Land of the Long White Clouds

Well, we are having a great time meeting with people that Dick new as a missionary in 1961-62, and they are great just like he said. We have been to Tauranga, Mount Maunganui, Rotorua, abd Whangamata and are now back in Auckland at Sally's home.

We have had the official Ceremonial Maori welcome in the Maori Sacred House. Pretty impressive.

This picture above is of the Black Sand Beach on the western side of NZ, the color comes from the iron ore in the valcanic ash in the sand. Pretty cool. On the other side of the island the sand is white.

While in Whangamata, where Cindy and Terry - Sally's sister and her husband live) we walked the beach every day and it was beautiful. I think that the most important thing that has happened since we arrived is that while we were at Cindy's home, Dick spent about 20 minutes on the computer and was able to find 4 generations of her fathers line and also got a number for her brother, whom she has never met nor talked with, he lives in North Dakota. She was not read to dial him, but you know Dad, he said, "well I am". He dialed the number and she was connected with her brother, and 2 1/2 hours later she got off the phone from talking with him. She was soooooooooooooo excited to get acquainted with him, even if on the phone. So, next year Sally and Graham, and Cindy and Terry will come to Idaho and we will drive them to ND to meet her brother. Pretty exciting for her and all her family. The Lord's hand was definately in it.

Sally is taking us on many "tiki tours" (small drives from her home) and we are sure enjoying it.