Self-reliant

A few weeks ago I had a text asking if we could participate in a ‘Strengthening Families’ evening at Te Awamutu.  Although we were quite honoured and pleased to be asked this has been the first presentation since being over here that we have been asked to do. We were very worried about our abilities to be able to manage a 20 minute workshop and present it 4 times. After a lot of thought and prayers we decided that we would plan to do it. We don’t like to commit to anything because of the nature of Elder Saunders calling. Either he may have an extra-long day or he may be out of the area. So once we made the commitment we hoped that we would be able to fulfil the assignment. Our workshop was about self-reliance and we were told that because the missionaries think that Elder Saunders is so funny that he could bring humour into it. Now that was a challenge. But guess what department if upstairs from the Mission Office? Self-reliance. So both of us went upstairs and spoke to Sister Wood who suggested an amusing video, just what we needed and used. It was hard to fit everything that needed to be said into 15 mins, yep it was shortened from 20 to 15 mins. So I was able to give out handouts and refer everyone to the self-reliance courses they do in Hamilton town centre, above the mission office. I think we did okay with the presentation, we received a few positive comments. Elder Saunders was great and his confidence grew and grew with each group. That was good to see.
The next challenge is for our Ward to assign us a talk in Sacrament. We were asked a few months ago but couldn’t accept because we were out of town. We are now just waiting to be given a topic so that we can talk when needed.
My next challenge is a Relief Society lesson I have been asked to give on 23 August.

Miracle Moment

This week Elder Saunders has been moving more missionaries around. Many times on his removals it has been drizzling with rain and he just gets on with the job but on more than one occasion it has been bucketing it down, or as he calls it a mini monsoon! What can you do in situations like that? Only one thing, call Ghost Buster? NO Call the weather man, NO? Call some who can control the weather, YES! He said a quiet prayer and the rain stopped and as soon as they had finish loading the van the heavens opened. This has happen on at least 4 occasions. Who says miracles don’t happen! 

Hairy Feet!!

We must now go back a day to Monday. We first went into the office to sort out the post and other bits then off to collect the Zone leaders from Te Awamutu for our afternoon P-Day visit to Hairy Feet. What a treat we had in store. We were welcomed by the owner Suzie Denize who explained how  film location scouts spotted their farm and asked if they could have a closer look with view of filming the Hobbit Movie there. I don’t think they hesitated in saying yes. There is not much left of the props that they used but who needs the props when you have ready-made rock formations. They already used to show people around their farmland but now they have made proper tracks and have lots of different stories to tell about scenes that were taken in all the different places. All the props and markers that the film makers took were taken away but a few were actually farm materials. But, and don’t spread this around because they may come back for it, one of the markers that Bilbo had to stand on was left behind. The tour normally takes about 1½ hrs and has a limit of 9 people but there were only the four of us and it lasted 2 hrs. It is such a pretty place.

The not so fierce warriors. 



 

Now this is the image we are trying to create!

Fierce animals are coming over the hills behind the camera man.

Sister Saunders is trying to create a scary atmosphere with her pathetic howling. Elder Roberts

gets the giggles. Stop spoiling our image says Elder Nelson.

The perfect pose!

 

 Do we have the right look this time?

 

Sunday at Bremworth Park

We actually we went to our own Ward for church on Sunday, Bremworth Park and as always had a lovely meeting. What was especially nice was that we were able to arrange a Dinner appointment with Dear Sister Sayce. She invited us over to her house months ago but we’ve been so busy. So we set a date for Tuesday. I hoped that nothing would happen so that we had to cancel that appointment. I’m glad to say we went as planned. She only lives 3 houses away from us. So we didn’t have to walk far. As Elder Saunders is slightly (hmm) fussy with what he eats and it can get very embarrassing trying to explain what he does or doesn’t eat. But Sister Sayce got it perfectly right. She made mince pie and mash with vegetables of course but that wasn’t for him. With desert you cannot really go wrong, so crumble and custard was yummy too. The time was 7.30 so now it was time to go home as Sister wanted to watch her cooking programme!!! I started to add one and one together and actually came up with two. This was the same show that I was watching with Sister Belliston. So we stayed a little longer to watch the beginning of the finals. Although I happily watched two episodes of the show Elder Saunders just persevered through those few hours.

Sunday at Bremworth Park

We actually we went to our own Ward for church on Sunday and as always had a lovely meeting. What was especially nice was that we were able to arrange a Dinner appointment with Dear Sister Sayce. She invited us over to her house months ago but we’ve been so busy. So we set a date for Tuesday. I hoped that nothing would happen so that we had to cancel that appointment. I’m glad to say we went as planned. She only lives 3 houses away from us. So we didn’t have to walk far. As Elder Saunders is slightly (hmm) fussy with what he eats and it can get very embarrassing trying to explain what he does or doesn’t eat. But Sister Sayce got it perfectly right. She made mince pie and mash with vegetables of course but that wasn’t for him. With desert you cannot really go wrong, so crumble and custard was yummy too. The time was 7.30 so now it was time to go home as Sister wanted to watch her cooking programme!!! I started to add one and one together and actually came up with two. This was the same show that I was watching with Sister Belliston. So we stayed a little longer to watch the beginning of the finals. Although I happily watched two episodes of the show Elder Saunders just persevered through those few hours.

Check out the flat!

Wdnesday
On our back to Hamilton we took a slight detour. Actually it was quick a big detour as it took us an extra hour and a half out of our way. One of the missionaries flat was reported to be cold even with all the heaters we have given them and apparently the Elders were always ill. I think it was a bit of an exaggeration but we had to check it out. We were offered another flat in that area so though we would check that out at the same time. The flat was a bit dreary but the new one was very nice. Maybe a bit large but we can look up a few of the rooms. So I think our visit was worthwhile and Elder Saunders is going to swap them over.
Then to finish the day off we popped into the Witts and we were welcomed with a bowl of homemade leek and potato soup. Yummy, well I thought it was yummy obviously Elder Saunders wouldn’t eat it!!!! But he had bread and Jam so couldn’t complain. We were spoilt by Sister Witts throwing together a quick desert but blow me if I can remember what it was. How we love spending quality time with our friends.

Blow Out!

Early Tuesday morning we headed off to Gisborne to move the sisters to another flat. We were quite excited to see snow on the hills as we came closer to Gisborne. It rarely snows here which is why we were excited. We arrived in Gisborne just as the Missionaries were finishing their district meeting. What a lovely welcome I got. They all started singing happy birthday to me that was very special. I had actually baked cookies for them all, yummy. So that was a nice treat for them. But when we all went outside the missionaries said “you’ve got a flat tyre”, as if we would fall for that one. Did you see the post a few days ago when I asked what is Gisborne going to be remember for? Well here’s your answer. Flat tyres!!!! So yes we did have a flat tyre. Elder Saunders did inflate the tyre a little which was enough to get us to the garage. Then the drama started. The garage man said because we did not have their tyres on the front wheels the lease plan was invalid. Also one of the tyres was just on his limit so again invalid because he said it was under!!! Thankfully after he had checked with the leasing company they agreed to pay him so he changed the tyres.  As it all turned out alright in the end it also did us a favour because by the time the tyre was changed so also was the trailer loaded with all the sister’s furniture. Now it was time to supervise the unloading. Which did not take long because we had the help of 6 Elders and 4 Sisters.
We had a nice relaxing evening. While Elder Saunders and Elder Belliston chatted in the lounge Sister Belliston and I sat on her bed and watched an Australian cooking programme. I have watched it once before so knew a few of the couples. I think it is called ‘My Kitchen Rules’. It was fun to watch but more fun to chat with Sister Belliston.