Dec 22, 2019 Christmas Worship

This past week I hurried to make sure I had acknowledged the holiday season for my family.  I miss them.   I was visited by a sweet friend and so grateful for years of friendship and kindness and commitment to be there through all the moments of life.  At least 55 years of friendship and memories show in this smile.

2 AMAZING Sacrament Meetings today.

New Zealand is it's own melting pot of Pacific Islanders.   We are surrounded by song and dance and traditions of Samoans, Tongans, Maori, Tahitians, Fijians, and less familiar Niue, Kiribati, Vanauatu, Cook Islands, etc.  

The islands are classified into 3 areas:

Micronesia

Melanesia

Polynesia

Many of these people want to congregate to New Zealand.   There are full neighborhoods and communities of these groups.  In the church there are separate Samoan and Tongan Wards.

Today we were in a congregation with a music program entitiled

"Our Saviour's love spans all nations"
           and every song was sung by a different group in a different language: 

"Mi Burrito Sabanero" (My little donkey) Spanish

"Tou Mai Gole Vata" (Oh Come all ye Fathful) Fijian

"Dinggin Awit Ng Anghel" (Hark the Herald Angels Sing) Filipino

"You Da Di Fang Yao Yuan Yuan Ye Shen" (Far, Far Away on Judea's Plains) Chinese

"Folofolo Mai 'a Sisu" (Thus Saith the Lord) Tongan

"Ave Maria"  Latin

"Oh Holy Night" English

"Aroa Mai Te Atua Laku" (My God Loves Me) Rarotongan (Part of Cook Islands)

"Aua E Te Maliu Ese" (Do Not Pass Me By) Samoan

"Marie Te Po"  (Silent Night)  Maori

They were all inspiring and beautiful.  

The song "Folofolo Mai 'a Sisu" is a favorite missionary song and they will unitedly sing this reverent song in Tongan together with arms wrapped around shoulders.  It's always a spiritual experience.  

Here are words 

http://media.ldscdn.org/pdf/music/hymns-tongan/1994-01-0270-thus-sayeth-the-lord-ton.pdf

and a recording to view:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uyh1i4xMAVA   

OR

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/inspiration/latter-day-saints-channel/watch/series/mormon-channel-studio/mormon-channel-studio-adelaide-kaufusi?lang=eng

And during the Samoan song "Aua E Te Maliu Ese" one of the young sisters was touched so much she sobbed uncontrollably and couldn't finish singing.  The rest of the group finished, but it was her tears that expressed the significance of that beautiful hymn http://media.ldscdn.org/pdf/music/hymns-samoan/1994-01-0540-do-not-pass-me-by-smo.pdf

OR    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiL0qgjmdw0

Between these meetings, I was visiting with a Tongan Sister and learning about her family.   I asked if she wanted anything specific for Christmas and she calmly shook her head and said, "Oh, I won't get anything, just to be together as a family, that's all we want."   I asked if she was giving anything to her younger siblings, and again, "No, we just want to be together".  Many of the islanders want desperately to come to New Zealand where there is more opportunity for jobs and education.  They give up literally everything to get here.

I'm not completely sure I understand if it's culture, tradition or finances or personal decision.   But I do know these people give you the shirt literally off their back, or jewelry off their body, or money from their wallets that is usually their dinner money.   The island People LOVE and give beyond what I've ever known or seen.   So yes, I'd love to be with my family this Christmas.   We miss them and pray for them daily.   But we are surrounded by not only beauty, but peace and examples of Love and Christ that are truly inspiring and calm our soul.   We love the Lord, and we love the people here.   

May your Christmas be full of love and kindness. ❤

15 December 2019 Christmas Conference

It's December already!

December in New Zealand is different than December in Utah/Colorado, that's for sure!

Grandkids...

Ready for Skiing!

A Rare photo of all 3 at the same time!

First snow!

Big sister to Help!

Meanwhile, down on this side of the world...

Our Ward Christmas Party!

The start..

Sometimes too much speed!

Whoops!

Linda and I get to hike around and we find great spots...

Nothing says Hello as well as Large Corrugated Buildings!

Beautiful Falls!

And crazy people! Can you imagine people actually pay to do this at the same Beautiful Falls!

Going...

going...

gone!

recovered...

Advertisement is pretty accurate don't you think!

Our Mission Conference was a lot of work, but it was a success!

Some in Tents...

Some in Cabins...

Altogether...

Some must be related to one of our daughters, because when they see a camera, they pose...

!

Notice the repeat? Sister Fonua!

This is the 2nd Tanner Cousin!

Found 2 Tanner Cousins...

They had a lot of fun too...

Group Activity...

AP's giving instructions...

Chaos!

Even the President and his Daughter...

Traditional Spoort!

AP Showing how it is done...

Catching up...

Cleaning up...

President's grandson...

And who can have a camp without visitors!

A few accidents (That's why we have a Nurse!)

Linda was BUSY!

And some strong Spiritual Moments...

Definitely a warmer Christmas than what we are used to...

Love you All!

Nikolaus & Linda...

Dec 6, 2019 Mental Health and Marae visit

Root canals, CT scans, gastroenterology, and Mental Health.
That pretty much sums it up .... A lot more mental health issues which is not my forte.  I do love these missionaries and the stress is real.   There are some phenomenal websites and apps to help with many issues. 

