A Mission Christmas

 

The Reason for the Season 

 

The statue of the Christus can be found at the New Zealand Temple Visitors Center. We were able to attend two different sessions at the temple with 2 ITEP senior missionary couples, Elder and Sister Johnson, who were in Auckland training for their assignment in Tonga with the five middle schools, and Elder and Sister Thorne, who had just completed their mission to Kiribati working with the teachers at Moroni High School. 

Elder and Sister Thorne
at the Temple of
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
in Hamilton, New Zealand

 

 Elder and Sister Fellowes arrive from Australia for training as ITEP missionaries working with TVET teachers (Technical and Vocational Education and Traning) at Liahona High School in Tonga

 

 

 

 

Elder and Sister Johnson arrving from Salt Lake. As ITEP Coordinators, one of our main responsibilities is to work with these missionary couples who have been called as ITEP missionaries to work in the schools with the teachers. When they arrive in Auckland for training it is our first opportunity to meet and get to know them. They are great educators and missionaries!

We are standing in front of Lake Rotorua, in the central part of the North Island. There are many more pictures of our visit below, but first a brief review of the other events that were a part of our first Christmas season as missionaries.

 Employees of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the Pacific Area Office donned their "Mormon Helping Hands" shirts early in December and spent an afternoon involved in 2 service projects in Auckland. Some of us assembled hygiene kits (1,000 kits) and some of the employees did a clean-up of Takapuna. These volunteers were loading the car of one of the organizations receiving the hygiene kits. After the service project concluded there were some yummy refreshments waiting for us with a centerpiece of the Christ child in the manger.

 

 

President Hamula (center) is the Area President of the Pacific and is the person immediately responsible for all church activities in all countries in the South Pacific. As a General Authority he frequently is traveling to ensure the safety and well-being of all church members in the Pacific Area. We have enjoyed the opportunity to hear him speak and teach us. It was especially uplifting to hear him speak of the Savior in a devotional the week before Christmas. We are pictured here with Elder and Sister Thorne who were in Auckland on their way home to the Utah at the completion of their mission.

 

President Watson is a first counselor in the Pacific Area Presidency and has much the same schedule as President Hamula. A very busy man who still makes time to drop by and say "hello" and "thanks" to those of us working in the Pacific Area Office. He just returned from a trip to Samoa to witness the devastation from Cyclone Evan and provide encouragement and support to the members there.

Elder Anderson, the medical doctor for the Pacific Area and a senior missionary, welcomes Elder Thorne to his table at the Christmas luncheon.

Elder Jacobsen and I have the great opportunity to work with Bruce Yerman (left), Director of Church Schools,

and Jarod Hester (second from left), Asst. Director of Administrative Services.

 

Two views from the Skye Tower in Auckland.

We had lunch at the restaurant there with the Thornes.

 Elder Jacobsen enjoying the luncheon buffet at the Skye Tower.

 

 

 

A view of the Christus from outside the Visitor's Center. You can see the Temple in the reflection and also our reflection.

 

Elder Thorne wasn't too sure he was going to be able to finish the "whole thing". But, after 18 months with no hamburgers on Kiribati, he was game to try!



 

 

Before catching their flight home to Utah we had a little time to take the Thornes to the western side of New Zealand to see the black sand beaches of the Tasman Sea.

 

 

The Saturday before Christmas we packed a little travel bag and headed 3 hours south to Rotorua, a city located in the central part of the North Island of New Zealand. It is a geothermal area and has hot pots and mud pots galore (think Yellowstone Park). We could even see steam coming out of the vents on the side of the streets. There was a strong sulphur smell in the city but it was a beautiful, fun place to visit. There are countless places to hike, explore, and find outdoor wonders. We first visited Wai-O-Tapu to see some of the thermal wonders. There really isn't a national park system here, so while some hikes and sights are free, some are privatized and an entry fee is charged.

 

Notice the warning is in degrees Centigrade.I get the picture though....it is HOT!

The following pictures are from our walk around Wai-O-Tapu.

 

 

Looking out on Lake Rotorua from our motel.

 

 

The Kaituna River with it's class 5 rapids has a walking track that winds around it. We didn't see anyone shoot this rapid but the brochures show pictures of a raft coming through these very rapids.

 

 

The Trout Pool is an area on the Kaituna River where there are four terraces of water flowing downriver. It is a place where trout like to hang out and is open to fishing. It was pretty and secluded. Although we looked for fish we didn't spot any.

Hamurana Springs is a natural freshwater spring close to Lake Rotorua. The water is incredibly clear and we did spot fish here. This was once a fortified Maori village.The following pictures are of the 1.2 mile walk we took to the springs through a redwood forest and back. It was serene

 

The water is so clear in this picture it doesn't look like there is water at all. You can see the springs in the picture below and can see the water in that picture.

 

 

The Tamaki Maori Village gave us a glimpse of Maori life and the Maori culture. We enjoyed a tour of the village, a cultural show and a delicious hangi feast (dinner).

This is how the food is cooked in the Maori way.

