The last blog entry...

So here we are, day 7 of week 10... This week we have had some really good wind down time in preparation for our next chapter in our journey's. The first of the tears have already been shed as we've become like family. We have to remind ourselves that it's not life that's over, its just the end of one thing and the beginning of another.

We've had a great week! We spent three days at Popamoa Beach - one of the most beautiful beaches we have seen. The holiday park we stayed at was practically at the water's edge. We've had a lot of time for ourselves this week and have enjoyed taking the time to walk along the beach, absorbing all we have learned over the past 10 weeks.

Just as the outdoor adventures had come to an end, we embarked on a new indoor adventure - rock climbing. It was challenging but a really good work out. It was definitely harder than it looked and we totally felt the burn! But Jordo, you deserve a prize for the best TEA climber ever!

We went for a walk up Mount Monganui the other day and saw the most spectacular view. 10 weeks ago it would have been a hike but this end of the trip, it was a walk in the park!

Our last evening on the road was a perfect end to a perfect trip, it included our favourite meal: Thai Green Curry, worshipping on the beach with "the moon shining all around" and totally in God's presence with a gratitude of being here, a few tears of sadness but more of joy and and laughter when we played Balderdash! We had excellent fellowship that evening and made the decision to stop sleeping for the rest of TEA, as its a waste of time! (which didn't quite work).

So we are in Papakura now and some how our bags have just exploded in our bedrooms!? Today we plan to organise our thoughts and feelings as well as organise our packs in some sort of logical way. We should probably say goodbye to each other as well as some point which is no doubt going to be the hardest part of our day.

We will definitely miss Brittney's contagious laugh, Ally's enthusiasm and excitement (which is quite often two minutes later than everyone else's), Ruth's carrying of the T.V., Tyler's headphones, Jordan's "My deliverer" rendition. Christy's Uppy Uppy Song and 'yumo', Norm's "Normano Phillipe you make me so . . . " rendition, George's joke's, Kati's three sneezes in a row and Sarah's funny facial expressions.

Thank you so much once again for your support and prayers. Please continue to pray for us as we travel home this weekend. For our safety, our end here and our beginning back into reality. Can't wait to see everyone and we are so thankful to the Lord for bringing us here, working in our lives and giving us friend's for life.

For the last time...

All our love,

Britt, Ruth, Ally, Ty, Sarah, Jordo and Kati.