August 19-25 Temples, Wind and Rain

We drive by the New Zealand Temple several times a week.  At the moment, it's gated off and under major renovation.  We still see the beauty and gratitude that it's been a part of this country for so long.  The renovation will extend beyond our time here.   Someday in the future, we can return and enter inside.

Our mission office is in front of the temple.  The windows look out over the temple on the hill.  Several times a week there are rainbows in the sky over and to the side.  There has been more rain here this past month than even the usual winter downpour.  It rains hard and fast.  We've used an umbrella more this month than in our entire life.

The temple is next to the Legacy Park area that honors those who devoted years to build and work on the temple.  The stories of the early converts are inspiring. The Matthew Cowley Church History Museum is full of artifacts and history of the early members of the church.  The Museum is in the same building as the Mission office and we are surrounded by inspiring and devoted individuals.

We're getting more settled in our sparsely furnished flat.  We finally got 2 nice office chairs that make working much more comfortable.  Some days we spend the entire day working at our computers, but often we're out with missionaries and planning their conferences and events.

Grandma Gleason used to say she'd go without a bed before she'd go without a dishwasher. She had lived without them in her life, and knew which was a greater gain.   While we're not ready to give up
our bed, We are missing a dishwasher far more than expected.

We are LOVING the ocean, fish and chips, ginger kisses, fresh lemons and citrus, Tip top Ice cream, Real fruit ice cream, and the most amazing creme brule EVER at Bluestone Steakhouse.

We're grateful for the beauty in this world and for the opportunity to visit with and get to know some amazing individuals who share our love of God and his creations.

August 12-18 Flat inspections and Southern Cross

A week of learning more about the missionaries in our mission – How they live – and insights to the New Zealand Movie Industry humor…

Monday’s are the missionaries’ P-Day – Not for us. Monday is our Office Staff Meeting and more administrative planning (i.e. Transfer Planning this week). On Thursday, while some of that was occurring, mom figured out how to drive by herself to exchange medicine with an Elder – So more medical this week – (We are becoming very Familiar with the Anglesea Clinic in downtown Hamilton!).

We let some of the missionaries know we were conducting Flat Inspection this week (these were not “surprise” inspections) – On Tuesday when we went up to Auckland to inspect 6 flats we had a few surprises – ants, mold, bugs, bathroom fixtures off walls, broken hinges on cabinets, missing bed covers, etc. Since most of the missionaries happened to be around during these inspections, we were able to show them how to clean, spray for bugs and some repairs (yes, the tools I carried down here have already been used!) Sometimes I think they just need to be shown how to do things – After all, most of them are only 6 years out of Primary… (For anyone who works with the Youth, we have a new perspective and some ideas that would help these young people get ready for missions!)

Friday night we were invited with some other Senior Couples to watch a New Zealand Movie called “Hunt for the Wilder People” – It’s a rather entertaining movie that includes local humor – It is considered an Adventure Comedy-Drama where a juvenile delinquent goes to live with foster parents on a remote farm – Watch for it on Amazon Prime…

We did get some spiritual intake this week… The Hamilton Stake had their Stake Conference. We attended the Saturday Evening and Sunday Morning Session of conference.  It has been quite impressive to see the people of New Zealand share their experiences and testimonies – They share personal stories in a very touching and humble way.

            “My testimony is simple – I know the church is true! – I am Happy! – Amen”

            “As we build our Testimonies - We still need to move our feet”

Sometimes the missionary work can be frustrating, but even then, they put a wonderful spin on perception…

“Which is more important? The Sun or the Moon?

Some say the Moon is more important because it shines during the night when we need it!

The Sun is less important because it shines during the day when it is already light!?!?”

When faced with people that have this perception, “Just Smile and Wave”

Here is the Southern Cross (Like our North Star) –

Have a Great Week!

We love you!

BTW – The All Blacks annihilated the Wallabies 36-0, to retain the Bledisloe Cup (for a 17th consecutive year!)  and extend their unbeaten streak at their Auckland home field to 43 matches over 25 years! [For those non-rugby, American football fans – If you can see the highlights of this Test, you will see a very impressive “goal line” stand by the All Blacks!]

Aug 5-11

What happened this week?   A LOT of medical.
 
We have a pretty amazing District.   Super happy to be a part of these great elders and sisters.   6 Sisters 4 elders and one senior couple.  The District leader makes great assignments each week.  Everyone has an assignment.   We always start by quoting the mission purpose:

Invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel 

through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement,

 repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, 
and enduring to the end.

Which is followed by the 4th section of the Doctrine and Covenants. 
They have it memorized ... I still stumble through both.

We recognize how amazing these elders and sisters are, and want a picture of the district together.   Its the beginning of our mission, so a picture of all our districts as they change every 6 weeks at each transfer seemed like a great idea. We planned to get it on Tuesday at District meeting.    Then Wednesday came and change was oozing from our district.  One sister with ongoing pain, finally required an MRI, which determined it was best to have her go home and she left on Saturday.  Wednesday evening one of the elders in our district had a bike accident and dislocated his thumb.   We sent him to urgent care where xrays were done and decided he needed surgery for a closed reduction fracture pinning.  They wrapped him in a plaster cast and sent him home without any pain meds.  We gave him some ibuprofen and waited.... we spent 2 days trying to track down the plastics doctor to do the CT scan or surgery.  Because it was an injury in NZ, it was covered by their Social Healthcare coverage, which is a challenge for me to adapt to!

Saying Goodbye, the night before she leaves . . .

