Meet Me at the Crossroads

The choices we make define our life. When at a crossroads, we try to consider all risks and benefits that would be found on either path. There comes a point where you just have to trust your heart and jump! Many of you know that I have found myself at a crossroads and have had quite a struggle trying to decipher which path to take. One path (A) was to return to the USA in May as I had initially booked my ticket home for and the other path (B) was to extend my ticket until November to fully take advantage of my working holiday visa that lasts one year. I had a deep down desire to extend my ticket, but there were lots of challenges that made me second-guess my instincts. After working for 3 months at the resort in a secure job and house and then finishing a 2-week road trip exploring the South Island with my French friend Mathilde, I was again uprooting my life and moving into a new state of the Unknown. 

Sitting in the Basket of Dreams atop Queenstown Hill

With Mathilde gone, I knew no one once again. I was moving to a new place where I had no friends, no job, and no clue what was going to happen. I was entering a transitional period so I knew that there was a lot that I was unsure about and that I would have to FULLY trust God to guide my heart and my mind down the right path. Loneliness and anxious thoughts about what to do next filled my mind with insecurity. I cried out to God for help and guidance on an hourly basis. I felt lost, but I always felt God near me. I could sense Him reassuring me that things would work out, but that I may have to wait longer than I had initially wanted. During this transitional period, I was living in a small town called Arrowtown that had a population of 2,000 and reminded me of my hometown of Wolfeboro, NH. It was a great place to be this time of year because of the gorgeous fall scenery. Absolutely stunning! I knew I would not stay here long, but after searching for jobs in the town of Wanaka where I really wanted to be, I felt I had to reevaluate my “plans.” I began looking for jobs in Arrowtown and didn’t have much luck there either. After much prayer and debate, I decided to take a leap of faith and move to Wanaka. No job secured, expenses to be paid, but hopeful. I felt a pull to go to Wanaka and I thought that I mind as well give it a shot! Most places wouldn’t start hiring until beginning of June, so I could potentially not have a job for weeks and have to carefully watch my budget. Even with all of this uncertainty, I am so grateful that God has allowed me to experience this country and bring me into closer relation with Him. I am grateful for these moments of complete loneliness and fear of the Unknown because it has created an inseparable bond between God and I. I fully believe that He is my provider and will take care of me each step of the way.

Overlooking Wanaka, my new residence!

So here I am about to enter a whole new community once again. I am looking forward to getting to know more locals, engage in fellowship, find a place to dance, enjoy local cuisine, and get lost in the gorgeous outdoors.

During the 3 weeks of the transitional period, I have found a nice house to live in with affordable rent. I have even been connected with a gal named Amy who used to live in Asheville and knows some of my friends from home! We will share a room and begin our journey in Wanaka together. I am very much looking forward to this! As I’ve mentioned before, you have to trust the process and all things will be worked out. My patience and hope has been tested in the process, but I feel more hopeful now.

One key factors in this is that we must remain thankful in each phase of our lives. Give thanks for the hardships and struggles; this is what molds you.

Queenstown Hill, taking it all in.

Be Present. The more we focus on the present and what we DO have, the easier it is to make it through the difficult times. It is so hard for us humans to stick to the present moment. We are always analyzing the past and complicating the future with our fears.

One of the greatest lessons this trip has taught me is that is it exciting to not know what exactly is up ahead and to be open to new ideas that you hadn’t previously considered. By doing this you remain open to people, opportunities and God’s will for your life. We also have a tendency to plan out every detail. I have found that as I have ventured through New Zealand, I barely had a plan and things always worked themselves out and usually better than I expected.

So, Let Go. The right path is just ahead of you waiting for you to begin the trek. Trust it.

Surrender and Trust

Vanuatu: An Unexpected Connection

Last week I experienced one of the most beautiful countries God has ever created. For most Nationalities, Vanuatu is a name that no one seems to recognize. Situated in the South Pacific along side the high school football star, Fiji, the humble jazz band player, Vanuatu, awaits its chance to transform your mind as to what a tropical vacation should be about. 

