Anzac Day "Lest We Forget"

We learn more interesting things about this fascinating country of New Zealand every week. This week, on April 25, New Zealand celebrated Anzac Day. It marks the anniversary of the first campaign of WWI that led to major casualties for Australian and New Zealand military forces (the ANZACs, it stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) on April 25, 1915 at Gallipoli.

NZ soldiers. NZ was then a Dominion of Great Britain and with great determination they made a conscious choice to follow Britain and the allies into WWI. From a small country of just 1 million people NZ mustered an army of 100,000 (1/10^th…a pretty big sacrifice for so few). Although the Gallipoli campaign failed and nearly 10,000 Anzacs (NZ lost nearly 3,000 soldiers there) many feel it was the beginning of a new national identity for both Australia and New Zealand.

There is a fierce feeling of patriotism around NZ on Anzac Day. Its not an actual Independence Day. New Zealand doesn't have a specific Independence Day to celebrate – the country's independence from Britain was gained incrementally rather than all at once (though NZ is independent in almost every way, still as the 120 members of Parliament and the Prime Minister are sworn in, they must express their loyalty to Queen Elizabeth II, and she is still the NZ's official head of state).

Many say it was the birth of what is known today as the country New Zealand, when it’s people were inspired to rally together for the cause of liberty no matter the cost. Everybody wears the red poppies of Flander’s Field and “Lest We Forget” is recited and in print everywhere.

This is the Takapuna Anzac Day Service. Every city and village has a parade and/or service commemorating what has become the uniting of their country (Maori, Polynesian, European and all Kiwi’s).

NZ web photos

Auckland War Memorial Museum, site of the ANZAC Day national services. We attended or watched several of the services and parades. It reminded us of all the Fourth of July Celebrations, and freedom parades, and speeches that have inspired at home for decades.

It was sweet to see that same spirit flowing in another spot on earth.

The Takapuna North Shore Band in our local parade service playing a rousing

“It’s a Long Way to Tipperary”.

web photo

The field of crosses at the Auckland War Museum in honor of those who have given their lives for New Zealand and the free world in the great wars.

As we did some traveling this week we also came across a WWI memorial forest. The impact of the ANZAC's and their efforts beginning in WWI are seen in memorials and statues everywhere throughout NZ.

Anzac day reminded us not only the NZ peacemakers efforts but our own dads, a brother and granddads military sacrifice and service in our own country from World Wars to Korea and Vietnam to bring peace. A week of remembering.

Our week with YSA's

On Monday we held a training retreat for our Institute Student Council. No, we did not train them to bowl...we had some great training at the AIB on their roles and on our focus "Come Unto Christ", and THEN we tried our hand at bowling (we should have stuck with the training at AIB, but we had fun!)

A new fruit for us, feijoa. Apple-pineapple-minty tasting.

The great YSA's of the Torbay Ward!

YSA Institute class at Otara Stake. They love the Lord and each other and Pizza.

THOTL

We were reminded this week:

THOTL is not just a physical rescue,

sometimes it’s an answer you’ve sought for a long time, sometimes it’s a bit of light, a feeling or state of peace,

and sometimes it’s strength.

Strangely enough though, sometimes it comes as a result of our pain, weaknesses, suffering, heartache or hurt.

It may be that your beloved brood of chickens falls prey to a predator (so sorry Mary Ann and Eric), or your dog dies, or like our newlywed YSA couple who were so excited to get the news they’d soon be facing parenthood, instead are you now figuring some heartbreaking loss like a miscarriage. The words of the couple are a reminder that there can be silver linings, a gain in our losses if we seek the Lord’s Hand and turn to Him. They said, “it has only made us stronger”, “more grateful...and blessed beyond measure,”. That seems to be what ultimately happened with the Anzacs at Gallipoli.

What looked only like a loss turned out to also be a blessing.

Don’t turn away, but turn TO Him and He has sweeter things ahead.

The Lords hand can heal not only losses, but even the devastation of physical, mental, emotional or spiritual war. He’s been doing that from before the foundations of this world.

The Coromandel

A peninsula of quaint towns, fishing and beaches east of Auckland

Got to drive through the Coromandel (the long way) before we went to the Hamilton Temple

Even when it gets cold (50-60 degrees) and winter begins to come, things are still a lovely green.

Hot water beach looking north

Hot water beach to the south...where there are hot springs below the sand and at low tide everyone brings a shovel and digs their own little hot tub/spa on the beach until the tide comes in and covers it all up. You'll want to get there early to "stake your spa claim".

Hiking (tramping) down to Cathedral Cove. Tree roots above ground and skilled missionary arborist studying them.

The trail down

At low tide you can walk through the cove, at high tide boats go through the cove.

Cathedral Cove

We decided instead of tramping back up we would try a water taxi adventure.

taking the taxi...

Taxi partner

The beautiful scenery throughout the Coromandel area

More Coromandel

Did the temple on both Friday and Saturday. Saturday there were many of our senior couples who attended. The temple is getting very busy as everyone is trying to get more time there before it closes in July.