 |
Recording a weeks worth of people, adventures, insights and lessons learned is a bit like trying to eat the contents of this chocolate fountain with a toothpick (ask Vance, he knows). But if you figure in a big piece of "fruit" it helps. Maybe there's more to be said about how "fruits" help us tackle as well as decifer things. Have learned much by observing "fruits" on this mission. Not hard to see the ultimate "fruits" of something and get a bigger picture. Hoping to produce better "fruit" ourselves. Vance is just hoping for enough fruit to make a dent in the chocolate fountain.
The chocolate fountain was dessert at a Devotional and Christmas Dinner our S & I Area held at CORDIS on Monday at a nice hotel in Auckland. We enjoyed the raw chocolate, but still passed on most of the raw fish. |
At the devotional that started our Christmas Party, our area coordinator Aaron Wi Repa spoke. He told about hunting Paradise ducks here in NZ. He said if you get one duck you are guaranteed two. The male and female are true to their mate no matter what, in life or death. They will NOT leave their mates side. More than one lesson in that one we are sure.
 |
| Vance stepped out of the door of our institute on Tuesday and thought he'd snap a photo of what we get to see daily. Nice. |
 |
This "College" is 1/2 block from our Institute. "College" here means senior year of high school. They go 13 years and the last year is "College". Then it's on to the the University or "Uni" after that. Loved the red Maori carvings on the architecture.
On our way home today we were stopped by a motorcade of motorcycle police, a police car, 4 silver darkened windows Mercedes sedans and 4 more Silver Mercedes Silver Vans. From what we could gather it was a Heads of State motorcade. Pretty interesting. |
 |
| We started Tuesday with a "firey" looking sun rise on the beach... |
 |
| ...and ended the day (or started the next) at 4:00 a.m. with the fire alarm and evacuating the Shoalhaven Apartment building. Our first fire alarm...but not our last this week. |
 |
| After finishing up at the Institute this week we drove to Rotorua. This is known as the geothermal wonderland of NZ. This is the Maori village of Whakarewarewa, built among the geysers and hot pots and mud pools. Yes, it has a Yellowstone aroma. |
 |
| The houses are built near or over these pools. Its been this way for ages. No heating bills. |
 |
| The Whakarewarewa Marae |
 |
| The Maori cultural show (they all have poi dances, tongues, and the Haka on the program) |
 |
| This is the Pohutu geyser, seen from Whakarewarewa. It can get to 30 meters (over 98 feet) high. |
 |
| Maori children wait near the river at the bottom of this bridge for you to throw coins in the river and they dive for them. |
 |
| Maori Villagers cook their food on these cement ovens and grates built over the geysers. Pretty creative. |
 |
| Don't know the name of this bush yet but part of the flora and fauna that had Louenda smitten. |
 |
| These are the village "baths", always warm and actually very clean. Guys bathe at different times than the girls. There's always a plethora of new fresh hot water to refill the baths. |
 |
| After the Maori Village we rode up the Gondola and hiked the bush trails on Mt. Ngongotaha. Besides a gondola there are sky rides, luge rides, swing rides and heaps of mountain bikers on the mount enjoying the view and the green. |
 |
| Loading the Skyswing |
 |
| A Panorama view from a view point half way up the Mt. The Island straight ahead in the middle of Lake Rotorua is Mokoita and comes with a Maori legend that is a bit of a cross between Romeo and Juliet, Moana, and Cinderella. Living on the shores of Lake Rotora, an influential tribal chief's daughter Hinemoa was to be married to someone for political reasons However, she had fallen in love with Tutanekai (as he played his flute) whose tribe lived on the Island. Her family was suspicious so they beached (like Moana) all the boats so she couldn't sail any of the boats to get to him. Secretly she tied gourds together to help her float and she swam to the island. When she and Tutanekai were discovered instead of an unhappy ending the two tribes united and everybody lived happily ever after. Sounds like a good movie. |
 |
| We happened onto a street festival in downtown Rotorua, complete with fresh veggies, and trinkets, crafts, and food from all over the world, everything from Baklava to falafels. Dinner was international that night. |
 |
| After our day in Rotorua we drove to Hamilton to meet our YSA 2nd Ward at the Temple. We had 40 YSA's come! Its a two hour bus ride, like riding from Payson to Logan, but they come often, love the temple, and don't mind lunch in the park after either. Amazing young people, more than three-fourths are returned missionaries! |
 |
| We took the long way home and drove to Raglan on the West Coast. New Zealand county side is ultra green and looks like someone has just mowed it...everywhere. |
 |
| We've been fascinated by the Tui bird and its call but never been quick enough to see one, let alone snap a picture, so this was a treat. When we got to Raglan beach they were everywhere eating something in these beach side plants. Loved the blue and green feathers, white throat and neck feathers. |
 |
| They were even nice enough to let me and my little camera take these pictures. Now to try for a fantail and kokubura. |
 |
| Raglan is a favorite surfing beach along the Tasman Sea coast. Coming from the temple and dressed in our church clothes one of the surfers suggested we give it a try...REALLY??! |
 |
| A little way out of Raglan is a trail in the Waikato forest or bush that leads to Bridal Veil Falls. There was a fern forest trail that followed along the little Pakota stream. Just a 10 minute walk that produced an incredible falls! |
 |
| Bridal Veil falls is 180 feet high, pretty spectacular |
 |
| Couldn't help ourselves...when was the last time you saw three corrugated metal buildings of a pig, a sheep and a ram? |
 |
| One of our sweet YSA's, Leonnie Toki, invited us to join her and others for the opening of her mission call. She invited her grandpa to open her call...pretty tender. She was called to the Australia Sydney mission. Many Poly's go to other South Pacific Islands or Australia. Leonnie will be awesome. (Behind me were heaps of her friends, and on a nearby table was heaps of food!) |
 |
| Fire alarm #2 this week. Whether 4 in the a.m. or 2:00 p.m. its still "alarming" and loud. Faulty mechanical stuff so we were blessed and now we "know the drill" pretty well. |
 |
| On Saturdays there is a local club that sponsors a swimming school/club in the ocean. Teacher/coach paddles out with them and coaches and watches them from the boat. Looks like the same for kayaking and paddle boarding. Were told that some famous wet suits were invented in NZ. Wet suits would be a good idea as it was still only in the high 60's today. |
 |
| Another S & I (Seminary and Institute) graduation. This one was Seminary. Great young people! |
 |
And the treat that topped off the week was walking out of Stake Conference in Manuwera and hearing a "Coach Downs". This is beautiful Gentry Keaton, one of the last missionaries Vance sent out as a YSA Stake President. Gentry was also a Farmington Huskie! Now she is a sister missionary in the Hamilton NZ mission. Three of our Stakes (Manuwera is one) are in the Hamilton and not Auckland Mission. Another THOTL (the Hand of the Lord) blessing, that we happened to go to this stake today, and that Sister Keaton saw us in a very full stake house!
Not much other than pictures this week. Busy but blessed. Hoping you are feeling the same! We love you!
Elder and Sister Downs
Vance and Louenda |
Comments
Post a Comment