On Our Way!

Well we're mostly packed (you travel lightly as missionaries - at least compared to a household move) and will head out to the new mission in Hamilton in the morning.  We will stop in Auckland and visit with our present mission president for a bit and turn in our vehicle and transfer our belonging to a diesel Ford station wagon.  We have always said we would never have a diesel because of the smell of the fumes, but they do get better mileage and hopefully a small car will not stink up the air too much.  (Sorry, you diesel owners.)  That will be just the first of many changes, but we will adjust.

We actually went back to Hamilton again after Melanie's wedding for an orientation meeting on our assignment there (15 men and me - but I held my own).  We stayed in our new, but sparsely furnished, apartment for a couple of nights.  We were able to go to the temple and see the new film, which we loved. Hopefully, we'll be able to attend the temple weekly, since we'll only be 2-3 blocks away. We will be living in Temple View, which is south of Hamilton a few miles.  Hamilton is a good size city, about 150,000 compared to Kerikeri at about 30,000.  There is a beautiful lake on the south side with a boardwalk around it, which took us about an hour to walk.  Hopefully we can walk that a few times a week and get in better shape.  One positive about this move is we will spend less time sitting and driving.  On our way home we stopped in Auckland for a zone mission conference at which the new area Seventy and his wife spoke, along with our mission president and wife.

Evening walk around the lake in Hamilton

night time is upon us

Since we were packed up, Denise (our English lady) had us for dinner (tea) today (Sunday).  She has been so good to us and is such a joy to the branch because she is so full of the spirit and reminds others through her happiness of how blessed we are to have the gospel in our lives.  Last Sunday the Waihou Branch had a feed (lunch) for us after church and then on Monday evening we had a Family Home Evening BBQ on our nice patio, which is the first time we've really used it for a group because it has been a little too chilly.  We had the group that usually assembles at the Snows for FHE each week who live in the area.  Everyone brought something and after we ate, we each shared our most embarrassing moment and just had a fun evening getting to know each other a little more outside of church. I made that pumpkin dessert that is kind of like a cake/pie and it was a hit.  They don't have canned pumpkin here, but our friends bought us a small can at the American store in Auckland for $5.  They just use  pumpkin here as a vegetable and to make soup; using it for a dessert is very uncommon.  (They don't realize what they're missing.)  Amelia and her group had us for a Chinese theme dinner on Thursday - Elder Olsen and I have a very limited wardrobe, but I do have a jacket with a Mandarin collar and Amelia gave Don an oriental woven hat to wear.  It was a yummy, fun evening.  I told Amelia that we would be eternal friends and she replied, "And we don't even need to be sealed!"  We will look forward to both Denise and Amelia coming to Hamilton to the temple while we are probably still there in less than 11 months.

barbecue at our flat for FHE

Chinese dinner at Amelia's

Chinese party with Conrad and Amelia

It has been a busy couple of weeks trying to visit once more those who need a bit of encouragement and get a few more follow-up lessons in with the young boys who were baptized and Michael Crouch, who still needs a couple of more lessons and Desire, who is ready but waiting to be baptized in the ocean when it gets a little warmer.  We've loved teaching these adolescent aged individuals; they are so cute and have such simple faith.  The coolest thing is that while we have been teaching the boys, their families have sat in on the lessons as well, and it has helped to re-activate them.  Tina Crouch's husband is a non-member, but is showing some interest.  He runs a dairy farm with about 300 cows and they live about 25 miles down a mostly dirt road, but she has been coming to church with her five children, Michael being the oldest at 8.  We have to admire those members, throughout the world, who attend church even though it is a hardship in various ways.  I think about how close we live to the church at home, how easy it is to do our home teaching and visiting teaching and we have a temple within 10 minutes of our homes.

curly haired Mauri girl

We had 4 of the Elders in our district for lunch one day this week, as well.  The Snow's had given us some home-grown beef steaks (more than Don and I could eat) and boy, did those missionaries ever enjoy them!
We have grown quite close to them and sort of feel like their parents (rather grandparents).  I wanted to give  them each a big hug, but only Elder Olsen could.  We have loved going to District meeting with them each week and really admire their dedication and faith and the spirit they carry and have learned a lot from them.

Elders Taylor, Johnson, Viliamu, Dauniika, Olsen and Sister Olsen

Among those we said goodbye to was Simi, our friend from Tonga.  He and many other men come to NZ for 6-8 months to work in the orchards because there is little work for them at home.  Simi saw us at the grocery store soon after we got here and has gone to church with us nearly every week and to family home evening.  He has been the only one of the members who has been diligent while working away from home. He is in his bishopric at home and has 9 children and mostly live off the land, the ocean, and the money he earns here.

Simi our Tongan friend

We are sad to be leaving this beautiful Northland and especially the beautiful people here.  We have had some wonderful experiences that we will always cherish.  However, we are sure we will meet some great people and have lots of opportunities to serve in our new area.  So - we're on our way!

P.S. Happy 4th birthday Lily.