Friends and packing

Last Sunday, Naomi and I took our friends the Keels (Tim was pastor of Jacob's Well in Kansas City) to church at St. Paul's and then for a picnic and walk. We went to our favorite park in Auckland, Cornwall Park with its amazing trees, volcano, flowers, sheep, olive grove, historic home, coffee shop and great trails. The couple on the right, Melinda and Brenden, are in from Canada with Brenden starting the Masters program at Laidlaw.

This week has been a very full week of meetings, sorting, packing. I have donated a big chunk of my library to Laidlaw's library in order to downsize some.

Last night was a "Barbie," a BBQ (everything New Zealand gets shortened--university--uni, a pick up-a ute, utility vehicle, mossie-mosquito and the like). It was with new faculty. It was lots of fun with some outrageous moments of laughter--the good for the soul laughter that goes all the way down to the tips of your toes.

I feel a lot of sadness in not being able to work with these new faculty (as well as our current faculty). Many in ministry here have expressed their regret that we will be leaving. There are many pastors and leaders who are faithfully serving in a difficult climate. Hope runs deep.

Monday and Tuesday I will be leading a retreat with a handful of leaders from around New Zealand to talk about the shape of ministry and theological education in the future. It will be a great time. Thursday is faculty retreat so next week is quite full.

Naomi and I have have loved the people time of recent weeks. In less than three weeks now we will be enroute to the U.S. It is all happening so quickly.