First year of study and traveling to Canada!

Well it has been an eventful past month to say the least! Over May Josh had his final exams for the year - which meant that he has been keeping very busy with study. We also were preparing for our summer assignment, so I was kept busy at home cleaning, and planning for the trip as well as trying to make sure the car was up-to-date and things would be covered in the time we would be away. We had a number of friends who were moving and planning for travel also, so we were able to give them a bit of help in that process. 

The seminary had commencement - which was really great to attend in support of this year's graduates. It was somewhat intimidating and humbling to imagine that, Lord willing, that is where we will be in just another 2 years. 

This year has gone very quickly - and we are very thankful and fully acknowledge how every good thing, every new experience, and all the new things we have been learning have come to us by God's grace - through the love and service of His people. It is one of the most humbling things to live in full and complete trust in God's provision - and I think a very important thing for us to experience as seminary students, and looking into pastoral service in the future. Every day we are aware of the fact that we are here by His grace, and because of the support of the people back home and in the US and now Canada! Everything we have is from His hand - and we are very aware of it because of this experience. 

I am currently writing from our summer home in Abbotsford, British Columbia - and as I look out the window I can see beautiful green fields, tall trees, and a mountain rising just beyond them. We were very blessed to have arrived right on schedule on Friday - after 5 days of travel across the greater part of the US and Canada. It was mind-boggling to have had the opportunity to make this trip, and in the process discover just how vast these countries are. For 3 out of the 5 days of travel we were driving through the grass equivalent of desert - ultimately, prairie land. Something that we Kiwis really had not experienced before - only to arrive on the 4th day to epic mountain vistas. 

On our first day of travel it worked out that we were able to catch up with Beccy and Jake in Madison, Wisconsin. It was fantastic to be able to catch up with them and spend some time - I only wish that we could have had longer!

This kind of thing was a common sight through North Dakota 

Early morning views of North Dakota before we crossed the border into Canada

The left side of this picture was what most of our last images of North Dakota were. It was a very brown, barren kind of a landscape. Quite unlike anything I've seen before. And it just went on and on for miles. As far as the eye could see. It really did have it's own kind of unique beauty to it. One thing that was cool was that because the land is so flat, the sky was massive! And there were some incredible cloud formations. 

Driving through Minnesota

North Dakota (similar to Minnesota huh)

 Providentially the border crossing into Canada went very smoothly. All up it took about half an hour to process the paperwork, and we now have some very pretty and colourful new visas in our passports. :) That's another thing that is great about Canada - their money is really pretty! Makes a change from the greenback that's for sure. ;) 
Our first day of driving in Canada was through Saskatchewan - which was mostly the same as North Dakota. Flat, treeless fields that go on forever. 

Next day we drove into Alberta which for a long time was a similar landscape, but as we drew closer to Calgary we were beginning to see more hills. We stopped off at lunchtime in Calgary - which was a gorgeous city. Everyone there seemed to be very active, they were all either running, walking, biking, rollerblading, skateboarding, etc. It seemed to be very vibrant and friendly, so we enjoyed our short stop there. 

We stopped off in Calgary for a very short walk into the city

We then traveled on into the mountains! Which was very exciting. I tell you what, it was quite an experience. I don't think that we took as many pictures as we would have liked too because we were too busy just soaking in all the natural beauty around us. There is nothing quite like mountains. 

Main street in Banff, Alberta

 We didn't have a huge amount of time - but had planned our trip so that the day before we did extra driving, so that we would have a little more time on our day through the mountains. Because of this, we were able to go for a short hike around the Bow Valley which was well worthwhile - and a welcome stretch for our legs. 

We went on a short hike in the National Park - looks like a painting doesn't it :)

Me taking photos of Josh taking photos

We were happy to be in nature. 

 We were able to see some of the local wildlife - although didn't get any photos because they were either too far away or disappeared too quickly. We were able to spot two bears as we drove down the highway, some white mountain goats, elk and deer. 

In this clearing we not only got to see amazing views mountains but also an Elk.

Lake Louise - still frozen over from the winter

It was amazing to see how much snow there still was on the hills and mountains - although the weather was quite warm. At one point we went up to visit Lake Louise, and it was all still frozen over and covered in snow. Quite surreal to sit there and take in the view in shorts and light sweaters!

