travel week: day one...

sorry it has been a while since I have posted!  we have been on a whirlwind of adventures discovering New Zealand and all its glory.  So we set off on a week long trip down to the southern part of the north Island on January 24.  The 9 hour van drive down wasn't nearly as terrible as I was imagining it would be!  The sights of the countryside were able to distract me from feeling too carsick (which tends to be an issue in my life).  On our way down we stopped for lunch at this place called Taupo.  We stopped at Lake Taupo and it is easily the most beautiful lake I have seen in my life thus far!  The water was crystal clear and a striking blue.  The lake itself is actually a crater hole which makes it pretty sweet.  In the distance we even saw Mt. Doom!!! super cool stuff.  When we arrived in Waikanae, we went to the house of Matt and Angie Swank.  They are Bethel graduates (represent!) and they work for the church in their city.  We had a huge Kiwi- style BBQ and it was sweet as!  in this town we were to stay with host families from the Swank's church so all the families were there for the BBQ as well.  It was a fun time of mingling, stuffing our faces, and relaxing.  As the BBQ came to an end, it was time for our team to split up for the first time since being abroad.  It was much harder than I had expected to say goodbye to everyone, even though it was just for the night!  hugs were exchanged and we went to our temporary homes.  I was to share a host family with the amazing Chelsae Anglin.  We stayed with an amazing family: The Haltons!  Andrew, Sharon, Anna, and Jessie made Chels and I feel right at home.  The first night we stayed up till 11:30 talking about our homes, New Zealand birds, and anything else came to mind!  A cup of hot tea, and bonding till the late hours was a great way to end the day.