 |
| The start of the journey at the MTC. |
 |
| this is the skyline of Auckland New Zealand |
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Malo...........................
Yes, we are here and all is well. It only took us 3 weeks to get the computer and phone up and running and now we feel like we are in touch with the world again, and mostly our family.
Yehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
So our story picks up where we left of from our last visit. We were met at the airport by all of the Sr. Couples (which is a tradition when ever someone new arrives or someone is going home).
We have returned to the very same house that we were in when we left 2 years ago, which made us really happy, like coming home (sort of). We are very grateful that we are here in the islands again during their cool season, which means it rains a lot, temperature is usually in the high 70's or low 80's and the humidity comes down to a tolerable reading, somewhere around 80%. So we open all the window loovers and let the trade winds blow through - actually it is very pleasant at times.
We were in hopes that when we arrived on the island that someone would have made some appointments for us so that we could begin within a couple of days to meet with the people. Well................. it was more than we could have hoped for. A wonderful woman by the name of Mele Nau is over the Welfare Program on the island and she was given the assignment and boy did she do us a good job. We started our meetings 2 days after we arrived and are scheduled every Tues. thru Sat and sometimes Sun. evenings until the 2nd week in Aug.!!!!!
Mele is Tongan, but has gone to BYU and has a palangi (whiteman's mind). She thinks this is the best compliment we can give to her. Her English is perfect and we have a great time with her. And she can handle all the problems we run into, because she knows all the Stake Pres. and Bishops on the island. We have 18 Stakes with 160 Wards. We meet with the leadership one night then the wards, and then we are calling Trainers from each ward to actually go into the homes of the families in their wards and do the teaching - one on one. Of course we train the Trainers and they are so excited about what they are learning. It is a JOY to us to see their faces light up as they learn these new ideas and concepts. At this point we have taught over 1600 people in 3 Stakes. Dad is doing a great job teaching these beautiful people.
We traveled to one island, Eua, last week, and had a wonderful time with the members there. Our flight was 7 minutes in a small 7 passenger plane and I found out that I can hold my breath for 7 minutes. The plane was so small that the trade winds were blowing us to and fro like we were a little paper plane (like the grandsons make and fly in their yards). I was a bit nervous, but we landed well and there were no chickens or pigs on the runway so that made for a smooth landing.
We have had doors (meetings) open up to us already where we have had the opportunity to meet with leaders of the church and the country to show what we are doing, and without exception they all see the need and are anxious to be involved and want to see their people helped. We know that what we are doing is important and that the Lord in involved with us.
Dad and I walk every morning as the sun is coming up- and the sunrise (and the sunsets) are beautiful. We are taking pictures, but our blog is now different and I have not been able to figure it out (surprise, surpris) Nicole where are you when I need you. Ha, ha. We have someone coming to day that knows about these things and maybe she can help while she is here.
We have not gotten killed driving on the left side of the road yet, but we have been banged into by one of our Stake Presidents. He was very embarrassed. The roads here are so full of holes ( about 6 inched deep) that we have to go very slow and weave all over the road to try to miss some of them. It is really a funny site to look down the road ahead of us and see cars on both sides of the road, weaving and bouncing. The young people ride in the back of pickups and trucks, sometimes a dozen of them and they never fall out. We have not figured that one out yet. Seat belts are not required.
Well I will sign off for now and hope that I can figure out the picture technique soon.
We love you all and miss you tons, Elder and Sister Oyler (Dad and Mom, Grandpa and Grandma)
Yes, we are here and all is well. It only took us 3 weeks to get the computer and phone up and running and now we feel like we are in touch with the world again, and mostly our family.
Yehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
So our story picks up where we left of from our last visit. We were met at the airport by all of the Sr. Couples (which is a tradition when ever someone new arrives or someone is going home).
We have returned to the very same house that we were in when we left 2 years ago, which made us really happy, like coming home (sort of). We are very grateful that we are here in the islands again during their cool season, which means it rains a lot, temperature is usually in the high 70's or low 80's and the humidity comes down to a tolerable reading, somewhere around 80%. So we open all the window loovers and let the trade winds blow through - actually it is very pleasant at times.
We were in hopes that when we arrived on the island that someone would have made some appointments for us so that we could begin within a couple of days to meet with the people. Well................. it was more than we could have hoped for. A wonderful woman by the name of Mele Nau is over the Welfare Program on the island and she was given the assignment and boy did she do us a good job. We started our meetings 2 days after we arrived and are scheduled every Tues. thru Sat and sometimes Sun. evenings until the 2nd week in Aug.!!!!!
Mele is Tongan, but has gone to BYU and has a palangi (whiteman's mind). She thinks this is the best compliment we can give to her. Her English is perfect and we have a great time with her. And she can handle all the problems we run into, because she knows all the Stake Pres. and Bishops on the island. We have 18 Stakes with 160 Wards. We meet with the leadership one night then the wards, and then we are calling Trainers from each ward to actually go into the homes of the families in their wards and do the teaching - one on one. Of course we train the Trainers and they are so excited about what they are learning. It is a JOY to us to see their faces light up as they learn these new ideas and concepts. At this point we have taught over 1600 people in 3 Stakes. Dad is doing a great job teaching these beautiful people.
We traveled to one island, Eua, last week, and had a wonderful time with the members there. Our flight was 7 minutes in a small 7 passenger plane and I found out that I can hold my breath for 7 minutes. The plane was so small that the trade winds were blowing us to and fro like we were a little paper plane (like the grandsons make and fly in their yards). I was a bit nervous, but we landed well and there were no chickens or pigs on the runway so that made for a smooth landing.
We have had doors (meetings) open up to us already where we have had the opportunity to meet with leaders of the church and the country to show what we are doing, and without exception they all see the need and are anxious to be involved and want to see their people helped. We know that what we are doing is important and that the Lord in involved with us.
Dad and I walk every morning as the sun is coming up- and the sunrise (and the sunsets) are beautiful. We are taking pictures, but our blog is now different and I have not been able to figure it out (surprise, surpris) Nicole where are you when I need you. Ha, ha. We have someone coming to day that knows about these things and maybe she can help while she is here.
We have not gotten killed driving on the left side of the road yet, but we have been banged into by one of our Stake Presidents. He was very embarrassed. The roads here are so full of holes ( about 6 inched deep) that we have to go very slow and weave all over the road to try to miss some of them. It is really a funny site to look down the road ahead of us and see cars on both sides of the road, weaving and bouncing. The young people ride in the back of pickups and trucks, sometimes a dozen of them and they never fall out. We have not figured that one out yet. Seat belts are not required.
Well I will sign off for now and hope that I can figure out the picture technique soon.
We love you all and miss you tons, Elder and Sister Oyler (Dad and Mom, Grandpa and Grandma)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
