My Beautiful Nana

My beautiful Nana passed away to be with her precious Heavenly Father late Wednesday night aged 88. She leaves behind her husband (my Grandad), 10 children and their spouses, over 30 grandchildren and a handful of great-grandchildren.

Not only did she leave behind people, but she left a beautiful legacy. My Nana was faithful! Faithful to her  Jesus, her husband, her family, friends and her heavenly Father's work. She was a faithful prayer and a hard worker. Every single year I would receive a birthday card from her with beautiful words, often with a Bible verse. With over 30 grandchildren, she still took the time to write to us each.

Earlier this year she had a hip operation and I sent her a card. To my surprise she sent one back! I can just imagine her writing to all these people who had wished her well for her operation. Her heart for the lost, for those that don't know Jesus was highlighted in what she wrote:

"Actually I had quite a good time in hospital talking with people. There are hungry and ignorant souls everywhere". She had compassion for those that didn't know Jesus. She wanted others to know Jesus like she did, especially her family. "I pray often for the other grandchildren that they may have a real fellowship with the Lord. The need is great 'Cilla. God is able to reach each one of them and waken them to see their need for salvation". I am so thankful that Nana prayed for me!

I am grateful that I got to spend time with her this year before and after her operation. I remember saying to Mum how beautiful Nana still is at her ripe old age. Mum said it was because her beauty came from the inside. That is so true! She truly was beautiful inside and out! She really did shine like the stars!

I loved Nana's sense of humor! She truly made me laugh. I was helping her sit down at the table for lunch when I was visiting her a few weeks after her operation. She jokingly said I didn't really need to help her as she wasn't dying in an old folks home yet! I am sure her humor helped her to live such a long life.

Unfortunately I won't be able to make it to her funeral on Monday as I will be on my way to America. It hurts to know I won't be able to join in the celebration of Nana's beautiful life that was and will always be an inspiration to me. There will be many stories of how she touched many many lives. But it helps to know she is partying with Jesus in heaven!

I love you Nana and I cannot wait to see you again! xx

Caroline is coming!

A couple of weeks back I was talking to a friend about my Guatemalan trip. I then suggested that she come along. After a bit of thought and research...she has decided to join me!!

Caroline is a dear friend of mine! We first met as awkward 13 year olds at Putaruru High School and have been friends ever since we found out we shared our same favourite piano teacher! I am so looking foward to going on this adventure together! A bonus is that Caroline knows Spanish as she did an exchange in Paraguay for a year. She is going to be my lifesaver!

That is my big exciting news for today! It was really hard to study today, too many exciting things are happening!

What if NZ got as excited about Jesus as it did for the All Blacks?

Standing among thousands of people in Queen St soon after the All Blacks victory on Sunday night was a powerful experience. Everyone was celebrating (minus a few French supporters) in good spirits the success of the All Blacks. I have never been among that many people all celebrating the same cause.

It got me thinking. What would it look like if NZ was as into Jesus as they were into rugby? What would it look like for Queen street to be overflowing with people shouting out "Jesus" rather than "All Blacks".

Would NZ society look different? You would hope so! But in what ways?

I personally have never shouted and screamed as much as I did during the final match. To the point where I was told to be quiet! Have I ever been told to be quiet because of my excitement for Jesus?

I am not trying to get pedantic about these little points, but it is interesting to think about.

I recall hearing a sermon where the speaker challenged us about our excitment for sport. He was not against it at all, I believe he too was a sports fan. But he challenged the excitement we got while watching a rugby match on a saturday in comparison to us then quietly standing in the pews while worshiping God the next day at church. That is something that has really stuck with me.

What a revival NZ would have to go through for there to be as much excitment for Jesus as there is for rugby. It scares me when I hear statistics about the decline of Christianity in NZ. Only recently I read that if Christianity keeps on declining at the rate it is, in 30 years time there will be no Christianity in NZ. What would that look like?

I love rugby, I really do. I also love Jesus and I want this to be more evident than anything else in my life.

These are just some thoughts that I have been wrestling with these past few days. Feel free to post comments - I would love to hear your thoughts on this!

Preparation

I am starting to cross off a few things on my list that I need to get done before departing. I wish I could say assignments (still have 2 to complete), but other things are more fun!

Went shopping with Miri today and got a few Guatemalan appropriate clothes. I had already been shopping 3 times already and had not found what I was looking for so I am glad to have finally made some purchases.

On Thursday morning I met a dear lady Helen in town for coffee. She has previously worked in various parts of central America doing missionary work. She is also a friend of the Falconers, so it was nice to have that connection. It was very interesting to just hear a few of Helen's experiences from over the years. It has started to get me excited about what awaits me!

