April 8th Update

Hi everyone: 8 April 2008(your 7th)

We are back at work after a very good conference weekend. We were able to get conference here in our conference room that is just down the all from our office. It is brought in on a huge screen. We watched it with our mission president, his wife and daughter, 3 different sets of elders, our exec. sec. to the area president, wife and a few other missionarys, and church employees. To see the Sat. and Sun. morning sessions we would have to been here at 4:00 a.m. Since we didn't want to do that we saw Sat. and Sun. afternoon sessions live at 8:00 a.m. on Sun and Mon. mornings and delayed morning sessions at noon ish both days. Dad saw priesthood live at noon on Sunday. We greatly enjoyed them. Looks like the church is in good hands with the new presidency and authorities. We missed Gary Stevenson's name in the list of new 70's. Shannon and Erik and family must be very excited for them. One of Dean and LaNore's (and mine) from Long Beach days sons was also on the list of new 70's. He is James Hamula. His dad was my mother's boss at Penney's and very well thought of. His dad and mom came to our reception when we got married. Small world sometimes.

We are still awaiting word on the consolidation of our area with Australia. Should be announced maybe tomorrow. Alot of the church employees here are really on edge. It means their jobs or not or a possible relocation to Australia. We don't have that problem. Our job security is very good.

Saturday Dad and I explored a new shopping area for us. It is in Albany which is 11km north of us. We discovered some good shopping buys. Got two pair of shoes to wear at the office, a fan (for summer) and a new toaster. We did some light grocery shopping also. I tried to color my hair. What a disaster. I tried to rectify it on Sunday between sessions to no avail. People are tellling me that they like it and that I fit in with the natives. Need I say more. Dad just laughs at me. Problem is I am afraid to do much more to it or it will fall out or some such things. So I am a new me. Did get the name and number of a beautitician that is about a block away so that should help for my next cut.


We were able to go to a new restaurant last night with our FHE group. It was so good. Finally found wonderful food. However, it was expensive at $35.00 each. That seems to be the going rate for good food here. We did have lunch at the mall for $10.00 for both of us that was very good.

We have had a little rain and clouds lately. Gray skies. Reminds us of Seattle. Still very moist etc. We did spray down the house Saturday morning before we left for the day. The mission office gave us some spray that is supposed to work for mosquitos, mites, cockroaches, etc for 4 to 6 months. However, since finding the cockroach haven't seen a sign of anymore. Maybe he was just a free spirit. I got good locking containers to put most of our food in anyway. Our refrigerator is about 12 square feet. So doen't hold very much. The dryer is little and the washer little too. Let's face it everything here is mini size. Chip packages, bottles of jam, everything is little.

I said earlier that I found out why the two previous couples thought that hanging clothes out on the line was such joy. It was because the dryer didn't dry anything over three pieces of cloth. Dad found out the problem. Whoever had installed it had put the door on wrong. That and the fact that it had been run into by the car made it so it leaked air. Now it seems to do the job. (We will see what the elecricity bill is.) I might still be using the lines.

Our boss is away this week on a vacation just with his wife. He rented a cottage down the coast and called and said it is delightful. Maybe we will do the same later in the year.

Our doctor missionary couple are in the islands for a week or so. The public affairs couple just got back today. They were on the Tonga feature the church did between sessions. They were incharge of the cultural festivities etc. for the reopening. Our offices have been kind of quiet this week. As we work with the islands that is the case most of the time. The translation department is next door to us, welfare down the hall, membership too and then the area presidency offices.


Haven't seen Chuck and Alta Lloyd yet. Talked to Barnes and they said they are still here in the islands. He was here on a mission, then taught at the church college, returned as Mission president, than Pres. of the MTC. He has a lot of people to see. He and Barnes and Larsons were all good friends from Long Beach days and still are. All three have been mission presidents etc and keep in close touch. Our secretary Suzi Malota was in his mission as a missionary is anxious to see them. Hope they stop in. Understand that their office was here on our floor when they lived here. If he stayed in the mission home that they have now it is really beautiful. Overlooks Lake Polota where all the black swans are. The lake is right by us too.

Today we are getting the monthy reports in from the islands Tonga and Samoa both had computer problems so had to call in their reports. The only way we can be sure we are talking about the same location is if they give us their ID#s. We are still adjusting to the languages here. Everyone has an accent. We hear English,Scottish, Kiwi, Tongan, Samoan, Tatitian etc. Can't say I can tell you which is which yet. I am getting so I can understand better at the first try.

We received 8 computers and 8 monitors that are stacked in our office and our bosses (while he is away) for Woody to format and get ready to ship to Tonga and Samoa. When they breakdown it is cheaper and faster to have a new one in storage to replace them with so that the center can keep going than wait for a repair or replacement. With the heat and the humidity the inners often swell which causes problems. The smaller components are better to be replaced new rather than send them to be repaired as shipping is so expensive.

We are having to help the island people get onto the New Family Search too. Seems that they have to register as consultants and then after 72 hours can register for nFS. It doen't alway work right and they are calling for help. We are also supposed to be very proficient in nFS so need to get on it soon. The couple that are incharge of all service missionaries in NZ and confidential discipline for the area are down the hall and asking for help with their English and Scottish genealogy. We do have a computer in our office that is an official "FHC computer which makes us an official office. Area Presidency wifes come in occasionally to work on their families here and for help.


Well, guess I had better get back to work. Keep up the updates. We like to hear from you all regularly. Sounds like life is good and full for you all. Megan got her Notory today. Congrats. Suzanne and Bryan are having their interview and house inspection for adoption tomorrow. Lots going on aye???

Love to you all. Miss you all. Be good!! Sell the Van!!!!