DANNEVIRKE AND WAITARA

We left Hastings to get on the road to a lovely town that was settled by Scandinavians. Dannevirke is also the place where Elder Matthew Cowley lived and served as mission president. John served in this town. We stopped and took a stroll down the main street and drove around looking at different areas of the town. We drove by Elder Cowley's old home and the Marae (Maori Temple) which is next door.

We had a beautiful drive through the Gorge as we were traveling west to drive to the other side of the country to the Tasman Sea. There are really no freeways as we know them in New Zealand. You drive on two lane roads passing through small and even smaller towns. The speed limit is never over 100 kilometers an hour (60 miles for us) and the driving is very picturesque.

Johnny and Brittney in front of the Gorge

The Gorge

We spent the night in Palmerston North to break up the long drive. The next morning we began our trek to New Plymouth to visit members in Waitara. John served in Waitara in the Taranaki region for 6 months. We took the surf highway and stopped at Opunaki Beach. We were now by the Tasman Sea and it was also beautiful.

Johnny and Brittney on the beach

The Tasman Sea behind us

Two teenage boys were drawing this cross on the beach with sticks. As we were walking to the car they asked, "Do you believe?" We all answered, "YES!"

Johnny decided to dip his toes in the Tasman Sea

We drove to New Plymouth to find a place to stay. We then went to KFC and while we ate a big guy came in to eat also. When we watched Rugby later in the trip.....There he was on TV! A genuine rugby star. We drove to Waitara which is a small town. There weren't many places to shop or eat. We did manage to have Tip Top! The little dairy (corner convenience store) was so busy that people were coming and going. We stood and ate our ice cream outside and it seemed everyone stared at us. I guess we stood out. We couldn't find the address of the Master's family that we wanted to visit. Johnny stopped and asked three ladies talking outside on the lawn if they knew the address. The ladies laughed because they were the 3 posties (mail delivery ladies) and they new every address in town. One pointed at John and said, "I remember you! I used to deliver your mail when you lived here." John had been gone 7 years from Waitara. It was sweet.

We found the Masters at home and it was a good reunion. Peter and Stacey have 3 children, 2 girls and one boy. Peter plays Rugby and net ball. He is a chef and Stacey is finishing her schooling to be a midwife.

Peter and Stacey and family

There was a beach down the road from the Master's home. We had to stop and watch the surfers and the waves.

Johnny was able to visit a special sister that took care of the missionaries in Waitara. Debbie Lawrence loved having Johnny visit her family. Her youngest son, Decoda, used to call Johnny Elder Stork.

Debbie, Johnny and Decoda