Our Second Letter

We received another letter from Elder Paulson today! What a wonderful surprise! It’s been a particularly good week for updates from New Zealand. I thought it would be fun to upload the letter, but I’ll also give the highlights.

First, along with the letter, Caleb sent a Hamilton New Zealand Temple schedule card, his MTC schedule, and a group picture with everyone he trained with in the MTC. It’s so much fun to see these things and have a better idea of what his days have been like, and the faces of those he has been spending time with. He also sent Caitlin a “lolly” (the name used for candy in NZ). She wasn’t very happy to see it was actually only a wrapper with a note, but upon closer inspection, we can see the envelope and the candy wrapper were cut open and the candy removed. Too bad for poor Caitlin.

Caleb has loved his MTC experience. He’s liked the smaller, more intimate setting, the opportunity to get to know all the other missionaries, and is a little sad they’re now going their separate ways after spending almost two weeks together.

The Tongan group sang “God Be with You till We Meet Again” the first verse was in English, the second in Tongan.

They visited the Hamilton, New Zealand Temple and were able to attend two sessions. In the second session, Caleb was the escort for his companion, Elder Singut, who was taking out his own endowments.

Caleb gave one of his ties to a Tongan missionary who only had two, one yellow, one blue. He wore the one Caleb gave him the next day.

He’s keeping busy, working and playing hard, all day, everyday.

By the time he leaves the MTC he will have eaten “at least” 93 pieces of toast.

He can’t chew gum and will be giving what he has to the children, so sending more won’t be needed.

 

 

Front Row: Pres & Sis Seymour, Pres & Sis Keung, Pres & Sis Tarawhiti, Sisters Malama (Samoa), Sudweeks (USA), Fa'agase (Aust), Amituanai (Samoa), Paletaoga (Samoa)

2nd Row: Kennar (Aust) , Tavalu (Tonga), Hikila (Tonga), Fulivai (NZ), 'Akau'ola (Tonga), Morris (USA), Faana (Tahiti), Crankshaw (South Africa), Fetu'u (NZ), Kennedy (USA), Milne (USA), Otukolo (USA)

3rd Row: Sisters Salt (USA), Vuna (NZ), Mulipola (NZ), Elders Adams (USA), Kwalimu (PNG) Harry (Vanuatu), Sauseru (PNG), Sisters Ngauamo (Tonga), Vautier (Tahiti), Harris (NZ)

4th Row: Ricker (PNG), Kelly (UK), Samson (PNG), Mariano (Philippines), Pamata (Samoa), Tauvaka(Aust), Angala (Phillipines), Lam (Hong Kong), Liehr (Aust), Danner (USA)

5th Row: Yates (USA), Fotu'aika (Tonga), Katene (NZ), Tooala (Samoa), Smith (USA), Singut (PNG), Mangum (USA), Brown (USA), `Uvea (Tonga), Tai (Hong Kong)

6th Row: Pahulu (Tonga), Nordlin (USA), Maiaa (Majuro), Child (USA), Loveless (USA), Hafoka (Tonga), Richardson (USA), Temarono (Tahiti), Serle (Aust), Maono (Tahiti)

7th Row: Yim (Tahiti), Stewart (NZ), Whyte (NZ), Howard (USA), Le'ohau (Tonga), Pearse (Aust), Vaetoe (Samoa), Farnsworth (USA), Paulson (USA), Hamilton (USA)

Auckland New Zealand MTC July, 2013