We have about 180 Missionaries spread from Auckland clear up to the Northern tip of New Zealand. We are going into flu season in New Zealand since we are just opposite of what happens in the Northern Hemisphere. Sister Bartlett has to schedule all of these Missionaries for their flu shots in three differently locations on 7 different days. When you get a bunch of Missionaries together who haven't seen each other for a while, they want to visit and update each other, and they just don't want to leave. But we give them a Lolly and send them back to work.
We have a very diverse Mission, with Missionaries from all over the world. We have them from the United States, China, Malaysia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Africa, South Africa, Australia, Tonga, Samoa, Tahiti, Fiji, Korea, Canada, Ukraine, India, and some others. It is interesting that they all speak a little English but they teach in English, Tongan, Samoan, and Chinese. What an international Mission this is.
I have a connection to this Mission that I wasn't aware of. President C. B. Bartlett served as Mission President here from 1902 to 1905. He is not closely related, but all of the Bartlett's supposedly come from the same ancestor in England many centuries ago. Well, someday we may make the connection.
We were able to visit the Auckland Museum for a little bit this week since we didn't get much of a preparation day. Of course we were able to see a Maori cultural show while we visited. The highlight of the show was the Haka, which they performed. They explained they do many of their dances as exercises and to prepare their young men for battle.
We especially enjoy the wood carving that is prevalent in their culture. I am sure that each of these things has a meaning to them as they decorate everything with carvings. We noticed how this is very similar to the Totems of the Indians on the American Continent.
We didn't get a chance to go on the guided tour of the Auckland Museum so we don't know the significance of all the carvings done on their homes. This was a great example of that carving.
They also decorated their longboats with many ornate carvings. I don't know how they had time to do all this carving when they had to either catch or hunt for food. I guess if you all work together you can accomplish much.
We were finally able to see a Kiwi clearly. Unfortunately it was not in the wild nor was it alive. We did see the one at the zoo but it was so dark and you couldn't take pictures. This one stood real still so we could get a photo.
There were a few Bartlett's who have lived here in New Zealand. There we some on their Memorial wall who were New Zealand residents who died in one of the World Wars. They are about to celebrate what they call Anzac Day, which is like Veterans Day and Memorial Day all rolled up in one. I guess Anzac is a bay in Turkey that a New Zealand regiment recovered from the enemy in WWI. Big celebration I have heard. We shall see.
Twice a month we are able to have Family Home Evening with the Senior couples in the Mission and the Area office. The Champlins are the Area Public Relations missionaries. They created a short tribute to all the Senior Missionaries in the Mission. It is always hard to see Senior couples go home. We don't have enough Mission Leader Support Missionaries for the Mission. Get busy all you Seniors out there and request New Zealand. You may get it and get to serve in this beautiful country among these beautiful people who love the Missionaries.
That is about enough for this week. We don't get much of the news, but we have heard there is flooding here in New Zealand from a cyclone that hit the island. We have seen a lot of rain but no flooding here where we are. I believe the bad weather from the cyclone has mostly past but we do have a few more days of rain forecast. Our heads are still above water.
Love you all, Elder and Sister Bartlett
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