Day 191: Six Months!

I have now been in New Zealand for six months, which means that my visit here is half over, and that I have another six months to go before my flight home.  The knowledge that my time is half over is somewhat bittersweet.  I have really been enjoying my time here, mostly because of the amazing people that I have met and gotten to spend time with, and also because of the beautiful and interesting places that I have dreamed about and actually gotten to go to, which previously were summed up as just words or pictures in a book.  Most of the time I have been quite happy and content and grateful to be here.  I am being challenged in my life, and my faith and in who I am, in good ways.  I'm trying to learn to rely on God and I've had plenty of time to consider what I believe and think about things which is one of my favorite thing to do.  I really appreciate everybody from home who has been in contact with me and encouraged me when I was down, or shared good times with me from afar.  And I also need to say a big thank you to people that I have met here who have helped me out, remembered and included me, hung out with me, had good conversation with me, encouraged me, supported me, housed me, fed me, and even clothed me.  I am amazed at how easy they have made it to feel like I belong in the body of Christ even when that body is not located in a place that I would normally belong.  So, thank you to everyone for sharing in my New Zealand odyssey so far.  Here's to more adventures to come!