I remember being so determined to travel to Fiji before I even got to New Zealand. It was known as one of the best islands in the world and renowned for honeymooners. I had it high on my list from all the hype. Soon after arriving in NZ I was presented with the trip to Vanuatu with my Kiwi friends. I initially wasn’t so sure, but decided to go as it was a good deal for a week getaway. As the weeks and months went by, the trip came closer and closer. I wasn’t all that excited about the trip because we were going during their rainiest month and again, my selfish mind was thinking, “well, it’s not Fiji!” Now that I have been on the trip, I couldn’t have been happier with the way things turned out.

The country is much more rustic than what I have heard of Fiji and Vanuatu is a place where you truly experience the culture and the people of the country instead of just lounging around your 5 star hotel as most do on their tropical island vacations. I decided to immerse myself as much as I could in the community while I was there. I wanted to connect with the people and get to know their culture.

Upon my arrival I met a lady named Joy who is friends with Tonya at the Kimi Ora Resort.

We met up a few times that week and I was able to get to know a bit more about the people and had some fun getting to know the locals. Interacting with the local children is one thing that brings me the most joy while I am traveling. They humble my spirit and remind of how simple and joyful life can be with little to nothing. We are given so much in America and have endless opportunities, yet these children are grateful for the ability to go to school, play with their friends, and get a lolly (candy) as a gift.

Before watching a fire dancing show, I was able to connect with some of the local children who were watching from behind a gate. Joy brought me over to the group and I introduced myself and began handing out lollies, giving high fives, and dancing with them. They even sang two songs to me about Jesus! Love love LOVE! They made my heart so full. I cannot ignore that my heart feels like this when I am around children living in this kind of environment. I believe that God has future plans for me in missions working with these children whether it be in Vanuatu or another country.

Another part of their culture that I really enjoyed was browsing their 24 hour market. Women run their own vegetable and fruit stands 24 hours a day for a way to make a living. We got some amazing food and also drank lots of fresh coconut water! Mmm mm! At one end of the market were women and men cooking up a storm! Each cook had their own little “restaurant” with a table dressed in bright colorful fabrics and menus listing beef stews, local fish and chicken curries. The meals came with big portions of rice, vegetables, and meat for only $5. I ate at these markets 3 different nights and got to know one cook named Joanna. She was always happy to see me as I was to see her. J

My trip also included a few touristy excursions including a fantastic trip to Hideaway Island that featured some of the best snorkeling in the world! Beautifully colored tropical fish everywhere! The patterns and colors on these fish make me want to create a fashion line. J There was also an underwater post office, the only one in the world, and I postmarked a waterproof postcard to my mom that I hope she receives!

Towards the end of the week I abseiled the 150 foot Cascades waterfall. It was an adrenaline pumping experience and so amazing. The sensation of hanging down on the rocks and feeling the water falling on your face is unforgettable.

All in all, Vanuatu is a country that should not be ignored. It is a vibrant place with beautiful people and gorgeous scenery. No matter where you travel to, I encourage you to explore outside of your resort. As long as you use common sense when you are traveling, you will be safe. Talk with people about where to venture to and their cultural etiquette. For instance, you may not be able to enter a village unless you have spoken with the chief, which we had to do each time. Get to know the people. Learn about what their struggles are and how they live day to day. Rejoice in their celebrations whether it be attending their church service or watching a traditional performance. We can learn a lot from each other. Expand how you see the world and the people that inhabit it. Taste and see that it is Good!

