LEVEL 3

This week NZ dropped from level 4 to level 3 related Covid 19 restrictions.  The main difference we have observed was that many restaurants started up in business again, via take out, and travel restrictions were loosened up to allow travel around the Auckland region, more cars on the road.  The drive through line at Kentucky Fried Chicken down the street from our apartment was ridiculous, wrapping around 2 times and up to 1-2 hour waits (KFC here is the most popular fast food, more so than McDonalds and the others).  I noticed a lot more people out and about, I believe that people have gotten tired of being cooped up. 

Friday May 1 marked completion of 11 months on our mission, with 7 to go.  So at the end of the workday, to celebrate I dropped by the Noodle Canteen and brought home takeout.  We enjoyed Honey Chicken noodles, Garlic Prawns and Curry Laksa.  It was the first time for our trying out this place, and we were pleasantly surprised. 

Saturday morning was our break out day.  For the first time in 2 months, we went out on a Saturday for an activity.  We drove to Shakespear Regional Park and hiked 5 miles.  We observed native bush, pastures, and scenic ocean views. Down by the beach people were going out in the low tide area and collecting cockles to boil and eat.  It felt good to be out and about.  In the afternoon, Alisa made brownies, and we took some to 4 lonely young Elders who are confined to their missionary apartment, and to Bishop Dil and his family, including meeting his daughter Emma who just returned home from her mission to Australia. 

We’ll have Sunday School today again via Zoom in our apartment.  I’m not sure how long it will be until the Church allows the holding of Sabbath meetings again.  We continue to work out of our apartment office.  I suspect that NZ will go down to level 2 in a couple more weeks since it has become apparent that there really isn’t a Covid 19 problem here, at which time we should be able to return to our offices in the Area Office building. To date, after less than 2 months, there have been 1,485 cases of Covid 19 in NZ, 5 currently in the hospital, with 1,263 recoveries and 20 deaths.  Of the deaths, most all were people who had pre-existing conditions, less in total than what you’d expect from the common flu.