to have access to e-mail? I love you!
It sound like you’re having a good time. It’s really great to hear from you, and get a little picture into what’s going on with you and how you’re enjoying you time in NZ! I miss you a lot, and so does Gurgi. I have petted him a couple times for you and whispered a few sweet nothings into his ear
Jenne