New Zealand Wellington Mission Blog April 2020
New Zealand Wellington Mission Blog April 2020
April 2020 will be long remembered as the month of lock-down in New Zealand because of the COVID-19 Virus. On March 26, all New Zealand residents were required to begin a 4-week Alert Level 4 Lock-down which meant that we had to stay at home with only those in our “bubble” (those in our own household). Those who could work from home were encouraged to do so and only essential workers were allowed to work outside of their homes. We were allowed to go out each day for walks and exercise, and to get groceries, or to seek medical help. All other places of business were closed.
Our prophet, President Nelson, also made several adjustments so that we, as church members, could be good global citizens. All church meetings were cancelled and we were encouraged to have our Sunday meetings at home with our families. Church buildings were closed and some temples in the hardest hit areas were also closed, and eventually all temples were closed for a time.
Also, missionaries were directed to stay in their flats and work from there. They were given a schedule with 2 periods of time for outdoor exercise each day. Contacts were to be made through their smartphones.
Missionaries in many countries began to be called home and underwent a 2-week isolation period in their homes before interacting with others again. More and more missionaries began going home and on March 24, the Pacific Area Presidency sent out an email asking Mission Presidents in the Pacific Area, which includes New Zealand, to begin sending all young missionaries home to their home countries as flights became available. This was a huge project, but we had many miracles along the way and many tender mercies that helped us to see the hand of the Lord in what was being done.
Although we were working from home this month, we still had much to do. At the beginning of the month, we had Chris and Cory Wofford staying with us. When it was announced that all foreign missionaries were to return to their home countries, senior missionaries were given the option of whether they would go home or stay. Elder and Sister Wofford were serving in Christchurch (South Island) and they were definite that they were going to stay. But as they prayed about that decision, they felt that they needed to return home. They were surprised, but humbly did as the Lord directed them. We had an extra bed and we invited them to stay with us until their flight was ready to return them to their home in Utah. And they turned out to be a miracle in our lives! As we prepared for the 60 young missionaries and 4 senior missionaries (2 Couples) who were returning to the United States and Canada, we had so many things to do – filling out extensive forms about the missionaries; preparing packets for each of them with their passports, mission pictures, and other information; figuring out their home airports; sending daily updates via email to their parents who were wondering what was happening. The Woffords had extensive computer and organizational skills and were so willing to help us with all the details of getting everything ready for these missionaries to go home as well as helping with meals and housework.
They even bought a birthday cake on my birthday so we could have a nice celebration! What a blessing they were in our lives at that time!
The area travel department ended up booking charter flights for Monday, April 6 for the missionaries to get from Wellington to Sydney, Australia and then from Sydney to Salt Lake City, Utah. From Salt Lake, those who were going further took commercial flights to their homes in Canada or the United States. The missionary who had to go the furthest flew from Salt Lake back to his home in Hawaii. His parents sent us an email jokingly asking if we could throw their son out of the plane on the way over Hawaii en route to Salt Lake. We said we would do so and that they should catch him when he landed.
On Monday, April 6th, we left for the airport at 6:30 AM with the Woffords. We were sad to say good-bye to them and the other 62 missionaries who were leaving. We arrived at the airport at about 7:00 AM and the security people said we couldn’t come in until about 10:00 AM. As the missionaries gathered, we moved them to one of the parking lots because there weren’t very many people at the airport since flights are so scarce during the COVID-19. It was nice for them to have some time to visit since many of them will be going to separate locations when they get back to the United States.
At 10:00 AM we started going into the airport.
We had the packets for each of the missionaries containing their passports and any other pictures or information that we had in their files that we needed to give to them. It turned out to be a very well planned, well organized, and well executed process. We had one little hiccup at the beginning when the Virgin Australia flight couldn’t take off because the Australian government didn’t see that it was a connecting flight and that they were going onto the US. Kathy went out and asked groups of missionaries to pray so that we could overcome this little problem. As soon as she got to the last group of missionaries and they said their prayer, Fred came out and told us that all was well and we could now start boarding the flight. We were grateful that we had a chance to say goodbye to each of the missionaries as we gave them their packet.
Once all the missionaries got on the plane, our job was over, and we came home. We will miss these valiant young men and young women, especially the ones that we have gotten to know so well. Things felt very quiet and lonely after the Woffords left. We sure appreciated all of their help as we got everything ready for the American and Canadian missionaries to go back to their homes. It truly was a miracle that we had them here to help us and we were so grateful to Heavenly Father for providing that help for us.
