Earlier in November (I’m reaching back now) JannaLee and I headed off
to Christchurch.
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| Beach by Warrington |
We had recently been called to serve in the Dunedin Stake as
Seminary and Institute Supervisors. Our South Island Coordinators serve in
Christchurch, Elder and Sister Johnson. So we thought is would be good to meet
with them to learn what our new calling entailed.
We took the scenic route past Warrington, then onto Oamaru to stay with the Osburns. As always, we enjoyed our time, eating, talking, snacking, talking. (Did I mention talking?).
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| JannaLee with Osburns at the Oamaru Botanical Gardens |
On to Christchurch
The next day we drove to Christchurch. The ocean looking out from
Timaru is different than it looks from Dunedin. Timaru’s beach is gorgeous.
It’s a greenish ocean against white sand. We also crossed some rivers on our
way to Christchurch. They are spectacular! Blues, greens, dark greys—all in the
same river. And crystal clear! You can see the rock bed blurred beneath the
water. (JannaLee was taking the photos while I drove. She was too busy admiring the scenery to take some pictures. My description will have to suffice.)
The Parkers
Not
a half-hour after settling into our room on the sixth floor at the Rondezvous Hotel,
we met Elder and Sister Parker.
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| Christchurch Under Construction |
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| From our Hotel Window |
We had made arrangements to have lunch with
them and to do a bit of sight-seeing while we were in Christchurch. So after we
arrived we were picked up in the lobby by Sister Parker and ushered across the
street to Elder Parker waiting in the car.
Sister Parker hugged me, and kissed
my cheek. (A bit startling.)
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| JannaLee with Sister and Elder Parker |
We went to the Strawberry Fare. My Salmon was
delectable. The trio tasting plate spectacular: Orange Cheesecake, Crèm-brulee, Chocolate Cake.
Seniors Supporting One Another
One thing JannaLee and I are learning is that our calling is not only
to support the membership of wards and branches in the stake, but it’s also to
lift and encourage the missionaries. This goes for Sr. Couples as well. While eating
with the Parkers, we talked about their experience first coming on the mission:
How they were disappointed that the bishop didn’t know what to do with them;
how the ward didn't seem that happy to have them serve in their area. On the other hand, how the Tongans esteemed them
highly at the head table of a festival; how they’ve helped a couple prepare for
the temple by helping the man become worthy to hold the Melchizedek Priesthood.
They spoke of a variety of experiences—as did we. Periodically they would
interject how good it was for them to socialize with us: to share our
challenges and our triumphs together. It truly was that.
Sister Parker said when President Hudson first interviewed them, he
said that the Junior Missionaries are serving, not so much for the convert
baptisms they may be instrumental in getting, but for the leadership skills
they will develop through their obedience. The Senior Missionaries serve
missions for a different purpose. They come on missions to prepare to meet God!
Sisters Parker laughed while telling us this. And then she became a
bit more introspective, then said in her British accent, “I suppose he’s right.”
The Johnsons
The next day we met with the Johnsons and talked about all things
Seminary and Institute.
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| Christchurch Institute Building |
We ate lunch and discussed the pros and cons of Trump becoming President. Our conversation become more focused as we examined the challenges we face here in New Zealand as Wasatch
Front saints endeavouring to teach Islanders, Maoris, and Kiwis the government,
order, and doctrine of the Church.
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| Sisters Johnson and Ward in a Paua Shell House in Christchurch Museum |
By the way, my Crusted Sole was delicious.
So too my warm, Triple Chocolate Brownie with Vanilla Bean Ice-cream. I can’t
remember what JannaLee ate.
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| Elders Johnson & Ward at Christchurch Restaurant |
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| Meeting Up with the Christchurch Missionaries in the Park |
Off to Hokitika
With our inservice behind us, we left to go west across the island to
Hokitika.
On
our way we came upon a large out-cropping of boulders to the left of the road. It
looked to be a small version of Elephant Rocks.
We stopped and enjoyed climbing the rocks and watching a
couple of climbers repel down the face of one of the larger boulders.
From here
we made our way up Arthur’s Pass,
We stopped at a lookout,
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| Arthur's Pass |
and watched intently as
a parrot-like bird, (a Kea), watched us.
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| A Stoic Figure |
It was in no way skittish around us. In
fact it looked like it was just waiting for us to leave so it could begin
munching on our car.
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| Looking' to Munch Some Rubber |
These Keas destroy cars. They eat the rubber seals around
the windows and devour windshield wipers. Not only that, they are quite brash
in their manners when it comes to sharing space with humans. They have this
attitude that screams, “Bring it! Let’s see what you can do!” And take a look at that beak!
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| Kea |
Hokitika
We drove into Hokitika in a deluge—“giving way” through the many
narrow bridges that lay between Arthur’s Pass and there. Umbrella in hand, we
walked around the small tourist town. It wasn’t as quaint as the YouTube
advertisements touted it to be. Looking for green stone, we talked to a woman
who worked in a jewelry shop aptly named "The Jade Shop." She was charming. She was in her
mid 30s, I think. She had traveled the world over, then decided to settle down
and raise her family in Hokitika. She has a husband and two children. She calls
her kids “my babies.” She wasn’t interested in the Church when we asked her if she
had interest in learning more about Jesus Christ. But she listened politely as to
why we’re nick-named “Mormons.” We gave her name to Elder Ramirez and his companion serving in the area. God
bless her to pay attention to their message.
