May 19, 2024

New Experiences

These cartoons depict our first month in the office perfectly, especially the first two weeks.  We’re now on our own (with a lot of help) and the work seems to be progressing well.

Our apartment is blessed with a large table.  We hosted a dinner with E/S Baldwin, Gina Truman, and E/S Miller.  All missionaries are so busy it’s hard to get acquainted.  Although we enjoy a large FHE each month and at least one Zone activity, in-depth visits are nearly impossible.  So, we opted for a smaller dinner party.  The evening passed quickly with lots of laughter and great food.  We’ll do this again with different groups.

Eden Park Arena – Auckland

Our mission zone attended a rugby match.  Paul and Irene organized the entire event – a logistical nightmare with 20 senior couples.  Paul invited a friend, a former rugby pro, to teach a few of the rules, strategies of play, and highlights of the game.  

The entryway sculpture was awe-inspiring.

The rugby field is larger than a football field.  I loved the “big game” feeling and my mind and emotions travelled back to Konrad’s football seasons.  Eden Park suddenly felt like the U of U Rice-Eccles Stadium.  I relived the ups and downs of the state playoffs.  They were mostly ups.  

The late afternoon gave way to stadium lights.  The super screen provided replays and comical entertainment.

Paul captured the crowd of missionaries.  I’m in a turquoise jacket and Rick wears a beanie.  We experienced colder than usual temperatures for four days last week.  I feared winter had begun.  Thankfully, everything warmed up again.  We’ve worked around a few days of rain but that’s what winter is in New Zealand.

This is a SCRUM.  It’s a method of restarting play as players pack closely together with heads down and attempt to gain possession of the ball.  Entertaining, especially when the entire group moves in one direction and then another.

The usual snacks and some unique choices filled the entire concession area.

Concessions included these selections.  Local flavors are always the most interesting.

My favorite part – throwing the ball inbounds.  The players timed the toss perfectly and lifted teammates to enhance the chance of snagging the ball in the air.  It represented a crude form of ballet.  I marveled at their strength.

The Blues (Auckland) defeated the Hurricanes (Wellington) 31-28.  The clock seldom stopped so the game progressed quickly.  It came down to the last few action-packed plays.  What a delightful evening.  

We enjoyed the festivities.

We visited Devonport on Anzac Day (like Veteran’s Day).  We were with several others and I didn’t have time to snap photos.  On our next visit I sought out the memorials.

On Anzac Day, the visiting Veterans wore red poppies pinned to their shirts and the monuments were adorned with flower covered wreaths.  The red, white and blue décor brought tears to my eyes.   Reverence and respect fill my soul when any nation honors their fallen soldiers.