Christmas Day

Merry Christmas everyone. Wow what a day we’ve had so far.
We were woken up by Sophia and Lilly to tell us Santa had been to New Zealand. But its only 7pm in England! Well I guess we had to get up out of bed and check if he had been to our house as it was Christmas morning here. AND YES SANTA HAS BEEN! And better than that he had the stockings and presents that Shauna (mummy) had asked him to get for us. Decorated pillow case and a Santa wish coin and a key ring lucky sixpence and angel. Now it’s back to bed.

 No Wait Graham has sent a photo.

 

We had another Skype call this time from the Cheethams so we opened up our presents from them.
Two place mats and then two other packages, one to be opened before the other, Hmmm intriguing.
The second says not to be opened before the first puzzle is completed, what?
The first a 500 piece jigsaw   - opening packet number 2 is never going to happen
What do you think we should do and what do you think the present will be?
Then just as we were settling down to open up our presents we had a knock on the door. Brother and Sister Paeas had brought us a present and then invited us to dinner. Although Elder Saunders was unsure I was delighted to accept the invitation. The day is getting better.
We open up the Marsden’s present, a little chick, Elder Saunders announced, a little Kiwi, Sister Saunders corrects him. Lol
Another knock on the door and it’s the Elders from the Rotokarui Zone. They sang a Christmas Carol and do you know I can’t remember what they sang. I can’t even guess I was so overwhelmed and emotional. They came inside for a few minutes we took photos then just before they left they said they have something else for us. They performed the mission Haka just for us. It was amazing. Can the day get even better.

We have been out for our Christmas dinner. As usual there was not much savoury that Elder Saunders would eat but I ate loads. The deserts were delicious and he was able to eat as much as he could of those. Now home for a little rest before our main event of the day, Skyping with all the family.

 

Last Deliveries

Christmas Eve and still more packages arrive. After sorting them out we decided that we would travel to South Auckland as our first delivery. Thankfully the Zone leaders were great and met us just over half way for them. Now off to the junction of Tauranga and Rotorua. Normally that would take 1 1/2  hours but we took a short cut and also the expressway was opened last week and we arrive in 50 Minutes.

As always Elder Saunders is a joker. He was telling these missionaries about sheep on the hillside behind them who were watching them. At least I think that was what he was talking about.

 



The Elders also sang a few songs for us. I'm going to try and upload that. Hope it works for you as I don't seem to be able to make it work on my laptop.

 

 

Happy Christmas Everyone!

With love from Elder & Sister

 

Mission Conference - Conclusion

We did not want to miss any of the conclusion of the conference. That was when all the missionaries performed the New Mission Haka, amazing, fantastic, brilliant! They took three recordings one of then included a drone flying around them. Watch this space for the announcement when it will be available on youtube. The professional video crew also videoed our mission song, so again watch this space.

We also had the regular Christmas piano medley by Sister Russ. Sister Johnson and Elder Timu sang solos. President Worthen, one of the counsellors in the Mission Presidency spoke. Elder and Sister Marsden also said a final farewell which was really emotional and everyone gave them a standing ovation when they finish and so they should. Must admit to shedding a few tears myself. They leave their mission middle of January and we will truly miss them so much.

Mission Conference - Workshops

There were six different workshops and we were in group A. I managed to take loads of phots of our group and as we passed others on route to the next workshop. During Lunch 3 groups were together so I took loads more photos and then stayed for the second sitting to take even more photos. I posted them all on the FB page for their families and friends to see. I should have all the missionaries covered. I hope so.

Our first workshop was all about our Prophet Joseph Smith and his missionary companion his brother Hyrum. It was very moving and we were encouraged to love, support and strengthen our companions no matter what situation we are in or face. It was very good thank you Elder Wark and Elder Lybbert.

Next we went to President and Sister Higgins workshop. The split us into small groups and we played an unusually named game but basically ‘shove half-penny’ for us old English folks. My group being the gentlemen they were let me go first. But I really think they wanted to learn from my mistakes. Once I had finished I went around taking photos of the missionaries that was so funny. They each had their own technique and pulled some funny faces. I thought I had witness the winning highest score but it was not until the end of the conference they announced the winner. Sister Fifita, go girl go!!!!
 

