TO AMERICA AND BACK

JUST BEFORE WE LEFT WE TOOK A NEW ELDER TO OUR AREA, ELDER MOLLER, AND HIS COMPANION TO LUNCH AT OUR FAVORITE PLACE TO EAT OUT- RIVERSTONE. BELOW IS A PICTURE OF ELDER BENJAMIN, ELDER MOLLER, SIS OSBURN, AND DOT -THE OWNER OF RIVERSTONE.  HER PERSONAL CASTLE SHOWN IN THE BACKGROUND IS ALMOST FINISHED. WE TOLD HER STORY IN A PREVIOUS POST. CAUGHT HER IN HER VEGIE GARDEN.

HERE IS A PICTURE OF THE VAHAI FAMILY ON THEIR LAST SUNDAY BEFORE MOVING TO AUSTRALIA. BROTHER VAHAI WAS THE BRANCH MISSION LEADER RIGHT AFTER THE SPLIT INTO TWO BRANCHES( later wards) AND SERVED FAITHFULLY IN THAT CALLING TILL HE LEFT. THEY HAVE 10 CHILDREN, ONE ESCAPED THE PICTURE, AND LIVED BY FAITH. THEIR ABSENCE WILL BE GREATLY FELT HERE.

US AT LOOK OUT POINT WITH SNOW ON THE MOUNTAINS TWO DAYS BEFORE WE LEFT TO THE USA WHICH WAS IN THE THROWS OF SUMMER HEAT.

A SHOUT OUT TO DENT AND DEBORAH HALES WHO PICKED US UP FROM THE AIRPORT, TOOK US OUT TO EAT--MEXICAN FOOD-- PUT UP TWO WEARY TRAVELERS IN THEIR BEAUTIFUL HOME, SHUTTLED US TO THE FERRY LANDING, KEPT US COMPANY ON THE RIDE TO ORCAS ISLAND, PICKED US UP 3 DAYS LATER, AND DROVE US 3 HOURS TO THE AIRPORT. ALL WHILE WE WERE TOO EXHAUSTED TO BE ANY FUN FOR THEM. FRIENDS FOR LIFE.

AHHHHHH, ORCAS ISLAND--ONE OF THE BEAUTY SPOTS ON THE EARTH AND SCENE OF COLBY AND MICHELLE'S FANTASTIC WEDDING. IT WAS SUCH A PLEASURE AND HONOR TO BE THERE WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY, BOTH OLD AND NEW! 

HOW IS THIS FOR A BACK YARD???

THE OMALEV FAMILY "CABIN" FROM THE BACK YARD

ALECIA'S GRAND KIDS WITH COLBY

THE WEDDING LINE

THE WEDDING MARCH WITH GRANDSONS ESCORTING GRANDDAUGHTERS

THE SHOW STEALERS, KREW, AND KASH ESCORTING SAYDEE AND MALIYA. NOTE THE GAZE OF THE ADMIRING WOMEN. SOOOOOO CUTE. 

MICHELLE BEING ESCORTED BY HER MOTHER AND AUNT

BROTHER  THAD ABOUT TO PRESIDE OVER THE CEREMONY ON THE SAME PROMONTORY OF LAND WHERE HER MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER WERE ALSO MARRIED.

THE BRIDE AND GROOM

 

EVENING STARTING TO FALL'

ALECIA'S CHILDREN, THAD, COLBY, KRESTA, AND CHAY

THE MOTHER OF THE GROOM AND HER "ESCORT".

