Merry Christmas!!!!!!
I know I am a day late for anyone reading in pretty much anywhere else in the world, but for Vancouver I still have an hour and 10 minutes to revel in Christmas jolly-ness, so bear with me ok?
It's been so awesome
I find myself sitting in my little flat with my Christmas lights, tealights, cute little christmas tree and really realising how blessed I am.
Wait, I know I know, CHEESE, but seriously!
Not only did I have two amazing Christmas days with two wonderful beautiful families here in Vancouver, but I got to... (just to name a few....)
1) Eat TURKEY!! (with duck and cornish hen and stuffing and potatoes and gravy and cranberries and.....mmmmmmmmmm........)
2) Be part of the making of a TURDUCKEN! (www.diygourmet.blogspot.com for more details)
3) Opened up my first amazing wonderful Christmas stocking filled with wonderful thoughtful loot
4) Heard from some people from a bunch of places around the world, and shared some wonderful Christmas friendship.
And much more amazing wondefulness that I can't even begin to type out.......
I seriously look back on my post from about a week ago and say again (with a rather different feeling in my heart) how is this my life?
It's been so awesome after some pretty low times here in Vancouver to really feel so welcomed and at home and relaxed, and though I miss some certain not named here individuals very very very (yup you read that right, THREE verys!!!!) much......I can still smile and say I've had an amazing two days of Christmas.
Thank you, all of you, for soooooo much wonderful investment in me. Thankyou for taking care of me.
Happy Birthday Jesus.
Love, hillary

So much to blog about and so little time
I am going to breadrun in 45 minutes. It will be the first time I have ridden my bike in a long time too becuase of all the rain and snow etc in Vancouver so we'll see how well I do.
There has been so much going on and I've admittedly done an appalling job of keeping this page up to date.
So lets see.
I had a really weird feeling of 'how is this my life'. I got an email from Philip saying that he 'found me' on imdb.com. Yeah I know. Who would've thought. How is this my life.
And then, I was walking down 1st avenue, and looking up at the beautiful mountains, very early in the morning and completely overwhelmed by how beautiful the skyscape was, mountains, cranes, North Van houses and 1st murals. Beautiful Vancouver........how is this my life?
And now Christmas shopping, waiting in line at Chapters and HMV for 20 minutes at a time, and I still wonder.....
This is a crazy beautiful priviledge, and I wonder.....
Thursday night was Lovefeast, and for those of you not well versed in YWAM-ese that basically is the end of lecture phase party for the DTS students and staff leaving on outreach.
We invited everyone from our little community and dress up and have a good dinner.
Also, because of Christmas we got turkey......mmm mmmmmm....turkey........
It was a relaly good night to see everyone all dressed up and excited and having fun and looking back on the 3 months past and 2 months ahead on outreach.
Friday night we had our small group Christmas party hanging out, had dinner out at an amazing fusion restaurant on the Drive called SASH, and then dessert and a movie at mine and Jacqui's house. Watched 'Whale Rider' and cried and laughed and cried more over the beautiful story and beautiful New Zealand.
Yesterday was sooooooooooooooooooooooooo fun. We finally managed our big sleep in and our once monthly bacon and egg girl chilling out brunch. It's sad that this is our last one til I come back from outreach, but we enjoyed ourselves, eating bacon with Renae and watching 'Ever After'.
Then went meandering around Hastings st, paying bills, buying groceries and (on a whim) getting our eyebrows threaded!!! So weird! and painful! but great fun too, and I never had any idea what a difference $7 and 10 minutes makes to your face!
Very cool.
So yeah, that's pretty much where it is at right now.
Christmas is looking busy, but fun and I hope you all got my Christmas newsletter, if you didnt' and want to, please please email me and I'll make sure you are on my mailing list.
Off to breadrun
Love you
hill

Pictures pictures pictures.......



Jacqui and I and the Christmas Tree upstairs


Stefan and I and the Christmas tree again
Bacon bacon bacon......

Really grainy picture from the Lovefeast of Stuart and I, more to follow, but haven't had a chance to get them all digital yet....... eventally.......

So, I jsut got home and I tried to do some laundry. however, in this crazy snowy weather, the pipes are all frozen and there is no water coming in to the washer.
gutted
so i'm guessing it's gonna be dirty clothes day tomorrow, either that or a skirt or something! yipes lol
anyways
nothing much else to say really. Had a minor breakdown tonight, but it'll pass, tomorrow is a better day.
Love you
Hill

So it's been so cold for the lasts 4 days that I have pretty much just wanted to chunder. Or puke. Or vomit (see catering for all the many vernaculars of our organisation and the readers of this site.....did i spell vernacular right?)
But yeah, starting monday there has been snow and ice abounding, and Vancouver has been transformed into this 1-2 foot deep winter wonderland. I say wonderland very carefully too, because I have had a few moments of panic slipping on patches of ice, and the usual 35 minutes it takes me to get to work by bus (i love my bike, but not in snow!) is now a sad and blustery 1 1/4 hour trip. Sad.
And, said weather situation has finally pushed me over the edge of needing to buy a decent Canadian grade winter jacket. Waterproof, snow and ice proof, long, bikeable and WARM. Becuase currently I am wearing 2 tank tops, 3 t-shirts, a jean jacket, and 2 hoodies.
toasty, though as padded as a teddy bear. I feel like i put on 30 pounds overnight.
Brrrrr. And now, we are going ice skating.
Yipes
will let you know how it goes, i'm pretty scared to be honest......

So welcome to winter in Vancouver.
We just finished our staff retreat at an amazing hotel Downtown, and I had such a great time, getting to know more people at the base, and really getting a chance to pray and get a heart for more of the city than just east van. We explored the city, had fun, drank coffee, ate a really really good supper and breakfast, hot tubbed, swam, chilled out, sang, shared communion, ideas emotions, hopes, plans and had a really good time of trying to build a bit more community.
AND, it was snowing!!! It's been crazy cold, but I sitll persevered and wore a pretty skirt and top combo cuz i wanted to take my chance to dress up, and then it snowed! yipes
And over the last 24 hours or so there has been a good 1 1/2 feet of snow, and it's all beautiful and powdery and fluffy and amazing.
So what else was there to do on a night like this after such a good weekend? We sat in the hot tub and then did snow angels. Yup, I'm not even kidding.
Check this out.......

Step 1: Shovel off all the snow from the top of the hottub


Step 2: Put snow into the hot tub to cool it down a little to reduce the body shock


Step 3: After sitting for a while in the steaming hot, collapse, tackle or be tackled into the snow, and make snow angels until you can't feel your skin and then jump back into the hot tub. Ouch.


Step 4: Grin and bear the pain! And laugh. Laugh a lot!

Watch out for yoru hair freezing with snow in it htough, it gets very brittle! and your head gets sore.

But, in saying all of that, I feel very alive. I am now though warm and toasty watching a DVD at Krista and Laura's place. Also the cup of coffee and the TimTam I just ate I'm sure has somethign to do with my feeling of wellbeing.

I have been busy dreaming over the last couple of days. Had some great times and some great thoughts and thankfully some wonderful ideas about my future here and the time i will be in Vancouver. I'm so grateful for the last little while and the people here. Sigh.

Anwyas, Jil comes to visit this week, very exciting, and Jana is arriving too! I can't even believe how exciting this week is turnign out. Also, it's Angel's and Mortals this week, meaning that we all have someone's namet hat we are going to look after and care for and give little suprises to. Am soooo looking forward to this, and for all the fun stuff I get to do for my mortal....should be fun......

Andhow about those All Blacks........ my base director is Welsh, and he was a little bitter. It was great.....

So I need somemore minties....pineapple lumps too......mmmmm

Saddest thing today is that I am supposed to be doing my driver's test tomorrow afternoon, but with two feet of snow out there, i think i am going to just suck it up and pay the 25 cancellation fee rather than either die from sliding through a red light or failing and paying 85 instead. oh well, it will just have to wait til after outreach.

I am more tired than I think I have been in a long long time.
But it's been worth it, for this lovely bunch of people. Aren't they a good looking bunch?

So I am a happy Kiwi today.
Yesterday I had the awesome treat of not only eating pineapple lumps that my awesome mum sent me in the post, but Randy cooked up a full lamb roast with potatoes and carrots and I
made roast kumara and pavlova with passionfruit topping for dessert. It was an ANZAC feast, shared with the Parizeau family, Tom (our speaker for the week) a Kiwi YWAMer called Mark, Stuart and myself. So great and so much fun!
Really enjoyed being able to laugh and joke aobut some kiwi aussie things that only that only we find really funny, and just being able to laugh and laugh and laugh.

