Kia Ora to each of you reading this!
Elder Baxter usually pens the blog but today I thought i would give it a try. We’ve just celebrated the 4th of July which also happens to be my birthday. Thank you EVERYONE who sent birthday wishes. Your remembrances were heartfelt . I have taken a break from social media so I was late in seeing them. Please forgive me for my lack of immediate response.
Missionary life in New Zealand continues to fill each day. “Post covid-19 missionary life” brings with it a new normal. I have had to be reminded that we are here as witnesses of Jesus Christ and represent Him and His Gospel. Heart breaking news from the USA fills the news feeds here in New Zealand and as we meet people and they recognize our accents, they immediately want to talk about “the horrors” happening in America. I have a great deal that I could say about this but now is not the time to expound on it. In short, I will say that these encounters provide opportunities to testify that Jesus Christ and His teachings will bring the solutions to the heartaches of the world. Each one of us can make a difference in the space we occupy. I have been profoundly taught that the United States of America stands as an example to the world for good and/or evil. It is sobering.
All the restrictions we felt during lockdown have been lifted here. It is a great blessing to go and do the things we need to. We do miss the daily river track bike rides and recognize that we were gifted many beautiful days to be outside during the lockdown.
It is winter here which brings cold rain and snow to the volcano mountains that surround us.... Beautiful but not as pleasant to be on a bike. The thermostat in our hallway read 4 degrees Celsius on the 4th of July. A new experience quite different from the Arizona 4th of July temperatures of my childhood.
We’ve received some returning young missionaries to our mission. They all are New Zealand citizens who were called home from their foreign missions. It’s been a blessing to get to know them and seek ways to support them. We are spending more time in the car traveling as a part of that support. Some are unable to drive so we help out as much as possible .
Recently a skin carcinoma was discovered on Elder Baxter. He will have that surgically removed this week. Thank you again for your support with your faith and prayers. We feel the effects of them often and are so grateful to be loved. We pass our year mark on our mission this month. I have a feeling the next 6 months will speed by. We pray we can do the work we were sent here to do. We love you all! I’ll have elder Baxter add some more recent photos.
Kia Kaha,
sister and elder Baxter
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| Pure Beauty |
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| Who says bikes cannot be fixed in the dark? |
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| Flowers bloom even in winter. |
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| Fish and Chips on the go! |
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| The moon and rainbows hanging out with my favorite person. |
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| Hangi at the school. |
