Hello Auckland

This past week was highlighted by back to back trips to Auckland.  On Friday it was our turn to take a missionary to the Auckland airport.  Elder Burk returned home after a successful mission.  He served as a zone leader for the last several months of his mission and he was a great example of working hard up to the very end.  As a result he had the ultimate finish- a baptism on the morning he left to go home.  On our way home from the airport we received a text from the mission nurse asking if we would be available to take another missionary to the airport.  It had just been decided that she should best return home for health reasons.  She had been dealing with constant hip pain for several months and it just wasn't getting better.  Luckily, she was only a few months from her regular release date.  She seemed to have a pretty good attitude about the whole thing.  Anyway, we were the last couple available, so 12 hours later we turned around and did the Auckland trip again.  One bright spot about it is we got to stop twice at Pokanos for a yummy ice cream cone.
It worked out well because we have been getting daily rain, so we really could not have gotten out to do anything in the outdoors anyway.

We have a great view of the temple from the mission office and a few days ago we got to watch the workers put the cap and lightning rod on the steeple of the temple.  It was pretty cool to watch.  Attached are a few pictures of the operation.   We talked to a worker on the temple today and he said the operation was pretty tough because even a slight wind caused the crane boom to wobble.  It was a very tall crane as can be seen in the pics.

We are enjoying our experiences each week.  Each day presents with it's own challenges and problems that need to be solved.  We feel the Lord's hand in our efforts and it is a great blessing to be in His service.  We love you all!!

Love, Elder and Sister Folland





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