TWO FATHER'S DAYS

Covid 19 is still in the news a little here.  2 New Zealanders living in Great Britain were allowed to come to NZ for a relative’s funeral, a compassionate exception, and apparently brought Covid 19 with them.  They weren’t tested in advance and left isolation, but there is no report of anyone catching it from them.  That was the great scandal this week, but otherwise, no Covid 19 in NZ as the borders remain locked down.  They are starting to realize that even that affects the economy since NZ relies so heavily on tourism and imports.

I enjoyed going to Church again last Sunday.  Everyone was happy to be back, and the turnout was great in the YSA ward.  Even shaking hands was back in style.

This was the first week I was back in the area offices, got all the computer and phone equipment back up and running.  Even the heating in my office is working again.  It was for the most part a rainy, overcast week.  We are back in the middle of a typical NZ winter, which frankly is quite mild.  It was very quiet in the area offices, most of the employees who work there aren’t anxious to return, I think they are enjoying playing hookey “working” from home.  The target for them returning is the 2^nd week of July. 

I’m working on getting back in good shape.  I’m jogging daily now, and daily doing 50 pushups and 50 touch my toes.  One of the young men in the ward is attending barbering school, he was looking for people to practice on so I had him give me a haircut this week.  Did a good job, then charged me $30, more than the regular barber does!

Some interesting statistics I saw this week.  The Church still has 2,300 young missionaries serving in foreign countries who have completed their missions but can’t get home.  In the next 3 months, another 2,100 will be finishing up, of which 1,600 may not be able to return home unless their countries reopen their borders.  If they can’t get home, the Church can’t just release them and allow them to wander or become homeless (remember they don’t have work visas and can’t get jobs).  So the Church will probably extend their missions, because then they’ll have housing, food and insurance until they can go home.  New mission presidents start July 1.  There are 132 couples going out.  Of those, 73 are cleared to go and start serving.  59 are not cleared yet.  Of the 73, 63 are citizens of the countries they’re serving in.  Of the 59, 34 have visas but no travel clearance, 9 have travel clearance but no visas, and 16 have neither.  So Covid 19 is still having a big impact on missionary work.

Yesterday, Saturday, we took it easy.  We helped the family of one of our YSA’s pack up and move to a new home in the morning.  I also took a 5 mile bike ride in the morning and jogged 3 miles in the evening.  The young people in NZ, especially Auckland, are discouraged.  A starter home in Auckland is around $800,000 NZD, or $550,000 USD.  And mortgage loans require 20% down.  Meanwhile, jobs here pay less than in the US.  So we’re seeing more and more multi-generational living arrangements in homes here, similar to what has been happening in Hawaii for many years.  I suggest that the young adults go to smaller towns where housing is less expensive, but the YSA’s tell me that jobs are scarce there, and so are potential mates.

Today is Father’s day.  I’ve heard from most of the kids so far.  I tell them not to forget that I’m entitled to 2 Father’s days this year, since it is celebrated in September in NZ!