Our third workshop was practising the new mission Haka. Elder Saunders gave it a try but it really was too hard for him and as for me, I just took photos. It looked brilliant though.

 

Next was for us was lunch. Again more photos and like I said I stayed a little longer so missed the beginning of our 4^th station.

"Elder Jonsson would you like to share my lunch with me?"

Now you may well ask why Elder Jonsson was wearing a Lavalava. Shall I just say that the Haka practise was very energetic and required bending down!!!!!


Station 4 was a lot of fun. It was trival questions
about President and Sister Rudd. Again we were split into group and we joined the middle group.
It looks like they are trying to move the pen with their minds but no. What they are doing is concentrating on the next question with their hands behind their back and the first person to grab the pen answers the question. Too slow Elder Saunders.

Sadley we didn’t win but those who did had a doughnut. I took this fun photo of Elder and Sister Peterson.

 

 What are they doing?

 

 Of course sharing their doughnut.

5^th Session was Tom Swaine a returned missionary. He told his epic adventure on how he got lost up a mountain while on his mission to the West Indies. We had to leave before he finished the story but We asked him to please tell us the ending another time. We really want to know if he survived for not!!!

We totally missed the 6^th session which was Sister Rangi Parker talking about the early days of the Church in New Zealand. The would have been very interesting but that’s when we went back to the office to collect the two parcels.

 

 

 

Mission Conference – the Mail - Parking

We didn’t have much to prepare for the mission conference in the office. Although Sister Marsden has been working on the Christmas Year books all year and even printed and bound them all herself. Making sure all the mail was ready was the most I had to do, apart from the secret Santa project which had nothing to do with my office calling really.

We were up nice and early on Wednesday morning. Elder Saunders went straight to Tuhikarema Camp Site where the conference was being held.

Elder Saunders and Elder Witts parked over 50 cars. I just love their official working gear.

 

 I went to the office, why? To sort out todays mail of course. With that all done I went next to the camp site.

All the missionaries started arriving and it was hard work trying to get out all the mail before the Conference started and almost did  apart from 3 Zones. We managed to get the keys off one Zone Leader and put all the parcels in the Zone Leader’s boot for them to sort out later. After the conference the other two collected theirs from my car. I did have one phone call from the office to tell me one more parcel had arrived and then I had a text to say another had arrived. So back to the office I went in between workshops and collect the two parcels. I was able to give one out but told both the missionary and the Zone leader to collect it from my car before then left to go home. Did they remember? NO! So after they had left I tried phoning them eventually they answered. They had stopped at Burger King in Glenview. We would have travelled to them but we didn’t have time to get there, eat and then get to the Temple Christmas Lights, as we were on duty that night. So while we ate at Carl’s Jr they travelled back to us. To our surprise 4 missionary Sisters were eating there to, so that was great fun.

I felt very generous sharing my dinner with them. I mean one whole small chip cut in two was very generous.

Sister Page, Sister Watson, Sister Nakagawa and Sister Taimona.

 

The Christmas Elves

 

This was inspired by Kira Sunnex from Te Awamutu Ward so I’m giving her all the credit. She was so upset last year when she heard that the missionary sister in her ward received no Christmas gifts from her family and did not have regular contact with her family and she vowed that that would never happen again. So with the help of the TA Relief Society they made up 10 Christmas stockings for the 4 in her ward and then 6 for other missionaries. She asked the import question “are there many missionaries in our mission who will not get anything from their family?” YES. So for the past few months I have been recording on a separate piece of paper as well as the regular spreadsheet on my computer, all the parcels that have arrived. Kira then put a plea on the unofficial Hamilton FB page for stocking fillers. We had an amazing response from the sister who actually started that page and she sent a large box of goodies, via The Warehouse, an NZ store. I had a couple of other smaller parcels and I even had to go and collect one from the store opposite. Now for the challenge of getting stockings. Well the Manager of one of our local Warehouses is a member of our church and I asked if he would be will to donate anything for our good cause. He said come along and he would sort us out. When we visited the store he was busy but his floor manager was there and he was brilliant. Not sure if I’m allowed to say how many stockings they gave us but it was lots and I hoped that would be enough. Over the next few days my total went up by 15. As parcels arrived in the post I was able to cross off a few names. But I did have to go shopping and buy a few more stockings and kiwi Christmas bags, that was fun. We went to Kira’s house and with the help of two other elves we pack over 30 stockings, with lots left over. Just as well as I then had to put together loads on Monday night. I think we have all our missionaries sorted now with either stockings or little token gifts as we were sure they would receive something in the next week from home.

