Getting a good start

We had a wonderful experience today as we attended Church at the branch in Matauri Bay, which is north of Kerikeri about 40 minutes. There were about 12 adults, including us, and about the same number of children.  Elder Olsen taught the Gospel Essentials class and I taught RS, as the president was not there. This branch is essentially made up of three extended families.  The branch president and counselor are brothers, the YM president is their father, their wives are the presidents of the auxiliaries, a closely knit branch.  However, we have discovered there are ample part member and less active individual and families we can work with, which is one of the primary reasons we are here.

Many of the less active members are spread out over the countryside, long distances from the meeting house, and with the price of petrol so high many stay away.  This makes fellow shipping and staying connected more difficult.

We learned there is only one other senior couple outside the mission office assigned MLS (member and leadership support).  Most couples called to New Zealand serve in the Pacific Area office in Auckland, CES, welfare, family history, and visitor center assignments.  The mission president would love to have several more couples to put around the mission to help the struggling branches.

One of the things we most enjoy doing is feeding the missionaries.  The Elders love Mexican food since its really hard to find here, so Sister Olsen cooked up a large pot of taco soup and some bread and they had a real feast.

We have two investigators with upcoming baptism commitments, this Saturday May 25th, is Tae, a young boy, and Amelia, a 52 year old widow tentatively for June or July.  We anticipate many positive teaching experiences with less actives and hope to see results in temple ordinances in the months to come.

We have been assigned to serve in two branches and we split our time attending each every other week. The town we live in, Kerikeri, is about halfway between the branches.  When we go to church it is like taking a scenic drive down a curvy narrow road, that we jokingly remind each other of the road to Hanna on the island of Maui.  The weather is quite mild.  More rain than we are accustomed to and much more humidity.  It takes a long time to dry out your laundry if you hang it on a line outside.  The countryside is like a paradise for sheep and cattle and they grow a variety of fresh fruit and vegetable.  We buy avocado, mandarin oranges, and macadamia nuts in roadside stands.

 

 

 

 

rock walls and rolling grass lands

a country lane near our flat

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sister Olsen a short distance from our flat to the bay