Life and Adventures of the Hirst Family

Our last two weeks in New Zealand we were reunited with many relatives and friends-from New Zealand, the States, and Australia! We had been looking forward to this moment for quite some time and it indeed was a very joyful time, full of laughs, stories, and of course the unexpected surprises that come with traveling. Jacob’s dad was able to meet us in New Zealand and spend some time visiting with his siblings and relatives that he hasn’t seen in quite some time. It has been a full year of discovering the Hirst Roots-which has been wonderful, eye opening, and helpful in gaining a better understanding of the Jacob and his family.

The beginning of our two weeks was in Dunedin, New Zealand, where we met Jacob’s relative/brother Mark and his partner Sophie. We enjoyed meeting them (the first time for me!) and really appreciated their generosity and hospitality during our stay. We shared some wonderful evenings together, learned how to surf, and just got to know each other better. I was reminded how important it is to try new things and the joy that can comes from taking risks and stepping outside our comfort zone. A friend recently told me “we weren’t made to live in comfort, but to discover our comforter.” We only need to trust in God to experience the joy and great things He has to offer. It’s funny how a simple activity like surfing can remind us of these truths. While in Dunedin we also were able to reconnect with one of the first people we met in Wanaka, Sarah, who is doing mission work at the local university in town, Dunedin University. It was encouraging reconnecting with her, seeing what she is doing on campus, and her heart and vision for the students. Of course we can’t go without mentioning one of the biggest highlights in Dunedin, getting to go to an All Blacks Rugby game! Jacob has always been a die-hard All Blacks fan, so it was quite a treat to experience the atmosphere and culture of rugby!

“We cannot expect to grow if we are too afraid or unwilling to change and face challenges. When we exit our everyday, mundane lifestyles to do something different we can experience growth, undiscovered strength, and new abilities within ourselves.”

― Ashley Ormon

After we said our goodbyes to family and friends in Dunedin and the South Island, we flew into Auckland where we met up with Jacob’s Dad and were reunited with our relatives in Auckland. After almost a year, it was so wonderful seeing Poppy and spending time with him. We stayed with two of our favorite people-Tania and Eric (cousins) and thoroughly enjoyed seeing them again! We spent the next few days visiting different relatives, family BBQ’s, lots of games and cards, sharing stories, and cooking many delicious meals together! We were very blessed and spoiled by Tania and Eric’s hospitality, not only during this time, but everything they had done for us in the past year. They continue to give us a new perspective and meaning of hospitality and love, as well as sustainable living. We are looking forward to when we can return the favor!

While Campbell was in the southern hemisphere, we all were blessed to spend a week in Melbourne, Australia with Jacob’s sister, Amanda, and her beautiful family. We got to see our two nieces, Emilija (6 months) and Annika (3 years). It was so exciting meeting precious Emilija for the first time and seeing Annika again. After 1 1/2 years, Annika had gotten so much bigger and much more talkative and playful. We really enjoyed spending time with these precious girls! Highlights in Melbourne were getting to watch Amanda’s figure skating competition, exploring the Victoria Market, riding the historic “Puffing Billy” steam train, seeing kangaroos for the first time (in the wild!), having a picnic and exploring St Kilda’s beach, being reunited with a good friend we met in Wanaka, and just the every day moments. We also got to take a side trip to Hobart, Tasmania and enjoy this beautiful town and the historic Port Arthur. It was a whirlwind of a trip, but so wonderful to finally be able to visit Amanda in Melbourne. As always, time went by too quickly and we can't wait to see them again!

As the week came to an end, it became more real that our time in New Zealand was coming to an end, and we were actually leaving soon. We have fallen in love with the beautiful culture, lifestyle, and people here. We have enjoyed so much getting to know relatives and it was harder than we ever thought it would be to say goodbye. It has been a year full of the unexpected, but we are so thankful for every experience and person we got to meet and spend time with here. We are thankful to have such wonderful memories in New Zealand, and are now excited and waiting eagerly for what the Lord has planned for us next! We are forever grateful for everyone's prayers, support, and encouragement during our time in NZ, and would appreciate them more than ever as we pray for clarity and direction where the Lord wants us next! :)