The Pacific Post

  Week 53 Public Affairs and Camera Training 17 August 2025 This is an FYI for future missionaries, whatever the weather report says for the day, don't believe it.   Always take a rain coat.   Even if the sky is blue and there is no wind and you can feel spring in the air, don't assume you won't get wet.   Auckland weather is a little unique.   Because we are so far south, we follow the path of winds and weather coming from Antarctica.   You may feel like spring is coming as you step out the door to go to the Area office and by the end of the day it is pouring rain, windy, and and a cozy arctic breeze.   That happened more than once this week.   This week could probably be described as full of variety.   Monday's tend to be big meeting days as our department and group plan the week and coordinate all the events.  We will give you a taste of only a few of the activities below. On the right next to L...

 Week 52 Pioneer Day and Prime Ministers 10 August 2025 Much of our week this week was working to arrange hosting for the king of Tonga going to Temple Square, the Prime Minister of Vanuatu meeting with Elder Bednar when he is in the US,  and Elder Meurs (the Pacific Area President) meeting with the new President of New Caledonia.   Our part of this process is the communication between all those involved, drafting letters, invitations, and bios and in the case of New Caledonia we track down who in the country has the best connection to the President Office's.  I believe most members of the Church have no idea the volume of dignitary visits and hosting that goes on all around the world.   For example, our department arranged for many of the ambassadors from Pacific to meet with Elder Meurs so that they can discuss how to get visa approved for missionaries.   A good portion of what we do is connecting people and building relationships that can ...

  Week 51 UNICEF Interfaith Dinner 1 August 2025 Hello everyone! What a great week. This week was a our big UNICEF dinner that we have been planning for a couple of months. 60 people invited. You have no idea everything that should be considered in a seating chart. Then we had Kosher and Halal diets. Interesting! Kelly helping Elder Meurs, Area President,  prepare his presentation for the UNICEF inter-faith dinner.  The Pacific Area works with UNICEF to fund and manage a number of child nutrition programs and Giving Machines here. UNICEF suggested we sponsor a dinner bringing together leaders of different faiths to talk about how we can work together more effectively to help and care for the less advantaged in the Pacific.  We had leaders from the Anglican Church, Catholic Church, Protestant, Muslim, Jewish, Baha'i, and a few others attend.  The presentations were inspiring. Such great people trying to do great things to help others.  Elder Shaw and I are t...