Kiwi Connection: The "Birds"

Sunday evening at the monthly fireside in the visitor center, Elder Thomsen of the 70 and his wife were the featured speakers. Also a young convert just baptized the day before told of his conversion and how the Elders were able to answer the many questions he had. Sister Thomsen talked about giving and receiving hugs. Even though the young elders and sisters aren't to do that, she related the warmth of the spirit to receiving a hug. When she thinks of hugs, she thinks how "He Understands our Grief." She reverses hugs when she thinks of what we should do for the Savior, "Give an Understanding Heart."

To our surprise and joy yesterday at fast and testimony meeting, Barry, our investigator for the past four months, stood and expressed his gratitude to our Heavenly Father for his many blessings. He has found a degree of peace by attending church, and seems to be satisfied with life even though he has not mademuch progress towards giving up drinking.

Even though you have wonderful spiritual experiences on your mission you learn quickly that you still have the usual temporal necessities to take care of. I received a call from the mission car czar, Elder Marsden. My first thought was that I had another speeding infringement (ticket) which would be my forth since we arrived, however, he informed me our car was to be sold since we had reached 85,000 klm and they would be giving us an identical vehicle with only 73,000 klm.

Last week we had to travel to Auckland to the US consulate to have an insurance conversion application signed by the consular. Afterwards we're able to stop by Martha's Backyard the American Store with many of our favorite foods you can't get anywhere else. One small box, 18"x 12"x 10" over $100.

Two days ago I had to climb on the roof of the farm house at the camp that is being converted for the camp managers. I had to put some chicken wire over the chimney to keep the blackbirds from coming in and then not being able to get out. Sister Olsen thought she was reliving Alfred Hitchcock's movie, The Birds, when I opened the wood stove and a bird flew out, right by her head and smacked the window. I cleaned the stove out and removed half a dozen carcasses. The next day the painter left for lunch and happened to leave the door open to vent the house and when we entered there were five birds that we shooed out. Unfortunately they had left little white deposits all around the house, on the computer, the printer, in the kitchen and elsewhere.

A new senior couple, the Monson's have moved next door to us in the Nunnery. They are from Orem and are serving in the visitor center. They lived in President Monson's daughter's ward and let her know that they were not related to the Prophet since they hailed from Norway rather than Sweden where the Prophet's ancestors are from. President Monson insisted they are related, if not through Noah, then Adam and Eve. I guess looking at it that way we are all related to President Monson. How wonderful.

Our friends from Boise, Brother and Sister Stewart returned home last week after serving 3 months helping put together the history of the church in NZ. They have done this the past 3 years at their own expense. They also served missions in Micronesia and Siberia, Russia.

The past two weeks we have been doing lots of work at the camp and getting a maintenance building ordered, selecting materials and colors for the cabins and communal shelters, buying tents and supplies, and organizing work parties. Sister Olsen invited her friends the other day to help shape up some of the trails, but who knows they may have spent more time talking than working.

Jackie, Rosemary, Sister Olsen, and Sandra

Roger Hamon, can't stay away from the camp even though he is on morphine and chemo for his cancer. He loves to see what is going on with the bush he helped preserve.

Elder Olsen and Roger having a tour of the camp.

We have been so busy that we decided to take a break yesterday and go to Rotorua. On the way there we visited the Blue Springs of the Waihau River, We hiked a couple kilometers enjoying the scenery as well as the exercise.

Blue Springs of the Waihau

We had lunch at an Italian restaurant in Rotorua and in the afternoon we visited a long established animal sanctuary at Paradise Springs. We timed it just right to see the feeding of the lions.

couple of male lions waiting to be fed

Paradise Springs was originally known for the fish that would run from Lake Rotorua to spawn. So it was good to see so many large fish, also ducks, and pukekos.