No Elder Nelson, but tallest General Authority!

It has been a busy but good 2 weeks since we last wrote.  Elder Russell M. Nelson has been here since Friday and we were told that he wanted to come out to the campground and see how it is progressing, but if he did, it wasn't while we were there.  Actually Elder Olsen didn't get to see him at all and I did only for a 1/2 hour.  He did a fireside for the youth Friday night and then Saturday (yesterday) morning the youth from 2 of the stakes came out to the camp for a service project from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. which was about the same time President Nelson addressed all the missionaries.  Three buses brought in the missionaries from the outlying areas.  I rode back from camp with someone and was able to hurry and change and run over to the chapel and get in on the end of his talk.  The Sister missionaries from Raglan said it was a very good meeting, except for a group of missionaries who sang "I am a Child of God" terribly.  How can you mess that up? President Rudd was probably not too happy as he had talked to all the missionaries about looking their best and being on their best behavior for Elder Nelson.  Today was Stake Conference for our stake as well as a neighboring stake and Elder Nelson was to speak at one of them, but for security reasons they didn't announce which stake.  (or maybe it was to ensure a good turnout for both meetings.)  So we thought it was at 10 a.m. (isn't that when the morning stake conferences always start?)  We decided to go early to get a good seat, but when we got there at 9:20 there were cars parked up and down the road for blocks and the parking lot was full, but Elder Olsen was able to find a place on the lawn along with dozens of other cars.  We knew right then that instead of being 40 minutes early, we were 20 minutes late, so it's a good thing that we thought we would be early (it would have been even better if we had written down the time).  When we looked in the door of the chapel, there was no Elder and Sister Nelson on the stand and probably a whole lot of disappointed people.  I kind of felt bad for those who did speak because they knew that most everyone had come hoping to listen to an apostle.  It turned out to be a wonderful meeting. The theme of the meeting was being involved in the"to the Rescue Night." Our stake president joked that even though the other stake had "Elder Nelson," we had the tallest general authority (President Hamula - seventy and area President) as well as the 2 shortest former players on the  All Blacks. Rugby Team, which is a big thing here. Both he and our new Temple president played professional rugby, and President Going was especially well known.  Sister Hamula said, "I know you were hoping to see Elder Nelson; well, I brought him with me" and she then held up the last Oct Ensign, opened to his talk with his small photo above it. She based her remarks on his talk and one of the quotes I remember from her talk was "Decisions do determine destiny."  President Hamula  spoke of the power of parents and grandparents prayers for their children, saying that we greatly under estimate the salvation of our Savior. He then shared a good story that illustrated that "the rescue" is not only going on here, but on the other side as well."  I loved that!

After Stake Conference the Sisters from Raglan asked if they could come to our house for a couple of hours until a Fireside they were going to. They watched some of the Bible videos the church has produced, which are so well done, while we fixed dinner.  It was fun to have them and be able to talk about the Raglan branch, but to also get to know them better.  Sister Hunt is from Tonga and Sister Hansen is from St. George and they are awesome, like almost all the young missionaries are.  They have such strong testimonies, good teaching skills and are dedicated and obedient.  They are so much stronger in the gospel than we were at that age.

Sisters Freeman and Hunt before transfers

It was Waitangi Holiday here on the 6th, which is the day England and the Maori reached an agreement that ended a century of war between them.  It was very similar to what happened to the American Indians.  Yes the English brought some good things, but they also confiscated much of the Maori lands and there are still court cases going on.  Anyway, it was a day off for most people and our Raglan Branch had a "Sizzle," not a BBQ, as they sizzle sausages.  The Yeiters, an older couple (our age) in the branch had it in their back yard, which is just a short and beautiful walk from the bay.  Of course, Elder Olsen, put on his swimsuit and played in the water, but not me.  I would rather the people remember me with my missionary tag on (not a swimsuit).

Raglan Branch on Witangi Day

Sisters Hansen and Hunt serving in Raglan

Speaking of Raglan, I'll give you an update on Barry.  This morning we tried, but failed, to call him to remind him that there was no church there, as it was Stake Conference in Temple View,  We were surprised to see him at conference and he was sober.  The ward mission leader, who was himself an alcoholic years ago, had brought Barry along with his family. So Barry has never misses a Sacrament meeting, although a couple of times it would have been better for him to have stayed home as he was a little disruptive in his inebriated state.  He has not been ready nor willing to go to the addiction class the last couple of weeks, saying he already knows all the steps as he has gone through recovery 6 times, but we remind him that doing so with the help of his Heavenly Father can make the difference.  He is happier than he was before learning about the church, but seems to be content at just attending church and having the missionaries come by. He seems to have little hope that he can really change.  I'm sure it  feels good to him to just have someone care but we hope he will grow in his faith in his Father in Heaven and seek his help.

We had a good turnout for the Youth Service Project at Camp Tuhikaramea yesterday morning, with abouty 225  in attendance.  The problem was that very few brought any tools with them, even though we had a meeting with their leaders the week before and both asked them and had a handout requesting tools, as we only have 3 rakes, 1 fork, 1 set of  loppers, etc.at the camp.  They were an enthusiastic group but could have accomplished much more with the help of a rake, etc.  There were some really good adult leaders that came but also quite a few groups that were just dropped off with no adult with them.  It did feel good to  put that behind us, but will continue to work with smaller groups in accomplishing a multitude of tasks.

crews raking and burning grass

crews taking down fencing

Some of the kids from Raglan Branch doing trail work

Sister Olsen, trail work supervisor

Elder Olsen roving adviser

This poor brother we sent to the hospital.  Just kidding (trick photography)

a necessity

The previous Saturday we did a power point presentation  (pretty good for the technically challenged seniors) for the Camp Council, consisting of 10 stake presidents from the area, but after all that work there were only 4 in attendance.  We had made up a packet for each of them, so hopefully those not there will at least look through that and learn about the progress of the camp and what their role is.

