MANGAWHAI BEACH, PLANTS AND FAREWELL TO ROWBERRYS

Mom just reminded me that it’s daylight savings time change today in New Zealand, even though it happens later in the U.S.  That will make us a little closer in time to the U.S., and will make watching general conference next week a little easier (e.g. Saturday morning 10 a.m. session in SLC will be at 5 a.m. Sunday NZ time).

Another week zipped by here.  Last week we had beautiful sunny days, but this week we got lots of rain and wind again.  But I know that Spring is finally here from all the new leaves and blossoms on the trees and bushes.  I have 20 cherry tomatoes on my one bush cherry plant, and 2 or 3 tiny zucchini forming on that plant.  My plants should really take off as soon as it turns warm to stay.

Got a new lawsuit against the Church in NZ this week, it will be my first from start to finish (as opposed to my other cases that commenced before I got here and I just took them over from prior counsel).  This suit should finish fairly quickly, this one is incoherent, from a member in Hamilton who obviously has some emotional issues.  I believe the commissioner will figure that out quickly and throw the case out.  The first hearing is in November.  Currently I’m over litigation cases in NZ and the Cook Islands. At some point I will take over the other pending cases in Australia and some of the other islands, when Elder Gordon Low goes home, then litigation matters will consume my time (which I like).  Meanwhile, I’m still working on contract and tax and shipping/distribution issues which are important, but not as interesting to me.  Had a NZ employment law class this week.

Wednesday evening we had the 4 full time missionaries over for dinner, tacos.  The 2 elders and one of the sisters are from Australia, and the other sister is from Utah, Sister Kehoe.  All fine young people and good missionaries.  One elder and one sister head home this coming week, having finished their missions. 

Friday evening we had a YSA ward activity at the stake center, a sports night.  They had basketball, 4 square, jump rope, and other group games like red rover.  I was quite good at 4 square, haven’t lost my touch after all these years.  Hot dogs and ice cream floats for refreshments.

Saturday we drove with Elder and Sister Riggs about 1.5 hours north to Mangawhai Heads Reserve.  We hiked for about 3 hours, first along the coastal cliffs, then along the beach on the return.  We found lots of sea shells of all types, mainly scallops (like the Shell gas station logo). Last night we attended a going away party for Elder and Sister Rowberry.  They have completed a 2 year mission and head home this coming week.

Farewell party for Elder and Sister Rowberry

My New Zealand garden

Starting the hike with the Riggs to Mangawhai beach

Arch at Mangawhai beach

Mangawhai beach

Tiny star fish from Mangawhai beach

Mangawhai beach

Shells collected from Mangawhai beach

GENERAL AUTHORITIES AND RUGBY

Work picked up this week, a number of new projects came in.  I did a survey of the law regarding service animals in the various countries in regards to access to Church buildings and temples. Learned that in Fiji and Samoa they don’t even have service animals, instead dogs are usually eaten!

Wednesday evening I tried making baked eggplant for dinner, similar to what I’d had in the Greek restaurant the week before.  I sliced the eggplant lengthwise, scooped out the insides, baked that with ground hamburger and seasonings, put it back in the skin then added cheese on top, it turned out great, as good as that of the restaurant’s!

Friday was the highlight of the week.  We had a devotional for the administration office staff and missionaries with visiting general authorities Gary Stephensen of the Twelve, Elder Cook of the Seventy and Bishop Waddell of the presiding bishopric.  They all gave excellent remarks, and that was a pick-me-up and nice way to end the work week.  We got to shake hands and visit with them briefly afterwards.  That evening we had the Harrises and the Allreds over for dinner and a visit.  The Harrises work in architecture and the Allreds in family history.

The weather has turned sunny and pleasant. It is a pleasure waking up with the sun shining through the windows.  Saturday morning I went out for a jog and found a new route down by the lake.  Also did final preparation for my business class.  Then at 11 a.m. the Riggs, Gordon Tanner, Lynn McMurray and us drove to Hamilton, about 2 hours south.  I checked out a large van from the motor pool, and drove the group.  We arrived at FMG Stadium Waikato, and went to the hospitality suite where we had a buffet lunch.  We were hosted by Sam Hood’s law firm which we do business with in Hamilton.  Then we watched the Waikato rugby team get beat by the Tasman team 35-26.  It was a fast paced game, both teams were quick and physical.  In a competition sponsored by the hospitality suite, Alisa guessed the closest to the final score so she won a basket of goodies to take home with us, along with a rugby ball.  On the trip back we stopped for ice cream at Pocono. 

