Dyslexic Womble

Went to the Antartic Centre today. Had been recommended by a few people so went to check it out as I had a free day. Leaving it till late! Was a good time there, some good things there. Experienced minus 30ish in a snow storm like they get in Antartica. Was pretty nippy! Were a few static exibits which were interesting and then went to see the penguins that they have there! Little blue ones, think that they are the smallest ones in the world. Very cute as well. Got to see them being fed, quite entertaining! Got the last of my presents as well, again leaving it late!

Went down to town, got a card for Steve, Carne and the boys. Also sold a couple of my games, bit more cash. Depressing seeing how little you get for them though!!! Then went to the gym for my last session there. Pretty good one to finish on, was nice and quiet with me being the only person there!

Scott and Hannah came round this evening to say bye which was nice. Good to see them for a bit before going. Had tea and stuff then watched TV. A rerun of the NZ under-21 team play the Canada first team! Was a really good game and the Colts played pretty well. They only just lost out as well, by 3 points. Very impressive and quite scary that the under-21s are that good, think that they had a couple of players missing as well playing for other teams!

Have been packing as well this evening. Think that have everything done now! Just about at the weight limit on each bag as well, getting my money's worth this time! Need to check it again tomorrow, couple more things to add as well, couple tip the balance. Need to find what I could get rid of as well! Few things have already gone (no presents!!!), not sure what esle can go now. Sure that it'll all be fine. Is quite stange thinking that I fly today! Seems like I'm getting ready for the jet-lag adjustment as well, is currently 1:44am here!

After having a leaving and goodbye party last week I'm still saying bye to people here! Will have gone on for over a week once it is all finished! Had last Bible study this morning which was good. A recap over all that we have done so far, was great to do and a pretty good study as well. Had a lunch for me after which was really nice. Got well fed which is always good!

Then was down for MTS training at St Johns. Good time there, chatting through some issues for the first part and then studying some OT in the second helping out one of the guys who has a talk for Sunday. We also went out for a drink which was really nice, a goodbye thing again! Went shopping again and got stuff for Luke and my Great-Gran. Just Si left to buy for now, hopefully getting something tomorrow as I'm hoping to get to the Antarctic centre.

Rode down to training tonight in pouring rain only to find that it wasn't on! Not enough people turned up which was a shame. More goodbyes there! Not playing Saturday, common sense prevails! Was allowed to keep my shorts and jacket which was pretty cool, nice extra mementos!

Was so wet when I got back, crazy really. Could wring out my socks it was that bad! Stuff is now up and drying off. Started packing as well which was good. Amazed how much extra stuff I seem to have. Just hoping that I can fit it all back in now! Got one bag done and one half-way through. Getting there. Know that have nearly everything out and nearly packed!

Hi folks, welcome to the last Weekly Womble! Hasn't quite sunk in that I am going yet! I fly out on Saturday and get back to the good old UK on Sunday morning.

Things to be thankful for:

• Kids slot and youth group both going well at the weekend
• The huge encouragement that my 'leaving do' last week was to me
• Good turnout for Poly despite it being exam and assessment time
• How great this year has been! Such a wonderful opportunity for me to grow and learn so much
• All the people around me who have been so brilliant, especially Costa
• Steve and Carne for having me live with them!

Things to pray for:

• Things to continue to go really well at St Saviour's over the next few months. Youth group with quite a few changes coming up on
• Safe travels for me and a really good time with family and friends when I get back
• That I might have a good chat with someone on the plane! Next to someone for 20-odd hours, pray that there might be a chance there and that I would take it
• Costa to have a good holiday and come back refreshed
• The camps that I am doing over the summer to go well and that I would be a good leader on them and a good witness. That God would be softening hearts to the gospel and that there would be genuine conversions
• Uni, such a great opportunity there, pray that I would take it and that there would be some great chances for ministry there, especially in the first few weeks

Quite a few things, short and longer term!

Thank you all so much for your prayers and support for me, have been hugely appreciated by me. You'll see the fruits in heaven hopefully!

Love,

David

Had creche this morning which went well, there were a few kids away which made it easier. Got a present as thanks from the ladies as well which was very nice. Kiwi meals in minutes cookbook and a book of photos of Canterbury- great! I then made a guest apperance as John the Baptist for their recap session. All dressed up- was good! Is there no end to the things that I will do as part of my job!!! Went well, am so much more confident in front of crowds than at the start of the year. Quite enjoy it now, always a good thing if I'm going to be standing up doing talks in the future.

Chilled out this afternoon for a bit before going to the gym. Good session there. Then got out and got another present, Dad now ticked off the list!

