Kia Ngawari ( Be loving, be humble, and kind)

JM: We made our second trip to Whangarei, a lovely town just two hours North of Takapuna. We took one of the Area Office vans because seven of us were going (McGuires, Junior and Muriel Samuela [the Directors of Public Affairs for the Auckland Coordinating Council], Shilo Kino [one of three young single adults on the Auckland media team], Anthony Butters [another YSA, known as "Steven Spielberg" because he is the videographer] and Matthew Krull [the third YSA].

The Whangarei Stake public affairs team is newly called and is being trained and supported by the Auckland team. The Stake had invited the head of the New Zealand First Party, Winston Peters, member of Parliament, to speak about qualities of leadership and asked for help with the event. Mr. Peters is a seasoned politician who lives in the Whangarei area.

Samuelas brought their media team to train the media specialists on the Whangarei team.  Newly called Sid and Colleen Going (past President and Matron of the Hamilton New Zealand Temple) from the Kaikohe Stake were invited to attend so they could see how a major event is planned and executed. A major event with three or four MPs (Members of Parliament) is being planned for Kaikohe in a few short months.

Junior and Sid Going (right - celebrated former All-Blacks Rugby Star)

 
Muriel, Junior, Shirley, Jim, Shilo, Matt and Anthony (left to right) enjoying dinner in downtown Whangarei. This is a really fun group (and they are the best in the Pacific at what we do) and we are lucky they are happy to have us come along with them! The food was good, too.

(above) Jim and Junior enjoying watching Anthony, Shilo and Matt take b-roll (background video footage) for later use.

Because New Zealand celebrates the birthday of the Queen of England, we had a three-day weekend and decided to go to the Coromandel Peninsula. It was about a 2 1/2 hour drive with about the last hour on winding mountain roads.
 

Aah, the beauty of Hahei right outside the window of our room at "The Church". We stayed in an individual cabin-like building that was a little rustic but actually quite fun.

Hahei is just a short drive from the parking lot from which you depart on the 45 minute walk to Cathedral Cove. Because it is off season most of the restaurants were closed and the water taxi that takes people to Cathedral Cove was not running so we enjoyed hiking down to and back up from the cove.

The scenery on the way down to the cove was striking. Things grow anywhere here in New Zealand, including around and on top of rocks! No sprinkling systems needed.

Once down to the cove the scene was breathtaking. Shirley thinks it should be the eighth wonder of the world. It is so expansive that, with the lens we have, it wasn't possible to take pictures that do it justice. At one end of the beach there is a passageway through the cliff that provides access to the beach on the other side. At the other end of the beach is a waterfall.

It was so stunningly beautiful that we didn't want to leave.

Sunday we drove 1 1/2 hours to church in Paeroa. The meetinghouse locator on lds.org said that was the meetinghouse closest to Hahei. Once there we learned that there were two closer, one in Coromandel, about an hour away from Hahei, and the other in Whitianga about 40 minutes away. Oh well, the drive was gorgeous!

We arose early Monday to go to Hotwater Beach before checkout at 10:00 a.m. Not really knowing what to expect, we were not well prepared for what we found.

There is a section of beach only about 50 yards long where there is hot water below the surface. People bring shovels, dig down about 12" to 18" and create their own "hot tub". Because we weren't properly dressed to sit or lie down in the hot water, we just stood in a portion of a "hot tub" built by someone kind enough to allow us to try it. The water was so hot that my feet were bright red when I got out.

SM:  We say it over and over but we just love our mission and what we are doing here.  And it doesn't hurt that we get to be in the shadows of what takes place here as beloved prophets and apostles come and visit.  Such was the case last week in Hamilton for the dedication of the Temple View project.

We were there early to take photos, videos, get interviews, and write articles for Mormon Newsroom Pacific, help government officials feel welcome, etc., and were able to stay in an empty home there, along with Paesha, our intern, and the Pinsons.  The home didn't have wifi so we asked around and found a stake center that we could use.  The next day we were invited to a member's home to sit around their table and work.  We were grateful for their kind offer.

