13 November 2019

Saturday, we had a service project to help a sister move from our little Branch. We finished early enough to go to the Wharf and have fish and chips. It was lovely. 

The tarter sauce was served in a shell. Clever.

This is an apartment complex in the harbor.

Tide was in. When it is out, there is no water here...It's insane how quickly it fills and drains. 

Isn't this the best idea ever? This little guy was pedaling harder than his dad!

                                                  So, lets talk about signs for a minute...

First of all, what is the criteria to be consided an AGED PERSONS? And what are these "Aged Persons" going to be doing? Try to dart out in front of your car like deer? Serpentine their wheel chairs up and down the road?  Shuffle accross the road in their walkers? We drove up and down that street several times looking for some aged persons. Never found one. We were about as close to aged as we could find. 

Here's one for you. Got it yet?
PICK YOUR OWN
strawberries.

When you are driving past this sign going 100 kilometers, and you only have time to read, "Waikato Home Kills", you make your husband turn around and go back so you can re-read the sign. It's a killing service! These nice people will come to your house and slaughter your whatever. You don't have to drag the cow to the meat packing plant!

The speed limit on the two lane highways. No freeways in this country.

This was an important sign today. It rained buckets. One of our ward members doesn't have a well. They save rain water and  purify it for drinking and useage. Today his 25,000 liter tank, his 5,000 liter tank and his 10,000 liter tank were filled! It was a good day for them. It was one of those days that using an umbrella didn't work. The wind turns it inside out and it's useless.

Just started my latest creation. Not done yet! Our bulletin board of miracles. Here's how we light the world, one by one in the New Zealand Hamilton Mission! I hope to fill the board completely. It has baptisms, service projects, miracles, unity, etc.

This was a field that was hayed. Those white things are bales of hay. They are covered in plastic. With all our humidity, I can't understand why they don't MOLD wrapped in plastic!  

We pulled into the office the other morning at 7:15 am and this duck thought he owned the parking lot. There is no water for miles. 

The bay in Raglan.

Just more beautiful flowers. They are in competition with each other. This one won this week 

Christmas packages are starting to come in. I have run out of space in the storage room and I have to put them in the President's office. It's getting pretty crowded in there. I hope he isn't claustrophobic or has a cardboard box fear.

It's been a busy week. It was transfer week again. Old seasoned missionaries left and a fresh new crop arrived. Everything revolves around transfers. Transfers happen every 6 weeks. There is always a HAKA for the outgoing missionaries. The ones standing on the right are the ones leaving. The missionaries in suits were going home. I found out the meaning of what they were doing! In the Maori culture, parents encourage young men to leave their homes and go get an education.  The young men didn't want to leave home. The parents are convincing them they have to go. The Elders in the white shirts on the left represent the parents telling them it is time to leave. They started the HAKA. (Their time on their Mission is over) The missionaries in the suits respond, (I don't want to leave) The white shirt missionaries say they must.

Finally in the end, they all kneel and bow their heads because they all realize that it is time for them to leave because that is what is best, even though parting will be so hard. It is a really emotional event.

And then they touch foreheads and breath the same air to say a final goodbye. 

Miracle Story of the week:
It was 8:30 at night and Elder R the Assistant to the President and Elder  B a zone leader from another area were on splits and did not have anyone else to teach. It was too early to go home so they decided to kneel down right where they were under a tree in the dark. Elder B offered the prayer. No sooner had they said amen and while still on their knees, a lady came up to them and asked, "Were you praying?"  They quickly stood up and said they were. She asked, "May I ask what were you praying for?" They told her they were praying to find someone they could share their message of Jesus Christ with. The lady said, "Young people don't pray anymore. I want to hear your message." Now, this is where the story gives you goose bumps. This lady was from another town,  35 minutes from where they were at. BUT, it happened to be the city that Elder B serves in!!!  Elder B made an appointment. He has taught her two lessons and she has read the Book of Mormon through Alma. If someone in a white shirt and tie knocks at your door, and they want to leave you with a message about Jesus Christ, listen to them. The Savior is patiently waiting for you and me to open the door and let him in to our lives.

Our front door to our house

Elder Clayton in his new Sunnies. Of course he will wear them to the beach next time we take our chilly bin full of fizzie drinks to spot the waves. And we must not forget the lollies. Sweet as!

This weekend we are going to go to the farthest part of our mission to deliver a car. We are going to Gisborne. (Giz-bun) It is a 5 hour drive but it's right on the east coast. I can't wait to see how the vegitation and terraine are different. We are staying in a motel near the ocean. I hope we come back on Sunday, bed bug, lice, scabie, and flea free. The struggle is real, folks. 

 Life is good. We are happy, gaining weight, healthy and always busy. I had my cortizone shot and feel like a new woman. I am so grateful for no pain. I forgot how wonderful that can be. Next week is Zone Conference. We get to cook for 60+ people every day for 4 days! 

Word of the week: Ngaruawahia--NAR uh waw he uh

Love you all. Next week I should have pictures of....HOBBITON. Stay tuned! 

Elder and Sister Clayton