SOMEWHERE OVER THE...

The springtime here is the rainy season and there is hardly a day go by that we don' get at least a light rain. One of the blessings of frequent showers is the rainbows.  We see them almost daily.

a frequent sight

A week ago we traveled to Hamilton to attend the wedding for Melanie Green, daughter of Marte and Diana Green from our home ward in Centerville, Utah.  She married a man from the Cook Islands, between New Zealand and Australia.  The temple was beautiful and the day was sunny.  Melanie's grandma, Barbara Jensen was also there.  What a wonderful ceremony in the temple.  Several of the grooms extended family were there and provided an enveloping welcome of Melanie into their family.

Ronnie and Melanie at the New Zealand Temple

During the afternoon we gathered at the Lone Star Restaurant in downtown Hamilton where they had a more traditional celebration.  There were Polynesian (hula) dances culminating in a performance by the bride in her wedding gown showing her husband that she could move as well as the others.  The bride is presented quilts by the extended family of the groom.  These were beautiful (some hand made) quilts and so colorful.  The belief is that the couple will be blessed with one child for every quilt;  Melanie only received nine. Wow!

quilts and traditional dancing

Diana and Marte Green, brides parents and Barbara Jensen, a grandmother

They will be living in Dunedin on the south island for the next couple years.  We wish them well.

While in Hamilton we were able to see the newly remodeled apartment where we will be living and the Hammond Wood where we will be helping to develop a camp for the youth of the church in New Zealand. The apartment would have seemed much nicer if we hadn't just visited the White's lovely high rise apartment in the heart of Hamilton. However our apartment is just a few hundred meters from the temple and we have such a beautiful view of it.

The crowning glory of this past week was to see two young boys whom we have been teaching, be baptized. Both of them are from less active families who have now begun to come out regularly and participate in full fellowship.  Charlie Tua is from the Matauri Bay Branch and Caleb Sadler is from the Wiahau Branch. Desire Platt is another investigator from Matauri Bay who is ready for baptism; howeve'r her mother wants her to be baptized in the bay by her uncle so we'll probably miss seeing that happen before we leave.

Charlie and grandparents

Caleb, his mom and two sisters

We will be leaving the north to go work in Hamilton at the end of the month.  We spent our last Sunday at Matauri Bay today when the Primary had their program and we loved it.  We have been visiting some of the members who rarely make it out to say goodbye to them.  One elderly brother, Abraham Leef, gave Sister Olsen her pick of a woven purse from several his late wife had collected over the years.

hand woven purse

a common sight in the spring

cock-of-the-walk