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| Hokitika Town Clock |
The next morning we took time to walk out to the beach just behind our hotel.
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| Beach Entrance to the Left of Our Hotel |
It wasn’t raining, so we spent time gazing at the waves, picking up
treasures, and, yes, taking the Elders to breakfast: Bacon-Buddies...Yum!
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| Gathering Mementos |
Racing to Wanaka
We drove out of Hokitika onto Wanaka. The scenery was beautiful. The
road was just plain fun to drive. I felt like I gained a friendship with our
Corolla. I learned what it would do in D-3: How much to give it the gas; how
much to let it drift around corners. The roads were never straight.
They were
always up and down, and around and around, then up and down again. Sometimes they
seemed in and out. Inclines were gradual at times; steep at others.
For the first couple of hours I cruised an average of 85-90 kph. I
thought we had about three hours to drive from Hokitika to Wanaka, so I was
taking my time, enjoying sights such as Franz Joseph’s Glacier,
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| Franz Joseph Glacier |
Fox Glacier,
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| Fox Glacier |
Jetty
Bay Picnic Area by Lake Mapourika
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| Lake Mapourika |
Billy’s Bay,
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| Billy's Bay |
and Knight’s Lookout.
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| Knight's Lookout (Toward the Right) |
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| Knight's Lookout (Toward the Left) |
Come to find out, it was going to take us 5
½ hours. It ended up taking us 7 hours. At about the 4 hour-mark, JannaLee
looked at me and said, “You do realize that we’ve got another 3 hours before we
get to Wanaka?” It was around 4 pm when she put this to me. I was stunned. I
had thought we were going to cruise into Wanaka in an hour or so.
From
then on I pushed it. Rather than going an average of 85 kph, I pushed the pedal
to the point of averaging 110 kph or so. We were in race mode, and I was having
a great time. JannaLee commented on occasion that because we hadn’t gone 100
all that day, it felt like we were traveling rather fast. I understood how she
felt. Little did she know that what she thought was 100 kph was really 120 kph.
I had been pushing the Corolla to go that fast many times in our effort to get to
Wanaka. I didn’t want to drive through the mountains in the dark.
Wanaka Lake
We made it. Going around a corner a wonderful vista opened to
our view: A lake that was “massive,” as the Kiwis say.
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| Lake Wanaka |
It seemed like an ocean,
but we could see the hills that bordered its sides. Lake Wanaka. Just across
the way and over a hill was Lake Hawae. We drove past Hawae and back around to
Wanaka. It was like heaven was smiling upon us for making such good time.
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| Heaven's Blessing |
We
pulled into Wanaka. It was Fair Day: A day for displaying one's animals and
wares all around the Southern part of the South Island. It was busy,
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| Lake Wanaka from Town Side |
but
we found a place to eat: The Trout Restaurant. Great food--I mean, "great as."
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| Crossing to Get to "The Trout" |
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| One of the Most Tasty Meals We've Eaten--Ever! |
We crashed at a quaint little Bed & Breakfast for a comfortable night: Lake Wanaka Lodge.
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| Lake Wanaka Lodge |
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| View from Lake Wanaka Lodge |
Sunday at Alexandra Twig
The next day was Sunday. We got up and drove 45 minutes to Alexandra
to meet the Christensens. We had arranged to join them for church. Elder
Christensen serves as the Queenstown Branch President. Alexandra is a “twig” of
that Branch. (That’s what they really call it.). The reason became clear. We
made it into Alexandra in good time—enough to find our way to the church
building, which sits behind a liquor store on the corner.
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| Alexandra Branch Building |
The only two people
to meet us were Elders Hira and Marrett. After chatting with them for a bit, we
greeted the Christensens. Then Hohepa Kakukura and his wife stepped through the
doors. In due time we met Pauline Miller and Sister Stephen. We were the only
people who attended church that morning. Aside from a few less-actives, these
are the only members of the Alexandra Twig.
As I participated in our meetings, I felt the distinct witness of the
Spirit that I was sitting among pioneers. These were those whom others in the
future would remember with gratitude for forging the way to become life-members
of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in their area.
But though I
was impressed with this truth, these members were not thinking about this. They
were thinking about the hymns, feeling satisfied with the prayers and the talks. They were happy to be able to attend Christ's true Church, to partake of the sacrament to try again to live true God and their Saviour through honouring their baptismal and
temple covenants.
Back Home
The
drive from Alexandra to Dunedin was pretty, though not as pretty as many of the places we saw along the coast. It's more arid coming across the island. Yet we were met with hills and vales; turns and
twists; ups and downs.
We passed through a town on the way to Dunedin that looked like we had hit a glitch in the matrix. It was almost familiar--but not quite.
I quipped to JannaLee that if we were to stay in Roxburgh, we might feel that we were almost home.
But even though we're 7000 miles away from the place we've called "home," driving onto the motorway through Mosgiel, and seeing the familiar sight of Dunedin in the distance, both of us felt something stir within us. It felt like we were coming home.
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| Dunedin, NZ |
Our love to all of yous,
Elder & Sister Ward
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