We've been in the Hamilton NZ Mission for about 1 1/2 weeks now.  We had some intense training with the Pierce's for several days until they finished their mission on 11 June.  The work involves lots of details and the key to success is patience!  Every new job has a learning curve.  We're doing our best and it will all come together in TIME.  The Spirit's guidance is so necessary, and we know that we've been helped immensely.  The Pierce's and Taylors have been so kind----they took us to Nando's for dinner and we enjoyed a delicious grilled chicken salad our first night here.  The Taylor's left us some yummy chocolate and a beautiful flowering plant on our dining table.  They also introduced us to cream buns at our devotional last week!

We had our first zone conference in Tauranga Zone on Wednesday the 12th of June which was also our anniversary.  Elder Folland and I were responsible for vehicle inspections.  We left around 6:30 am from Hamilton with the Taylor's.  As the missionaries started arriving, we had them park every other stall in the parking lot.  Then we began the inspections as they began their zone conference.  The Taylors started lunch prep.  It was a misty day with rain predicted.  I should have thought to bring gloves, as the sun never peeked out from the clouds. My hands and feet quickly became stiff from the cold air-----the added moisture made the air quite chilly.  After we'd inspected almost half the cars, I went inside to warm up, and within a few minutes Doug came in because the rain had started.  We decided to do as much as we could staying inside the vehicles------then Doug put on a thick raincoat and inspected the exterior of the car.  He reported the results to me.  It all worked out! and we kept the reports dry!

Some things we've done since arriving:

  • Got settled in a temporary flat
  • Opened a bank account (It takes an appointment and lasts about 1 1/2 hours
  • We've been introduced to sushi---NZ style
  • Moved to a permanent apartment---it's great!
  • Driven on the "wrong " side of the road
  • Driven on the left side of the road, which is the right (correct) side
  • Worked 12 hour days in the office.
  • We've met very kind people
  • Walked around beautiful Lake Rotoroa
  • Visited Hamilton Gardens which is built on a landfill----it is amazing and is free of charge (hard to believe!)
  • ETC.
We love you all and are grateful to have you in our lives!  
The gospel of Jesus Christ is constancy amid change.  It brings us peace and understanding of our purposes.  We testify of the reality of a Savior.  His immense love for us is incomprehensible!  We hope you have a wonderful week!  Spread kindness and love!


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Signing Off

Image
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...
Read more

Read the Book of Mormon!

Image
                                                 Nature paints the best pictures!                             Elder Clayton is worn out at the end of transfer week! We've had some special times during the holidays the past month.  We missed the tradition of being with family and the special things we do around the holidays, but we have enjoyed being here in New Zealand.  It is a special time in our lives that has given us so many opportunities---to concentrate on service to our missionaries, to meet and mingle with people who have a distinct culture, to live in and get to know quite intimately a different country and its traditions and customs. We had another missionary go home this past week who became very dear to us.  He was an assistant to the president of the...
Read more

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...
Read more