May 5, 2024

Waiheke Island

April 25 was Anzac Day – similar to our Veteran’s Day – a national holiday.  Paul spearheaded a trip to Waiheke Island for all who wanted to go.  We drove to Devonport (rather, we went in another couple’s car – we’re still striving to gain confidence driving on the wrong side of everything).  We boarded the ferry and enjoy the pleasant, cloud covered day.  

The few homes we saw seemed modest in spite of their 20-million-dollar purchase price.  Apparently, Waiheke Island boasts 21 more days of sunshine per year than Auckland.  

Activities with these fabulous missionaries are always delightful.  They’ve lived incredible lives and continue to make a great mark in the world.

Pampas Grass!!  I felt like I could have been in Southern Utah for a moment.  The fall variety looks familiar.  We’re told the spring Pampas Grass seems much more native to New Zealand.  I’ll find out about that in October.

The beaches possess their own beauty.

Two of those pricey homes lay hidden in the hillside.  

The steep stairs presented no challenge for this seasoned group.

The trail art was rather interesting.

Breathtaking scenery!

New Zealand vigorously traps rodents.  The threatened Kiwi birds lay eggs on the ground, unprotected.  Those eggs provide a nice meal for rodents.  The government tries to protect the kiwi eggs by eliminating the mice and rats.  We saw a handful of these traps.

Three plus hours later we walked into the sweet beach town of Oneroa and enjoyed lunch outside on the patio

I had to walk along the sandy beach and feel that cool water on my feet.

This beautiful flower hung outside the restaurant.

The close-up view revealed it’s delicate nature.

We enjoy the diverse vegetation.

Tuesday evenings I attend English Connect class.  The communications missionaries teach the lessons and welcome all who want to help with discussion time.  We begin the class with prayer.  Students are invited to leave after the closing prayer if they choose to do so before a young missionary shares a scripture and spiritual thought.  I’ve never seen anyone leave.

The teachers in the beginning class need most of the help.  Many of the students come from Asia, some from South America.  I love seeing families learning together, though the teens are basically fluent upon entering the classroom.

I felt drawn to Yolong and Leticia, from China.  She’s lived here for a few years and speaks English fluently.  They married one year ago and she finally obtained a VISA for him.  He works as an UBER driver.  Leticia is patient and I push Yolong a little harder.  In many ways he reminds me of my son Thomas.  His nature is easy-going, he’s tall and slender, and his eyes light up when he smiles.   I open my scripture APP for them to read at the close of class.  I then ask Yolong to please read it aloud again.  When the Mandarin speaking Elder attends, he also shares his Book of Mormon with Yolong.  Leticia commented on the missionary’s excellent Mandarin.  He is one of the first to complete a Chinese dual immersion program from Utah. 

Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings members and missionaries join in casual matches of pickleball.  This provides a wonderful opportunity for social and physical interaction.  

Denise (far right) is a local member who never misses pickleball night.  She claims her health has rapidly improved since joining the action. 

 

We just completed week three in New Zealand.  The training feels a little easier with each passing day.  Paul is a marvelous “boss” and so compassionate with the “greenies”.  Truthfully, the entire legal team continues to cheer on our progress and adjustment to the Pacific Area Office.  Failure is not possible with this many cheerleaders.  

 

 

April 28, 2024

In the Beginning. . .

Day one:  Paul and Irene Rytting hosted lunch after we dropped luggage in our apartments, showered, and didn’t sleep.

Logan and Ruby Hugo sit with the MacLennans.  Ruby runs our office.  She can do everything!! We can attest to her endless patience.  Her professional calculations predict we will remember 10% of what we learn in the first two weeks.

A splendid walk on Takapuna Beach followed our delicious lunch.  This beautiful part of the world will be our home for one year.

Gina Truman from St. George, a dear friend to Jennifer Stevenson, serves in an office near ours.  She lights up every room she enters.  Her youthful energy ignites a crowd of “older” missionaries.

FHE – These “Seniors” are COMPETITIVE.  We divided into three teams for some simple games and the inner athletes emerged.  Rick and Elder Bailey raced to place skittles in a bowl using chopsticks. 

Sister Baldwin won the race by eating a fruit roll in less than one minute.

Rick required more than a minute to consume his fruit roll.  Yum!  At least he had a few seconds to savor the experience.

Sister Bailey and I try to beat the other teams at putting a puzzle together.

Sister Sherrie Smith made lemon-raspberry and double chocolate trifle cakes.  FABULOUS!!  MaryAnne would enjoy sampling both cakes.

