April 12, 2026 – We began the day at the Church of the Good Shepherd on the shores of Lake Tekapo. At the altar, a single plate-glass window frames the shimmering lake and snow-capped mountains – not as decoration, but as a quiet testament to the glory of God’s creation. It stopped us in our tracks.
From there, we boarded an Air Safaris flight and rose into a landscape that felt almost unreal – the glittering expanse of Lake Tekapo from above, ancient glaciers creeping between peaks, the majestic crown of Mount Cook, and the rugged spine of the Southern Alps stretching endlessly into the distance.
By evening, we reached Timaru, a charming coastal town known for its calm, sandy Caroline Bay – and for something more unexpected. As dusk settled, we waited patiently until the world’s smallest penguins, just 40 cm tall, emerged from the rocks, returning home after a day of fishing. Worth every minute.
A day like this leaves me deeply grateful.
