Grape Vine

Dear Friends and followers,

I am sorry i have not updated for a while. I thought i had no news to share but thinking about it a lot has happened in the short time i have been in New Zealand.

Since starting work i have turned up every day and tried my best at each days work, naturally getting better and quicker at the job. We at Provine viticulture work at many different vineyards in the Marlborough region lifting trellis wires, bud rubbing, fruit and shoot thinning at vineyards such as Oyster bay, Montana and the less famous vineyards too

After my first week of work (despite starting on Wednesday 1st) i left the hostel i was staying in and moved into a room in a small house at the other end of town. At first i felt lonely, i had isolated my self from people/Company moving out the hostel but i decided that if i am to get the meetings regularly i kneed to be nearer the hall, which is also the other end of town, just around the corner from the house.

I went to the Blenheim Springlands congregation meeting on Sunday 5th and being with the brothers and sisters was a breath of fresh air. I took part in the watchtower discussion and spoke to the brothers afterwards. 
After speaking to one of the brothers about my plan to go to the South pacific to explore and join in and help with the ministry some wear that needs support i was introduced to a brother called Marty, who leads the Nivan studies (Nivan's are people from Vanuatu). Marty explained to me the opportunity's with Nivan's in Blenheim and also in there home land. I went on a study with him last Thursday with a Nivan called Judah.

Vanuatu formally called the New Hebrides consists of about 40 islands and is situated east of the Solomon islands and west of  Fiji. A poll recently voted Nivans worlds happiest people, Nivans speak Bislama a form of pidgin English. They are a very smiley people, it is hard to believe there ancestors were Cannibals. Vanuatu is famous for the vine diving ritual on Pentecost island that bungee jumping was inspired by.

On Saturday i went country witnessing and in the afternoon i visited some lovely beaches and swimming spots on the north east coast of the south island with friends from the congregation. On Sunday afternoon i went Scallop fishing in the the sounds with Marty and some other brothers, which was great fun!

Moving out of the hostel was after all a good decision, tough at first but through trusting in Jehovah and getting to the meetings, ministry etc... i have got to know people, and have made some friends.

My plan is to work here until the end of February and then get myself out to Vanuatu.

I will update soon

Cheers,

Felix