My First Time: Backpacking the Able Tasman

Whenever something occurs for the “first time” there is always a sense of excitement and anticipation. There are anxious feelings that stem from the steps you are taking into the unknown. It can be quite exhilarating, but also a bit scary. My solo journey to NZ has been filled with these feelings on and off and it will continue to occur as I adventure on. My most recent “first time” experience was backpacking the Able Tasman Coastal Track. It almost surprises me to think that I am 26 and still haven’t gone on a backpacking trip in my life! I love the outdoors and have been an outdoor leader for youth for years, but we mainly did car camping and the one time we were self-sufficient in the wilderness was on our 4 day canoe trip. There is nothing like carrying the weight of your survival on your back. It is such a neat concept. In my 25lb pack, I carried my tent, sleeping bag and pad; food for 3 days, water, clothes, first aid, toothbrush, and flip flops. I initially doubted (there’s our magical evil word!) that I would be able to carry this amount of goods on my back for a length of time while hiking, but I definitely surprised myself! When I initially put it one, it was a bit heavy and my self-doubt starting flooding my mind, but after about 5 minutes of walking around my room in it, I barely noticed it. It’s like it became a part of me. Me and Solveig, a Swedish wwoofer at Kimi Ora, set off down the road and headed towards the sea where the water taxi was scheduled to pick us up. Once on the boat we headed over to Split Apple Rock (the most photographed rock in NZ) and did a mid-sea transfer to another boat. After throwing our bags onto another boat and jumping onboard with a new group of travelers, we set off for our destination: Bark Bay. Once at the bay, we ate a quick lunch and then headed through the inlet towards the track. The tricky thing about the Coastal Track is that you have to pay attention to the tides. There are several places along the track where you can only pass through a couple of hours on either side of low tide. The tides are what dictate where you go and when. It also makes it pretty exciting and different from any other hike I’ve ever done! Traversing through the sea to get to the next leg of the track is quite fun! The water we traversed was ankle to mid-thigh height throughout our journey.

Our next stopping point was at Awaroa Bay and it took us about 4 hours to get there. We summited some pretty step hills and carefully made our way down slippery slopes. The pack seemed 10lbs lighter on even ground, but gained about 20lbs on hills. J I am not going to lie, there were definitely times where I thought I would never do something like this again. I was definitely being pushed physically and mentally! 

The last 20 minutes of the hike was along the Awaroa Bay inlet and the views of the sun setting over the sea was breathtaking. Once at the campsite, we met some nice guys named James and Danny and proceeded to set up camp. It was nice to meet some new people on the trail and it doesn’t hurt to have extra players for card games J. After the boys headed to bed, another two gents were playing the guitar so I joined in with them and sang some good tunes while gazing up at some of the brightest stars I have ever seen.

The next morning, we had to wait until 11am until we could cross the inlet. Danny decided to join us for the next leg of our trip and it was fun to have him around. We walked in thigh high water for about 15 minutes, put our shoes back on and proceeded on. Again, hills were my challenge for the day, but little by little, I made it! Our next destination was to Mutton Cove, a small beach campsite on the very northern point of the Abel Tasman. We passed Totaranui where we had lunch and made the low tide crossing. We crossed over a few beaches, which is always a fun change from walking through the bush. The bush here is amazing! It feels like you’re in a jungle and the fern trees are everywhere! Streams, bridges, mosses, ferns, palms, and lots of different kinds of trees live in the National Park. It’s magical. The wildlife here is beautiful! Lots of birds chirping, hedgehogs passing over the trail, blue penguins in the water and seals swimming and sunbathing! Oh and I did mention the ORCAS!? I’ll get to that later.

After about 4.5 hours of hiking on our 2^nd day, we made it to Mutton Cove where we set up camp on an amazing beach with very little people. Between the tree swing and the wild grasses that sat between the front door of my tent and the beach, I was in a very happy place. That night, I suggested to Danny and Solveig that we watch the stars on the beach in our sleeping bags. They were up for it! We huddled together to stay warm as we watched the majestic night sky. We headed to bed around 11pm and for the 2^nd night in a row, I could not fall asleep! I don’t know if it was the discomfort or just the stimulation of everything around me, but I found it hard to sleep. Luckily, my body performed beyond what I expected and it didn’t really affect my ability to hike and carry the weight.

The next morning we woke up to watch the unbelievable sunrise. It was slow and every few seconds the red, pink, yellow and orange colors would change their hues. Remarkable. I think we should all watch a few more sunrises! They really start your day of right. In that moment, I felt at complete peace and thanked God for all that He has blessed me with on the trip. It was in His strength that I could accomplish this challenge on such little sleep.

That morning, we decided to hike up to Seperation Point which is the most Northern point in the Tasman. We witnessed seals swimming and sunning and enjoyed the view from the lighthouse.

After returning to our campsite to pack, we began talking with the DOC ranger about Orcas in the Tasman. He said they only come 2-3 times a year and it would be a rare chance for us to see them. Well 5 seconds after talking to him, I turned around and guess what!! I saw 4 orca fins come up out of the water!! AMAZING!!!! On our trek back to Totaranui to catch the water taxi, we kept spotting them in the blue waters coming up for air. So special.