I am in the market right now for a second harddrive and a new video camera for me to get seriously into more video stuff and some awesome opportunitiesthat are coming up that I want to tackle but need a camera for. Preferably of the Canon XL2 variety. Anyone have 10 grand to spare? or any other ideas?

On a completely seperate note, since everyone else has already blogged about this, I figure I will join the club. Round about 2million Vancouverites are not able to drink water out of the taps right now, for the last week and maybe for a few more. Too much rain has caused land slides into the catchment reservoirs and the water cant' be filtered or treated properly. So the water coming out of the taps is brown. And icky. and slimy. We have to boil it for at least a minute and even then it still looks and tastes like mud. It doens't give you gastroenteritis if you boil it htough so i guess that's an upside!
So yeah, less rain would be good. Less rain here and more in Australia. That would be very good.

Also, very encouraged today. Jessa and I joined together for small group intercession time and the 7 of us prayed together for NEw ZEaland. So encouraging and aweswome and good to be able to share with these guys about my beautiful amazing country and ask God for words of encouragement and pictures for our country. Goood time spent well.

Tomorrow is American thanksgiving. Be thankful for something ok?

Anywyas, back to class now and thoughts of making videos.
Lov eyou lots like minties
hill

P.S. here's one or two new pics....





This was my group, "Team Chuck Norris" who were BEATING the butter for the chocolate chip cookies we made. I hurt my hand punching the bottom ofthe bowl!
Uncle Fatih's potato pizza is awesome............especially on Friday social "mandatory fun" nights........
Stefan's birthday tiara that I got him, to wear during staff meeting! tehehe, he's a good sport for sure!

So today was hilarious. and a day full of contrast.
I woke up in a truly awful mood, not sure if i was crying or not, didn't want to go to church, just wanted to sit at at home on my computer or something equally as sad.
I woke Jacqui up in time for church and while I almost succeeded in dragging her down, she in the end convinced me to get changed and go to church with her at Coastal Church in downtown Vancouver. It was really really awesome, and even got to just chill out, worship, and for the first time in a long time at church got to hear some really solid good bible based teaching. It's sad that that is not the norm from my last little while of being in church, but either way i'm feeling refreshed. I was still a bit sad and emo, but much much lifted in the spirit. Someone once said your spirit is never depressed, it is alive in Christ, it is the body and mind that drag it down. Too true sometimes.
Saw Jenn and her three kids too at church and we ended up hanging out together helping with the kids watching the Vancouver Santa Parade. Was fun, and got to laugh a lot and pray for the city in the streets, streaming with people all getting ready for the holidays. Major highlight had to be when we saw the STAR GATE float!!!!! 'Tealk' was there, and there were a whole lot of other cool guys all dressed up as Gu'uld warriors. So awesome. I was cheering and laughing and having fun. They loved it too and hanging out with the kids and stuff was really good for me. Sinple joy at little things mixed in with some worhsip is really good. Also, funniest 'kids say the funniest htings' moment went to little Tessa who turned to me halfway through the parade on my knee and said "this is better than church, there's more candy here than at church". Awesome.
It's strange to think I'm adjusting to the fact that Christmas is now going to be a cold time! I think I'll HAVE to come home for Christmas next year just to make sure that I don't forget what it's SUPPOSED to be like!
I'm relaly looking forward to the speaker this week ,he is a member of the Global leadership team, and he is an AUSTRALIAN. YAY for south pacific solidarity. Might make some pavlova........ :)
Anyways.
Had a good girls night with Ange and Hannah and Jacqui on saturday night, watched the truly awful yet hilarious "American Dreamz" and then "A lot like love" awwwwww, major chick flick teary eyed heart quivering wedding minding cutesy chick flick. talk about not needing to be more emo and watching the wrong movie, yet really enjoying it lol.
anwyays
am really going to sleep now, it's nearly 11 and it's anther long week of early mornings coming up
love yous
;)
hill

So it's half past 12 and I can't sleep
Kinda lame that the old insomnia is back tonihgt, particularly given that I am waking up (or perhaps in this case changing out of my pjs) at 5.15 to get ready to go to the homeless breakfast. And then staff meeting. yipes.
It's going to be a long Friday.
Things have been pretty good here, though I think, ironically enough, that I'm exhausted. Weird
I was just listening to the Muttonbirds, not bad late night music at all.
Oh, for those of you who were enduring the stress with me, don't worry any more. Today it was mostly clear and I was able to wear my new red arm warmers. mmmmmm it's a beautiful thing. Actually, to be compeltely honest I was pretty psyched about my outfit today. Worked out really well.
I talked to a really nice Sikh guy today. That was intersting.
Also, watched my first episode of ER since I arrived in this country, strange but true I know! But it was great. How I have missed you all ER buddies ;)
Was feeling a bit homesick tonight, sleep deprivation will do that to you I guess, but I think it'll pass. Had a bit of a confession yesterday in the class we had, and it was weird to say outloud that while on one hand I love Vancouver and my life is committed here, I really do miss New Zealand and all that is in it and all that it is and just the fact even that that's where I came from. That's a big part of what makes me who I am.
Ok, I'm taking the low battery blinking light on my laptop as a sign that I am to again try the sleeping thing. I'll let you know how it goes.....

So, can happiness be bought? Apparently not. But maybe it can be installed…….

Tehehe

Sigh

I am now the proud operator of a beautiful laptop (named Marvin) who is now equipped with Macromedia Flash, Dreamweaver, Adobe Photoshop and Premiere. It’s a beautiful day. It may be raining and grey and blustery, but it’s a BEAUTIFUL day.

J

Thanks Stuart J

I was so happy last night on the bus I was just sitting there grinning.

Then I walked home grinning

Then I sat at home and grinned some more

I had to force myself to sleep, but then again being in a seriously sleep deprived state made that easy. And I could dream dreams of editing. And kerning. And layout, and……ok nerd fest over

So class is going really well.

This week is all about HOLINESS, fear of the LORD and IDENTITY.

Very good stuff.

The only lame sauce is that yesterday I got the cutest and best loveliest sale arm warmers. Red and knitted and beautiful, with black stitching and two little red flowers and a little cut off red thumb.

Soooooo beautiful

And I planned an entire outfit around them including red/black/white chuck taylors, and then I wake up at 6am and it is POURING with TORRENTIAL rain!!! Urgh

On the upside, rain means I get to wear the cooler than cool pink and black gumboots that are on my feet right now. But then pink and red clash, so alas, the arm warmers have to wait for another day

Sigh

But the gumboots are good and my feet are toasty warm

Ok supper time

So anyways

That’s pretty much all for tonight

I’m pretty happy

Soundtrack of the last week for those of you who have ever played JukeBox with me, or are just equally musically minded: The Killers – Avril Lavigne – Adoration on the Gospel Train – Hillsong United – Crowded House – The Muttonbirds and John Mayer

Love you like pineapple lumps and minties (which I have run out of here in Vancouver, hint hint!)

Hill

Oh also, check out my beautiful outreach team!

From left to right, Sam, Linda, Crystal(with the hat) Brielle, Erik, Me, Braden, Laura, and Adam in the green sweater. Me, Laura and Adam are staff :)

And this is me eating a piece of my first DAIRY QUEEN ICE CREAM BIRTHDAY CAKE

MMMMMMMMMMM

So if you like these pics and wnat more and you didn't get the newsletter, or my latest October newsletter, please email me or leave a comment so i can get it out to you!!!

So Jacqui is home! It's so fun having her home, and so good having my Vancouver 'sister' back here to talk to.
It's been a really good week actually. Well, aside from a few not great days I have already enlightened you about.
I have realised today how much I love Vancouver. Iknow that I (and many around me) tend to throw the word 'love' around a lot, but I really mean it. I was walking down the street coming home today after work, and I looked up at the mountains, and they were all dark green and beautiful. And it was about 6.20, so the sun was setting, and there were beautiful pink and orange clouds sitting all soft and fluffy all around the top. And I felt so peaceful. It was quiet and beautiful and crisp and it's so strange, but I feel so at home here. There have been hard days, but at the same time, there are hard days whereever you go, and I think I'm beginning to really know that I can face those hard days here, just as well as I did at home. Before this was home. Circular, I know, but good.
the DTS is going really well. It's been amazing, in the last few days especially, as i've seen (to my great privilege) God do, say and make amazing things happen, through and in our students, and our staff, including me. This 'job' of mine is sweet.
Will post again this weekend, then will ahve a bit of break for next week while we are awy at Go conference. It's gonna be sweeeeeeeet.
Love
hill

Prayer stuff
-Safe travels and good learning at Go Conference. Also, good connecting times with other YWAM friends from other bases for the week.
-Good rest this weekend, before we go
-Safe travels and good vehicle safety for our VERY OLD 15 passenger van, and the 5 hours there and back that we will be doing over the week.

