Finding Our Way

Recently Shirley suggested we call the kids. I asked "Will they be home? What time is it there? ?They won't be available today." She quickly reminded me that it is a day earlier back home. That is just one of the challenges of finding our way here in New Zealand. Almost every time we approach our car, Shirley goes to the wrong side (the driver's seat is on the right side of the car here). Similarly, I constantly have to remind myself that I am supposed to drive on the left side of the road and, when crossing the street, that traffic approaches from the right not the left.

Needing to go into the office each morning is a bit of an adjustment. For me it had been two years since I last needed to go into the office; for Shirley it had been decades. Thus, it is a bit like "Groundhog Day". We get up each morning between 6:00 and 6:30, are in the office by 8:30 and try to leave between 4:30 and 5:00. It is nice, though, that each day is quite different from the last. While endeavoring to learn the full breadth of our duties we are writing stories for the Pacific Area Newsroom, coordinating with regional and national Public Affairs Directors and fulfilling assignments from our Area Public Affairs Director, Richard Hunter.

The Church is an amazing organization for which to work. They provide everything that we need including a comfortable work environment. Everyone is so kind and helpful. We have met many senior missionaries, a few young full-time missionaries and a few young single adults. It is fun getting to know everyone. We are so impressed with the dedication and commitment of the full-time missionaries, both senior and young. In spite of the sacrifice of being away from home and loved ones, they are all so happy!  

While at home we had a Vasa membership and tried to go to the gym three days a week. Our gym membership didn't cost us anything because it was paid for by Medicare. Even so, the cost would only have been $10.00 per month for each of us. Here the cost for a gym membership (not including a personal trainer) is at least $10.90 per week per person (about $8.00 per week per person in US dollars). Love the exchange rate but often it does not compensate for the higher prices here. As a result we are trying to get our exercise by walking to and from work and taking walks on the beach.

Takapuna Beach is only a short walk from the office but we have been going there in the evening and enjoying the western edge of the Pacific Ocean as we stroll along the beach.

Not only has going into the office each day been an adjustment, so has the computer operating system. We use Apple but the Church uses Microsoft. I'm just glad that I had many years of experience with Microsoft before retiring.

 

Much of this last week was spent preparing for the visit of three General Authorities, Elder Renlund, Elder Hallstrom and Bishop Causse.  They have already been in Tonga and will be in Auckland next week. They will also travel to other of the Pacific islands as well.

Perhaps because of her friendship with Sister Causse, Shirley was invited to attend an open house being held for the wives of the visiting Brethren.

Since we work in the Public Affairs office five days a week, our Preparation Day (Pday) is Saturday. Yesterday we went to the aquarium with Elder and Sister Champlin and I played golf in the afternoon. Although the cost of admission was quite high, the aquarium was interesting. It had information on New Zealand's base in Antarctica and focused extensively on caring for the environment. We saw sharks, sting rays, Spanish lobsters, seahorses, penguins and much more.

I played 12 holes (didn't have time for 18) at Takapuna Golf Club. The greens were in good condition but the fairways were half grass and half dirt. My game is a bit rusty (make that quite rusty)!

The next few weeks will take us from Hamilton on the south to Whangarei on the north. We will participate in documenting the trip of the Brethren to Hamilton and a devotional in Whangarei where a member of the Labour Party (the opposition party in New Zealand right now) will address the Young Single Adults in that area.

The highlight of our week is Facetiming with our children and their families. We miss them so much but are settling in here in New Zealand. 

It is exciting to be a part of the Public Affairs effort in the Pacific Area! So much good work is being done here and we are blessed to be a part of it. The people involved are all dedicated servants of the Lord and, under His direction and with His help, they are doing an amazing job. We are grateful for the opportunity to serve with them.