Back in Auckland for a While

Once again we greet you from within the walls of our humble flat.  Time is going on and we thought we had better post to the blog again.  Only this time we have no flying bats or exciting scenery to show.  We do have a few pictures of things from the last week or so.

This is where Sister Kite and I spend most of our time.  We bought this Christmas tree so we could try to get some of the Christmas Spirit even though the temperatures are in the high 60's and low 70's. It is cool mornings but Christmas time isn't quite the same without some downright cold mornings and a little snow.  Anyway, this is where we work trying to support the Pacific area.  We get calls from various areas and try to support them the best we can.  The people who call are so greatful to have a live person they can talk to and work through the many various issues they experience in getting their family history accomplished.  We also are busy getting computers, printers, microfilm readers and cabinets purchased, shipped and installed at the Family History Centers in the Pacific Area.

Being back in the Auckland area allowed us to travel with a group of other Senior Missionaries to the Hamilton Temple.  It is a couple hour drive to the central area of the North Island of New Zealand.  It is remarkable that the different Stakes will make a couple of trips a year as a Stake to the Temple. The people will take their vacations and spend a week doing temple work. That will include the whole family and the youth will do baptisms for the dead while the adults are doing sessions.  Again those who have embraced the gospel are great people of great faith.

We had a couple of Sister Missionaries that were working in the Visitor Center to take a picture of the group of Senior Missionaries we traveled with or met at the Temple.  In the center President and Sister Lekias of the Auckland Mission.  

It has become a tradition to stop on the way back from the Temple at Pokeno's, an ice cream shot that has XXXX flavors of ice cream.  I don't know the number but there is a lot of flavors to choose from with names like "hokey pokey" (New Zealand special) and I had some "lime kisses".  The food here is New Zealand takes a little getting used to but the ice cream here is wonderful. 

This is the flower bush that is right outside our flat where we park our car.  We have watched it come into bloom and Sister Kite reminded me for about three weeks "We need to get a picture of this bush to show my Mom."  So one day we grabbed the camera and took the shot.  This is just one of many beautiful blooms and we will try to take a few more of them to show you all since or office shots are a bit boring.  Bye for now !! We send our love to all, especially those who take time to follow our blog!!