A couple of days ago I found out that there has been some deadly floods in Guatemala. It is quite close to Guatemala City (where I will be living) but thankfully the Falconers are not in any immediate danger as such. But we can pray together for the people that the floods are affecting!

On completely other matters....the rugby world cup is tomorrow night! I am so excited! It has been such a fun few months watching rugby games and getting into the spirit of the rugby world cup! Am going to head into Auckland City tomorrow night with the flatties to get amongst it! But before that happens I need to complete at least one of my assignments so I really should get onto it...

Photos seem to make a blog more readable! This photo is of me at an apple orchard in Minnesota about 3 years ago. I love Fall (Autumn) in Minnesota!

Antigua

This is a photo of the cutest little city called Antigua. I visited this place when I was last in Guatemala and fell in love with this city! The colors of the buildings are so bright and beautiful and there are cute little market places.

I am definitely going to go back and visit Antigua! My friend Andres said he will take me there and I will hold him to it!

The Guate's

A good friend of mine has re-named Guatemala the Guate's. Yes I know it does sound something like the runs, but it kind of is sticking. In 34 days I will be there! Wow!!

 

Just over 3 weeks til I depart for the US. Going through a list of things I need to pack today and trying to start sorting out my room. What is great is that my dear friend Nina is going to be staying in my room at my flat while I am away. This means I get to keep my place in my flat which is so good. Can't imagine having to leave the greatest flatties in the world! I am so looking foward to seeing Nina in 12 sleeps too! What a blessed year I have had that I get to see her twice!

My spanish is still useless, maybe its because I am not practising.....3 assignments were completed this week! 2 more to go and then its exams! The next 3 weeks are going to be pretty crazy I am thinkng!

Not much new to report. Just thought I better update my blog to get in the habit of doing so before I leave.

 

                                                  Nina and I on her birthday this year!

The Summer of 2011/2012!

In one month and 6 days I will be leaving the shores of New Zealand. When I think about this I am excited, nervous, overwhelmed, curious and worried!

There are many things that I need to get done before I go. Assignments, passport, insurance, exams, work blah blah blah! But I know that in the end they will get done and by the 7th of November I will be as prepared as I can be(?).

 

 

A lot of you are not even aware of my summer plans so let me go back to June this year....

I was getting itchy feet and really wanted to travel abroad this summer. It would be a good point to do so as I will be in the middle of my degree and its a way to keep me going for the next 2 years.

I at first tossed around the idea of getting a nanny job somewhere. Its something I am qualified in and it would not be too hard for me to get a job either. Then I thought do I really want to be a nanny for 3 months full time? The answer was no. I really do love kids, but nannying all summer was not so inviting this time round. Then I thought I could nanny for a missionary family. So I made a few enquiries and I was looking at 4 options. Some invovled nannying, others just helping with a missionary family. All sounded exciting and different. For those that know me well, making decisions is very difficult. So when I have 4 options that all sound inviting, I have a problem.

 

 

Then it came to taking a deep breath and praying to God to guide me. Don't get me wrong, it often doesn't make me not worry but I know that this is the first step. I also got others to pray for me about this decision (thank you for those that were!). After prayer, thought and discussions I choose Guatemala! I spent time there briefly while I was in the States and really really loved everything about it! The people, the culture, the beauty and the language! I also loved the Falconers - missionaries from my home town Putaruru who have been in Guatemala for a long time!

 

 

After visiting Guatemala I knew that I wanted to return there at somestage, but I did not think it would be so soon! When I get there, it will have just been over 3 years since I was there last time.

 

 

Ok this blog entry is very long so I will get to the point. I am leaving New Zealand on the 7th of November and firstly going to Minneapolis (my American homeland!) for 10 days. I am super super excited to see my family and friends there. Thinking about it just makes me smile! I am then going onto Guatemala on the 18th of November and returning to NZ on the 3rd of February.

I will be staying with the Falconers and helping with some chlidren holiday programmes and a whole lot of other stuff (I am hoping).

 

 

So there ya have it! Those are my summer plans! I will try to keep this blog updated but as you may see, my last entry was a year ago so I can't make any promises.

I would love it if you could pray for me as I prepare to leave:

-That I will get everything done that I need to before I leave.

-That God will work in my heart now in preparation for what awaits me

-That God will open my mind and heart while in Guatemala to learn more about the great God that he is!

-Please pray for my safety.

-For my Spanish (that is going terribly)

-For the Falconers

-That my work may be fruitful there.

 

 

Thanks for sharing in this adventure with me!

Cilla x