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 Week 26

Orientation and Valentine's FHE

9 February 2025


Hello Everyone! Time is flying by. I can't say that was the case at the beginning of our mission. It's hard to believe that it is already February. This next week marks .333 of our mission. Only a year to go. Crazy! We had a great week.

By the way, does anyone know someone on the BYU Women's Soccer Team? I'm working with a Tasha Bell to bring them here in April. It would be fun to know someone. 


Say hello to these wonderful people. They help us with communication in New Zealand. Their energy is endless and they both have such happy dispositions.  We love being with them. This "public affairs meal" was an opportunity to answer questions, teach, and train.   FYI, Rich Hunter is sitting next to Launette in the blue shirt. He is the manager for communication and public relations in the  Pacific Area.  He is a church employee and he manages 4 sets of senior missionaries.  All truly great people.  


These next few picture are what a senior missionary FHE looks like.  There are about 22 couples in our zone and we get together twice a month to hold FHE.   It was our turn to plan and run the FHE and we opted to do a Valentine's game night.   We played Family Feud, the Newlywed Game, and Draw Your Spouse. It was a good time. (Not many artists in this group:l )   We ended the night decorating sugar cookies for neighbors and ministering. 








Saturday we went to Goat Island with K.C. and Judy. We had planned to rent clear bottom kayaks for the day but when we got to the beach they had cancelled them for the day because of wind.  Still a nice day to relax on a beach and have a great meal with K.C. and Judy.  We are coming back sometime!! Can I just point out the quality color coordination with our shirts and the backdrop.



Today the Shumway's (from Declo ID) invited us over for Sunday dinner. The Yarbough's (from Kaysville UT) were also invited. These 2 couples are some of the kindest people I have ever met. Without guile. There are good people everywhere!


We came home from dinner by way of the beach and look at our view! I saw the color of the sunset and Kelly saw body surfing waves. We don't see body surfing waves very often in Takapuna.



Lastly, I know this is a hard picture to see but it is a screen shot of just a few of the names in our Tongan ward.  Today was ward conference and they do ward conferences here much different than in the states.   It is a huge event.   They had a ward party and meal the day before. Saturday afternoon they did a half-day training with Stake Leaders.   Sunday all the ward and stake leaders wore boutonnieres.  We listened to 2 beautiful musical numbers. Then we had a linger longer after church which fed the whole ward.  The most amazing part was the high councilor who had to read the annual sustainings.   Many islanders have 5 or 6 names in their full name. It was an example of pure effort and took about 10 minutes to get through.  I will never complain again about reading annual sustaining.  This was a whole new level.

This week marks 6 months on our mission.   That seems amazing.  There are times we look back and wonder where the time has gone.  It is called missionary "WORK" for a good reason.   There is truly work involved.   But there is a spirit the permeates missionaries and missionary "work" that is tangible, inspiring, and creates a greater amount of love.  We see members who sacrifice so much for the gospel and have such great hearts.  Elder Oaks gave a landmark talk that everyone should read "The Challenge to Become" in October 2000.  We see so many saints who are far ahead of us the path of Becoming.   We are so grateful for that vision and hope to become more like them as we try to Become what our Savior wants us to come.

We love you and miss you.

Love,

Elder and Sister Shaw


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