It is time to say goodbye to the land of the Long White Cloud –New Zealand for those of you who are non Kiwis, after being in this precious and remote part of the planet for almost a year. Our hearts are filled with a mixture of sadness and happiness for having to leave behind precious people on one side of the world to see other precious people on the other side of the world. We fly out of New Zealand on the 1st of February to go back to Colombia. Our return date is 3 to 4 years on from then, God willing!
Some of the highlights for the year have been to spend time with our New Zealand family and to be able to re-establish old friendships and to make new ones. Trips around the North Island, including our first camping trip! The progress Alex has been able to make in reading, and the fun that Simon had at his preschool. The ease of walking or riding bikes to and from school will be missed as it will be replaced by at least 50 minute bus journey each way.
The long school days don’t leave much time for recreational sports which are so much a part of the kiwi culture. The boys had swimming lessons last year and both did well in them. Alex came first in his school’s freestyle race for boys. He has also really enjoyed learning to play basketball, volleyball and the basics of cricket. Simon is keen to teach his Colombian cousins the art of swimming and of speaking in English. He also wants to show them his great biking skills.
Having a back yard for the children to play in and for Katrina to hang up the washing in (in Bogotá that happens at the end of the small kitchen) has been great. Having a kitchen which you can move around in and that doesn’t have washing in it will be missed.
Gabriela, took her first steps here, tried her first solid food, said her first words and is now a 17 month old toddler who likes to feed herself and try to keep up with her brothers.
Our time here is full of good memories. The last highlight to mention is a 10 day trip to the south Island that we just returned from. Carlos and the boys were able to see where Katrina grew up and to play in some of the same parks and do some of the same things like pick stone fruit from an orchard and eat as much as you want as you pick.
We go back to house or apartment hunt and to a few adjustments of getting the boys settled in school and Gabriela and all of us into a routine. We would appreciate pray that these adjustments would be easy and that our flights would go smoothly, especially that Gabriela would travel well and that all of the bags would arrive. We are stopping in the States for a couple of days to break the journey. We touch ground in Colombia on the 4th of February.Once there, we are looking forward to hear about the lives of the children and youth that we have previously worked with. A few of them did YWAM discipleship schools last year, others graduated from high school. We are keen to see the new drop in centre buildings in use; we hear there are 30 at risk children attending regularly. There are also some new children in full time care that we look forward to establishing relationships with.
As we settle into our roles in the ministry, we will look back on this year of refreshing with thankfulness and gather strength to give other children the opportunity to have a childhood and experience God’s love and the fullness of life.We are very thankful with God for giving us such wonderful friends like you and for the chance to come this year to New Zealand to enjoy his creation. We are also very thankful for your friendships, prayers, and support. Together we can make a difference in many children’s lives.
With much love,
Carlos, Katrina.
Alex, Simon and Gabriela
