Jun 98 min read

Around the World in Forty Days

A little catch up on all the things I've been up to and what I am up to now.

March & April: Singapore, Scotland, England, America

Since the end of my last update in March I have been up to a few things. At the begining of March the DTS graduated. It was such an honour to have played a part in the work God did and is continuing to do in each of the students lives. I had a week to rest at the base after the five month school and then I went to visit some family and friends. I traveled around Asia/Europe-way to Scotland and spent some time with my sister and her family as well as my mom! I had a short lay over in Singapore and I was determined to see at least one thing while I was there. However, since I was there overnight I was only able to go see the Jewel and it was under construction and not running when I finally found my way to it. Oh well, here's a picture of me there bleary eyed because it would've been about 2am in New Zealand.

After making my way over to Scotland I throughly enjoyed spending time with my nephews and of course my mom, sister and brother in law. It was cold while I was over there but I guess anyone would be cold going from Vanuatu to Scotland. Some of the time I was over there it would snow or hail and I am glad to say that I still have spent time in the snow every year of my life.

The average day with my sister's family would look like: waking up, getting dressed and maybe helping my nephew Levi get dressed (or not), and then eating breakfast with Levi who would end up covered in blueberries by the end most of the time. After we'd clean up and see what the day held; play some games, try potty training for half an hour or so, garden, watch the bin men, go out for a shop, hold my other nephew Grayson, etc. Before we knew it was lunch time and then nap time. During Levi's nap time my mom, sister, and I would watch Once Upon a Time together. After Levi was finished his nap we'd usually go out for a walk with the boys (and maybe the dog) to the park, watch the cars pass on the road, very intriging for a two year old learning his colours and who just enjoys being the neighbourhood watch. We'd play at the park and enjoy the simple things in nature like spalshing through a puddle, picking up a worm, digging holes, swinging on a swing, and picking yellow flowers for my sister. Once our afternoon adventures were over we'd go back to the house and play while dinner was being made and then before we knew it my brother in law was home from work and we'd enjoy a meal all together before Levi has to go to bed. Then the adults plus Grayson would chill together maybe watching more Once Upon a Time until Grayson was ready to attempt sleeping for the night. And that was life with a two year old and a newborn while I was visiting.

I've been asked a lot how my time in Scotland was and I would often say we were at home the whole day or our outing for the day was going to get groceries, but I also said it was amazing to just spend time with my family and be with my nephews for a whole day when usually I am in a completley different country. I think this past time visiting with Levi especially and getting to talk back and forth with him now that he's a bit older was so special and I certainly have a new found love for him and for being his Aunt. Leaving all of them was one of the hardest and saddest things I've done in a while!

While I was on the UK side of the world I also got to meet up with some of my friends who I met in Papua New Guinea (PNG). One of the midwives I met, Stephanie, lives in Oxford and I was able to travel down for a few days with another nurse, Stine (pronounced Steena) from Norway. We got to see some cool old colleges, do some shopping, drive down to the Cotswolds, visit C. S. Lewis' house, and just travel around the city imagining I could bump into J. K. Rowling or C. S. Lewis at any moment. I will add pictures of my adventures at the bottom because I think there are a lot worth sharing. Once our days were up in Oxford we all traveled to Glasgow and met up with Sohpie another nurse I met while in PNG. We spent time driving up to the highlands, visiting Lock Lomond, visiting more pubs, visiting a Tim Hortons and walking around Glasgow together. Again, I will say it was really cool to travel around together and see things but the best part for me would've been being able to catch up and share a part of our lives together again after our time in PNG.

While I was away I spent two weeks in Scotland with my mom and sister's family then I spend six days away traveling with my friends then two more weeks with my sister. After I got back to my sister's I had one more week with my mom before she had to go back to Canada then one last week with my sister before I traveled back to New Zealand. What a special time we had together, it was such a gift to see family after a little over a year.

