Saying “until we meet again” is still hard to do!!

I was not able to get a one-on-one picture with each outgoing missionary but I had a request
from Sister Crooks who went home to Australia a few months ago, to get a picture with Sister Kehoe.
This is for you Sister Crooks.

This week has been filled with goings/comings and “until we meet again”/welcome days.

Tuesday was the day that the majority of the missionaries going home left the mission although a few didn’t leave until Wednesday.  All departing missionaries meet at the mission home for a devotional, lunch, and exit interviews with the mission president.  I was at the mission home to pick up a sister returning to her flat because her departure was on Wednesday.  I was blessed to witness hugs, tears (mostly mine), stacks of luggage, and a final Haka by the departing elders.

Wednesday I picked up a sister to take to the airport who was transferring to the Cook Islands.  From the airport I went to the MTC to pick up 2 sisters coming new to our mission. 

Raining all the day for driving!  YUCK!!!

Other senior missionaries were busy taking people to the airport for departure and waiting to pick up the incoming missionaries from the Provo MTC.  For most of us the day began in the wee hours of the morning in order to pick up missionaries from their flats and to get them to the airport.

We all met to begin our orientation of the new missionaries at a chapel fairly close to the airport.  It was a long day but rewarding to meet the new missionaries.  The ones coming from the States were exhausted after their 13 hour flight and there was a lot of yawning going on during the meeting.

Because the flight from the States didn’t arrive until a little after 9:00 (usually arrives around 6 A.M.), we didn’t start the orientation until 10:30ish.  I wasn’t able to do the incoming medical interview of each missionary until after orientation.  I arrived home about 6:45 that evening.  Love busy days though!!

Thursday I had a doctor appointment with a missionary.

Usually, zone conferences are held a week or two into the transfer but because it is customary to have a Christmas Zone Conference, we held the first one on Friday.  After instruction by the president, we had a very nice catered lunch. 

My lunch

Creative stacking 101

After lunch we had a program where each district performed a skit.  All of them were funny and the missionaries had a great time.  Even some of us seniors who work in the office, and I am included in that group, did a skit.”

The end of the day is always the “Saying so long and Job well done”. This haka for the departing missionaries was particularly touching to me.  I have not seen them sing in the circle like this before.  Very touching.

Friday evening I was invited to dinner by Sister Lucas who is our newly arrive area mental health advisor.  She also invited Elder and Sister Mayberry who are the new area medical advisors.  Most pleasant evening.

Saturday I was invited to join the senior missionaries from the area seventies office to go on a bush walk.  In the Auckland area, there are numerous parks, reserves, beaches, forests, etc that provide trails and walks.  There were 3 chosen bush walks scheduled for the morning.  I had an appointment with a missionary so I was only able to attend 2 of the areas.  I want to return to each of them as we only spent a short time/walk at each one.  Beautiful morning!

 

 Bowls or lawn bowls is a sport in which the objective is to roll biased balls so that they stop close to a

 smaller ball called a "jack" or "kitty". It is played on a bowling green which may be flat (for "flat-green bowls") 

or convex or uneven (for "crown green bowls"). It is normally played outdoors (although there are 

many indoor venues) and the outdoor surface is either natural grass, artificial turf, or cotula (in New Zealand).  

You may read more about the sport here.

There is a large pa harakeke or flax garden at the Eskdale Track.
There are signs to describe the various varieties of flax plants.   You may read about it here.

From the New Zealand Department of Conservation website:

Flax was a valuable resource to Europeans during the nineteenth century because of its strength. It was New Zealand’s biggest export by far until wool and frozen mutton took over later in the century.

Today, flax is used in soaps, hand creams, shampoos and a range of other cosmetics. Flaxseed oil can also be found for sale. There have even been experiments to make flax into wine! 

Flax was the most important fibre plant to Māori in New Zealand. Each pā or marae typically had a ‘pā harakeke’, or flax plantation. Different varieties were specially grown for their strength, softness, colour and fibre content. 

The uses of the flax fibre were numerous and varied. Clothing, mats, plates, baskets, ropes, bird snares, lashings, fishing lines and nets were all made from flax leaves. Floats or rafts were made out of bundles of dried flower stalks. The abundant nectar from flax flowers was used to sweeten food and beverages. 

Flax also had many medicinal uses. The sticky sap or gum that flax produces was applied to boils and wounds and used for toothache. Flax leaves were used in binding broken bones and matted leaves were used as dressings. Flax root juice was routinely applied to wounds as a disinfectant.

If you are interested, you may read more here.

Sunday was our Christmas program in Sacrament Meeting with a linger-longer following.  I sang in the choir and enjoyed the meeting and gathering/visiting afterward.

Monday was our second zone conference with a repeat of the conference on Friday – just different missionaries.  In order to accommodate all of the zones before Christmas, we gathered in two conferences as opposed to the usual four days of meetings.  I so enjoy being with the missionaries!!

Senior Missionary Skit

Monday evening I joined the Lewis’s, the Packards, and the Wrights at the Wright’s home for a light meal and to watch Scrooge.  Nice evening with friends.

In a conversation with a missionary this week, we talked about the small things that we do that can touch others in big ways.  By chance, later in the week in my studies, I listened to/read a BYU Devotional Speech that hit home to me about this topic.  I was studying about the impact that the Savior had and still has upon the world.  In this talk, J. Michael Hunter reminds us that Jesus Christ taught us to love and serve the one within our reach.

From the talk:

“We read in the Book of Mormon “that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass” (Alma 37:6). This is illustrated beautifully in the birth of Christ. The Savior of the world was born in a simple stable in an obscure village to a woman of no great standing in the world. Out of these simple, small circumstances proceeded the Lord’s great work of salvation. One of the most recognizable symbols of the Christmas season is the Nativity, with a small babe lying in straw and surrounded by animals. It is a reminder to us all that “out of small things proceedeth that which is great” (D&C 64:33). 

When celebrating the birth of Christ, we surround ourselves with symbols to remind us of what life is really all about, why we’re here, and what we’re supposed to be doing with our lives.” 

Brother Hunter goes on to say:  “I believe that our Heavenly Father has small daily tasks that He would like us to do right here at BYU to make a difference. He would like to make us instruments in His hands in helping to fulfill His work. President Spencer W. Kimball said: 

God does notice us, and he watches over us. But it is usually through another person that he meets our needs. Therefore, it is vital that we serve each other in the kingdom. . . . So often, our acts of service consist of simple encouragement or of giving mundane help with mundane tasks, but what glorious consequences can flow from mundane acts and from small but deliberate deeds! 

Knowing that there are angels among us attending to our needs and that no sparrow falls without the Father’s notice gives us courage and faith to let go of our own troubles long enough to reach out and help others with theirs. It’s a system of give and take that works best when all focus more on the giving and less on the taking. Along the way, our Heavenly Father sends us gentle reminders of the small things that are of the greatest worth.”

If you would like to listen to or read this talk you may do so here.

This is a reminder to me of how important it is for me to be worthy to receive guidance and direction and to be prepared to do the small and simple things asked of me.  I know that the Savior lives and loves me and that if I live worthily, I can become an instrument in His hands.  I love serving here in New Zealand.  It is a blessing beyond measure.

I value and appreciate the messages and thoughts and cards sent to me.  I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a blessed coming New Year.

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

As you can see, the pohutukawa trees are becoming more vibrant and close to full bloom.
They are literally everywhere!  Red and green – therefore the New Zealand Christmas Tree.