This evening have been out for tea again. Family with 3 boys so was great fun! Watched Jimmy Grimble which is pretty good, shame that he's a C**y fan though! Was a very nice night chatting and messing on with the lads, bit like being with my brothers, which I will be in just a few days now! After getting back have just been doing some sorting out work and throwing some stuff out! Getting all ready, is exciting! Beginning to feel a bit more real now.

Had another bit of a lie in this morning, not  as long as yesterday mind! Was then down at Poly for my last study down there. The long goodbye continues! Was good down there, a good crowd there showing again how random it can be! Exams coming up but more than the week before I'd say. Great to see! Pete said some really nice things as well, really encouraged! Sometimes feel like I don't do that much but was nice to be told that I'd be missed and stuff. Was interviewed there as well, really getting used to being up the front and talking!

Grabbed a Subway in town and then rode off to go shopping in a place on the edge of Christchurch. An outlet store for big shops so some bargains to be had. Got 2 pairs of boardshorts, 2 pairs of jandles (flip-flops) and a T-shirt for less than $80, bargainous! Rode home in good time after as well, great exercise!

Had training this evening. Have a game that kicks off at 1 on Saturday so I can make it to play! Have to decide if it is worth it though! Game would finish about 2:30 and I would have to be at the airport for 3:30 to catch my flight! Help on the decision would be appreciated. Factors to consider are how much I would like to play, but the possibility of injury so I can't fly! Think that I swinging towards not playing at the moment really. We shall see!

Had a lush long lie in this morning. Needed after quite a late night the night before. Had a email published on the BBC text cricket commentary which was very exciting before I went to bed! Got up about 11ish and just lazed round before actually going down and getting some food at 12! After that I watched some TV, rerun of last night's cricket which was good.

Then went down into town and did some shopping and stuff. Got a couple of new CDs, 2 kiwi bands. The best of the Exponents, an old NZ band with some great songs, and also an album by The Mint Chicks, newer group. Have just been listening to them both and am very impressed. Mint Chicks is great and I haven't listened to all The Exponents yet. Liked what I have heard though! I also went and traded in some of my PS2 games. Got more for them if I traded for something else so got International Cricket Captain 2006 cheap! Is a good game, pretty much just the same as the others with updated teams and competitions! Ain't broke don't fix it! Got to the gym after that and had a decent session there. Sore from the game at the weekend though!

Was out for tea this evening whichwas very nice! Lovely meal and then a good time playing with the kids and then chatting after they had gone to bed. Great evening! After that have been playing some ICC and listening to new CDs, tis good!

Was at church early for the 8 o clock! Got a lift down there but would have been on time riding as well! Great talk by Costa on the end of James and some very tricky verses, seem clear now which is great! Then got ready for the service, unfortunately the projector didn't seem to want to work so weren't able to use that. Glad that I hadn't spent ages doing something on it for my kids slot!

Kids slot went well, wasn't amazing. Probably not as good as some of the others that I have done either. Was interviewed after which went well. Then was doing Sunday school. A fun session with all the under 10s together. Most of the time was taken up by doing a fire drill, and then the fire brigade coming and talking to us. Of course, we had to have a look at the fire engine that they had and have a go in it, kids were so excited about it! Did do some things recapping from the previous series. The kids in my group were great and 'won'!

Was good chatting to a few people after as well, saying some goodbyes! Was told by one person that I looked like a natural speaker which was nice. Am so not though! Good that I have got much better at it, haven't had the chance not to recently mind!

Was then home and doing work for youth group. Got my talk done and then went down to get it printed off and stuff. Said bye to Costa and Teresa as well as they left for the UK this evening. Was strange and sad saying bye, been such a massive part of my life over the past 9 months, strange that it's going to be ages till I see them again. Youth group after went well. Only 4 there which was a shame. Talk seemed to go alright, one girl seemed really tuned in which was great.

Felt quite surreal going back home, just had the last major thing that I have to do here. The major thing that I came out to do as well. Very strange feeling. Sad mainly as it's really getting to the end. Veged infront of the TV for a bit before making a pudding for tomorrow. Am going out for tea so said that I would bring pudding. Good to get me doing something! Have been talking to Naomi and just lazing around after that! Is good!

Got up nearly today, on my day off as well! Well, was early in comparison, is all relative. Was down to watch one if the guys from youth group playing 'soccer'. Saw most of the game after riding down there. Wasn't that good a game, his team played pretty poorly it has to be said. Disappointing for him I think. Really made me want to play football though! Can't wait to get back and playing properly again.

Got back and just chilled out and dried off a bit as well. Was wet on the bike and watching so lazed around getting a bit dry! Then was getting some lunch and kit together for rugby in the afternoon.

