Spring has Sprung

 

The Fireman delivering the Burger King order. Taken from my office window!

 

Spring has sprung!

opps!

Well I guess it had to happen sooner or later! A couple of disasters. In the morning I trapped my thumb in a drawer that is under my desk, ouch L L L L. I didn’t realize that there was a hidden lip under the desk. But that was nothing to what came next. A few days ago I made my first purchase through the church distribution centre. I checked, double checked in fact triple checked to make sure it was right.  And as far as I know it was right. BUT my second order was NOT. I mistakenly ordered through the same place as the first order, it was for 400 Book of Mormons. That bit was correct but our office was sent the bill and it should have been free!!!! A few thousand Dollars worth. Luckily, in fact very luckily for me there is an Elder in the office who can fix the problem but they said if they can’t they will take it out of my first wage packet. Just For those of you who don’t know I don’t get paid any money for my work here in New Zealand. Just blessing and I hope they don’t take them away from me.

BK days

Monday and Tuesday were very busy catching up with things in the office. But it didn’t stop me taking this photo from my office window. The Firemen were picking up their order from the Burger King across the road. Which gave me the idea that maybe I would go to Burger King soon. In fact we went the very next day. Elder Saunders had to travel up north to Auckland again to deliver some household supplies and didn’t arrive back until 1 o’clock. So we had a very yummy Burger while chatting away to Gary who is responsible for the upkeep of our church buildings and who works in a room at the back of our office. We took to vehicles to the office today. I am actually driving an automatic Toyota Previa and it’s very nice. On the way home I had to pop into our local store, Countdown, because they have a special offer on a drink that Elder Saunders and I are getting rather attached to L & P. It’s slightly fizzy with a sherbety, lemony taste, yummy!

Sunday 26th

We spent our second Sunday in the Ward in our area that we live in, Bremworth Park. Not decided if we will attend there yet because we are going to all the branches in the area first. In the evening we went to a FHE hosted by the missionary couples and sisters at the Temple Visitors Centre. Members were asked to bring their friends to share the fun evening but no one turned up. But we had fun anyway chatting and getting to know the people who work at the VC. Then we spent a very relaxing few hours at Elder and Sister Witts home.

     Then on the way home I lit a very special candle, in a very special place, for a very special friend.

Moari girl singing

Please let me know if you have any problems watching this video.

P-Day at Whakatane

P-day Saturday

 

First thing in the morning we went back into the town centre to watch the ‘Ko Ngati Awa Te Toki’. Please do not ask me what that means but basically it was a music festival where different people in this community share their special talent of music. Some of it is a competition and some just people going on the stage and sharing their communal music. It was wonderful. I tried to record the welcome Haka and also the communal Haka that was first sung on stage by a group of children and joined in by most of the audience. I was so excited to share that with you all but……. Both times it didn’t record!!!!!! I had my camera on the wrong setting. I couldn’t see because of the sunshine, shame!!! But I have no idea what I did wrong the second time. I can only think that these Haka’s were so special that they maybe were not meant to be record??? But I have record some music which I hope to able to post to you all. We only stayed and watched for a few hours but the festival was going on for 2 days. I believe it is an annual event so I will put it in my diary for next year.

We went to McDonald’s to check out their Wi-Fi but when we purchased our food we were so excited (not) to eat our food that we came outside then felt too embarrassed to go back in to use their Wi-Fi. I can feel another McDonald’s needed soon! We actually did pop into another one later in the day for an ice cream but their Wi-Fi was rubbish so we couldn’t post any photos or videos anyway.

The countryside in New Zealand it amazing, it is so richly green with rolling hills, that’s my best way to describe it. Again I have a video. We stopped several times to look at the many lakes and the Redwoods, Whakarewarewa Forest in Rotorua. Hope you are following this on a map. Actually I think I will find a map to post but just for now its south east of Hamilton.

We crossed the bridge over the Waikato River, which I believe is the longest river in New Zealand, and took a scenic route back to Hamilton. Actually me saying we took a scenic route home is crazy because all the routes around here are scenic!!!

