Ice cream poster

Zone training

This Wednesday we didn’t go into the office first thing but travelled to Manurewa (pronounced Man-u-re-wa not Manure wa as Elder Saunders does all the time!!!). These past 3 weeks our Mission President has been travelling all over the Hamilton Mission area visiting each Zone (Stake or Area) and interviewing the missionaries and also giving them training. Our offices couples were asked if we wanted to go anytime this week and we chose Wednesday. It was 1 ½ hours away plus we visited a few missionaries on the way to give them supplies that they needed and deliver any post. We thoroughly enjoyed the training and visiting with all the missionaries from the Man-u-re-wa Zone. A few of the Sisters I have been chatting to over the past few weeks so it was nice to see them in person. Half way through the training we were all asked to stand up and stretch our legs and also help ourselves to some of the sweets that were in a big bag that was passed around. At the same time Elder Saunders and I were asked to introduce ourselves. Hmm, I started to talk and no-one was listening to me so I continued talking even quieter. I then asked the Elders and Sisters that were listening to me to put their hands up and I would give them a special chocolate treat the next time I saw them. Well about 6 out of 30 people put their hands up and that included the Zone Leaders who introduced me. Ha ha. That certainly got their attention as they were wondering why others were putting up their hands so I raised my voice a little and explained. They all then listened attentively to our remarks. Now I have got to remember to give the treats to those few who originally listened. On our way back to the office we stopped at Pokeno to buy one of their very cheap ice creams, just check out the prices on their poster. If you convert the $’s into £’s then you roughly have to divide the $’s  by 2. Plus one scoop is very big. Now the only reason we stopped there was because we were bringing a new missionary couple back to Hamilton with us and it’s a tradition to buy one on your way past! Honest! Well if it’s not then we are going to start the tradition. I will post the photo of the poster as soon as I can find it!!!!

 

Quiz 1

 

Hope you can hear this video it's very quiet.

It's quiz time!! I'd like you to guess what and where the music is coming from. Either comment on this blog or email me you answers. ucanreachmenow@hotmail.com.. I've got a prise for the winner.

Good luck 

 

 

Sunday Lunch

 

 

We cannot go without our traditional Sunday roast dinner, today it was followed by freshly picked oranges from our neighbours orange tree. Yummy!!

Big Pinapples!

Another thing they grow here is giant pineapples! We were sizing this one up to take home with us!

Raglan

 
 
 

Today we decided to visit Raglan Branch which is about 30 minutes west of our home. It was a very picturesque journey but the road was very windy. Even though we liked the welcoming members I think the journey will put us off visiting there every week. The Pacific Area was holding a special fast weekend. As a church we fast every first Sunday of the month. Generally we go without food for 2 or 3 meals and the money that we would have spent on food we donate to our church for the poor and needy. We also pray more often during this time and usually have a specific purpose that we pray about. This Sunday we were asked to all pray for a united cause. The reason I am telling you this is because we started our fast rather late on the Saturday so we were not in a rush to get home for our yummy Sunday roast dinner. Instead we took a leisurely drive around the coastline before stopping and looking over the cliff and watching the gliders flying over the ocean. Another place we must return to, Wainui Reserve.

 

Temple today

On Saturday we went for our first visit inside the New Zealand Temple. Although it looks similar to the London Temple on the outside, inside is very different and we needed help to get to where we wanted to go to. We met two couples while we were there who work in the Auckland Mission office doing exactly the same jobs as Elder Saunders and I do. It was very interesting to compare our job responsibilities and how we do them slightly differently. We all went out to lunch together at Wendy’s. Today I had Jacket potato chilli and cheese, very nice. Elder Saunders had a double burger, no lettuce, no tomato, no cheese, no sauce, no anything just a plain burger in a bun. I wonder if they can get it right this time?   Then we did a little shopping at a place called New World. As we go around the different supermarkets we find they all sell certain things cheaper than other supermarkets. One of Elder Saunders responsibilities is to buy items to kit the missionaries’ homes. So we were thrilled (!!!!) to find they sell mops $4 dollars cheaper at New World than anywhere else we have seen, so he bought the whole store out, 4. I guess it’s getting very sad when you can get excited about buying mops!