Although I wasn’t giving them out to the missionaries personally I still wanted to take photos of them receiving their stocking so that I could post it on FB for all the generous people who either gave of their money or time, to see. But sadly I only got one photo and he was delighted that someone had thought of him.

Sunday back to Hamilton

At this moment we are travelling back from Gisborne through the Gorge. Clear blue skies and very warm, I feel a picnic by the sea coming on!

 

 

 

 

                                             Just as I thought a picnic by the sea.

Now off to Kawera to change a washing machine then onto Rotorua for more deliveries.

Then Home to Hamilton.

 

 

An exhausting weekend

Saturday in Gisborne

We were up nice and early Saturday morning and our first stop was the garage. Here we meet all Four of the missionaries who were travelling up to Tokomaru Bay to help us clear and clean the flat. They hired a trailer for the day which proved to be very helpful. Its about an hour’s journey up the coast passing some beautiful scenery. We then met the Elders who lived there and spent about 4 hours clearing and cleaning. Plus me taking photos of course. We also had an impromptu sing-a-long. Fun, especially singing our mission song which I now almost know all the words. After having more fish and chips we travelled a further 45 mins to the Ruatoria. Now the two missionaries cover Tokomaru Bay/Tologa Bay/Ruatoria/Te Araroa.
We spent a pleasant evening eating noodles (apart from Elder Saunders)and chatting at the Belliston’s home.

 

The Potty Pair!

 

The Cleaning Crew at Tokomaru Bay

Tauranga to Gisborne

Packages all delivered to Tauranga so now off to our next stop Whakatane. That is still in the Tauranga Zone but as we were almost passing their door we thought we would deliver their mail personally plus other things that the Zone leaders need to give them. Hey guess what else they talked about?  Blockheads

Now it’s our final leg down to Gisborne. We didn’t come on this trip alone because we brought Elder and Sister Rowland with us. They have been called as service missionaries to help Elder Saunders with all the housing needs. Our main reason for this trip was to closed down and clean the Flat in Tokomaru Bay. We have had this flat for over 40 years and there is a lot of church history that goes with this area.

Just as were approaching Gisborne I phone Elder and Sister Belliston, who we were staying with, that we were almost there. Sister Belliston asked if we had had the keys cut, what keys? The Elders had lost the keys to their flat and had the Belliston’s set which they wanted back. She thought that we had already met up with the elders and now had her keys. So after a very quick hello, goodbye, to Sister Belliston and off we went to meet the Elders in Bunnings. Luckily we were able to get most of the keys cut. Next was our trip to the chippies. Fish and Chips on the Beach. We thought that was just a perfect end to a busy day but no. Just as we were heading back to the car we met members of our church who noticed our badges and asked if we were missionaries. Yep. We then joined them in a short activity by the beach. One of the Dad’s relatives had recently died expectantly and throughout the area or country different friends and family members where letting off balloons at 7pm to remember him. That was quite emotional. Then they sang a few songs. The daughter sang a lovely Maori song, in Maori of course. We didn’t have a clue what she was singing about so I asked her. It was all about the ocean and Whales, it was beautiful. The dad then sang the song from ‘Whale Rider’, while his family did the Maori actions. Beautiful. Although I did ask to video the girl singing I was too slow to ask about the second song. So that was the perfect ending to our day. But before I finish todays events did I mention that Elder Saunders talked Blockheads with the Gisborne Elders!!!!

