31 October 2020

 

Springtime in New Zealand

September 21 happened and within 3 days every tree had full leaves and more flowers dripping off the limbs, if that is even possible! 

I don't understand, but I love it!

Even the people have flowers.

It's such a great idea. 

Flowers should be worn! I will go home with one of these. My new friend (that I can't pronounce her name) insisted I try hers on.  I'm just so grateful we call each other "Sister". 

And of course the new spring apparal line is being worn all over the country.

We went to Ortorohanga and the entire main street had flower baskets. 

Hundreds of them! 

 I can't wait to go back in a month.With the speed of which plants grow in this country, I would bet they will almost be touching the ground in a few weeks.

I'm pretty sure Dr. Suess visited New Zealand before he wrote the "Lorax". Add some bright colors and you have a "Truffula Tree". (Truffula even sounds New Zealandish)

I saw a real Bird of Paradise flower. 

The grapefruits are really ripe and sweet now and so are the lemons. 

Inside of a Grapefruit we picked. 

The seeds were so annoying. But it didn't take me long to weigh it out in my mind. 

Seeds/sweetness vs No seeds/no flavor. Seeds won.

I

 We had the opportunity to clean out another flat with the Follands.This was the view from our bedroom. (Yep, ocean in background) clean out was incident free.  Our Air B&B overlooked the ocean this time. 

Elder Clayton in the back yard hiding behind a grapefruit tree.

The backyard was full of so many different tropical greenery. Prepare for overload.

These berries were on a palm like tree.

These plants are as tall as me.

I want a shed dripping with purple flowers!

We drove up the Coastal Highway and the view was amazing from the top of the mountains

Up close

Elder Clayton walking the beach.

My idea of walking the beach

Even better way to walk the beach

A Maori Marae. These sacred places for religious services and social gatherings dot the land. They are all tribe specific, yet they are always red and have tiki poles with replicas of the tribal leader carved in wood on the tiki poles.

These are pampas. They are all over New Zealand. I am going to fill my house with these when I get home. I hope Hobby Lobby has a good knock off of these.

We also attended a baptism for a family of four after our flat clean out.

The program was held in their home. The spirit was so strong. The room was packed. Not only with earthly beings, but with unseen beings from the other side. No matter what is happening around us in the world, the gathering of Israel continues and GOD WILL PREVAIL!

We all drove down to the river and the baptism happened there.

And then littlest one baptised decided to go for a swim after. Why not?

BIRDS

The birds in this land love to be alive. Alive in New Zealand! So much to eat! Worms, fruit, flowers. In the morning when we go out to get in the car to go to the office, We have to yell at each other over the bird tweets.  

One day I looked up from my desk and at the office and two of these little beauties were flapping their wings, looking at me through the window! I have never seen such a beautiful bird in the wild. They perched on the tree by our office window and I got the picture

Then a few days later, I had ducks in my yard. They hung out most of the day at our flat. We don't even have water nearby...

EGGS

Spring means baby birds! This Easter egg was on our grass. 

Eggs are not refrigerated over here. These were outside in an open market. It was a warm day. 77. I don't even want to think about the eggs at the bottom...

Alma 8 talks about Alma being reviled and cast out of the city while trying to share the good word. In verse 18 it tells how he entered the city another way. Being a missionary during these trying times is not for the faint of heart. It is tough. This whole COVID thing has people frightened to open their doors to anyone. One of our districts of missionaries found another way to enter the city by organising a Culteral night. Over 150 people attended. 

                                        

This was a great idea because 97% of our missionaries are curly black haired polynesians! They had dancing, music and culteral presentations from all the Islands represented in our mission. Maori, New Zealand, Paupa New Guinea, Figi, Tonga, Samoa, Kiribati, Tahiti. They must be taught the traditions of their fathers from a very young age. It was quite a program. 

The one on the left getting jiggy is one of our AP's. He is from Tonga. He somewhat stole the show...He is truly a coconut. Hard on the outside but tender on the inside. I don't know where they came up with all the costumes. 

 

Samoa

Tahiti

Of course it ended with a Haka.

SIGNS OF THE WEEK

This "MUM" needs to hear from her kids.

Cool street sign, huh. I wanted to steal it. All churches have signs on the main roads directing you to them. 

Even better was the painted building behind the sign. 

#SPOT ON

#TRUTH

If there is a blank space there is a picture or bright color on it. We use too much taupe, beige, and gray in the US.

Loved this positive thought posted in front of the Methodist and Prestbytarian Church.

This was above a toilet...

Can anyone really do the "NO"?

So this sheep was in the news. He was lost in the bush for 5 years. This is really what happens if they don't get a shear for 5 years! His poor little legs carrying all that weight around. I feel his pain,

Do you remember the 56 cars parked on the grass after our missionaries left because we only had 8 drivers? 

Well, a higher being is in charge and this is what the grass looks like today. Our missionary force is back up to 140! 

Coming back from Zone Conference a few weeks ago we came across these Falls. 

They weren't 100's of feet of free falling water, but they were quite incredible. 

PHONE ADS

So this ad popped up on my phone the other day. I'm not sure separating my whites from my coloured brings me ultimate satisfaction. Planning for my funeral brings me about the same amount of satisfaction. 

And this. Every crawling baby needs one! Start them cleaning early!

Every Tuesday, the lovely lady in blue comes to our building and plays the piano. She used to be the music teacher at the church college. Her only music is a piece of cardboard with the names of songs on it. She is amazing. Last week she brought her son and he played along with her on his Saxaphone. 

HOW I FELT AFTER GETTING MY HAIR CUT AND COLORED YESTERDAY

I simply asked for  darker color with burgandy highlights. 

Remember, this is where I get my hair done...A room in the back. 

After Andrea blew it dry, I ended  up with Ariel Red...

There was no way I could go back to the office with hair this color. So I blamed President Erekson and said he would send me home early if I had hair this color. Little Andrea said we could "tone it down a bit". After 3 1/2 hours in the chair, I came out with really dark hair. That's all that would cover the red. I look gothic.

Surely it will lighten up eventually...

Google photos takes my photos and makes video's from them. Somebody from google puts them to music and it is my "month in review". I should have posted this first so you didn't have to read all of my blog. Do you think this means "they" pour over MY personsal pictures and pick out the ones that would make the best video???  Should we all be worried about this?

We are anxious to hear how the election goes in the US. 

This voting sticker sums it up pretty well.

No matter the outcome, we all know who is in charge and who is going to win in the end. And we  know the final score. I guess the question is whose team are we on?

One final thought

Love you all,

Elder and Sister Clayton

 

Happy Halloween.