SIGN OF THE TIMES

Again, not much to report this week.  New Zealand is still in level 4 lockdown.  But Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern decreed that we will cut back to level 3 effective Tuesday April 28.  That will allow a little more freedom of movement, anywhere in the regional council, so we can visit and hike in some of the regional parks.  Restaurants can re-open but only serving take out or drive through.  I could use a haircut but barbers aren’t going to be back in business yet. Luckily, I’d gotten a short haircut in early March just before the lockdown went into effect.  And we aren’t returning to our Area office building yet under level 3, so will continue to work from the apartment via computer.  Good thing I had already gone paperless.

Monday was a YSA ward fireside on Zoom.  It was to give the recently returned missionaries an opportunity to report their missions.  I was surprised that our ward had 6 or 7 young missionaries who had returned early as a result of the virus, one who had only been in the Provo MTC for 2 weeks!  He (Awanui Morris) finished his MTC experience online learning the Philippino language from home.  He will now serve in New Zealand when allowed to, then hopefully later on can get into the Philippines to finish his mission there.  I suspect that Alisa and I are the only remaining missionaries in the mission field from our home stake in Visalia, CA. Alisa wasn’t feeling good on Thursday, so I went out in the evening to do the weekly shopping for her.  People here are overreacting in my opinion to the Covid 19 situation.  At the store everyone was wearing masks, looking scared or suspicious of everyone else.  There was plenty of sanitizer and gloves to go around.  Saturday was ANZAC day in Australia and NZ, to celebrate those who have fought and given their lives in wars since WWI (the equivalent of our Memorial and Veterans Days).  Usually the day is marked by big parades but those were all shut down by the virus. I did see a few signs honoring the veterans around town on my walks.  Monday will be the day off work for ANZAC. 
Saturday I went on a 5 mile bike ride around Lake Pupuke near our house.  I am enjoying extremely good health, no aches or pains.  I continue to do better on my jogging as the weeks go by and I look forward to getting outdoors.  I continue to do legal work as many extra hours as I can, including on weekends, to fight the boredom and make the time pass quicker.  This mission is more a mental exercise than anything else at this point.
This morning I got up early to go on a 2-3 mile hike along the beach.  I took the picture below on my return hike home.