Hey everyone! It’s Courtney, sorry it took me so long to write this. School has been crazy to get back into!!! But it is now my turn to tell y’all what I learned on our trip to New Zealand! And just so everyone knows, I did not read Trina’s latest blog. So if we happen to say some of the same things… then that’s just God.

Here are some things that I have learned:

Trina and I both, have amazing singing voices! I mean we would totally rock American Idol!

I do not want to marry a dairy farmer.

We are pretty good at cleaning up cow poo.

Bring a daypack as well as a big backpack on long trips; it is easier for day hikes.  

I would be ok having hazelnut trees, but maybe 2 at the most.

I am a cat lady. J

Look to the right and then the left before crossing the street in New Zealand, but when you get back to the States, left then right!

If you are going to climb a mountain, Chaco’s are probably not the best choice of footwear.

Even cold soup is better than no soup.

If a duck follows you, try to get it to bite you, its fun.

Skip rocks on every body of water you find!

Shop around before you decide on a rental car.

Movie nights are the best, especially when they include cookie dough!!!

I could go on and on…

But really… Besides all these amazing things, it was really the greatest experience ever. I would not trade our trip for anything!

These are the serious things that I have learned…

1. God is amazing! I am so glad that He saved me and I am forever His child!!! He provided for us while we were over there in ways that we didn’t even know that we needed providing in! He provided the greatest people for us to stay with and meet. I am so thankful for all the amazing people we met in New Zealand. God is so good! (I will never forget any of you and hope to see you again someday.) He provided rides for us while we hitchhiked, and the people that picked us up were super nice, even the ones whose names we never learned. J When we were low on money God provided money, when my camera fell in the ocean He placed it up on the beach, when we were walking at night in a deserted city He gave us a ride to our hostel. I mean, God knows what we need and He provides! And sometimes we don’t even have to ask Him for things and He still gives it to us! He is that good! I could go on and on about how He provided for us, but there’s more!

2. I learned that I am a pretty difficult person to live with. So I want to thank my parents, my extended family, Paige, and Trina for putting up with me for this long! Love you all!! While we were picking hazelnuts in Christchurch, I had time to think. I knew that I was a selfish person but it hit me how selfish I actually am. But I all of a sudden had this huge desire to just die to myself and live for Christ. It is not easy, and everyday is a struggle, but I am trying and only with God’s help can I succeed!

3. I learned how big communication is in a relationship. Trina and I lived together for 3 months straight; only at 2 houses did we have our own rooms… Of course we got on each other’s nerves! The thing that we learned was that we needed to talk about the things that bothered us. I am so glad that we had those talks, even though they were hard, they brought us closer and helped us learn about each other.

4. We worked with sheep while we were in NZ and… they are so stupid!!! We are the sheep in the Bible and its crazy to think that we are just like these really dumb animals! They run from something, no matter what it is, even if it is good for them. We are sheep!!

5. This world is not my home. I was not made for this world; I was made for heaven! I can’t wait to get there! As we were waiting to come home to the States, we were getting a little bit excited and anxious and we realized that this is the kind of excitement that we should be looking forward to heaven with! We need to live with heaven in view! One day I will be there to live forever and ever with Christ, and I am so excited!

           

Now we are back in the states and have gone our separate ways. I flew to Helena, MT from LA, and took the long way around to get back to MWSB! My friend Morgan flew to Montana from Michigan so we could drive back together. We had a great time sightseeing on the drive to Michigan. We stopped at Mount Rushmore and some other fun places on our road trip, and it was a great few days. Now I am going to school for nursing and am working at an assisted living home.  

            Well, those were the main things that I learned while in New Zealand. Thanks everyone for reading our blog and we hope you really enjoyed hearing about our experiences. And we hope that you saw the work of God throughout our travels. 

