" WE'LL BE (NOT) HOME FOR CHRISTMAS"

OAMARU TOWN CHRISTMAS TREE

ALECIA " FIXING" THE BOWS. WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Christmas time is really different here. For one thing it is summer time here. Summer is relative though. Two days ago it was 95 degrees which was an all time high and then yesterday it was 55 degrees and raining. 

This little store is all they have for decorating. No TJ Maxx, Tai Pan, or Hobby Lobby, or Home Goods.

But they did have one window decorated--the only one in town!

This is our only clothing store. No Dillard's, J.C. Penney, Nordstom, Old Navy, or ....notice the Christmas decorations- top left corner.

This is our " Mall". No South Town, Layton, or Fashon Place.  By the way, this is our city center.

Shopping for things for Christmas goodies for gift treats has been a real adventure. Things we think of as normal just aren't around. We first thought of small gift baskets but we're only able to find these.

Then we decided to stuff some stockings and went to the candy isle looking for green and red candies. Oops no candy isles, and no familiar candies not to mention Christmas candies. 

Next thought, fruit for stocking stuffers but the fruit didn't look the same either.

Little oranges--close

Pears--red-at least Christmas color. 

Lemons or limes? Hmmmmm?

Are these lemons or limes?

The sign said these are grapefruits???

While we are at it, the next 3 pictures rare potatoes-no Idaho russets here!

They all mash up good though.

Check out the eggs. Just out on the shelves, never refrigerated.

We could only find one Christmas sock so we decided to go with " missionary" dress socks and stuff them with oranges( with hidden $10 bills alla Gayle Stevenson "it's what on the inside that counts"). 

Last Thursday we had District Training at our house and then made gift boxes for the Elders and Sisters to give to their investigators. Sister O and the Sisters baked cookies and rice krispie treats for the boxes. Notice that they are pink. You can't find packages of white marshmallows here. They come with pink cherry flavored marshmallows. Hence the pink color and cherry flavor.

 We filled the boxes with candy canes, oranges, pears, apples, cookies, and rice krispie treats.

Crowded kitchen area but it all worked out any way.

What was left for us to distribute after the Elders and Sisters took theirs.

Aurora Greenwood,from Holland, is here for the summer on an adventure and to work at the penguins  tourist venue. She is just an amazing young woman and has been taking the lessons in our home, attending institute class, church, and helped with the Chrisrmas gift boxes with the Elders and Sisters. We absolutely love her and love being her New Zealand grand parents.

Then we gave our house up for some members to give a Christmas party.

Looked like they had a fun time. This picture is of President Kaufi and his family. Love them!

This is a picture from the combined branch Christmas dance. They took a little break from dancing for the young men and young women to put on their prepared dance. 

Here are some of the members enjoying the dance. You don't see any pictures of us dancing because we WERE dancing. I had some great moves, I think, although I'm not sure because every time I looked at Alecia she had her hands over her face and was laughing. Go figure. Just like Hitch said, I was keeping it in close.

This next picture is of Calvin McPherson who just retuned home from his mission in Australia. They loaded him up with candy leis which each family member made from scratch. Great tradition. His mom and dad are in the picture too. They have sent 2 missionaries out and she, the mom, has never joined the church. She is such a giving women, has brought me a great big chocolate cake for my birthday and had us over for dinner twice now.

We had a baptism last week where two brothers were baptised. I was privileged to give a short talk and loved being there with the missionaries, families, and members. THEN the Tongan feed afterwards was huge, yet typical of branch activities. These people don't have that much money, but they will give all they have to put on a huge feed for someone. They just love their neighbor.

The mom of the boys. Side note, dad not a member, YET.

PIGS, YUMMMMM? Didn't try it. Maybe next time.

We had a member of the Pacific Area presidency visit our zone last week also. President Hallick, his wife, mission president Hudson and his wife instructed us.

We also got a picture of Elder Osburn seeking after and then feeding the lost sheep.

You should have seen me slipping and sliding climbing up the hill to get to the fence. My city slicker shoes didn't handle the wet grass too well and I fell into a drainage ditch coming down from there. 

Lost sheep???

Feeding the sheep.

While dreaming of a white Christmas, we kinda got a taste of one during a hail storm.

HERE IS A PICTURE OF A REAL NEW ZEALAND CHRISTMAS TREE

We have loved serving Him whom this season celebrates. We have learned to love him more than we ever have, to trust Him more than we ever have, and to want to serve Him more than we ever have. Heavenly Father has given us His son as a Christmas gift. It is our prayer that each of us can feel a fullness of gratitude for that most Holy gift, and in turn give of our selves to others. We are greatful  for our children giving of their normal Christms gift so we could give to those in need here. The funds that we gave to the branch presidents for anonymous gifts were thankfully received and seen as answers to prayers for those receiving them.

