What God Cooked Up

God blows my mind sometimes with the blessings He works out. He did a God size job last week by bringing my Ohio family to New Zealand. In 2009 Kelly and I went through the Insight (INtensive Study of Integrated Global History and Theology) program together. We became fast friends as we learned and grew together. Kelly's family welcomed me into their home for the second semester - intensifying our sisterhood. Not only were Kelly and I going through a life changing learning experience together but we were also stuck with similar and unusual romances. I was hopelessly in love with a missionary in Uganda, Andrew whose homeland is New Zealand. While Kelly was in love with a missionary in Thailand, Judah, whose homeland is Australia. At the start of Insight we had slim hope in an unlikely dream and by the end I was nearly engaged and Kelly and Judah going strong. :)

You'll probably hate me if you hear how spoiled I've been by this loving family... Over the time I lived with their family we shared many meals and fun times together. I felt very much like part of the family as I went to church and family outings with them. I enjoyed going to the gym with Mrs Julie, we also went shopping and cross country skiing together. Mr Cook took Kelly and me snowmobiling and paid for us to go skydiving!! If that doesn't beat all, the four of us flew to Puerto Rico for Easter!

Emotionally it was perhaps one of the most packed and toughest years of my life. I journeyed through Insight, grappling with who I am and what I believe about God while my family at home seemed to be falling apart and I was trying to make the most life-altering decisions of my life - whether I should marry this man from across the world. Maybe God gave me a home with the Cooks and beautiful times together to lighten the load and get me out of my intense heart and mind struggles. They have truly been a gift from above.

Sunset hike at Waihi beach

So, this last month Kelly and Judah were on furlough next door in Australia, with her parents Wally and Julie visiting them. The three of them decided to hop this way for a reunion. It was so wonderful! Once again I feel ever so spoiled by my great God. I hold these three very dear to my heart. It was so special to be able to show them Zeke and Tazara and some of New Zealand. We took a beautiful coastal road to Waihi beach and enjoyed a night there in a friends batch. God gave us beautiful weather! They arrived on the sunniest warmest day in two weeks and left three days later when the fog started to come back. 

PS. In case its hard to figure out - the title comes from Andrew but the post is mine :)