Kia Ora – that means hello and welcome
in Maori! I’m now in New Zealand, beginning my World Race journey!
in Maori! I’m now in New Zealand, beginning my World Race journey!
I wanted to post a blog before leaving
the U.S. but unfortunately that didn’t happen. I’ve been so busy this
past month with finishing things up and getting ready to leave.
December was a whirlwind. I left my job at the American Quarter Horse
Association on December 15, was involved in a musical with my church
in Amarillo December 17-20, then I moved home to my parents place in
Oklahoma December 22. I spent Christmas at home with my family. It
was so good to spend time with them. Then I finished getting things
ready to leave the country for 11 months!
the U.S. but unfortunately that didn’t happen. I’ve been so busy this
past month with finishing things up and getting ready to leave.
December was a whirlwind. I left my job at the American Quarter Horse
Association on December 15, was involved in a musical with my church
in Amarillo December 17-20, then I moved home to my parents place in
Oklahoma December 22. I spent Christmas at home with my family. It
was so good to spend time with them. Then I finished getting things
ready to leave the country for 11 months!
I left from Oklahoma City on January 1
and met up with two other racers in Los Angeles. We stayed night at a
hotel and spent some time at Manhattan Beach before heading back to
the airport to meet the other finance people from our teams. We all
left Los Angeles the evening of January 2 and had a 12-hour flight. I
arrived in Auckland yesterday morning (Jan. 4) around 5 a.m. local
time, which is 10 a.m. Central time the day before. Basically, we
lost an entire day while traveling. When we arrived in New Zealand,
it was cloudy and raining. We had an hour and half bus ride to where
we are staying.
and met up with two other racers in Los Angeles. We stayed night at a
hotel and spent some time at Manhattan Beach before heading back to
the airport to meet the other finance people from our teams. We all
left Los Angeles the evening of January 2 and had a 12-hour flight. I
arrived in Auckland yesterday morning (Jan. 4) around 5 a.m. local
time, which is 10 a.m. Central time the day before. Basically, we
lost an entire day while traveling. When we arrived in New Zealand,
it was cloudy and raining. We had an hour and half bus ride to where
we are staying.
In the afternoon, the rain stopped and
the clouds began to lift, showing the beautiful mountains around us!
It is so amazing! God’s creation never ceases to impress me. He is
such an artist!
We are staying at a camp near Matamata.
Some of us are in cabins and others are camping in their tents. We’ll
be here until this weekend when we head to our different ministry
sights. Our team leaders were already here when we arrived, and today
the rest of our squad came in. It’s so great to see everyone again!
I still can’t believe I’m here and that
the World Race is beginning. I’m so excited! I’ll do my best to keep
you all updated. Thanks again to all of you for your support and
prayers!
