Hika, Hika, and MORE Hika

Cousins: Brother Ah Mu,
Elder Wilcox, and Bishop Henare

I think we spent most of this week at the Hikurangi flat doing more and more things the property manager wanted us to do before we could close it. On Monday, we took all the window coverings to the cleaners. We had to take off all the little hooks on about 22 different drape panels. It took us about an hour before we headed to the cleaners. They gave us all the warnings about washing the drapes because of the condition they were in. For one thing, the backing would likely turn into a powdery substance that would then stick together and potentially produce holes. There were other scary things too. We took the drapes back and I called the property manager. I told her what the cleaners said, and she said, “OK, just hang them back up.” 

The property manager also told us she was coming over for our exit interview. I reminded her that our contract gave us until 5 March, and we weren't going to be ready much before that. We scheduled professional cleaners to be there on 3 March to wash all the windows and shampoo the carpets. She claimed that she had talked to someone, and they told her we were all done. I don't her that I didn't know who she talked to, but there was no way we would be done with what she wanted us to get done before the 3rd. She backed down. I talked to the Garners, and they knew NOTHING about supposedly being done on the 24th. She had already rented the flat and had people moving in on 3 March!!! She could have had the keys weeks ago when we finished doing what we normally do to close out a flat, but she insisted that we had a LOT more to do.

We took care of several other things on Monday, including helping a Sister in our Ward get set up so she can pay her tithing online and preparing a Seminary Lesson and a Family Home Evening Lesson for Wednesday. 

I spent most of Tuesday on the computer. I entered a two-page handwritten "reflections" from Brother Ah Mu about his 12 years of living in the Hikurangi Ward. He is currently our Stake Patriarch; however, he and his wife are moving to Auckland to be closer to the Auckland Temple. They will be GREATLY missed. We connected with them right after we started our mission here. They helped us learn about the Ward member as we went through the Ward directory. Sister Ah Mu asked me the very first Sunday we came for Sacrament meeting if I could conduct the music. I said "Yes" and I've been doing it ever since.  Lol

The Sisters arrived after that for our weekly Comp Study. We always enjoy that so much. After that, we had our weekly call with Sierra and Shonee. We missed it on Monday, and Tuesday just worked better for both of us. Shonee was in a skiing accident last Friday. He is doing better now. He was very lucky there were no broken bones. He said that there was a bump of about a foot or so across the area he was skiing down on what he said looked like a flat spot before another down stretch. Between the sun and the clouds and the shadows from the trees and his sunglasses, he said it just looked flat. So, when he got to the bump he wasn’t prepared to make the jump it forced him into and ended up crash landing. We’re just glad it wasn’t any worse. 

Elder Garner Painting

I finished my New Convert Initiative report and my Thursday Seminary lesson. Steve met the Elders for a teaching appointment. Lastly, we made some yummy Apple Crisp for our DCM on Wednesday.

Wednesday started with our Early Morning Seminary lesson at the Hikurangi Chapel. We only had two students for Seminary. It still went very well. We talked about the second half of D&C 18 where the Lord commands Oliver Cowdrey and David Whitmer to search out the Twelve. Instructions are given as to what they are looking for in the Brethren as well as what the Twelve will do. We compared it with how the Apostles are called today. We also talked about how they help us in so many ways. 

Elder Wilcox Painting

After taking care of a few items of business at home, we headed back to the Hikurangi Chapel for DCM. My apple crisp was a hit and there wasn’t any leftover to take home. 😢I’m actually very happy they ate it all. Sister Carlisle brought banana bread and some watermelon and grapes.

After dinner, we headed to our FHE lesson. It really turned out well. The kids were really fun to be around. They were still very busy, and it is hard to get them to sit still. They climbed all over us while we gave a short lesson about how we feel God’s love for us, and how we can show love for others. We played Simon Says, colored a picture, and had ice cream cones. The kids wanted to show us a short video about two monster sea creatures having a fight. It is fun to be “grandma and grandpa” for a little while.

Thursday morning started with our Early Morning ZOOM Seminary lesson. It went fairly well. We had 9 students. We learned about ASK (Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge) by Asking in Faith, Keeping an Eternal Perspective, and using Divinely Appointed Sources. 

Next, we had our SPF Zoom meeting. SPF. Elder and Sister Geisler talked to us about repentance. They are getting ready to go home, so this was a good time for them to present.

After that, I worked on my Sunday School lesson until it was time to meet Elder Garner at the Hikurangi flat. We spent the afternoon painting. We matched the current paint on the wall and only painted the patches and marks. It appeared to dry really good. We started in a back bedroom that required almost the entire bedroom to be painted because the walls were very dirty in addition to some patches and marks. The other bedrooms only required some spot painting. 

