Fun senior missionary outing on Saturday.

I was invited to join the Pacific Area Office missionaries on an excursion to Sheepworld.  Here is a short description from the internet of our destination:

Sheepworld is New Zealand’s premier showcase for sheep and wool production, just 45 minutes north of Auckland.

Get a fascinating insight into how we farm our sheep in NZ, and harvest and use their wool.

In our live show, watch close-up as the sheep are rounded up by the dogs, sorted and shorn. Learn amazing fun facts about sheep, farming and wool from our show-presenters.

There’s also a farmyard full of friendly animals, the New Zealand Wool Story exhibition, an eco-trail through stunning native bush, and a great café. Our on-site shop offers top quality New Zealand woollen, sheepskin and other products.

Sheepworld is educational and fun for visitors of all ages and nationalities, and is great whatever the weather.

The mission has a 12 passenger van so 10 of us jumped in the van and 4 others followed in a car. 

We arrived at the complex in time for the 11:00 show.  It was a fun day watching the dogs manage the sheep, petting the animals and taking a short bush walk.

Sister Lucas

The sheep were out in a far field in the trees.  I couldn’t even see them.  With the command of the woman, the dog was off and came back with a flock of about 15 sheep which the dog herded through gates and into the barn.

The sheep were herded into the small pen in the picture above and then sent through a sorting shoot where the woman is standing.  

We then had a sheering demonstration

Bottle feeding some lambs

 
After the demonstration, we walked out among the paddocks and pens to visit the “petting” park.

Sister Lucas purchased some treats for the animals. 
The donkeys were fond of her and wanted MORE!!

Sister Mayberry

After leaving Sheepworld, we stopped in Matakana for lunch followed by a stop at Charlie’s Gelato.

My lunch was grilled peach salad with prosciutto, rocket and spiced cashews.

It has been a good week. 

I love working with young the missionaries!!  They keep me on my toes.  One of them sent me this meme.

I met two sisters at the office and managed to get them to go to lunch with me.  Sister Abaya is from the Philippines, so we went to a Filipino restaurant.

Sisters Martinez and Abaya

Thursday evening, the New Zealand Auckland senior missionaries met for a farewell dinner at The Clove, an Indian restaurant.  Sister and Elder Barnes finished their mission and left for home on Friday.  Sister and Elder Lewis leave mid-March and I will leave in April.   That will leave the last of the US missionaries, Sister and Elder Robinson, who will leave in June. 

Another, as always, beautiful week of sunrise beach walks.

Gull picnic in the seaweed left from last week’s stormy high tide.

Saturday evening, I went to the evening session of Stake Conference.  It was good and I looked forward to Sunday’s session.  However, I got this alert on my phone that changed everything.

Stake Conference was canceled due to Alert Level 3.  Our “bubble” of Sister Lucas and Sister and Elder Mayberry met Sunday afternoon for Sacrament and a group discussion.  We talked about the sacrifice made by Martin Harris who sold 130 acres of his farm to pay for the printing of the Book of Mormon.  His sacrifice of material things has brought great blessings to all of us through the Book of Mormon and the gift of being able to study and learn of our Savior.

We also discussed the eternal blessings that we have from the sacrifice and Atonement of our Savior.  

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