 

Our Firsts

 

Our first experience of a Maori Haka

 

Our first picnic on the beach

Matamata

 

Anyone want me to send an Alpaca home to them?

 

Just passing through maybe next time we will visit.

 

Road Trip to Whatakatane

Friday

This was the most beautiful journey. On our journey we saw the sign post to Hobbiton, Matamata. A trip I think we will make sometime. I saw Red Deer and Alpacas. We stopped at a beach camp site just before we reached Whakatane. That was our first beach picnic. I have to admit I did have to put my toes into the Pacific Ocean. We carried on with our journey into Whakatane to a missionaries flat that we were to clean up. It wasn’t very dirty but things like the shelves and cooker needed cleaning. We had a quick look around the town centre and decided to go there again on Saturday as it was our P-Day (that means a day to prepare for the rest of the week washing, ironing, shopping and household chores. It does not mean pay day, we do not get paid money for our job, just blessings). As we were not at home we decided to take a slow road trip back home.

Not at the Office today

Thursday 23^rd October

We didn’t go into the office today because we needed to go to Auckland to pick up some bikes and deliver the post to the missionaries. We were warmly greeted wherever we went. Not sure if that was because they were happy to see us or to receive their post. We didn’t get lost once even though we had a few addresses to find. We have a brilliant ‘Navman’ and of course a brilliant navigator (me). Going to Auckland and back was a lot of driving to do in one day especially as we went into the office for an hour before we went home. Now do I mention about the reversing of the mini-bus with the blue trailer behind onto the main road? No I won’t be that cruel, not this time.

 

 

 

                   New Zealand Temple                         Sister Odgers Hamilton Vistors' Centre                     

 

 

 

 

Cambridge Branch, Temple View Stake

 

 

Sister Katy Hanara from Aberdeen, Scotland

 

Sister Sandra Wood

Bottom-face!

 

Elder Hawkins and Elder Zesgier

 

Now you can put a face to the bottom! But I'm not telling which face.

 



Day of Delights!

 

Sunday 19^th October

We are not sure which Ward/Branch we will be attending regularly but today we visited the Cambridge Branch. The First person to greet us was a lovely Scottish lady from Aberdeen. Well it just so happens that my best friend in Scotland, Gloria is from Aberdeen. So like I always do I asked if she knew her. Well guess what Gloria is her best friend too!!! So Gloria you must come and visit your two best friends in New Zealand, Katy Hanara and me.

We watched a lovely Primary presentation but it did make me homesick for my home Ward Newbury. I hope your primary presentation went well? I spent all of the meetings sitting next to another friend of mine from England Sandra Wood. We will be visiting with her again soon.

So how did our musical evening go? Sister F was there and as she approached me my heart fluttered but I was ready for anything! As she was getting closer to me she turned around and went in another direction, phew. I did learn later that the missionary sister that works in the office with me, Sister Marsden, told her that she was not very kind to the new missionary Sister (Me) in the office. Sister F replied what do you expect I’m 85 years old. Then Sister Marsden told her that she should have known better.

The musical evening was delightful. It was a musical celebration of the Church College that has recently closed down in Hamilton. One of the songs really touched me as it was a song Nikki and I used to sing in our Young Women days. ‘When Someone Cares’. We were asked to join in with the chorus if we knew it, I sobbed my way through it. Here is another one of those coincidences. While Elder Saunders and I were staying at the London Temple we met a Sister Missionary who is from Hamilton. She asked me to look out for her family and guess who sang? Her sister Holly. What a musically talented family. For those of you who can access UTube check out Sister Walmsley rendition of ‘Lds missionary Sisters sing Boogie Woogie’ or something like that, it is so cute. We hope to meet up with Sister Walmsley and Holly again early next year.

End of First Week

Saturday 18^th October

Nearly the end of a very busy week.

