THANK YOU MTC

Elder and Sister Dil are the MTC presidents here.  They are wonderful people and have lived an amazing life.  Elder Dil was the mission president in Ghana a few years ago.  They have some great stories of their experiences there.  He has also served as an Area Authority for the Church here in New Zealand.  And now they are serving for 2 years in the MTC.  They work so well together.  They are a powerful couple.  We went out to dinner with them on Tuesday night.  Not that the MTC food isn't good but the restaurant had fabulous food and was a nice change.

 Lamb Shank for Kim

 Salmon for Rhonda

Dinner with the Dil's at Melba's

This week we have been taught so well. As we've sat through our classes with Sister Langkilde we have felt the missionary spirit so strongly.  I have felt many times that the Preach My Gospel book and program is definitely inspired for the missionaries in today's world.  I have felt how important it is to understand the Gospel of Jesus Christ, how much our Heavenly Father loves us and how Joseph Smith truly restored this gospel for the benefit on all people but especially families.  I understand more fully how important our obedience is to all the commandments of God.  The Book of Mormon truly testifies of Jesus Christ but it also testifies that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God called to translate the Book of Mormon and to restore the Church after the great apostasy when the early apostles were killed. I've loved our week here.

 Our great instructor, Sister Langkilde.  She is Samoan by birth but has lived in New Zealand since she was 12.  She served her mission to Samoa and changed the lives of many while serving.  Now she changes many by preparing missionaries.  She is in the picture behind us as a missionary in Samoa.

We have loved being with young Elders and Sisters getting ready to serve missions.  They have a great responsibility and are being prepared so well.  There's one Elder from the Great Barrier Island who makes us smile every time we see him.  He often has treats that his family sent with him that he offers us.  Or I should say "lollies."  Tonight he showed us a jade necklace that is unique to his homeland.  He was very proud of it.  The other night as we were out walking the halls, the missionaries were on break from their classes.  We didn't have class that night and had finished our afternoon classes early.  That afternoon we had left the center and had gone walking through the neighborhood and had done some exploring.  Some of the missionaries had noticed us leaving.  They asked us about our schedule and asked us about some of the things we were able to do.  We obviously don't have the restrictions that the young missionaries have.  One of the Elders asked us, "Do you have any rules?"  We laughed and said..."We still have to obey the commandments."  I suppose they are feeling pretty restricted.  The privilege of being a senior missionary is that you really don't have any rules.  At least it feels that way to the young missionaries. 😂😂😂

 Going for a walk in the neighborhood.  Everything here is green.  Even though it's winter it never freezes.  Some of the trees loose their leaves and some do not.

 This is Sister Shariki from Japan, Sister Teo from Tonga and Sister Lin from Taiwan, who came to the MTC with NO English but has had 8 weeks of instruction and can carry-on a fairly good conversation.  Miracles happen with these missionaries.

 This district sang a song Sunday at the evening devotional.  It was beautiful.

 Sister Soli on the left is a cousin with Elder Tauiliili.  They are not going to the same mission but at least they get to be together for 9 weeks in the MTC while they both learn to speak English.  Don't you think Sister Soli and Sister Teabi are so cute in their matching shirts?! 💖  Sister Teabi is from the small country/island of Kiribati, pronounced kid-a-bus.

 Elder Tauiliili sprained his ankle playing basketball shortly after we got here.  Today he is back in his shoe so he's making progress.  He told me NOT to take a picture of their feet--but I just couldn't resist.  😂😬  Elder Tauiliili's parents are on a mission in PNG (Papua New Guinea) and will be going home next week.  He will not get to see them until he finishes his mission in 2 years!  Now that's sacrifice.

Yesterday we went to the Area Church Office Building.  This is where the whole education department works.  We met with them and found out their responsibilities and their role in helping run the 17 church schools that exist in the Pacific Islands.  There are schools in Tonga, Samoa, Fiji and Kiribati.  We will be working at the high school and a primary school in Fiji. The only 2 church owned schools there.  Kiribati has a high school.  The remainder of the schools are in Tonga and Samoa.  I don't know if we'll get to visit the other schools on the other islands.  We learned that the school's purpose is to bring individuals unto Christ.  This is what the ITEP missionaries objective is: "Our purpose is to help youth and young adults understand and rely on the teachings and Atonement of Jesus Christ, qualify for the blessings of the temple, and prepare themselves, their families and others for eternal life with their Father in Heaven."

 Abinadi took us to breakfast on our way to the church offices.  He is an assistant at the MTC.   This was Kim's hot chocolate!

 My orange juice was delicious!

 I've never had such good egg benedicts and Kim said his omelet was amazing.

 One of the laundry rooms here.  I think there are 3 laundry areas.

 Court yard in the middle of the center.

 The hallway outside our room.  The door at the end goes into the Elder's area.

 Apparently this is quite common for the New Zealanders to eat vegemite on their toast.  We've never heard of it.  It comes from yeast.  Is a black paste and is quite salty.  It's very high in vitamins, especially vitamin B.  They say it's quite good if you have nausea.  Pregnant women with morning sickness eat it quite a bit. 

 Sister Dil bought this beautiful wood carved nativity while in Ghana.  One of the members of the Church had carved it and sold it to her when he needed some money.  She and Elder Dil tried to help him understand that if he would make more of these he could earn a lot of money.  They had several missionaries put in an order for a set but he just didn't have the motivation or insight to fulfill the desires of the other couples who wanted them.

 Notice the sheep.  It didn't quite meet the rest of the set.  Sister Dil said it was his only mistake.  😂😂😂 It really didn't match as far as the sizing goes and it looked more like a dog.

While in the church offices we met Elder and Sister Saunders.  They are in charge of the medical needs of the mission.  We had their daughter Cortney in our BYU ward several years ago.  Cortney had messaged me and told me her parents were here and to look for them.  I never thought we would but we were delighted when we did meet them.  The world is such a small place when it comes to the gospel.  💗💕

Tomorrow we will say goodbye to these wonderful young missionaries as we head out to Suva.  We are excited to finally be going on our way.  Our hearts are full.  Our testimonies are stronger.  Our desire to serve has grown as well.  "Moce" New Zealand.  Suva here we come! 

The couple in the middle in the front is the mission president and his wife.  The couple on the right is the first counselor and his wife, Elder and Sister Sorensen.  The second counselor and his wife were both sick on Sunday and weren't able to make it to the picture.  We didn't meet them at all this week.