Friday, February 17, 2006
catch up
So much as happened thus far and I'm just now able to get my internet up and running. Yes, that's right I have the internet in my very own room, it is very exciting. Unfortunately you have to pay per GB used, so I figure doing a blog would be more efficient on all sides. Webmail through the university is free, so as soon as I know my email, I'll post it.
What an amazing few days I’ve had today. It’s been unbelievable, yet so real the way God has made Himself known.
I was running all over town, thinking that the shops would at some point close and I needed an alarm clock to wake me up or a converter to plug my phone in to then wake me up. WELL, because I had to go to 4 different places and because I had lost track of time all day talking to roommates and touring campus I ran into David, Holly’s friend from Illinois studying here, who had a friend with him named Seth. Well, they asked if I wanted to go to dinner with them (which I hadn’t eaten since breakfast) and we went and had a great time. Then, I came back and saw where David lived (where I live is the new version of the village and mine is way nicer). I was talking to some of the girls I live with about power converters when I saw Seth was walk up and ended up he came to see my voltage allowance on my plug to make sure it wouldn’t blow the fuse, only to stay for like a couple of hours talking about Jesus. Absolutely amazing God is. The couple I sat next to on the plane asked me if I had any Christian people that I knew in NZ and I said no. It was the first time I had thought that I didn’t have any sense of community here and the seriousness of 5 months began to settle in, yet seemingly God created a calm and peace over me that lasted until this moment when I realized that God sends believers and community or whatever we need in the moment we need it.
The conversation that I had with Seth was awesome. He’s a Jew convert to Christianity. He’s a Sigma Chi at Vandy. No interest in him, I just think he’s a really cool first friend to have down here.
My roommates are fun- Gloria, Rob, Norbert, Stephanie, and Charlotte. Yes, two boys, but there’s nerdy Rob and Japanese engineer Norbert so I don’t think it will be a problem. Gloria took me to the Grocery store today, it was awesome.
just so you know ya’ll are 18 hours behind me (easiest way to do it is subtract 6 hours from your time and add a day on the calendar)
One more story- I was at the grocery store yesterday and when I needed to sign the receipt the guy that was the cashier said "sign there and put your name and phone number on there too." I laughed and made some comment. Because of that the lady behind me starting talking to me and it ended up that I went back to her house for tea. Penny (the lady) is so nice and lives almost directly behind me. She told me to stop by often. I left her house and went to the beach with some new friends- be very jelous I have a tan!
p.s.- just in case you’re looking for stuff to send me (hint, hint) I need room decorations- like bright colored cool quote or saying signs or stuff like that- I have a lot of wall space!
What an amazing few days I’ve had today. It’s been unbelievable, yet so real the way God has made Himself known.
I was running all over town, thinking that the shops would at some point close and I needed an alarm clock to wake me up or a converter to plug my phone in to then wake me up. WELL, because I had to go to 4 different places and because I had lost track of time all day talking to roommates and touring campus I ran into David, Holly’s friend from Illinois studying here, who had a friend with him named Seth. Well, they asked if I wanted to go to dinner with them (which I hadn’t eaten since breakfast) and we went and had a great time. Then, I came back and saw where David lived (where I live is the new version of the village and mine is way nicer). I was talking to some of the girls I live with about power converters when I saw Seth was walk up and ended up he came to see my voltage allowance on my plug to make sure it wouldn’t blow the fuse, only to stay for like a couple of hours talking about Jesus. Absolutely amazing God is. The couple I sat next to on the plane asked me if I had any Christian people that I knew in NZ and I said no. It was the first time I had thought that I didn’t have any sense of community here and the seriousness of 5 months began to settle in, yet seemingly God created a calm and peace over me that lasted until this moment when I realized that God sends believers and community or whatever we need in the moment we need it.
The conversation that I had with Seth was awesome. He’s a Jew convert to Christianity. He’s a Sigma Chi at Vandy. No interest in him, I just think he’s a really cool first friend to have down here.
My roommates are fun- Gloria, Rob, Norbert, Stephanie, and Charlotte. Yes, two boys, but there’s nerdy Rob and Japanese engineer Norbert so I don’t think it will be a problem. Gloria took me to the Grocery store today, it was awesome.
just so you know ya’ll are 18 hours behind me (easiest way to do it is subtract 6 hours from your time and add a day on the calendar)
One more story- I was at the grocery store yesterday and when I needed to sign the receipt the guy that was the cashier said "sign there and put your name and phone number on there too." I laughed and made some comment. Because of that the lady behind me starting talking to me and it ended up that I went back to her house for tea. Penny (the lady) is so nice and lives almost directly behind me. She told me to stop by often. I left her house and went to the beach with some new friends- be very jelous I have a tan!
p.s.- just in case you’re looking for stuff to send me (hint, hint) I need room decorations- like bright colored cool quote or saying signs or stuff like that- I have a lot of wall space!
