29 Dec 2013

29 Dec 2013

 

Kia Ora!

 

In response to everyone's questions..... Yes, I did survive the tornado! It was the darnest thing... sheep and hobbits flying all over the place.  Thank goodness for the heavy dinners, dairy products, and lollies (candies) they keep serving us. See, it can be quite windy at times, and they have a theory here: Eat enough then you'll never be light enough to get blown away. Odd eh?  Actually I didn't even know there was a tornado.... I know now from everyone's emails. But here in KatiKati we are as good and colorful as our murals. :)    

Christmas:  The Kiwi people are very relaxed and laid back which is evident in everything they do. Almost all homes have a Christmas tree but with very few decorations on them, if any at all, and the trees were typically 1-2 feet high. No lights or Santa hats really. See its summer time for everyone right now, which means no school, no schedule, and no big deal Christmas. We had a good day. We had all our meals with ward members, dressed up for the nativity, visited some lonely people and went caroling.  Funny thing about caroling.... I have never really done it before.Is it normal to have people bring out gifts to you when you sing or cut you off (mid awkward, high-to-reach note) and tell you to please go away? Well, anyhow that’s pretty much how it went all night. 

 

We meet the darndest people here.  They drink the chicken juice straight from the can, cut their toenails and leg hairs with scissors, wash the dishes without soap and eat ramen sandwiches (yeah, its what it sounds like... a whole package of uncooked top ramen noodles between two pieces of bread)... oh wait never mind, that’s just my companion who does all that. lol I love her to death.  She's from Samoa and she makes me laugh everyday. Every time we hear "worldly" music she can't help herself and just starts dancing. The other day she was starting to dance down the road and we noticed that she had a huge spot of chocolate on her bum. Not sure how it got there.... we started to say, "No, no, stop Sister!" but we always say that when she starts dancing to the music. So she started dancing more dramatically... When she finally realized that her backsidewas all covered in chocolate she finally had a good enough reason to stop dancing. 

 

Funny moment:

We were visiting with a less active member, Ian, who had left the church because no one visited him in the hospital when he was there for 7 weeks... We opened our visit with a prayer and mySamoan companion couldn't remember his name and didn't realize it until she got to  "…and please bless Brother............... uh investigator." Then we started to read the Christmas story in Luke... her English isn't quite there yet and while she was reading about baby Jesus wrapped in swaddling clothes she said and "rapping babies is swellding clothes." Normally I can keep myself pretty composed in lessons but this was just too perfect.  I tried to disguise my laugh as a cough but you try holding back uncontrollable laughter and making it sound like a cough. All I can say about that is.... I tried. We must have done something right though because he let us come back.On our next visit I wanted to redeem myself from being so laughative (can't think of a better word) last time so I tried to really invite the spirit. I gave a very long prayer promising Johnblessings and protection and happiness if John would do the things he knows he needs to do...Then after the prayer IAN told me he appreciated the prayer but that he was not John. Fail. Poor Ian. We do love you. 

 

 

There are many different cultures and ethnicities here in New Zealand.  And I am very much a minority here, which I actually always forget. A drunken man told me that if only I spoke Maori,I would be a very strong woman.  Still not sure what that means, but I thanked him just the same.

 

We have a lot of people from Vanuatu (an Island) who come to do seasonal work with the kiwi fruits.  We are teaching a few of them and I’ve decided that they are some of my most favorite kinds of people!  They are so funny and humble and good.  They can only come to church if it rains, so you better believe we pray that it rains so that they can come... However, I learned yesterday that rain may mean we get THOSE workers but there are OTHERS who can only come if it does NOT rain. Hmm.... That’s a tricky prayer, eh? 

 

I'm getting really terrible with street contacting/ door knocking. I'm scared to get rejected and I’m scared if they are interested. A typical encounter goes something like this...

 

Me: "HI! How are you?"

Them: "I’m not interested thanks."

Me: "Ok! Thanks for your time."

I like to think its pretty great that I said hi... haha, I'm learning and its really, really uncomfortably hard and awkward. 

