Sunday in Turangi, New Zealand

On Saturday, December 20th we packed up the mini-van and drove 4 hours south to  Lake Taupo, Turangi, and Tongariro National Park area.  Earlier in October we were able to trade our timeshare for a rustic lodge at one of the best places for fly fishing in New Zealand.  Unfortunately Gary does not have any of his gear here.  We did enjoy the countryside and took some beautiful hikes (they call them tramps in this part of the world).

Sunday we attended church at the Turangi Branch.  It was a delightful and reminded us our days in Calvert County, Maryland.  The speakers (called out of the congragation) consisted of two other brethren who had lived in Turangi and were visiting for Christmas, Elder Winters, and a brother from the stake high council.  There was no one to play the piano so we sang the songs acapella.  After church they had a farewell luncheon for one of the members who was moving and they invited us to join them.  It was at the church that we made our post last week as our Internet in this neck of the woods was a wee bit sparse.

Turangi Branch Building

We met the young elders and took pictures to send to their mothers.  One young elder is from Tonga and his mother does not have a computer to send her a picture.  He is from the isle of Ha'apii which we just so happen to be going to visit after the first of the year, so we took his picture and promised to look her up when we get there.  These young elders are serving in the Hamilton New Zealand mission.  Elder Glen Rudd's son, President Charles Rudd is their mission president.  We told them to tell him "Hi" from some of his dad's friends.

Elder Vaisingano

Elder Winters and Elder Vaisingano

Elder Pearce and Elder Winters

After church we went to visit the Tongariro National Trout Centre.  Admission was free so we had a leisurely stroll through the centre.  There was a $10.00 charge for the museum but being Sunday we passed on it.  (When we got home to Takapuna, we learned that we saved $20.00 as the museum was not that great.)  We enjoyed ourselves tremendously and took lots of pictures of the fish to send home to our grandchildren.

He was so big we only got part of him

Just a few of the many

That is the Tongariro River in the background

The Trout Centre was great and we really wished that we could share it with our grandchildren.  We learned that you could purchase food and feed the trout.  They also have special days for kids to fish and catch trout.  There is a fish hatchery and we learned how the trout eggs are hand stripped and the procedure for the trout to mature before they are released into the river. It was very educational and quite fascinating.  For more information about the Trout Centre.

We spent an enjoyable Sunday without TV, the internet, or even the use of our computers and iPads.  Good old fashion books, maps and travel literature were our mainstays.

"Proper recreation and amusement are good things."  Lorenzo Snow "The Teachings of Lorenzo Snow"