Salt Lake City to LAX then off to New Zealand

On the curb in Salt Lake ready to go!

We left Salt Lake on Monday - January 2, 2012 about 3:30 PM.  I can't tell you how many times we packed and unpacked our bags hoping to meet the weight qualifications.  Well, we finally gave up and were prepared to pay for anything over 50 pounds.  Try going away for 18 months with only 2 bags - girls just can't do it!!!!  Those bags were heavy to say the least.  Each of the 4 suitcases weighed anywhere from 60 to 65 pounds.  The N-I-C-E lady at the counter just smiled and told us to enjoy our mission.  Bless her heart!  That saved us a fortune.  

Holly stuck right with us and was such a help.  Hard to say good-bye!

We arrived in Los Angeles about 6:30 PM on Monday and our flight left at 9::30 PM.  The plane was huge - a 777.  We previously upgraded to Business Economy and had very comfortable reclining seats in the center of the plane with a TV.  Sure helped with the 13 hour flight to Auckland.  We didn't sleep very much.  We don't know if it was anticipation or just nerves but we were treated very well on the plane and had a wonderful flight.  We arrived in Auckland about 7 AM on Wednesday then flew from there  to Wellington arriving there about 11 AM.

 We were met by Elder and Sister Brazzeel, the office couple in Wellington.  President and Sister Kezerian were on assignment in another part of the mission at the time.  We were with the Brazzeels most of the day - having lunch, going by the Mission Office to check in and taking care of business.  Later that day, they took us to the beautiful Mission Home to stay until Saturday.  President Kezerian called and said he and Sister Kezerian would meet us at the airport on Saturday as they were arriving and we were leaving.  We would be able to spend a couple hours together.  He then asked if we would mind if our assignment was changed?  He needed us to serve in Westport, Westlands on the South Island of New Zealand.  We came to serve and that we will do!

Picture from the kitchen window of the Mission Home.  Note the beautiful Fern trees in back.  There was also a bird in the woods with the most beautiful song.  We have never heard the sound and it was music to our ears.

Entry to the Mission Home

Living Room

Lemon Tree

Elder and Sister Brazzeel (Office Couple) were so kind and helpful to us while we were in Wellington.  They were a wealth of information and drove us here and there introducing us to the area.

We had a get together with some of the other couples on Friday night before we left on Saturday to Westport.  Such great people and again found instant friendships.  L to R are the McVey's - Family History -They were from Highlands Ranch, CO, Turner's, Chesley's, Brazzeal's -Office, Overton's - Family History and Patchett's

Saturday Morning January 7th - Ready to fly to Nelson and then on to Westport.