It's time for another Kiwi Companions blog post! The day and weeks seem to pass so quickly!
The 2016 Pacific Area Plan from the Area Presidency, which
we have participated in conceptualizing and preparing, was launched on December
7. After all of the meetings, discussions and considerations, it was very nice
to see it finally “roll out.” This beginning is a preview of what is to come.
The actual sharing of the plan in detail with members across the South Pacific
in stakes and wards will happen in the first part of January 2016. Here is a
link to the preliminary-launch video:
The Latter-day Saint funeral for Jonah Lomu, the
world-renowned rugby player from New Zealand was held on Tuesday, December 1st
at the Robertson Road Stake Center in Mangere. Over 900 family members, friends
and fellow members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints honored
Jonah’s life. We served as public affairs representatives for the Church at the
funeral, helping to coordinate the activities of members of the media who attended,
as well as taking photographs for a news release on Mormon Newsroom-Pacific and
generally helping in any ways we could. Among the dignitaries who paid their
respects were His Royal Highness Prince Ata, representing Their Majesties, King
Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau'u of the Kingdom of Tonga; current and former All
Blacks rugby players; and local government officials. Speakers included Jonah’s
brother, John; his father-in-law, Merv Quirk; and his long-time physician, Dr
John Mayhew. Latter-day Saint leaders who spoke were Elder Kevin W. Pearson,
President of the Church’s Pacific Area, and Anthony Wilson, the Lomu family’s
stake president. We participated in preparing this article about the funeral,
including taking the pictures used in the article:
On Wednesday,December 9th, we joined with many of
the senior missionary couples and the entire complement of Pacific Area Office
employees for a fun-filled Christmas Party at a nearby ward meeting house. The
food was great, and the entertainment featured skits put on by each department
including their senior missionary couples and the Area Presidency members and
wives. Actually, we looked pretty silly, I think, but that’s what we were
supposed to be, so we must have been successful. Susan and I and our group wore
tinsel-covered, red or green Christmas tree hats and bobbed up and down while
we lip-synced to a version of Boney M’s “Joy to the World.”Nice, huh?
When Friday evening, December 11th came, we
traveled to the center of the city and the Auckland Town Hall to watch and
enjoy the Auckland Symphony Orchestra and a 120-member Latter-day Saint choir
perform their annual Christmas concert. We really enjoyed this special evening,
and it brought the spirit of the season to us in a marvelous way. These two
groups have been performing together in December for many years. The hall was
packed with people from various denominations who seemed very enthusiastic
about the performance. Once again, here is the article I wrote the next day
which includes a video clip and several pictures which I took while at the
concert.
Last Saturday evening at about 11:00 p.m., Susan and I met
our son John and our good friend, Heidi Webster, at the Auckland International
Airport. We were thrilled to see them arrive safely for their first visit to
New Zealand. It was a joy for us to have familiar faces from home with us once
again.
Heidi is a beautiful redhead who was in Young Ambassadors
the same time John was. So they toured South America with YA way back when.
Then they together headlined the cruise ship shows for those eight months or so
traveling all through the Caribbean, Mediterranean, and North Baltic countries.
They have kept in touch through the years and get together now and then. So
when it was time for John to come to New Zealand, knowing that we could only
travel with him for a few days, Heidi was his ready and willing companion! She
is beautiful inside and out, and we had so much fun with them.
We stayed at a charming lodge located on the waterfront in
Russell New Zealand.While there, we took a bus trip to the northernmost point
in New Zealand, Cape Reinga, where one can see beautiful vistas as well as the
coming together of the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean; their waters are
colored differently, and so it’s easy to see how they converge.
We also took a boat trip among the many interesting islands
in the area called Bay of Islands. While doing this we fished for Red Snapper
fish. We caught Jack Mackerel fish for bait, which was totally fun as we caught
two to three fish simultaneously on one line. The lines each had five hooks,
and so our attempt was to be first to catch all five, but I don’t think we ever
actually did more than three. Each of us eventually caught a Red Snapper which
are beautifully colored fish and are a New Zealand fishermen’s favorite.
After our time with Heidi and John, they took off to the
South Island on their own. We went back to work at the office.
John and Heidi “made” our Sacrament meeting last Sunday as
they were invited to sing and bear their testimonies (our ward is very
spontaneous, especially when the assigned speakers are no-shows). And when we
were up north with them, our little fishing boat captain sailed us into a rock
cave called "The Cathedral," because it has the same formation as the
inside of one of the huge stone cathedrals in Europe. There, Heidi and John
treated us to a duet of Ave Maria. It was very cool, and our captain told us
the next morning that he wished he could have stayed there for hours and just
listened to them sing. They will return to Auckland tonight (Saturday), and she
flies home to be with her family in Arizona for Christmas.
Our time with John and Heidi went by entirely too fast! But
isn’t that the way it is in life with that which we enjoy?
In between all of our comings and goings, we’ve done some
Christmas shopping and decorating of our apartment. In many ways, like the
Christmas concert and the small, colorfully-decorated tree we have, it does
seem like the holiday season here in New Zealand.
In other ways, like the warming summer season here and no
snow on the ground, it does feel a little strange for us. Not being with family
and long-time friends also takes a bit of an emotional toll on us from time-
to-time, and moment-to-moment. But, it’s all good. And we are so grateful to be
able to serve our mission and do our best to follow the Spirit and assist as
God would have us do. We have felt and recognized the blessings of heaven in
our lives and the lives of those we love back home. For this, we are most
grateful!
John will be with us through Christmas, and our son, Brent,
and his family will arrive next Tuesday to spend Christmas in New Zealand; more
wonderful, fun times for us all. We can’t wait!
The Christmas season is a wonderful time for each of us, as
sons and daughters of God. What blessings we enjoy, having the restored gospel
of Jesus Christ in our lives and knowing of His great love for each of us. The
love and caring guidance of our Heavenly Father is also priceless.
We watched the First Presidency Christmas Devotional via our
computer a few days ago and loved it so much, just as we do each year. Nothing
compares with being taught and guided by servants of the Lord.
At this wonderful season, we extend our love and heartfelt
best wishes to each of you and your families. We pray each day for your welfare
and pray that heavenly blessings will be the lot and guidance of your lives. As
missionaries here in the South Pacific, we know more assuredly than ever before
that our Father is in His heavens, and that Jesus is our Lord and Savior. They
do, in reality, know each of us personally and are anxious to help show us the
way every day that we live. About this, there is no question.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, with all of our love!
Barry and Susan
P.S. Here is a picture of Susan, John and Heidi playing in
the surf near Cape Reinga; they were obviously having fun!
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