GRANDMA SHARING A BEDTIME STORY ABOUT THE PLAN OF SALVATION WITH THE KIDS IN OUR CABIN

THE TRIP BACK WAS SO HARD ON ALECIA. HER LEGS AND FEET SWELLED UP SO BAD ON THE 14 HOUR FLIGHT AND WERE SO PAINFUL SHE HAD TO BE WHEELED OFF THE PLANE.  WE HAD TO STAY IN A HOTEL FOR A DAY SO SHE COULD RECOOP BEFORE FLYING FROM SYDNEY TO CHRISTCHURCH. THAT WHOLE TRIP BACK WAS A NIGHTMARE. WE COULDNT GET ON A FLIGHT FROM SEA TO LAX-ON ANY CARRIER SO HAD TO HOTEL IT AT SEATAC TILL THE NEXT AFTERNOON. THEN, AFTER WE GOT TO LAX WE MISSED FIRST CLASS BY TWO , THUS THE SWOLLEN LEGS. AFTER THE SYD HOTEL STAY, WE HAD TO REBOOK OUR FLIGHT TO CHCH,$350) AND ENDED UP IN THE AIRPORT WAITING FOR THAT FLIGHT FOR 9 HOURS. LANDED IN CHCH AT 2300 THEN DROVE HOME TO OAMARUFOR 31/2 HOURS.. YUCK!

BACK AT THE MISSION AND A TWO WARD HOE DOWN TO COMMEMERATE THE WARD SPLITTING A YEAR AGO. THE ENTIRE STAKE WAS INVITED AND WAS WELL ATTENDED, ESPECIALLY BY THE YSA. TOTAL FUN HAD BY ALL. IT WAS SO FUN SEEING TBE ISLANDERS DRESSED UP LIKE COWBOYS.

THE EDWARDS, A SR. COUPLE FROM DUNEDIN AND GREAT NEW FRIENDS, CAME UP FOR THE DANCE AND WE HAD A GREAT TIME WITH THEM.

A SUNDAY FEED CELEBRATING THE SPLITTING OF THE TWO WARDS.

THE END OF THE FEED--THREE BBQ'D PIGS LATER

NO! NO! NOT ANOTHER PICTURE OF ME EATING!

THIS IS BETTER. A DISTRICT TRAING MEETING AT THE CHURCH--NO LONGER ALOWED AT OUR HOUSE.

LUNCH AT A SIDE WALK CAFE IN TIMARU.OUR WAITRESS, WHO IS ALSO NAMED ALECIA, IMPRESSED US SO MUCH THAT WE WERE BOTH SILENTLY CONTEMPLATING HOW TO INTRODUCE HER TO THE GOSPEL. WE CONCURRENTLY AND UNBEKNOWST TO THE OTHER SAW THE TIMARU MISSIONARIES COMING TO THE RESTRUANT TO VISIT WITH HER. WE ASKED HER TO TAKE OUR PICTURE SO WE COULD OPEN THE SUBJECT WITH HER AND AS I WAS PAYING THE BILL, ALECIA COMITTED HER TO LISTEN TO THE MISSINONARIES WHEN THEY COME BY.  STILL WAITING FOR A FOLLOW UP FROM THEM.

THIS IS A BITTER/SWEET PICTURE OF PELI LUTUI SAYING GOODBYE TO US BEFORE SHE LEFT ON HER MISSION TO HAMILTON NEW ZEALAND. SHE ATTENDED OUR INSTITUTE CLASS FAITHFULLY. SHE HAS AN AMAZING TESTIMONY. SHE WAS THE FIRST TO RECEIVE A MISSION INTERVIEW AFTER WE HAD BECOME A STAKE AND A WARD. SHE IS ALSO THE FIRST MISSIONARY FROM AN OAMARU WARD AND THE FIRST SISTER FROM THE NEW DUNEDIN STAKE. AGAIN THE HARDEST THING WE HAVE TO DO OUT HERE IS TO SAY GOODBYE. ALECIA HAS STARTED A TRADITION WITH THE CANDY CARDS.

A BIRTHDAY CARD FROM THE OTHERSIDE OF THE ISLAND SENT TO ME BY MISTAKE ON ALECIA'S BIRTHDAY. THANKS GUYS! NEED TO CORRECT THE BIRTDAY DATES IN THE MISSION OFFICE.😏

WELL THAT IS ABOUT IT FOR THIS POST. WE CONTINUE TO ENJOY OUR MISSION AND ENDEVOUR TO SERVE TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY. WE LOVE THESE WOUNDERFUL PEOPLE AND FEEL SO BLESSED TO BE HERE WITH THEM. THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THIS IS THE LORD'S WORK AND IT IS A JOY TO BE INVOLVED IN IT.

LOVE YOU ALL AND WILL SEE YOU SOON.