It was a dark and stormy afternoon on the shores of Lake Tekapo, New Zealand. In 1997 I had visited the village of the same name to see southern stars with my little telescope; I brought that telescope back with me this time, hoping to repeat that magical week. But the weather would not cooperate.

My trip to New Zealand was sponsored by the Catholic Enquiry Centre. For two weeks they shuttled me around the country, speaking at a dozen different locations from Dunedin to Auckland. My audiences included a former prime minister, a cardinal, an imam, and lots of school kids. They all had great questions.

Our trip to Tekapo was sponsored by the Diocese of Christchurch; Bishop Paul Martin was hosting a group of lay people working to raise money to rebuild the Catholic cathedral, severely damaged during the 2011 earthquake. (While in Christchurch I also saw the half-destroyed Anglican cathedral in the town square, and spoke to supporters rebuilding the former astronomy tower at what is now the Arts Centre.)