So I cried today
My dad messaged me on the computer and told me my dog died. On October 4th. From a night of seizures and subsequent heart failure.
I didn't htink I would cry, but yeah, I did.
It's strange, cuz I know she's not a person or anything, and over the last 18 months I have had to deal with hearing about people I know dying while I've been in Canada and unable to be there with the people that are grieving. It's weird how just being away makes the emotions so different. In my head I can see the empty kichen and living room now and a part of me is glad that I'm not there realising that she isnt' there anymore, but at the same time I'm so sad that even as I write this, noone is even there, cuz I'm here, Alec is in Japan, Mum is in Singapore and Dad is in China, and I can't be with them either.
Sigh
But you knwo what? It's still a good day.
Had a really good one on one today, and I think that helped when Dad told me what happened, cuz really, it may seem heartless, but it gives a good big chunk of perspective, realising why I'm here and that really God's got everythign under control. I can be sad without it being a huge drama.
Though, that is aparently something I have to realise about myself. A development on the old "drama queen" statements that I used to get a lot, yesterday I was described as a "pan full of flour" While some people are pans full of slate, that when a big rock lands in the middle they are disturbed, but not all over the place. However, pans of flour, such as myself, get a rock to the gut and the dust cloud goes up and everythign turns into a gong show for the first day or so until the dust settles. Is this a good hting? a bad thing? or just me? I think for now, either way, here's to a bit of balance, and landing somewhere in between the two.
Jessa has promised htough, in hearing about my late-dog that she will refrain from calling me hill-dawg for at least a day or two. Thanks Jessa.
love and pineapple lumps
Hill

So it's another day in paradise
No really it's been a good day.
Have been tackling some interesting kinda thoughts right now
Nothing bad, just enough to chew on
Had our first outreach prep time today wiht out students all divided up into their teams, so though I'd post a pic of our lovely outreach team. Adam, Myself and Laura, ready to lead and rock Malaysia!!! YAY!

Am so excited for outreach but at the same time a little sad as none of my one on ones are coming with us, they are all going to the other location. sigh.
Had an interesting thought today too. But now I can't remember what it was. Got distracted.
This week is a really great lecture week. I love that after two really emo weeks, now I am being really challenged intellectually, so that the changes you feel like you want to institute in heart and spirit can be bolstered by commited decisions and thorough processes of hte mind.
HAve a lot to think about htough. And while tha'ts a good hting it means that I am really tired right now.
So it's short post tonight.
Will post prayer stuff below.
Love you lots
Hill


Prayer points
-Continued strength and unity for our leadership team as we weather the storms of a lot of busyness, tiredness, weariness, and all the other ness-es you cna think of that fit. We all love each other and we need to remember that on a daily basis!
-Continued wisdom and guidance about my one on ones and how to work with each of them in what they are going through
-Continuing relationship building that is going on here now that I am settling well and sorting things out a bit more.

So
This is a short post
But I'm on the island having a much needed weekend off
It's been great, Jessa nd I came over on the ferry this morning and have spent a whole bunch of time with Layne and her amazing family
Will post more later, but for now, just some pictures and a quick hi and hello from my weekend holiday :)
Love you lots
Hillary

So, welcome to the gong show that is my life.
The last two days have been hilarious. In a crying, panicked, kind of way of describing hilarious
You know.
Well ok you probably don't. Apparently when I am stressed or emo (emotional!) then I cope by being funny. Thus, when I am upset and try to confide in people, whom I have joked about the situation with, then they in turn joke with me thinking I don't care, and my feelings get hurt that they are laughing with me and not reading my mind and instantly understanding that i'm actually upset. Gong show indeed. But a good learning curve and a relationship builder for sure. I'm sorry if you know what I'm talking about right now, and I apologise. Though I already did that in person.
Sigh
Emo indeed. On the upside I have some really good soap, thanks to JahJireh family soapworks (aka good old YWAM enterprise!! If you need some soap I'll hook you up!)

So here's some food for thought. did an excercise in class last night, exploring the Father heart of God. The excercise started out to look at our names and the meaning of our names. Then after praying for a while and remembering back thinking of the names that we were called as kids. the hurtful painful names that stuck like burrs on our hearts, and weighted us down. We wrote them on sticky notes and stuck them on our shirts, then introduced ourselves to eachother using that name instead of our real name. It hurt, and there were a lot of tears as people realised what they had been carrying around with them. Then we pulled them off, and burned them. Then prayed, over night to ask God, our Father, for what HE calls us. What HIS name for us is. How HE sees us. I really really like my new name. Hillary isn't going anywhere, and I think for now, I'm just gonna meditate a bit more on this new name. But it's comforting that in the Gong show, God sees me. And He whispers to me. And He knows MY name.

So yeah, I think that a little emotional turmoil makes you stronger. Makes you hurt, but you know you are alive. And besides, things are actually, and objectively, going really well. Have attached a couple of pics below, and will make sure I have some fresh ones for the October newsletter. I love our students and I'm so excited for the next five months. I am also stoked to be going away this weekend with Jessa to visit my friend Layne on Vancouver Island. Blissful rest :) Aaaaand, tomorrow night we are all going as a school to Glenn and Lorrain's for a BBQ and then to a Vancouver Giants Hockey game. This is one of the teams that they draft the NHL from so it's gonna be awesome!!! plus Glen and Lorrain do AWESOME BBQ and BROWNIES!!!!

Anyways, it's bedtime, need to be at work for the homeless breakfast ministry at 6.30 so will love you and leave you with my pics of the day.

Will post something that is hopefully much lighter and cheerier sooner rather than later. With love and emo
Hill



Introducing the Small Group Dream team!
My girls, left to right, Rene, Aubrey and Laura. She really is that tall!




Welcome to Lecture break, 15 minutes of stretching and Goldfish eating!
left to right: Robert, Crystal, Rene, Aubrey, Jamie, Jenn, and my other two lovely co-staffers Jessa and Laura

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!
It's a good day. A day off work, and good sleep in, a new haircut, pavlova and TURKEY
oooooo and do NOT forget pumpkin pie.
Plus it's October and it's SUNNY outside in Vancovuer!
Like I said, it's a good day.
So I went to Old Navy yesterday, and faced my fear of horizontal stripes. I'm pretty happy i did too, green and pink and yellow and brown and all crazy mixes of stripes are fun!
So yeah, just thought I would post and say Happy Thanksgiving, because I realise as I sit here and type there is a lot I have to be thnakful for. I knwo that sounds horribly cheesy but really, there is so much blessing in my life, and so many amazing people that have been a part of it. So thanks...
Lots of love
Hillary

So I can't really even begin to explain or document the last few days.
It's been hilarious
And random
And intense
And well *shrug* here goes.
So have been keeping on keeping on with classes and one on ones and everythign else that has been goign on. It's been very exciting and after a whole two weeks now, things seem to really be picking up speed.
Outreach teams have been decided now, and I will be working with Adam and Laura heading up a team of 6 students. More details for that will follow in email and the October newsletter.
Friday was so great, and even though I was up at the break of dawn (actually nope, it was dark out) it was totally worth it. Part of this DTS is that staff are involved in the local outreaches, so Jessa, myself, and four of our awesome wonderful students help out at a breakfast for homeless people in our area. It was a really great opportunity to help out a really great ministry, and learning from Pastor Joe and the other guys in the ministry. Also got to talk to a really talented girl from the First nations youthgroup they ahve there, who has been having some trouble lately here. Reminds me of me when I was 14, so hopefully will be able to get to know her more and speak more with her.
I am having the night off tongiht, watching 'Legally blonde' and (believe it or not) about to do my nails! tehehe. How girly can you get huh
So for those of you who were interested in the "experiment" I got given a pack of pastry, so I decided to get a batch of mince and cheese pies going. It's so far the beginning of something, cuz the pastry wasn't ideal, and I havne't got the gravy quite right, but otehrwise, the pie was goooood. A 'not quite perfect but pretty nice' taste of home. Gave one to Ralph (who as an English guy, of course gets it) and Stefan enjoyed one too as a 'cultural experience' tehehe. It was a really fun night actually, Stuart and I set up camp at his place with pies, icecream and he had a suprise for me for the night.........Footrot flats on DVD!!!! It was soooo fun, and i loved being able to have company enjoying south pacific goodness!!!!! Soooo great, thanks Stuart!
Today was an entirely different, yet equally entertaining story. Last week I won tickets through one of the local newspapers for "The Magic Flute" Stefan and I got quite excited about it, and so planned to go on the train and bus out to Surrey (about an hour travelling)
However, after all of it, it turned out to be a really weird show, an ADAPTATION of The Magic Flute, re-written and re-told for children and from a Canadian First Nations perspective. It was good for what it was, but definately a *ahem* little outside of what we expected.
Oh well, it was a fun day hanging out with Stefan, and I really enjoyed it.
I am also on a quest to get my haircut. Hmmm
Oh and how's this for great. Got a new bankaccount with no fees for 100 transactions per month. Not a big deal normally, but HUGE for me, thanks God! ATM and no feeeees :)
Anwyays
The plan for the next week is all mixed up because of Canadian Thanksgiving on Monday. I'm excited to have my second Thanksgiving in Canada, and will be enjoying it relaxing at home with the Parizeau family, Stefan, Stuart, Henri, Pam and Craig and Jamie. I am bringing Pavlova!!!!! mmmmmm Am so excited. Turkey is the coolest thing. Turkey everything............
I think there is definatley turkey in heaven....
Ok
this post is long now
hopefully not too boring
i'm kinda sleepy
Will make sure I take some really good pictures for the October newsletter.
Love you all lots
Hillary

