E hiahia ana ahau ki te ako ki te korero i te reo Maori na ka mau ahau ki te akomanga.

E hiahia ana ahau ki te ako ki te korero i te reo Maori na ka mau ahau ki te akomanga.

(Translation:  I want to learn to speak Maori so I took a class.)

This has been a great week!  We still have a few colds cropping up but I think that is common for the winter months.  We had a wasp sting and a bee sting so the insects are still out and about.  We had also a toothache, stomach ache, back ache and a few other misc ailments but for the most part, the mission is pretty healthy.

Tuesday I rode to Northland (that is what the northern most part of New Zealand is called) with Elder and Sister Packard on our way to a zone conference to be held in Kaikohe (translation: fat).  They left me in Kiawaka (translation: food canoe) with Sister and Elder De Lora.  I was in the MTC with De Lora’s and we became close friends.  It was wonderful to spend the evening with them and to drive the next morning for 2 hours to our zone conference.

The De Lora’s are serving as MLS missionaries (Member Leadership Support) and they are working hard to become active members of the community.  They sing in a community choir, Sister De Lora goes to a quilting group and they attend Maori classes every Tuesday evening.  I was lucky enough to attend a class with them.  I learned a few Maori words and simple sentence structure.  Just so you don’t think I’m boasting, I had to go to a dictionary/translator to be able to put the title on this blog so I’m not fluent yet...LOL!

Notes from Maori language class

At the end of the class, the students sing a song in Maori

I thought this information was interesting so I want to share:

“The Māori alphabet or Te Pū Taka Māori consists of 10 consonents and 5 vowels.

In alphabetical order they are: a, e, h, i, k, m, n, ng, o, p, r, t, u, w, wh

There are five vowels: a, e, i, o, u

Ten consonants: h, k, m, n, ng, p, r, t, w, wh

Two of the consonents are digraphs (two letters that combine to form one sound): wh, ng”

The wh makes something close to the sound of “f” so Whangerei, a city in Northland, sounds like Fongaray.  I don’t know what sound the ng makes.  I’ll have to ask someone.

Northland is spectacular!!  Wednesday there was frost on the meadows.  I was told that this was the first frost of the year.  The roads are winding and narrow, there are huge logging trucks, and sometimes it is a little unnerving to see a huge vehicle coming at you on the “wrong” side of the road.  It takes a second to remember that vehicles travel on the left side of the road.  I am becoming accustomed though.  When I get home, I will have to unlearn what I have learned here.

Frost on the meadows

You can see islands in the sea

The trees in Northland still have colorful leaves.   

A misty morning

You can see hill sides where the logging industry has been at work.
Forestry is New Zealand's third biggest export industry, after dairy and meat.

From The NZ Herald:  Many weeds attack our ecosystems but one which
closely resembles the native toetoe is among the most insidious.

Pampas, the prolific-seeding native of the South America, invades disturbed areas, such as cleared bush margins, burned areas and firebreaks.

It competes with and smothers other vegetation, and provides habitat for rats and mice.
Heavy infestations are radiating wind-blown seeds across Northland, Taranaki, Whanganui, Bay of Plenty and elsewhere.

Pampas threatens plantation forests and land of high conservation value, says Abigail Monteith, partnerships ranger for DoC's Northland District.)

It was a most pleasant day being with the missionaries and meeting many that I hadn’t met before.  I rode back home with the Packard’s who dropped me off at my flat about 7:30 Wednesday night.

Thursday I had the opportunity to have lunch with the sister training leaders in my area.  What delightful young women!

Sisters Kehoe (in the front) and Crooks

We had another zone conference on Friday but it was held here in Takapuna.  If it hadn’t been raining, I would have walked to this conference.

I have the opportunity to teach the missionaries some aspect of healthy living at each conference.  This month I taught the importance and benefits of exercise. I got their attention by jogging into the gym where they were eating lunch. I yelled and raved about a new program I had found that was just too good to keep to myself.  I told them that for just a mere 30 minutes a day they could win prizes and special benefits!  Everyone wanted to hear about this program.  I explained that all they had to do was exercise;  run, jog, jump rope, do squats, whatever it took to increase their heartrate.  I went on to show them what they could win. With exercise they could increase their energy, maintain or lose weight, build stronger bones and muscles, get better relaxation and sleep, reduce pain, help skin to be healthy, get better brain health and memory, and just plain be happier!!  They were receptive.  I hope that they will be more diligent about exercising.

