Let it Snow!

This week it snowed! I couldn't believe it!! The hills that are usually a rich beautiful green had a complete white out.  It has been freezing, but hey, I'm from Canada... and I should be used to it.  

 

I'm still in awe every day at how beautiful it is here. The photos don't do it justice. But I take lot of pictures to remind me of it.

On Thursday we got a call from the Assistants and they notified me that I would be training a brand new missionary.  This trust they have put in me is kind of frightening but also will be such a blessing to meet a brand new missionary and have the opportunity to transition him from the MTC to the mission field as Elder Chong has done for me. Since Elder Chong is leaving he has been saying goodbye to lots of people so we have been making lots of visits to members... well to everyone really! It has been an exciting week. I will be staying in Dannevirke and I might even be here for another two transfers! I'm excited to meet Elder Suard and show him around beautiful Dannevirke.

To end, a picture of some cows that reminded me of a story from home when my mom saw a bunch of cows that were mesmerized by police car lights.  These ones were so confused because we were mooing at them... This picture is for you mom :-)

This picture is of a beautiful venison steak with potato's and pumpkin! Yum!!

And finally, Eketuhanua, the white kiwi

A tale of two winters...

I guess it's summer in Calgary - and from what I hear you are all experiencing a lot of heat! I thought two winters in a row wouldn't be bad, but man I miss the summer heat!  But I am in New Zealand and I really can't complain.

Elder Chong and I celebrated Canada Day. A member in the branch lent me their Canadian Flag for some pictures. It was Awesome. I hope you all had a great Canada Day!

I got a package from home! I was so excited to open it and man I really love the tie!! and the candies were a sweet treat too!

To start this week we had exchanges in Pahiatua. I spent two days there and just enjoyed spending time in that area with Elder Mata, I wore my polka dot and he wore his polka dot tie... so we had to get a picture!! It was awesome!

We went out to the Kura (Maori school) and they had a powhiti (welcome) for us! It was so cool! The Kura had a big sign out front that said no English in the school, so if we wanted to speak English we had to do it really quietly.  The powhiti was so cool, the introduced the people int he school then someone from the ward introduced us because we cannot speak Maori. We learned that Tika Tonu, one of the Hakas. We were going to do it for the classes, but as it turns out that was the schools haka, so it would have been rude to do it... but hey, I know a haka now!

We have been teaching some new investigators, it is so cool to teach the lessons, you can feel the spirit so powerfully as we discuss the gospel and help them come closer to Christ. I do love being a missionary! We also had a huge breakfast after the exchanges! 15 eggs, a pack of bacon, spaghetti, chips, bread... it was awesome!

Here are some pictures of L&P, me and Leini's favorite drink.  It was super super cheap and we decided we would get enough fizzy to last us the end of transfer, so there is like HEAPS of it.

We also found this bug on the way to visit someone.  It was dead... and super scary!

We have been working with a lot of new people and it is so cool to have the chance to teach others about the restored gospel. I am grateful for the chance I have to serve a mission in New Zealand and I love the chance I have to become a better disciple of Jesus Christ.

With Love
Elder Shaw

Puddles and Rain

This week has been eventful! We went to a Zone Forum in Palmerston North.  Its awesome seeing all the missionaries from the zone.  But it also started raining that morning, and it didn't stop.  It rained... and rained... and rained... for 3 days.  3 Days of rain is ridiculous, but man, the sound of rain and the smell it leaves in the air is amazing.  To make the best out of the rain, I decided to go puddle jumping (with my gum boots on of course). 

Woodville was flooded, the sewers by city council in Dannevirke were also flooded a little.  There was a lot of flooding and the Gorge was really high. There were also land slides to the Pahiatua track and Gorge were closed. It was interesting. 

I still love it here. I have been so blessed. I see the lord's hand in the work I do every day. I love the gospel and cannot wait to see what next week has in store!