Hadn't sorted a lift out so rode to the ground where we were playing, not too hard, Christchurch is nice and flat! 5 and a half miles Google maps told me it was. Good little warm up! We were playing Christchurch, one of the oldest clubs in the world. I was able to start at full-back. The last time I had played there was once for school in year 10, 5 years ago I reckon!

Game wasn't that great, we got hammered again. 81-0 this time. We kept missing so many tackles and weren't able to get any and keep any ball, especially in the first half. Very disappointing. I played pretty well though, did a couple of good tackles when people were through on me and forced some penalties for holding onto the ball as well. Few big hits as well. In the second half I played a bit at fly-half when we were attacking and slotted back into full-back on defence, don't think that it worked that well really! Got a really bad dump tackle done to me, had passed the ball and the guy just picked me up and smashed me into the turf, hitting pelvis and knee. Was able to get up and continue though. Very glad that it had rained and soften the ground a bit. Might have been in big trouble a few weeks ago. We got a penalty so that was alright. Was able to get revenge later as the guy was running down the wing and had got past our winger. Was able to line him up and just nail him over the touchline, was so sweet. Legal and everything! Teammates loved it as well, people on the sides were cheering me on to do it before it had happened!

Got home and sorted myself out, shower and finding bruises and injuries! Not too bad this week, nowt major I don't think. Then went down to the club rooms. I won player of the day for our team so was very happy with that! Got a T-short, they didn't have any of the mug things that they give out which was a shame. Still got something to remind me of it though. Had to give a bit of a speech as well, went alright. Could have been my last game today for them as well, good note to go out on. Depends on what time the flight and game is next week. Have done well at Sydenham. 2 starts in the backs resulting in 2 tries and nearly getting player of the day (just losing out as I wasn't a forward!) and player of the day in my other one!

Got back and just been lying around, very tired! Lots of exercise. Ridden over 20km I reckon, walked to club rooms and back and played a full 80 minutes of tough rugby! Need a nice long sleep now! Have done a bit of work as well, got powerpoint, some Sunday school stuff and a bit of talk done.

Was working on my talk this morning, went reasonably well. Probably half way through it but know where am going with it. Just need to write out the rest nice and clear. Need some illustrations as well for it as well, seems quite dry at the moment. Did some more work on talk in the afternoon then went off to the gym. Good session there before getting down to church. Having a leaving thing for me there.

Did a fish and chip supper with L&P (lemon kiwi drink) and then pavlova for pudding! Was so great. Loads of people were there, touched that so many people appreciated me! Had heard that a few people weren't coming so was very pleasently surprised to see so many people there. Just very very happy. Got a few things from some of the kids which were very sweet. One lovely thing from one girl, just the cutest and sweetest card ever. Got an All Blacks shirt from everyone and a big signed card, was great! Not sure how much the AB shirt will be worn over September mind! Just an awesome evening really. Loved it! Had to give a bit of a speech but it seemed to go alright. Costa also managed to find a picture of me from back when he was in Newcastle and I was 7!!!

Got back and just been chilling watching some TV and playing some Pro Evo this evening. Need to be getting to be soonish as am going to watch one of the youth group guys playing 'soccer' tomorrow morning. They have crazily early starts for kids sport! Not right.

Had Bible study this morning which went well. Jumped around a but but was a pretty good study. Good help on a tricky verse that I have never really understood properly as well.

Then rode into town and was looking for presents for people back home. Got a lush beef souvlaki thing as well to sustain me, awesome! Was just browsing round the souvenier shops and the market really. Nothing that exciting. Did get one thing before I had to go for MTS. MTS was good, we reviewed our walk-up evangelism and then did some stuff in 2 Chronicles, which a couple of the guys were preparing youth group talks for. Were meant to be starting a new Moore College thing but the books hadn't arrived.

After that was out and actually buying presents! Have got a few more people sorted now. Is fun buying them, bit nervy too though as you hope that they will like them! Rode home and had a bit of time chilling and eating before rugby training. Not that many there again so we played another good game of touch. Good laugh really but also good for the skills as it was a bit wet. I played pretty well and got quite a few tries. Scored one mint one where the ball was passed to me and I couldn't reach it so just volleyed it through and chased it up to score. Not sure if it would be legal in a game but looked pretty cool!

Got back and had some more food and a lush hot shower. Was pretty cold, wet and muddy from the game! Then have been making a tentative start on my talk. Doing Genesis 12 this week. Mainly the promises to Abram and then am going to be looking how Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of the promises. Been finding some passages in the NT that explain it a bit that I can use tonight.