Week 45
Another Week Flies By
22 June 2025
Hello Everyone! It's hard to believe that it is a new week. Last week went extremely fast. This picture gives you a feel for a day in the life of an office missionary. Kelly feels like there are too many meeting, but he cannot argue about this one. This was a new idea. It's called a 10 minute stand up meeting. Candace spontaneously called a stand up meeting first thing Monday morning. Everyone reported what he/she is working on that day. It was actually pretty interesting and helpful.
The men that are our desk buddies are Duschon and Tetoki. They are amazingly talented. They work on editing reels all day. It's interesting to watch them. I caught Duschon singing "Bless Your Beautiful Hide" from 7 Brides. He said it is his favorite movie. We are besties now.
Our emphasis this week was doing research to better understand the reputation of the church in the Pacific. Kelly and I were trained on software called Brandwatch. It's amazing what it can track. With the software, Kelly was able to make a report on social media traffic (positive/negative) in New Zealand and Australia over the last year. We have a lot of work to do to improve the reputation of the Church in Australia and also New Zealand. The islands actually have a favorable opinion of the Church.
Here are a few articles we have been working on recently.
https://news-pacific.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/video-byu-womens-soccer-team-visits-new-zealand
This dinner was probably the best thing we did all week. We took Candace McNabb (a church emplyee in our office) and her daughter, Laila, out to dinner. Candace and Laila joined the church 2 1/2 years ago at the insistence of the 17 year daughter, Laila. She is an old soul. They both are amazing people. 2 weeks ago they were sealed to their dad/husband who died 12 years ago.
Anyway, they are both going to the US for 3 weeks to visit the church history sights and BYU, SLC, and California. For the most part it will be a road trip. They are both so excited. We told them what to see and eat and how to drive. I wish there was a BYU sporting event or a good Hale Theater show, but we can't find anything.
This is what happens when Elder Shaw doesn't proof read Sister Shaw's work.
It was the Maori New Year of Friday and so the whole country had the day off. We spent the day catching up on some work and then we took the ferry to Auckland and did a tour of the NZ Maritime Museum and then walked along the dock. It was cold. Beautiful but chilly with the wind.
This was at the Sugar Factory. We scheduled to take a tour of the huge sugar plant but when we got their their train wasn't working and so we had a great lunch together and then back to work.
Tonight we enjoyed a musical fireside by Sister Jaggi's family who are here visiting NZ. We enjoyed their beautiful voices. The missionaries filled the church with friends of the church. There were about 700 people in attendance. Elder and Sister Jaggi are in the middle with a couple investigating the church.
We received a lunch invitation after church today by Karlene and Darren Wihongi. They are such great people with interesting life stories. They told us about the family structure in the Tongan and Samoan culture. They told us what Island cultures historically get along better then others. They told us about their children and their desire to go to Japan. Life has been hard for them but they are happy and they are living the gospel and working to stay on the covenant path. We are so proud of them.
We love our mission. I'm not sure we are doing much good some days but we just keep plugging along loving and working where we can. I do know this is the Lord's church and He directs His church through President Nelson. I know we are where we are suppose to be. I feel the Lord's love for the people here in the Pacific. I can see the Plan of Salvation working in their lives.
We love you and miss you!
Elder and Sister Shaw
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