Fiji, Cape Reinga and the All Blacks

October 1, 2014

Greetings All,

It has been awhile since we posted.  It has not been for the lack of material but for the slothfulness of Carol’s companion.

Senior Mission

Being here for seven months plus, we are fully acclimated both to mission responsibilities as well as to New Zealand.  The Public Affairs assignment is choice as it applies to New Zealand.  We understand it varies in different parts of the world, e.g. Kevlar name tags in the Middle East. But in NZ, we have an exceptionally kind and capable Area Director in Rich Hunter together with well-established, dynamic local Church leadership.

Our basic assignment is to build relationships and communicate positive messages to the non-LDS community.  This is done in a variety of ways including interfaith groups, community activities, contact with opinion leaders and media interaction.  A good example is the NZ election recently concluded September 20^th.  John Key was re-elected as Prime Minister.  His primary opponent was David Cunliffe.  Both men attended Church sponsored events prior to the election where they spoke to youth and adult groups.  John Key has been a speaker at Church devotionals in the past.  They share a common, positive understanding of the Church in NZ.

Carol spends the majority of her time writing and posting articles on Pacific Newsroom,
www.mormonpacificnewsroon.org.nz

posting 5 – 7 articles per week on average.  I am also writing articles, taking care of the PA financial affairs (guard your tithing) and we both meet and train stake directors of public affairs.  Our geographic area includes NZ north island, Tonga, Fiji, Kiribati and the Marshall Islands.  (Of general interest, a resident of the Marshall Islands just addressed the UN Conference on Climate Change since the Marshalls are losing ground to the increase in sea level.)  The Pacific Area covers 9,000 square miles.  Lots of travel.

Since we’re in the southern hemisphere, seasons are switched when compared to Salt Lake.  It is now our “April 1^st” with spring around the corner as you move into fall.  (Bad news for Mike Bunnell and his golf clubs.) We have experienced 12 months straight of fall and winter weather due to leaving March 1.  It has been an unusually wet winter here and I understand a wet summer for Utah.  This explains Al Gore marching in New York this week.

Fiji

We just returned from one week in Fiji, going to Nadi as well as Suva.  Suva is the capital.  The Church has both a service center and a temple there.  The service center was the 18 month home of Paul and Sherri Kasteler three to four years ago when they served as area auditors/membership records. (We asked if anyone knew them but apparently the gag order is still in effect.)

Most of the time was spent in Suva. That part of Fiji gets significant rain.  The flora was pure jungle with volcanic mountains throughout the landscape.  By contrast, Tonga was flat and certainly much smaller.  Suva has a developed commercial district and a large port.  We spent our time with the Mission President, Area Seventy, Service Center Manager and the Stake Director of Public Affairs. We are promoting a pass along card developed to encourage views to the newsroom as well as completing training for the Director of Public Affairs. 

 Fiji is third world especially outside Suva.  Always an adventure together with a little discomfort you can’t quite shake, i.e. different currency, no airport signage, wild driving conditions, etc. However, the people are great, very kind and helpful.

Cape Reinga

Because we are responsible for the North Island, periodically we travel with the Multi-stake directors, this time to Kaitaia, almost as far north as you can travel … almost.  Cape Reinga is located at northern most tip of the island.  At that point, the Tasman Sea meets the Pacific Ocean, two different temperatures as well as colors, the Pacific being blue and the Tasman green.  Definitely a “bucket list” item in New Zealand.  The day we were there it was blowing 30 MPH with horizontal rain.  However, well worth the effort.

All Blacks Game

Rugby is the national sport of New Zealand.  The All Blacks is the national team.  Australia is the arch rival.  We attended the Australia game together with 5 senior couples and 65,000 screaming fans.  Another “bucket list” item.  By the way, it’s a mean game.

Well, that’s it for now. Seven down and eleven to go.  November will see us traveling again, this time to Australia and then Fiji.  Understand the Utes gave one away Saturday. Glad I have the west seats and don’t have to sit in that hot sun bearing both the heat and disappointment like you wealthy donors.

As they say in NZ, Cheers!!