At this point we had driven into British Columbia and got to see more mountains :)

 We were so thankful to have the opportunity to take this trip. We have always wanted to  visit Canada but never thought we would get the opportunity. We are now really looking forward to serving in the church here, getting to know the people and for Josh in particular having the opportunity to learn more practically about the ministry. He has been scheduled in to preach at least once a week, as well as hopefully lead some Bible studies and do some visitation. We hope to be able to keep you updated as the weeks progress. In the meantime thank you so much for your prayers and continued support - we appreciate it so much! 

Finally, an update!

Allo everyone,

Sorry that it has been such a while since our last update - the reason being that we moved into our apartment just over a week ago, and haven't had internet! So Lord willing, we will be getting that hooked up this coming Wednesday. 

In the meantime, we have been SUPER blessed - with being able to move into our own place, get set up with a lot of generously donated (and very nice I might add) furniture and items for everyday living, and also continuing to enjoy church life and getting to know people better!

Josh has still been busy with intensive Greek. He had another big exam last week, and did well - so that is a huge blessing, his hard work is paying off. This is his last week of the course, and he has the final exam this coming Friday. 

Our fellow Kiwi's, Albert, Hanneke and their girls, are coming back tomorrow - so we are really looking forward to hanging out with them in 'real life'! Haha - up to this point we have been in communication with them via email, Skype and phone - so it will be cool to meet them. :)

I have been keeping occupied with going for walks around our new neighbourhood, bike rides, and spending time with church and seminary friends which has been really nice. Also been investing time in some cooking and baking - I made some strawberry jam last week which was lots of fun, and it even came out tasting yum. :) 

A local home-schooling group has asked me if I would be willing to take the children for some art classes, so I am also going to be busy coming up with some lesson plans for that over the next couple of weeks. Josh will have a couple of days off to recuperate from Greek, before starting a short course in Hebrew. Then I think he has a week off before the Fall semester begins. :) He is still enjoying study, although has been pretty tired just lately in particular. 

Another couple who have moved here to study at seminary too, called in on us over the weekend and very kindly brought us some house warming gifts! They gave Josh the mug pictured below - they already have him figured out. He does love his coffee. :D

Hopefully we will have our internet set up on Wednesday, and then I can be a bit more regular with our updates. In the meantime, hope you are all well. Your prayers would be appreciated for Josh as he preps for his final exam on Friday. Also he has been feeling a bit under the weather for the past couple of days, so prayer for his health would be amazing too. Thank you so much! 

And then there was one...

One more night left in NZ! Crazy but true. We have been finishing off the last minute packing, and saying goodbye to friends and family (that's the hardest part), and sorting out last minute details - like International licenses, the sourcing of NZ flags as per special request of the Couperus family :D (only $6 at the Look Sharp store in Albany - woot!), meeting up with Grandma for a coffee and saying goodbye :'( and juggling our luggage so that our bags aren't overweight! 

Our brains are a little teensy bit mushy at the moment, and 20 or so hours in transit probably won't help that too much - but we are very willing and ready to go, and looking forward to discovering what God has planned for us! :)

Very excited about meeting everyone over in the States as well, we have heard so much about the welcoming nature of Americans, and having met a few of the faculty from MARS already we look forward to seeing them again soon! Plus it is exciting to anticipate meeting others who are passionate about the ministry and getting to learn alongside them, as well as join a new church family. Exciting times ahead!

We had an amazing church lunch yesterday (North Shore always does fantastic church lunches :D), and were so encouraged and thankful for the support of our home congregation. We will miss everyone very much. We are so thankful for our deacons who have taken very good care of us (particularly David Bilton), and for the ministry and guidance that we have received from John Rogers over the years - what an amazing example he and Sheryl are for us. As well as the rest of the Session who have been very encouraging especially to Josh as he has worked alongside them over the past year or so. 

Having such a church family supporting us is amazing - not to mention all the other congregations throughout NZ who have been doing the same from a distance! 

Earlier this year I was challenged to think about something in particular that I wanted to work on in regards to my spiritual walk - and I thought that I really would love to learn more about humility. And God really has been teaching us in a positive way about humility. That we can trust in Him, and that He will provide through our church family is very humbling in the best kind of way. What an incredible way to learn it! (And I'm sure there will be more lessons over the rest of our lives).

Anyway, I (that is, Hannah) am going to pull out my stars and stripes outfit and enjoy this adventure in the USA (hopefully they like it through customs).

Next time we write - we will probably be Stateside!