Wanaka

On the shores of Lake Wanaka...

This photograph sits beautifully on my desktop... the mountains and clouds are reflected off the surface of the lake, and you can actually see through the crystal clear water to the ground underneath. The branches of the tree are wavy and rough, creating a stark contrast to the smooth water surface.

Same tree

High Country Salmon

We dropped by to purchase some salmon for dinner... not bad... only NZ 25 dollars for one whole fish

From this...

To this...

Lake Pukaki

There's something about the rocks at Lake Tekapo and Lake Pukaki that give them an out of this world turqoise hue...

They say it's the fine silt from these gray rocks mixing with the water...

Blue skies, blue lake...

Lake Tekapo

At 2300 feet above sea level, lake Tekapo is formed by glacial melted water

Surrounded by the Southern Alps on all sides

Bronze sheepdog statue in memory of James Mackenzie, who discovered the pass leading to Lake Tekapo and the interiors of the South Island

Church with a view - looking out from the very small Church of the Good Shepherd

Crossing the Canterbury Plains...

The field shines with the light of cut corn
and quite far off
a solitary pine needles a solitary cloud
where nothing vexes the sky
that's clear to the mountains and beyond.

When the sun shines
even autumn's haughty out here
where a leaf might be blown a hundred miles
and end up somewhere much the same.

That's plains, they
make you bound to live
within the bounds of where you are;
no next valley to explore,no nearby hills to scale
looking for a hint of promised land.

We may travel to the ends of the earth
and back again
and never know whether
the beetle hunched between stalks
feels sorrow, or if distant clouds
quivering with white light
drift forever.

~ Brian Turner, Crossing the Canterbury Plains

Inland Scenic Route 72

A little garden at Farmer's Corner

Sheep dotting the landscape

Farmlands in Canterbury on a cloudy day... the hilltops are mostly covered

Clouds part to reveal blue skies...

Hagley's Park, Christchurch

These men look cool... and my Dad's the coolest!

They don't call Christchurch 'the Garden City' for nothing!

Fit for a calendar...

Christchurch Cathedral

The Christchurch Cathedral, with its gray, Gothic architecture, towering high above Cathedral Square

The impressive altar

Stained glass and mosaics

The cross and the Jewish lampstand, reminders of a common heritage

Christchurch - the Garden City

Clearwater Golf Sanctuary

Christchurch Botanical Gardens

Cathedral Square - Chess anyone?

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Somebody get that bird off my head!!

There and Back Again...

I’m back! After spending 8 days in New Zealand for a long vacation, I feel… tired. I don’t want to come back! I want to stay there forever! Looking at my inbox, I want to run away… away from it all. But then… this is life, isn’t it? Work. Ministry. I am beginning to see the many threads that I’ve left hanging before I went. So many things I need to do. But at least I managed to get them off my mind for awhile.

I’ve been really concerned about kidney stones before I went. Guess what… no pain at all throughout the eight days. God is indeed wonderful! No doubt it was a very selfish prayer… to ask God for no pain so that I can enjoy myself over there… but for some reason He chose to answer that selfish prayer. TRUST – that was the word I got from God the few weeks before we left for NZ. Not just in terms of my own health, but also in ministry and every other area of my life. Thank You! I’m speechless! Most of all, thank You for the wonderful time spent together with Mom and Dad… and of course, Agnes... the trip wouldn’t have been the same without them.

We enjoyed scenic New Zealand. And I do feel like running away from some of the things here. For a nature lover like me, New Zealand was paradise. No doubt I would love to go back there one day… but there is something familiar about this place… the rude people, the hot weather, the damaged public property, the traffic jams, the litter everywhere and the stink… yes… this is HOME… and I’m glad to be back! Not to mention the great food! And great friends as well!

Roads go ever ever on,
Over rock and under tree,
By caves where never sun has shone,
By streams that never find the sea;
Over snow by winter sown,
And through the merry flowers of June,
Over grass and over stone,
And under mountains of the moon.

Roads go ever ever on
Under cloud and under star,
Yet feet that wandering have gone
Turn at last to home afar.
Eyes that fire and sword have seen
And horror in the halls of stone
Look at last on meadows green
And trees and hills they long have known.

~ Bilbo Baggins, from the Hobbit

Just a Novice...

Light of the world, You stepped down into darkness
Open my eyes, let me see
Beauty that made this heart adore You
Hope of a life spent with You

Here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that You’re my God
You’re altogether lovely
Altogether worthy
Altogether wonderful to me

King of all days, O so highly exalted
Glorious in heaven above
Humbly You came to the earth you created
All for love’s sake became poor

After the past few days… maybe even weeks… this song that we sang at CF became filled with meaning for me. I dedicated this wonderful song to our God of wonders then. And I sang my heart out, despite the sore throat. I still dedicate this song to Him now. I am seeking… for His divine embrace. I sorely and badly miss Him. Maybe I’ve been too messed up. Here I am, returning as the prodigal son. It’s not over yet. There’s still a long way to go… long, long way to go.

I’m tired after the one day trip to the paddy fields. It’s mostly due to me not feeling well lately. Tomorrow we will begin our Bible study/discussion group for the new Christians and not yet Christians. This is quite a new thing for me. It’s exciting but scary at the same time. The groups has about 3 very young Christians (possibly less than a year), and 2 who are not Christians but are curious to find out more. It’s a great opportunity, but the responsibility is immense. There are a few more things to sort out. I need to be aware of certain temptations, like thinking that I can explain and defend Jesus more than the Gospels can. I should just let Jesus defend Himself. I’m sure He is more than up to it. It all comes down to the same thing again… learning to trust the sovereign God… and in this, I am still just a novice…