So the saga of the bike chain
Don't get me wrong, please I beg of you, but if my bike chain falls off one more time while i'm grinding up some lovely Vancouver steep bit I'm gonna have a wobbly. Sigh
Though the look of grease stains on my hands and the inside cuff of my jeans makes me feel positively handy. As if I actually knew something about bike chains.....
It's alright though, I think I am going to have to suck it up and take my bike into the shop tomorrow during lunch. oh well.
Things are going really well, the first week panic attack stress moments are definately lessening, and it's been good to kind of get into a groove, and find a bit of normalcy as the routine begins to sink slowly in. It's crazy busy still, but at the same time, it's nice to know that I'm working really really hard, and on days like to day being able to see just a tiny glimpse of how God is already at work both in us and in our students. Had my first one on one today and after the dramas, uncertainty,tears and prayers to work out who would be in whose groups, she told me that all the girls had all talked about who they wanted most for their one on ones, and it turns out that what they hoped for was exactly matched with what ended up happening. Yay for listening to God's voice!
Am having a really good dinner while i sit here typing this, haven't had couscous in months, so it's nice to be back in that too :) Simple pleasures right?
So has anyone heard that song "From the Inside out" by Hillsong United? Froml the United We Stand album. Soooooo good, good album. totally awesome worship song, have been singing it a lot at church, and managed to get it off Stuart, so have been rocking it at home too. So great to start and finish a long day with some good worship times.
Am also in the middle of a Kiwi experiment. It's going to be great (well at least I hope so!) so will post picutres if i am successful......(yup i know that was vague, I don't know who could be reading this....!
Anyways, time to jet, so look below for some prayer points and I'll post again soon.
Love ya
Hill


Prayer points for praying people
-Outreach decisions are coming again, between the two Southeast Asian places (let me know if you want more details) and so the teams, and the leaders (i.e. me and the other staff) are praying about where to go, and where to get the money to go. Everyone needs $400 by Friday to pay deposits for tickets, and one or two students don't have that yet. So it's going to be an interesting time!
-One on ones and journals and general discipleship wisdom for me as I get to know my three girls better.
-Continued energy and health as the momentum of the schedule picks up and the weather gets colder


LATER TODAY - UPDATE

The experiment completely worked, it was a wonderful amazing success. Pictures coming soon.

So, today, on a lovely Vancouver Sunday I would like to share with you my musical inspiration of the day. I normally don't do blogs like this, but after being touched so deeply, (and laughing til I thought I was going to cry or wet myself) I figured I needed to share this with you.
This is my tribute to Wing. I heart Wing

Wing moved to New Zealand about 10 years ago from HongKong, and after some set backs with a far too rigid and narrow minded CD industry there, she decided to launch out, and put herself into the public light with her own money, and fulfill her obligation to share her god given voice with the world to bring enlightenment and joy and happiness.
My personal favourite would have to be "Wing sings ABBA" Who can beat that Dancing Queen.......
listen to free Wing clips on www.wingmusic.co.nz
Especially for you Nic and Ryan and Wade if you are reading, please listen to Highway to Hell, from the "Wing sings AC/DC" collection. It inspired me......(to run and hide)

So, after this whole crazy crazy first week, it's all official that DTS is well and truly all on. As if we could have believed otherwise. This first week had been a rollercoaster, with fun, laughter, tears, angry-ness and general mayhem and chaos, but a lot of goodtimes.
I'm back at my house now, feeling a weird mix of exhausted and empty and way too full of emo and thoughts and such so i think after posting this i will shower, pajama, and watch some Scrubs! yup, sounds like an excellent prescription.
Just wanted to sign on and let you knwo that it's been going well, and to post one or two pics to give you guys a bit of illustration to the name sthat you will probably see me mentioning over the next 5 months or so. It's soooo grea tot finally meet these studnets we've been praying for for so long and it was more than great to live in the hosue with them for a few days.
We took them on a bit of an excursion today around Downtown, an Amazing race set up if you will, and i thin kthey all had a good time. Pair that with the great corn bread and chilli dinner that the Davenports hosted for us, and it was a great Saturday.
Am defiantely looking forward to church tomorrow too, some of the students are gonna come with so that will be good
anwyasy
bed time so here's the pics. and all you phantom readers out there, how bout some comments eh
love yo uall lots
me




Our Amazing Race team at General Motors place (Ice Hockey home in Vancouver)


Crystal and I kissing a moose/mountie?!?!


The Starbucks checkpoint where we had to find "The Australian"


The lovely 7 girl students

So I have a new cell phone number here in vancouver
but thanks to nathan's good advice i'm not gonna put it here on my blog. Apparnetly that's a bad idea
My new number should have gone out in email but if you didnt' get it, email me
or leave me a comment
love you lots
will post more about DTS later
hill

So this is a bit of a weird post. And it will be short cuz it's nearly half eleven and time I was in bed!
I'm exhausted, but thanks for the prayers, I'm sleeping really well now! Exhasuted mostly cuz we've been busy! DTS is officially underway and as was to be expected, nothing has been quite as we expected! (how's that for something)
It's been sooooo great to meet our 13 studnets and the first 2 days have been great, beginning to build relationships and see these fresh faced students so excited about what God is going to do, and us even more so!
It's hard to belive that today was the one year anniversary of me starting my DTS, and now here I am as a staff member. weird.
On a not good note, I'm very sad to say that my friend Dawn had an accident on Monday, and broke her hand really badly. She is having some R&R time at my house, being taken care of by Randy and Rita, but as she was meant to be staying in the girls house with the girl DTS students, I am now staying here.
It's kinda crazy how it all panned out and now I am here albeit for only a week or so, but I'm pretty stoked about it, getting to know the girls and such, but at the same time it's uber tiring and there is a little part of me that misses my crazy high bunk bed!
But it's all good, and I am loving this so much.
Thank you to all of you who have prayed and thought and cared and called and emailed and hav been a part of me getting to this spot for this here and this now.
So, it's bed time.
Love you
will post again soon hopefully with some pictures!!!!

so, it's been a crazy week
I actually can't remember what/when/why i last posted. hang on a tic.
ah, ok, i remember now
So yeah, training is all finished, and so this week has been flat out working, between cleaning the houses ready for students to live in, making welcome baskets and cards, and, very very very exciting, getting my BC drivers license!!!! woooot!
so as of this week i am now a road user on any side of the street. Bring it on!!! tehehe
it's going to be good and my first YWAM driving testing practice duty will be doing bread run on sunday night. For those of you who dont know the YWAMese, Bread run is a things we do every sunday night, where we drive to a bakery in Kerrisdale, and they give us all the bread they have at the end fo the day
so awesome.
so yeah, it's about a 20 minute drive, so it'll be a good trial run. i think i'll be sweet, cuz i aced the theory test, and have been biking a lot on the right hand side of the street, so my head is fairly well wrapped around it. we'll see though :)
Had a super exciting thing today, got to meet the first of the DTS students, who came in early with her parents and so got to bike over and give her the tour of the house and everything
was sooooo exciting, it's all real!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
anwyays, i gtg and get ready for JEn's birthday party tonihgt, will post again soon.
Also, I officially sent off my first real newsletter this week, so if you didnt' get it and you want it, let me know
it has useful things like contact details and ufn things like pictures! :)
Love you lots
hill

so here's a thought on leadership
we had our DTS training today and we were talking a lot about leadership and authority and respect and we did a bible study to give us a bit of biblical context on the whole thing. So we studied the relationship between Paul and Timothy and the mentoring rrelationship etc. And then we went through a bunch of different scriptures looking at who had influenced paul and timothy, and then how they in turn influenced others who went on to influence others again and so on and so forth.
Then Adam had a great idea of getting us all to write our names on the white board and then writing who has influenced us and how we then have to realise we have no idea who we have really influenced, or who has influenced the people who have influenced us. also totally connected to the sermon at church on sunday (guest speaker john bevere) when he was talking about how when Christians fulfill what God has called them to do, beit as an accountant or an evangelist, the knock on effect can't be measured, we never see how many lives we really effect until we're in heaven.
It made me homesick to be honest to write so many kiwi names on the board, as well as a lot of canadians, aussies and americans and other internationals, but it was really good to see all those names written down and be able to thinmk and pray about how you are all involved with the work that i am doing here. all of this is partly due to you and your words and work. pretty huge huh. So thanks.
we had a great dinner tonight, the DTS staff hosted Sara Fay, and did the good old pot luck thing. yay for american bbq chicken, rice, twice baked potatoes, veges and HOT BROWNIE AND BUTTERSCOTCH RIPPLE ICECREAM!
lol
anyways
it's sleep time now. need to gather my strength for biking to work tomorrow on the first rainy morning :( sigh
much love and pineapple lumps
hillary

