This weeked was so relaxing! We left after church to go to the Clausen' s beach house in Foxton. It was like staying at a resort - the two-story house is on oceanfront property with a path leading you to the beach. They had cable tv (so we got to watch some movies) and a full kitchen, which made cooking really easy. We took the time to catch up on reading, spending time away from the ringing phone, taking long walks on the beach, and exploring one of the elven forests from Lord of the Rings (Waiterere Forest).
The beach house
Just a walk away to the oceanfront
The South Pacific/Tasman Sea
Our little family
Being elves
The rest of the week was filled with final preparations for youth camp. It was fun to find all the materials needed and organize everything so that the week would run smoothly and be jam packed with fun activities, crafts, and songs. We have two camp cooks, 5 small group leaders, and 41 youth attending! Please keep this in your prayers...
Tuesday night was a girls night out chocolate night put on by some ladies from church. It was a really fun idea, and eating all the chocolates was great, but unfortunately there was just too large of an age range (we had teenagers through to young mothers) and motherhood became the dominant coversation. I know more than I ever wanted to know about baby poo. yuck.
Thursday night Ken went to bloke's night out at the Clausen's home. He always enjoys these nights to get to know some of the older men in the congregation, however, it would be nice if more of the young men came.
Friday was ANZAC day so Ken and I attended the dawn memorial service in the square - it was actually a really neat service, beginning with the air force flying their helicopter over the square. Then the band played a hymn, Psalm 23 was read, there was a small speech about remembering those fallen in war then and now, and it closed with the laying of wreaths and the NZ national anthem in Maori and English. By the end, the sun had begun to rise - it was a beautiful sight. We met up with some members from the congregation at McCafe and enjoyed fellowship with them. Then we headed back to work (although many people get this day off, we still had a lot to prepare for next week).
We ended the evening hanging out in Feilding with Trinity friends Tony and Rachel along with two friends of theirs they invited. It was a really fun night of games and mexican food!
Sunday our team led worship. Everything ran very smoothly and we had a special song (You Never Let Go - Matt Redman) during communion. Ken played guitar, Rachel and myself sang solos and Jen sang harmonies. It was a lot of fun. It's great to see the team melding closer together, learning new techniques, as I am better understanding what it means to be a worship leader. Ken and I often enjoy daydreaming about the day when he'll be the pastor and I'll be the worship planner/leader...we'll just have to wait and see where God leads us in the future. :)
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