Kiribati Community Comes Together

This article shows some of the work we have been involved in.  This is why we are on our mission.  We are thankful for the opportunity of being involved in this great work.  Matthew 25:40.

http://www.mormonnewsroom.org.nz/article/kiribati-community-comes-together-to-save-100-homes-from-flooding

Training our couple headed to Tonga

This week was spent in preparing and training a couple from Idaho who will serve in Nuku'alofa, Tonga. Wednesday morning, 6:45 AM we picked them up at the airport after their long flight.  Then we took them to the hotel which is about two blocks from the Area Office.  After dropping them off so they could freshen up, we went to work for about a half hour.  Later we went back to pick them up to begin their training.

It was one month to the day that we had arrived in New Zealand, therefore we were very sympathetic to their physical condition.  They received training with LDS Family Services and then we took them to lunch.  After lunch their training continued.  Just before we took them back to their hotel we were able to help them FaceTime with their family.  They were not sure it would work.  It made our day to see Grandma and Grandpa faces light up when they saw their grandson on the screen.  After they talked to their family we walked them back to their hotel about 4:00 PM.  We picked them back up for dinner and went to a place called Lonestar (not the US Lonestar).  The restaurant served steaks and fish and played country music just like back home only New Zealand style.  We did our best to keep them awake until it was bed time.

Gary, Susan, and Sister and Elder Murdock

Thursday morning they looked much more rested.  Everyone has learned that the adjustment secret is to stay awake the first day until normal bed time.  It really does help with the jet lag.  We reviewed the training they received in Provo at the MTC.  As we discussed humanitarian principles we could tell that things were starting to click and they were beginning to catch on.  The Murdocks were able to review all their projects in Tonga.  We were excited to work with them.  They will be a great asset to the people in Tonga.

In the evening we went to the suburb of Devonport and had dinner.  Before we ate we walked around and enjoyed the pleasant weather and the ocean.  They have some HUGE trees.  We think they were Magnolia and Kauri trees, but we may be mistaken.  All we know is they were Big!

The water is enchanting

Gary, Sister and Elder Murdock in front of one "big" tree

We think this is a Kauri tree

Susan and Gary in front of a Magnolia tree?

On the stone it said "placed here in 1905"

Friday morning we took the Murdocks' shopping to get things that they felt they might need.  We also took them to visit other couples in the office who had lived or been in Tonga.  We helped them make one last call to their family as their flight would not arrive in Tonga untill 10:00 PM which would be 5:00 AM in Idaho.  Everyone was also uncertain of the Tongan Internet and phone situation.  About 3:00 PM we started our journey to the airport.  The traffic was slow, but not too bad.  After dropping them off we went home.

Susan, Gary, Elder and Sister Murdock

Saturday was a beautiful day.  They was hardly a cloud in the sky and the weather was warm.  We took a walk to town and visited the beach.  Everyone else had the same idea.

Time for a run along the beach

Enjoying the surf

Notice the sailboats in the horizon

The tall building is near the Area Office

We taught our class today at church.  The lesson was on Obedience.  When we arrived at church we were greeted by the missionaries.  Transfers took place last week and we have a new missionary, Elder Jenson.  As we talked we discovered that he was from Sandy.  We told him that we were from Sandy as well.  We told him that we lived near the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon.  Turns out that his family lives in Dimple Dell Park ward.  

Family Home Evening

Every few weeks the senior couples have a Family Home Evening.  This last week we were able to watch the trailer to "Meet the Mormons".  We are hoping that it will be coming to New Zealand soon.  After watching the trailer, we had "Meet the Nielsen's"  Elder Gifford Nielsen, a member of the Area Presidency and his wife told us a little about their life before his call to service.  It was a great home evening and everyone enjoyed themselves.

On Tuesday mornings we have a devotional service.  This week our speakers were the Area Presidency, Elder Pearson, Elder Halleck, and Elder Nielsen.  They each reported on what they learned at General Conference.  Each gave an inspirational report.

Our weeks have become more routine, which is good.  Gary usually goes into work about 7:30 AM.  Susan takes a little longer and tries to get there by 8:30/9:00 AM - the afternoon shift.  Our apartment is near the Area Office.  Since there is limited parking at the office, we usually walk to work.  It takes approximately 10 minutes one way.   While at work we spend our time organizing, planning and communicating with the couples we support in the South Pacific Islands.  This week we had the opportunity to present for approval several humanitarian projects which our missionary couples had submitted.  It is great to be involved in helping people in this part of the world.  Two projects approved included emergency funds for supplies to help flood victims in Vanuatu and Kiribati.  Our days usually wrap up around 5:00 PM.  We then walk home.  Gary feels this is like having a real job.  The only difference is now he pays to do what he used to get paid to do.

We pass some interesting sights on our way to and from work.

