The Haka

We traveled to South Auckland on Wednesday to tour two homes that were possible apartments (flats) to lease for four sister missionaries.  We need to turn over their present apartment, as the owners are moving back in.  Usually,
the property manager lets us know within a week whether we get the space.  But this time our job was made much easier because the property manager let us know that we were chosen right on the spot.  Their company has other properties that are leased to the Church, so she was happy to let us have the house.  This house has an amazing view from the ceiling to floor windows in the lounge.  The bay and reserve provide a nice backdrop.  We canceled the tour of the other home, took eight missionaries out to lunch and visited with them, and arrived back in time to the office to work several hours there.  We were very grateful that our lives were made easier by getting this house right away.  Good rentals are hard to find in South Auckland.

The Maori culture has many unique significant features, one of which is the Haka.  A haka is a ceremonial dance or challenge.  It is performed by a group, with vigorous movements and stamping of the feet with rhythmically shouted accompaniment.  Haka are performed to welcome distinguished guests, or to acknowledge great achievements,   occasions or funerals. (Wikipedia) Here in the mission, missionaries perform a Haka for the missionaries who have finished their missions and are returning home.  It is an amazing, emotional event to watch.  One of our missionaries recently left to return home.  He had worked in our office for about 7 months as an assistant to the President.  A large group of elders did a special Haka for him the night before he left. 


The missionary in the center dressed in the suit is the one honored by the other missionaries performing the Haka.


There are no COVID cases here in New Zealand.  We are praying that the viral pandemic will ease its grip in our beloved America.  Two of our sister missionaries received the good news yesterday that they are finally returning to their homeland of Samoa.  One sister is from American Samoa, and she will need to stay there in Samoa until we can get her into American Samoa.  These two have been serving an additional three months here in our mission because we could not get them home.













Doctrine and Covenants 29:39
And it must needs be that the devil should tempt the children of men, or they could not be agents unto themselves; for if they never should have bitter they could not know the sweet.  

Our testimony of the the truthfulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ has been strengthened through the bitter moments of life.  As we rely on the power of the Savior's Atonement, the bitterness dissipates to reveal the sweetness of JOY.  WE KNOW THIS IS TRUE.

Elder and Sister Folland 


Comments

  1. Cathy BubertJuly 18, 2020 at 9:05 AM

    Another AMAZING post! It is strange to see everyone in their winter clothes as it is nearly 100° here in Utah! We love you and pray for you!

    ReplyDelete

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