What ever home you are at or come from, we hope you have a wonderful Christmas and think of our Lord who made it all so meaningful and precious.

We miss and love you all. 

AND THE BEAT GOES ON

First of all an update on Alecia's health. We did go to the specialist in Dunedin who performed a gastroscope on her. In doing so, he was able to rule out both IBS and Chrones disease--that was good news for us. He did find out that she had Thush in her stomach, esophagus, and intestines. This is a very serious and painful disease which can attack your internal organs and is most likely why she has been so sick and has lost 25 pounds. Luckily, there is medication for it and she has started that with the expectation it will be out of her system within a week or so. She has also cut down on her polymayalgia medication because she has been loosing her hair as a side effect of that. The trade off, however, is increased pain from her polymayalgia. One of the things we have started doing to increase our immune systems is juicing for one to two meals per day. Here is a picture of our first pitcher of green "health"! Actually pretty good.

 As she has started getting better we have resumed our missionary work together. Our highest priority is the Phillipino family we told you about in our last blog. The single mother, Zylla Green and her oldest son, Zack (16), have already been baptised and are quite active. We are primarily teaching Zerje (14) and Zander (12). They are a beautiful family and we are encouraged they will all accept the gospel. 

Notice the Christmas tree. It is common for Phillipino families to put one up in October.

We also had the District training meeting in our home Thursday last. We truly love our association with these incredible Eldes and Sisters. Sister Shaw (with the candy board) is leaving after 18 months of dedicated service and returning home to Ogden. She has attended Dixie State in St. George and worked at the "world" renowned Swigs. She will be greatly missed. It is so hard for us on transfers because we grow to love these missionaries so much.

We also had a fun branch activity day for the Oamaru 1st branch. A bunch of really fun,crazy games inside since it rained outside.

Musical chairs

Part of an obstacle course 

A spoon race

The most impressive thing for me was the total, uninhibited, participation by EVERY ONE, young and old. We had such a good time with lots of laughter.

Sunday, the Oamaru 2nd branch had their primary program and it was just outstanding. Almost all the 26 kids had their parts memorized and they all sang at the top of their voices. Thought it was going to raise the roof right off the chapel. Also several of them dressed up in their native Tongan dress for the occasion--including the branch president, President Kautia.

Spring is trying so hard to come. Here are several pictures of the city garden--Eden Garden. We like to walk the paths on warm days, Heath permitting. It covers over 100 acres and is so beautiful and peaceful. Pictures don't do it justice but we tried.

Well that is about it for this post. The restored gospel of Jesus Christ is true. We grow in the strength of our testimony daily as we serve and study. The mysteries of the kingdom seem to unfold before us. It truly causes godly sorrow to see those who have fallen to the wayside and become lost in the misty paths. This truly is the pearl of great worth.

 In closing, we wish you a happy holiday season from our house to your house.

TRIALS AND VISITORS

True, it has even too long since we have posted but we have been under a lot of stress lately and posting on the blog hasn't been a very high priority. Alecia has been quite ill and bed ridden for the past three weeks. She continues to suffer from sores in her mouth as well as a long list of other symptoms. Mostly a lot of pain and discomfort in the abdominal area, and absolutely no energy.  As sick as she has been, she stays resolute in her faith and "stick ability"! The doctors here have done several blood tests and even sent them off to a hematologist for a reading. The first set of tests showed a low white cell count and they were thinking it could have been cancer. We had to live with that for three days before they got the readings of a new test which indicated her count had recovered to normal. It was probably the three longest days of our lives. The hematologist wasn't aware she is taking methytrexate for her polymayalgia which affects the white count. As the medication wares off the white count increases. A lot of technical stuff, huh? 

Anyway, now they are looking at an irritable bowl disease or Chrones disease. We have a consult with a specialist this coming Wendsday and a scope set up for the following Tuesday. We will keep you posted on further developments along these lines. 

The missionary work continues in OAMARU for us though. I have taught 2 institute classes so far which Alecia has helped me prepare for. Her spiritual insight is invaluable and the lessons wouldn't be the same without it. The Lord knew what He was doing when He made us companions! I have gone out with the missionaries to several teaching appointments but sad to say we have had a lot of "door step" cancellations. We keep on keeping on though. The Elders are amazing in their commitment and dedication to this work. It is a joy to be involved with them. We now have a Samoan, a Tongan, a Figian, and an American serving here. Fun!!!! We have planned a fireside, devotional, on member missionary work and will be putting it on this Sunday in the 2nd branch and  later in the 1st branch. The saints here are so mission oriented, it is amazing. It seems to be on top of their to do list!

The young women leaders asked if they could come over for a service project and they came over last week to clean the house and bring a meal in. They vacuumed, washed cabinets, mopped the floor, did some ironing, and dusting. They were so sweet and we had such a good time with them. It was presious watching the sister leader showin the girls how to iron my shirt and pants. The meal was great too and we all shared dessert together.

