Delivering Katrina to University - Day 2

Monday started early as we had to be down at the Wellington  InterIslander Ferry terminal by 7.25am to catch the 8.25am crossing. Unfortunately we were running late. But fortunately so were a lot of other people.
When we arrived there were still plenty in front of us waiting to be checked in so there was no issue about boarding and there seemed to be people arriving continually after us. I suppose that those who are not booked but want to catch a ride will line up and keep being able to board until the ship has reached its capacity.

Once on board we found some comfy seats and then Katrina and I headed to the café to find some breakfast. There seemed to be such a variety of food available from the standard breakfast, both hot and cold, along with a range of choices you would have for lunch and morning and afternoon teas.

Muesli seemed to be the favourite between Katrina and I and it wasn’t long before we were finished and I went to find Harry so he could go and have his, while Katrina and I sat and watched our belongings and saved our seats. 

The journey from Wellington on the Kaitaki was not the smoothest I have been on as the sea was a little choppy before we even got out into Cook Straight.

Moving about on board was like being a little drunk, (well so I would imagine!) as the swaying meant you had to be sure when you took a step and put your foot down that the floor was actually going to be there! I'm not sure if I suffer from sea sickness as I am sure this would have proved it but I took 'sea legs' (seasickness preventive tablets) before we even boarded so at least I was able to enjoy the trip. I wasn't prepared to take my chances.

By the time we were in the protection of the sounds it was a lot calmer.


I was able to get on with my knitting and as the journey was coming to an end a lady from Holland asked to see what I was making and then proceeded to show me the beautiful hand quilted square she was making to add to the sixteen she would need to make a bed quilt for a couple she knew who were getting married. She told us that each of the quilted squares would take about four hours of solid work to complete. Then there would be the sewing together and back quilting to be done. She also shared of some the travels she had made. Katrina and I decided that her friends where extremely blessed to know her and receive such a loving wedding gift.

Arriving at Picton we set out on the road to Christchurch. We were soon to realise that the South Island was just as brown and crying out for rain as the North Island.

The only green we saw were the surviving trees and the vineyards with their rows of grape vines.

We soon were approaching Kaikoura where we had stayed last year for our nieces wedding.

We stopped for a comfort stop only to find a local seagull decided to do the same.

It was as if we had taken its favourite resting spot so just used the Wizard instead. Even when I got up close to take its' photo it just seemed to pose and only flew off when we opened the doors to keep going. Just as well as Harry didn't fancy it trying to catch a ride scratching the roof to try and stay on. 

So it was back on the road again and finally we arrived at Christchurch.

Once we unpacked all Katrina’s gear, booked into our motel we went out for tea with Callum and Katrina to enjoy each other’s company.

We then dropped Katrina off at her new home and flopped into bed at the motel quite exhausted.

The start of a new phase in Harry and my life.

Delivering Katrina to University - Day 1

Katrina our youngest has gone to Christchurch to attend Canterbury University.

Last week we took about a week holiday to take her down and spend some time to ourselves and catch up with family in Wellington. Fortunately Katrina is able to stay with her boyfriend’s family so has not had to pay for the high hostel accommodation and still living in a home environment, has meant an easier transition from moving away from home, across the straight and into new surroundings.


This also meant she didn’t need to take quite as much with her as her sisters did when they went to university. After I had repacked some of her boxes so some things fitted inside others we were able to reduce the volume by a few more boxes and she was able to take a bit more.

As with living in a hostel there is the bonus in boarding  of not having to take any furniture with you. She did want to take her bookshelves but being a kit-set style we were able to dismantle them flat and they slid into empty spaces.

In fact we even have a smaller vehicle than we did back in the days when her elder sisters left home and we still had a little spare space, which was just as well really as Harry and I still had to get our things in for the trip too as well as some picnic things for the trip down.

I had already decided if it didn't all fit in I would post it down rather than pay for the cost of a trailer to cross on the ferry - but there was no need.  We folded down some of the back set to create more room and it did the job.

Saying good-bye to her home and cat, Milly, took its time but we were soon on the road.

