it's just too darn hard to say farewell

i'll remember this Sunday for 3 things:

1. not much, coz it was a p boring Sunday avro although did see Long Beach in the day time for the first time and did a great bush walk in Grahams Bush..

2. oh yeah North Queensland made the Grand Final beating the Minor Premiers Parramatta.. how's that??!

3. Sam's final Sunday..

well it was a very emotional Sunday.. and to think there are a few more not too far away when Matt, Louise, Jess, Heather, Rachel, Dave Pom all finally leave Dunners for good.. i was really weeping when we were praying for Sam.. oh btw Sam, Louise told me that she couldn't quite get me on the camera so she told me to write down what i said..

Sam, when Pastor Ropati quoted Ecclessiastes 3 about there being a season and time for everything and yeah your time in Dunedin has come to an end but it's been an awesome and memorable time.. and even though u may be in transition now, but God's gonna be with ya no matter what.. just keep building your faith even though u may not be in Dunners and I know u will coz u're an awesome man of God.. and i'd like to add now that we'll miss your passion.. u're unique coz u're Sam Benton..

and then later i prayed for consecration for the rest of ur life, that u'll never walk away and abandon the beliefs that u've built up here, whether u're starting ur career, ur own law firm or even ur own family.. i just believe that there's so much more that God wants to do in ur life, Sam and u've just only driven from Dunners to Waitati.. there's just so much more distance to cover Sam, and just pray that u'll never walk away coz that'll be a big mistake..

well enough of the emotional stuff.. i'll miss ya bro..

well i needed Pastor Ropati's message today after the nightmare Friday i had esp with my test results.. like most Christians, i still struggle with the faith and doing it, and tend to worry.. but i just know that God's gonna be on my side and yeah like in Philippians 4.. give thanks for everything and commit ur worries in prayer and petition, then u'll know God's will.. that's the gist of it.. i believe that my future's in research and i want to help find cures for diseases and that's what i'm gonna believe myself in doing..

then we had lifegroup-leaders-for-next-year meeting and yeah can't wait for next year to lead my own life group..

so to another week, and i'm gonna be hungrier than ever just to finish this year well.. and hopefully so will the Wests Tigers, Chelsea FC and All Blacks..