We finally made it back to Kaiteriteri beach where we had started and were so pleased with the journey we had just completed. I will definitely backpack again in the future and have learned a few things about what to pack. I find that weight is the most crucial part of the trek and in order to streamline it, proper backpacking gear is helpful as well as pre-cooked food like pasta that is lighter to carry along with your mini camp stove. All in all, this trip was unforgettable.

What are some places that you’ve been backpacking?

What was the most challenging part of the journey for you?

What three tips would you offer me and others who want to get into the backpacking world?

Cheers!

Spread More JOY!

One of the many things I love about traveling is getting to know people from all different cultures who have their own unique story. We are all connected through our love of exploration and expanding our knowledge of this wonderful world. Everyone is seeking something different and we are all thousands of miles away from home. One thing I have found great joy in doing is being able to serve these people through the spreading of joy and acts of kindness. I started becoming more conscious of what little things I could do to brighten their day. While working at Kimi Ora Resort, I began by simply cleaning the staff lounge and decorating the table with fresh flowers so that when the wwoofers came in to eat, they would feel appreciated. I also began posting inspirational quotes up on a message board in the lounge to offer a bit of encouragement. Today, the co-owner told me that they really helped her throughout the day and she was thankful for them! So Cool! See how something so simply can bring joy and comfort to someone? Even if something I do just impacts one person positively, I have succeeded.

For Valentine’s Day I bought some candies and placed them in a bowl with a note that said, “Happy Valentine’s Day! Enjoy some chocolate and give someone a hug today!” Everyone was so excited to see the chocolate and I got lots of hugs and smiles. People were commenting me on how special I make them feel. I don’t do these things to take credit or for people to like me, but it is for a deeper purpose. I am learning that it is better to be generous. I feel I have been a fairly generous person in the past, but I am experiencing it on a whole other level now. I think my self-doubt in this topic was that I didn’t think that what I did really mattered to people. I challenged my doubts and found that through these simple gestures, I can really help change the way someone thinks or feels. Whether they had a bad day or need a bit of encouragement, each of us has the power to help transform lives. It’s about being aware of the needs of others and what would make their day. For me, seeing someone smile because of something simple is amazing and it probably brings me MORE joy than them! The $5 I spent on chocolates and the 10 seconds it took me to write the note, created priceless joy for them and me. I am discovering that I have re-defined my mission in life and that is to truly serve others and bring them joy and encouragement. There are so many interesting ways to do this and I am exploring them at the moment. J

My challenge for you is to find a way that you can bring joy to others. This doesn’t just have to be through flowers, chocolates and quotes. Think of a creative way to bring a smile to the people in your path. Find your unique way to communicate joy to others. You’ll be amazed at what you discover.

Please leave comments with what you decided to do and what you learned from the process.  HAPPY JOY SPREADING!!

Overcoming Fears and Trusting Yourself: My Trek up Mount Arthur

The morning of the hike felt crisp and energizing. Jo, Larissa and I departed Kimi Ora Resort around 8:00am and ventured toward the Kahurangi National Park located at the top of the South Island outside of the Abel Tasman National Park. The narrow country roads lined with simple posted fences gave us a great sense of serenity as we approached the start of the trail. The sun was beginning to warm our bodies and the hues of blues in the sky made each of us excited for the trek ahead. After an hour of driving, we made it to the Flora car park where we applied some sunscreen and packed our backpacks with food, water and layers. While preparing for the trek, I felt very motivated and driven to get up that mountain. The funny thing is, I have a love/hate relationship with hiking. I absolutely love being in nature and I am always fascinated by the amazing views at the summit, but sometimes I just can’t stand the upward climb! I am still trying to figure out why exactly, but it may have something to do with being a little impatient. I think my brain just wants to be at the top enjoying the view, but there is always a journey and challenges to endear before you can get to the reward.

I’m sure you’ve heard this before, but just like many things in life, I think anything worth having includes some sort of hard work or determination to achieve it. The best things in life are worth the effort it takes to get them. We may not enjoy all of the challenges and struggles along the way, but man, doesn’t it feel good when you’ve accomplished the task you’ve been striving to complete?

