Common Ground Coffee House #116

[AVL1984]

What oh.....has everyone gone away? I have just returned from a lovely bus trip down to the South Island. I flew down to Christchurch and spent 2 days in that quake ravaged city. It was very emotional, lots of piles of rubble, cranes, empty lots, scary roads and scary footpaths. 4 ladies fell on the first day, bear in mind most of the tour was of elderly retired widows and thankfully no broken bones, but it was a bad start. The council is having it's work cut out with so many calls for prioritised work, but the falls should hurry things along.

Ch.Ch felt as if its heart was ripped out, shops are utilising the shipping container option, but there is little foot traffic in the CBD. We also went to Banks Peninsula and enjoyed the glorious Autumn weather, trees in their Autumn splendour.

From Christchurch we went to Greymouth on the west coast via Arthur's Pass in a train, enjoying more glorious weather, spectacular scenery of mountain alps, burbling mountain rivers and lots of sheep and cows.

Messed about in Greymouth which was so much nicer than when I was there 3 years ago and the hideous Pike River Mining Disaster was unfolding, the town was in shock and I felt as if I was intruding. We saw many miles of seashore as we wended our way down to Haast and through the Pass to the Fox Glacier and Mt Cook areas. Sadly, I think the glaciers will be kaput within 10 years, as they are retreating rapidly. I was disappointed in not seeing the view from the air, but the cloud cover descended rapidly, and the weather deteriorated to a mizzling rain.

I have seen that water can be blue, not through sky reflection, but a BLUE..I feel as if I saw a vision of heaven....it was awe inspiring as it is something I did not believe could be so.

At Timaru I bought some gorgeous boots. We finished off in Hanmer Springs and then bussed back up to Picton for the Inter-islander ferry and the very long trip home.

New Zealand is a cornucopia of stunning vistas, the North Island is very different to the South Island.....I am very blest.

Hope everyone is enjoying the Spring weather on the other side of the world.:1_grouphug:

My wife and I always wanted to go to that part of the world. It was something special about the people we knew from there. We worked with them at one of the manufacturing plants we worked at, and it was amazing how wonderful these people were. They said that there weren't many people who believed in "God, per se", but that there were many who were questioning. If we could have gone anywhere to be missionaries, it would have been there. We were told that we still could be through programs available in the Southern Baptist Convention. I just don't know. Where ever He leads. :wavey:

 

[Melanie]

Hi Tony....well this beautiful place is indeed one of the most secular countries in this secular world. As it was the last of the British Empire's colonies, there was a determination not to fill it up with convicts and political prisoners (ie Irish troublemakers) who apart from being so ungrateful having the English enlightenment were also Papist to boot. So dear old Australia got a healthy serving of Catholics early on (I can say this as I am a RC.)

NZ was settled by free settlers and amongst them my fathers forebears emigrated from Scotland to a new world where there was land for those who were not afraid of hard work for a better future for their children. The ordinary folk were not really aware of the ferocity of the natives as opposed to say the Australian experience where the natives tended to fade into the bush rather than joyfully engaging in combat and eating their captives.

So NZ was settled by Presbyterians,Anglicans and other groups in the South particularly. Of course Catholic missionaries also came, and one French bishop I believe ate his long pork before realising what he actually was consuming.

Where I live, about 2 hours drive from Wellington there is the beautiful river of Whanganui and the town of Wanganui, which was established very early in the colonisation. Catholic missionaries ministered to the Maori Iwi (tribes and clans ) that heavily populated the area....establishing Jerusalem up the river where NZ had its own missionary nuns established under the care of a remarkable woman Mother Aubert.

Today Wanganui has a large congregation of Brethern and their off shoots,a vigourous Catholic community and surprisingly (or not) the headquarters of the Wikka community of NZ.There are a number of evangelical groups here as well.

If you ever have the opportunity to visit, come through Wanganui...a pretty little town which is not much on the tourist route, but it is not far to Taranaki and Ruapahu if you are keen on ski ing, the river affords opportuniity for out door pursuits, and of course there is the opera house (I kid you not) some very fine musical things, a glass blowing school, and the usual rev head stuff for the terminally eager petrol heads.

In case it is not evident, I love Wanganui and NZ:love2:

 

[AVL1984]

Melanie, my wife and I love the Catholic, people...please never misunderstand that. I have many in my own family who are Catholic. We have some lively debates, and I wouldn't miss it for the world. Speaking of the world, I'm glad that you mentioned NZ...I so wanted to go there when I was a young college man, but the Lord seemed to shut the door every time it started to open.
(Oh, just let me say about those "IRISH" people that the former "British colonies" didn't want....I'm well offshot of one of their famous families in Dublin County, Northern Ireland. My family on my mother's side came over as the Patton family. I believe there were four or five of them that settled in New York and then Pennsylvania with our branch finally moving on into the Southern Indiana area in Monroe County. It's beautiful there! Some of the Patton's cousins went to New Zealand, and we've never been able to track them.
I hope all is well with you and yours. I used to frequent the ol' "Coffee House" here, and I have to say I've missed it.
Blessings.

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

Are you sure it wasn't Co Down, Northern Ireland or Co Dublin, the Republic of Ireland? I've been here 20 years and haven't found a Co Dublin in Northern Ireland .

I've never been to NZ, but everyone who has and been here are amazed about how much alike our island and North Island in NZ are.