During the rest of the month, we also helped prepare other missionaries to return to their home countries – 1 to South Korea, 1 to Fiji, 1 to Scotland; and 3 to the Philippines. Although we do not book the actual flights (that is booked by Area travel in Auckland), we do prepare all of their travel documents and sometimes drive them to the airport. These missionaries feel a whole variety of emotions as they leave the mission – most are sad to go, excited to see their families, and nervous about the next step in their lives. All of this is very unexpected for them!
We have seen many tender mercies from our Heavenly Father as we have worked to get all these missionaries’ home. One morning we got up early and went to the airport to meet the three elders from the Philippines who were flying back to their home country. Fred went into the airport with them to help them arrange for their luggage, but he was not able to pay the extra baggage charges from Auckland to the Philippines because Philippines Airlines doesn’t fly out of Wellington. We told the elders to give us a call when they got to Auckland so we could help them pay for their extra baggage charges. When we got home, we did a little work and then the Philippine elders contacted us. They were going through the security line and paying for their baggage. We gave the clerk the number of the mission credit card but it did not work at the airport and then we tried to give them our personal debit card number over the phone but that also didn’t work. We did not know what we were going to do. We told the elders we would call them back in a few minutes but the elders called us back and said that a member Lady had seen their problems and had offered to pay for their bags and then get reimbursed by the mission. We talked to her and took her up on her very generous offer and their problem was solved. We later learned that she worked for Air New Zealand and had been called in for an extra shift. Then the shift had been cancelled so she was helping out at Philippine Airlines when the elders started having their problems. It was a miracle provided by our Heavenly Father to help those Elders get home with all their luggage, safe and sound. They felt cared about and looked after by their Heavenly Father! We were so grateful for his tender mercy!
After all these missionaries had left to go back to their homes, we have 45 young missionaries left in our mission, 18 Senior Missionaries (9 Senior Couples), and President and Sister Soloai. (We had 84 missionaries in total who have left to return to their home countries.) There are still more
missionaries who will leave when the borders of their countries open up to their own citizens again – such as Samoa and Tonga. We are expecting more missionaries to join us as the missionaries who are coming back to their homes in New Zealand are assigned to our mission. We look forward to that!
As well as all the travel, Fred has been working on the finances and the technology this month. He has become the Mission Zoom expert and has facilitated quite a few meetings since we are all staying in our flats (except for exercise and to get groceries or go to the doctor). It’s amazing to us the way that Heavenly Father uses our talents to bless the building of His kingdom. Fred has developed a talent for technology over the years and he’s really expanded that on the mission as he’s been asked to be the mission technology specialist. It’s amazing to me how he can figure things out and use his talent to bless so many people!
Because of the Lockdown, Fred and I have tried some things that we otherwise might not have done. Fred and I both needed haircuts this month – it was long overdue for Fred! Because of the lockdown, there aren’t any barbers or salons open so I decided to look on YouTube so I could figure out how to cut Fred‘s hair. I actually did a really good job and he looks very handsome! He also trimmed my hair and it looks better too!
I have also been brave enough to drive, since there aren’t many cars on the road. My first adventure was the day after my birthday and I went out with Fred. Then a few days later, I went to get some groceries – all by myself! Fred drove the car out of the garage for me because our garage is so skinny! Then I drove to the New World grocery store in Tawa, got my groceries and drove home. I stayed on the New Zealand side of the road almost the whole time!
I have to admit that we haven’t really minded the lockdown. We have enjoyed working from home
and it has been nice to spend so much time with each other. We have enjoyed our walks, watched some videos and movies, started an exercise routine, and started reading “The Saints”, a history of the church. We have also enjoyed interacting with our family on Zoom calls, FaceTime, and Messenger. And we have loved having our church meetings at home. Sacrament meeting at home is a very special and sacred time. We start off with a hymn and a prayer then Fred prepares the sacrament and we both partake of it. It is a wonderful time to remember our Savior and all He has done for us. After the sacrament, we either study the scriptures or a Conference Talk or participate in a Zoom Meeting with other members of our Ward or Stake. It has been really special.