So I figured that the hiking trip deserved a post all of it's own. Also, that makes it easier to include the pictures.
It was a really good time away, and now for the big reveal.....we went to Vancouver Island, near Nanaimo and Qualicum to be precise, and went for a three day hike in the Strathcona national park, guided by Layne's dad, Everette and their friend Alex. It was pretty intense, but really great to be working and walking together and encouraging each other and trying our best not to break limbs or dehydrate or any of those other fun things :)




We camped the two nights at an amazing spot called Lake Kwai, and it was really fun getting used to all the North American type bush safety things that are never really a concern when camping in New Zealand. I seem to remember the scariest thing in the NZ forest being a wild pig, and the most tent threatening thing to be avoided was a nikau palm branch full of water that might crash at anytime dousing you with water. Never had I considered the possiblity of bears and cougars and the need to carry "bear spray" or keep all our food, and toothpaste and other similarly scented things in a steel box 100m or so from the tents!
This is where we got to eat dinner though.......




The goal on the second day was Mount Albert Edwards, and unfortunately Stefan, Mark and I didn't make it all the way to the summit, but instead enjoyed some recoup time halfway up from one of the amazing rock shelves while the others powered up to the top. I can think of worst places to sit for a while though.....



also great was getting to spend time with Layne, albeit briefly,and her family being so hospitable and amazing and fun and taking care of us. Looking forward to going back to the island to hang out with them for sure!

So yeah, now it's back to reality and noise here in Vancouver, and I'm excited to say that I am going out now to IKEA with Stefan and Pam, so that should be fun.

Keep praying for us and for more students for the fall school!
lots of love, hillary

So it's a lovely grey Vancouver saturday morning. Peaceful, still, and still mostly warm despite the rain.
This will be a short post cuz I still have to brush my teeth and put my laundry on before heading out to IKEA with Stefan and Pam.
My muscles feel much better now, and I am enjoying the fact that i didn't have to be out of bed until 9 today. Also bonus was that we scored a free pack of bacon, so jacqui and I had baon and eggs for breakfast, an excellent weekend breakfast treat if I do say so myself.
Had my first day of bike commute yesterday, and even though my muscles were pretty angry at me, the saved time made it all worth while. Thank you so much for the emails and prayers, it's been great, and for your viewing pleasure.......



Also, quick update and praise, we have a location to run the DTS! a church that has been connected with our base for quite a while has agreed to let us use their buildings for the school! fully equipped industrial kitchen and everything, including accomodation for the male students. Thank you God! and thanks to you for your prayers.

Am back in Vancouver
Tired, and aching a whole lot
Will post more tomorrow.
Lots of love

So it's getting late, and my laptop is running low on power, so here's to keeping things brief.
Last night was hilarious, I'm glad to say that my roommate Jacqui has successfully passed through the BroTown kiwiana initiation, watching two full episodes of BroTown with me last night. Needless to say there was some explaining to be done, but all in all, I'm very pleased with her progress tehehe. We need to get the aussies roudn too cuz I know they will appreciate it, especially when Dad sends me a copy of Sione's wedding! (thanks dad!!!!!)
I won't be posting for the next few days as we head off bright and early tomorrow morning for a wilderness adventure (aka group bonding in the mountains!)
The DTS fall staff are all going to a mystery location to climb a mountain for 2 1/2 days with a mystery guide. very exciting. So will try and take some pictures and avoid getting eaten by any bears or cougars so i can live to blog again.
I'm sitting on my couch right now, rubbing some anti-flamme into my right wrist which is a bit stiff after today's epic adventure.
Last year living here i was always a convenient maximum of about 20 minutes walk/bus/train away from just about everything. Since moving back here now, though i love my new place, it's now about an hour walk away from anything.
So, today, after much deliberation over pictures and emails from craig's list (vancouver's trademe/trading post second hand website) jacqui and i made the trek on the bus out to kitsilano beach (1st and balsam for those with google earth) and bought a pair of bikes for $110 each. pretty mint mountain bikes in fairly good nick, and so we put them through the ultimate test of value for money by biking an epic 1 1/2 hours home (via the local Canadian Tire to buy very flash and useful bike helmets).
So yeah, feeling pretty chuffed, pretty fit, and pretty pleased with our endeavours all round.
So as I sleep now, there is though a definate feeling of the calm before the storm, as we head into a super busy period of work pre DTS with a full week of training, moving day at the base, the hiking trip, and a much anticipated trip to IKEA (either you get that one or you don't!)
but yeah, will post pics of my lovely bike (any suggestions for a name for the bike?) and will be back on friday-ish
Pray for safety for us too, between bears and injuries, we jsut wanna have a good time!
Love and pineapple lumps
hill

And here is some general hilarity

Some of the guys made this and they get money if you watch the video. Brilliant


And it is as crazy as you think, that does say 'Patio surfing'

So I forgot to post pics from our epic adventure
Here goes for some

Stuart and a Tim Horton's Canadian Maple donut. Best donut, EVER


Me and either Ari or Noah!?! Hanging in Winnipeg catchin gup with Dave and Heather at the Winnipeg base


Leigh driving! (funny that on a a road trip)


The cosy back seat team, Ange, me and Stefan

So, the saga of the toothbrush
Now most of you know I'm not really a squeemish person, but occaisionally I do get a bit funny when people mess with my personal things. Like my toothbrush, or peopleputting their shoes on my bed!
The first problem was with packing a big hurry and leaving NZ in a rush, and also wanting to be clean while i travelled the epic 21 hours or whatever to vancouver, I had my toothbrush in my carryon. But because of all the crazy carry on bag checking, my toothbrush got all touched and handled (i'm talking bristles too here) by the dude checking my bag at the airport. Gross. So needless to say I bought a new toothbrush in Vancouver when I arrived.
So that was fine and I used the toothbrush all throughout conference and everything. Good.
But then!
I got home and I was having a gumby-running-late-brushing-hair-crazy-morning moment where i totally fumbled and dropped my NICE NEW WONDERFUL toothbrush and it bounced off the rim of the toilet and onto the plunger. Gross. And again I say, GROSS.
Sigh
But now, it all works out for good, I have a new beautiful orange and white toothbrush from the dollar store next to the base. Good

so i am faced with a bit of a conundrum
have just come back from conference, and i'm pretty sure my flat mate is back from utah, but she isn't home, it's pushing on 1am, and i am thinking i should go to bed soon. however the problem is that jacqui and i share a room, and while she was away i was using her bed, because mine is the top bunk, 6 feet off the ground, with no ladder! the ladder got moved with the painting and has now vanished into a vortex, leaving me sitting on the floor wondering if i should borrow her bed again and risk the weird moment of being woken up at some crazy hour when she comes home or maybe jsut sleepin gon the couch to sort it out tomorrow.
tehehe, the things we wonder about eh
i am excited to do laundry.
i know this sounds sad to most, but any traveller knows what i mean. after one backpack for 10 days and wearing my pajama top on the last leg of our roadtrip today because of a lack of clean clothes, laundry is quickly rising to the top of the pirority list for tomorrow.
The road trip was awesome though, I wouldn't have traded that for any flight no matter how spacious. There were all the predictable problems of 4 day drives with 5 people and geared squeezed into a station wagon, but at the same time, the "getting to know" time was so great, and i really enjoyed it! Thanks Ange and Leigh, Stu and Stefan!
Conference was so great, Pinawa was a beautiful spot to have it and over the week I got a good chance to get to know a lot of the other workers from many of the other bases around canada, including some really great and encouraging kiwis, fijians, samoans and aussies. Had a good dose of south pacific pride, and recovered from the isolationist identity crisis i was having (mostly as a result of jetlag)
anwyays
it's bed time, i'm sure i'll have lot to type later
will post some pics from the road trip, and maybe a video or two if i can work out how lol
love ya
hill