 

You're very right about the adversary. As soon as I'm happy and confident BOOM something happens and I’m completely discouraged and then I think "I can't do this, its too hard." BUT I keep my feet moving and at that moment the Lord hands me a blessing! Ooooh man! Why do I have to go through such a rough cycle!?!  gah.  It’s good. I’m learning to want to become more teachable... I’m not there yet, but I’m wanting to and that's a start, eh?!.  

 

 

Just random and interesting:

 

•

A phrase that everyone uses is  “cool as....” Such as, “Hey man, that’s totally cool as."

 

•

People walk around town without shoes all the time and it's like yeah, whatever, we don't like shoes and btw we're kiwis. 

 

•

People either LOVE or HATE Auckland (the city).... apparently people at Church really don't care for it because someone etched into the hymn book "I HATE AUCKLAND", maybe one day I'll find out why. 

 

•

Dairy products all taste different (milk, butter, eggs, sour cream, cheese). I'm told it’s a better quality but to me it tastes as if it came straight from the utter.... I don't even know what I mean by that but it makes sense in my head. 

 

•

Everyone’s front door is a sliding glass door. So you always feel like you’re walking up to their backdoor. 

 

Remember to ALWAYS be a GOOD EXAMPLE of the believers! Everyone is watching you. 

Love,  Sister Moore 

 

 

 

 

Map of where Hailey is currently serving:

 

Pictures of the town of Katikati:

 

 

 

 

Pictures of the Tauranga bay in her area:

 

 

 

 

Sample Mural in the town of Katikati:

 

 

You can see more of the murals here:

http://www.resene.co.nz/competition/murals/Katikatimurals.htm)

 

20 December 2013

20 Dec 2013

Kia ora!  Greetings from the New Zealand Hamilton Mission.

Sister Moore arrived safely to Hamilton, and is already labouring in her new area. Her companion is Sister Hutt and they will also be serving with Sister Malaeoletama. They will be serving in the Tauranga Zone.  I have enclosed a picture of them as well as her picture with us.  We love Sister Moore already.

We look forward to serving with Sister Moore in this wonderful work as the missionary wave floods this great country of New Zealand!  We need her and are excited to serve together!  Her testimony will grow as she helps others receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and his atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end. 

Arohanui,

President and Sister Rudd

23 December 2013

23 Dec 2013 

Hello All!

 

When I left the MTC this past week I literally felt as though I was being ripped away from my family. I didn't want to leave them and was scared to death to meet my new companion and start the "real thing". After the MTC we stayed in a hotel in between transfers and they served us the most wonderful food I have ever experienced eating- I swear I have never smiled so big before... I think it’s a sure tricky way to make someone forget about how scared they are by putting them into a food coma. I don't know why I was so nervous. I never got scared or homesick in the MTC- although I did break down and cry at the MTC because our teacher or "investigator" brushed us off and wouldn’t give us her phone number to set up another appointment to teach her...... hmmm. Good luck with the real thing Sister Moore.... But then I ate some chocolate and was fine. Funny how easy it is to fix my problems :) I’m gunna gain a lot of weight on my mission if this is how I solve all my problems. 

 

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU Mom and David for your wonderful surprise!!!  After the MTC, I got it the day I met my companions.  I tried to wait till Christmas to open it but I lasted about 2 days and opened it. What wonderful New Zealand goodies it had! I hugged the package all day when I got it.

 

The first day out of the MTC was a bit of a blurr.... I taught my first lesson, got a new investigator and started making commitments to people left and right. Everyone was nice to us and everything seemed pretty easy...Is missionary work suppose to be this easy?!  With a brilliant start, I came home to our flat and was overcome, for the first time with intense homesickness. I was pretty strong and wouldn't let myself cry though :)  The trick is to not talk. It’s a pretty difficult thing forgetting yourself and what you want to do, and to give everything to Heavenly Father. I guess that first night i was just thinking... Oooohhhh boyyyy what did I sign up for?!?  My companions don't love me (at least not like my MTC ones did) and one doesn't even speak English!! Even though there were a lot of success that first day, it still made me wonder if we could keep it up and if we could be friends with each other.  But I’ve been getting on my knees every night and pleading with the Lord to help me and to let me forget myself, adjust, and be patient and humble and as a result......... I am doing great! This is really hard work but I feel like I've met so many of these people before.

