Update

Wow time goes by even faster in New Zealand, no really something just makes it different! It has been 7 months since I last updated the blog, so much has happened. Let see...we arrived, month later we got the news that my brother and his 2 friends are coming for a "look and see". Not even fully out of jet lag and Francois got offered a job - the air was filled with excitement, now the wheel was rolling fast. Francois turned in his resignation and a month later he was back in full force fighting for his work permit to stay.

Within that month their house sold, and with some delay and lots of prayer, faith and waiting, even both cars sold and before we new it Suzette and the kids were on the plane 6 weeks later. What a blessing!

OK for timeline, we are now in April, so lets just back track a little. In this time of their dealing with their stress, I also had my own still searching hard for a job. I called it fishing...you had to throw in lines to get a bite! And so I did, the phone rang one afternoon and I got offered a job with the promise of waiting for me till I receive my work permit, another blessing.

So about 5 weeks passed with still no work permit and everybody getting nervous. After a call to the immigration service we finally tracked it down (it was on a round New Zealand trip) and immigration promised to take care and rectify their mistake asap. So I started working - it is worth to say after my 2nd visitors permit ran out and I was basically illegal in the country but had no passport to leave as immigration was in possession of it - (whew!)

I was appointed Assistant Manager for a company called Macpac (check out http://www.macpac.co.nz/). I started in one of their stores in Newmarket in Auckland city. I was then offered a transfer and the opportunity to open a new branch much closer to home in Takapuna which I accepted with open arms. With the offer also came the offer of stepping up into the vacant Managers position which I also accepted with open arms.

Francois in the meanwhile had the most terrible boss and worked in poor conditions to the point where he just had to get another job, so he did. He then started his new job on the 1st of July - very much happier and working way less hours for the same salary.

I on the other hand jumped at my opportunities coming my way and set in to open the new branch. Now just also take into effect that this was something I had no experience in and never done before which I now had to do with a team of people who is all in it for the first time receiving order from head office over the telephone! Of course I made the best out of it thanks to God and got it up and running in the given time. Honours were given out as to the efficiency and time it was done - good job all around with lots of praise.

So now I am running a branch and feel good too. I also joined the production impact team at church and do or learn videography at this stage in the AV team.

Dad still loves his job and is making a silent but good impact on higher ground so we are expecting something to come from that in due time.

Mom is the family champ! She holds everything together and runs around for us.

Francois and the family lived with us for about 2 months before finding a home of their own and have recently moved out with their container that arrived to fill their own home with all their stuff again. They now live about 25 minutes away. Both kids are in school, fighting the good fight with the English language barrier. Suzette is still searching for work and hopefully will get a great job soon.

O yeah and I bought a scooter. Have to have a ways of getting around if not for the bus. It took me a while to get use to it, still not completely but getting there.

So the Vorster's are all together again...after lots of stress, difficulties, prayers and blessings we are still getting use to our new surroundings on a daily basis, laughing and sometimes getting frustrated about suttle differences - but we love it here!

Die groot trek!

Ons is op pad New Zealand toe!

Tog terug SA toe

Dit was n lang vlug maar die moeite werd gewees, veral toe ek vir Francois kon verras op sy verjaardag. Om weer by vriende en familie te kuier was net so lekker. Die nagte op die plaas, wel dit was nou nie so lekker nie. Ek en my ma het baie hard gewerk om alles klaar te kry want die 3rd desember moes ons die vliegtuig haal. Met stampe en stote en laat nagte het ons dit reggekry.

Rain vs Sun

It's raining, it's pouring, the old man is not snoring because he is already at work! Today is one of those funny days... then it rains then the sun shines, you put your jacket on and take your jacket off. Today is also the day that I fly back to South Africa - a very long flight back that I mentally need to be prepared for. When you choose to fly somewhere take the shortest direct way when ever possible, trust me (spend the money, it's totally worth it).

This year also marks my 7th year of flying international flights every year, I think except 2005 when I finished my studies. The year of 2007 also brings the most international flights within the same year. I started back in May and flew from South Africa to New Zealand (Auckland), then also May I flew from New Zealand to America (California). Then, in September I flew back to New Zealand. It is now November and tonight I will be flying to South Africa and then December I will be flying back to New Zealand, which makes it 5 flights in total just for this year. Let me just tell you from a woman's point of view or more experience it really messes up your body, apart from jet lag, all the different time zone travel in such short periods make certain bodily functions also disappear until it feels ready to come back again, which is nice but probably not good physically for you.

Well I need to finish packing and preparing cause it is always hectic on traveling days. Please keep me and my family in your prayers as we travel again being separated from each other and then our reunion.