Our "most challenging challenge"!

Our two days clearing land for native tree planting was a community service project that also presented some challenges. Carrying heavy and long branches up steep banks sounds like hard work, and it was! But the two days will be remembered mainly for the laughter, the banter, the funny moments, the miracle of no rain...

and being the moment of our "most challenging challenge so far"!

Noticing some problems with the sheep in a nearby paddock the owner of the land asked the students if they would like to help move the small flock up to the yards. The response was an enthusiastic "yes!!" And it didn't take long for the students to guide the ram, ewes and lambs through the paddocks. 

But we were very thankful the last person had shut the final gate when the flock decided that they had changed their minds, turned, and ran back the way they had come! 

Now the challenge.... and I have no words to describe how difficult it was to guide these sheep towards the corner of the paddock and through the gate into the yard. They DID NOT want to go there!! Time and time again we would have them almost in position, and then one ewe would look at a student, eye up a gap in the wall of defense we were seeking to build, and leap for freedom. If one sheep made it through, the others would follow. And all the cries and waving arms of the students did little to stop them. 

Yet the Pikelets were DETERMINED to herd these sheep into the yard. 

So they learned to stopped flinching when a sheep ran towards them. They began strategising so intensely that I heard them giving the owner advice (city kids know a lot about sheep, right?). 

We began to work very closely as a team, each finding a role and working together like different parts of a body. We learned to read and sense the movements of both the sheep, and the people on either side of us, so that we could respond before the sheep leaped for freedom to block a gap, all while keeping in alignment with the human wall on either side of us. 

I was very proud of the Pikelets that day. 

Not only with their determination (which possibly rivaled that of the adults around them) 

but also with the genuine respect and friendliness they showed to our hosts, 

their unwavering enthusiasm, 

and the great fun they created for those of us spending the day with them.

Adding this to the list of highlights for the inaugural year.  

Our next challenge is in a couple of weeks. We are heading to Mt Ruapehu!!