July 19th, 2008

Dear Family and Friends: Thought I had better send this update before things really get wild around here. We attended a fireside with Langfords down south of Auckland. It was huge and we were about the only white faces there. It was very interesting with a musical group from the states singing and bearing their testimonies. 7 brothers that were born here. So crowded--firecode broken I'm sure!) Sunday, Dad spoke in church and did a good job of covering 'Fathers" and their responsibilities. He didn't embarrase us too much. Better than normal. We have been up north in the 'Northlands" all week. We left Monday morning and traveled to Matakohe to see the Kauri Museum. It was interesting but slightly out of our way. Pictues to follow. These Kauri trees are huge and very old. Claim to be 46,000 years covered and still usable. Some of the trunks are about 28' in diameter or so. Anyway huge. Saw the gum diggers etc and lots of vintage stuff. We arrived in Paihia (Bay of Islands) just at dusk and stayed at the same hotel we have previously stayed at. Beautiful views from the dining room for the one dinner and 3 breakfasts we had there. Tuesday the 15th we traveled to Whangarei (pronounced Fongaray) and trained about 9 sisters in the details of New Family Search. They were a great group. The director is waiting for her green card to emmigrate and live close to her daughter in Lehi. The mayor's wife was helpful in trying to get us accomodations in Samoa but it was the wrong Samoa. Seems that there is a huge art's festival in American Samoa and the travel agency didn't let us know that. They got us plane reservations but no accomodations or car. We almost had to plan on sleeping on the beach. (However, long story short--the mission office got us a place to stay at the mission home with the missionary couple a Brother and Sister Barnes and a car!) They fed us a lunch etc. We worked on their equipment and gave them a new printer and hookup. We were there for 7 hours. Long session but they were enthusiastic. We traveled back to Paihia for dinner and wandering around the downtown tourist area. Wednesday the 16th we traveled to Kaikohe (pronounced Kaicohe) and worked with about 9 sisters. They fed us again and we were there for about 5 hours. As we got out early we hurried back to Paihai and changed and went to the Treaty Grounds at Waitangi. This is where all the chiefs came to sign a treaty with the English. Beautiful place on the point. We got to see the grounds, house, etc. (Another beautiful golf course--pictures to follow). We had dinner at the Thai Garden Cafe and I had the best soup I have ever had. It was soooo good. Thursday the 17th we traveled way east and north to Kaitaia (Kitia--long i's) and worked with about 5 people. The director is Grey Jamison and come to find out he grew up at Mahurangi Regional Park (pictures from before. Seems that one of the bays is called Jamison Bay and there is a Jamison road where the family holdings are. He had the 2nd largest cosmetic company in NZ and is retired and helping a daughter in the north but will return to live at the family estate. We thought it was one of the most beautiful places that we had seen. He and his wife Ngaire took us out to dinner at the famous Mangonui Fish House on the pier in Mangonui which is next to the cove where we stayed for the night at Cooper's Beach. This is all on Doubtful Bay where captain Cook explored in the early days. Very beautiful but very wet and gray while we were there. Our room overlooked the beach and we heard the surf all night. More pictures. Friday the 18th we drove back down to Maramaku (dirt roads) for a meeting with consultants and director at 11:00-3:30. The director is Merilene Horsford--head peds nurse in Whangarei. She had had no sleep for 3 days so we tried to hurry so that she could go to bed. This is the chapel out in the middle of a cow pasture with a little graveyard beside it. You go over cattle guards to get onto the church lot and then the church is beautiful with lush blue carpets in all the classrooms even. This is the home of the famous Going brothers (rugby) They were a delightful group and very knowledgeable about nFS. They wanted to know when we could come back. We are just filling in for the couple that has been released and helping Lelo's out with NZ areas that they can't cover. We will go to Invercargill probable in Sept. or October. We drove to Whangarei and went to the Quay area and looked and took more pictures. Had ice cream cones for dinner. (Ice cream here is really rich and sooo good). Then on to home in a driving rain storm that was very scary. We did get behind a huge bus so just followed him for miles and miles. Figured that if he fell down a gully we could stop in time and not follow suit. The roads up north are VERY windy (sp) but very lush landing if you fall off. In the dark with the torrents of rain here it would not be fun. I was very grateful to finally get back to our 'flat' at about 7p.m. We found out today that our young neighbors did sell their flat while we were gone and are moving immediately. A Russian family bought it and are leaving their 20 year old daughter here while they return to Russia to finish their move. The flat was listed for $559,000 for a two bedroom. It probably is a little larger than ours and has been updated with new kitchen cabinets and central heat. We will be sorry so see Jason and Ann leave. They had loaned us two heaters so we will have to buy new ones today to replace them. We are at the office checking on our email and travel arrangements for Samoa. I headed off to the restroom with my 'fob' (it was for the copier not the door!) out of the desk drawer. Couldn't get back into the main area and knocked and knocked for Woody to hear me and of course he ignored the sounds. Finally another employee showed up from downstairs and let me back in. (It's Saturday) I teach my first lesson to our class on Marriage and Family Relations tomorrow up in the Hibicus Ward. That way when we are gone the class can just go to the regular gospel doctrine class. We will be away for the next 2-3 weeks. We are invited to dinner at the 'ranger's house at Wenderholm Regional Park. They are in our ward and very nice. He is the ranger that we ran into at the other regional park a few weeks ago. Monday the Lelo's (he reminds us of Bill Cosby) are meeting us for dinner at Wildfire so we can exchange projectors before our trip to Samoa next week. We will leave on Wed. --get there on Tuesday--stay overnight in Samoa and fly out the next day for American Samoa. Stay there til the 25th and then fly to Samoa where we have a car and housing at the 'church compound' for the duration of our stay. We will be working at the FHC closest to the Temple before, during and after the roll out of New Family Search on the 29th of July. We stay longer to do training and fly out on the 3rd for Auckland which gets here the day after on Monday the 4th so we lose Sunday. The next day we get a devotional with the new Area Presidency which should be interesting. I think that they will all be here by then. We are getting lots of new people with the consolidation with Australia so things could change. We already will probable not be going to Tonga in August. Michael is thinking of sending Brother Howard (from Wellington) there again as he just got back and knows where to go etc because the area director is going to be away during that time. So he is planning on sending us early to Vanuatu, Kiribati, Niue, early. We will talk with him Monday on that. The gospel is true, we love the work and the people we meet and feel so blessed to be seeing as much of New Zealand as we are. This is really a unique experience that few missionaries get. We feel your love and support and prayers in our behalf. Keep them up. Things are going great. Keep us informed as to what is going on at home. We love to keep in touch with each of you. Pictures to follow===probably Monday if I get a minute.

Love, Andrea and Woody, Mom and Dad, Grandma and Grandpa.