Today was Nancy and my first experience at church in New Zealand. We are in the Henderson Valley Ward. I really like the ward. The people are so nice and welcoming and all of the adults greeted us with a kiss on the cheek. There were more YSA in the ward today than there in my family’s ward back home. All of the YSA members were really nice. Nancy and I got to know Leonie and Taylor pretty well. Taylor said he would take us bowling and to the beach sometime. I do hope he does because that would be fun. I am so glad that Nancy and I are making friends in the ward and meeting people that live in New Zealand. It is funny when you think about some things here like how we won’t get to see the CES fireside until a week after it happens in the states, how the relief society is 6 months behinds in their lessons compared to the states, and how TV shows are a few seasons behind. I really don’t know why that is. I am excited to go the fireside though and meet more YSAs. There are at least 2 other big YSA activity this month that I am hoping to go to. Some of the youth and YSA in the ward were at EFY today so they weren’t there this week. It is weird how their summer is in January and that is when they have EFY. It would be cool to see through or hear some of their experiences with it and compare it to EFY in the states. After church Nancy and I helped make lunch and did the dishes after lunch. Sister Jones, one of Paea’s friends from the ward joined us for lunch. After lunch, Nancy and I went with Paea to ward choir practice. I really liked going to church in New Zealand today and am so excited to meet more people in the ward and make friends. Later in the afternoon, Nancy and I went for a walk in the park and took a bunch of pictures. I think we were both kinda homesick today since we haven’t had the opportunity to talk to our families yet. We wondered through the entire park taking pictures of the bush (rainforest) and finding even more shortcuts. It was such a gorgeous Sunday. Nancy and I decided we want to do this every Sunday we can. It is so relaxing to just go on a walk , I think that is why I love doing it so much and why I even do it most Sundays back home. While walking down one path a little island boy started following us. He was about two and as cute as can be. We had to take his hands and walk him back to his mom. There was a group of boys playing soccer in the park and I wanted to go over and join them so bad. Nancy and I walked up by the primary (elementary) school we will be teaching at Henderson South that we can also get through from our park. I love have this huge park with the bush in my backyard.
It is a dream come true, just like being here is a dream come true. Whoever said you can’t make your dreams come true is so wrong because mine are coming truer and truer each day I wake up in the paradise of New Zealand. While walking in the park Nancy and I kept thinking of things here that remind us of our homes. For me the green trees, humidity, gorgeous summer weather, and hospitality of the people all remind me so much of home and the South.
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