Talofa and Welly News!

SM:  We arrived back to Samoa Saturday evening.  Sunday we had breakfast and went to Church at Pesega (the village where the temple and the Church-operated Pesega College (high school) are located). At Church we met several people visiting from the U.S. Jim Winegar and Phillip (can't remember last name) were there for the annual garden party at the Robert Lewis Stevenson (RLS) Museum. Jim W. and Rex Maughan (in ill health and so not here this year) are two former missionaries who purchased and restored the RLS home and grounds. Apparently Rex is very wealthy and has been the financing behind the project and Jim W. has been the "managing partner".

It is truly a beautiful and peaceful place. Jim W. took us and President and Sister Tanner (he is the President of BYU Hawaii) and the Smoots (there with LDS Charities) on a private tour of the museum. What a special opportunity!

The Tanners were there for the above mentioned and to speak at a Devotional. They are visiting several Pacific islands to encourage youth to attend there.

I was very tempted to stop at "The Caravan of Love" for a snow cone! 

Luncheon with Samoan Public Affairs team. (Elder Fata - the Area Seventy, and Sam - Interfaith)

Motisha - Secretary, George - Gov't. Relations, Leo - community relations. These people are all great. They are dedicated to their callings and to the Lord.

Fish with a giant claw!

As part of the meal a huge fish was brought out.  It appears that the whole fish was battered and deep fried.  I wasn't quite sure what it was at first, considering that it had a giant claw. It was placed in front of me and I had to ask how to eat some of it. I just jabbed a portion with my fork. Not too bad, actually. JM - I likewise thought the fin was a claw and I wasn't brave enough to eat any of the fish.

Jim reviewing the Public Affairs online reporting system with Motisha.  Please note his cute turquoise and black glasses.  He left his so I loaned him mine. Lol.

We loved our stay in Samoa.  The hotel always sends us off in style!

JM:  We arrived home to Auckland Tuesday night and then flew out again the next morning for a one and one-half hour flight to Wellington.  What a beautiful city Wellington is! Area President Haleck and the Samoan High Commissioner for New Zealand, Tommy Scanlan, spoke at a devotional held in Porirua (pronounced "Poddyrua"). They spoke regarding the value of education in our lives.  Here's the story from Mormon Newsroom.

Beautiful Wellington with Tania Toria, the Public Affairs director for that area.  JM -  Tania's mother is fighting cancer so we weren't able to spend much time with her (Tania). She is a lovely, faithful Latter-day Saint.

Elder Haleck speaking with H.C. Tommy Scanlan seated on the stand, right.

It was so cold in the church - this woman had the right idea by bringing a hot water bottle to keep her warm.  I was pretty envious.

Thursday, the day after the devotional, before flying back to Auckland we went to the national museum, Te Papa. Their current main exhibit is about Gallipoli, a battle during World War I, where New Zealand suffered defeat. It is a very moving exhibit. The figures are 2.4 times actual size and were done by Weta Workshop.

Sorry, no flash photography was allowed.

Below are a few creations of Weta Workshop. We weren't allowed to take photos of most of their creations.  If you are a fan of Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit then you will appreciate them.  We hope to get to Hobbiton sometime before we leave New Zealand.

Got back to Takapuna Thursday night. It was good to be back to our home away from home.