Pacific Area President, David F. Meurs, stands with the new seniors invited to his home for lunch.  Elder Meurs served in the Area Presidency in Hong Kong.  It was a pleasure to serve with him there and we know it will be delightful with him here, if we can keep up with his aggressive agenda.

Most of the Area Presidency joined the gathering: Sister Wakolo, MacLennans, President and Maxine Meurs, Amy Jaggi (Elder Jaggi was on assignment) Hafens.  Photographer – Elder Wakolo

Elder Wakolo always carries a Book of Mormon.  On our return to the office he gave the book to this couple, Vikash and Vinita.  This proves to be a big step for someone who forbade his newlywed member wife from reading “that book” in their home.  Elder Wakolo is now a favorite speaker for YSA groups.

Elder and Sister Hillier invited us to dinner one night.  The XO restaurant featured an Asian Fusion menu.  This sweet Thai waitress made the evening memorable.

Pihu Beach with MacLennans, Ryttings, Hafens, and Amy Jaggi.  A perfect ending to our first BUSY week.  Paul actually required us to leave the office by 3:00 our first Friday.

The scenery seems too good to be true.

These unique shells covered the beach

Kitekite Falls

A beautiful family was also enjoying the beach.  Grandma and Grandpa came to New Zealand for a visit.

The twins, Reef and River, smiled as we talked to them and Mother begged us to take photos of the babies smiling together for the first time.  She now believes senior missionaries are magical.

Paul is quite the photographer.

We’ve been assigned to the Mt. Albert Ward in Auckland.  It takes 15-20 minutes by car when all goes well driving on the WRONG side of the road with the steering wheel on the WRONG side of the car. 

We stepped into the small chapel our first Sunday greeted by piano prelude music played by a young man of about age 14.  Then, a young woman replaced him for the Sacrament meeting hymns.  The spirit felt so tangible before a single prayer was offered.  The composition of our ward is mostly Polynesian.  They sing with robust energy.  We feel angels surround us.

Four YSA sisters spoke first.  Two had received their temple endowments the week before.  We were in awe of their ability to express the powerful impact of their experiences.  Rick and I were asked to introduce ourselves and share testimonies.  My goal was to not detract from the spirit in the chapel.  These genuinely friendly members accepted us with open arms.  We feel honored to worship with them.  We excitedly await our next Sunday.

 

 

NEW ZEALAND AUCKLAND MISSION

April 2024

We attended two days of training in the Office of General Counsel in Salt Lake City.  Cameron and Kathy MacLennan, from Lethbridge Alberta, Canada joined us.  We’ve already forged a friendship as we face the tasks ahead.

Fourteen areas in the world feature OGC teams.

Training with the MacLennans.  Doug Matsumori teaches Property Law and acquisitions.  He reminds us he always deals with the dirt.

Daffodils and tulips were in full bloom.  Ahh, the aroma of spring flowers filled the air.

I had but five minutes to walk from office to hotel and enjoy Spring in the city.

The Salt Lake Temple was almost unrecognizable.  

It was my pleasure to run into Elder Massimo DeFeo and his wife.  My Italian sounded awful but reminding him we served in the same mission was delightful.  He arrived in Rome close to my finishing date and we never crossed paths.  I was caught up in the moment and didn’t ask for a photo.  He serves as Area President in Frankfurt, Germany.  His DTA (Director of temporal affairs) is Paul Hansen.  Paul was our DTA in Hong Kong and our Branch President.  Small world! 

Our ALC (Area Legal Counsel) from Hong Kong, Marty Slater, now works with the OGC in SLC.  We were thrilled to reunite with him and share memories.  (Yes, we are a church of acronyms)

 

WELCOME TO NEW ZEALAND

Landing in Auckland after a 13-hour flight and 26 hours since leaving our home.

This stunning carved archway welcomed us to the airport.  A beautiful culture surrounds us!

No wonder we prefer traveling with just a single case.  Maneuvering with this much luggage creates stress (and muscles).  Customs proved to be fruitful, ha-ha.  We lost our beef jerky but kept the dried fruit.

Kitekite beach (pronounced Kittykitty).  We visited this amazing spot on our first Friday afternoon – yes, we played hooky.  Thankfully Paul, our fearless leader, drove the escape van.  After an especially tense week of training and jetlag he felt we needed a break.

More of this adventure next time.

Auckland New Zealand Mission

April 2024 - April 2025

 A new phase is about to begin.  

Watch for upcoming events as we join the Office of General Counsel

in the Pacific Area.