What an amazing thing the Church is doing here in NZ. The MAGNIFICENT Stake Center (reminds me of a concert hall), Wendell B. Mendenhall Library, Legacy Park, and several other surrounding buildings were dedicated last weekend. We had been planning for this and the Cultural Celebration for months and came to Hamilton for four days to prepare for and participate in those events.  Pres. Eyring, Elder Andersen of the Twelve, and Bishop Davies were here for the events.  We had quite a few government officials attend one or both events.  They couldn't help but feel the powerful Spirit that permeated that beautiful place. 

Before the dedication

This photo (below) shows Jim entering the newly remodeled and expanded Wendell B. Mendenhall Library which also houses the Matthew Cowley Pacific Church History Centre.  Also inside is a lecture theater, mission office, family history centre, archives storage, etc.

Wendell B. Mendenhall Library

Below,  Jim is interviewing Scott and Jennifer Smith. Jennifer is the great-grandaughter of Matthew Cowley.  I have great admiration for that great missionary who, at age 17, came to NZ.  He learned the Maori language in what is now called the "Matiu Kauri Grove" in Tauranga.  He would go to this secluded spot for long periods of time to pray and search the scriptures.  It was there that he plead for divine assistance in learning the language.  He was there for 5 years and he and his message were warmly embraced by the people.  He later returned as mission president.  His favorite and often recited motto was "Kia Ngawari" which means to "be loving, humble and kind."  Words which all would benefit from following.

It looks like we will soon be headed to American Samoa to work with the National Director of Public Affairs and his team and offer our assistance.  Looking forward to meeting Kahlilimoku Hunt.  We may also stop in Samoa on our return for a few days.  Many villages there are still not accepting of the missionaries and the precious truths they bring with them.  To you, dear family and friends, we invite you to continue in your prayers to ask that the Lord's work will continue; that barriers will be removed and that His word will be embraced throughout the world.  (and particularly here in the Pacific).  We pray daily that we can contribute in some way to this "most worthy" cause.

JM:  I feel so blessed to have my eternal companion as my senior missionary companion.  We have always loved each other but that love has grown even stronger as we have served together on our mission.  We thank the Lord for His blessings showered down upon us and our family as we serve.  We see His hand manifested.  Truly miraculous things are happening in our lives and the lives of our loved ones. We need to recognize them and never forget His blessings.

If you have your health and the financial means to do it, choose to serve a mission. The Mission President here, President Bali, is fond of saying that he and the young missionaries throughout the   world accepted the call to serve but senior missionaries asked to serve.  You will not regret it if you ask to serve.

I love the Lord and His Gospel.

Watch this short video from our intern here, Paesha Tuttle, of the recent events in Temple View.

https://youtu.be/2sbRYTWvTfk

Fa'a Samoa (That's how it goes in Samoa)

What a beautiful country Samoa is.  Definitely worth the 4 hour plane trip to get here.  The thing I noticed first is that there are fales everywhere. Many of the homes have their own fales in addition to  one larger one in each village. Many of the homes seem to be indoor/outdoor where half is completely open-air.  The kids all look so nice wearing their school uniforms with boys wearing lavalavas.  The men do too.  We were able to attend an English session at the beautiful temple.

Samoa Temple

Sheraton Aggie Grey Hotel - our lodgings for the week

We've met three young male RM's working at our hotel.  Leo, Villiamu, and Soofa (pronounced Sofa).  Leo told us that he's in the Nauvoo 1st Ward.  I told him that is a great name for a ward in Samoa. The first night I asked for restaurant recommendations.  Petals, just down the street, was highly recommended so we walked down the road looking for "Petals".  A boy on the street that happened to work there took us and we saw that the place is actually called  "Paddles".

The restaurant was all reserved for a big group except for a few tables.  We were fortunate to get one.  The waiter brought us a "Samoa Observer" newspaper to look at after we ordered.  While glancing at a few articles, (since we've been taught to have a "nose for news") we saw one about Leo's ward and a special Mother's Day program they had held.  And we learned that it's the Navu (not spelled Nauvoo) 1st Ward.  Another funny language mixup.

