The Winiatas still wanted the missionaries to come for Christmas dinner on Monday, even though many of their family members were gathered from out of town. So after inviting the young sisters and elders to to our house on Christmas Eve, the next evening we drove to Lynmore for a Christmas feast.
It has been raining inches this week, trading off with fairly hot days. Not that the temperature is hot, but the sun here is high U.V., and when there are no clouds, it can be a burning heat. I carry sunscreen with me, or I will burn in 15 minutes under the New Zealand sun.
I actually saw this cloud as a picture submitted by someone in Ngapuna, Rotorua, on the Facebook page for The Cloud Appreciation Society, so I immediately ran outside and took this photo of a pink marshmallow against a purple sky.
I actually saw this cloud as a picture submitted by someone in Ngapuna, Rotorua, on the Facebook page for The Cloud Appreciation Society, so I immediately ran outside and took this photo of a pink marshmallow against a purple sky.
Visiting Grandma Lolo at the Saturday Market
Our air conditioner does the best it can, which is about 80 degrees on a hot day, when the sun beats down on the tile roof and the metal garage door. But it does reduce the humidity. Here our tinsel tree is ready with presents under it for the four Sister and four Elder missionaries.
Making gingerbread houses and getting ready to play Rummikub. Elder Cowell is the undisputed Rummikub champion, although Sister De Thierry, on one-day exchanges from Tauranga, picked up the game like a pro.
Before we knew about Elder Cowell's hidden talent, the elders brought the Settlers of Catan game, I believe it is called. Sis. Linton is keeping score.
After popping the giant Crackers, the elders found their paper crowns inside, and put them on. Elder Shepherd is taking pictures. He is a gadget boy, from my observations.
The Sisters are also taking pictures of themselves wearing crowns
Sis. Nessen managed to get the percussion gun away from Elder Cowell. Sis. Pickett is ready for a demonstration. Sis. Brown amazed us all with her operatic singing. We urged her to take voice lessons.
The Elders have all found the bubble blowers in their gift bags
Elder Marble is the undisputed champ of bubble blowing
Shoes lined up at the door of Sis. Lenora Winiata's family rental
Elder Rooks looking quite pleased. There was a swimming pool, but we left our swimming suits in Fruitland, Idaho. The young elders and sisters can't believe we are allowed to go swimming when they aren't. Ironically, a lot of the things they aren't allowed to do, we really don't want to do.
The busy kitchen
Beef kebabs, lamb, pork, and all sorts of salads
Sis. Winiata brought her famous meringues with fruit. After the feast, her family members sang beautiful songs to us. I remembered to ask what was the third thing Aussies take home from NZed, along with RARO powdered drink mix and Whittakers chocolate. She said, steak and cheese meat pies.
We had a lovely Christmas and appreciate the kind invitations and the fun we had. We were able to call and FaceTime our children and grandchildren, who were still celebrating Christmas Eve.
Between sheets of rain and glaring sun, we found a nice cloudy day to return to the Rotorua cemetery to take more photos of headstones.
There are hundreds of memorial stones in this section, but many were muddy and had to be wiped off
Memorials on the sides of the walls were much easier to take pictures of
Friday morning we attended a baptism for Mikaere, an amazingly poised and mature young man of 11, who is eager to learn and do what is right.
I am always interested in New Zealanders' concept of the world map. I am not sure what countries are represented here in the chart drawing of the Plan of Salvation
I am incorporating NZed's vocabulary into my own, including the delightful word "Rubbish." "Bin" (trash can) and "Car park" (parking lot) are also represented here.
More breathtaking powder-blue hydrangeas blooming their hearts out as we walked to the Monster Fruit Store to pick up some bananas and cucumbers
I spotted Mr. Pukeko walking along the top of the lattice fence. We have Santa Rosa plums beginning to ripen in the trees along the lane, according to Bro. Brons, the landlord, a knowledgeable gardener. He says Pukekos will strip a tree of fruit in a day or two, so we should not be surprised if suddenly one day the resident swamp hens and roosters disappear from the premises.
He lent us a ladder so Elder Rooks could pick a few of the riper plums, all of which had been pecked by birds. I am making jam with them. So good so far.