I really had no expectation of what was to come, but there were some major physical and emotional challenges awaiting me on the way to the summit.

The beginning part of the trek or as Kiwi’s call it, the “tramp,” was very well groomed. There was an easy gradual incline, which I thoroughly appreciated. The trail traveled through the middle of the forest, lined with a variety of mosses, ferns and “Who-ville” trees (think Dr. Seuss J). We hiked along for about an hour until we reached Mount Arthur’s Hut. After a 10 minute biscuit break, we proceeded on.  We reached the top of one of the hills and from there the hike was along the mountain ridge line.
 Fully exposed to the sun, I was grateful I applied sunscreen even though later on I would realize I had missed a few spots. The land was very dry and signs of erosion marked parts of the trail. There was a cooling breeze that danced with the warm rays of the sun and provided perfect conditions to continue the hike.

After about 20 minutes on the ridgeline, we approached our first of many, large hills to summit. With my mind determined, I worked my way up the hill. Halfway through, my “stinkin’ thinkin’” hit me. I told myself before the hike that I would try not to complain on the way up, but dang it was tough! Maybe it was my lack of fitness, but I was feeling it! I began “hating” the hiking process and got a bit frustrated. As I continued to make it up this hill, I did some internal thinking and realized that I didn’t have to furiously conquer this hill. I decided it was okay for me to take it slow and try to enjoy the trek instead of feeling like it was a race to the top. This helped a little. After summiting the first hill, we hiked along the even ridge, passing many rock piles in which we contributed to. The funny thing about this hike was that none of us knew which summit we were aiming for. We were trusting that the blue trail poles would lead us to the place we wanted to be. We kept looking up and trying to spot which summit we were headed to, but we were never quite sure. I remember thinking about 2 hours into the hike that we had to be close. Was I wrong! As we hiked further, we began to encounter even more hills to climb with very slippery loose rocks. About ¾ of the way into our hike, one of my fears kicked into full gear. I have a fear of “getting hurt.” I am SO Thankful that I have never had any serious, life-threatening injuries, but after my knee injury and SI joint injury, I have really feared re-injuring them. My two injuries have improved, but things like hiking can aggravate them and cause weakness and pain in the area especially descending a mountain. Fear invaded my mind and immediately displayed an image of me coming down the mountain, slipping on the rocks and somehow hurting myself again. This fear seemed to grow with each step up the mountain. I did a lot of self-talking and kept telling myself that I could do it and I’d be okay, but my last straw was about to be used up. I remember looking up ahead of me and seeing a couple coming down the mountain and it looked as if they were scaling down a jagged rock wall. Usually this would have excited me, but with the fear brewing in my head and my body in sheer exhaustion, I began to get a bit emotional. Note to self and others: it is never a good idea to start tearing up on a strenuous hike. This will only make breathing 10x harder!!

I took 5 minutes to compose myself as the girls so patiently talked me through what I was feeling. Jo said something to me that really hit a strong cord with me. She said, “You don’t trust yourself.” Wow. She was right. I never thought of it this way, but my fear stemmed from a lack of trust in myself. If I could muster up the confidence to realize that I had the strength and ability to make it up and down the mountain safely and successfully, I would be able to starve the fear inside of me.

During the last very challenging sections of the climb, I felt a bit more confident and determined just as I felt when I started the hike. The section that I had seen where the couple was coming down, was actually misinterpreted from a distance. They were hiking along the rocky ridge, but on a trail that was manageable. This proved to me that you can’t let things in the distance scare you; you must take steps closer to make a better assessment. After a few more obstacles, we made it to the TOP! A few new tears gushed out of my eyes as I gazed at the amazing beauty that was before me. The 360* views of a diversity of landscapes all commanded by spectacular mountain peaks was absolutely mind-blowing. I have never seen such handsome peaks from the summit of a mountain before. Sitting alone on the edge of Mount Arthur made me feel fully Alive! Peace transcended my spirit and I again felt balanced and proud of the challenge that I had just defeated. 
Part of me still can’t believe that I was able to do it, but it’s amazing what your body can actually handle. It is our mind that limits us. Our fears, our assumptions, our self-doubts. We can control these through positive affirmations and facing fears head on. Through this, we will surprise ourselves with what we can actually accomplish. Whether it is climbing a mountain or venturing into a new career, it is so important to work on overcoming your fears. The best way to do this is to just try what you are so afraid of and trust in the process. Have no expectations and enjoy the journey. J

This Must Be Just Like Livin' in Paradise...