A GREAT starting point:   https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/mentalhealth?lang=eng

Which happens to be a link from: https://caps.byu.edu/apps-and-websites

These are ones I want to try:

https://caps.byu.edu/relaxation-recordings

https://caps.byu.edu/relaxation-and-meditation

https://www.smilingmind.com.au/smiling-mind-app

Thank goodness for great counselors who know how to work with these missionaries.  And great doctors who I'm forever grateful for getting missionaries treated for bug bites and rashes.

We spent a couple days in Gisborne and visited Nuhaka and Mahia where so many Maori originally converted to the church.   We entered their sacred Marae and were given a tour of the symbolism and history.  Some of which is here: https://www.visitwairoa.co.nz/see-and-do/attractions/kahungunu-marae

KAHUNGUNU MARAE. Kahungunu meeting house at Nūhaka has some magnificent Māori and carving portraying the history and stories of the early people, in the many carvings, scroll patterns and panel weaving.

Mahia is a sweet little town where our missionaries meet a couple times a week for "fight club" with a group of kids that are learning good values and life application along with some boxing skills.  We loved their devotion and caring for one another.  

We had a 3 day Early Christmas mission conference at Camp Tuhikaramea.   It was a great diversion from the day to day routine and so fun to watch the missionaries bond with each other and sing, and play sports and have fun.

We have a LOT of photos to catch up on. 

Mostly, we're grateful for the Savior and this season in which we celebrate his birth.   We see reminders of him in our lives and feel his love.

As we ponder his birth, our daughter gave birth to her own 6th child today and we are so grateful for their good health and celebration of life and love.  Not to mention our elation at another sweet grandchild to hug.

 We pause to acknowledge everything good and are grateful for examples of kindness, charity and giving all around us, as we seek to lift others and improve our own lives.  

Nov 26, 2019 Hamilton Gardens and COME AND SEE

Did you know there are people who NEVER use medicine?   1/3 of our missionaries come from surrounding Islands!
We have so many islander missionaries.   I've been asked to treat them with pressure point massage for headaches, tree leaves for boils, and all kinds of other foreign practices.   But using medication is just as foreign to them.   I have an Elder with a pretty bad infection.   He just can't grasp taking the pill every 8 hours.   If he forgets, then he thinks, I'll just wait and take the next scheduled one.   It will be a miracle to get this infection out of him!

Linda is pretty tired this week.   Being on call 24/7 and never getting it out of my head is a new challenge.  I think I need to trade someone and be on call 1/2 time.   We are short nurses in the mission field, and I see it is more demanding than I anticipated. 

We love these islander missionaries.  They have a love of simple pleasures of life.   Fishing, climbing trees to get coconut and pineapples and fruit, and walking everywhere are their normal daily activities.   One sweet sister here is learning to ride a bike for the first time.  She has so many knee scrapes from tumbling.   She said they had bikes on her island, but she was always scared to use one and now she's a missionary and has to learn!   I love her!   Our daily challenges are all so different.

We visited Hamilton Gardens again on Pday.   It's a beautiful garden full of treasures and changing flora.  75% of the flora on this Island are only found in NZ.   Everyday is a new surprise.  There are trees budding out covered in red that they call Christmas trees, because they bloom this time of year.   How did they know?   They are so profound, I'll never appreciate the poinsettia quite as much now.

I made Elder Despain stand by this Straw man in the "Kitchen garden" which was full of veggies and herbs.   He made me stand by this cute doorway that really is pretty cool.  If you come visit, I'll take you there!







There are so many cute things in this garden in addition to beautiful flora.  Doorways and hidden gems everywhere.   These are some of the ones we found and loved.:

We love the work of the Lord.  We love the inspiring stories from early missionaries here and current missionaries who are striving and struggling to serve him.   That is our desire.  We yearn to be more like him, live as he lived and invite others to Come and See, Come and Help, Come and Stay.

Love this address by Elder Bednar:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBzKAFF4Sdc

Nov 20 2019 Life is full of extremes!

Last Pday Elder Despain finally got to explore a few fishing holes.   I can see more in our future.  NZ is full of good fishing and he is going to keep talking and enjoying the finding.

Medical:   About once a transfer there's a major event/surgery.  This time an overnight stay.  We were on the same floor with the same nurses we had with Elder Rojas.  They asked about him.  He's progressing.  Such a great example to the Hamilton Mission!

Things are good.  Missionaries work a lot, there are going to be more injuries when they're out working, biking, driving, and Plenty of "Sport" on Mondays.
Thank goodness for Ibuprofen and Ice cream!

We really enjoy the wards we attend.  The people here are a lot of fun.  They take good care of each other and are a good example of service and ministering.  There are so many people on the membership rolls who can't attend.

Lemons are still in abundance everywhere and I must say we LOVE the fresh squeezed lemonade and homemade lemon bread. 

This week was full of extremes.
Helping missionaries gain weight/helping missionaries lose weight.
Cleaning and spraying flats for bugs and mold/ rewarding missionaries with Clean Flats!
Giving missionaries rides/ walking to get groceries and supplies.
Coordinating with doctors and sending missionaries to the pharmacist... I have a new love for pharmacists.   When missionaries need suggestions ... I send them there.   One pharmacist called me personally and made a valuable recommendation.

While we are enjoying our work and the people and surroundings here, we miss our friends and family more than expected.   Before we collapse in bed at night usually exhausted, we pour our hearts out in thanks for our children and their families and our parents and extended family.   We are blessed and more grateful each day for your influence and example.  We pray for you and ask protection and strength for individual trials.   We love you and feel we are carried by the Saviors atoning love daily.