Hard
to believe that Easter is here! What a great time of year it is in every way, and to have Conference on the same weekend makes it all the more special. We won't actually have conference broadcast here in the buildings until next weekend, but the i-Pad is a wonderful invention, and we hope to have heard most of the sessions before then. We listened to the women's meeting the other night and thought is was wonderful.
We also ran into the Irvines (who are serving a mission in NZ, from the 20th ward)) at a fair type event called Pacifica on Saturday. I walked up behind her as she was talking with a group of senior missionaries and surprised her. The world is so small within the framework of the Church! It's amazing!
We spent a couple of days touring with the Wallaces and Fugals (the 4 Public Affairs missionaries in NZ who we actually trained with in SLC in February of 2014). They showed us so many great places on the island and some perfect beaches. We took lots of pictures, obviously! We saw the Temple in Hamilton (just spectacular) and went to Hobbit Town, where they actually filmed the movies. Beautiful place, it's like a bit of magic, with the dozens and dozens of tiny doors, all a different color and small furniture and tiny clothes hanging on the tiny clotheslines. Very realistic!
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| Sunset over New Zealand |
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| Public Affairs missionaries |
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| Hamilton New Zealand Temple |
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| Pat and little Hobit house |
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| Ray in Hobitsville |
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| Gull nesting area |
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| New Zealand sunset |
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| Another sunset |
We had a great time, and recieved some great training from a member of the Area Presidency, Elder Gifford Nielsen (pastball player) and Richard Hunter, the head of Public Affairs for the entire Pacific Area.
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| Fugals, Moores, Allens & Wallaces, Elder Neilsen and Bro Hunter |
At the time we were there, Cyclone Pam warnings were out and there was great concern. It hit the island of Vanuatu very hard and they are still recovering, but was only a bad storm in Auckland with lots of wind and sheets of water. We were actually in a meeting with Br. Hunter when he got word that 11 of the missionaries, that were of great worry, had been found safe. He hurried out to meet with the Presidency about press releases and poked his head back in to say they all were safe. The room was very quite as we contemplated what a really huge blessing that was. We will never forget being part of that.
On Sunday evening there, we attended a "Come and See Fireside" with the couple missionaries. It was a chance for missionaries to bring investigators to learn about the Church. They have them once a month and it was good for us to see how that works. It was pouring that night, we took our seats in the gymn, as the chapel was already full. By the time the meeting started, the whole place was just packed! We had great seats to watch the young missionaries come in with their investigators! The size of the crowd was truly unbelievable. The young missionaries were so fun to watch as they brought these people in and found seats. Such a spirit in that room. A one hour fireside that just took our breath away. What power the Lord gives to those who are seeking!
We came back to Sydney, glad to be here, and happy with where we had been called, AGAIN! New Zealand is beautiful, but this is right for us!
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| Flowers and wildlife |
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| A water wheel in New Zealand |
On April 1st, we took the Moore's to the cruise ship. I think we mentioned it last post, but they are cruising around NZ for 14 days. They were excited and tearful at the same time. We feel bad, because it's pouring rain here, which means it is there as well, but for the first couple of days, we don't think they will even care. They had a particularly hard week, as we did we, and we'll bet they sleep for 24 hours. The cruise ship looked beautiful. Some day, we'd like to do another cruise, but not NZ. Too long for us. Then they come back to Sydney and fly home from here to Salt Lake, but we won't see them till we get home.
We went over to the Archibald's Thursday night to tell them good-bye. They arranged to leave 6 days early. As they looked at the calendar a few weeks ago, they realized their last 6 days here, included a 4 day weekend, when the area legal offices would not be opened. What a waste. The couple to replace them won't be here till August, so, it was an easy decision. They're the couple who have been married longer as missionaries than they had been before they came. We will miss them so much, he works upstairs with us and she has just been so sweet in every way. They fly home to Arizona, but spend the Summers in Idaho Falls. We hope to see them as they come home from Idaho in late October.
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| Our numbers are getting smaller |
The Willis's are here, from Snow Flake Arizone, and they are going to be great PA missionaries! Really great. Elder Willis has such a 'deer in the headlight' look right now. We so remember how that feels, when the boss is pumping you so full of information and duties, just before he leaves for a while. You really think you can't possibly ever do what is asked, because it means nothing, until you actually do it. He isn't a great computer person either (his words) so I so sympathsize with how he feels right now. Ray said to him yesterday, "don't worry, you'll learn it as you do it, and it takes time. They have been living with the Mission President for many days now and living out of suitcases. I think they'll be all in and settled by the time Easter Weekend is over! It will be such a relief for them, I imagine.
We have 2 couples leaving the first part of May. It's like a revolving door right now, change is all around us! We just need to stay focused, we'll be fine. This all would have been much harder if it had come 6 or 8 months ago. Now, we can see the end from the beginning, and know that no matter what, the time will pass fairly quickly. We're having good experiences and the hard times seem to lessen a bit as time passes. Still, we miss family and friends. I was thinking maybe something was really missing in both of us, but I got an e-mail from friends of ours, who are also serving a mission in a foreign country and she said, " here, missions are called a miserable joy." It made us feel better about looking forward to going home. Maybe we're normal? (OK, perhaps not).
It isn't that we aren't glad for this experience and so, so grateful for the blessings that come to us, almost unbidden. We are SO thankful for our call, in every possible way. We have learned so much and gained a strength we didn't know we had. We just miss people! We probably get demerits, but, there you go.
The Easter Bunny came on Saturday morning and left a trail of chocolate eggs EVERYWHERE! It was such a nice surprise and a glimpse of the past. We have a very long hall from bedroom to livingroom, so there was LOTS of candy. What a good rabbit! Thank you Easter Bunny!!! He vacuums too! Love that guy!
On Easter Sunday we had 6 other couple missionaries, including President and Sister Howe over for an Easter Dinner at our flat. It was a good evening and everyone brought something yummy. We had a very short lesson, going around the room and asking each person to name one attribute of the Saviors that they most admired. Then we challenged them as they read their scriptures to make a list on a blank page of other attributes they found as they read, and give the reference. The point being, to know Him better. It was a nice night. A good Easter. Easter in the mission field is something else! This is our second one, and they are very special!! It just seems to make Him so real, the Atonement so real! What a blessing we all have.
Today is April 7th here! It's an anniversary for us. One year into our mission! Time is passing!
Take care all, and know that we think of you very often, pray for you and we're so happy for your support and prayers and contacts with us!