 

 

Gisborne Here We Come Again!

 

As always on our trips away we went into the mission office first to check the mail. And yes there were some packages for the missionaries in Tauranga which is our first stop.

Of course the main topic of conversation was blockheads. Just to enlighten the world about Blockheads if you don’t know what they are this is the description I gave one of the missionaries parents who asked.
They are an addictive collectable little square shape head with an even littler body. They are themed around the Marvel characters. You get one every time you spend $40 in the Z fuel station. Exciting isn’t it :=)

 

It’s starting to look a bit like Christmas!

 

This is just one days delivery and ours is right in front. Of course we opened it. We had a live skype ‘open up our parcel’ chat with Shauna. Then I had them displayed for the rest of the day. Next week I hope to put up the Christmas tree but because it is transfer week I may not have time. We are away again this weekend to Gisborne. So I’m hoping that on my travels I can write more of this blog.

Taranaki

We managed to do all the deliveries by middle of the afternoon so decided to spend our P-Day going to the cinema. Then we met up with the Elders who had gone to the Temple in Hamilton that morning and were now on their way home to Mania, Taranaki. We had dinner with them before going to the cinema again. I did notice that my badge was missing before the 2^nd cinema trip and asked the manager if one had been found in the previous auditorium. He said he would check and I was to find him after our movie, which I did. No he didn’t find it but explained that it still may be there and he would asked the cleaners if they had found it. If they had found it he would call me the next morning which he did. I did not expect to be going back to the cinema on a Sunday, but I did. Now I’m a happy chappie with my badge.

The sisters in Hawera were equally glad to get a fridge that was working. Elder Saunders made them clean behind the fridge before he put the new one into place. Sister Aldridge found a wine bottle cork behind the fridge and exclaimed to her companion “Did you open up the wine bottle and drink it without me?” Sister  Suk has a guilty look. I had better explain that we do not drink alcohol and that was a joke!!!!  But I found it funny and asked if I could  take photos and post it on our family and friends FB page. As well as my blog

 

 

Mt Taranaki

Our first snow of the English Winter only we are in New Zealand so its summer! We went to Taranaki last weekend to deliver two fridges. It was the first time that we visited the Eltham Elders in their flat. It’s a nice place and they keep it nice and clean.
I had a strange office delivery this past week. As well as my boxes of pamphlets and papers that I ordered I also received one box full of 2,000 sacrament cups. It had my name on the box as well. As if I would have ordered 2,000 sacrament cups! I did double check my order just in case I did accidently order them and thankfully I didn’t. So I phoned up the distribution centre in Utah and explained their mistake. After checking my order online and with her supervisor the assistant said I could give them away to a Branch/Ward as an early Christmas present.  So why am I telling this story? When I asked the Eltham Elders if their Branch would like them they said ye please.. The Elders actually take all the Sacrament clothes, cups to church each week and they only had a handful of cups left. What a blessing my early Christmas present was to them.

Visitors

We have been really blessed on our mission by the visits of family and friends. To be able to share just a little bit of our mission life with them has been amazing. Lesley came during the week of the Couple Conference. Lesley is one of the missionary sisters who taught us the gospel 39 years ago. Yes we took her to Hobbiton and our favourite place Whakatane. I hope she enjoyed her visit with us because we certainly enjoyed her company. On Lesley’s last evening with us we shared the Maori stick game with her. All the mishaps really made us laugh.

Our most recent visitor was Marc our son. That was somewhat of a surprise. Marc’s wife Fe had given him an early Christmas present of his ticket over here and back. Again we took him to Hobbiton but this time I just waited outside for them. Again we took him to Whakatane where we stayed with Elder and Sister Clark. They are such lovely hosts and looked after us well. We also needed to go down to Gisborne to move the Zone Leaders to another flat. It was nice to share the long, long, journey through the gorge, one which Elder Saunders and I actually like travelling through. We also went to a Maori culture show. This was so good and enjoyable. Now we have to try and get Marc to practice the stick game. We did manage to get him to do that on his last night. We also managed to take some very interesting videos for future birthdays.

