Yes Tasmania really exsists

Well we are in LA, a land where we have found they thought Tasmania was a made up place for the character of the Tassie Devil! Also, a place where the people think that it is summer the world over, pretty funny. Ok, I'll go back to New Zealand. Aug 2nd, we went to Crystal Mountain which the boys really enjoyed, HUGE crystals, also huge hot chocolates, that's what Caleb is drinking in the photo, out of a bowl! Same day was the Bledisloe Cup, as I'm sure you heard, Australia lost spectacularly. Raoul was a little afraid of cheering too loud, as they were on the edge of a massive crowd of All Black supporters. Caleb wasn't scared and was yelling loudly, luckily the (plastic) beer bottles missed his head, Elijah tells me he just moved in nice and close to Raoul. Next day we travelled down to Rotorua, via Candyland. We went up on the gondola and went on the luge. Very cool fun, probably the boy's highlight so far. The next day we went to Wai-o-Tapu, the smelly mud, geyser, and sulphur pools. It was, well, smelly. Then we went to the Waikite thermal pools for a swim, and even though it rained it was really a very relaxing swim. Same day we also went to the buried village. It was alot sadder than I was expecting. The volcano erupted without much warning and about 115 people died. There were reports from mothers who survived, but who's children were crushed around them. Really sad. We have been suprised by the amount of faith in New Zealand, despite, or pehaps due to tragedy playing such a large part of their history. God is given honor in many places and ways.