 

---Also, the letter from Anna and her kids REALLY brightened me up and made me feel really good on my first day in the area, Thank you Thank you! 

 

-We fasted the other day for our area and that our companionship would grow in love and unity (which it has, we are having so much fun together now). That day we went over to Wero's trailer (an inactive member) and helped him with some service by cutting his grass..... And that is how I had my first experience with a Machete!  Turns out cutting grass with a dull machete blade, hot sun and fasting body isn't quite as easy as it sounds. It was so much fun though! Afterwards he showed us the whole Maori village and explained the Marae (a traditional Maori tribal meeting place) and the symbolism to it. (He’s actually the chief's son, but is cast out to live in the lowest class of his village :/). 

 

So of course my computer time is cut down again today because we went to an “unveiling” this morning which took away almost all of our free p-day. This (unveiling) is a Maori tradition in which one will put words onto a tomb stone a year after the death of that person. It was a very interesting experience. There was a lot of crying and a lot of beautiful singing. Every time the beautiful Maori people sing I feel like they’re hugging me with their words. One thing I’ve realized slowly since being here is that- EVERYONE here is related!! Especially in this small town of Kati-Kati in which I am now serving. We, I mean I, call it a Mural Town. It’s this great tiny little town with the weirdest murals everywhere! Murals with big groups of pioneery people that don't smile and hold knives behind their backs.....

 

I will be Sykping home for Christmas YOUR Christmas, so boxing day for me. I’ll call mom first at: 6pm and Dad at 6:30

 

Ok I’m a spastic letter writing mess... Not sure if this all made sense but I gotta run. We have a missionary thing to get to [having a sleep over at another sisters’ apartment to save on some kilos (mileage) ‘cuz we have district meeting tomorrow]

 

Gahhhhh...... I'll write more later. Also a big THANK YOU to those who have written me--will write to you soon!

 

Love, Sister Moore

8 December 2013

Snail Mail Letter:

8 December 2013 (I’m trying to get used to their way of writing dates)

 

Dear Family

 

It’s odd to imagine that I’ve only been at the MTC in New Zealand for 4 days.  We are always busy and always working. Mom, you once asked me if they give the sisters extra time to get ready. The answer is  - No. No, they don’t.  By the time you need to go to bed at night you hardly have enough time to change, wash your face, and get into bed.  You want more time? Get up earlier, or move faster.

 

There is so much I want to say but to be honest I don’t remember everything.  We’re lucky to get 5 min of journal writing in at night and everything is just so new, it’s hard to begin.

 

Oh, here’s one thing.  I forgot to pack shampoo, towels, stationery, face lotion & any kind of hair product.  Luckily the President’s wife found some extra towels but she was shocked I wouldn’t have any… I was too scared to tell her I needed shampoo, too, but I eventually got around to asking her a few days later.

 

You would all be shocked and completely excited to hear that I, Sister Moore, have eaten ALMOST EVERYTHING they offer, Including: fish & chips (gag), poached eggs (barf), beefy stew (not bad), porridge (YUM), green Jello tri-fold*(what?!), ham (pretty sure it was really Spam), and much, much more! Sometimes I feel like all we do is eat, but I’m always hungry, so it’s great! I think that’s why all the people are so happy here, because they love and appreciate food—all day, every day.

 

I taught some Sisters on my first day how to use a vending machine.  They were from some Island and didn’t understand the concept.  My Roommate, Sister Tafa, and I taught them. And now every time we go past the vending machine the sisters are literally swarmed around it, like ducks around crumbs of bread in a duck pond.  President’s wife had to make an announcement because it was becoming a problem. “What you eat in private, stays with you in public”.

 

Curious about my accent progression??? It’s the darndest thing, sometimes I’ll just be talking and an accent will jump out of my mouth, without any intention on my part.  The worst part?? lol People always stop and ask me why I’m using an accent. Shoot! BUT, I have had several people tell me that I have the best accent they’ve heard.  Apparently it’s an Auzie accent (probably because my companion (Sister Ryan) & our Roommate are both from Australia). We have one more American in our room, Sister Miggin, from Utah. So there are 4 of us in total. (It’s kind of gross but they don’t supply you with hand soap here so literally no on is really washing their hands. (They do have soap by the classrooms just not in the bedroom bathrooms)  In some ways this is good because then I won’t get grossed out when someone doesn’t wash their hands because none of us are!!

