SETTLED-WELL KINDA

Can't believe it has been so long since I have posted! Thanks for the prod Seabreeze. We have been really busy here in Oamaru but some of the 'busy' has been just dealing with the VERY slow pace of getting things done. For instance, we have been waiting for over 10 days to get the internet people to turn on the modem. Talked to them AGAIN today and they said, " Oh my, we'll get right on it within the next couple of days. That is after they told us to be home all day today for the technician to come by. Kinda what we call the " land of mañana" . The difference is they think they are so efficient. Some other things are the power breakers. With 220 they constantly trip when you have more than one thing on a plug, and none of the appliances seem to really work. We gave up on the dish washer all together. You just have to wash them by hand anyway after running a load and the clothes dryer takes at least two cycles to dry the clothes even when it is set to high. Whine, whine,whine! We keep telling ourselves  that we aren't in Kenya. Just sayin!!!!!

Again, we have been blessed to be able to work with really great missionaries. In Oamaru we have Elder McClellan and Elder Zinck ( from Samoa). Both of these men are truely great. Especially Elder McClellan who is the DL and trainer for Elder Zinck who has only been speaking English for six weeks.Elder McClellan is going home in 3 weeks. That is one of the hardest parts of the mission experience. We grow to really love these guys and then they are transferred or go home. It is like constantly saying good bye to a son or daughter.

Last post we mentioned the Mike and Tracey story. We were on a teaching appointment with the elders when they were taught that they had to get married before they could get baptized. Well here are a few pictures of their wedding which was last Sat. 

Here they are with President Kaufana, the branch president who married them.

This has been a real learning experience for us. We ended up driving them to a town about 80 miles north to get their license and paid $127 for it. Then on the way home they more or less demanded we feed them, another $25. We bought them a wedding cake, $70, Elder McClellan gave him one of his suits, found a wedding dress for her, the branch relief society furnished cakes, and pizza out of their own pockets, Alecia made a wedding bouquet for her, a basket with flower peddles in it for the flower girl to spread, gave Mike a set of rings for him to give to her and on and on. Later that day we found out she was angry because more food wasn't there and more people from the branch weren't there. Also she complained because people didn't bring wedding presents and that the $$ Alecia gave her for a present was USD and she wouldn't be able to spend it till she got to a bank on Mon. to exchange it for NZD. Neither have skills or motivation and have been on welfare most of their lives.  The learning curve for us was that you can't dish it out because they just expect more and more. A seasoned, multi-missioned  Sr. Couple taught us that if they have a testimony of the gospel they will find a way to meet the requirements for baptism on their on because it will be so important to them. It will be interesting to see if they get baptized. After reading this I want to assure you that we know they are loved by Heavenly Father and are just on the first steps of their new path. We hope to be agents in that journey.

We met the Mission President at a zone conference last Friday. It never ceases to amazed me how much you can discern the mantle they have. Great conference which was held in a town by the name of Gore, about 75 miles north of Invercargill wich is the southern most city in the world. Again we were so impressed by the quality of Elders and Sisters seving here.

 Here is a picture of the Oamaru Elders playing Rugby with a couple of locals on P-day, today.

Elder McClellan with the ball, his companion Elder Zinck in pursuit, Elder Masima just behind him, and Elder Miller in the Red shorts. I particularly like the Captain America socks on Elder McClellan!

Here is what we are up to on a daily basis: teaching appointments with the Elders, meeting less active members, setting up an institute program and teaching it, YSA leaders, Return missionary program leaders, pinch hit teachers at church- this week it was the CTR-B class we knew about ahead of time and the youth Sunday School class we didn't know about, attendance at both branch council meetings , and conducting frequent missionary fire sides.Whew, tired- we are old you know- at least feel like it every night.

Just got a call from the internet people, maybe tomorrow!!!!! AGAIN.

The Oamaru missionaries:

Here is a picture of our little branch house. Our members are about 1/2 Kiwi and 1/2 Tomgan

There are also 2 Elders and two Sisters down in Dunedin. They are fantastic but no pictures at this time. Have "lunched" them and love them too.

LOVE YOU ALL- go Blue, they are winning so the church must be true.  Miss football a lot more than I ever knew I would.  Oh yah, go Red too. Keep the snap chats coming. Sheri???

This work is of The Lord. He is so patient with us as we strive to bring just one soul at a time into His Kingdom. But oh, the worth of a soul! Those of us who have it and are recipients of the ordinances that allow us the opportunity to return home to Him- what a pearl of great price!! May we all embrace it with all we are!!