Good day to yous! (kiwi accent) Courtney and I have now parted ways. She is back in Michigan and I am back in Oregon. So sad...But I am so glad we have the memories of this trip to share! So, in our three months of being in a different country, we learned a few things about ourselves, live and God. I wanted to share with you all some of what I have learned. Therefore, the following are three things I have learned from our three month adventure.

1. Farm work
This trip has given me a diverse experience in farm work, of which I learned a thing or two about it all. I am not going to boast that I know everything there is to know about farming, because that is just not the case! But I did get a good idea about different types of farms, what I like and don't like and the hard work that goes into it.
Most of the people we worked with, had more of a hobby farm that made enough for the family with a little profit. This was great, because that is the kind of farm I would love to have! Also, most of them hadn't grown up on a farm and didn't really know much about it, but wanted to get involved. So they found a place, bought it and learned as they went, asking advice from professionals and their neighbors, then deciding what worked best for them. All the families were so different yet so happy to be farming! This made me realize that anyone who wanted to have a farm badly enough and were willing to learn and work hard, could do it! I was so encouraged by this, because I don't really know much about farming. This made me hopeful!
Also, I realized that I LOVE it!! I love working hard and being outside and there is so much satisfaction from farm work! Now it's not all hunky dory or go according to plan, but I know it is something I love and want to keep doing!!  I love living in the country much more than the city. It is much more laid back, however, there is always something to keep you busy! It's a different kind of buys than the city. Farming is more a lifestyle than a job. I definitely know it is the lifestyle for me.
Thirdly, Farm life is a wonderful setting for people to escape, pull away from their busy city schedule and take a breather. Not only am I passionate for farm work, but I want to make a place for others to come and take a break from life and find rest and encouragement. A farm environment is a great place to set aside your troubles for a bit and just enjoy being alive. One can step back and see their life from a different perspective and clear their minds.
So that is a little bit about Farm life I have learned and look forward to getting more involved in the future!

2. Hospitality
Something I am passionate about is to have a home of hospitality. As a follower of Christ, it is something we are encouraged to do; to have a heart of hospitality and to share what we have with others and to love our neighbor as ourselves. As we traveled New Zealand, we stayed in many people's homes and learned a thing or two about hospitality. We learned what kinds of things were helpful and some things that weren't so helpful. Also, as travelers, we gained a perspective of hospitality from the receiving side. The following are a few examples.
A good example of a form of hospitality is to have the mind set of welcoming my guests into my home as a part of the family and, instead of putting life on hold, inviting them to join in the activities of my life. To have a heart of hospitality, I must also have a genuine willingness to be flexible and ready to accept anyone who is in need at a moments notice. Also, having a traveler's perspective, I have gained an understanding of what a traveler needs and appreciates most, especially if the traveler has been living out of their car or camping. Even just a warm meal and a place to sleep is enough!

3. Confidence in the Lord's provision
Last but certainly not least, actually most important of all, I have gained from the experience a confidence and trust in my Lord's promise that He will provide for my needs. In times of financial need, or in need of transportation, or even just in encouragement, he faithfully provided for Courtney and I just in the moment of greatest need. He was active in our journey and in times of vulnerability or confusion, we were confident in our God and he came through for us. I have never actually been in need to the point that it was out of my control and to see the Lord work and provide when I was not in control gave me a peace, trust and confidence that I will never be without need, as long as I trust my God to provide. He truly is faithful. Not only did I gain a trust and confidence in him, but I also realized more fully that I can do anything that I set my mind to do, with the help of my God. He says in Scripture that whatever you do, commit it to the Lord and your plans will succeed (proverbs 16). I saw just that. Courtney and I continually committed our journey and the activities we did or decisions to our God, desiring to honor him in what we did and He made it possible. Shoot! We had a desire to go to New Zealand and He made it possible and took care of us the whole time!

Through the whole trip I have gained a new appreciation and respect for farmers, those who open their homes to strangers and my God who provides all my needs. I have discovered a new Joy for life and excitement to see what other adventures lie ahead and confidence that anything is possible when you trust the Lord.