The Lawrence and the Ah Mu Families

We left around 5 so we could shower and go to the Ward potluck dinner for the Ah Mu and Lawrence families because they are moving. Sister Lawrence is a daughter to Brother and Sister Ah Mu. Both families have been in the Ward for many years and have been a tremendous asset to the Ward. It will really hurt to lose them. Brother and Sister Ah Mu are moving to Auckland to be closer to the new Auckland Temple. They work there at least two days a week. Brother and Sister Lawrence are moving to a different Ward in the Stake so we will still see them around. Brother Lawrence is on the High Council so we may see him more often. Lol

We were headed back to the Hika flat to take Elder Garner some desert (we took him dinner earlier), when he showed up at the Chapel. He spent that night at our flat so we could finish painting Friday morning. 

Elder Garner was up early Friday morning and headed to Bunnings to pick up a few more painting supplies. We got to Hika not long after it made it back from Bunnings. Elder Garner worked in the living room. Elder Wilcox worked on the ceilings and any other spots he could find. I worked on either washing or painting, if necessary, all the door frames and some of the doors. They have some great wall cleaner here that works wonders.  I also painted some nasty-looking shelves in the kitchen. They still need another coat, but they look so much better. 

After Elder Garner finished the living room and kitchen, we decided to stop painting for the day and hang the drapes. Elder Wilcox and I had to go back on Saturday, so we would finish our part then. It took some doing to sort out the drapes and the liners, but we finally got them all hung. By the time we got home we were so tired we had to talk ourselves into getting out of the car. LOL Before we could have showers, we gave each other a haircut. Then it was time for showers and a rest.

We thought Saturday would be a bit easier, but it ended up being a very long day as well. We started at 8:00am at the Hikurangi chapel to meet up with 8 junior missionaries. They were there to do all the weeding around the house. They managed to get 3 or 4 large bags full of weeds. It had rained earlier in the morning, so it made the ground nice and soft to pull the weeds. They did a great job.

Elder Wilcox finished painting the spots on the ceiling and then focused on the laundry room. It required washing the wall so see if the spots would come off. Most didn’t so he ended up painting them. I painted the top shelf of the kitchen cabinet I started the day before, as well as touching up the other two shelves. I then mopped the kitchen and bathroom floors again. Lastly, I vacuumed the whole house one last time. 

The missionaries left about 9:30. We didn’t leave until 10:30. We changed our linen and started the laundry. I made a double batch of brownies for the Baptism. We cleaned up as best we good, made some lunch, and headed to the baptism for the Hikurangi Ward. It was the first one in over a year, so we are all pretty happy. 

Elder Erickson, Ben, 
Elder Maraetefau, and Owen

We got home about 3:00. We rotated laundry and made the bed. I showered and got on the computer to finalize things like the Ward Council agenda and the Sacrament program. I also started on the Recap I usually do on Sunday afternoon. 

As tired as we both were, we wanted to just stay home and settle in for the night. However, Saturday night was a fulfillment of a Christmas present that Season got us. He sent us tickets to a concert by the family band called Peterson. They sing Bluegrass. So, we got ready and headed to the concert. Two rows in front of us were the Thomassons from our Ward. Sister Thomasson is our new Relief Society President. The concert was FANTASTIC!!! We both loved it so much. It was just what we needed to get some energy again. Thank you Season, We really needed that!!!

We were up early Sunday morning for Ward Council and Church. While the Bishopric was having a quick meeting before Ward Council, a lovely couple entered the Church building. They are visiting from South Africa. They were visiting their daughter who has terminal brain cancer. They are hopeful because of some new medication that has great results on her type of cancer. If it can work for her, she can have many more years to live. We will keep her in our prayers. 

Ward Council went very well. I think we are getting better with each council meeting we have. Our Fast and Testimony meeting was beautiful. We got to witness the Confirmation of our new member, Ben. The testimonies born were so spiritual. I really felt the Spirit. There are several in the Ward that seem to have blossomed over the last few months. They seem to be a glow about them. Their testimonies are strong. Their countenance is brighter. It is something that is visible in their countenances. I love it!

My Sunday School lesson went pretty good too. I love hearing the answers as it strengthens and edifies me. I hope they are getting something too. I was able to tie all the different sections together when we concluded our lesson with why we do all of this work. It is because “the worth of souls is great in the sight of God.” 

After Church, we took a ride out to Punaruku to checkout a broken window in the Elders’ flat. It is the sliding glass door. OUCH! We will call to get an estimate of replacing it and hopefully get it fixed soon.

I hope you have a GREAT week. We are hopeful that ours will be a little lighter than the last couple of weeks we've had. LOL

All Our Love,

Elder and Sister Wilcox