So I am back on the beaten track.
In downtown Winnipeg to be precise.
Things here are great, the conference went really well. It was so good to meet people from so many other bases and get a bit of context from finding out about the work that is going on with other YWAM bases. Also, on a VERY good note was hanging out with the other kiwis and aussies that i got to meet there. was sooooo good to not feel so out numbered, and really swim in a bit of south pacific pride! alsocool was meeting a few of the fijian and samoan workers who really know how to party it up and laugh, A LOT
so yeah all in all it was a good time with a lot of encouraging teaching, socialising and relazing. We went rafting down a big river too and caught a turtle for the kids to play with and also managed to almost get a tan. between lots of cycling and kayaking and rafting i cirtainly did my excercise to attempt to compensate for the ridiculous amount of amazing good food they fed us!!!
it was good fun
anwyays
so we are now resting it up in YWAM Winnipeg for th night, relaxing and chilling out, and hopefully catching up tonight with a couple of the girls from my DTS.
then we are driving slowly back tomorrow to saskatoon, then the next day to calgary and then the day after that to vancouver. i'll have tuesday off to relax and get my room together, good too as jacqui will be back from salt lake city then too and we can organise our room together.
ok Heather and Dave jsut arrived!!!! have to go
love ya
will psot again later

so, conference is going really well, and I am enjoying getting to know a bunch of other YWAMers from all over Canada, as well as a couple of Kiwis, Samoans, Koreans, and just about everyone else from everywhere else. I didn't htink I'd be in much internet contact, but it's currently 1am, and after a pretty intense "woah, i have to write this idea down before i sleep" moment i am now so awake that i figured i would post again since the last one was a sad length of time ago.
It's been great to be back, had great "run and hug" moments with stefan and stuart and dan and some of the other familiar vancouver faces, and am looking forward to a few more when the winnipeg trio make the drive up here to hang out with us. Also,had a really great 5 hour hang out with my mate Dan who (worst timing of all!)flew out from England to spend a week in Vanocuver arriving saturday night, about 8 hours before i was due to leave for conference. so we hung out for 5 of those 8 hours, for once jet lag working in my favour, keeping me cheery and awake till well after 4am when i needed to pack and get ready to leave for the airport at 5!!!!!
My room in Vnacouver is pretty sweet, sharing with another girl from the base, Jacqui, and also sharing the flat with another baser, Pam. So yeah, back in a girls flat, and looking forward to good times ahead.
It's been super weird at conference, though good too, but have had a few moments (like, maybe 15!!!) where i'll be listening to something, freak out and think "woah i shouldn't be listening to that, i'm not staff, i'm only a student" then freak out again when yes I realise I am infact a staff member and will be for the next two years! YIPES
But all things considered, it's been great, i am unjetlaggged (almost) and keeping on keeping on.
love you all loads, email me and tell me good kiwi stories! i'm almost all out of brotown episodes, so need some real life kiwi news soon!!!
will post again next week, most likely with some legendary road trip stories after the mammoth drive home over the better part of three provinces! should anyone choose to check, we are driving from pinawa/winnipeg, manitoba, all the way back to Vancouver, british columbia. yeah baby!

So the day has come! (Sorry this is only for Aucklanders, unless anyone else is really really really keen!)
My buddy Caroline has come back from Canada, and I am going back to Canada,
aaaaannnnddddd, it is Caroline's 22nd birthday.
So...............................in honour of these wonderful
occaisions, we are having farewell/welcomeback/happy birthday drinks,
so we can all hang out, catch up, hug, party, chill out and see each
other, for the first time in ages, or for the last time for a while.
When: Tuesday 15 August 2006, 5pm and onwards (Caroline and I will
hang about, and you can all come and go as you please......)
Where: de Post Belgian pub, Mt Eden Village, opposite Circus circus
Come along for a little while, or the whole night, and bring LOTS of friends :D
Love you all muchly, and you better show up!

For everyone else not in Auckland, who can't make it to drinks, will post again super soon, but in the meantime i'm going to go watch the amazing race!

oh oh oh and good news, I GOT MY VISA LETTER TODAY! CANADA HERE I COME!

So it turns out that I am indeed a material girl in a material world.
Trying to organize this whole “moving to the other side of the world” debacle is turning into a huge headache, an expensive headache and mostly making me want to break things, throw things at travel agents or cry. Or maybe all three at once.
It’s so far taken me 2 website visits, 6 phone calls and 2 visits to work out what my baggage allowance is. Sad but true, it’s only 30 kgs! So my whole little New Zealand life is going to be summed up in one and a half bags (not two bags of equal weight, apparently one must be large and the other small) and the maximum weight allowed is 30 kgs. And call me a material girl if you like, but moving my whole me to Canada in 30 kgs of luggage? Yipes.
I suppose this will make me really strict with myself on the limits of crap I am allowed to bring, as well as very appreciative of every ounce that I do bring, that makes the cut. Sigh
I know I shouldn’t let stuff bug me, but I guess if I am not even able to begin coping with the big stuff, I might as well let the little things drive me crazy in the interim.
Church have planned a going away lunch for me after church next weekend, and this weekend I am roadtripping to Hamilton to pick up my friend Amy and her bf Luuk, so we can hang out for a bit before I go.
I can’t believe how busy this last 3 weeks is getting, and the emotional crusty roller coaster it is becoming. I watch my life happen at a barge pole distance today, shake my head, and weigh up the options of moving to Antarctica. Penguins are good company right Krista?

so yeah, it has been a while since I posted, and unfortunately I don't have the convenient excuse of having been abducted by aliens. However, I have been frantically busy and trying hard to get everything sorted out as I head into my second to last week or work, and third to last week in my beautiful New Zealand.
What the HECK! I know! three weeks today I'll be sleeping off the jetlag somewhere between Vancouver and Winnipeg and wondering why on earth I packed my bags the way I did.
It's very strange being in this "preparing" mode again, and also kinda difficult, but it is good, having a lot to look forward too and a lot of amazing and loving support from so many people for what I am going to be doing.
Support raising is going so well, God is amazing, and I now only have $400 left a month to be pledged for me to reach my target. Right now, the big prayer point would be my visa, which is still in processing in Sydney. So yeah, keep that in mind if you can, that would be sooooo appreciated.
so i'm frantically trying to keep raising support, seeing people, spending time with mum and dad, walking my dog, trying not to put on ALL the weight I lost in Canada again and get rid of all the stuff that I can't believe I stored for a year.
Oh ok, here's a cool thing. I got an amazing free hair cut on wednesday. Totally good, and when mymum drov eme to the appointment they gave her a free cut too. all in aid of polishing the new hairdresser and promoting the new salon. mmmmm, freeee
also ummmmmmm, what else also. not sure
so yeah, on that note, i hope that rachel, you are appeased and can take the tin foil off your head, and now I am going to go make some soup.
love ya
hill

So I’ll tell you something funny about my life here in NZ. My dog (chockie, short for Chocolate cuz she is like a Dalmatian but brown and white not black and white) is really really badly behaved. Last night we has roasted chicken for dinner, and when we went to bed, my dad had left the roasting pan on the stove to clean in the morning. The dog jumped up and pulled it down and licked all the oil, spilt some on the floor, licked that too, but worst of all hit the gas burner on with her paw, and since there is no ignition thing, the gas just started leaking out into the kitchen, so when we woke up the whole kitchen and living room was full of gas and smelt awful and my dad is walking about saying stuff like “nobody turn on any lights or strike any matches or we’ll all die”
So that was funny. And yet not.
What a drama eh
So, after a near death experience or two, what else has happened today
Not much
But I did promise more blogging, so there it is.
How is Canada today?
How is Norway today?
How is wherever you are today?

