Puzzles, Putts and Pavlovas

Thomsens were in town for a short time after Australia and we couldn't pass up an evening to just relax together. We brought out the BYU Stadium puzzle and m & m's and were entertained for hours.  Some of us more than others.  Jim actually hates puzzles. Janet's not particularly fond of them but was a good sport.  But Thomsens - they were intense!  Lots of laughing!

Every year in September the office sponsors a service day.  We were able to go to the Salvation Army sorting warehouse and found some very interesting items during the sorting process.  Service with friends and co-workers, the best! And Jim found an unexpected helping hand!

The senior missionary couples held their first progressive dinner and we offered to host part of the group.  Streeters, Bills, and Hales joined us for the first course of the night.  As luck and timing would have it, we had two extra guests show up to fix our doorknob.  But as the saying goes, "The show must go on!"  The repairmen were kind enough to join us for a blessing on the food.

My YSA friend, Shilo Kino, and I went to an Auckland University interfaith group gathering recently.  Jim and our intern, Landon, also came along but were turned away as only women were invited so they had a lot of time to kill waiting for us.  Three panelists representing the Mormon, Muslim and Presbyterian faiths spoke to the group. They shared thoughts on things that we, as women, have in common regardless of different faiths.  Melissa Inouye spoke of the different challenges she faces as a woman of faith.  To read more about this event click here.

Read Melissa's journey of faith here . It's powerful and speaks to those who are questioning their beliefs.

Melissa Inouye, sitting on the back row next to me, represented our faith as a panel member.

In a recent standup meeting with our Public Affairs Director, Rich Hunter, we gained a little more insight into his character. (wink).  His latest declaration --after seeing a photo one of our team members had posted on Pacific Mormon Newsroom of a 'very important person' here in the area office with the top of his head cut off -- was "I'd rather have a full bottle in front of me than have a full frontal lobotomy." We were already in a jovial mood so this just caused us to burst out laughing.  

JM - I had the opportunity to play golf with two wonderful people, Rich Hunter and Doug Matsumori, at Pupuke Golf Club. Lots of hills and too many strokes, but great fun!

Rich is the Pacific Area Director of Public Affairs for whom Shirley and I work and Doug is the Area Legal Counsel. I think it was the first time any of us had played since last Fall and our games showed it. 

I was astounded as I made two putts of 40 feet or longer! I'm grateful for gravity. Both were going fast enough that had they not dropped in the cup I would have had long putts coming back. On Facebook Rich dubbed me "Long Putt Maker". More accurately he should have dubbed me something like "User of All of His Luck in One Round".

Rich dubbed Doug "Long and Straight Down the Middle" and himself "George W. In the Bushes". I replied to Rich's self-dubbing by saying "Nix-on" that and renamed him Rich the Hunter of Balls. He had been very helpful to me, finding my ball several times.

We had a great time and, though my back paid a price, I'm sure we will do it again. Not sure why I continue to torture myself both physically and emotionally, but I do love the game.

One of the things we try to do in Public Affairs is provide opportunities for Church leaders to meet and establish relationships with opinion leaders in the area of their stewardship. 

We knew that Elder Cardon (1st Counselor in the Pacific Area Presidency) would be traveling to Tonga the weekend of October 14 and 15 and wanted to give him an opportunity to meet with Reverend 'Ahio, President of the Free Wesleyan (Methodist) Church in Tonga.

I had been working with the local Public Affairs team in Tonga to get a meeting set up. On the Wednesday prior to the trip I was told that Reverend 'Ahio would not be able to meet Elder Cardon. After all the effort that had been expended, I was very disappointed and felt that I had failed. I asked Sione Langi, in Tonga, to try one more time Thursday morning. 

Elder Cardon's secretary told me that I had until noon to get an appointment set up. At 11:00 a.m. I got a call from Sione telling me that Reverend 'Ahio had agreed to return to Tonga early to meet with Elder Cardon and, rather than meeting in an office or church building, he invited him to come to his home. Sione explained that in Tonga that was quite an honor.

I had done all that I could and had failed to get the meeting set up. Sione had likewise done all that he could and, after being told that a meeting could not be accommodated, finally at the last minute it all came together. When I told Elder Cardon about the meeting, I told him that I was sure that, because I had not been able to make it happen, the Lord had intervened to make it possible. We see this kind of divine assistance quite often in our Public Affairs efforts.

A very special senior missionary couple, Karen and Lynn Collins, live just two doors down from us. A special friendship has developed with them. Lynn served as a Bishop at the Utah State prison which was the basis for an immediate bond. Karen is very "crafty" so she and Shirley get along very well. Unfortunately (for us) they will soon be going home. We will miss them and the good times we have had together.

The family of BYU intern, Landon Jones, is visiting New Zealand. Our wonderful boss, Rich Hunter, invited us and our co-workers, Elder and Sister Pinson, all over to his house for Family Home Evening to meet Landon's parents. Shirley made a favorite New Zealand dessert, pavlova, for the occasion. It was DELICIOUS and the next day Shirley and I went on a diet. Either our clothes are shrinking or we are growing.

Our intern, Landon Jones, eyeing the Pavlovas

Apparently there is quite a lot of disagreement whether pavlova originated in Australia or New Zealand, but since we are here, we come down on the side of New Zealand. 

We enjoyed a great lesson by Rich and then played games with everyone. Rich and Laura are such gracious hosts! We love them and their wonderful family.

One day I decided to wear my tennis shoes to the office. Of course I carried my dress shoes but Shirley said that I was officially "old" for having worn my tennis shoes with my suit for the walk to the office. The walk was actually considerably more comfortable but I don't like having to carry my dress shoes so I guess I will shed my "old fogey" ways and become young again.

As we tried to find an appropriate gift to be given to all of the national Directors of Public Affairs at a seminar in Hamilton in January we thought we might be able to find something at the wood carver's. So one Friday morning we went with a group of senior missionaries to his home and shop about 30 minutes away. 

Jerius and Marcella are originally from Bethlehem in Palestine but moved to New Zealand over 20 years ago when the West Bank got too dangerous for their liking. They are very kind to the missionaries and the Seamons (who will be leaving in December) have become very close to them. Sister Seamons wanted to introduce some of the "newer" missionaries to Jerius and Marcella so the relationship with them would continue. 

They gave us a tour of their property.  We tasted tangy and sweet "loquats" for the first time. They have sheep and several lambs were born 40 days earlier so some of the sisters wanted to pet the lambs. Jerius herded all of the sheep into a corral and invited Sister Downs to try to catch one of the lambs. Of course she couldn't so Jerius caught one and picked it up for her to hold. Naturally all of the other sisters (including Shirley - amazingly) wanted to hold a lamb. I guess that mothering instinct even extends to animals.

Saturday morning (October 21) we drove about 45 minutes North to Sandspit to take the Royal Mail Run Cruise to Kawau Island with a large group of senior missionaries. The weather was a little cold, but we had a great time. 

The boat delivers passengers and their baggage along with the mail (which seemed to be more miscellaneous than postal items) to Kawau Island just a 30 minute boat ride from Sandspit. The island is large but only sparsely inhabited and it is only accessible by boat.  Interestingly, early tribes that occupied Kawau were notorious for their piracy and cannibalism.

 

We enjoyed watching the deliveries and about noon enjoyed a BBQ salmon lunch that was cooked and served onboard. After lunch the boat dropped us off at the Mansion House. It is a beautiful home that was originally owned by a copper mining company operating on the island. It was used by the mine's manager. However, one of the Governors of New Zealand, Sir George Grey, purchased it from the mining company in 1862 for a family vacation residence. He expanded it from 10 rooms to 30 and used it for a period of over 20 years before selling it. Now the home and the grounds belong to New Zealand and tours are permitted. It is a very nice home with beautiful period furniture and artwork. 

Checking out a Model A in Sanspit

After our cruise, along with many of the missionaries we ventured to Manakata for ice cream (so much of the diet). Manakata is a lovely little town where every Saturday morning they have a market. We went with the Pinsons to the market a few weeks ago and got an ice cream cone at the same place. It has fresh fruit mixed into the ice cream. Very good!