Sad news this week, the All-Blacks lost a heartbreaker to South Africa in the Rugby World Cup Final, 12-11. Of course there were questionable referee calls, which New Zealand fans are still sore about. In spite of the game being televised Sunday morning, the attendance at Fairy Springs Ward was probably twice the number of the first week we arrived. It was nice to see so many in the Rotorua chapel.
We have been scouting a place to have our missionary picnic, and finally decided on a nice shady and hilly lawn area north of Klamath Falls Rose Garden at Government Gardens. It is fondly referred to as Teletubby Hill. It won't be as crowded and sunny as the lake front, and there is even room for parking.
We will do relay races in the lawn area
The playground area, where we carefully watched to see if Sis. Cleverley, on the teeter totter, was going to fracture her other arm, since one is already in a cast from falling off Elder Cowell's skateboard
More lawn and trees
The park is north of the Klamath Falls Rose Garden, named for Rotorua's Sister City in Oregon. I plan to come back in a month when the roses are actually blooming
Elder Rooks walking along the path to the lake
The clouds were streaking along the turquoise sky
More clouds and a swan
Driving out of Government Gardens, where a croquet game was in progress
On Sunday, the Danielsons, the senior couple from Utah in charge of Self Reliance, gave excellent talks in the Tarawera Ward. Elder Danielson is part Samoan and was raised in New Zealand. He can speak New Zealandese and also Utah English. Sis. Danielson was raised in Canada.
Elder Jones presenting a scripture-based game at the Winiata's house, hoping to stump the super-smart sons of a Michigan family living in Kowaha Point. Conrad, the father, is on leave as an anesthetist so he can work at the Rotorua Hospital. The family is having an interesting year in New Zealand.
The Fairy Springs and Tarawera Wards put on a Halloween carnival Tuesday night, all very fun. It was supposed to be a Trunk or Treat, but the rain was pouring outside, leftovers from Cyclone Lola, which hit the North Land and Gisborne pretty hard and has been keeping us wet here for days. I ended up with a pocket full of lollies, "a confection that features sugar as a principal ingredient," (in other words, candy) which I gave to the only trick-or-treater who showed up later at our house on Tarewa Rd. He was 13 years old and came with his grandfather.
The woman with pink hair is mom of the four super-smart boys
I like her spider hat
Elder Kema from Texas
On Wednesday we went to the Family History library, where Mei is working with Jeremy, who is investigating the church. He was adopted and is looking for his own family history
Thursday we had another zone conference in Tauranga. Sis. Belnap was carrying this gorgeous kete whakairo, a patterned bag woven of New Zealand flax. A bag like this would cost in the hundreds of dollars, but was gifted to her. It is expertly woven and feels like soft leather.
We went to visit Wiki, who is recovering in the Rotorua Hospital following her third orthopedic surgery at Waikato Hospital in Hamilton. She was hit by a car several years ago in a roundabout crosswalk, and has had a difficult time since then. Hopefully this will be the last surgery. She was in good spirits but it will be a long road back.
On our way down the stairs after our visit
Buttercups growing in our back yard lawn
Pie cherries were ripening, but within days of taking this picture, the birds had eaten nearly every one, and spit all the pits out on the driveway.
I believe this tree in our back yard is pineapple guava, Feijoa Sewolliana. I remember these as a girl growing up in California. The leaves look beaten up from all the wind and rain
The horse chestnut is more beautiful every day
Mrs. Pukeko with her chick