 

 

Bridal Veil Falls

 

You really think that by threatening to chop off my head will stop me from wearing my hat?

 

 He's looking at us!!!!

I love this photo.

Senior Couples Mission Conference

In October we had a senior couple’s conference that was just so amazing. We started the Tuesday morning off with a presentation on the Book Of Mormon. President Rudd shared with us his testimony and love for the book of Mormon then we discussed a book written by Gordon L. Weight called Miracle On Palmyra’s Main Street. Most of us read a passage from the book and then shared their personal feelings about what they had just read. My account was of Scriptural Miracles. It was good for me to share the Prophecies written in the Old Testament and in the Book of Mormon for-telling of the Prophet Joseph Smith and also the coming forth of the Book of Mormon.

We are so grateful for the restoration of the gospel, our lives would be completely different without the knowledge of God’s love for us and of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. We hope and pray that we can be good example to those we meet and share our lives with and that they will come to that same knowledge and love of our Saviour’s gospel.

Now back to our couple’s conference. At lunch time we had a delicious meal provided by Sister Papple. Sister Papple is a legend in our mission for providing amazing and tasty meals at our meetings. We then had a fun visit to Hamilton Gardens. We have visited there before but had no idea that it had lots of different gardens from around the world. The evening was finished off with a movie night, President’s choice. “It’s a Mad Mad Mad world” most of the missionaries enjoyed it!!!!!

Our next morning started with a visit to Bridal Veil Falls. Again somewhere we have been before but I have never ventured down to the bottom but this time I did. Providing you take it slowly the walk down and up is so pretty.

Our next stop was to Raglan where we ate fish and chips on the Wharf. Before leaving Raglan we stopped at a local ice cream parlour and had either fresh fruit ice cream or yoghurt in a cone. This time paid for by Sister Parker, who is another legend in our mission. She compiles the history of the church in New Zealand and has been to many places around the world to get all her information.

We went to the Hamilton Temple Tuesday afternoon. It was so good to be with our special friends in the Temple.

 

Our dinner that evening was again provided by Sister Papple. Yummy!

After Diner we met in the Chapel and were given a presentation from Tones of Aotearoa. In my ignorance I thought that it was going to be a talk by someone about New Zealand (Aotearoa). But it was a brilliant musical group who sang just for us. We, in return, sang our mission song for them. Not really much comparison between us but we did our best.

To finish our 2 days off we had an inspirational and motivating talk by Elder Pearson, Pacific Area President. Who shared some of the words that were spoken at the training given by the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve just before the last General Conference. Such powerful messages were shared which we hope to share with you when we get home.

Sacrament Talks

We both had the opportunity to give a talk in sacrament a few weeks ago. My talk was on the Law of Sacrifice which I thought was very appropriate as we are far away from our family and friends. I shared one of the definitions of Sacrifice that is to give up something good for something better. I related this to us giving up being with my family for 18 months so that we can be worthy to live with them for the eternities. I shared two primary stories that talked about primary aged children’s sacrifices. Elder Saunders talk was a little more spiritual and was about the blessings of Tithing. Another subject we both have good experiences of.

CLS Conclusion. Good or Bad?

