KIA ORA FROM NEW ZEALAND!

Kia Ora everyone! I am definitely in New Zealand now, and it is absolutely breathtakingly beautiful (and cold). My backyard is amazing! (Y'all may never see me again ;) ) Traveling was quite an adventure to say the least. Actually on my flight from Atlanta to LA, I actually had to pull out my nursing abilities with another critical care nurse and acute care nurse since there wasn't a doctor on the plane- the lady was okay though thankfully. The LAX flight to Auckland was really really long, and I was unable to fall asleep, which made it feel longer, though I watched some good movies :)

The bus ride from Auckland to Tauranga was very interesting. It took me forever to find the bus stop at the airport. Then I get off the bus with two Germans around my age at our intermediate stop, and as we get off the bus it suddenly downpours. We and all of our luggage gets soaked, and we ended up at a close by McDonald's for lunch, while we waited for our connecting bus. Getting on the actual bus to Tauranga, I met three other girls headed to the DTS, and that was really cool!

Initially at arrival on the base, as I was going on almost 48 hours of no sleep, I had no desire to meet people or do any of this. God said to take a breath, and that it would be okay. It's been pretty awesome ever since! Me and 5 other girls and a few staff actually live about a quarter of a mile from the main base where everyone else lives, and we live in the "brick house," which actually is a home. All 6 of us are "older" and we're all introverts, and we all love living together and being together. Cason is actually from Rome, Georgia, which is really cool. Usually you'll see us more or less together. Yesterday, the brick house gang hiked to the waterfall, and that was amazing! There is nothing like it. Though to me, to walk anywhere, it feels like I'm hiking- I'm going to have some awesome legs when I get back! ;)

               

             
God is already doing some really awesome work, and He has stepped all over my toes already. I'll share more about all of that later! Thank you everyone for praying and supporting me here! This is so much fun and so awesome! It is such a blessing to have this opportunity!