December 31, 2015

Reed and I decided to go into work today.  We missed having Trevor and Nichole here when we got up.  It was a little more quiet and lonely.

There were only a few of us in the whole Area Office working today.  We worked until 4:00 p.m. and then headed home.

We went to a nice Thai restaurant for dinner with the Winter's, Whidden's and Henderson's.  We went home for a while and then we picked up Elder and Sister Henderson at 8:45 p.m. and headed over to Devonport to play games and watch fireworks from Elder and Sister Olsen's apartment.  We were the only ones that showed up until about 10:00 p.m. when Brent and Debbie Buckner arrived.  We played Catch Phrase and ate some finger foods.  We watched the fireworks go off the Sky Tower at midnight and it only lasted about 5 minutes.  Happy New Year 2016!  It took us 1 hour and 20 minutes to drive back to our flats which usually takes about 20 minutes. 

The sunset as we headed to the Olsen's flat in Devonport.  They live in the building you can see to your right on the 10th floor with a great view of downtown Auckland and the Harbour Bridge.

View of the Harbour Bridge from their flat.

Fireworks that they shot off the Sky Tower at midnight to welcome in 2016.

Happy New Year 2016.

It is hard to believe that 2015 is all over and a new year has begun. 

We had a lot of wonderful experiences during 2015 and some very difficult and sad times.  Loosing three siblings in one year has been part of the challenges we have had to face during our mission. We are so grateful for each of them, Lynne, Paul and DeLeuw.  We love them and miss them but are so grateful to know that we will see them again one day.  That death is not the end.  That families are Eternal!

We were blessed to have Christy, Devree, Trevor and Nichole come and spend time with us and share in our mission experiences.  That was definitely a highlight. 

We were blessed to visit our dear friends in Samoa twice and visit the beautiful country of Tonga as we helped our missionaries and the schools in those two countries.  We were also able to visit Brisbane, Australia and work with a wonderful Self-Reliance Manager, Carl Maurer, Elder and Sister Johnson and many other wonderful missionaries and leaders there.

We have been able to meet so many new and interesting people.  We have attended weddings, gone to the Temple with some of our YSA, participated in many celebrations and had many new cultural experiences.  We are blessed to be in meetings and be taught by our Area Presidency on a regular basis.

We are healthy, happy and so grateful for all we have.  We know The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true and we love being part of the great missionary force helping the work to move forward.

We love you all and hope all of us have a wonderful and prosperous 2016.   Until next time.

Love Elder and Sister Spencer (aka Reed and Nada)