A beautiful day in the South Pacific!

Lisa and I along with the Crossleys sponsored our Senior missionary activity this month. All of the Seniors met at the Kauri Museum in Matakohe, where we ate lunch and then toured the museum. 

The Kauri Museum recounts the history and the legacy of the ancient kauri forests, and the industries associated with the trees. In addition to preserving the past, the Museum plays a role in conserving the remaining trees, collaborating to “Save the Forests” by raising awareness of the spread of the Kauri Dieback disease, and promoting forest ecology.
Visitors to The Kauri Museum will experience
• Interactive, hands-on displays and life-like models
• The world’s largest kauri slab – measuring 22.5 metres in length
• Fossilised and swamp kauri, tens of thousands of years old
• A rare collection of polished kauri gum
• A working sawmill
• A gift store showcasing kauri timber, kauri gum and the crafts of the Kaipara region.

Our Community Choir advertisement for our upcoming Christmas program.  The music we are singing was  written by New Zealanders, and was inspired by the beautiful land.

We found a restaurant in Albany that got Lisa excited when she saw the sign.  The menu wasn't exactly authentic Mexican, but it was the closest thing we've found so far.

We helped Brother and Sister Gilligan move from Ruawai to Dargaville. In return we were given a Snapper from Brother Gilligan, which was the smallest of 7 that his son had caught!

It was sad to hear that Elder Tenney was being transferred. He will be going down south to a Samoan Ward to teach in the Samoan language which he has learned. He was a "Gentle Giant" and a very humble and obedient missionary. He will be missed here in Wellsford!

Elder Hill from Pocatello Idaho is Elder Hunter's new companion in Wellsford.

We went to Kerikeri to the farmers market and to Rainbow Falls, and then the Kemp House.

Located next door to Kemp House, the Stone Store is NZ's oldest stone building. It was designed by Wesleyan missionary John Hobbs, and built by Australian convict William Parrott.

The Stone Store was constructed to hold mission supplies and wheat from the mission farm at Te Waimate, but the building was mainly leased as a kauri gum trading store. Today, you can shop for authentic frontier trade goods & classically branded Kiwiana products. 

The Kiwi's carry everything imaginable on their cars.

We picked up a couple of used bikes in Wellsford this week.

We had Gloria over for dinner and celebrated her birthday.  We received a call from the Elders in Ruakaka that they were locked out of their flat. So...we had to cut our celebration short.  Lisa made a Hershey Cocoa birthday cake and sent some home with Gloria. We then drove an hour north to let the Elders in their flat and give them some cake, on the way home we stopped by the Wellsford Elder's flat and dropped off the remainder of the cake with them!

Lisa has started doing hand massages and visits at a local rest home. While she was there I had to run up to Whangarei to unlock the Sister's flat for them!  (I think these missionaries need to have more than just one key for their flats!) Next week I will be going to the rest home to do visits and work on the puzzles with the residents!

The Elders and I taught a discussion at the Fletcher home.

Lisa and I  visited the Wolfgrams and Ricky Marsh, a man we occasionally see at the pool.

We had the Elders over for dinner before transfers, and then again after transfers .

Ed organized and put together over 100 boxes in preparation for the Food Bank Christmas meal donations.

More sewing, knitting, "Loaves and Fishes", weed pulling, ministering, etc....

We  attended a wedding reception for Brendon Richards and his bride in Silverdale

Lisa and I did the cliff walk at Mangawhai Heads...but due to the high tide we had to do an "out and back" rather than a loop.

We met Will at the community garden. He is from  Palm Springs California, and  has been in New Zealand for over 30 years

Lisa and the Primary put on a wonderful Primary Sacrament meeting program. It was great to hear the sweet testimonies of the children of what they have learned in Primary and from studying "Come Follow Me" at home.

The Sunday school teacher was not at church, so I was asked spur of the moment to lead the discussion.

We also attended a Stake Primary Devotional in Whangarei and encountered the worst storm we have ever seen on the way home. It was wind, lightning and thunder and literally sheets of rain coming down for over and hour.

We love our Savior and the opportunity we have of being in New Zealand serving the Lord!