My first US observations

My initial observations being back stateside:

1. Square Land Plots-

Compared to flying over NZ, the US was so much more consistently structured in its development as i looked out the plane window

2. Hot-

Going from 12C=54F to 35C=96F in a day was a shocker with the change of seasons over night.

3. It is Light a lot later-

Also weird for it to be 9pm and still light out since i switched to summer time over night.

4. Flags-

After being patriotic and friends commenting on our respect for the flag, i notice the how many more US flags around houses and places i see compared to the NZ flag in New Zealand

5. Stomach getting used to the food-

It always happens and i always forget, but it usually takes my stomach a little while to change to the quantity of food and different food consistencies that i eat in the US compared to NZ

6. Hispanic/ African American Influence-

I wish i remembered my spanish more. It is weird getting use to hearing spanish and seeing a different style of light brown people always around.

People also have different accents and it is interesting to hear the lingo of african americans and even the voice differences. It is also hilariously good to see more swagger and baggy jean sagging again... oh how i missed that.

7. Being a Minority to Normal-

I went from being one of the few who stuck out as an american with my accent to just being one of many back in the states. This is not a "woe is me" statement but an acknowledgement that this hasn't been my world the past 2 years, that i am just one of the many, and that it will take a little time to re-find my place in what is a more natural everyday life.

8. American Dream Mentality

We were driving by and looking at some nice houses and condos a long a lake and i was surprised at how quick my mind drifted into dreaming about having a place on the water and what i could do to make that happen on the future (haha on a pastor's salary haha ! :)

Traveling & Life over July and August

Here is my life in photos the past 2 months so far!

July 1-5 Auckland, New Zealand

(Last Days)

John Gorveatte and I singing at the Gathering

Got to help Stephenie Garey get settled in her first 2 months in NZ as a missionary

Me and the guys filmed a video called "Party in the AUK" talking about Auckland. Great time just to hangout with these guys where i wouldn't normally and a memory that will last a long time. You can watch the video below but be warned, it is mainly nz phrases! :)

Dinner with the Snell Family

My Last lunch with the ATC youth

A rainbow came in at my favorite raglan view!

i love how rainbows are everywhere in the winter in NZ

Hanging out after Sunday lunch with the Els
Was able to seen a partial lunar eclipse
and see an All Blacks Rugby game with some close friends
Varun (above) was a newer friend towards the end that was able to get to know and invest in while teaching the guitar
Random adventure under the dock

Hanging out with friends before leaving

Went and hung out with the mackays before i left too and made the video below talking about other new zealand phrases. love that house

Had an amazing send off from friends. Definitely felt loved and knew i would miss them

July 5th Sydney, Australia

(Hillsong & Ben/Leen Time)

Was able to spend some downtime in Sydney before heading straight back home.

I took the train everywhere
Made some new friends and got to see some old friends like Amy in the middle above and Ben (below) and Leen who moved to Oz not too long ago.

July 9th Plymouth, Indiana

(Parents)

Was only home for a day :)

July 10-21 Lexington & Holden Beach, North Carolina

(Grandparents & Family Vacation)

Went to the farm with the grandparents

Had a bonfire and kayaked on the pond at midnight with my crazy cousin becca gray the night before we left!

This was the last little bit we saw pappaw and the last goodbye wave as we drove out before we would drive back for his funeral.

got to surf and goof off at the beach for a bit

July 25-29 Lexington, North Carolina

(Pappaw's Funeral & My Ordination)

Had a few days of work and rest before finding out 3 days after our return that pappaw passed away and we drove back to NC for the funeral and back up to Marion, IN just in time for me to be ordained in the Wesleyan church!

Relatives together after the funeral

August 4 Indianapolis, Indiana

(Global Partners Visit)

Able to catch up with my help on the stateside and begin to take care of all the end details of a trip

August 10-16 San Diego, California

(ECWC Camp Speaker)

I am off to San Diego Today for just under a week and then will spend a few days movie and trying to put a rough draft of an NZ book together before the big move to Michigan.

August 22 Lansing, Michigan

(1st Sunday at Lansing Faith)

This is not Faith Church in Lansing, MI that is hired me, but this is the second site/venue/campus whatever you call it that i will work closely with

and the place i am looking to move into
and the inside of the church

Ministry Transition

As to Global Partners, New Zealand, Life, etc.

I don't think you can ever leave a place after the amount of time i spent there without it always having a close place in your heart.

For the moment I am stepping out of my missionary role with Global Partners although there is always the possibility of me working on possible short or long term projects to NZ or other places if the opportunity arises in the future.

I will be working with Brandon Bruce and the staff at Faith Church.

I would appreciate your prayers. I will always hold the friends and relationships i made in New Zealand close to my heart and facebook :) but will be praying that God will continue to either bring since a peace about ending my time in NZ or to draw my heart closer to NZ in the future if there is still more to be done.

A poem i wrote in high school...

don't know exactly when i wrote this, but i randomly read over it in an old folder. You will see why i never became a poet, but hopefully you hear the heart.

Heavens Beauty

The beauty of your creation

is too marvelous for painting

To find the perfect depiction

spend an eternity

The sunset's harmony of peace

a baby's smile of simple joy

The heavens' skies that never cease

songbirds for the ears to enjoy

If this beauty and creation

God can assemble in six days

My heart can't wait to see heaven

with two thousand years of work days

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man...

I have always read the second part of James 5:16 in the NIV and really liked it.

"The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." (NIV)

But i just read it in the KJV and like it even MORE!

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. (KJV)

I haven't done a solid word study on which version is the most accurate although the KJV tends to be more literal...

but the adjectives "effectual" and "fervent" help this verse make a lot more sense in my head because sometimes it was hard for me to know exactly what was meant simply by a "righteous man's prayer."

Another great verse clarification i found was 1 Peter 4:8

I always read

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. (NIV)

but just read

And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. (KJV)

I really like the description of “fervent charity among yourselves.” It helps clarify the meaning of love each other deeply because it adds so much more of an active description of what is being asked.