Visiting General Authorities

Waikato v. Tasman

Alisa won the prize

Rugby fans

Wenderholm Regional Park outing

The weeks continue to pass by quickly.  At the office I’m kept busy putting out little fires here and there, and reviewing and approving contracts.  I’ve met a couple of times with various members of the area presidency this week to discuss a tax case and a stalking case I’m working on.  Alisa is meeting every other week with Elder Yamashita’s wife to give her English lessons. 

Wednesday evening we were invited to dinner at the Whatcott’s apartment, along with the Pols.  We enjoyed the food and company.

Friday after work I re-potted my 2 tomato vines into bigger pots.  In fact I have 8 or 9 cherry tomatoes on one plant.  I have them and the zucchini plant out on our patio to get plenty of sunshine and rain water.

Saturday morning Alisa and I helped out on a service project for the YSA ward.  We went over to Anthony’s house with the young folks and spent a couple of hours cleaning up the back yard.  We filled up a trailer with brush and cuttings.  We didn’t stick around for the bbq afterwards.  Instead we stopped by a fruit market and a meat market and a Japanese food store we saw on the drive there.  We actually stocked up on lamb, pork and some beef, best prices I’ve seen.  We ran into one of our YSA girls there with her father and I think she appreciate being recognized.  We dropped our groceries by the  apartment and fixed lunch.  Since it was 1 p.m. by this time, we decided to just visit a close by park.  So we drove about 30 minutes to Wenderholm Regional park.  There were sheep and lambs there, it is lambing season.  We hiked along the beach there, the water was fairly warm, so I took my shoes and socks off and just walked through the surf.  Then we took a hike along the bluffs and had some beautiful views from up there.  In total we hiked around 5 miles.  Back home again in the evening, I prepared my lesson for my How to Start your own Business class, which I will facilitate after church today.  Today’s lesson will be the half way point, and we are still getting around 10 students per class.  Church starts soon so I’d better start getting ready.

hiking the coast line at Wenderholm Regional Park

Wenderholm Regional Park view from the top

Maori pou whenua (tiki)

Sheep at Wenderholm Regional Park

ALISA'S BIRTHDAY

The big case this week in our office is that we got a young elder from Tonga out of Papua New Guinea.  Towards the end of his mission, he got in an auto accident with a pedestrian (about 3 months ago).  The government took away his passport, and required that he stay in the country until his trial date.  He ended up staying beyond his mission release date by about 1 ½ months.  PNG is an interesting country, high crime, about 85% unemployment, kidnappings, and a dangerous place.  Bribes are expected.  At the missionary’s trial, the judge said he should have received 5 years in prison, but instead gave him probation.  We got him a ticket out of the country as soon as he got his passport back, and he’s home again now. Friday evening we had Gordon and Julie Tanner and Dean and Vangie Walker over for dinner of Hawaiian haystacks and games.  
Saturday was Alisa’s 58^th birthday, so we spent most of the day celebrating that.  We decided to take it easy since last weekend was spent traveling to and from Wellington.  She wanted to go to a movie, and the only one on was A Dog’s Journey.  So we went to the 10 a.m. showing.  It was ok, but melodramatic.  Then we walked around the Takapuna downtown, where we got some money out of the ATM, and I got a badly needed haircut.  Alisa wanted to watch Pres. Nelson’s 95^th birthday celebration party, so we did that on the church’s website.  From there we went to The Plant Barn, a nursery about a mile down the road.  I wanted to check out their inventory, particularly citrus, and we bought beef steak tomato, cherry tomato and zucchini plants to grow on our patio.  Then we drove to Devonport, where we went out for her birthday dinner at a Greek restaurant, then walked around their cute downtown area.

Alisa's 58th birthday dinner at Greek restaurant, Devonport