So, yeah I did decide to get with a new template. I tried a few, and I ended up on this one. I don't really like this one as much either, but none of them seem particularly great.
I'm going to test this one and see how it goes, gimme some feedback?
Okay, so amazingness of amazingness. I broke the $1000 mark today!!!! YEAH BABY! THANK YOU GOD!
It's crazy ridiculous and schweeeeeeeeeeeeeet that this much support has happened, I'm not even sure how it all happened, and now I am reeling with writing thank you letters and otehr random follow up.
wow
am looking for a laptop still, so keep me posted if anyone hears of any nice laptops going for cheap. if all else fails, i'm goign to wait til the last minute and buy a Dell dealio, but i'd like to save as much as i can now.
Short post today, I'll think of other things to post tomorrow
Lots of love
hill

So it’s kinda cool being able to read up on my blog stats and see who is reading from where. Ok so I can’t really tell who, but I can see what countries people are reading in. Who do I know in Norway? I don’t know. Norway reader, I welcome a comment to say hi 
Well actually I welcome comments from everyone who reads my blog. Say hi, make a joke, tell me a story. Comment eh?
So what is actually going on here in lil’ old New Zealand?
Not much really. I’m at work right now, it’s a little on the slow side to be honest. There is an air of Friday afternoonitis, even though it’s only Friday morning. I’ve been as productive as I can so far, but now there is really nothing left to do.
Speaking of lil’ old New Zealand though, I read a great book called “The land of two halves” Gavin actually recommended it to me and it’s a good read for all you canucks and other non Kiwis, to get a bit of a handle on how amusing and lovely my country really is. And it’s written by an ex-jouranlist/columnist so it’s really very good. How’s this for excellent: “…the ladies in the street in their tartan skirts, wearing shoes so sensible they’d go to church on their own….” brilliant
So I got the opportunity to share at Lou’s church yesterday. It was really awesome, there was a kind of missions focus, and two missionaries who know my friend’s Kristina and John in Sudan were speaking about the work they are doing in Madagascar. Very cool, and great to meet more missionaries and hear stories and pray together. Got some cool words when we were all praying together at the end, and was generally a really encouraging night. Have loved going along to ‘Base’ and I really like how outward focused they are as a group and yet also how close they are as friends and church family. Been very good to be around with how isolating this whole “re-entry” thing has been.
I have been listening to a very cool CD Lou lent me yesterday, Jose Gonzalez. Now apparently he is very popular and amazing and his songs are already being used as advertising soundtracks, but I had never heard him before. The verdict? Sweeeeeeeeet.
It’s funny, I’m going to the travel agent tomorrow to pay a big huge chunk of my airline ticket, which will probably break the bank for the next two weeks until the next pay day, but will be a very encouraging step on the way to get me back to Vancouver. It’s strange, take off day is only 5 weeks away today. Too fast. I feel like I’ve kinda skimmed in, not really landing or sinking or even getting into life here properly and now I’m taking off again.
Very cool though on the GOING BACK front, is that I have somewhere to stay all sorted out. I’ll be sharing a flat with Jacqui and Pam, both staffers at the base, and it’s going to be sweeeeeeet. YAY! God is Good!
Support raising is going alright, though I’d appreciate continued prayers as I keep making follow up calls and emails. Still another $600 monthly support to go.
Very cool thing is that I have got a bike to bring back now. Free, and even though it’s been left in the rain a few times and not used for a while, it’s in great condition and with some oil, cleaning and time with Dad and I it should be in good working order to bring back to Van! YAY!
Next on the list is that I need to find a good, yet affordable laptop to take with me. Dell has been having some sales, but still a bit too much. Anyone getting rid of a good laptop anytime soon?
So yeah, anyways, back to work, Jose, a bit of Johnny Cash, and then hopefully some chillaxing and a surprise birthday party planning session.
Oh and for those of you who knew about the ball that was going to be happening on 22nd or 29th of July (depending on who you heard from) it’s unfortunately been cancelled due to umm, ‘artistic differences’. Thanks for the support of everyone who said they would be involved, but yeah, it won’t be going ahead.
Ok, lots of love and hugs
Hill
PS: HAPPY BIRTHDAY EILEEN
PPS: HAPPY BIRTHDAY GAVIN
PPPS: HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOY

so i learned the deaf equivalent of the 'slow clap' tonight.
You know that moment when someone is umming and ahhing about whether or not they will perform on stage and the audience gets that laughing slow clap going and then speed up and bust out in applause? yeah the deaf version. soooo coool. it starts with putting your arms up in the air and then down and then up again in the same rhythm you would with the slow clap. and then you stomp your feet on the floor, slow at first then faster and faster and faster like you do on bleachers at a sports game, because they can feel the vibrations through the floor.
soooooooo fun
it was basically an amazing awesome night. I went with Margaret (my amte nic's mum) to watch the Storyfest 2006. IT's an annual signlanguage competition, where people come together to see who can tell the best sign language story. It was sooo funny, and sooooooooooooooo amazingly good to get back into sign language and deaf culture again. In the intermission, I also managed to catch up with my old NZSL teacher Sonia, and we had an awesome talk catching up on everything that has been going on. She doesn't know this yet, but hopefully i will be able to have a few coffees with her to pick up some of the basics of American Sign before I come back to Vancouver.
Soooo exciting. This is the biggest natural high, soooo much better than TV! and coming from me who just spent 4 hours NOT TALKING, that's pretty sweet, and yet a dramatic turn of events.
Had a bit of a crazy God thing last night. Went along to my mate Lou's church and some stuff was goin on, and have come away feeling kinda overwhelmed, but with a lot to think about.
On an amazing note, my support has just broken the $900 mark!!!!! God is good!
And if any of you reading would like a support pack, and a groovy magnet you just let me know. KEep up the praying!
I'm getting my eyes checked tomorrow. another irony about working at the foundation of the blind and being obsessed with sign language. but yeah, we'll see how it goes. new glasses woudl not be a great thing to have to buy now, but better that than not seeing right.
So yeah, it's been an amazingly wonderful night.
And now i'm gonig to bed
love you lots
email me you crazy cats
hill

So Happy Canada day my dears. For yesterday here, but I know that it's still Canada day in there!
I can't even believe it that this time last year I was sick, in a pub and then watching the Lions game at the Soho in Vancouver!
What the heck.
So it's been an amazingly lovely day in Auckland today. I like that midwinter Auckland is sky blue clear skies and a light breeze and no clouds! I decided I don't have nearly enough pictures of this beautiful city and I'm gong to be back in Vancouver even before I know it, so I better remedy the situation.
Alastair and I drove all round with a chair, and a NZ teddy bear that for all those BroTown fans out there we have named Sione! He (of course) will be coming back to Vancouver with me, and therefore so will a nice little bit of nesian goodness.
Speaking of that, does anyone have a copy of Nesianmistik's first albumt hat I could borrow?
I wanted to let you know too that the fundraising ball is going ahead.
Saturday 29th of July, 8pm, at the Homestead in henderson (wow how many people reading this still know what that means?!) everyone is welcome, $25 a head, it's going to be a great night, email me for tickets as soon as possible!
Ok tha'ts all for now
I miss you all very much you Canadians and I am looking forward to hanging out with all you Kiwis in the next 6 weeks. And 6 weeks will have to be it because I booked my tickets today! flying into Vancouver at 6pm on Friday August 18th! Jill's birthday! can't even handle how exciting this all is. crazy go nuts.
And everyone from everywhere else? We definately have to party soon.
Poker night and pineapple lumps and pilsener pacific? we are way overdue for a renunion, you know who you are! :D
ok night night all
have a good week at work
love, hill

So today is Helen Keller day. It was her birthday today and is now a day in New Zealand (and maybe everywhere else too?)
used to promote deaf/blind awareness. i know this because I am working at the Royal New Zealand
Foundation fo the Blind and today they had a birthday cake and balloons for that exact reason.
And you know what else I found out today? There are apporximately 1500 deafblind New Zealanders at the moment.
What the heck. And an estimated 3600 deafblind Canadians.
What the Heck.
Touch is the primary source of communication for people who are deafblind, and they
have programmes set up to teach deafblind children the same way Helen Keller was taught,
using a manual touch alphabet and language and braille. There are also tools like telletalkers where someone can type in words and then
a temporary braille strip is produced for the deafblind person to read. again i say, what the heck.
how inspiring that people live, learn, work and study all through touch.
wow. how am i not more grateful for my hearing and sight!?
So now, I am practising the deaf/blind alphabet. very similar to New Zealand sign language alphabet, in terms of the shapes and
movements that are made,
but different becuase where for the deaf it's visual using 2 hands, both the "speaker's", it uses two hands, one of the "speaker"
making shapes on the palm and fingers of the "listener"
amazing
So yeah, I am really learning a lot at this job, it's kinda fun being the perceived "font of all knowledge"
that people ask for "Information and Advice" when they ring or visit the foundation. tehehe
I just kinda do my thing and it seems to be going alright.
Had lunch with two girls that I used to teach drama to when I was in high school, one of whom is now dating
my little brother Alec (not so little, he's living in Japan right now studying Japanese!) Very cool.
Good kebabs too. though pretty messy.
So am listening to a lot of country/pop kinda music at the moment. Cheesy I know, but it's like my
Vancouver soundtrack. Keeps it all fresh while I sit here and type at work.
Have a bunch of pictures on my wall here too, so Auckland gets to see a bit
of Vancouver and many of you.
My goal is to have pics of just about everyone i know with me when I am back in Vancouver. I like having pictures with
me as most of you know, and so far the collection is pretty good. I took all my stuff out of
storage and those boards of pictures that i had up at my 21st/goodbye party
are still in good nic and are definately coming with back to Vancovuer in the bottom of my suitcase!
Hmmmm, what to do now.
It's a slow day.
It was really cold this morning, so I was wearing two sets of arm warmers, one on top of the other
Nerdy yes, but also warm! and who can hate black and grey stripey arm warmers.mmmmmmmmmmmmmm
It was so cold last night there was actually a frost and my windscreen needed hot water to be poured on it to thaw
it out
I'm serious Canadians, STOP LAUGHING
tehehe
Funny bad moment of the day was when i was talking about seraching our database for details and
excluding deceased members from the search. My boss turned around and asked me if "i knew how to
bring up the deceased if necessary" . ouch.
I have curly hair at the moment. Makes a nice change. I might get this done permanently. can I do that
without it looking like some kind of crazy eighties disaster area? it's not really curly it's just loose wavey and not poker straight like
my hair normally is.
so who in vancouver is reading my blog? i really want to know the website and the name of the programme
that leigh and ange downloaded to help them learn languages. apparently it was a free one that they
downloaded off the internet. can anyone help me out with that? Ryan? Jaqcs? Need to start working on my Cantonese
whiel I am still around my mum so she can help me practise.
so yeah anwyays
that's all for today folks
Happy Birthday Helen Keller

