Friends, Friends, Friends

This past week has been a parade of friends.

Tuesday, we had the delightful experience of seeing Ray and Jitka Terry. We have not seen them in nearly 20 years and they happen to be in New Zealand for a three week vacation. We were in the Mill Creek Washington Ward with them when we lived there in 1996-1999. Their daughter Cilka was in my seminary class and Jitka reminded me that our son, Davin and Cilka went to a school dance together.  After showing them around the center and museum, we took them to lunch at Tommos Bakery and introduced them to meat pies and cream buns. Ray said it was the best food he had eaten in New Zealand.

Wednesday we were surprised to see Dawn Bailey Uyehara and her husband, here from Texas for a family reunion. Dawn was Barry's sister, Beverley's, roommate at the Church College of New Zealand. I remember meeting her shortly after we were married and had not seen her since.

Dawn also brought a small book of her late mother's to donate to the museum. It was a journal/guest book where she recorded her visitors. It had lots of missionary pictures and a newspaper clipping about the creation of a stake in Wellington.

Just a few minutes later, I greeted two women who Sister Moore had brought into the museum. When they turned to introduce themselves I realized one was Dian Thomas, author and TV Personality. I had edited one of her books when I was doing projects with Deanna DeLong in Oregon. Dian appeared as a regular on the Today show for four years. She had then been a tour guide in China and was with her friend Sharon Redpath who she met on one of her  China trips. Sharon Redpath is not a member of our church but was very interested in the Church History Museum.

Dian did not to come across as proselytizing her friend. I felt impressed that they needed to visit with Rangi and hear her sing. When they met her, Sharon asked Rangi how she got started collecting photos and stories. Sharon listened to Rangi's stories of miracles and her testimony that this work is our Heavenly Father's work. The tears ran down Sharon's face. It was so tender. Dian and Sharon asked Vic and Rangi if they could take them to dinner. It was perfect!

Dian and Sharon listening to Rangi

Dian and Rangi

Thursday we received a call in the middle of the afternoon letting us know that Elder Brent H. Nielsen, the Executive Director of the Missionary Department and his wife, Marcia, Elder K. Brett Natress, counselor in the Area Presidency and his wife, Shawna and the Hamilton Mission President, President Jeffrey Cummings and his wife, Evelyn would be coming to visit our center sometime between 4:30 and 5 p.m. They arrived right on time and we had a lovely time showing them through. Shawna Natress is the sister of Angie Vernon and Jeana Harmon who both live in our neighborhood. Another friend connection!

President and Sister Cummings, Elder and Sister Natress, Vic and Rangi Parker,
Sister and Elder Nielsen, Sister and Elder Garlick

Friday morning our friends, President and Sister Dil arrived at 9:15 a.m. with 29 newly arrived English speaking assigned missionaries to tour the museum. It was great to see Lindsay and Tina and to be able to visit with the missionaries.

About 4 p.m. we had a young single man who is a descendant of one of the early New Zealand missionaries, Ira Nathaniel Hinckley (Uncle to Gordon B. Hinckley). He was not aware that his ancestor had been to New Zealand on a mission. Barry printed a couple of pictures and stories about Ira N. Hinckley for him to take away. He was so excited and interested. He was flying out to Sydney the next morning so he could come back in on a new visa. He said he would be back. I told him he had a dinner waiting for him at our house next time he was in town.

Saturday evening John and Jenny Roberts, Barry's cousin from Massachusetts, along with John's brother, Mike Roberts and his wife Christine arrived from Wellington. Mike and Chris were released as the New Zealand temple president and matron in July when the temple closed for renovations. They are long-time family friends. It was a sweet reunion. We got take-aways from a kabob shop and took them to Hamilton Lake to eat. It was a beautiful late summer walk at dusk around the lake.

So sorry for you snow bound Utahns!

Mike and Christine Roberts, Jenny and John Roberts, and Barry enjoy kabob take-aways

Sunset on Hamilton Lake

What a week!

Now if you have made it through all that trivia here is some really interesting stuff:

The small air conditioning unit in the living room (lounge) leaked water onto the carpet. The repairman came but it is still not fixed.

We got bedside lamps!

We caught a mouse under the kitchen sink. The previous director's wife did not mention mice!

Our shipment of household goods, etc. has cleared customs. Yay! It should be delivered this next week. This is good. I am already tired of the few summer clothes I brought in my suitcase and Barry is out of vitamins. 

Notice the word SUMMER above. It has been around 80 degrees for a high every day this week. Nice!!

We are speaking in the Kawhia (pronounced Kafia like Coffee-yah) branch on Sunday. It’s an hour or more drive south on the coast.

Busy, busy, busy. We are in heaven.

This feels like home. Every one here hugs and kisses on the cheek when they greet you. 

It is my favorite thing! 

Last of all our hearts ache for the loved ones and victims of the terrorist shooting in Christchurch. Things like this just don't happen in New Zealand. At least not until now. 

Early morning walk in Temple View. This is what we see every day!