New Things

We share a few NEW and FIRST TIME things from New Zealand. As of NZ Labor Day last week, October 26, NZ has a new Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern (Elder Ardern's niece). Our new little Greyson's first week is going great, we explored some new places, found some new "flora and fauna" as well as some strange new foods, met some new YSA's, previewed some new church videos, got a TC package with some new movie stuff for our institute (this is also a first...they have NO videos), had our first YSA swimming party for the season at the Bishop Dil's (and the Bishop took a few of us on a tour through his funeral home business located down the hill from his home..another first) and we also spent time planning our first new schedule for teaching institute for summer and fall semester. Also a first is having summer in December, January, and February. YIKES!

Bronze sculpture outside of Dil Funeral Home, just looked Maori and pretty cool. In fact somebody stole it and they just got it back.

37 year old Jacinda Ardern, NZ Labor Party leader and new Prime Minister.

New Grandson Greyson and his apprentice babysitter/sister Livy. Miss those grandkids!

Our adventures on the Labor Day off took us to a new beach called Mairangi (means "welcome from the sun, sky, or heavens" in Maori). Was originally named Waipapa Bay (water wood) because there is evidence of a fossilized forest in the bay at low tide. Really interesting rock formations

New Zealand added this natural looking cement board walk. NZ's beaches and trails are their pride and well kept.

The BP Lifesaving Surf Rescue club has its main location here at Mairangi and they are always practicing.

Rescue club building on the left and a little inlet to the ocean.

Lots of tide pools in the rocks.

One of the fascinating rock formations that seemed to be walking out of the ocean.

One of the nice homes on the ocean front beckoned us to "sit while" but we remembered the story of Goldilocks and withstood the temptation.

This family had on diving masks and were out in the low tide "fishing" or catching something with their hands. We asked some of the locals and they said it was probably kina (pronounced "kenna"). Kina is also called "Sea Eggs" You have to crack them open, they are mushy (one Poly told me they taste like squishy mud...mmmm), somewhat salty, and you eat the five "tongues" inside raw. Pretty expensive too. 1/2 cup container is about $23 at the seafood market (think of the hamburgers or pizza you could get for $23...and enjoy). We are learning.

And speaking of Pizza...we attended the Otara Institute on Tuesday night, fell in love with the YSA's here and after devotional (where they announced we were participating, surprise) they had ordered at least one pizza for everyone! This great Stake President, President Pulu (tie on) comes every week to be with them.

Some of this week's FLORA and FAUNA...we never tire of it!

Bottle brush tree

First time we'd seen the yellow version of this tree

This is some phlox (we have tiny tiny mounds at home) .

Yes, they are small...but we'll soon have bananas.

Close up of the Norfolk Pine needles. soft and always grow up...another lesson.

Think of the nasturtium salad you could make with this guy

This is what a Martha Washington geranium looks like after not just a season but YEARS, have seen marigold and impatien bushes too.

On Wednesday morning Vance and I got to preview and review the new Book of Mormon videos with this awesome group of missionaries. Speaking of missionaries in the area, we got word this week that one of Vance's incredible former Huskies (and niece to our amazing doctor Mike Beus) CHLOE BEUS, got her mission call to AUCKLAND NZ! We are so excited!

Afterward we drove back to the Institute building to work. During one of the breaks we walked almost next door to the Auckland Library, we even have our own library card. We are literally in downtown Auckland just a block or so from Queen Street. Its a beautiful busy city. We had Friday off and thought we would do some exploring downtown but it was a very rainy day so we'll try again.
On Wednesday after our day at the Institute we attended the Henderson Stake Institute program. And AGAIN we had the opportunity to speak at the devotional afterwards (usually a surprise opportunity). We got very lost on the way home and ended up on a very different new route. It was actually a tender mercy as we discovered another bridge that takes us across the water from Auckland to our flat in Takapuna.

A rainy day walking at the beach may keep a few people home but not the DOGS! They are all friendly, well behaved, cleaned up after, and they love to fetch balls and logs in the water. We see some beautiful breeds all over Tackpuna
where we live.

One of the "dog-walker" ladies

So blessed by our good buddy TC...we were trying to have "Movie Friday" at the Institute without any movies...it's tough. A surprise package came from the famous film maker TC, and now we have the next 7 movies covered. Now the YSA's want TC to come over.

We decided to walk a new route one day and discovered a Lake about 2 1/2 blocks from our flat, Lake Pupuke. It is a heart shaped lake because the lake occupies two volcanic craters joined together. Maori mythology says it was the home of a tupua couple, children of fire gods who quarreled so much the fire goddess destroyed their home with a volcano and then filled it with water (think Moana stuff). They were exiled to the new volcanic island Rangitoto and the mists on Rangitoto are their tears of repentance...well, the myth didn't say repentance...but it should have!

Down on the shore of Lake Pupuke is an old pump house made into a dinner theater. One of the few cats I've seen is at the door.

Heaps of kayaks on Lake Pupuke.

Another new beach we discovered. Lots of volcanic rock

This is our friend Blake. On Thursday evening we attended the Harbour Stake Institute Graduation. Blake was one who received honors. He is an awesome young man, sometime we'll share his story.

The "after-graduation" meal was actually KFC!

Friday night took us to Mt. Roskill Stake to a YSA "emoji" dance .

It was a costume dance as well and Lou happened to color-coordinate with some bumble bee emoji's.

First YSA swimming party of the season at Bishop Dil's

Vance, Elder Henshaw, and the YSA's around a campfire and under the bottle brush tree.

200 Yards down the hill from Bishop Dil's home is his business:

He is the third generation Dil to be a mortician. Below are the urns. Pretty common here to be cremated. Bishop took just a few of us through the entire funeral home and crematory. Pretty fascinating. Told us some Maori culture: They have the body embalmed then take it home for 3 days or more so the family can spend time with the deceased. Family and friends come and hang out and they have feasts and "FHE-type" evenings until everyone has had their chance to mourn and do some healing. He said that seems to move the mourning and healing to a healthier level and they can move on. Pretty interesting. Then they come back and either bury them or have them cremated. We are learning much about the Maori. They are good people and the salt of the earth type folks, so loving and deeply connected to their culture and ancestors!