Tonight we are going to a small Fireside at President and Sister Rudds, where his father, Glen Rudd will speak.  He is almost 96 and is on his last trip to his beloved New Zealand.  He has made 27 trips, some extended, as he first came here as a young missionary when Mathew Cowley was mission president.  He became his assistant, although they didn't call it by that term, and traveled all over the country with him and has some great stories.  Glen then came back at the mission president, then temple president and was then a Seventy over this area.  He is well known and loved by the members here.

Elder Glenn Rudd

Boy, I need to end this; you're probably getting eye strain.  One last thing - we went to a little Farewell last Monday evening for the Visitor's Center president and his wife, as well as 2 other couples who served there. The President told about a dinner they had at the church one night while he was a stake president.  He went early to see if he could help out and as he walked through the kitchen he saw a member who had cooked many a church dinner, drop a pound of butter into a huge pan of mashed potatoes and then pour a carton of cream in and mix it up with his power dry wall mud mixer.  He had also prepared some very buttery vegetables, prime rib (doesn't sound like the typical ward dinner) and then pie ala mode for dessert. After the blessing the fellow got up and invited everyone to enjoy the meal as "this is the closest you'll ever get to the Cholesterol Kingdom."

Natalie Snow, Sister Olsen, and Gerusa Nobre from Wiahau Branch up north

GREEN TO BROWN

We keep seeing changes.  When we were serving up north people told us that the countryside would remain green year round.  That may be true up north but not here in Hamilton.  We are now in the heart of the summer and much of the pastureland that depends on rain is turning brown.  The forecast is that it might be another drought period like last year.  Even the temple grounds are affected as sprinkling systems are not used here.

NZ Temple the 2nd of February

Last weekend we went to New Plymouth, two and a half hours south of here and on the west coast.  It is also at the base of Mt Taranaki, a large volcanic mountain that dominates the area.  We went with the Goodman's who serve in the mission office and had to set up a flat for a pair of Sisters assigned to New Plymouth.  We stayed in a motel on Sunday night and early the next morning  Elder Olsen arose early and went fishing on a nearby river but with little success.  Later that day the Elders went golfing and Sister Olsen and Goodman went bike riding along the beach pathway.  Sister Olsen disagrees with the saying that once you've learned how to ride a bike, you never forget.  (It didn't help that the bikes they got to choose from were all too high for her.)  She had not ridden a bike for over 20 years but fortunately she only had one accident resulting in a few bruises (sorry no pictures of the incident).

Mt Taranaki in the clouds

Sister Olsen along the beach walk at New Plymouth

Elders Olsen and Goodman being kids at the park

a frog that turned into a princess

The past 3 weeks have been very busy at Camp Tuhikaramea.  The earthworks contractor is nearly finished in contouring the land and has created a huge dust bowl when the wind blows.  He will replant all the pasture areas that have been removed in March and with some good rain should be grassed up by June.

Temporary camp sign

terracing areas for the camp loops and pavilions

camp loop with a view of the lakes and the temple in background

Since a couple large dairy farms were purchased by the church in the 1950's for the temple and church college, the unused portion has been leased to a farm management company and the church has provided a house for the manager and his family.  The camp area has now been withdrawn from the farm and the church has built another home for the farm manager, so the old house which is now part of the camp will be where the senior couple who are the camp managers will live, once it is refurbished.  So we may be moving in a few weeks.

A retired local High Priest is working at refurbishing the house.  Without asking he decided to use a chainsaw on some of the shrubs and trees in the yard much to Sister Olsen's dismay.  It is true they were in need of a hair cut but not a butch (butcher) cut.  I remind Sister Olsen, they will grow out (ya, after we leave).

a new look

We have had  volunteer groups from several wards and stakes come to the camp to provide service.  It is up to Elder and Sister Olsen to identify the tasks and to oversee their work.  This has meant several long days at the camp since many can only make it after work hours.

clearing along a trail

constructing a retaining wall with discarded tires

Being on a mission doesn't exempt us from having troubles, especially those we cause for ourselves, like Elder Olsen received his 3rd infringement (nice way for saying speeding ticket).  There is no police involved since these are camera recorded, and you receive it in the mail a week or two later.  Elder Olsen calls them a guilt free ticket, but he also adds that it is just another form of tax since it doesn't go against your driving record.  A much more serious problem, we were alerted of by our credit union, came to our attention when our debit card stopped working.  The credit union informed us they invalidated the card after seeing charges of over $1,500 of electronic equipment purchased over the internet.  They stopped payment and boy were we thankful they caught it.  We had to get a new card, but that's better than having to pay for someone else to go shopping.

To end the blog on a bright note, our 13th grandchild was born on January 2, 2014 to Sarah and Cody making their third.  She was born on Sarah's birthday.  A darling, beautiful little girl they named Nora Grace Olsen.  We so wished we could have been there, but thank goodness for the ease of transferring photographs and Skype.