Patriots in Paradise

SM:  After a whirlwind week in Hamilton, it was time for a break.  What we thought was Father's Day here turned out to not be the case.  NZ celebrates it in September.  But we are Americans and celebrated here anyway!  I fixed Jim's favorite, and my easiest meal, grits and eggs and hashbrowns, to honor him.  He loved hearing from all of the family.

He also learned last week that our boys are all going back to the Master's in Augusta, GA in Spring 2018. Jim and our sons enjoyed doing that together several years ago and loved every minute. So that's a difficult one for him to not be a part of. If it involves his children and golf, it's a hole in one as far as he's concerned.

We had a third floor birthday celebration on June 24th with cupcakes, candles, and song! Many were standing by waiting for Jim to blow out his candles, but as you  can see, the phone rang at just the inopportune time (some things never change).  Candles are blazing!!

Us with Rich Hunter, our dear friend and Area Director of Public Affairs

JM: Rich is easily one of the kindest people I have ever met. Not only have I never heard him utter an unkind word, he is always wanting to give compliments as he did this day. He said some very nice things about me which I hope someday to live up to. He truly follows the counsel of President Thomas S. Monson where we were encouraged not to treat others as they are but as they have the potential to become, sons and daughters of God. We love Rich! 

Enjoyed dinner with Scott and Susan Seamons at El Forno!

Al Forno is an excellent restaurant in Takapuna. They have the best steak! Seamons said that the Gnocchi is Elder Nielsen's favorite. We like to go to Al Forno when we can get a reservation on First Table. At those times we get everything half price. If you are ever in the Auckland area you should stop in at Al Forno. 

JM:  Seamons are the Executive Secretaries to the Area Presidency. They are our "go to" people whenever we need to get information. A short while ago a person called me totally out of the blue saying it was all over Facebook that the Hamilton Temple was going to close next month. We all know that it will close for renovation sometime in the near future but I told him I hadn't heard that but would check it out. I immediately went to Scott asking if he had heard anything. He hadn't heard anything either, so I felt confident calling the man back and telling him it appeared to be a false rumor.

And of course, hot chocolate at The Chocolate Boutique was the "topper-offer".

Whoa! That is the best "hot chocolate" I have ever had. The Chocolate Boutique is in a cute little neighborhood, Parnell, very near downtown Auckland. You can't drink the one pictured above. It must be eaten with a spoon. I am convinced it is just melted chocolate. It was amazing! A good idea for a shop in the United States.

Double Rainbow - saw while walking on Takapuna Beach

We love our walks on Takapuna Beach, but, although it is July, it is now winter here and walks on the beach are less frequent. However, this was a beautiful day for a walk so we took advantage. After our walk we sat on a bench in the park adjoining the beach and that is when we saw and photoed this double rainbow. Because it rains so often here in the winter we have seen a lot of rainbows and many of them have been doubles. The island in the background is an extinct volcano.

SM: On July 1st all of the senior missionaries gathered for a dinner and Patriotic Celebration.  We all wore red, white, and blue, sang songs, recited The Pledge of Allegiance and paid tribute to our great country - America.  Being away from  home truly instills an even greater appreciation for the "land that we love".  New Zealand is a beautiful country and I can see why folks would want to live here.  But the USA is where we belong and look forward to seeing again in a little more than 12 months.

JM: As wonderful as New Zealand is, GIVE ME THE GOOD OLD USA! Sister Henshaw, one of the Sisters in charge of our Family Home Evenings, came around earlier in the week filming all of us saying the Pledge of Allegiance. As soon as I placed my hand over my heart and began to speak I choked up and couldn't continue. Sister Henshaw came back a short time later and I was able to recite it without choking up.

Sister Henshaw created a video from all of the senior missionaries reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Naturally, the only part of my recitation that made it into the edited video was the part where I was choking up. I am such a baby!

Fourth of July at the office

It was a fabulous party and so wonderful to be able to celebrate with others who love America just like Shirley and I do. Doug Matsumori, the Area legal counsel, wrote a very nice tribute based upon the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Gettysburg Address. It was very moving.

Our apartment door decoration for July.

SM: Jim commented the other day as we were walking to grab some lunch that we have become professional jay-walkers.  We knew we were good at something, tee-hee.  It's quite a feat here in Takapuna to safely cross the street and we do a lot of street-crossing going to and from the office and other various places.  It's usually better to just walk than to try to find a place to park the car.  Parking spaces are very hard to come by. Actually, we enjoy our walks to and from the office and around town.  And we get some greatly needed exercise and sunshine.

Just recently I learned that an ancestor (gr, gr uncle or thereabouts) of mine served a mission in New Zealand at age 28, leaving behind a pregnant wife and small son. He was set apart 6 November 1881 and returned August 1883. I believe that he spent much of his time in the Wellington area. His son, Owen Ricks, served a mission in 1915 to Samoa.

Unlike Nathan Ricks, we did not discover our name on a list informing us that we would be serving a mission in New Zealand.  We desired and then offered to serve - when conditions were well-suitable to us both. (Unlike the early missionaries of the Church.)

Nathan Ricks

"I AM SUBJECT TO YOUR ORDERS"  - words to live by as we follow our living Prophets. 

Coming up on July 24th, LDS Pioneer Day, Jim and I have been assigned to host the senior missionaries here in Auckland for a dinner and program.  We chose the theme we feel is fitting, "Pioneers of the Pacific", and have guest speakers coming from Hamilton.  Rangi (a Maori) and Vic (a Kiwi) Parker are Family History missionaries there.  Rangi is responsible for acquiring most of the items that are on display in the new Matthew Cowley Pacific Church History Centre.  She has flown to SLC 29 times to acquire histories and artifacts.  Looking forward to hearing about the Pacific Pioneers, including Nathan Ricks, and the many sacrifices made here to spread the gospel in the Pacific.

JM: I have been amazed to realize how many Church leaders served here in the Pacific. It is not just the two I previously knew about, Matthew Cowley and John H. Groberg, but many others as well. It would be interesting to see a list of all of them. As I have reviewed the names of so many of those who have served here, some are recognizable as Church leaders and others as family members of Church leaders.