I think this sums it up.

Auckland is big.


I've been downtown, took a bus ALL BY MY LONESOME and met up with friend Danny before ferrying over to Devonport, the adorable section of North Shore.
Today I'm going to Mission Bay with Justin's mum. We're going to have a picnic lunch in my little bit of blessed sun before blasted freezing Idaho.

Can hardly believe I'll be home in three days!

Murray

“Humility, the place of entire dependence on God, is, from the very nature of things, the first duty and highest virtue of man. It is the root of every virtue.”

~ Andrew Murray

Humility, I have come to find, is not only the highest of virtues, but is as well one of the most challenging to cultivate. It is comparatively easy to tailor one’s conduct to suit a standard, shown by the Pharisees and Sadducees of Jesus’ day, than to transform one’s own heart. In becoming humble we must first see ourselves as we truly are. Without the saving grace of our Father, how utterly wretched our nature is. But we are conformed into His image through Christ’s work on the cross. Therefore, though we are “white as snow,” (Isaiah 1:18) it is not of any working of our own. “I say to the Lord, ‘You are my Lord; I have no good beside or beyond You.’” (Psalms 16:2) The first step of humility is to not only see ourselves completely deficient in hope without the mercy of Christ, but also to accept that everything good within us comes from God alone. This also includes gifts and talents possessed. To glory in our giftings is pride, yet to ignore their existence is false humility. We must come to the median where we both acknowledge our talents and give glory and thanks to God for them.

But it is not enough to merely philosophize and converse upon the subject of humility, rather, it is necessary to convert our beliefs into actions. While examining myself in the light of the humility set forth by Christ, I see myself, as all honest men must, lacking exceedingly. My personal pride, I have found, does not take the form of flaunting and outward proclamations of superiority, but it is of a more subtle nature. Fortifications, years in the building, have obstructed the path to my heart. Pride, and fear of recurring pain, has prevented certain of these walls from destruction. But God has not called me to live a life encased in my prideful protection. An essential element of humility is placing God and others ahead of one’s own self. I must therefore stand spiritually naked before my Creator, and those witnesses around me, that God might mold me from a piteous creature into a mighty work of His grace. Stripped of my pride and humbled before His glory, I will no longer lean upon my own strength but depend solely upon His in the work set before me. This is the purpose of man, to live a life of humility and entire dependence upon Christ as we serve Him and those around us.

(snagged from Martinah's blog. Thank you!)

Pretty much alive and well :o)

This update is intended to be pathetic and leave it's readers wanting for more.
I'm alive and barely in one piece at the Latif's in Auckland. I arrived last night after an uneventful flight (characterised only by my tears upon takeoff) and a heartwrenching goodbye at the airport with Dom, Jon, and Neelam. The day was spent with Jon and Dom, who drove me from Dunedin at 7am (one of the best road trips of my life thus far!!!).
Sad and quick goodbye with my family, the Newtons, who will forever be housed in my heart.

The tramp rocked! I sprained my weak (right ankle) badly and have since stretched the tendons numerous times. I've said goodbye to too many kindred spirits and shed endless tears. Nonetheless, I am thankful that God has placed a joy in my heart to return home. Everything would be so much more difficult if it was not there.

Friday 2 December 2005
6:30 pm, Boise Airport
Southwest Airlines, SLC --> BOI

[we are thinking of going out to dinner after I get back, if you're interested, PLEASE leave me a message - Mum wants to have some idea of the numbers because she's also keen to make a big pot of spag or chile to eat back at our place]

Tramping, anyone?

Leaving tomorrow (Tuesday, 15 November) morning from North Dunedin at 7am to go tramp the Greenstone-Caples Track loop. Anyone interested? Emina and I are the only two right now, but there's room for three more, if you want to pack in and help out with petrol. We'd love the company and we'll probably be back Saturday (Friday if we decide to chug through the end bit).

Will head straight to the airport in the morning to drop off flattie Nicole for the goodbye.

Text, ring, drop by, comment, email if you're interested!

Note: Heidi, you can't come. That's all there is to it. I don't want to hear any whinging.

Frightening...

I actually said this to my flatmate Nicole saturday night. She suggested I write it down somewhere. Even though it's incredibly embarrassing, I thought all of my loving, kind, non-teasing friends would get a kick out of it.

"You know I'm a hypochondriac, right? Self-diagnosed, of course."

pause. process.

"I can't believe I just said that."

*riots of laughter*

Free Stuff

Well, ignoring the recent text that mentioned the possibility of things falling through, I am leaving Dunedin sooner than expected. Tomorrow at noon I hope to head off to Abel Tasman.
I've got some things I'd love to give away if anyone is in need (or knows someone who is):

• down comforter
• wool blankets
• bicycle (may need back wheel replaced and tire is punctured)
• end-table with wee cupboard and shelves (used as lampstand next to bed)
• hotties

You'll have to pick up, but I might be able to leave them with someone else so you wouldn't be pressured for time. If you know Anna Newton's mobile number you know mine. Otherwise, you can text someone who knows me and get my number.

I will be leaving Dunners this week, though, whether it's tomorrow or not. I'm not going to smother on the cheese yet, I'll wait until I'm home and desperate for you all. Much love!

I'm not tough after all

Ugh, today.
I can only assume this to be punishment for my Absinthe evening: my piercing was infected to the point of inability to concentrate. Being the hypochondriac that I am, I looked up symptoms of septicemia.

What are signs and symptoms of septicemia?

Patients with septicemia often develop a hemorrhagic rash -- a cluster of tiny blood spots that look like pin pricks in the skin. If untreated, these gradually get bigger and begin to look like fresh bruises. These bruises then join together to form larger areas of purple skin damage and discoloration.