 

At Wai-O-Tapo they actually schedule the same time each day to make the Lady Knox Geyser go off. The ranger puts some soap (environmentally safe they tell us) in the geyser which disturbs the top layer of water and causes the eruption to occur. Without the assistance of man the geyser would only go off once every 24 to 48 hours and that is not good for business, especially when it is the only geyser at Wai-O-Tapu!

 

 

 

We drove by this Maori Village each time we returned to our motel. The Marae is the Maori meeting house where the Maori of this tribe gather for important events and ceremonies. Just across the street from this Marae was their cemetery, which is high on a hill. Those with the highest rank in the tribe are placed highest on the hill.

Maori Cemetery

This impressive structure is in the downtown area of Rotorua and is a museum. In front of the museum you can see Lawn Bowling fields where the Rotorua Lawn Bowling Club keeps them perfectly manicured.

 

 

The following pictures are the sights we saw as we took a walk around the city of Rotorua out to Sulphur Point, around the edge of Lake Rotorua, and past more thermal hot pots that flow

                                                          into Lake Rotorua.

This beautiful "flame tree" is a common sight around the

Pacific. You can see the red blossoms this time of year.

The path took us around the lake and past a reserve where

we could see swans, ducks, and seagulls on the water.

 

The walk ended at the Government Gardens with this sculpture. The butterfly shape at the top rotates in the wind..

  

 

 

 

Christmas Eve

 



We took a gondola to the top of the mountain and ate a delicious buffet dinner overlooking Lake Rotorua. What better way to keep your mind off missing your family on Christmas than good food and being with the love of your life! :)

 

 

Though we did miss being with our family this Christmas we were richly blessed to know and feel of our Savior's love throughout those special days of the Christmas season. We love being here in New Zealand and serving this mission. It has brought us an even more sure knowledge that Jesus Christ is the truth and the way. We celebrate His birth and we are grateful for all of our many blessings. May God bless each and every one of you in the new year.

Love and prayers until our next post!

 

 

 

 

 

 



One Fine Day at the Auckland Zoo




We visited the Auckland Zoo on a recent Saturday when the weather was perfect (around 70 degrees). We were very impressed with the zoo ranking it as one of our all-time favorites. The setting is beautfiul and the animals were active, probably due to the moderate temperature.

 

This elephant was right by the entrance. We walked around the entire zoo. It was quiet and serene.

  



As we walked around the zoo I kept feeling like we had ventured into the Garden of Eden. It was an idyllic setting.



A very aptly named flower...Bird of Paradise

The sea lion enclosure was excellent. We happened to walk by as the animal trainer was doing a little "show" with the sea lions. He was telling us here not to throw fishing line or rope into the ocean as it is dangerous to the sea lions (shown here wearing a version of the dangerous stuff, for demonstration purposes only).



The baboons were especially interesting to Elder Jacobsen as he hunted them while living in Ethiopia with his family in 1965. They were considered "crop destroyers" and so hunting them was allowed.



The giraffes and zebras happily coexisted in their enclosure.




This is the bird enclosure and the buildings on either side contain other additional bird exhibits and enclosures including one for nocturnal animals like the Kiwi .



The Kiwi exhibit replicated their habitat of trees and bush. Unfortunately for us the Kiwi were not interested in making an appearance while we were there. The Kiwi is now an endangered species falling prey to attacks from domesticated dogs. They are found in a few remote spots on islands and places where the predators can be closely controlled.

At first we were standing by this enclosure for Ringtailed Lemur and could not see a single one. Then the trainer came into the enclosure to feed them and suddenly they were everywhere.  

Love and hugs 'til our next post!

The Kingdom of Tonga - Part 2 - Vava'u



Arriving on the island of Vava'u. Elder Jacobsen gets off the DC3 that was our aircraft. This plane has a long and storied history from flying military missions for the New Zealand airforce just after WW II ended to flying around the Pacific Islands as a commuter plane for Chatham Pacific Airways.





Another view of the airport at Vava'u. It sits out in a large field.





Elder and Sister Forsyth are the newest ITEP couple in the Pacific. They are assigned to Saineha High School. Elder Forsyth has a background as an elementary teacher and an elementary principal. Sister Forsyth was a long-time elementary teacher. They will be a great asset to the teachers working at Saineha.



We were warmly welcomed to Saineha High School (grades 7-13) by the Forsyth's, Etta, the newly appointed principal, and Linda, an incredible lady who is retiring as principal this year. We enjoyed the time we spent talking with them and their sense of commitment to their students was inspiring. All of the administrators at Saineha teach a class each year. Five-hundred students attend Saineha. When Elder Jacobsen and I were there for our visit students were busy taking end of year exams.





Motuliki is the school counselor at the school. He is a master of the SSEOP and understands the value of keeping data about the progress of each student. The ITEP couple have an office right next to Motuliki and they reported to me that he always has students in his office. He meets with students from all grade levels and is a calm mentor to them. He also teaches a Chemistry class and on the night before the end of year exam he met with students at the school to help them prepare. On this small island this type of commitment by teachers and staff to help students be successful is common.



