April 25, 2015
Hello Everyone –
Time once again for the monthly report. Here in NZ, summer
is turning to fall although it’s much milder than Utah. However, sign of the times. What sign you might ask? Well … the days are getting shorter and …
wait for it … so are we!! Just under
three months to go.
Typical to other experiences in life, the bitter-sweet
phenomenon is beginning to play. Sweet
due to the anticipation of successful completion and returning to family and
home. Bitter since we will be leaving
newly formed friendships and people who have treated us wonderfully.
Since we wrote last, three notable events, Easter, General
Conference and Anzac Day.
General Conference
The Area Presidency, all of whom are general authorities,
travel every six months to conference.
Prior to conference, they typically attend three days training together
with the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve. When they return, they host a devotional with
the Pacific Area staff and senior missionaries.
This is one of many advantages to being in the Pacific Area Office. It is a great experience.
At the devotional, they discussed training curriculum and
general observations from conference. Training curriculum to quote Elder
Pearson, is typically a “10 inch stack of papers” intended for distribution to
the area seventies and on down the line.
This year the entirety was focussed on two subjects, Sabbath Day
observation and the Sacrament. Let your
mind wander as to “how, what, where and why” but you may want to start with
Elder Nelson’s talk.
Secondly, it may surprise you to learn the topics are not
assigned. Elder Nielsen said they were
instructed to look for patterns and pay close attention to those brethren close
to the veil. Elder Pearson, Pacific Area
President, was the second speaker Sunday afternoon.
Easter
Easter is second only to Christmas in the NZ celebration
hierarchy. They have a total of four
days holiday beginning with Good Friday.
Of those four days, businesses are required by law to be closed Friday and
Sunday or face stiff fines. Everything
is closed except very few critical services. The Area Office closes as well so
we had the time to ourselves. The life
of a senior missionary in the Area Office.
Work, work, work …
Anzac Day
Anzac stands for ‘Australian New Zealand Army Corp’. It is a day set aside to honor those troops
killed in World War I on the Gallipoli Peninsula. It was Turkey (then the Ottoman Empire)
versus the British Empire. A total and
unmitigated disaster by all accounts.
This year represents the 100th anniversary. New Zealanders take this very seriously even
after 100 years.
Travel
Stone House – One of the oldest and still existing
structures in NZ built by early missionaries in cooperation with the Maori.
Located in Kerikeri, the Northland area of the North Island where we travel
with some frequency on assignment.
On April 11, we attended ‘The Great Muster’ in Te Kuiti,
which is in southern part of the north island.
 |
| Some days you just feel like getting sheared ... |
This is the largest sheep run in the world. It is the Kiwi version of the Pamplona Bull
Run!! Te Kuiti lets loose up to 2000
sheep to run down the town’s main street.
Te Kuiti is also known as “The Sheep Shearing Capital of the World”. It’s a Kiwi Country Fair with shearing
contests, sideshows, rides, food, music, and local arts and crafts. (Nothing at all like Swiss Days).
 |
| Sand Sculpture |
We went to Mission Bay during our lunch break to see the annual sand sculpture contest. There were only 4, and they were covered separately by large tarps. I suppose this is to protect them from the FREQUENT rain.
In May, we are organizing religious freedom symposiums in
Wellington and Auckland. Fred Woods, a
BYU professor will be the primary speaker.
Also, Elder Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve is coming for a visit.
Well, that’s it for now. Hope this finds you all well and
happy. Does anyone have the number for Church travel?
