ADDICTED TO AMERICAN FOOD?

Little did we expect to hear Christmas songs at Church today.  The sun was shining and the weather is warm, the days are long and the flowers are blooming.  It just doesn't seem like Christmastime.

The first Monday evening in November all the senior couples met at President and Sister Rudd's home for a family home evening Thanksgiving dinner, the first and probably the only turkey we will have to eat while here.  We did see some frozen turkeys at the supermarket, 15 lbs for $89.00, no thanks we'll just have chicken.  New Zealanders don't have pumpkin pie either.  Well, on Thursday Sister Olsen picked up a roasted chicken, she made some stuffing, and she put some smashed, cooked pumpkin with a little brown sugar and spices, in some vanilla ice cream with a cookie crumb crust and it made a wonderful dessert. I think we'll make that a traditional dessert when we return home.

Roger being presented a plaque by Ken Williams

Last Saturday we hosted what Sister Olsen named "Roger Hamon Day at the Bush" to honor him for all that he has done to preserve the area that the church is making into a camp ground for the youth of New Zealand.  We had about 70 people in attendance, all brought a plate so we had lots of food, listened to several tell stories and sing.  Roger, though not feeling well was able to sing a solo.  He has a pleasing tenor voice.

Roger cutting his birthday cake

It was Sister Olsen's birthday a week ago; to keep her mind off of how old she was, she wanted to do something fun..  We left Monday morning and traveled to Auckland.  Our first stop was the Sky Tower, a tall monolith with a couple of observation decks and a restaurant at the top where we had a 360 degree view of the city. After returning to the ground, we walked around a few blocks and headed to One Tree Hill, a high point in the city.  Friends had told us about eating there at a nice restaurant and we found it in Cornwall Park at the base of the hill and shared a wonderful lunch before we headed back to Hamilton. Afterwards we went to the America Store, where Sister Olsen was excited to buy a few things that you can't find at the regular grocery store, like Lipton onion soup mix, canned pumpkin, green chilies, corn syrup, dill pickles, etc. Along the way home we stopped, at a small town called Pokeno, that is famous for yummy ice cream that is only half the price it is everywhere else.  Sister Olsen had a single, I had a double but an LDS Tongan family we met there really outdid us; the wife had four or five scoops and the husband had a 6 decker.

looking straight down from the Sky Tower

looking east from the observation deck of the Sky Tower

looking at downtown from One Tree Hill

Jerusa Nobre, a young single sister from Brazil who lives in Kerikeri stayed Friday night with us and attended the temple.  Sister Erina Williams also from Kerikeri stopped over on Saturday night.  She was attending the temple before she moved to Napier to be with her family.  We have let people know they could stay with us and sure enough they haven't hesitated to come.  We thoroughly enjoy having them to visit and report on whats happening in the area we first served.  Friday night we attended the 65 and over dance at the local ward.  It was raining heavy and not so many came, but we enjoyed the dinner and the music from the 60's and considering we hadn't danced together for ages, I only stepped on Dian's toes a few times.

In an earlier blog we mentioned the Murray family from Waihau Branch up north.  This was the family who were able to bring their family to the temple and be sealed just a week before the husband passed away with cancer.  Their oldest daughter was waiting for her mission call at that time.  Since then she has received a call to the Brisbane, Australia mission and came through the temple two weeks ago for her own endowments. While in the MTC in Auckland she learned that her Uncle that lives next to them was killed in an automobile accident seriously injuring her cousin and the uncle's partner.  The next day the missionaries from the MTC came to the temple, she was with them and determined to serve the Lord and set a good example for her brothers who need to make changes before they can serve.  She was feeling the comfort of the Spirit as she grieved the loss of her father and uncle.

At fast and testimony meeting at the Raglan Branch we had a wonderful experience.  There were only about 30 in attendance and the Sisters brought an investigator, male, 50ish who looked pretty rough.  Before the meeting started they introduced him to us and we asked a little about him.  Soon he was crying and it seemed he couldn't stop.  He was so grateful that the Sisters had invited him to church and that they really did care about him.  Several years ago he had 2 daughters, one 10 and one 13 who both died of cancer.  He said it tore his heart out and he has never recovered, he turned to alcohol and subsequently made poor decisions ending up in prison for several years.  This impacted all in attendance and each bore testimony of the Saviors love and power to heal.  Because he is a single man the Sisters cannot go in his home and have taught him outside which has embarrassed him when people have walked by.  So the sisters have invited us to teach him.  We know the Savior came to save us from our sins and that He can heal our hearts.

bouquet of hydranges from the bush