On my way back to New Zealand I traveled around the North America way. I had a nine hour lay over in San Fransisco and no, I didn't do anything crazy. My main goal was to try to keep my wits about me since it would've been night time in Scotland and it was a struggle to keep my eyes open. I was glad to have touched foot in North America for a short while but it also made me long to see the friends and family- probably a lot of you reading this, who I wasn't able to at the time. (Maybe in December, stay tuned!) I made my way back to New Zealand and to Marine Reach.

May: Tauranga, New Zealand

The month of May consisted of me looking for a nursing job and continuing working/volunteering with Marine Reach. Fun fact: Marine Reach has now changed its name to Pacific Reach since we no longer have a marine vessel but are still working closely with areas in the Pacific like Vanuatu. I stocked first aid kits around the base, ordered needed supplies for the Family Care Centre in Vanuatu, worked on some documents and was the on-site school nurse. I will say it was a little challenging finding my place again after traveling and visiting friends and family also switching to a different role. I eventually got into the swing of things and found myself enjoying the community of missionaries and students around me once again.

As I continued my job search it was starting to become apparent that there weren't any positions opening up in the area that wanted someone immediately so I started looking at surrounding areas and even other placed in New Zealand further away in the South Island. I got an interview with a hospital an hour and a half away from Tauranga who was looking for a nurse to come join their ICU team. Short story short, I got the job and made the decision to move myself to this new town the begining of June. As I shared the news with Pacific Reach, my friends and community, it was bittersweet knowing I had found a job but also that I'd have to live further away from the friends that I'd made to a place where I know no one. I found a place to live and told my friends I'd visit as often as I could. Then away I went, onto my next adventure. (Aurora Australis picture)

June: Whakatāne, New Zealand

This part will be short and sweet since we are only about ten days into this month! I've made the move and survived my first few shifts at my new job. I am starting to figure out the lay of the new city, and have begun to explore some new places close by. Since I don't know anyone in this place I'd love it if you reached out to catch up with me and I can tell you in more detail how things are going for me at this point in my life- I'd also love to hear how you are doing.

It has been one week and so far I've met two of my flatmates (there are more coming at some point). I've only stepped on the little dust bunny of a dog, Izzy, once and she is still alive, praise God. (If you have spoken to me recently you will know that one of my flatmates has a tiny dog that I'm scared of sitting or stepping on and crushing and could you imagine if I had done so in my first week of being here?!)

The rest of June will be a mixture of working, figuring out life in Whakatāne and visiting friends in Tauranga. I will also be continuing to work with Pacific Reach in a needs base medical role and mainly writing up documents and ordering things as needed. To see what my more day to day living is like at the moment keep your eyes out for my IG stories and just reach out and let's catch up.

Beyond: Location, Unknown

This is the question alot seem to have, what will I be doing after this? Truthfully, I am not sure beyond working at this job for the next six months. I could continue in this job, I could stay in New Zealand in another location and do a different job, I could move to another country (I'm thinking closer to family and friends) or something else entirley. I am still praying about this and figuring out what I'd like to do as well. I will certainly let you know when I know!

I wanted to give a special and big thanks those who have given their financial support to me as I've been in missions and not been working the last year spending my time volunteering with Pacific Reach. You might not know the full impact you've had on supporting me through this time even if I try my best to give a detailed update here. Regardless, your support has certainly made an impact in the eyes of Jesus. Also a special thank you to those who have supported me spiritually through prayer and those who have reached out and spoken to me as I've gone through the ups and downs of this past season.

As I carry on with my life I hope to update my blog, which is long over due. Also, since I am working now I do not need financial support but I could definatley use prayer support. It is a daunting thing to move to a place where you know no one and do not know the place. I've done it before and it was hard but in the end God led me to amazing people. Please pray for God to help me find friends and a church community here in Whakatāne. I could also use prayer to know where God is leading me after this year.

Thanks for reading my update!

Much Love,

Lianna