April 28 was the first day that we went to level 3 after having been in Level 4 Lockdown for just over four weeks. It gave us a few more freedoms, such as restaurants were allowed to make food for takeaway, although no one was allowed to go into the restaurant to eat. A wider variety of stores could be open but we had to order online and pick up from the store.
In level 3, we also had the opportunity to do some tramping (known as hiking in Canada). Fred had
wanted to go explore the hills that are across Main Road from where we live. He had seen that there was a nature reserve on the other side of the hills and thought we might be able to hike up into the hills, but there weren’t any walking paths over the hills into the reserve. So one day we drove over there but we still couldn’t find any paths or streets that went up into the hills. We ended up near the top of a hill lined with beautiful homes in a dead end street. We didn’t really know where we were so we looked at Google maps. We saw Spicer Botanical Park on the map so we plugged it in to the Navi and drove over there.
It was really nice over there! There were lots of trees, some like you would find in Canada and some that were much more tropical!
There were walking paths and biking paths and picnic tables. It was a beautiful natural reserve.
We went on a nice walk and found the Trash Palace – Spicer Botanical Park is right next to a recycling depot. It was a really good use of space which others might not think was very desirable. It was really fun to walk through there. There were lots of different types of foliage and lots of colours as it’s fall here now.
We hope you, our friends and family, are doing well and that you are staying healthy and safe. We hope that you are experiencing unexpected blessings from this trial and that good things come into your life because of it.
The following is a video which kind of describes what we are experiencing and we thought you might enjoy it:
“Our Gospel Adventure” video by Elder Uchtdorf.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhG_SY-LhPE&list=PLcz6KlgPGaLKKyjlAGNNMsCMm_jXDx9-r
April 2020 will be long remembered as the month of lock-down in New Zealand because of the COVID-19 Virus. On March 26, all New Zealand residents were required to begin a 4-week Alert Level 4 Lock-down which meant that we had to stay at home with only those in our “bubble” (those in our own household). Those who could work from home were encouraged to do so and only essential workers were allowed to work outside of their homes. We were allowed to go out each day for walks and exercise, and to get groceries, or to seek medical help. All other places of business were closed.
Our prophet, President Nelson, also made several adjustments so that we, as church members, could be good global citizens. All church meetings were cancelled and we were encouraged to have our Sunday meetings at home with our families. Church buildings were closed and some temples in the hardest hit areas were also closed, and eventually all temples were closed for a time.
Also, missionaries were directed to stay in their flats and work from there. They were given a schedule with 2 periods of time for outdoor exercise each day. Contacts were to be made through their smartphones.
Missionaries in many countries began to be called home and underwent a 2-week isolation period in their homes before interacting with others again. More and more missionaries began going home and on March 24, the Pacific Area Presidency sent out an email asking Mission Presidents in the Pacific Area, which includes New Zealand, to begin sending all young missionaries home to their home countries as flights became available. This was a huge project, but we had many miracles along the way and many tender mercies that helped us to see the hand of the Lord in what was being done.
They even bought a birthday cake on my birthday so we could have a nice celebration! What a blessing they were in our lives at that time!
The area travel department ended up booking charter flights for Monday, April 6 for the missionaries to get from Wellington to Sydney, Australia and then from Sydney to Salt Lake City, Utah. From Salt Lake, those who were going further took commercial flights to their homes in Canada or the United States. The missionary who had to go the furthest flew from Salt Lake back to his home in Hawaii. His parents sent us an email jokingly asking if we could throw their son out of the plane on the way over Hawaii en route to Salt Lake. We said we would do so and that they should catch him when he landed.
On Monday, April 6th, we left for the airport at 6:30 AM with the Woffords. We were sad to say good-bye to them and the other 62 missionaries who were leaving. We arrived at the airport at about 7:00 AM and the security people said we couldn’t come in until about 10:00 AM. As the missionaries gathered, we moved them to one of the parking lots because there weren’t very many people at the airport since flights are so scarce during the COVID-19. It was nice for them to have some time to visit since many of them will be going to separate locations when they get back to the United States.
At 10:00 AM we started going into the airport.
Once all the missionaries got on the plane, our job was over, and we came home. We will miss these valiant young men and young women, especially the ones that we have gotten to know so well. Things felt very quiet and lonely after the Woffords left. We sure appreciated all of their help as we got everything ready for the American and Canadian missionaries to go back to their homes. It truly was a miracle that we had them here to help us and we were so grateful to Heavenly Father for providing that help for us.
