In the Beginning......

 Hello! 

Well, every blog needs a beginning, so we might as well start here:

We are the Huseth family, and we are about to embark on a journey to New Zealand where we will live and be in a new context together from October to December of 2022. A little bit of background: Eric has been working as pastor of Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Bonner (just outside of Missoula), Montana USA for almost 8 years. He applied and received a grant from the Lilly Endowment Clergy Renewal Program in 2019 to embark on a sabbatical for 3 months. Having originally planned to do this in 2020, plans (obviously) were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. After deferring twice due to pandemic (New Zealand borders closed) and personal (we had another baby!) reasons, the stars finally aligned for this experience to go ahead in 2022. 

Abby has worked for Climate Smart Missoula since 2017 and has been actively involved in local Climate Change issues for almost a decade. Climate Smart Missoula works closely with city, county, and local community organizers in helping the Missoula community create and benefit from more sustainable and equitable Climate Change solutions. Due to her years of service at Climate Smart and amazing colleagues (here's to you Amy!), Abby also qualifies for a sabbatical rest period. Along with this, our boys Avery and Soren are not yet in public school (Soren begins Kindergarten next year) which means that they can take a leave of absence from their daycare and pre-schools more easily. Therefore, amazingly, it seems like timing of this once far-off adventure is proving very positive. 

So why New Zealand you may ask? Good question. This is where it gets personal. Abby will, I'm sure, give a bit more of her perspective in the midst of this journey. For Eric (the writer of this post), at least, it is this: Apart from seeing the landscapes of New Zealand in high school and college from the now famous Lord of the Rings movies, the country has been a source of curiosity for quite some time. Of course, a country with mountains, ocean beaches, tropical plant life, and romantic sheep-populated countryside can be enticing for really anyone. But for me, the people of this amazing nation also stand out in their landscape connected way of life. 

For many of us and our family, in particular, anxiety from a changing climate coupled with the real questioning of the future for our children has hit home. Climate Change is the underlying issue for so many negative things affecting our planet and it can burry us in overwhelming fear and stagnation. For me, one of the only ways I can feel whole as a husband, father, pastor, and world citizen living on an earth that is becoming more unstable is to do what I can. I want to my part and do that part the best I can for my family, my children, and myself. Within this working commitment that has taken several years to develop, I have come across many inspiring actions being done by the people of New Zealand. From the continued work of Environmental Ethicist and Theologian, Dr. Andrew Shepherd (check out this AMAZING podcast on the New Zealand Church and Climate Change: Nga Here: The Many Connections), to the work of A Rocha New Zealand, the people of New Zealand are working hard to not only stave off the worst disastrous effects of Climate Change, but also promote a better and more peaceful way of life. What makes it even more interesting to me is that many of these folks come from some kind of faith background and spiritual belief system. The church in New Zealand is quite small (only about 10% of the population roughly) which also makes it a close community and, in some ways, a rather adaptive and powerful voice on current issues. Now, to be clear: people with religious convictions are not the only people in New Zealand doing Climate Change work. Far from it. Many people of many stripes and colors are invested in this huge issue. 

However, what I have witnessed so far in my preparation and interactions with New Zealand citizens devoted to this cause is that their devotion (whether it be Christian or not) to a spiritual conviction and practice is quite apparent. There is, it seems, a deep and rich understanding of spirit and landscape that is, in my initial opinion, unique and beautiful to the people of New Zealand. This, it also seems, serves the population of community organizers, activists, faith leaders, and government figures well in their fight to change human behavior and conditions for the sake of the planet. 

So thus, may this be the beginning of a journey in learning more about this rich relationship between the land and the Divine. What can a New Zealand understanding of landscape teach me and how can it impact my actions for the sake of this planet? What can this teach my young children in their development and learning of how to be good people of faith and stewards of nature? All of these things I am pondering right now and hope to bring you along into those ponderings, too, as we venture forth. 

Thanks for joining my family and I at the beginning of something...well... hopefully a bit earth-changing for all of us.