Tammy's Chile/New Zealand/Australia Trip

Kia ora 🦋  Sunday, April 28: There was a Bay Buddies Surf Contest at Tay Beach in the morning, and Jacob was participating. Emma and I went to watch his first heat before going to church. Mike was there, and they pulled him in to do some judging when another judge’s son was competing. This was the “Under 16” division. Jacob was competing against Ariana’s boyfriend Zade, and others. Curate Church has skate ramps out back. I loved the way they displayed the elements for the Lord’s Supper! Throughout New Zealand, they incorporate the Te reo Māori l anguage into their world, even at church. After church, Emma & I went back to check on the family at the contest. By then, the semifinals were happening, and the surfing was even better. We drove to Auckland to be there for Ariana’s flight to El Salvador on Monday evening, but we had a hard time getting ready to leave. We left a lot later than expected and arrived in Auckland pretty late. So we all spent the night at Emma’s parents’ h...

Kia ora 🦋  Saturday, April 27 I went to the beach this morning with Mike and Emma when they went long-boarding (for the first time today - they went again in the evening!) The beach is about 1 block away! They told me I didn’t even need to put my shoes on! I wore my flip-flops on the way there, but I took them off at the beach and walked barefoot back to their house. Mike and Emma Walker Gorgeous beach, and I caught a surfer in my shot! Lots of pretty shells! There’s Mount Maunganui (aka “The Mount”) This walkway to the beach is practically right across the street from their house. I'm getting used to the NZ accent, but you'll probably notice and enjoy hearing it. Me, with The Mount in the background Later, I borrowed a bike and rode past the beach, where I stopped to buy and eat something for lunch, and then past the harbor to a park where The Market was for the day. The Market The cute little trailer called Pipi where I bought a Dragon Smoothie The Dragon Smoothie (It was m...

Kia ora 🦋  Here are some maps to give you an idea of where I am in the world: Asia above, Australia in the middle, and New Zealand below.  The North Island marked with the red dots. The North Island: I have mostly been in Auckland and Tauranga.  Yesterday we went through Hamilton to Raglan This shows where Mount Maunganui is in Tauranga (East Coast). On the left, you can see Raglan (on the West Coast), where we were yesterday The plan is to drive to Auckland with the Walkers on Sunday or Monday.  I will stay 1 or 2 nights alone at Mike’s mom’s house on Waiheke Island (top right) before I fly out on Tuesday. This morning, Emma and I climbed to the top of Mount Maunganui. Emma is a fast walker (pun on her last name), and my heart rate went pretty high! (I was even a little comforted to see a defibrillator machine near the top of the path.) But I survived the climb, and the view was definitely worth it! The way down was a lot more comfortable. A man from Oregon who is...

Kia ora 🦋  Thursday, April 25: Today is a national holiday called ANZAC day to honor the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who served in WWI and i n commemoration of those who at any time have given their lives for New Zealand, the British Empire, or Commonwealth of Nations. Emma took me to a Dawn Service at the Mount (Maunganui) commemorating this day. I was impressed at how “Christian” this public service was, with several prayers, scripture readings, and songs acknowledging God. The beautiful sunrise Lots of people at the Dawn Service Later we took a very long and very lovely drive back to the West Coast to Raglan, an iconic New Zealand surf town. I saw lots of sheep today! No blankets on the horses this time. Some lovely fall colors Once we got to Raglan, we stopped at Manu Bay to watch some surfing. Emma said the waves were small for that place, but there were a lot of surfers catching waves, including her 14-year-old son Jacob.  Manu Bay ⇩ ...