Some rather large succulent plants

The weather has started to warm up and it makes for an enjoyable walk.  For our exercise we usually change into more casual clothes and take a walk along the beach.  It is less than a 5 minute walk to the beach from our office.  We can do this on our lunch hour.  Yes, as our children say, it is a mission-cation.  We love serving here.

We are not the only ones enjoying the warm weather

Shells encrusted in the lava rock

Our selfie at the beach after work

Saturday morning we drove north about 1 hour to the town of Matakana.  Every Saturday they have a Farmers Market, which has a wide assortment of breads, cheeses, sausages, fresh fruits and vegetables.  In addition there are all kinds of olive oils, honey, alcoholic beverages, coffee, and of course chocolate.  This Saturday we enjoyed live entertainment as well.  While there we were able to watch a group of children (4th - 6th grade) from the local school perform some lively Maori song and dance.

 

Shopping at Farmers Market 

Children from School performing for us - in the rain!

Not my best side - checking out the Chocolate

After the rain let up we went in search of a place to eat.  We were hoping to find a place by the beach.  We were not able to find anything, but we did find the town of Omaha.  So we had an enjoyable walk and talked to a few people on Omaha Beach.

Omaha Beach

Loving our walks

Susan and Tangaroa

Gary and Tangaroa

Plague which tells about wood craving of Tangaroa

Gary and large Norfolk Pines

Gary and a form of Lupine

Sunday we taught our first lesson in the Gospel Principles class.  We feel truly blessed to be able to serve in this beautiful country at this time.  Life is good.

On a final note, our daughter, Reachel and her husband Andrew received the "Extraordinary Property"  award from the City of Mesa for their hard work in renovating their home.  Way to go guys!

With Mayor Giles

Birthday Time and Learning our Duties

Sometimes the challenge is getting our days and nights synchronized with the rest of the world.  We are 19 hours ahead of Mountain Daylight time.  So last Monday morning here it was the 6th of October, our grandson James' birthday.  But in Canada where he lives, it was still Oct 5.  We had to wait till Tuesday morning to call him to wish him "Happy Birthday".   We called him Tuesday at 7:30 AM here which was Monday 12:30 PM there.  He made sure to tell us how old he was.

They waited till evening to open his presents.  Below he models the cape he asked Grandma to make for his birthday when in Utah this past summer.  Can you tell what he thought of it?

His Mother and Father created this special cake for him.

Wednesday, October 8th, we stayed up late to see the lunar eclipse.  It was suppose to be a clear night. However, we are in the "land of the long white cloud".  There were many clouds, but they were very fast moving.  We just had to wait for an opening in the clouds.  Here are the series of eclipse photos.  Not too bad for a couple of cell phones and a point-and-shoot camera.  We thought they turned out okay. This first photo was about 10:50 PM.

This is what we saw about 11:15 PM.  It was pretty cool.

Thursday Gary felt prompted to get to work early.  When he got there, he received an email about heavy rains and flooding on the island of Vanuatu.  Prior to Wednesday they we experiencing a drought.  Many homes were damaged, families were homeless and one man died trying to save his livestock.

Friday morning another communication came regarding flooding on the island of Kiribati.  Gary spent a lot of time on the phone both days.  It appears that we may be visiting these islands sooner than we thought.  Local Church leaders have used fast offering funds to help those in need.

We are getting organized and learning how to use some of the new computer programs.  If we don't know how to do something - we google it. 

You want what?

Side by side desks

Friday night we went for a walk along Takapuna Bay for our date night.  It was a bit brisk, but quite an enjoyable walk. New Zealand is a beautiful country and we are truly enjoying our time here.  Our children call this "our mission-cation".

The beginning of our walk 

Kite surfing - he was really moving

Seashells for the grandkids

Yes!  I am cold!

Interesting rock formations

The end of the beach 

The island in the background is Rangitoto - a volcano

Sunset at the end of our walk

Saturday we went to the Stake Center to listen to General Conference - one week later than Salt Lake. Saturday night Gary went to the Priesthood session while Susan went with some of the sister missionaries to the flat of the mission doctor and his wife for an ice cream social.

Sisters Brown, Winters Cotterell, Balli, Reeves, and Broberg
Sister Perron was taking the picture 

Sisters Perron, Broberg, and Winters
Sisters Brown, Cotterell, Balli, and Reeves

The Brown's flat (apartment) was something else!  It is located in Devonport which is on the north shore of Auckland.  This was the view when we first got there.

As we visited it only got better.  This was not the sunset last night, but one just as good.

As we left this was the view.

Sister Brown has a great camera and was kind enough to share her pictures with us as the pictures we were taking with our cell phones did not do the view justice.

Sunday we were back at the Stake Center for the last two sessions of conference.   We have enjoyed viewing the conference and listening to it via the internet.  It is hard to imagine what people went though to get conference before the convenience of modern technology.  We close our post for this week with a quote from Elder Ballard "Stay in the Boat and Hold On!"