Well I'm in Sydney Australia for a few days. Got here on Wednesday and leaving this coming Thursday. It's been brilliant. Really needed to get away after the last few months of.... insanity... I'm a pretty emotionally level headed type (phlego...) but it's been a rollercoaster. Been good to just chill out. Staying with a friend of a friend I've made in Tauranga, couldn't ask for better. Sydney is a pretty cool city I think... although not sure if it tops PDX in my book. Of course there's the "home" factor so I could be a little biased. Probably.

The last few weeks in Tauranga have been quite a ride, I mentioned the job thing that didn't go too well already. At the end of that week I almost just took off. Almost. I'm really glad I didn't now. Some things are really frustrating but really.... I don't have any valid complaints. I live in one of the most incredible places in the world (although I heard someone say the other day that New Zealand is THE most beautiful place in the world... and I thought to myself "you haven't seen Oregon...") Can't compare, there's heaps of incredible places in the world. I've been blessed to live in a couple of them. Anyways I shouldn't complain... I'm living in a great place, I've made some great friends, I'm having an impact and growing a lot, I live in a great house, have a flexible schedule, get to play guitar a lot.... the list goes on. Another part of that is I've met this girl. Her name is Deb... short for Deborah... I met her shortly after I moved over here. My first reaction was something like "who are you and why haven't you entered my life sooner??" She's awesome, turns out she kind of likes me too :). Anyways the news there is I have a girlfriend in New Zealand. And I'm looking into staying for longer than expected. There's more to that equation than Deb, though she's part of it and would be worth it if she was all of it. Things are starting to happen in Tauranga. Well they've been starting for a while... but we're catching wind of it. I know the word "revival" can seem cliche but I believe it's happening. Starting in Tauranga, New Zealand, and affecting the whole world. Frankly, I DO NOT want to miss what God is starting. Youth stuff is going to explode soon... I'm starting some work with other youth pastors intentionally breaking down denominational walls and bringing the kids together as one body once a month. Our first one last week was unbelievable. Here I thought I was a leader for it and I was just along for the ride. All the kids need from someone like me is for me to make a place... to create an opportunity for an encounter with God and get out of the way. Learning how to do that. Anyways if I get too fired up I'll get going for a while. Pray for us. And think about getting over here!