ACTIVITIES THIS WEEK

Thursday evening we had Elder and Sis. Riggs (Tennessee) and Elder and Sis. MacMurray (SLC) over to dinner.  Alisa fixed Hawaiian Haystacks and we visited and played some games.  Friday evening we went out with Elder and Sister Simmons from Idaho to a ward they attend on the other side of Auckland to a Healthy Living class for their ward members.  We learned about stress reduction then exercised in the cultural hall.  The members of the class were mainly Polynesians and had a good time visiting and socializing in the class.

Saturday morning we went with a group of senior missionaries to the home of a local wood carver.  He and his wife immigrated here from Israel about 30 years ago. He showed us how he does wood carvings, and we bought some little nativity sets and trinkets from his shop.  In the afternoon we went with a group to watch the play Les Miserables, put on by a local high school.  They actually did a very professional job in putting on the production.  In the evening we invited Elder and Sister Miekle from St. George Utah to try out an Italian restaurant with us that had been recommended to us in the nearby town of Devonport.  I was impressed by the food and we enjoyed visiting.  Their mission job involves counseling with young missionaries that are having personal issues.

Wood carver

Les Miserables

Les Miserables

Dinner with the Miekles at Bella Sera in Devonport

VISIT TO RANGITOTO VOLCANIC ISLAND

Saturday Alisa and I tried a “do it yourself” adventure.  We drove over to Devonport’s wharf and caught the 9:30 a.m. ferry out to Rangitoto Island.  This uninhabited island is about 600 years old, and basically consists of a volcano, which we climbed.  From the top, we could look down into the crater and had a stunning view of the surrounding islands and the downtown of Auckland.  While we were admiring the view, my magic jack app on my cell phone rang and it was Janell Tuttle calling to visit.  I couldn’t believe that we had that kind of reception out on this volcanic island!  From there we hiked down to and through a lava tube that was pretty cool.  We’d been warned to bring our “torches” (flashlights), so we used our lights on our cell phones to illuminate the tunnel.  We explored the island for about 3 hours then took the 12:45 p.m. ferry back.  The clouds had been threatening all morning, but waited until our return ferry ride to really let loose with the rain.  The sun came out again as we arrived back at Devonport.  We walked around their old-fashioned downtown and had lunch at one of their restaurants, fish and chips for me and buttered chicken and curry for Alisa, while watching some local rugby and cricket on t.v. 

Ferry to Rangitoto island looking out from Devonport, Auckland in the distance