Waiting...

My visa application is in to Immigration as of last week. Unfortunately, since I had one abnormal chest x-ray, it was forwarded to a Medical Assessor. This could mean up to another three week delay in processing my permit application. On the plus side, it should clear fine, I have already had another x-ray that was normal, and attached those results to the form so it should just need a rubber stamp. And, I found out that even if I don't have it back by the time my current visa expires, I can stay until I do have the results, since I made genuine attempt to stay legally. This means that, yes, I may have to hop over to Oz for a bit, but I can then just get a working holiday visa there, and come right back to NZ. This effectively extends my time here, even if for some reason my work permit application is rejected. Frustrating yes, but I feel that a burden has been lifted since it's out of my hands now.

Faith is deliberate confidence in the character of God whose ways you may not understand at the time. ~ Oswald Chambers

p.s. Sorry if this was confusing, it makes sense when you've looked at immigration policies as much as I have :)

ARRGGGHHH!!

Got my visa app back last week. There was box I had ticked that asked if I had submitted a full medical form within the last 24 months for another visa application (which I had). But since the whole last application was not accepted, there was no medical records for me on file. This means that I had to get it all done again. Everything was going swimmingly until I got a cold before my chest xray. It came back abnormal, due to lung irritation from the cold, so now I have to wait a week or so, then get it redone. Shouldn't be a problem, it's just getting tiresome dealing with all this.

On a side note, American health care cost are insane. I'm getting the same procedures done over here for 2/3 of the cost. And that's with me paying all of it. The Kiwi's get pretty much everything for free, if they don't mind waiting.

Once more into the Breach..

I posted my application for a work visa today. If it gets through (which it should this time!), I'll be able to stay here in Tauranga for my full 2 years. Please pray that immigration officer who processes it doesn't find anything to nit-pick at.

Fearfully and Wonderfully made

David has me reading a book called In the Likeness of God by Dr. Paul Brand. He was a doctor who worked with leprosy patients for a large part of his life, both in India and the U.S. The book is his reflections on the human body, and how it's systems are analogous to ways we live our lives. In the section on skin, and how we must touch to be happy, I came across this: "An old Chinese proverb says: "nothing can atone for the insult of a gift except the love of the person who gives it" If I go up to a man who looks poor, press a ten-dollar bill in his hand, and walk away, I am really insulting that person. My action says, "You can't take care of yourself- here's a gift for you ." But if I involve myself in his life, recognize his needs, and stand alongside him, sharing what resources I have with him, he is not offended".

I think this is something comfortable Americans (myself included) miss a lot. We sometimes have the approach of throwing money and resources at a problem, and not really getting to know who and what the problem is. Giving from what God has blessed us with is not a bad thing, we just are missing out on something if that's all we do. Dr Brand returns to the body analogy. "If we choose to love only in a long distance way, we will be deprived, for skin requires regular contact if it is to remain sensitive and responsive." God demonstrated this when he sent Jesus. There was a need to come close, not just love from a distance.

~Ephesians 5:1-2

I was a man walking....

Just thought I'd share the lyrics of on of my new favorite songs. It's by Carl Wirkkala.

I was a man walking, walking on a dusty road, where I was going, I didn't know. I was their leader, a reluctant one I confess, trudging through the wilderness.I was afraid, but I trusted in the Father's plan, to get them to the Promised land. When it seemed there was no way, tha's when I heard Him say. Raise your arms and there shall be a path, the sea shall part and you will pass.

I was a man walking, walking on a dusty road, when a bright light shown. I fell to the ground for it was a blinding light, I had no sight. My eyes where opened, now I could see. This was the way for me. How He took that old man I may never know, but I was a new man, out on that dusty road.

I was a man walking, walking on a dusty road, when they told me that He was gone. Mary said, the stone had been rolled away and the angels said He'd rose again. My eyes were open, and I could see, He was the one for me. How He took that old man I may never know, but I was a new man, out on that dusty road.

Walking on air, out on that dusty road.

It's probably better when you can actually hear the song, but I just think it tells some good examples of faith.

Culture Shock

There really hasn't been that much different so far. The biggest things are less variety in most stores and the way everything slows down during the summer. Since school finished and the holidays, it feels really relaxed. I think that's just the way things are here. It's fun being able to get out and enjoy the, but I feel like I'm not doing enough because there's not as many people around. A lot of folks go on extended holidays. I'm still busy, but it still feels like I should be doing more.
Anyway, everything is actually going well. I've been doing a lot the the kids from the church and their friends. they say a picture is worth thousand words, so I'll let a few of them do the talking, and save you and me the time of reading and writing.

A couple of weeks ago I took some of the youth from Greerton and Otumoetai out to some of the waterfalls I had gone to before.

For my birthday, I gave myself a present and rented a sea kayak for the day and paddled all around Tauranga harbor.Some of the girls at a service project at a local primary school last week. The flower beds had gotten pretty over grown, so we cleared them out.

It's a new year

So yesterday was New Years. We get it first here in Aotearoa. Gisbourne, a city east of here is the first city in the world to ring in the 1st of January. This holiday season has been kinda strange. In a way it doesn't feel right. It's just now supposed to be summer and Christmas at the same time. It's helped sometimes so that I don't feel like I'm missing anything with my family, but it also makes me think about it more and that makes me a bit homesick. I'm not complaining, I mean; I'm completely happy with what Im doing and where I'm at, it's just the remembering what I don't have that makes it hard.

Oh well, moving on. The holidays really have been good. Christmas was spent in Hamilton with the Chivers (my landlords) and for New Years, the Steels invited me to spend the day with them at the beach in Waihi. Not my typical experiences, but a lot of fun. I got to go boogies boarding for the first time, and I think I have a new hobby.

Somewhere right down there, the hobbits are partying.

Can't beat spending all afternoon playing in a surf like this on a New Years day.

"Celebrate the happiness that friends are always giving, make every day a holiday, and celebrate just living!"~Amanda Bradley