One year in...

I arrived in New Zealand exactly one year ago today.

It's been an amazing and life changing ride. I've done and am doing things that 2 years ago, I wouldn't have dreamed about. I've been hiking in the Kaimai Mountains, snorkeling off Mayor Island, and racing in Whangamata. I've visited my 4th continent, and worshipped with 6 nationalities in a group of 30 people. I've been a speaker at a men's conference, help lead an at-risk teens support group, and play backgammon regularly with an Australian. Not what a farm boy from Wisconsin usually gets up to in a years time. God is good. When I left the States, I wanted to do this not just to help others, but so I wouldn't become stagnant in my faith walk. I think it's safe to say that stagnation has definitely not occured. Being in a leadership position forces me to re-examine things. I can't just teach teens what I've heard, I need to find out if it's really the truth first. I have a new respect for the Scriptures, and a much stronger prayer life because of it.

Time is a strange thing. In some ways, I can't believe that it's gone so quickly. There's so much I wish I had done already, and now it halfway over. It's a wake up call to really keep focused on the work here. Time seems to just have crept by. It seems like forever since I've seen my family and friends in the States. I look forward to seeing them in a few weeks, but I'll miss everyone here while I'm gone.

This has been a bit of a ramble, but one of my goals for this year is to post something every day, not every couple of months.

Kia Kaha and God Bless.