And Now for Something Completely Different:

Straightforward information about things that have actually happened in real life, as opposed to my usual conceptual rants and elaborate metaphors!!!!! 

Realising that it's been over three weeks since I last wrote (where does time go to?), I decided to take a different approach to this next post. Mostly this blog, not so much a documentation of life as an outlet for my random theological thoughts, is home to the incoherent ramblings of a very full mind. I'm not even sure if I've ever reported actual real-world happenings. So, for a change, here embarks the newfound endeavour of relaying information.

Summer (or so the season remains to be called in spite of the lack of convincing evidence) began on November 21st, at the conclusion of my final exam. Since then have occurred three pro-life marches, a fleeting visit to Tyburn Monastery, a week at Rimbrook (more on that below!), a beautiful but saturated trip over the East Cape and to Hawkes' Bay, a couple of beach days, a few sunburns, the arrival of exam results, stationery shopping, the creation of a facebook page, hours and hours and hours of reading, hours and hours of writing (sadly, the poor blog was not on the receiving end of most of this!), and complete and utter boredom 99% of the time.

School's back in session. I'm one of the few people I know for whom the current emotion is one of relief, elation and utter happiness that the unbearably long 72-day summer holiday is over and that I finally have purpose and schedule in my life! I'm over the moon. I have really good teachers (mostly) and awesome classes (apart from one or two ratbags) and I'm loving every minute of it. (How nerdy does that make me sound?) Unfortunately, the long weekend now means three more days of boredom, but at least they gave some homework!

With the start of a new school year comes a new attitude towards faith. I'm trying to spend at least a half hour in the school chapel daily, which means prioritising God in my spare time. This is something I've been dreadful at most of my life. My faith, it seems, has been confined to mass, RE class, youth group and night prayer. With the help of a few incredible people (you know who you are) last year brought me much closer to God than I've ever been before, and taught me the importance of prayer in daily life. I'm seeing this more and more as I try to fit in set times for prayer as I go about everyday life. By taking ten or fifteen minutes a couple times a day to stop in the business of life and acknowledge God, reflect, pray and listen, everything else becomes infinitely more manageable. Already in the school year, people seem worn out. But I'm not! Fitting in extra prayer has given me so much energy and happiness. I love the buzz you get from faith. So excited for youth group to start back up again soon!!!!!

The week before last, I stayed at Rimbrook Study Centre to help lead a holiday programme for refugee children living in the area. It was one of the most incredible experiences of my life to date. Up at six for prayers and 6.30 and mass at seven every morning, then breakfast, pile into the van and at the hall by 8.30 (er... truthfully we were always late). Then ensued each day a chaotic collage of laughter, tears, screaming and endless piggy-back rides. Attending the holiday programme were about thirty children from around the Hamilton area who have immigrated as refugees to New Zealand. Most of the children are from either Colombia, where gang-related violence has killed their fathers, or the Congo, where the corruption of the government has led many to flee to refugee camps. These kids were incredible. They were endearingly sweet, energetic and crazy. Every day was EXHAUSTING. I'd get to bed at night and start to drift off and then feel the aches where little hands had been grabbing my shoulders and sides all day long. Activities included a trip to the zoo (where I began to see some striking resemblances between the children and the monkeys), a water war, a talent quest, home-made playdough (the process of making which stained my hands bright blue), endless games, crafts and playground trips. By three thirty we were all shattered. In the afternoon, the five or six girls staying at Rimbrook would have some exciting excursion of our own, like going to Raglan beach (where the magnetic black sand killed the internal components of my watch), saying a rosary at the Hamilton gardens, a talk by the Opus Dei chaplain on social justice, and the testimony of one of the refugee mothers (who, when fleeing the Congo, saw her husband effectively beaten to death by soldiers, and walked for days with four small children to Uganda, where they lived in a refugee camp for three years before coming to New Zealand). But I'd have to say my favourite afternoon activity was that of the first day- having a well-deserved siesta to Brahams' Lullaby. And our incredible peppermint-cocoa creation. All in all, one of the most wonderful experiences of my fifteen years. I can't wait for the Easter one!!!!

And now, returning to life in Tauranga, I ponder the future, relish the past and try to keep my head in the present (though I never do!!!). Having trialled this new style of writing, I think it safe to say you'll probably not see much of this again.  Oh well, was worth a shot!

AMDG

A recipe

Mix four heaped teaspoons of 'Milo' powder with a teaspoon of sugar in a large mug. Fill halfway with boiling water and soak a peppermint teabag in this mixture. Top up with vanilla flavoured soy milk. Enjoy!