I love being a missionary

The worth of souls. This week we had a Missionary Devotional. I had such a good time talking about missionary work with the members of the ward and we played a game in our workshop. We used money to represent worth, so I had people guess Canadian money and the worth of it. After the game we talked about the worth of a soul and how every soul is worth so much to our Heavenly Father. Man, it was such a good time. 

The weather here in New Zealand is crazy! The winds are mad, they go really really really hard in one direction so that at some points I feel as though I'm at a 75 degree angle no matter what way I face!  When it rains it looks like small drops of snow falling because they are getting pushed around in every direction before they hit something.

I got mail! It feels so good to get something in the mail, to tear it open and to know it came from home. 

I really love the ocean. It makes me appreciate what was made for us so we can enjoy life. We also got invited to go to the Matariki, the Maori New Year Celebration! It was really awesome!! they had the boys school come and sing Lord in Maori which I have to say is better than the original by far, and then they did some Poi dance and that was really cool. But the crowning event was the Haka they did. Holy man it was really awesome. I have a great video but can't email it because it's too big.  I will send my SD card home and you can post it that way.

I love it here in New Zealand, it's an amazing country.  But, I love being a missionary even more. I love having the opportunity to help people and show them where they can find people. It truly brings joy to my life.

Ocean Trip, Huru Grubs and Hot Sauce

What an amazing week!

This week has been absolutely beautiful. Lots of sunshine during the day and not a lot of rain.  Good thing! I got my transfer list and it looks like Elder Chong and I will be together or another six weeks and will be staying here in Dannevirke. That is really exciting for me, as I get to help the ward for another six weeks.

We went out driving in the country side again and we ended up at the ocean to visit a less active member. Unfortunately we knocked on the wrong door! But we saw someone else who was in the area so it ended up being really good. Time is flying by, I can't believe it has already been three months. I love helping people over here and talking with all sorts of different people.

Driving around the back roads is like riding a roller coaster. They are curvy and have lots of sharp turns.

While heading to the ocean we stopped for a really quick picture. It was beautiful!

Huru Grubs

While chopping wood at Bro. Szabos home, we found some huru grubs (I have no idea how to spell huru grub, but ya...) They are supposed to taste like peanut butter, but I didn't have a chance this time to taste if that is true...

Now the hot sauce...

I had the HOTTEST hot sauce in the WORLD this week! I have a video as well as pictures, but for now, just posting the pictures. It was HOT, and I barely had any! the Bishop said he would buy me some and give it to me, which would be awesome.


I may regret this...

 

Yes, I am regretting it...

Call 911!!

Done! At least everyone got a good laugh!

My Address

9C Cladius Street
Dannevirke New Zealand
Postal Code 4930

Mother's Day and a plea for real mail!

After a very hectic few weeks, we were finally able to talk to Brayden for the Mother's Day update. The whole family was in my parents living room for the event, including his aunts and uncles from New Zealand! He looks great!  I can't believe how grown up he is.  I am so grateful for today's technology and the ability we have to speak to him face to face. It was like he was having Sunday dinner with us.

He loves New Zealand.  He even loves the torrential rain storms.  He recently got a car and him and his companion are now able to travel to some of the more coastal areas that are in Dannevirke to visit less active members. And yes, they let him drive. I was a little worried at first, but after three months of being on a bike, I guess he is used to traffic on the "other side" of the road.

Some things Brayden would like if anyone wants to send anything:

LETTERS

That's it... just real letters. He wants to open mail.  So if you get a chance, send Brayden a letter.  His address is in one of the previous blogs. If you can't find it, just put a comment on this blog post and I will get back to you.

I asked what to send in a package and he couldn't think of anything except floral ties and hot sauce, I guess the only hot sauce is New Zealand is tabasco, so I guess he will get a Christmas package of floral ties and Frank's hot sauce!

Here are some recent pictures of his adventures. And I've promised to keep his Blog more up-to-date.  Stay tuned for more news on his adventures.

Elder Chong and Elder Shaw were helping Bro. Szabo get a root out of his yard, here are some pictures of the event.  Looks like they had a great time getting dirty!