Saturday morning I went to the doctor with a missionary.  Afterward we stopped in the pharmacy to fill the prescription she was given.  After the sisters left, I was talking to the pharmacist and asking some questions about a medication.  Before I left, the pharmacist asked me “What do you do?  What does that (pointing to my name tag) mean? I explained that I am a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  I am the nurse for our mission and I help the missionaries with health and wellness.  I explained that the younger missionaries talk to people who want to learn more about Jesus Christ.  I asked if she would like to know more and she said yes.  I didn’t have any pass-a-long cards so I told her she could learn about the church at churchofjesuschrist.org.  She told me she was going to go home and look it up.

I got some pass-a-long cards today at the office.  I will go back to the pharmacy and give her a card this week.  It made my day to be able to plant a seed and to tell a person about our Savior.  I don’t have this opportunity often.

Pass along cards

It was our Stake Conference this week end.  I attended the Saturday evening session with Sister Bunker.  At the beginning of the meeting after the opening prayer, a sextet of women from the Young Single Adult Ward sang an arrangement of the hymn “Dearest Children God Is Near You.”  I have never hear more angelic voices.  Moved me to tears.  They blended exquisitely!

Elder Daniel G. Hamilton of the Seventy was the visiting authority. He was impressed too as he asked them to sing the hymn again before he began his talk.  They moved him to tears too.

Sunday after conference, I drove Sister Bunker to the MTC again.  I went into the teaching session with her this time so that the elder could practice his English with someone new.  He is trying so hard!  I could understand much of what he was trying to say.

He told us about his conversion and that he and a brother are the only members of the Church in his family and his brother has fallen away from activity.  He is finding joy in learning a new language and looking forward to serving his mission.

In our conference session Sunday, one of the topics Elder Hamilton talked about was sacrifice.  Listening to this elder reminded me that he has made and is making sacrifices.

I remember a talk from April Conference 2018 given by Elder Taylor G. Godoy, One More Day. In this talk Elder Godoy begins with the story of a young boy who lived only a short time due to a syndrome/condition that he had a birth.  The day before he died, this boy said “one more day” and the next day he died.

Elder Godoy ponders: “If we were told we had a short time to live, we too might plead for more days of life in the name of things we should have done or done differently.  Regardless of the time the Lord, in His wisdom, determines to grant each of us, of one thing we can be sure: we all have a “today” to live, and the key to making our day successful is to be willing to sacrifice.”

Elder Godoy defines sacrifice:  “The word sacrifice comes from the Latin words sacer, which means “sacred,” and facere, which means “to make”—in other words, to make things sacred, to bring honor to them.”

He goes on to describe the ways that sacrifice will make our days meaningful and blessed:
1. personal sacrifice strengthens us and gives value to the things we sacrifice for,
2. sacrifices we make for others, and that others make for us, result in blessings for all,
3. any sacrifice we make is small compared to the sacrifice of the Son of God.

This is a meaningful talk.  I encourage you to read it in full as the examples and stories that Elder Godoy share add emphasis to the meaning and sacredness of sacrifice.

I know that the Lord loves us and has given his all for us. I am blessed to belong to the Church of Jesus Christ restored to its fullness in these latter days by the Prophet, Seer and Revelator Joseph Smith.  The Book of Mormon and the Bible testify of Jesus Christ. 

Te here nei au i to'u Faaora e te here nei au ia oe i to'u utuafare e to'u mau hoa.
(translation:  I love my Savior and I love you my family and friends.)

Reminder of NYC days.  I went to “Pen Station”

New Zealand money especially the bills are colorful and attractive.

Happy Father's Day!

I can’t believe that I have been here 2 days short of a month!  I really miss my family and friends at home but I am delighted with the new friends I am meeting here in the beautiful country.

The missionaries have been fairly healthy this week with not too many calls.  A few colds hanging around but we’re doing well.  I’ve done a lot of follow up to make sure knees, ankles, dental work, etc. are progressing as hoped.

Tuesday I went with an Elder to purchase some glasses.  I was privileged to have lunch with his companions and the zone leaders who gave them a ride to the mall.  We had Indian food in the food court of the mall.  I had butter chicken.  Great young men.

Other senior missionaries have encouraged me to get a library card as it gets me into some museums free and discounts to other sites of interest so on Thursday I went to the Takapuna Library where I accomplished my mission.

Beautiful flowers outside the library.

The library is just up the street from the beach so I walked down to the beach to enjoy the beauty.  The tide was high so I didn’t walk out into the sand but I took some pics of how green the park there is and how gorgeous are the clouds.  I also took a video to share with you.

