They have the most interesting trees here and I love the root system. This is Shakespere Park
Our office workday is like an 8 to 5 job. We work on the computers and phone all day, which is kind of boring, so when we put pictures on our blog, it’s mostly our weekend trips. Most of our family thinks we are just down here having a vacation but to those who know Paul and I really well, know that putting on a dress, nylons, ties and suits to sit at a desk for 8 hours, five days a week is definitely not a vacation. We do have lots of fun because we have our weekends free and can take off to see the beautiful sites. 
The three wheeled cart looked like a real riot. They were zipping across the sand on three wheels and then would tip on to two wheels. I wanted to get on it and fly across the sand. People here don’t mind wind, rain or cold, they are out having fun.
We have been trying to get our visa stuff done AGAIN!!! (For Samoa this time.) We had to go to a doctor here and do new chest x-rays and fill out all the paper work again. We have to be finger printed and have an FBI report done. We hope we can get things done so that we can move by the middle of June but it’s looking more like July now. Every Monday we get together with all of the senior couples for FHE but last night was the most wonderful family home evening yet. Elder Scott is here touring the Islands and he invited all the senior couples to an evening with him. There were 10 couples and the Area Presidency. We met at Elder Callister’s home, a member of the Area presidency. His apartment is near the beach overlooking the ocean. It makes our place look like a dive but we still like it.
Elder Scott asked each of us to stand and tell him our assignments and then to say two things that we appreciated about our spouse. We were each able to do that. He then gave us some good advice. He said that we should take time away from missionary work and go somewhere for a couple of days and relax and just think about what the Lord would have us do to be successful in our assignment. He said that we often get too involved in just doing work that we really don’t get the spiritual guidance that we all need. He also talked about keeping a private journal of your thoughts when you have promptings from the spirit. He said that it should be kept where no one else can read it. He said that he keeps his on the computer with a secret pass word. When he dies, it will die with him.
It was a wonderful evening and we were all able to shake his hand and talk to him personally. This is one of those great rewards that you get while serving a senior mission.
April 28, 2009
This week has been a week of trying to get responses from our Public Affairs directors on the various Islands. Paul has emailed them, called them and emailed again and again…..but we only hear from one of our islands. We are trying to plan a visit to Tonga, Samoa and American Samoa, sometime in the next two weeks so that we can determine where they stand and then provide
any training and help that they may need. This week has been a week of trying to get responses from our Public Affairs directors on the various Islands. Paul has emailed them, called them and emailed again and again…..but we only hear from one of our islands. We are trying to plan a visit to Tonga, Samoa and American Samoa, sometime in the next two weeks so that we can determine where they stand and then provide
These are the other two Public Affairs couples that work in the office with us. The Clarks and the Webster. Both couples are in their seventies.
Our office workday is like an 8 to 5 job. We work on the computers and phone all day, which is kind of boring, so when we put pictures on our blog, it’s mostly our weekend trips. Most of our family thinks we are just down here having a vacation but to those who know Paul and I really well, know that putting on a dress, nylons, ties and suits to sit at a desk for 8 hours, five days a week is definitely not a vacation. We do have lots of fun because we have our weekends free and can take off to see the beautiful sites.
Last Saturday we went to Orewa which is a half hour north of our house. It was overcast, windy and some rain but we felt we had to see something and had a great time.
We found a great little Mexican restaurant, owned by a guy from California, had some lunch and then walked around the little shopping area of the town. I love their fruit markets and bakeries. They have the most wonderful looking breads and pies. They also eat a lot of meat pies and Panini’s here. So there is never a want for food.
We sat on the beach for a while and there were tons of kite surfers, wind surfers and three wheeled carts with a sails on them. Those things looked really fun and really tear up and down the big flat beach.
We found a great little Mexican restaurant, owned by a guy from California, had some lunch and then walked around the little shopping area of the town. I love their fruit markets and bakeries. They have the most wonderful looking breads and pies. They also eat a lot of meat pies and Panini’s here. So there is never a want for food.
We sat on the beach for a while and there were tons of kite surfers, wind surfers and three wheeled carts with a sails on them. Those things looked really fun and really tear up and down the big flat beach.
They even had beach skateboard surfers with a sail pulling them along on the wet sand. The wind was really howling and I could hardly talk into it. It took your breath away. We just sat down and watch the action.
It wasn’t cold and the whole beach was dotted with the colorful sails and kites.
Some of the kite surfers were going 10 to 15 feet in the air and landing it. It was amazing. I kept thinking how much fun it would be to have all these toys at Bear Lake. I could just see the boys flying through the air when the wind blows.
Some of the kite surfers were going 10 to 15 feet in the air and landing it. It was amazing. I kept thinking how much fun it would be to have all these toys at Bear Lake. I could just see the boys flying through the air when the wind blows.
The three wheeled cart looked like a real riot. They were zipping across the sand on three wheels and then would tip on to two wheels. I wanted to get on it and fly across the sand. People here don’t mind wind, rain or cold, they are out having fun.
We have been trying to get our visa stuff done AGAIN!!! (For Samoa this time.) We had to go to a doctor here and do new chest x-rays and fill out all the paper work again. We have to be finger printed and have an FBI report done. We hope we can get things done so that we can move by the middle of June but it’s looking more like July now.
Elder Scott asked each of us to stand and tell him our assignments and then to say two things that we appreciated about our spouse. We were each able to do that. He then gave us some good advice. He said that we should take time away from missionary work and go somewhere for a couple of days and relax and just think about what the Lord would have us do to be successful in our assignment. He said that we often get too involved in just doing work that we really don’t get the spiritual guidance that we all need. He also talked about keeping a private journal of your thoughts when you have promptings from the spirit. He said that it should be kept where no one else can read it. He said that he keeps his on the computer with a secret pass word. When he dies, it will die with him.
It was a wonderful evening and we were all able to shake his hand and talk to him personally. This is one of those great rewards that you get while serving a senior mission.
2 comments:
Nylons... Yikes!!! OK we will quit teasing you about being on vacation. :) Still looks like an awful lot of fun though! We are thoroughly enjoying your adventures from afar.
How neat to be with Elder Scott. That sounds like a wonderful experience. Don't forget to check out pricing on the wind surfing kites. Your post looks beautiful. Good Job! Love you.
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