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Signing Off

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It's hard to believe our mission to New Zealand is essentially over.  We left Hamilton on November 20 and flew to Christchurch in the South Island.  Everyone told us we needed to see the South Island before leaving New Zealand so we are taking that opportunity now.  More on that later. Our last few weeks in Hamilton were unlike any of the previous 18 months.  Because our replacement office couple arrived in the mission over a month before our release, we had plenty of time to train them.  After 2 1/2 weeks of training there was really not much we could do to help them further- they just has to jump in and start doing the job.  Sharon and I found many odd jobs to do, tying up loose ends and completing tasks we wanted to do but never had time to do.  We tried to leave everything in good shape for the Atkins, our replacements. The last week was rewarding as we received many expressions of gratitude from our associates but also very hard to say good bye to...
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Last Few Weeks

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                             Marissa and Nolan                                              Ollie                                               Ava                                  Dave, Lucy, and Rune                                  Hamilton Gardens  We’re nearing the end of our mission here in Hamilton, New Zealand.  Elder and Sister Atkins have replaced us in the mission office.  We have been working to organize and clean our supply warehouse where missionary furnishings and household supplies are stor...
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Photos—-Missionary Cultural Evening

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Photos—October

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                                       Bottle Brush                                      NZ Silver Fern                   Two Parrots showed up outside the office.                                     Mount Maunganui   
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Views from the top of Mt. Manganui

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Another Transition Begins

 Well,  it's hard to believe but we are down to 1 month until our mission in New Zealand will come to a close.  Our release date is November 20.  Although we have been thinking about that date for the past few months, the fact that we do not have a home to return to and needing to make some plans as to what will happen when we return, we need to think about it.  It is a bit different for senior missionaries due to the number of things that have to be organized in order for our lives to continue  after the mission.   It really hit home this past week when we began the process of training the couple who will be taking over our responsibilities.  The couple, Elder and Sister Atkins, are New Zealand natives who live in the Hamilton area.  For the past few months we were  wondering who would take over for us since it had become obvious the couple called from the States was not going to make it to New Zealand any time soon.  Then the...
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Opotiki

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 About November 2018, the mission here in Hamilton underwent a major change.  The missionaries were given access to smart phones.  It makes the work much more efficient because the missionaries have immediate access to their area book, phone numbers of their investigators and members of the Church, and the list of benefits goes on and on.  It also makes our work in the mission office easier.  There is always a potential downside to good things like mobile devices.  Mobile devices can become major distractions to the missionaries.  There is a guidebook entitled "Safeguards for Using Technology" that each missionary becomes familiar with.  Unfortunately, misuse of mobile devices is too common among the missionaries.  There are those who are very obedient to the guidelines, and others who give in too often to misuse.  On the 11th September, we were able to participate in a Zoom mission conference with one of the Twelve Apostles, Elder Gary ...
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