English tutoring is still going strong. I am volunteering with English Language Partners NZ + through Spredydon Baptist Language Center.

Here is my Egyptian learner in class at Spreydon.

One night Noah and I visited him at work and ordered souvlaki!

Here is my other learner I teach through English Language Partners NZ with some of her family.

We took a YWAM group + some locals out to help in some badly affected areas today + it was awful to see the devastation. Volunteers were everywhere. It was sooo good to see that, but it was awful to see the damage. The liquefaction has affteced many in Christchurch but this area was hit the hardest. We heard from one resident the homes will be demolished. They are tilted off their foundations, have cracks through the floors and walls.. and the sand pile up is awful… So our efforts were mainly to clear paths to get in and out of doors and driveways…. so they can live there a bit longer until they move out… awful!!!

Here we are, updating you from our southerly location, where spring is just around the corner (about time to plant our first veggie garden!)

We came home (from our wonderfully refreshing USA SUMMER 2010 Tour) to a repaired kitchen (it had been gutted because of water damage). What a relief to have that fixed! And to add to that excitement, we quickly arranged for new carpet to be put in the living room. Then with a little added touches of paint, our ceiling makeover was complete. We were finally able to fully organize our kitchen, put up our decor + make this place cozy.

What a huge change it made. It is actually beginning to feel comfortable. (Though there is still an intense, ever-present mold battle because of how wet it is here in NZ, we are feeling better about this house!)

We’ve been spending lots of time with our new friends, the Willems (who also moved here to plant house churches—they are from South Africa).

YWAM update: The current school leaves for outreach this week. The next school begins in a month!

Two weeks ago we hosted a Danish girl who recently graduated from the YWAM Brisbane base in Australia. She had been traveling around New Zealand a few weeks after her school ended and stayed with us one night before flying back home. It was neat to hear about life in Denmark and encourage her in her calling back home.

This weekend we hosted an Australian YWAM student who recently graduated from the last school.

This weekend was also the epic earthquake which rocked this city. Though there were no fatalities (Thank you Lord!) there is severe damage throughout our neighborhoods, the city + the region.