 

Two more things about bathrooms: their toilets have 2 buttons: 1 or #1, and another for #2.  More water comes out with #2. I think it’s pretty smart.  And my last bit about bathrooms (hahaha) is that ALL of their outlets have a switch to turn on or off when you’re not using it.  People were laughing at me actually because I didn’t turn the switch on before turning on a light. …silly Americans!

 

But really, I’m having a wonderful time.  I’ve never felt more comfortable with myself among a group of people. The thought of going home makes me sick because there is SO MUCH to learn and do here.  In fact, I don’t think anyone is very homesick.  We haven’t the time for that sort of thing. lol But really, everyone has done such a great job of making us feel so comfortable and loved.

 

I feel lie I have a lot of friends but I can’t remember any of their names because they’re all foreign names.  I am literally a minority here and it’s wonderful.  But the sisters are always smiling and saying hello to me.  It may be because I tend to make a fool of myself wherever I go.  Everyone tells me they love my facial expressions and my mad basketball skills. What?!! That’s right family: yo girl’s got b.b. game!!!

 

What cool about being here is that everyday I wake up I feel so much closer to everyone here.  Imagine feeling like you’ve met everyone previously before, but you can’t quite pin-point where.  It’s strange but wonderful.

 

Well, I’m sure you’d love to hear about the actual work I’m doing here, eh? So when I first got here I think I was on an MTC high.  Everything was wonderful ad perfect and I wanted to stay in here forever and ever. I wouldn’t say that that feeling is gone but my eyes have definitely been opened to a few things:

 

1. Teenage boys are so painfully teenage boys (I’ll leave that open for interpretation)
2. Words are hard. Teaching is hard.
3. Making friends is easy.
4. There is strength that comes from STRICT and EXACT obedience!
5. Strict and exact obedience is hard.
6. The Lord calls young people for a reason.  Sometimes you just have to look a bit deeper into some people to see their special gifts.
7. Love is everything!
8. Pride is a sneaky little booger that jumps at every opportunity it can.

 

I wish I had the time to share with you every lesson I’ve learned and could tell you how I’ve adopted improved versions of definitions for things like: Faith, Endurance, Love, and the Gospel.  It may seem pretty basic and I suppose it is but there is power in the basics and a lot to remember that I think we have all forgotten to some degree.  Asking questions like: WHAT is it? WHY do we do it? HOW do we do it? will go a long way.

 

Love you all! Miss You!

Sister Moore

 

 

* - pretty sure she’s talking about “Trifle”, the popular NZ dessert ;)

December 15, 2013

It was the best of times it was the worst of times.

 

HELLO!

I've been looking forward to this computer time all week! where to begin......

 

OK remember how I said no one is washing their hands.....guess what? Everyone is sick now! I've been sick all week. Which really sucks, but there is no rest for the sick.  You work- you'll feel better. At least that's what I keep telling myself. I brought my netti pot with me and I've been using it once, twice, THREE times a day.  The other day I used it and I couldn't get any water to come through, I was so clogged up in my nose.  I've also been taking Mucinex - Thanks to my mom's motherly instinct of making me take it with me. Yeah, its just about all gone.  But once I finally got over feeling sorry for myself and began to "forget myself" in just a small way, I began to see many miracles. first- I was laying on my bed trying to get up at 6 am and I literally could not. I was so sick and so tired and so weak I literally had no energy in me (I know I sound pretty dramatic).  There are times in my life when I feel like I can actually feel people praying for me and I think this was one of those times. I didn't ask for strength or any help but suddenly I was filled with alertness and energy to immediately get up and get going. My companion, Sister Ryan tells me that she prays for me everyday that I will feel better. I feel like I had a lot of prayers helping me that day.

