The Clayton's Mission Adventures

Elder Clayton and I have wanted to serve a mission since we were newly weds 44 years ago. I  must say, there has been nothing normal about the past 10 months we have been serving in the "Land of the Big White Cloud". I love everything about this country. The flowers, the birds, the green grass, the rain, the fruit, the fresh fruit ice cream, the creme buns, the incredible landscape, the ocean.  We drive down the road and know without a doubt that this is where we need to be right now. My very favorite thing is the people. The beautiful Pacific Islanders. They are real, they know how to love, they know how to care, they are faithful, they are choice. I love the people I get to work with every day. Our counter parts, the Follands are the salt of the earth and I look forward to going to the office each day to work along side of them. All of our MLS couples stayed when Covid 19 reared it's ugly head. I learn so much from each one of them and admire their testimonies. We ...

Freedom. Sorta. We'll take it!   Here we are at Kapu Te Rangi. I love the Maori carved art. These are  pouwhenua. Tiki totems. They all tell a story. It is autumn here. Everything blooms, blossoms, and produces fruit a second time!!! Incredible.  67 days and New Zealand is finally down to level 2! We are back in the mission office working! We still have to go through road blocks and security to get to the office and we answer NO to the SAME questions every time we go past the SAME security guard each morning--"Have you been out of the country recently?"  (Ya, I flew to Paris for Dinner last night after I left the office at 7:30 PM and flew back into NEW ZEALAND through the CLOSED BORDERS when I was finished)  "Have you been in contact with anyone with COVID 19?"  Dwight did answer "Not that we know of" the other morning and was reprimanded. I know they are just doing their job. But heaven help us all. We also have to write our name and phone...

Two Weeks of Miracles                                                                  Well, I have learned a few things these past few weeks.                                       1. Miracles still happen                                      2. My coping skills are not as great as I thought they were                                      3. You really can love someone even if you have only known them for a few months                                 ...