So my darlings, New Zealand is even as we speak preparing for "the coldest night of winter yet..." I'm not even kidding, and, Canadians please contain your laughter and superior smirking, it's expected to drop to a frigid low of two degrees. centigrade. there will be frost. and up to a foot of snow in some places.
sigh
so how is the true north? i dunno, i'm here in the true south!
But life in the true south is good. i had my first official day of real work, having real responsibility of the "advice and information line". it was good, though i needed my lunch break for sure. was a good one too, as i met up with darragh and orla, gavin's brother and sister who are here for a visit. it's been fun hanging out with them, will post pics from our driving tour of auckland by night here as soon as orla emails them to me!
otherwise it's slow going here, things are just keeping on keeping on.
enjoying it, and excited for the future, and watching dvds lol.
good recommendation this week, goes to de post belgian pub on mt eden road. mmmmm, good feeds belgian beer and chill out place when it's raining and storming.
am tired. it's late. it's bed time.
will post again soon
have a lot more to say, well kind of, but it'll all keep
i miss you
i love you
and i'll write soon
hill

So here goes.....
LETS GO ALL BLACKS LETS GO! 27-17 YEAH BABY!!!!
So in the midst of a driving rain and some nice black sky and clouds, we got to be drenched for the sake of a SWEET game of rugby, ALLBLACKS vs. IRELAND. And lucky me, I got shouted my ticket by Gavin's big brother Darragh, and ended up doing my absolute best to out shout him, their sister Orla, and their English friend Vicki. But, it was totally worth the sore throats and the drenching, because we took it out in the second half for a good 10 point win. Lots of Irish were there, and it was great to have some good kiwi experience and cheering and have an allround good night. I tell you, when the Rugby World Cup is on, I will be glued to a screen in a pub somewhere in Vancouver, the haka still brings shivers down my spine!!!
Life here is going alright, it's good settling into my new job, I am now the "Information and Advice officer" at the RNZFB, and it's been going really well, Monday is my first day of having total free reign of the desk, so yeah 0800 callers be prepared!
Support raising is going well, the Pizza magnet has so far been a hit, all of them are gone, the other ones are moving much slower! but more pizza ones will be printed by monday so it's all good.
Mum and Adeline are watching Troy, terrible movie, but seriously (and i know it's tacky and superficial) but between Bradd Pitt, Eric Bana, and Sean Bean, it is a seriously good looking cast :)
Anyways, it's strange to think that if all goes well I will be back in Vancouver in less than 9 weeks. It seems pretty crazy actually, but at the same time I am excited. Am stocking up on Kiwiana to take back too, maybe not too much, but definately an All Blacks flag to add to the Kiwi one I have in storage there in Jacqui's living room.
Okay,
bed and warm dry snuggly pajamas are calling.
Love you lots and lots
hill

Yeah, like I said, which one do you think this is in my mum's opinion?

So I should clarify.
When I said I thought Queen's birthday happened while I was in Vancouver, I meant Queen Elizabeth IIs actual birthday. Like, for real, happy birthday to her!
Just to clarify :)
So had my first day of work today. Was alright, and it was exciting really feeling how this is the first step back to Vancouver and missions and YWAM and all that good stuff (aye layne?) It's pretty chilled out work and pretty straight forward and it looks like i have a lot of fun cool people to work with.
Have finished my magnets, have 2 designs, to give people options (my mum refers to them as the one for my friends and the one for normal people! lol)
But have attached a sneak preview of one of them (guess which one it is!) just for a laugh.
I'm so sad for the Oilers. I kept tabs while I was at work but missed the third period *sigh*
it can only get better though!
Anyways, dinner time shortly, so will sign off.
Love you lots and lots
hillbo

So, am watching the West Wing, season three, on DVD with my mum.
Was supposed to be designing my "pray for me" fridge magnets, but my lovely camera ran out of batteries as i was loading pics so i guess it will have to wait til tomorrow.
Things are going alright, it's been pretty tough being home to be honest, good to be with friends and family, but with more than enough stressful moments with the same.
Am speaking at church on sunday to give the big update, story sharing, support raising, picture showing thing, so here's hoping it goes well, all prayer much appreciated.
Tomorrow is a public holiday and I was a little weirded out to realise that I not only didn't remember that when i came home, but then when informed that it was a long weekend I couldn't remember why. Queen's birthday apparently, but i'm sure that happened while i was in Vancouver. But then again if she's queen she's allowed to have more than one birthday i guess. plus as queen that would mean more than one pretty cool parties whenever you want.
Ok so i'm a bit tired.
I miss Vancouver, I love Auckland, but Vancouver.......
I start full time work on Tuesday, at the Royal NZ Foudation of the Blind working on a short term contract, and have applied for another job doing two nights and a weekend shift, so we'll see how that goes. mostly going for that one to pay for the gas/bus to get to the main one! but we'll see.
Support raising is going ok too, thank you so much for the support and prayers that are happening on my behalf.
I miss so many of you so much, you know who you are.
Oh and before I go......
GO OILERS
tehehe
even if i am the only one in NZ cheering for them!

So I'm back in New Zealand.
Thanks for everything everyone, both in Canada and here.
I will reply to emails asap, but for now, just wanted to blog and let you know I am safe and sound and home.
Flew from Van to LA and arrived at 9, to wander around downtown LA for the majority of the day, exploring taking pictures and generally being touristy.
Got on the plane to Auckland at 9pm, and slept for the majority, and 12 hours later (43 minutes from sweet NZ) we got diverted to Fiji, because all the airports in NZ were closed from fog.
7 hours later though, to blue skies and a barmy 16 degrees, I set foot in Auckland International Airport again.
Lou and Sara and Alex braved the airport at 5, but then left for church when they found out about the plane, but Lou came back and was there with my parents and with my dear Alastair who didn't know about the plane had waited it out for the whole 7 hours in the airport! What a trooper.
So yeah, not much else to say yet, I'm dizzy (literally) and keeping awake til 10 even if it kills me and am super super excited that the oilers won the western conference even though I wasn't there to cheer.
I love you and miss you Canada and Canadians, and I am glad to be home and seeing you all soon Kiwis.
Will blog more later
and email too
lots of love
h

so bearing my last ration of Tim Hortons (sesame seed bagel, toasted and a candian maple donut) all stored safely in my carryon for my 11 hour lay over in Los Angeles airport, I am sitting at the internet terminal in Vancouver international using my last canadian loonie to blog for the last time for a little while in beautiful Vancouver. The sun has just come out (through some rather appropriate grey clouds and drizzle) and my coffee from the 24 hour place that Rachel knows en route to the airport is just kicking in.
Have been up for 24 hours so far, and am due to fly in 51 minutes to LA aboard the lovely Air Canada. Thankfully my two gigantor bags didn't get weighed and got checked straight through so I can pray and then wait to pick them up in Auckland without a worry. She'll be right, right?
It's bitter sweet to leave, to be so excited I can't sit still that I am coming home and then so sad I'm teary eyed (though i guess i could blame the caffiene) that I am leaving this home. Have had too many teary hugs and goodbyes in the last 4 weeks staggering it all out as I floated from house to house and person to person, and yet am excited that in the next few days there are certain to be some teary reunions.
It was so strange packing stuff up, dividing things into the "need, take back to NZ" and "it'll keep, store in Vancouver". Having 2 dressers, one filled with stuff and a box of clothes in storage on the other side of the world is just the first nervewracking step to a two year commitment I am both excited and jittery to make. But here's to obeying and waiting and praying and hoping.
I miss Vancouver and Canada already, but can't wait to see home sweet home.
Ok, my loonie is officially done.
See you on the flip side