• lose interest in food and surroundings
• become feverish
• feel cold, with cool hands and feet
• experience a coma and sometimes death

As to be expected, I suddenly realised that I had the chills (though my hands and feet were of normal temperature). But I had been wondering why I woke up this morning despising even the thought of food, which is very rare. I decided to remove the earring, hoping for some relief, but my head only continued throbbing. Since I couldn't concentrate to study (exam tomorrow!), and deciding the swollen lymph nodes on the left side of my head were a good indication of infection, AND having been worried about the rapid overtake of septicemia, I went to the student health centre. The last thing I want is to croak in New Zealand.

While walking to the health centre, I wondered what my family would do if I didn't make it home to Idaho. Morbid, I know. Decided to change the topic, but all I could focus on was whether or not the infection had gone septic, and, "Oh! Watch out for that car! You're uninterested in your surroundings, is that right?" Dying on the way to the GP would be hilarious, sarcastically speaking. That would teach the world how sick I really was. Right. Septicemia has a quick onset like meningitis, I always wanted to say I had a near-death experience. Or died and was revived. So cool.

The receptionist gave me a "you're-just-another-idiot" look when I told her my piercing had gotten infected. Sneer. The nurse didn't want to hear about it, she just glanced at my ear and wrote me up to see a GP who cleaned things up (wearing a glove that was NOT sterile. I watched her put it on after picking up another that had fallen on the floor and stuck the one that had been on the floor back in the box) then wrote me up a prescription for antibiotics.

This whole ordeal, and others, has played a part in teaching me the wisdom of making decisions based on the long-term. Yes, things might be easier for the next day or week or semester if you choose one path, but what might be the consequences of that decision in a month/year/the rest of your life? I wasn't diligent in cleaning my piercing and here I am, the day before a big exam, trying to get my brain to focus, and my stomach to stop hurting from the antibiotics.

"...Expose by faith every situation as it arises, to the All-Sufficiency of the One Who indwells you by His life. Can any situation arise, in any circumstances for which He is not adequate? ...If He be truly God, there cannot be a single one! In everything give thanks!" -Maj.W.IanThomas

Anyone up for leaving Monday morning for a road trip to Abel Tasman, four-day tramp, and journey to Wellington? Seriously! I'm looking for a ride :o)

always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres

It's hard to believe I left home 9 months ago. February 9 I flew out of Boise to LA and arrived in Auckland on the 14th of February, in Dunedin the 17th. I'm hoping to leave Dunedin this monday, 14th November, to drive up to Auckland, stopping for a tramp and a bit of city-visiting along the way. If that doesn't work out, I'll have a few more days here to say goodbye.
I feel both numb and highly sensitive to everything.
I have to finish studying for exams (should be doing that right now), pack up all my belongings, try to sell off particular items (bike or wee table, anyone?), clean the flat, send things to Auckland, and accomplish a multitude of other mundane, yet heartbreaking, tasks. Goodbyes are the hardest.
I AM excited to come home, don't think otherwise, it's just that I'm not the same anymore. And I'm tired of painting pictures of Egypt. I won't try to explain now how I've changed, or how this time, these people and the truth have impacted me over the past months. I think I'll be spending the rest of my life thinking about it.

While moving forward.

"The Lord is faithful to all His promises and loving toward all He has
made. The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food at the proper time. You open Your hand and satisify the desires of every living thing. The Lord is righteous in all His ways and loving toward all He has made. The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth. He
fulfills the desires of those who fear Him; He hears their cry and saves them." Psalm 145:13-19

"Answer me quickly, O Lord; my spirit fails. Do not hide Your face from me or I will be like those who go down to the pit. Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You. Show me the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul." Psalm 143:7-8

"Gimme some of the hard stuff, Ed."

I have just recovered from what I believe to be my first ever hangover.
Now, I have concluded that the hangover was produced by many factors. Some of these being:
- ear piercing trauma recovery
- exhaustion from staying up too late and waking early to clean the flat for inspection
- being too warm (summer's acomin'!)
- general dehydration

All these factors are enough to make anyone feel disgusting, but I suppose the real cause of the hangover was the fact that I'd consumed too much alcohol for my poor body to process.
I know that heat is actually really dangerous when you've been drinking. It only increases dehydration, thus intensifying the damage of the alcohol, inhibiting liver processing. I was way too warm on the ride back from Oamaru - in a little car with the heater running (to avoid engine overheating), wearing jeans and a turtleneck. I didn't want to drink too much water at that time because I knew we'd have to stop at least three times before reaching Dunedin. That explains why I felt continually more crappy as the evening endured.
It was an absolutely putrid feeling. But I've discovered Bailey's Irish Cream and Kahlua. Mixed with a bit of milk. Mmmmm. Probably wasn't the best idea after a long day that included two glasses of wine. However, I'll wager it was the Absinthe that put me over the edge...
Really, it's no wonder that stuff is illegal on my hometurf.
My 5mLs was more than enough. I am such a lightweight.

I match my sister now

Yesterday flatmate Nicole and I went to get her ear pierced. It was a birthday present from me. She's a pierced woman, I tell you, with 7 to count at the moment. Two holes in each lobe, tummybutton, recent eyebrow and now cartilage of the right ear. I'd been contemplating it myself, and decided to go for it. Piercing the cartilage, that is. Much less painful than I'd heard - and I can't tell yet (waiting for possible infection), but I think I prefer the gun over the needle for piercing. We'll see.
I feel a bit of a 90s punk - sweeping the hair on the left side of my head waaaay back and showing off my piercedness. Now for some bling and a chain. I figure I'll pierce my lip, nose and ears (a few more times) and get hoops for all of them. Then I'll slowly distort my face by linking up all the hoops with the chain and ever-so-gently tightening it up over time... ;o)