Sunday Blessings

Because we were leaving Waipu Cove today, I decided to get up early to watch the sun rise. Unfortunately the sun rose behind a cloud as it often does when one gets up early to see the sunrise. I wasn't the only viewer but this is the best I got.

After breakfast we packed up our comfy camp site and hit the road.

We both thought it would be nice to go to church if we could. The only church we knew about was the Presbyterian church next to the museum. Our google search didn't tell us the time the service would start, so, because the Gateway church started at 10 am last Sunday, we thought we'd aim for 10 am if we could and if it had already started, we'd drive on to Russell, our next stop.

Seems like we were  just in time.

The sermon was very inspiring. I felt spiritually fed. Tom talked about Matthew's account of the Christmas story, just Joseph and the angel. The angel told him three things:
1. Do not be afraid.
2. He gave him a name (he was not allowed to name the baby who would be his adopted son. Whoever names us has authority over us)
3. He gave him a task. He was entrusted with keeping the baby, the promise, safe.

After the service we stayed for tea. Met a lovely couple, Len and Meg Jones, who had moved over from South Africa four years ago. They were the welcome stewards at the door. Boy did they take their welcoming seriously!
They invited us for lunch which we gratefully accepted. What a blessing! Len told us how God had blessed him and his family and inspired us to trust God for everything - even when the bottom of our world falls out.

After lunch we had to finally leave for Russell. The highlight of the journey was probably the auto ferry.

Russell is a quaint and historic sea-side village.

with the usual rif-raf.

W explored a bit, saw the police station,

   ...other quaint buildings,..

...and even jacaranda trees.

We did a better job of putting up the tent this time. By the end of our three weeks exploring, we'll be experts.