My transition to Kaiteriteri took a bit of time, but God has been by my side with each step, making this journey all the more victorious and rewarding. I came to Kaiteri directly after our road trip to work at an eco resort called Kimi Ora, which means “seek health” in Maori language. It is a small resort made up of about 20 cottages that are set up along the mountain side looking over beautiful Kaiteriteri beach. There are endless mountain biking trails and turquoise water beaches to discover in this area. I am living in a very small “town" with not much community outside of the resort and the various campground that surround us. I am missing my time of fellowship with others amongst many things that you would have in a community of people; however, I am embracing and enjoying the solitude I have at this moment. I have never not worked this much since I was 13. Instead of working 5 jobs, 50-60 hours/week, I have two jobs that take up about 27 hours of my time each week. I work 5-6 nights as the only waitress in the restaurant at night and then do some landscaping/gardening during the day for a couple hours. 

The landscaping is done to work for free accommodation. There are many wwoofers here on property. Most workers here are wwoofers which makes it fun. Every 2 weeks, a new group of people will form here. I have only been here for 2 weeks and have met mostly German wwoofers between 19-21 years old. We are starting to build a little family here so it is sad when they will all move on in the next week. They call me “Grandma” because I am one of the oldest staff at the resort. It is quite hilarious. I am amazed at how many Germans and Europeans travel in NZ. It is the bulk of the people I met. I think it is interesting that their culture encourages their teenagers to travel between high school and university. I think it is so important to do and it really gives them a whole new perspective on life if they allow themselves to be transformed by the experience. US culture is so set on starting university directly after high school and I am starting to think this isn’t the best way. I definitely want to encourage my children one day to explore a bit of the world before settling into a university. You should ponder it too. J

Traveling solo is quite the experience. It definitely has its ups and downs. I day dream about the day when I will hopefully have a man in my life who wants to travel or even a great friend who shares in the same passion of exploring the world and all its beautiful cultures. Until then, I must go it alone, with God by my side of course. This trip was meant for me to grow in my relationship with God and I am learning some valuable lessons. The one thing I am learning that keeps coming up on my trip is that there is so much freedom and peace in just TRUSTING the process. The key while traveling the way I am is just to allow situations, relationships and circumstances to develop your itinerary. The more of an open mind and heart that you have while traveling, the better off you will be. The more you try planning your trip, the less satisfaction you will have. It is a bit scary not to plan when you are in a completely unknown place with unknown people, but the beauty is in trusting God with His plan and allowing Him to work in each and every situation. I never thought I’d be working at this resort, in fact, I initially blew them off in my mind when they first contacted me about working here. I got a bad vibe initially and wrote them off, but something spoke inside of me to open up to them again and now here I am and I am so grateful that I opened my mind to the opportunity.

I am also learning that it is a poison to your mind if you keep questioning the place you are. If you keep wondering, “Is this the BEST place I can be at this moment? Am I missing out on something better?” Well then kiss your beautiful experience goodbye because if you think like this, you will drown all the wonderful opportunities that are right outside your door. I seem to have this issue along with some other travelers I’ve met, but I think it is so important to be as present in your situation as you can and make the most of the time you have where you are and with the people that surround you. I find myself day dreaming of what I’ll do next after my time in Kimi Ora and even after New Zealand, but I think it’s okay to dream. Dreaming is healthy, but remember to come back to Earth and be as present in your situation as you can even if it’s not ideal at the moment. Let its presence shape you and teach you more about yourself. You’ll be surprised what you discover.

Despite some feelings of loneliness, homesickness, and confusion, I am feeling alive and invigorated. I am relaxed, happy and blessed. I am virtually worry-free as I trust that God will provide me with the things I need in His timing, not mine. This will always been a constant “struggle” but one that we can improve upon with time and experience.