A wonderful and busy second day in Christchurch, New Zealand. The weather was beautiful and there is lots to report.

We started our day attending worship at New Zealand’s Transitional Cathedral which I wrote about yesterday. It was a beautiful choral worship with about 30 people in the choir. They were a mix of quite young children and professional sounding adults. Such wonderful music. And we heard the best sermon I have heard in ages. It was on Christ’s temptation in the wilderness from the Gospel of Luke. It was so good that I came home and made extensive notes in my Bible apps for future reference. It was a copy-worthy sermon. (Who else but a pastor raves about a sermon????). And it was the first time I had received communion from the common cup since before the pandemic. It was great, I miss it. 

We then headed out to the International Antarctic Center. Christchurch is the jumping off point for many Antarctic expeditions and resupply missions. We saw (and smelled) some penguins.

We rode on a Hagglund, the type of vehicle used at all the bases in Antarctica.

And our touring buddies got to ride as well, only they were outside. They loved it!

 

We learned a lot about Antarctica.

We also visited the Christchurch Museum, and the Botanic Garden. All were beautiful. Inside the Christchurch Museum was a replica of a Māori meeting house but made out of brightly colored crocheted material. Pretty amazing.

 

 

 

Oh, and a note about our car rental. We have a great big Toyota Highlander, probably more than we need. Of course, they drive on the left here in New Zealand and so the steering wheel is on the right side of the car. But the other thing that is reversed are the switches. The windshield wiper switch is where our turn signal is and vice-versa. So every time I prepare to turn, instead of using my turn signal, I accidentally turn on the windshield wipers. The Kiwi folks must think that is the way Americans signal a turn, with their wipers. Oh well, I will learn in a couple more days. Every time I pull out or make a turn, I repeat the mantra, “Stay left, stay left, stay left.” So far, so good.

It was a great day. I will close with another piece of street art.

Kia ora! God bless,

Coe & Janet