We also had a visit from our dear friends Dent and Deborah Hales. When they knew we were coming to NZ for our mission they signed up for a cruise that had a port stop in Duneden so we could hook up. How cool is that!!! Here are a few pictures of that visit. The beach scenes are one of the attractions down here on the South Island. 

Took these pictures driving up to Oamaru from Duneden. Alecia was able to go out or lunch and visit that day and we had a great reunion. Absolutely love the Hales, bestest friends anyone could ever ask for.

Went for a drive one afternoon and took these pictures of the look out over one of the pinquin colonies.

The pinquins were out to sea feeding at this time of day and return at dusk.

Disclosure! I wrote this post a couple of weeks ago and a lot has transpired since then. Since then Alecia has had a CT SCAN  which was normal, YEA! She is going in for a gastroscope tomorrow and we will get a new post off with some fun pictures and updates.

SPRING IN OAMARU

Its so fun to see the new growth not only in our yard as we look out the windows of our home, but also in the work out here in Oamaru.

 

We are experiencing a missionary effort in both branches, by not only the missionary's but also the members and leaders and it's exciting. We had a sacrament on missionary work and our very own Elder Osburn was the main speaker and told of his conversion story. A few days later we had an open house with one member,who is of humble means and the father of 9 children providing the food. He is the ward mission leader. There were 24 investigators that showed up and 75% of them he invited.  Elder Osburn spoke again.

 The missionaries have placed flyers all over town to invite people to come and listen to prophets and apostles at a world wide broadcast. This week is when we listen to conference here because we are a day ahead. We had to get up at 5:00 am to hear conference live,it was so wonderful and had such a special spirit. They tried the flyers last year in Nelson and they were hoping for 300 to show up and they got 500,so exciting. 

The ward mission leaders meet with us and the missionary's weekly at our home and the ward counsel meeting every week is how we get the names to reactivate  less active in both branches. We have been going out with the missionary's to teach non members with them. Rand and I actually have a family to teach with three sons and a single mom every Thursday evening. She and one son are members but two of her sons have yet to be baptized. Every Tuesday night  we teach an institute class on the B of M at the church.The work is definitely moving forward in this part of the vineyard. 

Every other Thursday we have district training in our home. This last Thursday was the first time in our home so I gave my Crepes breakfast You should have seen them put down the crepes. 

Elder Danies the new ZL standing to the left ate 9. 

Training in our living room. 

That, of course, put Sister Osburn down for a week and she hasn't recovered yet. She has had a sore 

 throat since she got here as well as sores in her mouth. We brought an investigator to church who had a bad cold, so she caught that too. On top of that a kidney stone appeared that week and had a trip to the doc. Now ct scans and blood work  because her irritable bowel is only letting her have soup every day. She has cried many tears about why would he send us out here now when she is having a hard time coping with all the changes, work and stress of everything. Her body is still in charge of her daily activities. 

It is so hard to work with and then have to say goodbye to some of these missionary's that we love so much and we know why we had to come now.  We just lost our first few missionary's today. The ones that taught us what and how to do this.They get a candy bar card when they leave. ( I have to hug them goodbye).

Zone leader Elder Barryhill

DL Elder McClullam

There is no doubt it's Rand that had to come to further the work. He will have to go with the missionary's when she can't. Sister Osburn is determined to get to the little Philipino family with the single mom each week for sure cause she has a special spot in her heart for that sister. We hope you will pray with us to bring that little family some joy with the gospel in their life. 

In closing are some pics of our little seaside town we love so much. Old town.    

     

Penguins come to shore every night (dusk) beautiful beaches with these amazing sea shells all over.

P.S. Sorry it has been so long between postings,we'll do better in the future. One of the advantages of long time waits is that we got two letters/emails from people wanting to stay in touch--Yeah!!! Way to go Kress and Kim. 

 To catch you up on some things that have just transpired: the couple that we put the wedding on for with all the attendant costs etc. have dropped the missionaries. We think they just couldn't handle living the commandments and changing their lives. They also wore members out asking for money, rides, etc.interesting!! So it goes sometimes. 

Also of interest is that we got to hear Elder Vern Stanfill, newly called to the seventy, speak at his fair well in the Big Fork ward in Kalispell. Got to meet him too. Great man who will be serving in Africa for the next five years. Enjoyed his talk at conference.

We want to share a scripture with you. We had been praying and fasting ferverently about Alecia's health problems when we came to the following scripture: Mosiah 24: 12-16. It was the answer we have been seeking for quite sometime and spoke to us loudly. 

We again bare our testimony that this is the Lords work. It is his restored gospel of Jesus Christ. This is His true church with the fullness and completeness of His word here on earth. Mat we all love him and each other. Elder and Sis. Osburn