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 Week 40

Halfway

18 May 2025

It is true, we are halfway. This last week we hit our halfway point of the mission. Nine months has come and gone and another nine months is ahead of us. If the next nine months has as many wonderful, adventurous, and growing experiences as the first nine months then it should be exciting.   


This is a very typical public affairs lunch. The individual next to Launette is Elana and she is the national relationship manager for UNICEF in New Zealand. We have developed a wonderful relationship with the entire UNICEF team. The Church partners with UNICEF on a number of humanitarian project in the Pacific. She is a wonderful person with a great heart and really wants to help children in need.  FYI, the two young people on the left are the two interns from BYU that just arrived.


This is a typical national communication council meeting. The people at this table sit on the National Communication Council for New Zealand. There are media specialists, political and inter-faith specialist.   We attended to provide training and support where needed, but they don't need us. I think they invite us for Kelly's comic relief. Such capable people who are so dedicated to the gospel. These people basically run the church here. They are involved in everything and know everyone.


Okay this is a left-over picture from BYU Women's Soccer. We are sporting our parting gifts. They were very generous. We are wearing them proudly. Still trying to recover from the high of those two weeks.




House for sale. Anyone want to come and be our neighbor?!?


Anyone recognize these people? This is Carol and Troy Simmons and they were in our Stake in Eagle. They are serving an MLS mission on Cook Islands.  They came to Auckland for a few days.



Mother's Day with a sweet friends in our Tongan ward, Sister Theresa Tagavaitau. I call her Theresa.





The YM came into RS to serve us Costco cake. They were so cute!




Islanders pose for group photos every chance they get. Mother's Day Relief Society. These women are strong, faithful, quick to laugh, articulate matriarchs. I'm learning from them. They have been very accepting. 
The sister in the blue died 2 days later. It was a surprise. I love Bella. She was the first person to welcomed me in the ward our first Sunday. She gave me a big hug and kissed me on the right cheek. When I told her my name is Sister Shaw, she said, "no it's not".  I told her I thought it was. She told me my name is Sister Shol. That is how they say it here. 
The one in the red participates in beauty pageants, not scholarship programs.:) The 3 in the back with flower crowns are from the Cook Islands. I tried their crowns on and they laughed.:)

Isn't the gospel amazing?!? All of these wonderful people who love and serve each other. We all have a common purpose and that is love for the Lord, Jesus Christ.

We had another great week. Next week is going to be intense. We are going to Vanuatu but we don't understand our assignment yet. It's going to be a "learn while you do" experience.

We love you all and miss you. Love,

Elder and Sister Shaw

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