Well I left off where he had his first UR, unrateable. So the following Tuesday we travelled again to Redoubt Chapel but this time we actually took the test in the Chapel building because the internet was working. This time I had bought a headset and my lap top was set up properly by the shop. Again the audio said it was working during the pre-test but as we were taking the test it did seem to fluctuate. I think because we knew it was going to be another fail we joked around between the question and answering recordings.
Oh my, should I share with you some of his answers? Well as I haven’t named him here goes. One of the hobbies he ticked was ‘singing alone’. He was asked “where do you like singing alone?” He said his bedroom and a few other places, he then added the shower. Why I thought that was funny I don’t know. But I started to giggle a little at this stage. He was next asked when he first started singing alone and other questions like “have you ever sung to other people, have you had any embarrassing or memorable experiences”,  this is when it got really serious - not!
 He first explained that his dad was visiting the States (the family live in Tonga). He asked his dad to bring him back an Elvis costume because he was crazy about Elvis. He shared an experience he had when he wore the Elvis costume to school and sang for them, the other pupils laughed at him.
One of the reasons he gave was because Elvis was white and he was not. I just could not control myself I was now laughing uncontrollable. Thankfully it didn’t put him off the test, not even when he mentioned he also had a Michael Jackson outfit he wore as well.
Anyway like I said we had a feeling that it would fail again today and on my way back to Hamilton I received a message saying it had. We didn’t give up and we went back to Redoubt on the Friday but this time we went to the MTC, did another audio test, all working well, but again failed during the actual test.!!!!!!!
The Elder is now due to fly home on the next Tuesday. But I did not give up and neither did our IT person from the Area Office. We finally got the port open which enabled us to set up the test at the Mission Office. I spent a long time making sure the headset and mic worked. So we are all set to go for another test the Monday before he leaves his mission the next day.
He very confidently spoke a load of dribble to some of the questions asked. We were both delighted that he was asked about Tennis. Something he had spoken about in great detail before. So at the end of the test we were very hopefully.
Only time will tell if he has passed or it is another audio fail. 
After about 30 mins I expected the fail result to appear, after 45 mins nothing, 60 mins, nothing. Then it came through, the result can be seen on …….. web site.
Ok, as I’ve never reached that stage before, I excitedly try and find the correct site. Finding his name was easy as he is the only one I have registered, there was a result! But what does it mean?

·         A means advanced

·         IH  intermediate high

·          IL intermediate low

·          N for novice.

He got an ‘A’. Wow, top group, Wow! Excitement and relief all in one.

Now I can focus on all the other missionaries and help them successfully get a certificate that will help with their CV for employment or college.

All going to the Zoo tomorrow?

We did actually plan on going to the Zoo again the following week but postponed it because Elder Saunders needed to check out that flat in Murupara. Now he needs to go away again this Monday and I don’t want to let the sisters down a third time. So we are all going to the Zoo tomorrow apart from Elder Saunders who has to work.
As you can imagine we had a lot of fun at the Zoo.



Do we have long giraffe necks?

 

I asked the Zoo keeper if Giraffe's eat birds. He replied no.
Well this photo was taken just before he accidently
ate a bird and had a mouth full of feathers

Mr Innocent !

This Red Panda was so cute

We watched this monkey for almost 15 minutes as he rolled
the blankets around him, made a pillow and then placed
 another blanket over that and tucked it all in.
 

 

BEWARE! .
These creatures have escaped the Zoo.
Do not approach or feed them as they are dangerous!

On the road again!

It's been a long while since I have travelled south of Hamilton but we are off to Murupara The missionaries need to change flats and we have an appointment to see another one. This was the first time I have been to that area and it was a very pretty drive. Of course we stopped off at Rotorua to give the Zone Leaders the mail for their Zone. Murupara is such a small town and there are not very many places for rent. This is not the first time that Elder Saunders has been here looking for flats. Sadly they are mostly rundown flats available. Even the flat they are living in now is so badly in need of repair.
The flat we did look at was up for sale so I doubt that we will be able to rent that. So we are searching around again.

All going to the Zoo? No

We planned on going to the Zoo with the Missionary Sisters in our Zone on Monday …………………
But we had to cancel it last minute because the Zoo was closed. Very sadly one of the Zoo workers was killed by a Tiger. I had made a couple of dishes of Lasagne to save the sisters having to cook before they went back to their missionary duties. So we had that for lunch instead. Then they stayed for a few hours which was a lot of fun. We watched a movie about the life of Emma Smith and then  Elder and Sister Witts, Elder Saunders and I showed them the Maori stick games. That was hysterical especially as the sisters were learning how to do it. I had also made the delicious treat of Poppy Road. It’s made from popcorn, nuts, coconut, mini marshmallows and chocolate, yummy! We will try again next week to go to the Zoo.