We have seen many tender mercies from our Heavenly Father as we have worked to get all these missionaries’ home. One morning we got up early and went to the airport to meet the three elders from the Philippines who were flying back to their home country. Fred went into the airport with them to help them arrange for their luggage, but he was not able to pay the extra baggage charges from Auckland to the Philippines because Philippines Airlines doesn’t fly out of Wellington. We told the elders to give us a call when they got to Auckland so we could help them pay for their extra baggage charges. When we got home, we did a little work and then the Philippine elders contacted us. They were going through the security line and paying for their baggage. We gave the clerk the number of the mission credit card but it did not work at the airport and then we tried to give them our personal debit card number over the phone but that also didn’t work. We did not know what we were going to do. We told the elders we would call them back in a few minutes but the elders called us back and said that a member Lady had seen their problems and had offered to pay for their bags and then get reimbursed by the mission. We talked to her and took her up on her very generous offer and their problem was solved. We later learned that she worked for Air New Zealand and had been called in for an extra shift. Then the shift had been cancelled so she was helping out at Philippine Airlines when the elders started having their problems. It was a miracle provided by our Heavenly Father to help those Elders get home with all their luggage, safe and sound. They felt cared about and looked after by their Heavenly Father! We were so grateful for his tender mercy!
After all these missionaries had left to go back to their homes, we have 45 young missionaries left in our mission, 18 Senior Missionaries (9 Senior Couples), and President and Sister Soloai. (We had 84 missionaries in total who have left to return to their home countries.) There are still more
As well as all the travel, Fred has been working on the finances and the technology this month. He has become the Mission Zoom expert and has facilitated quite a few meetings since we are all staying in our flats (except for exercise and to get groceries or go to the doctor). It’s amazing to us the way that Heavenly Father uses our talents to bless the building of His kingdom. Fred has developed a talent for technology over the years and he’s really expanded that on the mission as he’s been asked to be the mission technology specialist. It’s amazing to me how he can figure things out and use his talent to bless so many people!
Because of the Lockdown, Fred and I have tried some things that we otherwise might not have done. Fred and I both needed haircuts this month – it was long overdue for Fred! Because of the lockdown, there aren’t any barbers or salons open so I decided to look on YouTube so I could figure out how to cut Fred‘s hair. I actually did a really good job and he looks very handsome! He also trimmed my hair and it looks better too!
I have also been brave enough to drive, since there aren’t many cars on the road. My first adventure was the day after my birthday and I went out with Fred. Then a few days later, I went to get some groceries – all by myself! Fred drove the car out of the garage for me because our garage is so skinny! Then I drove to the New World grocery store in Tawa, got my groceries and drove home. I stayed on the New Zealand side of the road almost the whole time!
I have to admit that we haven’t really minded the lockdown. We have enjoyed working from home
 |
| Above is a Bottlebrush tree we saw on one of our walks in our community |
and it has been nice to spend so much time with each other. We have enjoyed our walks, watched some videos and movies, started an exercise routine, and started reading “The Saints”, a history of the church. We have also enjoyed interacting with our family on Zoom calls, FaceTime, and Messenger. And we have loved having our church meetings at home. Sacrament meeting at home is a very special and sacred time. We start off with a hymn and a prayer then Fred prepares the sacrament and we both partake of it. It is a wonderful time to remember our Savior and all He has done for us. After the sacrament, we either study the scriptures or a Conference Talk or participate in a Zoom Meeting with other members of our Ward or Stake. It has been really special.
April 28 was the first day that we went to level 3 after having been in Level 4 Lockdown for just over four weeks. It gave us a few more freedoms, such as restaurants were allowed to make food for takeaway, although no one was allowed to go into the restaurant to eat. A wider variety of stores could be open but we had to order online and pick up from the store.
In level 3, we also had the opportunity to do some tramping (known as hiking in Canada). Fred had
There were walking paths and biking paths and picnic tables. It was a beautiful natural reserve.
We hope you, our friends and family, are doing well and that you are staying healthy and safe. We hope that you are experiencing unexpected blessings from this trial and that good things come into your life because of it.
The following is a video which kind of describes what we are experiencing and we thought you might enjoy it:
“Our Gospel Adventure” video by Elder Uchtdorf.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhG_SY-LhPE&list=PLcz6KlgPGaLKKyjlAGNNMsCMm_jXDx9-r
