Remember, Remember the 5th of November

 Remember, Remember the 5th of November! Happy Guy Fawkes Day! Today we start bon fires,
throw dummies in the fire, and shoot off fire works in rememberance of of Guy Fawkes who committed treason by trying to blow up Parliment in London in 1605. There has to be more to this story.

I think the flowers are in competition to see who can be the prettiest and the brightest. Each time we see one it becomes my favorite fluorescent color until I see the next one. They take my breath away. Pictures just don't do them justice.

You might have to enlarge this picture to really appreciate it. Ranchers pack so many cows in a small pasture that there is standing room only for the cows! I'm sure it's because the pasture is so lush and thick. The whole pasture was only this wide and filled with cattle. And of course it was in the middle of town. 

We finally got to a place on the ocean where there are sailing vessels

These trees have these huge hangy things on them. They were about 4 feet long. They look like you could cut them down and make wreaths out of them. I will never complain about my apple tree again. If one fell off the tree it would knock you out.

We were following this. We couldn't tell if it was missles, bullets, or weapons of war. Dwight scurried around him and they were really little holed kyaks. Dwight and I both would have drowned trying to get out of one of those if they capsized...

A koru on a fern plant

Here's the closer up version.

In the movie "Moana" the hook that is always used is patterned after the Koru.It is a symbol used by the Maori's in art, carvings, and tattooing. It symbolises new life, growth, strength and peace, and it just grows in the middle of the ferns.

Now we know where to go destress. 

I have to say, New Zealand has it all together. The airport parking lots have numbers on the parking stalls! Now all we have to do is is remember them.

We have been here almost 8 weeks. I am obsessed with shells.  Each one of them is so uniquely different! Just like each of us. We all have our own beauty and talents to contribute to the earth. Each one of us can make a difference and add light and joy to the world. I probably have collected at least10 lbs of shells. If I'm continue at that rate, by February 2021 I will have 350 lbs of shells. Which ones of these could I possibly not keep? 

Kelly and Lisa Wright (Dede's inlaws)who are serving a mission in Auckland came and spent the night with us! We thoroughly enjoyed spending time with them sharing mission experiences! They are such wonderful people and we are so blessed to be family!

Elder Clayton's office. This is Elder Clayton when the phone rings. You can only imagine what every call is about since he is responsible for 87 cars.(Well at one point there were that many before several were totaled or stolen)
 almost 200 cell phones, and he manages the missionaries bank cards. This was a day filled with eye rolling and head shaking.

When it's foggy, it's really foggy.

I

Our neighbor.
 If you want a hat like his, let me know, they sell them at the local gas station,

This is where I am all day, unless I'm sorting mail for 180+ people,  handing out supplies, fixing the transfer board,  creating, copying, and binding booklets, feeding a plethera of starving missionaries,
 or just plain greeting and directing missionaries, guests, and random people who just "POP" in. It's a crazy, busy, hopping place. I love what I do!

The driveway to our little church building on the coast. 

I thought I was coming to an English speaking mission. Our biggest problem is understanding the beautiful accent. I have gotten to a point where I ask everyone to spell everything, slowly. And even then, when they say eh I don't know if its an a or an e. After three times of asking to repeat it, I just smile and shake my head and go online for help.Yesterday, I had to look up the City of Fauk a tawn e. Well guess how THAT was spelled: Whakatane. I'm sure they think the lady in the front office is handicapped. 

 I finally get to have a cortizone shot in my hip on the 12th! My doctor's name is LEE HARVEY without the Oswald. Should I be concerned???

If you have a minute, go watch how the water goes down your drain. Here it goes down counter clock wise! 

Dwight and I are still smiling about being here. This is one of the hardest things we have ever done, but one of the best things we have done. It can be so rewarding yet at times so discouraging. We are  humbled at how little we know about our responsibilites, yet in awe that we KNOW what has to be done and how to do it. I can bear testimony that we are about the Lord's work and many times a small voice will whisper, something like, "Recheck the number you just typed. It should be 002 not 022." And sure enough, I will have done it wrong. There was no formal training for what we are doing. 

We were just gently tossed into this and we are staying afloat, maintaining and assisting hundreds of teenagers and  being blessed beyond measure all at the same time. 

One of the best parts of this job is being with the Elders and Sisters. We got to spend an afternoon with these lovely ladies after the transmission went out in their car and we went to pick them up. Lucky for us, they had their guitar with them and they sang Maori songs to us all the way home. Such gifted young people. Such GOOD, upstanding gifted young people with testimonies of Jesus Christ. We love them!

One last thought I leave with you. "What if you woke up this morning with only the things you thanked Father in Heaven for last night?"

Thank you Guy Fawkes for trying to blow up parliment 414 years ago.Because of you, it will be a LONG, NOISY, SLEEPLESS night. 

Much Love, 

Elder and Sister Clayton