Walking back to my flat, I spied an eating establishment that caught my eye touting New York style pizza.  I had to investigate Sal’s Authentic to see how “authentic” it really was.  It was very thin crust and actually pretty good.  Not even remotely as good as Johns of Bleecker or Grimaldi’s but nowhere on earth is pizza as good as it is in NYC!!

Since I splurged on fatty foods on Thursday, I made my own dinner Friday evening.  Good if I do say so myself.  Baked yam, salmon, green beans and persimmon.

It has been less rainy this week so I have managed to walk a few of the days for exercise. I try to ride the recumbent bike every day for 15 minutes to keep my knees in good condition but I do enjoy the great out of doors and walking through Auburn Reserve.  

Notice the large frond growing out in the fern. It is a little difficult to see
but you can see the curve of the frond.  It is large.  Bigger than my wrist.

Sunday after church I went home with Paula Ardern who is Tracy’s sister.  Tracy is my kiwi daughter from another mother who is married to my son, Rex.  Paula served me a delicious lunch of soup, salad, grilled cheese sandwich and the yummiest banana bread.  The pumpkin soup was really good.  (Here you can buy an array of fresh soups in bags sold in the refrigerated section.  I’m getting some to keep in my fridge for easy, delicious meals.)  Paula also gifted me a chocolate bar that is like nothing I’ve tried before.  The essence of orange in the dark chocolate and the bits of candied ginger is an unforgettable combination of flavors. 

After lunch we took a stroll on the beach.  Paula gave me a little geography lesson about the bay (harbor).

Waitematā Harbour is the main access by sea to Auckland, New Zealand. For this reason it is often referred to as Auckland Harbour, despite the fact that it is one of two harbours adjoining the city. The harbour forms the northern and eastern coasts of the Auckland isthmus and is crossed by the Auckland Harbour Bridge. It is matched on the southern side of the city by the shallower waters of the Manukau Harbour.

With an area of 70 square miles (180 km²), it connects the city's main port and the Auckland waterfront to the Hauraki Gulf and the Pacific Ocean. It is sheltered from Pacific storms by Auckland's North Shore, Rangitoto Island, and Waiheke Island.

Behind me in the distance you can see Rangitoto Island.

Rangitoto Island is a volcanic island in the Hauraki Gulf near Auckland, New Zealand. The 5.5 km (3.4 mi) wide island is an iconic and widely visible landmark of Auckland with its symmetrical shield volcano cone rising 260 m (850 ft) high over the Hauraki Gulf.  Rangitoto is the youngest and largest of the approximately 50 volcanoes of the Auckland volcanic field, covering an area of 2,311 ha (5,710 acres).  It is separated from the mainland of Auckland's North Shore by the Rangitoto Channel. Since World War II, it has been linked by a causeway to the much older, non-volcanic Motutapu Island.

Rangitoto is Māori for 'Bloody Sky', with the name coming from the full phrase Ngā Rangi-i-totongia-a Tama-te-kapua ("The days of the bleeding of Tama-te-kapua"). Tama-te-kapua was the captain of the Arawa waka (canoe) and was badly wounded on the island, after having lost a battle with the Tainui iwi (tribe) at Islington Bay.

Later in the afternoon, I took Sister Bunker to the New Zealand MTC again so she could help an elder with his English.  She served me a delicious chicken dinner when we returned home.  There was a colorful sunset.  We could see the clouds from Sister Bunker’s deck. 

She also introduced me to golden kiwi fruit.  It is sweeter than the green kiwi.

Tracy and Paula (we video talked to Rex and Tracy) told me that a peanut slab is to die for.  I must concur!  I noticed these Maltesers at the store.  My sister, Peggy likes malt ball candy so I had to try them in her honor.  When she comes to visit me, we can buy some.  She will like them!!

I have been working on the presentation I will be giving in the zone conferences during the next two weeks.  I’ll report on that next week.

On Sunday, Father’s Day, I felt to express my love and appreciation for Kay.  For the husband and father to our children that he was.  He touched the lives of so many young people in his position as a school principal but he touched the lives of his family most of all.  He was Dad, Grandpa, and Bompa to his family.  We love you Kay.  I am proud of all of the men in my family who are fathers and father-uncles.  Each brings his own personality, care and love to each of us.

I am deeply grateful for my Savior.  This week I studied more about the importance of the sacrament and the blessing it is for me to renew my baptismal covenants every Sunday in Sacrament Meeting.  As I think of the Savior as I partake of the sacrament, I have the opportunity to be forgiven each week and to have his Spirit to guide and comfort me.  The sacrament always gives hope. 

I love my Savior.  I love you my family and friends.