In the Beginning.....

This is my first attempt at blogging, so bear with me. I'm doing this to keep family and friends updated on my life while in New Zealand. Since I've never done this before, I'll probably just have alot of pictures, but will try to put up enought text to keep you all in the loop with what's going on. A bit about the blogs title. If I understand the books I read correctly, a "pakeha" is anyone in New Zealand of european descent. Aotearoa is the Maori word for the country, and means "land of the long white cloud".

As of posting this, I'm still in Wisconsin. I've had some troubles getting a work visa. There is a list of Recognized Denominations that can bring in international workers. The Greerton church where I'll be working is not on that list, even though they have been there for 50 years. This is the first time someone from outside the country has come to work with them. The application process is somewhat lengthy, so what I am doing is going in through the Napier church (who is on the list), and they (Napier) are saying on the form they send in, that I will actually be working with the Greerton church. I had one visa application sent back a few weeks ago, but that was before we had figured out this way of applying. God willing, I will have my visa in a week or so, and then leave by the end of September.