One Year Gone By

August went by quickly. August 3^rd was our one year mark and the beginning of our last six months. We still have much to do and there are always new and different assignments that keep us busy. We continue to write stories, at least one or two a week, to post on Mormon Newsroom. We hope they are informative, interesting, and inspiring. We get excited when we see that many people have read a story and liked it, especially when it is thousands!

There are several large malls in the surrounding area and they are similar to our US malls except with different stores. The Albany mall is nearest and the one we go to the most…usually on Thursday nights, because in New Zealand, that is the only week night that stores are open past 6:00.

So, it has become our night to have our favorite roast pork dinner at their food court. It is truly delicious and filling.

And what girl can’t use a pair of beautiful blue and orange heels?!

We were able to spend an evening with our wonderful Pacific Area president, Kevin W. Pearson, and his wife, June, over dinner at our apartment before they left for Utah, having finished their years of service here. The office held a going away reception for them, and there were hugs and tears all around. He is a master speaker/teacher and we will miss being inspired by him regularly.

Then come wonderful Elder Craig A. Cardon and his wife, Debbie to fill the hole in the Area Presidency. I was asked to be on the food committee for the welcome reception and was happy to provide the most delicious little cupcake morsels (ordered from a young LDS woman entrepreneur!) as desserts and artfully arrange (right?!) mountains of vegetables prepared by these good sisters.

And this was the delicious buffet enjoyed by all the office staff and missionary couples following inspirational talks given by the Cardons. 

Fortunately for me, there was a lot of food left over because the next day, a Saturday, I needed to provide a “light lunch” for this small group of people who met informally to discuss very important matters, and I was able to simply serve the “twice blessed” delicious food.

Member of Parliament (MP) Su’a William Sio, also a member of the Church, joined our Auckland public affairs YSA council, us, and Junior and Muriel Samuela, the Directors of Public Affairs over all the north half of the North Island, for lunch. We were privileged to have him speak with us about the political topics of the day and how important it is for the young people to be involved—to understand how best to help their nation take care of its people. (We look serious because we were talking about serious matters!) We continue to be very impressed by these young people and by Brother and Sister Samuela who are models of how effective DPAs and their councils can assist the Lord’s work to move forward.

Every chance we get, when we have a few hours, or are on our way to and from places, we stop to enjoy the never-ending beautiful places on these islands. Here Kitekite Falls (say kitty kitty and you are close) are hidden a short lovely hike off the road.

I continue to admire the wonderful job New Zealand does with their public parks and trails. They are so well-developed and maintained that it makes it such a joy to experience the natural wonders here.

Even their outhouses (they call all restrooms simply “toilets”) are beautiful and clean.
We went to a new part of town one Saturday looking for mini-cupcake pans, which led to a stroll down this charming street.

I don’t know what type of architecture this is called, but these Auckland city homes are typical of the type: sort of craftsman-Victorian-cottage-plantation. Whatever it is, I love it. These are smaller houses, but there are many beautiful, grand homes of this ilk and era plus many new and ultra-modern ones.

Can I please have one of these on my mail box at home?

The street looks across the water to the city’s iconic landmark, Auckland’s Sky Tower. And though they are small houses, they have high price tags because of their inner-city location and view and also because Auckland is experiencing a housing shortage and rapidly inflating prices. 

As we drive farther downtown we get a closer view of the tower which can be seen from almost everywhere in the area and lights up at night in a different rainbow of colors. It really sets Auckland apart from other city skylines.

Our department, together with the family history department, was in charge of conducting the month’s Monday devotionals. I got to take a turn at conducting and praying, and Barry conducted and spoke during the month.

We so much enjoy attending our Glen Innes ward where we are assigned. We also enjoy the thirty minute drive around the Auckland Bay to get there. It’s a small ward, but with faithful saints who are so loving and kind to us. We are always spiritually fed by the talks and lessons, and we enjoy learning about and experiencing different aspects of their various Tongan, Samoan, and Maori customs and foods. Following a missionary homecoming or farewell it is typical for them to bring “a plate,” and we gather in the cultural hall to share their delicious offerings. These cute Primary kids are twin daughters of our Bishop Ahokava and the sons of his first counselor, Brother Sua.