Meanwhile we were with a previously injured elder, who was getting a cast removed and starting physical therapy to return movement to injured wrist.  We asked several departments that day how to get in for the next visit with the new accident.   Finally we returned to the urgent care, where the doctor was exasperated at himself having tried to call the plastics department and never getting an answer OR a return call.  He wrote a referral letter and explained the urgency of the surgery.  We went to the Hospital Emergency with the letter and proceeded to wait .....   That was Friday.   We waited Friday and were sent home to return Sat.   We returned Sat and were told there weren't any x-ray people available and to come back Sunday.  We went Sunday at 730 am and at 2pm they said they might have to send us home.  Linda went to take a walk and was retrieved and told they were sending him to surgery. (Which in the states is called an Operating Room, In New Zealand its a Operating Theatre ....) 

Little differences in spelling everywhere...
Authorised vs authorized
Kerb vs Curb
Tyres vs tires

Hallelujah!   He was finally out and by 730pm we were able to leave ... this time with a couple pain meds in hand.  Luckily last Sunday we attended two church meetings since we spent time in the hospital this week and while waiting attempted to help the elder with his own family history.  His father's relatives are from England which we find sources for, His mothers family is from Tonga and I am LOST trying to help with Tongan Genealogy.  Thankfully we have an amazing Islands of the Pacific Family History center here and there are many talented experts in this area.  

In the interim, I had ongoing phone calls of colds and flu, rashes, eye cyst that needs surgery, successful dental visit, and right quadrant abdominal pain coming off and on for 3 weeks.  I asked the abdominal pain elder to get a ride with another senior couple and come to Hamilton for a doctor visit, and meanwhile asked the doctor for a prescription, for a sister he had seen, with leg rash that turned into a boil,  We successfully delivered the prescription, missed a diabetes consultation and returned home.

Last Monday we attended a First Monday of the month Ward FHE, where a newly returned missionary from Samoa was welcomed and native dancers performed Samoan dances.  We met people from all over the stake who wanted to be there.  We have a list of places we'd love to see and more friends.  We visited with a delightful family who made us part of their family gathering and we tasted their highly admired crackling.   Pork fat is a staple here.   They don't sell bacon, they sell Streaky bacon which cooks crispy like they like it.   All the flavors here are slightly different than ours.  We're learning what we like. 

We manage to attend weekly office meetings for coordination updates with the President and Sister Erekson, and mingle with members we have met in other wards.  Most families have family who are not members and we get to visit with non members regularly.  We attended a baptism that sisters in our district had taught.   The girl was so elated to be a member of the church and so excited to share it with both of her parents who attended and supported her even though they are not members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  We are grateful for the spirit we feel from these good missionaries who are here to serve and become better.  They teach us something on a regular basis.  We learn a lot from them and are immersed in their love of others as they seek to share and bless the lives of those around them.

July 29 - Aug 4, 2019

Green onions continue growth by topping,
and Lemon tree in Background.

"There is beauty all around!"  New Zealand is beautiful.  It is winter and sometimes cold, but flowers abound, lemons, grapefruit and oranges are on trees everywhere.   Because we have both grapefruit and lemon trees in our yard, we are enjoying fresh squeezed lemonade and citrus.   There are good vegetable and fruit stands, which are still more money than we're used to paying.   A bunch of green onions is $2.50, and a small pint of tomatoes is $5.99.  Thankfully, my daughter taught me how to put a glass of water in the window and just clip off the tops of the onions and they regrow, so we're harvesting and re-harvesting the same onions all the time.

We also have a glass greenhouse in our backyard.   We tilled in mulch and new soil, and planted tomatoes and peppers.  We also have several small starts of tomatoes that we're hoping grow so we can give them to missionaries and encourage them to plant in their flowerbeds.  People say, whatever you stick in the ground will grow, you don't have to do anything .... We're hoping that's true.

Planter with Strawberries, Raised beds in
background with herbs, lettuce and onions,
and Look at the grapevine that we look
forward to producing ....

We enjoyed a couples conference this week and were able to mingle with couples all over the mission.  There are some inspiring people that are helpful and making a difference in peoples and missionaries lives here.   How we need more couples to lift and inspire these young men and women out preaching and struggling to do what they've been prepared to do.

The woman with me is Sister Baxter, from Longmont Colorado, but living in Lexington KY for the last 15 years. (Where Linda was born), and she is wearing 2 identical necklaces that I have as well.  They're from a little village in Kenya where her sister is serving a mission.   My parents sent my girls and I the same necklace.... She wears it so well that I had to take a picture for inspiration, I didn't bring mine to NZ with me .... but I'm sure to don the same necklace on my return!

Purple Swamphen
 locally known as the pukeko. 

Maori greetings

Last week, we drove around most of Lake Taupo, and it took almost 2 hours.   This past week, we walked around the entire Lake Rotorua in less than an hour.  There are Native NZ birds and Some amazing playground areas, We can't wait for the grandkids to come enjoy them!

We're also getting introduced to some Maori words and traditions.  There is a large diversity of culture here.  The church congregations are well integrated.  The people here are welcoming and anxious to share their traditions.  Here are some fun words you can hear:  https://nzhistory.govt.nz/culture/maori-language-week/100-maori-words

It's been a most interesting week on the medical scene.   Some missionaries are amazing, and some of them are struggling.   We remind ourselves that we are immersed in the struggles and that there are some missionaries that are here to learn.  We are striving to lift and encourage them.   We're so grateful for great members and leaders.  President and Sister Erekson have been welcoming and are a blessing to this area.  As they said, "We've left 'all that we love', to come to an area and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ."  How we miss our family.  Search, Ponder, and Pray and the blessings and windows of heaven will open.

Islands of the Oceanic Area