Elder Saunders has been travelling around the area and also has been in the office going through the various paperwork he needs to manage. Friday he moved the missionaries from one flat to another. One of the missionaries he moved was Elder Hawkins, Mark Hawkins nephew. Don’t tell anybody this BUT one of the Elders had to make a confession to my husband!!!! He accidently made a massive hole in the wall, so how did this happen you may be asking. He did a handstand, slipped and his bottom went through the wall. Ha ha ha ha! So how do you put that into your report Elder Saunders??? But like I said shhhh don’t go spreading this around.

Me well I have been trying to get to grips with all the office paperwork. Inputting all the recent baptisms data in the church records, sorting all the mail and parcels into their different Zone area, and answer the phone to whomever calls. My melt down on Friday was when a lady called and wanted the Mission Presidents mobile number. I said I could not give out his number and asked her for hers so that he could call her back. She was extremely  rude but I was very polite and apologised for not being able to give her his number. Phew I did shed a tear or so but I’ve gotta toughen up as I believe that that was a very mild incident. On Saturday Elder Saunders and I went to the Visitors centre beside the Temple and met Sister Swindler who explained that this rude sister (I shall call her Sister F) was known to her and explained that this lady also tried to get the Mission President’s number from another Missionary and she too had said she couldn’t give it out.

Well Sunday night Elder Saunders and I are going to a musical fireside the Visitors Centre and will meet Sister F. Well not if I have anything to do with it, I’m going to hide in a corner. I will let you know later what happened !!!!!!

Let me tell you how I know Sister Swindler. A few weeks ago while I was working in the London Temple I met a man looking for his wife Michelle Jones. It took a little while to find her then we couldn’t find Brother Jones. Eventually the two were reunited. When I spoke to then a few hours later I said that they were just causing trouble (I was joking as nothing is too much trouble to help anyone in the Temple). Well eventually we got onto the subject of me waiting for my visa to go to New Zealand to serve a mission in Hamilton. Well can you guess it………. Sister Swindler is her sister.  Later that week Michelle gave me a gift to give to her sister which I delivered last nigh.

First steps in NZ

Monday 13^th October we arrived in Auckland, NZ about 7.45 half an hour early. While we were waiting at border control I discovered that I could get half an hour of free wifi, so quickly logged in to tell my family we had arrived. We were only waiting about 10 mins when a missionary couple approached us. I just point my finger at them and smiled but not knowing who they were! As they came into focus I was so excited, it was Elder and Sister Witts. WOW! They spent the whole day with us. First taking us miles to our bank only for them to be so unhelpful so we decided we would not bank there! Then th long drive down to Hamilton of course stopping for ice cream on the way. $2.50 for a two scoop ice cream but when we saw the size of one scoop we asked her to stop. So I think it was about 80 pence for a large ice cream, I can see the lbs creeping on. We then went to the Hamilton Mission office. Had a great friendly welcome. I will hopefully be able to post a video of the place soon. Then off we drove in our ‘new car’. At this stage don’t ask me what it is but I do know it is an automatic and has 8 seats. So off to our new apartment. We have ended up with a 2 bedroom bungalow in Hamilton. About 2 mins drive to the nearest chapel (which may not be the one we are assigned to) and 10 mins away from the Temple in one direction and 10 mins away from office in other direction. So very handy for everything.

Next the Witts took us shopping to get our supplies because it was a new supermarket for us it took us ages to walk around. We are getting very tired now. But that didn’t stop us for going to the Witts for dinner. We met another missionary couple Elder and Sister Monson, plus another couple who are members a live north of Hamilton. Can’t remember their name but I’m sure you will hear about them in the future because we are going to visit their house which was built using tyres!!! I think that’s enough for our first day in NZ. Yes folks we really are here.

Day 1

Day one at the Office.

After meeting the other missionaries Elder and Sister Labrum, and Elder and Sister Marsden I was put right to work. First sorting out all the post both letters and Parcels are delivered to the office twice a day. Parcels are recorded on the system and the missionaries phoned up if it is something that they are waiting for. Then I was shown how to register new missionaries and tomorrow will learn how to print and get it ready to place on the mission President’s office wall. I also was shown how to order EVERYTHING! office supply wise. Is that all I did all day? Believe me it was and is a lot to learn. From Monday I will be fully responsible for all these things but thankfully Sister Marsden knows it all and is there to help me and I know I will need that help. I will also be manning the front welcome desk and answering the phone calls. What will I learn tomorrow I wander?