 

So there have been a few girls getting mail.  I never thought I would mind whether I got letters or not but I found myself saying "Please say Sister Moore! Please say Sister Moore!" when they were naming off the sisters who had received letters.  Sadly there was nothing.  But a few days later the MTC president's wife came over and delivered a very specially wrapped package to me!!!  I can't tell you how happy I was.  My companion wanted me to open it right away but we decided to run back to our room and open it there. Having no idea who it could be from, my mind was wondering all over the place. THANK YOU SO MUCH NOTT FAMILY!!! I couldn't believe that with a missionary out of your own that you would send me something- even in New Zealand!  I kept saying over and over and over again "I have THE BEST family in the world!  The Best!"  I loved your sweet note and the goodies were more appreciated than you know, my roommates and other sisters also enjoyed them greatly.

 

GAHHH, only 5 more minutes.  There's no time to say everything :( bullet points will have to do...

 

 THINGS I'VE LEARNED THIS WEEK: 

 

• God loves broken things
  
• I obey today, I understand tomorrow
  
• Proverbs 2:11 "My son (daughter), despise not the chastening of the Lord, neither be weary of his correction."
  
• We went to the temple last week and you wouldn't believe how many missionaries had not received their endowments yet...... We got to take them through for the first time.  What a neat experience! They didn't have their endowments because they came from islands were there are no temples.
  
• Many of the missionaries here are converts
  
• Every one likes to say the phrase "Good on you!"
  
• Crap is a VERY very bad things to say....Ooooops!
  
• Everyone says damn and ass here..... So weird- but they aren't bad apparently
  
• I LOVED Everyone's letters!  THANK YOU!!  THANK YOU!!  I wish I had time to respond to you individually but we only have 30 min in the computer room.
  

 

David--You said the food here was really good??!  LOL  I think the MTC does things differently, everything is made with JELLO?!   And they serve uncooked eggs!  But even the sisters from NZ say that the food  in the MTC is nothing like what it is in the rest of NZ. (You weren't lying about that butter tho (Best stuff Ever!!)  ;))

 

Dad- Thanks for asking!  I didn't bring a lot of stuff, but I'll just buy it when i get into the field i think.

 

They're making me leave now. I wish i could write more.

 

I AM LEAVING THE MTC TOMORROW!  First day in the field will be tomorrow!!  The time flew by here.  I'm both scared and excited to get going.

 

Love, 

 Sister Moore

{Mom's NOTE: If you would like to write to Hailey, she would love it! (see above)}

(Letters & Padded Mail)

Sister Hailey Moore
New Zealand Hamilton Mission
PO Box 9542
Waikato Mail Centre 
Hamilton 3240

(For Packages & Boxes)

Sister Hailey Moore
New Zealand Hamilton Mission
131 Ward Street
Hamilton Central
Hamilton 3204

December 9, 2013

Dec 9, 2013

1st Week in New Zealand

WOW! My first few days here I was really on an MTC missionary high, with adrenaline high and no jet lag, i was on a complete cloud nine. now that, that has worn off I am really starting to feel tired and see how hard things can be.

 

My companion, Sister Ryan, is from Australia. She is so great. this cute little red-head with a voice that sounds like its always gone. (I would include pictures but we can't use our cameras until Thursday and then we can only use it to take pictures outside of the temple.) the first day she got here she threw up a bunch! we had to take her to the doctor's the next day and i got to experience my first "adventure" driving through New Zealand. We are kept in the MTC all day so we never get to see anything, so i can't tell you how beautiful it is because i can't see anything! lol i'm not sure what it is about the people here but they are all so nice. in the waiting room, at the doctors office everyone was talking to each other and sharing their food- it felt like everyone was like family is some ways. I'm sure my perspective is limited but i'm really hoping that everyone is this nice all the time!

 

there is no time in the day! we have been asked to obey with EXACT obedience in everything we do. We have a new motto, that the MTC president has us follow, in which he will say: When it is time to eat, we: and we respond with: EAT. When it is time to study, we: STUDY, when it is time to sleep, we: SLEEP. i can't tell you how wonderful it was to finally do laundry today. and even then it was only because we left breakfast early and used our breaks to run back to our rooms and finish it. We are told that this is the Lord's mission and our time is his time and we best not waste his time. If we are lucky we have a few minutes to write in our journals but i haven't even began to record everything i am experiencing.

