I’ve been sitting at our desk this evening for an hour or so trying to
wrap my head around how to write this blog. It’s been since May that I wrote. One
day melts into another. So that an attempt to share what has been going on blends with what
is going on—to the point that my memory does well just to recall what
happened an hour ago. Throughout each day we live through experiences that have
the effect of building testimony of the restored gospel, coming to know the
Savior, learning how to more effectively commune with, and receive from, the
Spirit. “Office stuff” is hard to blog about. The Lord certainly is in the
details of the operation of the mission. Yet the lessons we learn are subtle,
ineffable. And the ineffable is difficult to record.
But I’ll make an attempt.
"The What?": May 29
This the intersection just outside the mission office.
The streets
that intersect are The Terrace and Ghuznee Streets. When referring to the
street we live on, one has to get comfortable saying “the The Terrace.” If
someone asks us our address, we say we live on 324A The Terrace.” If they ask
us to clarify the street name, we say, “Oh, its the The Terrace.” Ever since
moving to the mission office, I feel like there’s a scratch in my record. I
can’t get used to the double “the” that makes up “the The Terrace.” It just
doesn’t seem quite right.
One P-Day in a Million: June 3
Behind the mission office is a “spacious” parking lot. One Saturday
early June we decided to wash our car. It hadn’t been washed since we picked it
up new—that was the 1st of March.
It was surprising to me that it
stayed so clean. Maybe it was surprising to others that JannaLee and I couldn’t
see how dirty it really was. Either way, we decided to wash it—all by hand,
rags and a bucket. It’s been since June 3 that we’ve washed it again. It looks
surprisingly clean!
After washing our car we settled into the work of relearning how to
play pool.
It was fun to get behind a pool cue again—even though the table was
a bit slant, and the cushions a tad unresponsive due to old age. I can relate.
Time Out to Visit: June 5
Although working in the office has its demanding times, we take time
out for important things like birthday greetings to parents.
We also have
enjoyed seeing those who have completed their mission return to visit us. When
asked why they’ve come down to Wellington, their answer is, “To take a day
trip.”
From Wellington to Auckland takes a bout a day to drive. Young Single
Adults don’t calculate days like the rest of the world.
On Call 24-7: June 8
Perhaps the responsibility that requires JannaLee to be on-call 24-7
is her medical assignment.
Elders and Sisters are continually calling in with
concerns about their health: how they’re feeling, what hurts, how best to cope
with the pain of an injury occurring on P-Day, or the troublesome condition of
a pre-existing problem. One missionary had $5000.00 worth of dental bills
racked up for root canals and major reconstructive surgeries. He couldn’t have
ever paid for this in his native country. As it is, the Church will cover the
cost. What a blessing!
Elder Hales is the Area Medical Advisor.
He and his wife had lunch
with the Hjortens and us. Then the Hales came to our flat where JannaLee talked
shop and then taught Sister Hales how to weave flax into flowers.
Born to Die: June 15
Every six weeks the mission changes. New missionaries “are born.”
(These are born during what we call “Intakes.”) Old missionaries “die.” (These
die during “Outtakes.”) This is an exciting time. The new missionaries are born
with innocent, naive enthusiasm.
Most of them come with a zeal toward the work
they’ve been singing about from the first time they learned, “I Hope They Call
Me on a Mission.”
Those who are dying
walk around the mission office unsure of what to feel. Their testimonies of
Christ and His gospel are strong.
Their understanding of what lies ahead of
them is weak. They’ve learned how to communicate with people during their
missions. Yet when invited to share what they are feeling as they prepare to
leave their mission, they have relatively little to say. The new missionaries
are born into the mission eager to learn what missionary life is all about. The
old missionaries are leaving their mission apprehensive about what the rest of
their life will bring. Being born to die, then then dying to live again. It's a confusing, wonderful time in the mission: a time that captures in a micro-moment the divine destiny each missionary was foreordained to live.
A Time to Walk: June 18
After Intake and Outtake, JannaLee and I made time to walk
around the Wellington Bay.
Even though it was coming on Winter, the unfiltered New
Zealand sun heated this Saturday up quite comfortably—making the season seem
more like Spring than late Fall.
Dining A-Top Wellington: June 21
President and Sister Hudson were coming to the close of their mission.
In gratitude for the sacrifice and service rendered by the Senior Couples, they
took us to a ritzy, all-you-could-eat-buffet atop one of the tallest buildings
in Wellington.
It was nice to socialize together sharing stories about the
commitment of the young missionaries along with faith-promoting stories of our
own. So many were blessed by the selfless service and sacrifice of President and Sister Hudson. God bless them for all they did for us all.
A Butterfly Birthday: June 23
A friend of June’s had a birthday while we were visiting the NZ Wards
for June’s 8th Birthday. He chose to spend his birthday party at the
Otago Museum. This is a great museum providing a Discovery Center for the youth
and young-at-heart.
Watson loved his time there. So did June, Olive, and Fern.
The butterfly room is especially enjoyable. There you can walk around in the
warmth and humidity of the enclosure (let me reiterate that it is warm in
there, which is wonderful).
Butterflies flit about, landing on your head, your
shoulder—even on your face. If you’re not squeamish about creatures landing on
you, it’s quite a treat to be up close and personal with these fairy-like
creatures.
A Celebration in June for June--Never to be Forgotten: June 24
Big day for June and the family. June was beautiful.
Her baptism
service was inspiring. More than a hundred members and friends turned out to
support her and the NZ Wards.
We were so happy to be able to attend the
open-house preceding the service, and mingle with so many afterward. June is
well loved. Her day in the sun revealed that.
June’s baptism service was followed by a family dinner at Nandos.
After eating lemon chicken we bundled up to watch the Mid-Winter’s Festival.
It’s the lanterns that light up the night that make this festival magical.
The
year before, we walked down the streets and around the Octagon with June, and
Olive, and Fern.
This year we chose to be spectators. It was cold, for sure.
But the parade was well-worth the chill.
A Week with Olive: June 26
Although we visited Dunedin by ourselves, we drove back to Wellington
with Olive.
Olive stayed with us for a week.
Her enthusiasm for such things as
the Te Papa Museum and our elliptical, and staying in hotel rooms, along with
taking the ferry across the Cook Straight was contagious.
She had a good time at
the Weta Cave, the War Museum, attending church, playing Ping-Pong, and more Ping-Pong, then joining the youth her age
up for a fireside Sunday night.
(Did I mention that Olive loved to play Ping-Pong?)
While she was here, Olive got JannaLee and me
hooked on Dr. Who. We watched four episodes, if I remember right. Dr. Who and
sugared popcorn. What’s not to like?
All in all, she enjoyed the week
immensely—as did we.
End: Part One
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