Day one on the Road.

Well that is Peters job so I will let him tell you the ins and outs of his day. But I do know that his first job was to go to the rubbish tip to dispose of rubbish from the missionaries flats.

At 5 o’clock we were picked up by the Mission President and his wife and taken out to dinner. They are really nice and made us feel very welcome

we are off!

Wow what a day it has been today! It was unusually calm in the house this morning as we had checked the weight of our cases last night and all four of the big ones were just under 23k. But that was by our scales. Our hand luggage had to be reduced to 15 lbs about 7k. Now that was challenging but we managed it. Shauna, Sophia and Lilly came about 11.15 and Paula, Nathan, Alex and Emily just gone 12. By the time we packed the car it was 12.17pm, yes I know I’m being a bit precise but we need to get to the airport in plenty of time or I would panic!!!! Of we set and there was road works along the A4 so we were help up for 15-20 mins, that was okay, no need to panic. Calm is the name of the day. (NOT) So we arrived at the airport in plenty of time. Chelle, Brian and Beth were there to greet us. We checked in ok, although one of the bags was slightly over 23k. But that was ignored, phew! Marc, Fe, Ceejay, Saffy and Quinn, arrived just gone 2, still plenty of time so we all went upstairs for a drink. Sorry Shauna I forgot to say thanks for the hot chocolate it was yummy. But the next part is so, so sad. Nikki, Graham, Abbie, Jack, Adam, Joshy, Ollie and Bella were stuck in traffic at Southampton for over an hour and no way were they going to make it to the airport before we left. So they turned around and went home. We did say bye on the phone, But……. Now the really hard part all the goodbyes to everyone. Took a while then we went through security turning around to wave on route. When we finally got through to the end and collect all our stuff we turned to wave to our family. Well we waved and they all shouted bye for quite a while. It did make the security staff smile and me cry, well sob actually. So off we go immediately to gate 43, they were ready for us. So along moving escalators up moving stairs in fact we got over half way there. Took about 10 mins. HELP I’ve left my jacket in Paula’s car. I ran back to the lounge while on the phone to Paula. It was an awful race against time and I was exhausted but I made it and we finally got on the plane. What an amazing flight the service was brilliant and friendly. The food good, even Peter enjoyed the chicken casserole. The chocolate orange ice cream was delicious. Air New Zealand is the way to travel. Hope our next flight is as good. When we get to LA we have to go through normal passport control then we have to collect our checked in baggage hand it over to the next flight desk then go outside and upstairs to check in for our next flight. Sounds simple! Hopefully I then will have time to post this blog. Now for a few hours shut eye.

Well that didn’t happen. I got the internet working but it was not strong enough to post to the this blog. And I definitely did not get any sleep. The rest of the journey was long, very long. It was a night time 13 hour flight and both Elder Saunders and I only had about 2 hours sleep. But a treat was in store for us when we arrived……… to be continued! 

Countdown

We WILL be flying on Saturday 

London Temple

It has been a wonderful uplifting week at the Temple and we have enjoyed working with many special Brothers and Sisters.
For those of you who 'listened' to my talk last week I can add a lot more why's to my farewell talk from last Sunday.  Why did we not fly out last Monday? Well to cut a long story short I had a tooth pulled out on that Monday and I was in no fit state to fly plus my toothless hole has become very inflamed and in fact I have a dry socket. So today we went for an emergency appointment to the hospital dentist who sorted it out and in a day or so I hope to be feeling a lot better. I have no doubt who is guiding my life at the moment.
We are still at the London Temple this coming week but hope to be moving on at the end of this week. On Wednesday we are hoping to hear from the NZ Visa office in London and then hopefully fly out at the end of the week.
 Please come back in a few days to read what is happening.