End of October????

A lil Housingplus staff photo. These are all the people I work with.








We are alive... promise! Blogging has gone to the wayside... life in NZ has busied itself. Every day brings more new experiences, new people, new tasks, and new thoughts. Our jobs continue to be a blessing; even when we leave work feeling worn down and unaccomplished. Our flat is still one big gathering of people which we love; even when our chores never end. And Mosaic continues to stretch us. The last month has tired me a bit- heaps of new friends have been made though and I'm loving getting to know people more. The weather in Welli has never been more moody. The blue skies in the morning mean nothing but "go for a run while you still can." And the rain throughout the night simply means "it's raining again all night."

This weekend we went for a hike (or a tramp as it's called in NZ), hung out with lots of friends, and rested as it was Labour Day weekend here. The holiday did make me think about how much I miss hanging out with family- special days and events tend to do that to you when you're away from family. Good thing we are absolutely blessed to able to fly home for 2.5 weeks for Christmas!!!!! And how amazing that Jamie (my sis in law) is going to come back with us after our trip home for a whole year!!!!! Incrediable.

We are eaglerly awaiting more sunshine, summer, Thanksgiving, Christmas (who knew those all came together), and family!! We are grateful for our Mosaic family, American friends in NZ, and the chance to learn and grow. We are constanly reminded that life moves at it's own pace. We are working hard to set a good balence in our lives of work and rest. And we are discovering what it looks like to live well in a community who "Lives by faith; is known by love, and inpired by hope."

I know I'm due for a trip to America when words such as heaps, reckon, Mum, and a funny sounding garage, tomotoe, and garage seem normal. Who knows normal any more?? We love and miss our friends and family at home! - Justin & Lacey