Sister Forsyth is using the broom to sweep off her patio at the back of her home on the school grounds. When she asked the workers for a broom this is what they brought her. It is one they made from one of the trees at the school. It works just great!



A view of Saineha from the back of campus where the Forsyth's and a few of the teachers live.



This is the harbor of Vava'u where many of the sailboats moored there have people living on them. The local people call them "the yachties".



The daily catch at the market.





Bringing in the catch to sell.



Elder and Sister Forsyth are ordering some baskets and mats at the market. This particular vendor was also a long-time teacher and her son is a teacher at Saineha. I think they got a fair price. :)





The market at Vava'u.



This is a cemetery. It is not possible to dig deep holes to bury loved ones so sand is used to build up the gravesite.





Pigs are a common site around the island.



Elder Jacobsen looks out at the water at the Botannical Reserve. This place caters to tourists and groups so there is a restaurant just behind Elder Jacobsen. It wasn't opened when we were there.



One lovely evening we ate dinner at the Tongan Beach Resort.





A view from the dock to towards the beaches of the resort. It was very quiet and we had a great dinner.



Elder Jacobsen is showing off this beautiful lei that was given to him at church on Sunday. We attended a Tongan ward and loved being there listening to everything in Tongan. We didn't understand the words but the spirit was there in abundance. There are many in Tonga who speak excellent English and we had a couple sitting next to us who translated for us from time to time.



I was also the recipient of a beautiful and fragrant lei. I wish I could convey in this blog the beautiful nature and spirit of the Tongan people. They are kind and welcoming to strangers and want to make sure your visit is a good one. We have been invited to come back so they can prepare an "umu" (roast pig barbecue) for us.  



The Kingdom of Tonga - Tongatapu

Elder Jacobsen and I visited Havelu Middle School just after our arrival in Tongatapu (the name of the most populated island in Tonga, which is made up of 176 islands) . We met the principal, Lavenia, and admired this bulletin board in the conference room made of Tongan Tapa cloth. Tapa cloth is made of the bark ot the Mulberry tree. It is painstakingly pounded and stretched by hand over  many days and is then painted with designs.



The Szoka's are one of four ITEP Missionary Couples assigned to the church schools in Tonga. They live and work on the campus of Liahona High School providing BYU Hawaii classs to the teachers and other professional development. They were wonderful hosts to us and transported us all around the island. Another missionary couple (the Johnsons) will be arriving in November and will be assigned to work with the five middle schools in Tonga (three on the island of Tongatapu, one on the island of Ha'apai, and one on island of Eua).

 

This tree sits in the middle of the courtyard between the two classroom wings of the school.



We visited several classrooms while we toured Pakelau and Havelu Middle Schools. Looks like some learning is going on here. :)  These students are learning in their second language and teachers do a great job helping students find success.



The LDS Temple in Tonga is located right by the campus of Liahona High School. We ran into these missionaries who are wearing the traditional Tongan tupenu (lava lava) with the ta'ovala (woven mat) tied with the kafa (rope).
Elder Jacobsen and I were able to attend a 6 a.m. session in the Temple the second day we were in Tonga. It was in Tongan but we wore headphones and listened in English. There was a very special spirit there.  



 

We met with the three counselors and the the principal, Inoke Kupu (second from left), after arrving at Liahona High School. The counselors are: Vika, Vatuniloka, and Sila.

This is the entrance to the Liahona High School campus. It is the largest of the 15 church schools in the South Pacific. There is a middle school and a high school located here with 1,100 students in the high school and 500 in the middle school.

Elder and Sister Szoka in front of the ITEP office on the campus of Liahona High School



The counselors welcomed us with handmade Tongan rope leis. We were touched by the generosity and kindness of the Tongan people. They are always concerned that a visitor feels welcomed. And WE DID!



More gifts! Liahona High School counselors Sila Fonua and Vika Kaufusi. The registrar is on the far right.



Students always meet you with a smile as you pass them in the walkways. Liahona is a large campus and they could have some distance to cover as they walk to their next class.

 

Hard at work getting ready for end of year exams.

These cute students are in Form 1 (grade 7) and many are just learning English. In this homeroom class the teacher presents the career guidance curriculum and the students work on their personal portfolios. Because there is only one counselor for five middle schools the teachers have to be very involved in making the Comprehensive Counseling and Guidance program work in the middle school. Moana Kupu is the counselor and does a super job in getting the curriculum organized and training the teachers. She also follows up with the teachers after they meet with students in their SSEOP (Student Spiritual, Education, and Occupational Plan) and checks all of the portfolios.

Principal Harvelene Sekona at Liahona Middle School with counselor Moana Kupu



This teacher is conducting an SSEOP interview with a student as they review the student's portfolio. 

Elder and Sister Szoka took us to see the "blowholes" on Tongatapu. As waves come into the shore they are forced up through holes in the coral rock. You can watch the water shooting up as it hits the shoreline all down the coast as far as you can see. It was spectacular! These pictures don't do it justice.



Love and Prayers 'Til Our Next Post!

Coming next....The Kingdom of Tonga - Vava'u