It has been quite a few amazing days already. After staying the night at the hostel or backpackers as they call it, we made our way to a local department store, similar to our Walmart, called ‘The Warehouse’ I have already bought a pair of shoes from there that were 6 dollars. Great deal if you ask me (: After shopping, we made our way to the Incedo Youth For Christ office, w
here we were going to gather right before going to the actual gathering. Britnee and I met so many people, including Amanda and Mike who have two adorable twin boys named Khilany and Reece, and are expecting another little one shortly. Sue and Daryl, who have a beautiful girl named Arya and an amazing little son named Heith, who would very much like to change his name to Keith. Then of course Chris and Dave, who have Alya, and Jackson. But alongside them, I have met Laura, Gus, Dennis, Blade, Mark.. so many Marks. Jim. The cutest oldest man ever. Rochelle and Brian. Hannah, Andy, Kim, Tim, and Tainui. I have felt nothing but love from these people, and do not feel out of place at all. We are our own little family. It really is a shame that this gathering must end so soon, I really wish it wouldn’t. I have had such amazing adventures already, The Germans, (they do have names) Maike and Jasmin, Britnee and I went ATV-ing, (quadding) we went through water, around the trails by the camp where we are, and it was amazing and gorgeous at the same time. A couple of us went down to a winery store close b
y with a café inside. On our way back we found a park with a tire swing attached to a very high tree. That has been our blissful child-like activity ever since. We also got a chance to go to a place called Hanmer Springs, which is about an hour away from the camp. It’s just like Harrison Hot Springs… I think? Pools of hot water, although it was very very stinky, I would say the smell of rotten eggs, EVERYWHERE. We also played some crazy hide and go seek games involving us laying on a field and staying there until Alex and Sarah’s search and Rescue dog Maiku came and found us. The memories are really endless already, and I am so glad I have this helpful Blog to recap all of them. We are friends with everyone here, and everyone is welcoming, but for the most part they are older people. There are some younger people, closer to Britnee and my age. We have a little joke going with Tainui, Dennis, and Jackson that we live in Igloos back home and have pet polar bears. It has now turned into a joke that everyone knows and we get teased in a loving matter quite a bit.
Britnee and I are getting closer with Jasmin and Maike, and have grown to giggle with each other over silly kiwi ways. Like how they walk barefoot almost everywhere, or their lingo. I am already picking up their lingo and sounding like a kiwi myself. I really do enjoy spending time with these people and I am going to miss this community time and this sense of family once everyone goes back to their own cities.
Tonight at tea, Britnee and I were talking to someone and trying to get to know him by asking questions about what he does in his free time, when he graduated school, and whatnot. He then asked us, where do you see yourself in 10 years? I, not knowing what to say really, just replied with things I know I want, things like, to be married, to have kids. When we turned the same question around on him, he said married, with kids, but to still have people living in his house. This came as a surprise to me. Me, coming from a big family already, I thought of having more people in the house and what chaos and what a nuisance that would be. But then he said why? Why can’t you have community in your house? If you are all living together, you are sharing something together. I brought up having your own privacy and having your own space. He then said, what right do you have to your own space? Why are you claiming that as your space? God gave us this land; he did not say to separate ourselves. When I thought about this in my head, I realized, it made sense. Beside the actual space factor, why do we not have people living with us? We have the space, why be selfish? I am not totally sure if this is how I expect to live, but it was a great discussion and definitely some food for thought.
I can tell God is going to change me this trip. I can feel myself mo
ulding into who I am supposed to be. I have so many more memories, little stories, some great laughs. And I can truly say, I love this. I love it so much. And I am so happy I was able to come here, and see what I have seen so far.Until next time.
Kylie