Well, while eating dinner, one table of young people sitting in the reserved area noticed we were wearing missionary badges. One of them, Rachel, came up and introduced herself.  We learned that her group is here from BYU on a study abroad program, "Rheumatic Relief Samoa".  They are going around to many different villages and holding clinics to check the villagers for Rheumatic Fever.  So interesting.  We were able to talk with the cardiologist that brought the group over and are going to go to one of their clinics and take photos, get quotes and then write an article about what they are doing here.

The following day we went to a local primary (grade) school where the children were being screened for rheumatic heart disease (RHD). It was amazing to see the students, doctors, nurses and technicians in action. The kids are first "entertained" by some of the BYU students who teach them a catchy song that helps them know that if they have a sore throat they need to tell an adult. If not treated, strep throat can lead to RHD.

As they teach the song the BYU students also dance around, creating excitement among the students. A puppet show reinforces the message to tell an adult if they have a sore throat.

The purpose of the singing, dancing and puppet show is not only to teach, but also to put the students at ease for what is to come. At the next station the students are brought into a large room where they must patiently wait while they are checked in. Their name, birth date and other identifying information is taken before a nurse uses a stethoscope to listen to their heart. If it is believed that a heart murmur has been heard an orange dot is place on them, indicating the need for a more extensive echocardiogram. If no murmur is heard  a simpler echocardiogram is performed.

We were shown a young man undergoing one of the extensive echocardiograms. A heart murmur had been detected and the echocardiogram showed that blood was flowing backward through the heart valve. The young man would need surgery.

Results of the screenings are entered into a database so follow-ups can be done in the future. If early-stage RHD is detected, the individual is referred to the local health care system for secondary treatment. requiring 8 - 10 years of antibiotic treatment. Follow this link to read the story in Pacific Newsroom.

We were surprised to run into two other groups from Utah. One was a BYU professor of biochemistry who has developed a spray that is being tested in Samoa. It is believed to cure diabetes-related injuries within 30 days.

The other was a UVU professor who was discussing with the Samoan government a revolutionary Thorium-based nuclear power plant that is purported to have resolved all of the safety concerns of nuclear power plants. He said it would reduce the price of electricity from $.45 per KWH to $.03 to $.04 per KWH.

Interesting that we ran into so many Utahns all trying to help the people of Samoa!
We ran into Joan and Howard Collett at the hotel.  They are on a short assignment from Salt Lake to look into the diabetes initiatives and their progress both in Samoa and Tonga.  It was good to have friends to hang out with a bit.  Villengas are busy Humanitarian missionaries in Apia.

Dinner with Villengas and Colletts at Giardano's

We tracked down the building at the Viloa School that I had written a story on.  Off to the side of the school was a rundown building where mothers would hang out while their children were in school. They spend most of their time playing Bingo to pass the time.  They make good use of bottle-caps.

Food! I really miss good ole American food.  We opted to not get the breakfast at the hotel because it is 60 Tala which is $24.00.  But in speaking to the receptionist we have just learned that they will add breakfast to our hotel stay as a package price.  Wish we'd known sooner.  But we can still enjoy 4 days of a big buffet breakfast.  With some food restrictions that I have it's been hard to find a lot that I can eat.  I eat mainly meat and kumara here.  Give me some cheese, please!

I had to chuckle the other day as we drove by the Dog Management Centre here in town.  I think they should consider changing their plan.  Not working too well.  Lots of thin dogs.  I feel bad for them.

While visiting with Elder and Sister Villenga in Welfare Services here we learned of the Dental Clinic on the Church's Pesaga Campus. We were curious and tracked it down.  We walked in and there were two Carmelite nuns there, one waiting to see the dentist. Elder (Dr.) and Sister Spencer are there serving for 18 months.  The Renchers (he's a dentist) are volunteers there for two months. They are so busy.  People come very early to get their name on a patient list for the day. What a service they offer and one that is so desperately needed.  By the way, as we left we asked the sweet nuns what they do.  They said they contemplate and pray.  And would pray for us.  We always need more prayers!

You can read the Pacific Newsroom story about the dental clinic here.