I might add here that I didn't think Milly would be that bothered but since we got back home she had meowed non stop for a day and has only just settled back down.

I thought it was me who was Milly's best friend but it would appear I was just the fill in when Katrina wasn't around.

Driving down the north Island we could see how dry the land is, not just in the Waikato but across the nation. We are all experiencing drought conditions and even now, nearly a fortnight later, there has still been no rain.

We stopped for a cuppa nearer to Wellington and Katrina reluctantly posed for the “leaving Home” pic so this is all I have!

She insisted this was her "I'm posing when I really don't want to" pose.

Do I tell you she was very good at acting and drama?!

You will also note that even while traveling she is able to change her outfits.

On arriving at Wellington we had dinner with Theresa and Steven (our eldest and her fiancé). 

A lovely roast leg of New Zealand lamb cooked by Steven.

Then we donned something warm and went for a walk around the nearby Harbour to chat and take in the views.

Some shadow pics of the dwarf's from The Hobbit

Father and daughter deep in conversation while observing something of great interest - or so I am assured.

Then it was up to my brothers for the night so as to get an early start on Monday morning for the Interislander Ferry across to the "Mainland".

Walking the Walk and Talking the Talk

I was asked to preach again this week and I wasn't sure what to say or use until I saw a youtube clip. I followed on from what one of our elders brought the week before and used some of the scripture for the day. He spoke about us being bricks and how we can build a strong wall (the Church) by being connected with one another and getting to know each other more.
We all need to be strong for those who are weakened by having chips or being charred from events in our lives. We can’t be strong on our own – we need the Holy Spirit – the mortar around each of us joining us together.

Authentic relationships - What works? What doesn’t? What can we do differently?
Perfection is not required, but loving kindness is.
We need to get to know those around us.
To be aware of who is beside you.
We must learn to look the other person in the eye.
What can you do differently by focusing on the other person, not yourself?
Give your whole mind for a few minutes.
Sit “alongside”.
Think “I am here for you and you are worth it.”
What is in the heart is greater than what we write on the page.
How do we get to the heart?
An example we can follow from scripture - Be still and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”) 
Be still beside the person and know them. Strive to see the face of Christ in your neighbour “I’m holding you in my mind because my eyes are on you so our minds are connected”
Love allows understanding and understanding is important.

In 1 Corinthians 13 verses 1-13 think of changing the word 'love' to 'Holy Spirit'
1 Corinthians 13:1-13 
13 1 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.  
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 

This is the youtube clip I had seen.
 Noah and the Whale, "Give a Little Love"

If you give a little love … You can get a little love of your own.
Mathew 22:39  ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'

Mathew 22: 34 – 40
The Greatest Commandment 
34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” We will love everyone according to who they are.
We embrace them as full - God says His work is perfect.

We will love everyone according to who they are.
We embrace them as full - God says His work is perfect

Genesis 1: 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good

Self-reflection, self-knowledge allows us to reach out, recognise one another’s needs.
There is a relational poverty in the modern world – television, computer, cell phones, video gaming.
People’s physical and mental illness is always better when they are connected with people.
Hanging around with those who love you makes you happy. If you are happy – you will make others happy.
Early damage can destroy a life but if there is someone to nurture all will be well.

Important things to remember
 • Read the clues
 • Be aware of the intimacy barrier and don’t cross it.
 • Attentive listening
 • “your story not mine”
 • Remember culture
 • “you matter.” i.e. I am here for you and you are worth it
 • Give the look of love.

We can’t know the heart secrets of another but we can attempt to know our own and so wonder and understand the heart secrets of another.
We do not believe in ourselves until someone reveals that something deep inside us is valuable, worth listening to, worthy of our trust and sacred to our touch 
The Holy Spirit entering into our lives reveals all of these - He is love.

I challenged us all to get close to one another and build relationships
finishing with...

The only person who likes a change

is a baby with a wet nappy!

Sermon Fiona Van Lent 3/2/13
 All scripture is taken from New International Version 1984