Helping Hands activity

This weeks highlight was the beginning of our institute class. We have two wonderful young ladies taking the Book of Mormon. Ana (Muffi) Langi, and Ofa Tau, the oldest daughter of the dry Mormon family. We are holding it in our flat. They are really excited and so are we.

Sunday March 15 was our turn to speak in Westport. They have a very small but faithful group there. Following the meetings they always have a meal for us together. They usually have sandwiches, soup and muffins or cakes for desert. While we have not yet acquired a taste for pumpkin (squash) soup, we enjoy the visit and spirit of these fine saints.
On the way to Westport, at about 9:00 am we stopped to take this picture. I liked the way the sun was shining on the surf. It was a very beautiful day, especially on the drive home.


These three boys are grandsons to two of the members. Their parents are inactive. The two boys on the right are brothers and attend each week.

Last week we got Jenni hooked up with video calling. It is great!!! We had a video call with Jenni Monday morning before seminary to set up a call so she go talk with our students. While we were talking their fire alarm went off. When she called to talk with the students she told us what had happened. Zach had turned on the micro wave oven to warm some pizza and set it for over an hour. It was burned to a crisp and smoke fill the house. If you want to see the results check out her blog spot. http://ourallenfam.blogspot.com/ By the way, our students had a blast doing the video calling. They loved Zach.
With some effort, we were able to set up with Jeff's family as well. It was great to see them and especially Jeremy who is home for a couple of weeks leave from the airforce. He is now stationed at Mountain Home Airforce Base in Idaho.
This area has several little walks up into the bush on the east hills. This picture was taken from the steepest walk in the area. On the right is Cobden which is on the north side of the river from downtown Greymouth. This is where many of our branch members live.
This was taken from the first view point on the trail. It is facing southwest over the city center. On the right is the main shopping area of town. You can see a race track on distant left.
Again you can see the main shopping area of town which is right next to the river. Within the last 15 years or so they built a flood wall to protect the area from high water. The road by the river is just an access road on top of the wall. The Tongans fish from the strip of land in the river a ways to the right of the picture.
Sister Hoagland made it to the first view point but I went on by myself to the second (there are four). It was a very difficult climb for me as I had to stop several times to catch my breath. I was pleased to learn later that people much younger than me don't get this far. This is also looking south west but much higher to see over the ridge in front. The road on the left is the main road out of town and the first large building is the new swimming pool that is to be finished next month. It is about three blocks from our flat.
Behind the tidal lagoon is Blaketown where the Elders have their flat.
When I came down from the second view point I took this last shot of town.
We were asked by President Kinikini to arrange a project for the branch's participation in the Nation wide "Mormon Helping Hands" day. I went to the district counsel and they said beach clean-up was all they had for us so we went and looked it over. They gave us plastic "rubbish" bags and arranged to have them picked up after our service on Saturday.
Right next to the beach clean up area was the airport. We were able to see one of the few flights taking off from this airport. Most are helicopters.

Here is the result of our efforts today.
Here are most of those who participated in the clean-up. Sister Scott, between the Elders, found a five dollar bill.

Sister Kinikini and sister Langi whipped up a little snack for us when we got back to the church. Fried bread and ice cream. Yum!!!

We were not locked out of the church, they just did not want to mess it up for Sunday.
Here we are enjoying the feast. Nuku in orange and Taufa walking on the right went into the sea and were quite cold but that did not stop them from enjoying ice cream.