June 16th, 2008

Dear family and friends: 16 June 2008 Thought that I had better tell you what is in the pictures that I sent you earlier today. The bird ones were kind of fun. The gulls hovered in the air and then darted in to catch bread in midair. Felt like we were feeding the dogs. Fun. The peacocks ate out of our hands and the black birds only have one leg. (Actually one was standing on one leg and we felt sorry for it and all of a sudden all were standing on one leg). Really funny. Tons of interesting birds. Looks like I didn't send one of the Pokeko birds. They eat on the side of the freeway. Pick up their food in one of their feet and eat. The harbour area with boats kind of reminds us of S. California. Really beautiful area as they all are. The Orewa Beach scenes are of wind surfers. They surf in the surf. Looks like tons more fun than water skiing etc. Yesterday, Sunday we had a baptism an hour after church so we got pictures of the wind surfers. The other pictures were from the day before. The Shakespeare Park is fun. In addition to the birds lots of sheep. In a month or so will have lots of little lambs so we will have to go back. After the baptism we were invited to dinner at Hatu's farm. He is from Niue and is the Area Welfare Manager. He and his wife have this farm with about 25 cows, 25 sheep and lots of loose chickens. The ewe's are due to have little lambs in a few weeks. They had killed the fatted calf (no really it was a lamb ) and that is what we had for dinner with all the trimmings. It was wonderful. Elder and Sister Brown went with us as they decided to visit our ward that day. It was way----out in the country. Felt like we drove forever to get there. We left at 9:00 a.m. and got home about 6:30 p.m. but had a full and wonderful day. I lost my roll recipe so made horrible rolls to take. That is why I am looking for my real recipe. Anyone have it please forward it to me soon. I am using my old one for Family Home Evening here. Browns, former mission pres. in Boise and director of Kirktand Visitor's Center are showing a power point on Kirtland. We are providing rolls and they are bringing jam and butter. We are coordinating FHE until the new exec. sec. gets here from Australia. Tomorrow I have the blessing of giving the spiritual thought/talk for devotional for the area office. No pressure at all. Glad when that one is over. Woody gets to conduct. We got another coupon for our favorite restaurant so are going with the Duval's from the mission office (Larimie). Coupon was for 50% off so have to take advantage of that right? Dad washed and dried his hearing aid so we are getting it evaluated. Only spent $150.00 so far on getting it back to ok. We are scheduled to go to Samoa on about the 23rd of July. We go to American Samoa for two days and then eight days or so to western Samoa. We will be there for the roll out of New Family Search. Before that we go to northern north island (90 mile beach and Bay of Islands areas). We will be able to see lots and also train and help in about 4 FHC's up there. We are going on the 7th-12 of July. Dad speaks in our ward on the 13th and we are invited to the bishop's house after for dinner. We ran home during lunch to roll out the rolls and have to leave soon to go cook them to get them back here warm. Baking here is quite an adventure. Flour, yeast is just a little different to say nothing of the measurements and difference bewteen C and F degrees. Then my oven is something else again. We shall see. Talked to Nicole today and sounds like she is doing well. Got to talk to Zoe too. Hope all is great with each of you. Let us know what is happening.

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