When The Saints Go Marching In

I'd be lying if I said it was easy.  When I left home this time I knew the chances were good, despite a shorter stay, that a small handful of people in my life might not still be on this earth when I returned.  Age, and the health issues that often accompany aging, reminded me that I should try to be prepared.  As if one can ever really be truly prepared for these sorts of things.  A dear friend went home to be with the Lord last Thursday, and I knew he was ready to go so that helped in some way.  I'm still not even sure he knew I was there the last two times I had visited before I left, but we had talked many times before of his desire to be in heaven.  Then this Thursday I got the rather unexpected news that another beloved friend had been rushed to the hospital. I had certainly not mentally prepared myself for two people in my life to leave so quickly.  I just had a sense last night, as I was trying to fall asleep, that I wasn't going to have good news about her in the morning.  The song "When the Saints Go Marching In" popped into my head as I thought about them both.  I couldn't tell you the last time I heard or thought of that song, but it was certainly fitting.  He was a very tall man, served in the Army - he certainly knew how to march and I'm sure he made an imposing figure as he did so; and her husband had also been in the military (as most of their generation had been) and they were known to always be walking in step, wherever they went.  I know there isn't marriage in heaven, but I like to think her and Butch are once again marching in step, this time down streets of gold. 

I was doing well this morning dealing with the news I had expected last night, or so I thought, until I read an unexpected post on my Facebook wall.  A virtual hug and a sweet reminder that "we serve a God of comfort who is with us no matter where we are".  Being away when these things happen is certainly hard, but it's such a blessing to have friends back home who make the effort to let you know what is going on, as it happens, and that they're aware you are far away and hurting as well.  Like most others, I have my gripes with technology, but at times like these I'm incredibly thankful for the contact. 

ANZAC Day in Aotearoa

Commemorating ANZAC Day 2018

As you might remember from my recent post about Te Papa,  the ANZAC acronym (which stands for Australia & New Zealand Army Corps) first came about from the battle of Gallipoli, where the two nation's armed forces joined together.  As I thought back to the last time I celebrated ANZAC Day, in Australia 2014, it almost seemed fitting that four years later I would celebrate ANZAC Day in New Zealand.  World War One began in 1914 and ended in 1918, one hundred years ago this year.

There were services all over the area, with a dawn service and parade in downtown Christchurch.  Unfortunately, the buses were not running early enough for me to attend that, but there was also a Citizens' Service at the Transitional Cathedral at 10am, which I was able to attend.  The service began with the official party and flag bearers entering to the march, "Fernleaf Headstones" (fun fact: was commissioned for the funeral procession for the Return of the Unknown Warrior in 2004). As a British Commonwealth country they subsequently sang the National Anthem ("God Save the Queen") before we were welcomed, in both Maori and English, by the Very Rev. Lawrence Kimberley and Her Worship the Mayor of Christchurch.  We sang two hymns, "O God, Our Help In Ages Past" and "Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer".  The words of both were mostly the same to the ones we sing back in America, but not exactly the same.  Scripture readings of Jeremiah 31:15-17 and Romans 12:14-21 accompanied the hymns before an address was given by Air Commodore Andrew Clark of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF).  He mentioned the battle of Gallipoli and then the horrible losses sustained during the year of 1918.  Not only did New Zealand lose nearly 17% of its military personnel throughout the war (most of them during 1918), there was an influenza pandemic at the end of 1918 that killed an additional 9,000 New Zealanders.  The desire for peace by New Zealand as a nation, and remembrance of those who fought in subsequent wars, such as WWII, Malay, Vietnam, Korea, East Timor, and Afghanistan were also brought to our attention. 

After a beautiful rendition of "In Flanders Fields" by the Christchurch Boys' Choir, Lieutenant Commander Paul Smith, Commanding Officer of HMNZS Pegasus, read a portion of "The Remembrance" by Pericles.

For the whole earth is the sepulchre of heroes: monuments may rise and tablets may be set up to them in their own land; but on far off shores there is an abiding memorial that no pen or chisel has traced; it is graven not in stone or brass, but on the living heart of humanity.  Take these men then for your example, like them, remember that prosperity can only be for the free, that freedom is the sure possession of those alone who have courage to defend it.

Responsive prayers led by the St John Cadets and a congregational hymn, which I had never heard before, were next in the service before The Last Post, (a bugle call common in Commonwealth nations), which commemorates those who have been killed in war, was played.  A Scottish bagpiper played the "Reveille" and then the New Zealand National Anthem ("God Defend New Zealand") was sang (you can listen to it here).  It was a very nice service with a good mix of representatives from service organizations, government offices, and military personnel, and it was quite well attended too.

The Price Is Right NZ

When I returned from Australia I remember being asked about the cost of things.  While things seem expensive when you're a tourist, in reality they were quite comparable to what things cost in the U.S. once you consider the standard wages.

This post is really just about the costs of things here in New Zealand - mostly food as that's an easier item to compare  :)  If you have no interest in this, feel free to wait for the next post, which will be more of the usual.

There are 3 major grocery chains here in NZ, Pak'nSave, Countdown, and New World.  Pak'nSave is the cheapest and has an Aldi-Sam's Club type of feel - you pack your own groceries (they don't bag them for you, hence the name) and most of the items are in a larger size or quantity than at the other two stores.  Countdown and New World are next in their comparative pricing, but when you have to walk to get groceries, as I do now, you weigh your options (sometimes literally) since you have to carry everything back home with you once you're finished.  The New World is closer to me, but the Countdown is near the library, so I shop at both (there is no Pak'nSave within walking distance).

Flyer from New World
Ground Beef - $12.99/kg (a kg is a little over 2 lbs)
Chicken Breasts - $10.99/kg
Angus Beef Burger Patties - $8.99 for 600g

Chocolate Ice Cream (2L) - $5.99
Ambrosia Apples - $2.99/kg
Grapes - $4.99/kg
Iceburg Lettuce Head - $1.99
Cucumber - $2.99
Corn (canned) - $.99
Black Beans (canned, organic) - $2.19
Milk (1L) - $2.85
Eggs (doz) - $3.25
White Sugar (1.5kg) - $2.90
Corn Flakes (supermarket brand 500g) - $2.70
Coke (2.25L) - $3.99
Peanut Butter (supermarket brand 375g) - $2.50


Pricey, but it's name brand --

 A lot of the food is imported and a lot of it also seems to come from Australia, which has its perks; such as a large variety of Tim Tam flavors (on sale for $2.50 too):

Fancy some Kentucky Fried Chicken?