On Again!

NZ is on!  After chatting with Tom and his family about Maise's health and getting approvals from both the NZ Department of Conservation and the National Park Service, we decided that the Connors family will go to New Zealand now, and the Hopkins family will come to the US at a future date to be determined.

The NZ DOC has found enough work for me to do even with Tom still there and I've sucussfully got my projects at a point where I can have other people in our group fill in for me for six months. (Thanks everyone).  The good news in this is that Tom and I will be able to work together and learn even more about each others agencies from each other.

Lea and I have rebooked our tickets to leave on the date Greg was scheduled to leave, Jan. 28.  So now we will all travel together and arrive in Hokitika on Jan. 30.  Lea is going to go to school on the 31st (with a cup of coffee in hand!)

We are so excited and have found a house to rent in Hokitika.  It comes with a two person kayak!  So now we are back into packing mode and are optimistic that we will be on a plane on Jan. 28. 

Tom extends his thanks to everyone who has expressed concern for his daughter and I appreciate all the people who have been listening to my daily updates and continue to share in the excitment with us. 

Heres a photo of the neighborhood where we will be living.  The house we are renting is a little above the power pole, tan with a brown roof and with a palm tree in the back yard.

Hokitika, NZ

Map of New Zealand, the red text on the south island says "Connors' House in New Zealand