We also have frequent opportunities to take the young missionaries serving in the ward to dinner. Because we live out of their area, we can’t have them come to our home, but none have ever complained that we meet them at our favorite Italian restaurant at Mission Bay in their area for a filling dinner. A few weeks ago we had Elder Poole from Australia and his new companion, Elder Nakamura from Sandy Utah, with us.

A few weeks later Elder Poole was transferred, and we took Elder Nakamura and his new companion, Elder Tongi from Wellington to dinner. We have such good conversations about the gospel and our love for the work we are doing in serving our Savior, Jesus Christ, at these dinners. We give encouragement and love to the elders, hopefully leaving them “full.” We think they are wonderful and we are inspired by them.

We spent one Saturday attending the Tamaki Stake’s self-reliance fair and a wonderful cultural program performed by their youth, then writing the article about it for Mormon Newsroom.

We were also invited to tour the new Samoan Embassy and fale buildings just being completed. Accompanying us were the Samoan Trade Commissioner, Fonoti Dr Lafitai Fuatai, and the buildings’ architects, along with members of the church’s physical facilities department. It was a most interesting afternoon and truly beautiful buildings. You can read our article here…  
http://www.mormonnewsroom.org.nz/4897484876482954496

Barry loves to shoot waterfalls and there are many nearby to shoot! I photographed the photographer here at the Piroa Falls near Maungaturoto.

The US could take a lesson from the NZ alcohol restrictions. They are posted everywhere, including at all their major sporting events (All Blacks rugby games, etc.) Can you imagine if alcohol were prohibited at the NFL, NBA, and college games??!! It would make quite a difference (like national mutiny?!).

Waipu beach. There is no shortage of beautiful beaches in New Zealand and we continue to find new ones. Maybe this one is now our favorite!

A year in the planning, and with much time spent the past few months, the “YSAs to Parliament” activity finally arrived. We took some twenty-plus youth, LDS and Catholic, to Wellington for two days of interactions. They are beautiful young people.

The youth were addressed by several high-ranking members of Parliament, attended an evening devotional to which local members and friends were invited, and gave service at a community health facility.

Barry and I helped with the transportation, accommodations, meals, and photography. The Samuelas provided the overall direction, assisted by their great YSA council, and the other DPAs from the various areas of New Zealand. Additionally, a wonderful Sister Catherine Jones, a senior Catholic leader in Wellington, has been on the planning committee with us the entire time, and she was there with her YSA council also. 

The New Zealand Parliament building rivals any of the many castles, palaces, government buildings, and churches we have been in throughout Europe. The interior is especially breathtaking with classic architecture, finishes, and furnishings. I loved being in this gorgeous building.

Elder David Thomson, area seventy in New Zealand attended our activity and took an active role throughout. He is a giant of a man and so well-loved here. As he spoke at the various events, it was evident that this humble man is a great one.

We took the chance to detour on our long drive back to Auckland to see Castle Point lighthouse, a striking sight sitting on its high rock pinnacle overlooking the Pacific Ocean below.

We were happy to celebrate birthdays this month (and are so grateful for iphones and FaceTime!) with our grandson Dylan, our son John, two of our granddaughters, Fynnley and Jamie, and our son-in-law Kyle and be reminded of what a great blessing they are in our lives.

We are so grateful to be here in New Zealand, doing our best to assist in the work of the Lord. Our primary focus is to promote faith, family, and freedom throughout the world, to testify of the truthfulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, that families may continue to be strengthened and protected as the foundation of our societies, and that freedom of religion can be preserved for the good of all mankind.

We appreciate so much the love and support of our families, our friends, and our associates. We hope you are all very well, blissfully happy, and highly prosperous.

With much love and gratitude,

Elder and Sister Preator

Barry and Susan