Embark in the Service of God…….

That is the theme for the Church schools for the year and that was the theme of our principal’s conference in New Zealand. We were off to New Zealand late Sunday night and we arrived there 4 hours later, but there were about 6 others flights arriving and the same time so going through emigration and customs was brutal. We stood in line a long time. Then there was a long shuttle ride to the hotel and we got in bed a little after 4 o’clock in the morning. We got up and had breakfast with the Stonehockers, checked out a van, and went shopping at the Albany Mall. There were many other stores in the area too.

 That night we went out with the senior couple that had arrived, the Alands, the Spencers, and Bruce. We took the long way home along Takapuna Beach.
 

The next morning it was over to the Area office for the conference. It was a good one. President Pearson and Neilson spoke to us during the week, plus all the other presentations. The third picture is on the right side of the tables with Samoa, Tonga, and Figi principals, they all were bare footed. The first thing pacific islanders do when they sit down is remove their shoes (usually flip flops). 

 Elder Spencer presented their new program and reviewed some of the old ones that are still in place. There were lots of activities emphasizing things like, “defending the truth” and “sharing knowledge”.  

Our big activity was on Thursday afternoon when we boarded a bus and went to downtown Auckland and “Embarked” on an adventure. The bus was driven by a Tongan Bishop in the area that volunteered his time for free.

 Then it was off to the Maritime Museum. The boat coming into the pier was the one that we toured the bay in later in the afternoon.  

Here is the crew of a Hawaiian boat that is sailing the Pacific following a replica of the old Hawaiian ship zig-zaging across the pacific for education purposes. Here are pictures of their cabin, bathroom, sleep quarters, and how the steer the ship.

 The first picture is Bruce, director of Church schools in the pacific, (I thought he looked like a pirate, but the New Zealand sun is brutal so he covered up). Here is some of the crew that gave us the ride, and two hardy sailors.

 

We saw interesting boats, islands, and views and we went under the Auckland Bridge.

 As we went under the bridge we saw this interesting sign. On most good days they are bungy jumping from a platform under the bridge.

 

We also saw reportedly the largest and most expensive yacht in the world, owned by a Russian millionaire how sells Vodka.

 We then went to the Maritime Museum and saw many interesting things. Gramma had the camera a got a little carried away.

 

At the end of our afternoon we met together to share and reflect on our museum visit and our theme “Embark in the serve of God”. It was a good way to end that activity.

 Then we headed downtown Auckland to eat and shop. I ate a wonderful Argentine meal, Gramma shopped. 

 

Then we caught the ferry across the bay, (the traffic is terrible in Auckland late afternoon and evening) and then a bus to the Hotel.

 The next morning we had meetings till noon and then caught the shuttle to the airport. We arrived in Samoa about 8:30 at night and got home close to ten. We were exhausted, but it was good to see and visit with the other ITEP couples in the south pacific. They are all working so hard to help the teachers and principals. We can see that they truly are a blessing to these schools and we hope we are too with our assignment here in Samoa. Our next visit to New Zealand will be on our return home, when we will return and report to the Area supervisors and the coordinating couple. We are growing to love and appreciate the Samoan people and we hope we are a positive influence as missionaries. We miss you all and pray that the Lord will bless each of you. The Gospel is true, the work is going forward. In some cases it is going forward with “older”, “tired”, people. Tofa Soifua Grampa and Gramma Hammond