Thursday, December 31, 2009

01-01-10

Here we are in 2010 - come on you guys in the northern hemisphere - Catch Up!

We started the year off with breakfast on the James' veranda and then Maureen (Marks Mum) and I went to a friends place to pick Avocados!

Mmm now these babies will make some good guacamole!

Maureen with Charlotte - our avocado lady and friend from way back!

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Peace Place


Just to show you that Mark doesn't just work all the time - the other day he got to throw a line out down at the bottom of the farm. Of course he didn't catch anything - the tide was out - but the peace and quiet down at that spot can re energize anyone.. Also included the jumping shot to show Chad and Doug - just how Kiwis commit to the jump when I ask them to! He He!

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Pukeko Visits the Garden

WEEK THREE
So yet another week goes by and this is the latest photo on Garden Watch.

As you can see the garden is quite popular with the local population. This bird (called a Pukeko) and his friends are a bit of a pest really and run all over the farm but they are very beautiful and funny birds so they look pretty cute running around.

BTW - you can just see the corn in the distance this week - Mark has planted them with runner beans - the way they do in Ecuador - quite ingenious really - the runner beans climb up the corn as they both grow!

It has been another busy week with the Circuit Pioneer Meeting and Circuit Assembly in Auckland (that's our biggest city about 2 and 1/2 hours by car away). It was an awesome weekend and we sure had fun seeing all the old friends. Of course I got sick of saying the same thing "Yes we are back - but not for long!"

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Few shots from Country Witnessing

Out in service in the country the other day and managed to get a few shots to give you an idea of what our territory is like. When we stopped for a cup of coffee (oh the luxury) - I almost thought we were in Ecuador when all the chickens came a running!! Actually they are not chickens - they are Roosters and the spot where we were is known for people dropping off the unwanted - the place is now over run with them but they are obviously well fed and happy (especially when the alternative would have been the pot eh?)




Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Garden Watch

Week Two

Another week has flown by and the garden is growing well. Mark has been working non stop since we got home so he quite enjoys getting out and pottering around with the plants when he gets home at night. It is light here in NZ until about 9pm so he is able to do that now and then. It really has been crazy since we got back - we have the circuit assembly this weekend too to add to all the busyness. Really missing our life back in Cuenca - at least I get to see my husband more over there!

Sunday, December 13, 2009

2nd pioneer meeting within a month!

But this time I underatood ALL of it!The elders in our old congo kindly invited us along to their pioneer meeting tonight and it was very nice to be with them. I think I needed the pep talk as life here seems to be overtaking me. Of course it's all about the wedding at the moment so things should settle down after that's over and done with.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

A wayto pass the time

Week one
Let's watch the garden grow while we wait for our plans to come together. I will take a photo the same time next week to see how much it has changed.

Friday, December 4, 2009

Little Red shows us how its done!


This is my great nephew Ethan - you can see why we call him "Little Red" he is just gorgeous and I think has a career in opera!

My niece Nicola with husband Lyndon and her two boys Max and Ethan

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Update

Well hello everyone! We haven't fallen off the face of the earth - we've just been very busy sorting ourselves out.
We are now happily esconced in the farm shed again but this time it is a tighter fit as Amanda and Ryan are with us. However it is very nice o be with them.Aaron has been coming and going trying to sort his life out in his assignment. Taumaruni is a small country town so he is finding it hard to get some work. He is hoping to start a mobile computer fixing business to get himself an income but that may take a little while to get underway. He'll be fine though - I am sure something will come through for him soon.
We have had a couple of days out in field service but this time of year is hard to find anyone home. The one girl I did speak to yesterday was very nice and was happy for me to read her a bible text so that was encouraging. I had to apologize though because my tongue kept wanting to break out in spanish - weird!
We also found it weird walking straight up to the door to knock - having been used to just rattling at the gate. It almost feels like we are invading their personal space! Also in Ecuador you wait for a good 5 minutes at the gate - here it feels like we have just knocked and then turn around and leave! Interesting that I have gotten used to the Ecuadorian way in just 18 months and yet have been witnessing all my life the NZ way!
Amanda and I had some errands to run today so we didn't get out but that was ok because the rain was coming down fairly heavy all morning. Not that we are fair weather christians but NZs rain usually comes in sideways not straight down like in Ecuador so it is fairly impossible to stay dry enough here to knock on doors.

Mark has had a couple of days work with his brother and while he is pleased to be earning again - he is not pleased to be working and misses our life over there. Amanda also has got herself a job which she starts on Sunday so life is settling down fast. I should have the house on the market very soon - we have some tidying up to do in the garden and so forth - lets hope it sells fast so that we can get on with our lives.
Missing you all in Cuenca - and thanks for the nice comments everyone!