WELCOME TO THE SHIRE!

This was an action packed week.  Ed was here as our guest so we wanted to spend as much time with him as possible.  I had to go to the office on Monday and Tuesday.   So Mom entertained him on those 2 days, taking him to SheepWorld, and a ferry ride to Rangitoto Island and downtown Auckland.  Monday evening Mom and I were in charge of the monthly Senior Missionary fireside, so we chose a service project to show the YSA ward members around the Area Office building. We had some seniors assigned to do short classes explaining what they do as senior missionaries. The other seniors were “tour guides”, taking small groups of YSA’s around the building to the classes.  We had around 30 YSA’s attend. The activity went from 7 to 8:30pm, then treats in the kitchen area.  The YSA’s hung around until about 9:40 pm visiting and playing table tennis.  Sis. Gubler and I finally had to shoo them off so we could lock up.  Everyone involved seemed to have a good experience.  One young man, Sam, said it had got him thinking about going on a mission now rather than waiting until he got more college done.

Tuesday evening after work I took Ed to the golf driving range just down the road from our apartment, where Elder Simmons (age 80), an avid golfer, gave him plenty of pointers.  Then I took Ed out to dinner at a Indian restaurant in Devonport. Then I dropped Ed off at Maddie’s house, a young sister in the YSA ward, for a game night with some ward members.

Wednesday through today (Sunday) Alisa and I took off full time missionary work to show Ed around.  I took my iPad with me so I could do a little work and respond to work emails.  We left Auckland around 8 a.m. on Wednesday and drove to Coromandel peninsula, where we visited Cathedral Cove and Hot Water beach. At the beach at low tide you dig a hole in the sand and hot water seeps up into your own little hot tub! 

Thursday morning we had a delicious breakfast at the Hot Wave cafe, before driving along the Pacific Coast Highway 2 along the Bay of Plenty.  This is the bread basket of New Zealand, I enjoyed seeing the many avocado and kiwi farms.  We checked into our bnb outside Rotorua where we would spend the next 2 nights.  After unpacking we dropped by the Information center to learn of the various activities available and to buy tickets.  From there we went to the Polynesian Spa, one of the best I’ve been to, 8 separate natural hot pools, to soak our sore muscles.  Then we had dinner at a nice restaurant on Eat Street.  Finally we visited the Redwood Forest and hiked the elevated lit up bridges in the tree tops in the dark, pretty cool.

Friday morning we went to the Wharerararera Maori Living Village and then to their haka and singing show.  Stopped by Carl’s Jr. for a quick bite.  Then Ed and I went to Off-road New Zealand where we drove an old Suzuki Samaria and did some 4 wheeling. Then on to Rotorua Rafting for Ed to do some river rafting, and over a 7 meter waterfall, supposedly the largest drop of any commercial rafting company in the world.  His raft went over the waterfall upside down and they all got drenched!

Saturday we packed up and drove to Hamilton where  Mom had some public affairs meetings, so Ed and I visited the Hamilton Gardens meanwhile.  Then we drove to Matamata where we checked into our final bnb, before visiting Hobiton, where they made the Lord of the Ring and Hobbit movies. It had been overcast all day, but the sun came out just as we got to the Shire, and we got plenty of pictures and enjoyed that experience.  

This morning we drove to the next town over, Morrisville which has a branch of the Church.  It turned out to be a great little branch, it was their Primary program and they even invited us to stay over for their linger longer.  Then we drove back to Auckland and unpacked before attending the YSA fireside at the Redoubt stake center where Elder Rasband spoke to the YSA’s.  Ed was invited to attend that fireside by the cute RS president, Ashley.

Ed returns home tomorrow, then we’ll miss him again along with the rest of the family.