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 Week 39

BYU Soccer Visits NZ as Goodwill Ambassadors

11 May 2025

   It's going to be a challenge describing the last 2 weeks, hosting the BYU women's soccer team in New Zealand. This event will certainly be a highlight of our mission. It was inspiring, uplifting, spiritual, fun, and eternal friendships were formed.  It has taken months of planning and coordinating to get all of the logistics, reservations, meals, devotionals, government meetings, and travel arrangements worked out. We must recognized the Lord and the tender mercies we experienced on the tour. It was almost a perfect experience of sharing love and goodwill.


A traditional "lolly lei" welcome at the airport 6:00am Monday morning. No rest for the weary, after checking into the hotel, they ferried to Devonport and hiked up Mt. Victoria for a bird's eye view of Auckland.


The second stop on this tour as "Goodwill Ambassadors" was the Refugee Replacement Center.  This is where the government helps and supports refugee families from all over the world.   

The athletes did an amazing job working with the children at our daily soccer clinics, schools, and centers. I believe it comes naturally with all of the summer camps they do. They were rockstars.


Kate Denney


Paiton Collins. One of 3 non-members on the team.


It is typical for Maori to share their feelings with song. You always come to a gathering prepared to sing a song to show your appreciation and friendship. The refugee kids sang a traditional Maori folk song and the athletes returned with "God Be With You Til We Meet Again". There were tears shed.




They can get intense! The kids loved it.



I seem to match where ever I go. Kyleigh Hastings became a dear friend.


This is Melissa Sweeney the Consulate General for the United States to New Zealand. She welcomed the entire team to her residence and they both exchanged gifts and Q&A.  This was an important meeting for the Church as our relationship with the consulate is critical to getting some things done for in New Zealand.  Afterwards she said, "If there is anything I can do for your church, please let me know." That is what our mission is all about...connections. We try to connect people and build relationships. These girls helped do just that.


The 3 planners of the tour: Tasha Bell (assistant coach), me, and Tania Toria (Wellington public relations director). We have been planning the tour for about 3 months. I will miss our weekly 2 hour meetings. Great women!  Shout-out to Tasha Bell.  She is a rockstar.  She felt like family from the moment we met her. A wonderful person in every way and now a life-long friend.


Head coach Jen Rockwood. She is a legend with 32 years of coaching at BYU.


Meet some of the sweetest women in Hamilton. These 3 widows hosted me and Kelly for Sunday dinner. The whole team spent Sunday with host families. They were such dear women. No dining table. We sat at the 2 TV trays and the others sat on chairs. Definitely a meal to remember.



We also had FUN!! Night kayaking to glowworm caves.



An assistant coach and wife, Brent and Kathy Anderson. This is Zorbing in Rotorua.  


We thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the Bell family.  Defiantly kindred spirits. They are amazing people. Kristen and Cory Bell with their daughter Tasha Bell who is the assistant coach.  Riding the luges in Rotorua is another must in New Zealand.


Raglan Beach Surf School didn't know what hit them!



This was a common scene for many of the nights in New Zealand. A devotional/fireside with youth and YSA. The girls would hit it out of the park with talks, testimonies, panels, Q&A, and fun.




We really could put up many more pictures of our adventure, but you have seen enough. The impact the girls had on members and non-members isn't measurable. It changed the lives of the givers and the receivers. They were definitely ambassadors for GOOD. We gave them all honorable releases from their mini public relations/communication missions. :)   

If there was one take away from the last two weeks, it would be, the Church is in great hands with the coming generation.  So, so, so impressed with these ladies and what they accomplished and how they represented themselves and their school and most importantly the Savior.

We love and miss you!

Elder and Sister Shaw















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