The past two days have been spent mainly working on getting an accurate list of the villages here that have religious restrictions.  What a job!  One list we have from the Area side does not agree with the list we were given from the Mission side.  They could play better in the sandbox.  We have been tasked with figuring it out. It's been fascinating to learn about certain villages that won't allow missionaries in.  Some fine those who join the Church.  Some won't allow conversions. Some won't allow villagers to crossover (attend in next village). Much of this is determined by the Premier Chief or the Chief Orator.  The Samoan Constitution allows for religious freedom but some ignore that fact. Oftentimes it is for the village preacher's financial benefit.  With help, we have been going straight to the horse's mouth (the Stake Presidents of these villages) and asked for their input. It's helped tremendously.  We think that we are down to 17 villages now rather than 18 that have religious freedom restrictions.  Progress is being made.

Elder Fata, Sapele, and Elder McGuire

A little about Samoa. There are over three hundred villages, each headed by a chief and chief orator. They are the decision-makers. Fales dot the landscape.  And what I love is that many of the families bury their deceased in their front yard. Our children might really love that idea but I wouldn't want them fighting over who would actually get us so I guess we'll hold on to our plots over at Larkin!

The land is lush and mountainous with scenic sights worth taking the back roads that lead to them.  There just can't be a coconut shortage ! Coconut trees are everywhere and they are full of fruit just for the taking (If you're brave enough to shimmy up the tree).

Cute mama pig with babies

Near To Sua Trench

 Fuisipia Falls were spectacular. It was worth the hike in and even crossing the treacherous stream to see it. The mud on the trail was 2 inches thick in places and I'm hoping my sandals aren't ruined. I finally wised up and took them off and sloshed through the mud barefoot. During part of the short hike Jim was chivalrously helping me cross the stream by stepping on slippery, moss-covered rocks.  As luck would have it he slipped and cut himself up pretty badly.  But he did save the camera from going in the water.  We know what's more important. Not me - but the camera!  It was a pretty funny sight to see us tumbling off the rocks and into the water.  The picture doesn't do the sight justice.  So beautiful  A little neosporin that the Colletts had brought along saved the day.

Sauniatu, a lovely, well-hidden interior village on the main island of Upolu, was worth the journey - even without a four wheel drive car.   "Sauniatu means 'a place to prepare.' The early Saints who established Sauniatu had a vision about the importance of this place in the Samoan history of the Church. They knew they needed a place where they could prepare and build strength. In 1904, when they established Sauniatu, they had been expelled from their villages, persecuted, and unfairly taxed for being Mormons. Later they started a school at Sauniatu, and it became one of the Church schools in Samoa. From time to time, during the ensuing years, the people of Sauniatu and the various school administrators talked about the advisability of keeping such a remote school operating.

In 1921, when Samoan officials were wondering about continuing the village, Elder David O. McKay and Hugh Cannon visited Samoa on their around-the-world tour of the Church. It was on this visit that Elder McKay pronounced an apostolic blessing on Sauniatu and its inhabitants. Among other things, he blessed them that they would have an abundance of food and clothing, that their plantations would be fruitful, and that peace would abide in their hearts and homes." (See Improvement Era, May 1966, p. 366.)

A model Samoan village to commemorate President McKay’s 1921 visit and his apostolic blessing was built.  A special chief’s house (fale) with ornate carvings was built and named the McKay house. In the center is a bust of Pres. McKay. 

We discovered a hidden paradise in Apia - Robert Louis Stevenson's home during the last few years of his life.  The garden areas were so lush and beautiful.  He moved to Samoa from England to convalesce because of his Tuberculosis.  Ironically, he died a few years later from a brain anurysm.  Now I'm  eager time to read some of his books.

Home of Robert Louis Stevenson

On our last morning in Samoa we were finally able to meet with more of the PA team. Such a wonderful group accomplishing great things.  Glad we could finally meet them and learn of their efforts there.

National Public Affairs team in Samoa (George, us, Sam, Sapele, (not pictured - Elder Fata and Motisha)

We've loved spending time here in this beautiful country. Family and loyalty is everything here. We'll never forget the faithful people we have met on Upolu.  Maybe we'll get to Savai'i sometime.

Goodbyes at the hotel