 

we had a devotional on Sunday where a group of people came and sang to us. They started singing Christmas songs and passing around presents. To be honest I didn't miss home in the slightest until they came. Everyone got a little sentimental, thinking about home and lazy, cozy Christmases. The trick is- don't think about home, because really, we don't have any time to think about ourselves. it's lesson after lesson after lesson. then meal after meal, then devotional...and repeat. there is no extra time for the sisters to get ready, ever. you want more than 5 min to shower? wake up earlier sister. want more time to change after p.e. (which by the way is in the middle of the day) move faster sisters. My room of girls is so great. we have woken up at 5:30 most days and 6:00 all others. needless to say, i'm tiered. i'm really, really tired d. in some ways this tiredness has made me numb to all embarrassment and fear. i'm too tired to care what people think of me when i mess up or don't look great.

 

so ya, i'm the minority here, which is so cool. there are so many Samoan(sp) and Tongan(sp) sisters here. they're so funny and the best to play basketball with. we get really fired-up when we play basketball.

 

anyways i guess i have to go. they were late opening the computer room for us and now we have to go start class.

 

anyone have any tips for staying awake? (we walk to the flagpoles every change we get, and i impress people with my cloggin' skills..... apparently that's what i look like when i'm dancing, trying to keep warm- PS ITS SO COLD HERE! they love having the a-con on all the time! BRRRRR.) k i'm getting in trouble g2g.

 

LOVE YOU All! thanks for the letters

 

-Sister Moore

December 5, 2013

Dec 5, 2013

First Day in New Zealand

Kia Ora from Sister Moore! :)

Hello all my favorite people!

 

I'M IN NEW ZEALAND! and it feels so good.

 

I was welcomed into this beautiful country with a rainstorm. nothing makes me feel quite like home like the rain.

 

the plane trip was pretty exciting. i had a lay over in LA first where, after 3 payphone calls and a stressed out crying me i was able to meet up with my dad, lily and Dakota. it was a short but wonderful reunion. i only got to see them for 10 minutes because of my unfortunate coordination with geographic location and simple direction navigation. when i got to my connecting flight i noticed a large group of well groomed boys and some very shell shocked looking sisters, all stiffly clumped together. i'm not sure why they were so scared. everyone in the New Zealand air area was SO NICE. everyone was talking with everyone and smiling and just being so New Zealand-y (at least i assume that's what they're all like).

when we finally got on the second plane- which by the way, international flights are awesommeeeee. it looked so futuristic inside, with all the purple themed festive things. i got to sit next to this amazing English couple. you can't help but smile and want to be best friends with people with accents, or at least i can't. me and the lady became friends though, although we didn't talk much. i def took 4 Zzquil (not all at once) and was able to have lots of good quality sleep.

on the airplane i had my first new zealand meal. does all airline food taste that good or was it just new zealand??

we lost an elder when we got off the flight (apparently you do not bring beef jerky to NZ) and found one sister who had been avoiding us because she didn't want to introduce herself yet. then another girl joined us who had flown straight from Taiwan. i feel so bad for her! she doesn't know any English! she doesn't understand anyone and looks like she is going to cry at any moment. I'm trying to help her, but slowing down your English and acting things out can only go so far.

 

A large Samoan man picked us up from the airport and immediately made us all feel so welcomed. he made sure the elders were to take good care of us and handle all of our bags. it's funny how i didn't realize we were driving on the wrong side of the road until 5 min after we started. its super weird. it'll take a while to get used to. but as soon as we got to the MTC they served us second breakfast. they had all NZ's finest. eggs, beans, ham, porridge (SO DELICIOUS!) and they drink this drink mixture that has an undefinable taste and i can't decide if its good or not.

 

---shoot i gotta go. will write later!

 

love you lots n lots!

 

-Sista Moore

Write Sister Moore!

Letters: 

New Zealand Hamilton mission 

PO box 9542

Waikato mail centre 

Hamilton 3240

Packages: 

New Zealand Hamilton mission

131 ward street

Hamilton central

Hamilton 3204