 

[AVL1984]

To tell you the truth, C4K, I don't know for sure. I can only go by the papers that my relative from the 1840's had and what was kept at Ellis Island, and you know how reliable all of that stuff was at times. I do know that my great great grandfather would say that his great great grandfather would say "Antrim County (Dublin) Northern Ireland."...Is that any help? I'd like to know where some of these relatives on the other side went.
Also...glad to see you're still on the forums. I missed talking to someone who when they came home from the other side were only a few short hours away in Huntsville, wasn't it? I always wanted to meet you.
Blessings.

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

My son lived in Co Antrim, Northern Ireland for a while and Dublin, city and county, are in the Republic of Ireland. Sound like one of those greats might have had a few memories confused. There has only been a Northern Ireland since 1922.

I am sorta here on the forums. Just saw the Catholic comment and that piqued my interest. We very rarely get back over that way now.

 

[AVL1984]

Now about relatives being confused...I believe my maternal Great Grandpa was an alcoholic and was pretty bad near the end of this life (the last ten years). He was in a lot of pain, and you know doctors didn't know how to treat pain then as well as they do now. He, I believe, was the one who was talking about "Northern" Ireland...I know my Grandfather himself always told he me was about 11 years old when Northern Ireland came into being. He was born in 1911 and died in 1992.
If you know of any other boards or forums that are open, let me know. I miss the FFF and some of the other ones, but, not all of the infighting and overly harsh un-Christlike behaviour.
Blessings.

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

Antrim is a beautiful part of Northern Ireland, but we don't get up there much since they moved. I like the way of life in the North. It is nothing like the Republic culture wise. As soon as you cross the border you notice the subtle differences.

 

[Melanie]

New Zealand and Ireland share the novelty of being free of snakes! Had a wee holiday in Napier over on the other side of the island and guested with a lovely couple as paying guests. They were retired farmers from Dannevirke (you guessed right, settled by Danes) who were of Irish ancestry and not the bottom of the social scale ....which was a novelty for me as I had the impression that was the only sort in existance (silly me).

I have been a fan of Bill Bryson and have always wanted to tramp in the Appalchians, and also because I really love Applachian music. Sadly, I suspect this will never happen, as I am starting to fall apart. Martha's Vineyard sounds adorably exotic to me and I have always loved big sky country so would probably like Ohio,Kansas etc.

I hope to get to the Chatham Islands before too long, this locale sees the new day first and is part of NZ but not just a walk down the road if you know what I mean.

It is always nice to hear of folk who DONT go up in flames over differing Christian orientation, this is a problem in my family where my mothers side are mainly devout Lutherans, me the RCC and a brother who loves mocking God and religion. Needless to say he is in my prayers.

Lots of warm wishes from a very chilly rural town on the other side of the world.:godisgood:

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

It truly is the 'other side of the world' for me. Almost literally

Lovely bright and mild spring day here

 

[AVL1984]

I know the feeling Melanie. Right now it's getting very warm here in the USA and we have had a slew of tornado's hitting. I'm hoping the weather will calm for a few weeks or so .
My wife and I would love to visit NZ someday, Lord-willing. Had a friend who's family grew wealthy there during the 1800's and early 1900's.
Wishing you health and happiness there.

 

[AVL1984]

Antrim is a beautiful part of Northern Ireland, but we don't get up there much since they moved. I like the way of life in the North. It is nothing like the Republic culture wise. As soon as you cross the border you notice the subtle differences.

I've heard that once you cross over into the Northern part of Ireland it was different. Maybe once day we'll be able to find out for ourselves what those differences are and whether or not we would like them.

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

I've heard that once you cross over into the Northern part of Ireland it was different. Maybe once day we'll be able to find out for ourselves what those differences are and whether or not we would like them.

It is actually hard to imagine such a little island where two countries have so many differences. It goes much deeper than two different flags.

Though I have to admit there has been a lot of coming together in the last twenty years. I can't ever see a unified Ireland, but maybe a unity of Irish people under both flags.

 

[Melanie]

The world wide web is a truely amazing thing...to think I can contact folk on the other side of the world so easily...it brings me great joy to have this portal to view other folk, other cultures from country New Zealand. We live in an age of wonders!:thumbs:

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

Sunday we had two of our grandson here after church. We FaceTimed our daughter in America and her two children. I was able to read a story and all four children could see the book at the same time! Technology has its problems, but it also has its blessings.

 

[Dan Todd]

Getting Old

Tomorrow is the first day of the month in which I turn 65 - that means tomorrow I will be under Medicare - and I'll have to learn how that works.

I feel sorry for me :tongue3:

 

[AVL1984]

It is actually hard to imagine such a little island where two countries have so many differences. It goes much deeper than two different flags.

Though I have to admit there has been a lot of coming together in the last twenty years. I can't ever see a unified Ireland, but maybe a unity of Irish people under both flags.

I've heard others voice the same view, Brother. I don't fully understand why they couldn't or wouldn't want to be one country under one flag, but then again, I'm an American, born under a flag where it's all unified, though each state has it's own flag. God bless this country as long as He can, and I'm not sure that that will be very much longer. We seem to be getting further and further from the Bible, Christian principles and from supporting the nation of Israel.

I hope your ministry is prospering there, Brother.

Blessings.

 

[Melanie]

Goodness me......I have turned 55 years old!!!!:smilewinkgrin:

Who would have thought it? Please add me into your prayers as I am waiting to hear if I am diagnosed with a cancer or not!

 

[Gwen]

Congrats on the birthday, but OH MY GOODNESS! You are in my prayers, Melanie. Please let us know about the diagnosis!

 

[Gina B]

Pecan pie. It's yummy. :smilewinkgrin: