Everything's just "Ducky"

SM:  Each morning as we walk to the office we take the nature trail - at least when the weather is good.  A house off in the distance has an above ground pool and in that pool is a giant duck.  Actually, I think it's a swan.  Each time we see it, it makes us smile and we get to greet each day with a swan  (referring to my much earlier days of primary slogan - greet each day with a song).  It's funny how such little joys can impact us.  And we are grateful for them.    So, as Jim says, "Everything's ducky"!

We received a request on very short notice to go northward to Paihia to train new members of the Public Affairs team there.  We're always good for a road trip with this gang.  They're trying their best to keep us young at heart.

Stopping for some grub in Whangarei with Mau, Muriel, Tom and Junior.  What a crew!

Road trip to Paihia (Bay of Islands area). We work hard but have fun doing it. Muriel and Junior devote countless hours to their callings as Coordinating Council Directors of Public Affairs. They are amazing and make us look better than we are.

Glad we could join the Public Affairs team in Pahia. The Paihia chapel is in what seems to be an old office building. Other than that it is across the street from two bars, it is in a great location.

We had a great training session with some new public affairs team members.  Afterwards, Sid and Colleen Going invited us to their home for dinner. Sid is a former All Blacks rugby star and the immediate past President of the Hamilton New Zealand Temple.

Looking out on the deck of the 'Going' home in the famous "Bay of Islands".

On the Saturday following Thanksgiving Day in the U.S., the senior missionaries got together to celebrate Thanksgiving. Of course, it isn't celebrated in New Zealand.

Thanksgiving feast preparations underway!

Many were quite happy to sit and watch a football game before dinner. It was the first football I have been able to watch since leaving the U.S. (rugby just isn't the same).

Senior Elders singing "Over the River and Through the Woods".

We are one of the fortunate missionary couples that actually has a decent sized tree that was bequeathed to us.  There were a few decorations with it but I added sea shells to give it an island flair.  The weather is warm and sunny, so different from what we are used to. I have to really work to process the fact that it really is Christmas.  Thank goodness for beautiful Christmas music to enhance our thoughts during this time of year.

JM: While walking on the beach Christmas morning I told Shirley that it just didn't seem like Christmas, no family, no snow and walking on the beach.

The Pahutakawa Tree - blooms only in December and is considered the New Zealand Christmas Tree

Our public affairs team has done a lot to support the Church's "Light the World" initiative in the Pacific. We have worked with the different countries helping them know what they could do (billboards, banners, pass along cards, radio and TV spots and launches).

Banner outside of Pacific Area Office

We enjoyed  helping plan and execute a Pacific Area "Light the World" launch. Three charities (the Auckland City Mission, the Salvation Army and Monte Cecilia) were first identified as possible recipients, visited to determine what needs they had and, finally, were given things that it was felt would help them continue to serve the less fortunate in the Auckland area.

Meeting with Alexis at the Auckland City Mission

Met with Marlene at the Salvation Army

Spent time with Bernie at Monte Cecilia to assess their needs

They were each invited to join us in the Area office on December 1 where we thanked them for their service to the community and announced the things that the Church was donating to them.

We've celebrated Christmas very differently this year. Among the ways that we celebrated were; exchanging Christmas gifts with the senior missionaries, enjoying a Christmas Eve gathering with Rich Hunter and his family and neighbors, and a Christmas Day dinner with a couple in our ward and Elder and Sister Harvey (a senior missionary couple who work in Family History).

All of the ways we celebrated Christmas were enjoyable, but none replaced being with our family. It was really nice to be able to talk with each of our sons and their families on Christmas day here or Christmas day in Utah.

SM:  We found a lovely card in our luggage when we first arrived in New Zealand from our daughter-in-law that shared this quote from Anne of Green Gables: "My future seemed to stretch out before me like a straight road...Now there is a bend in it.  I don't know what lies around the bend, but I'm going to believe that the best does."  We are experiencing that bend in the road at this very moment.  Something so different from that which we are accustomed to. 

Each day is a surprise to us as we continually experience some of that "best".  We are grateful to be a part of the Lord's work in our small way and recognize the Lord's blessings in our lives and in the lives of our children and grandchildren.