Sunday, April 23, 2006
wool socks
I'm not really sure where I left off, so much has happened on this trip I feel like I've been gone for weeks. It's been a blast, but looking back, my mind is even tired thinking of all the stuff we've done.
We went to Milford Sound, which everyone else in the entire world thinks is amazing, I found it rather usual, if you will. It was pretty, but this country is so beautiful that it was hard for me to be like, "oh, this is better" when I kinda thought the trees on the drive over were a better view. Hollie and I did, however, go to the underwater observatory which was cool. I learned about all the sea creatures and found black corral particularly fascinating. It's solid white under water and survives from the little microorganisms that live on it. Apparently it would take a big chainsaw to cut if off, it's that strong, yet it looks so flemsy in the water. It turns black when you take it out of the water because all the things living on it die. I found it fascinating because I think that evil is like that. We call it evil and dispise it in our heads, but when we see it a lot of the time we find it appealing and we convince ourselves that it's not that bad (looks white, clean). We have to see beyond the appearance and see that it's black, it's evil and we must stay away from it. Satan uses all kinds of disguises, but we have to call him out for what he is and make him leave. Ok, I'm that nerd that sees a spiritual meaning behind everything, you'd go crazy if you jumped into my head for a day.
We hiked to a chasm while in the Sound which was really neat. The inscription read, "The finest workers in stone are not copper or steel tools, but the gentle touches of air and water working at their leisure with a liberal allowance of time."- Thoreau. Water-amazing, flows through the hand, glides down the throat, tranparent, yet the most powerful force in the world. Makes me realize the power of God to create such sheer greatness out of something so seemingly insignificant and small. I pray that God would use us as He does water- transparently and silently, yet forcefully and constantly.
We just got off the Routeburn, what a beautiful trail. It lived up to its "most beautiful walk in the world" deeming. Our second day it poured, no other word for it. There was a severe storm warning, so what can you do but hike through it? I had so much fun, but I'll be honest, it was pretty miserable for most. Eva and Clara didn't have waterproof clothes, so yeah you know how that went... But my wool socks were the most amazing thing- you get your feet wet, cold for 3 seconds and instant warmth, amazing. Smartwool is the way to go. Anyway, I hiked part of it alone and it was so good to be out with God and just be. It was really cloudy the last day and at many moments I was actually in the cloud, it was awesome. One part of the trail was flooded where a water fall poured out directly on the trail, we took the flood detour. I talked to some guys later that went through it and I wish now I would have, but the girls weren't keen (as they say here). It probably would have been top 5 coolest things I've ever done, if I would have survived and not fallen down the cliff that is.. no worries though, I didn't do it. :)
I read this on the trail and thought it was awesome- substituting God for Jerusalem you read, "If I forget you, O God, may my right hand forget its skill. May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not consider you my HIGHEST joy." ps 137:5-6. "If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all." Isaiah 6:9b. This is where I am right now, learning to live "all-in" for God and not longer walk the line. (just thought ya'll would want to know..)
The guys I met on the Routeburn are coming to Christchurch in a few days and I'm going to take them around, they're super cool. They go to this Bible College on the North Island, but they're totally not perfect and churchy, it's awesome. I'm in Dunedin right now and we're going to walk the world's steepest road tomorrow! Then we're headed to the penguin colony and then home! (christchurch home that is). BYE!
We went to Milford Sound, which everyone else in the entire world thinks is amazing, I found it rather usual, if you will. It was pretty, but this country is so beautiful that it was hard for me to be like, "oh, this is better" when I kinda thought the trees on the drive over were a better view. Hollie and I did, however, go to the underwater observatory which was cool. I learned about all the sea creatures and found black corral particularly fascinating. It's solid white under water and survives from the little microorganisms that live on it. Apparently it would take a big chainsaw to cut if off, it's that strong, yet it looks so flemsy in the water. It turns black when you take it out of the water because all the things living on it die. I found it fascinating because I think that evil is like that. We call it evil and dispise it in our heads, but when we see it a lot of the time we find it appealing and we convince ourselves that it's not that bad (looks white, clean). We have to see beyond the appearance and see that it's black, it's evil and we must stay away from it. Satan uses all kinds of disguises, but we have to call him out for what he is and make him leave. Ok, I'm that nerd that sees a spiritual meaning behind everything, you'd go crazy if you jumped into my head for a day.
We hiked to a chasm while in the Sound which was really neat. The inscription read, "The finest workers in stone are not copper or steel tools, but the gentle touches of air and water working at their leisure with a liberal allowance of time."- Thoreau. Water-amazing, flows through the hand, glides down the throat, tranparent, yet the most powerful force in the world. Makes me realize the power of God to create such sheer greatness out of something so seemingly insignificant and small. I pray that God would use us as He does water- transparently and silently, yet forcefully and constantly.
We just got off the Routeburn, what a beautiful trail. It lived up to its "most beautiful walk in the world" deeming. Our second day it poured, no other word for it. There was a severe storm warning, so what can you do but hike through it? I had so much fun, but I'll be honest, it was pretty miserable for most. Eva and Clara didn't have waterproof clothes, so yeah you know how that went... But my wool socks were the most amazing thing- you get your feet wet, cold for 3 seconds and instant warmth, amazing. Smartwool is the way to go. Anyway, I hiked part of it alone and it was so good to be out with God and just be. It was really cloudy the last day and at many moments I was actually in the cloud, it was awesome. One part of the trail was flooded where a water fall poured out directly on the trail, we took the flood detour. I talked to some guys later that went through it and I wish now I would have, but the girls weren't keen (as they say here). It probably would have been top 5 coolest things I've ever done, if I would have survived and not fallen down the cliff that is.. no worries though, I didn't do it. :)
I read this on the trail and thought it was awesome- substituting God for Jerusalem you read, "If I forget you, O God, may my right hand forget its skill. May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not consider you my HIGHEST joy." ps 137:5-6. "If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all." Isaiah 6:9b. This is where I am right now, learning to live "all-in" for God and not longer walk the line. (just thought ya'll would want to know..)
The guys I met on the Routeburn are coming to Christchurch in a few days and I'm going to take them around, they're super cool. They go to this Bible College on the North Island, but they're totally not perfect and churchy, it's awesome. I'm in Dunedin right now and we're going to walk the world's steepest road tomorrow! Then we're headed to the penguin colony and then home! (christchurch home that is). BYE!
