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?