A Fun Weekend in Takapuna

We've had two fun weekends in Takapuna. Next weekend we'll be in the south island for the Christmas break.

We had a Christmas dinner at the Pearson's ... fun to see the water sports going on in the evening!

Sister B. working with the sisters in the office on some rugs.

Saturday morning's 4 mile run for Elder B.

Going out with Bruce and Xuqing for breakfast on Saturday!

Watching the Thunder Cat boat races.

Our Primary class.

Our Ward Christmas photo.

Fun to see all the boats out on Saturday.

Our 7 mile walk down to the Narrow Neck beach in Devonport.

2016 Pacific Area Plan

We've had a great time working on the Area Plan over the last two months. I believe we were up to version 35 before we finalized the wording. Elder Nielsen lead the effort, but each of the Area Presidency members provided some wonderful input and direction. The roll-out plan is going to be fantastic. Having a "plan" is one thing, but implementing the plan is the important thing. PSD and our Communications team have all done a superb job as well. Here's our intro video that is being viewed by all adults in RS and Priesthood this weekend and next:

It took a few takes, but this turned out to be a great way to introduce the plan (too bad about the reflection on Elder Pearson's glasses, so he took them off). We were in Utah at the time, so were not involved in the taping. Along with the plan, everyone will be receiving individual cards so they can set their own goals. I feel like this will is really going to be impactful, along with the poster that will be in every building.

Last Thursday, we did the filming for the videos that will be in the PowerPoint presentations shown on 5th Sunday in January. Here's some photos from the taping:

Can't forget the make-up!

Tell-a-prompter all set and ready to go!

After several takes ... the filming was completed.

Here's the 2016 Area Plan website that includes the video, the plan, and the cards (with more information to come):
  - http://pacific.lds.org/2016-pacific-area-plan

My Sister Lynn

It was a tough day yesterday when we learned that my oldest sister Lynn passed away.  Here's the note from her husband David Rich:
============================
Hello all,

Very sad news.  Lynn passed away tonight, Friday November 20, 2015 at 7:08 pm due to complications caused by the cytomegalovirus (CMV) virus working on a weakened immune system she has had due to Schleroderma.

Two weeks ago she complained of lower abdomen pain.  With her Schleroderma, she would frequently have pains in various parts of her body.  She was also feeling greater fatigue and resting in bed most of the day for about 2 weeks.  Then on Thursday 11/12 she went to urgent care, and by 11/13 she was admitted to the Scripps Green Hospital in La Jolla California overlooking the Torrey Pines Golf Course and the Pacific Ocean.  She always loved ocean views -- not so much golf courses, but she really liked the green grass.  As the week passed her ability to absorb oxygen decreased to the point that she was admitted to ICU to obtain more oxygen.  At the same time, the CMV virus had (probably) entered her lungs making it even harder to breath.  She was put on a ventilator and heavily sedated on Tuesday morning 11/17 at 4 am and became totally under sedation -- never to be awake, or be conscious again, though supposed "comfortable" under all of the sedatives and pain killers.  The virus continued to strengthen and her lungs and kidneys continued to weaken.  Everything possible was done to help her recover without avail and she passed away tonight 11/20. She had great doctors, residences and nursing staff throughout her 9 day stay in the hospital.  Our four children and her brother, Jim, were at her bedside as she passed into paradise.

We, like you, will miss her dearly.

Thank you for all of your kind words, deeds, visits, administrations, concerns and communications.

David
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Here are the 8 of us ... we are going to miss you Lynn!

I made a picture video:

I'm not sure what we will do without you!!!

General Auxiliary Visitors

This last weekend Brother Stephen W. Owen, the General Young Men’s President, and Brother Brian K. Ashton, the Second Counselor in the General Sunday School Presidency begin their visit to the Pacific Area. They started here in Auckland and arrived on Saturday morning. On Tuesday, they left for Vanuatu, then they go to Fiji, and they return back to Salt Lake Sunday night.

Elders Pearson and Haleck were gone on other assignments this weekend, so Sister B. and I helped out with the visit. She provided them an awesome welcome basket! 

They did some "rescue" visits on the day they arrived. We were going to go out to dinner with them to the Sky Tower, but the Bradfields (from the Ward) offered to take them on a sailing trip. So, we did that instead. I picked up dinner for them at a Thai restaurant.

And then we were off on our sailing trip. I had reserved a van from the office and I was the chauffeur. Here's a few pictures from the sailing trip.

Sunday was a busy day with us going to the Epsom Ward, the Sunset Ward, and then a country wide devotional for all the YM and the leaders. We had the devotional in the Redoubt building and it was broadcasted throughout all of New Zealand. Again I'm the designated driver and here are a few pictures from the day.

Popsicles for all ... after the devotional!

On Monday they did a devotional at the office and had some activities during the day. We ended off with a FHE at the Nielsen's.  It was a great trip!

Sister B's famous lasagna - this is the 3rd time she made it for an event here!

They are gone now and we are back to work. Sister B. is working on her weekly batch of letters that have to go out, we have agendas to do, calendars to submit, emails to send, follow-up to complete, an area plan to get ready so it can be reviewed next week, and numerous other items to finish off.

Here's a super nice note from Elder Nielsen (we worked together everyday on this event ... which included many hours of effort before they arrived). I know it's personal note, but I thought I'd record it here since I don't want to forget it associated with this event:

<< Where do I begin? Let me feebly try. Words cannot adequately describe my feelings for the two of you. It is not easy doing what we do but the Brereton's are always first in line willing to take the load off everyone's plate.

With our recent effort to host two of the general auxiliary presidents Steve Owen and Brian Ashton, you lifted a heavy load and you do it will great attitudes. Sometime we bob and weave a bit but you adjust beautifully and just make things workout. So from the bottom of my heart, thank you for always being there and adding the strength to survive some grueling schedules and relentless events.

A couple of weeks ago in our Area Council meeting, I looked at the two of you sitting together with an arm around each other during the sacrament and I got tears in my eyes wondering how we were going to carry on without you. Your consecrated efforts bring light and happiness to so many people. We all marvel at what you get done and you do it with smiles bigger than the state of Texas....that's BIG!!!!

Wendy and I feel richly blessed serving shoulder to shoulder with you in this wonderful cause. With gratitude in our hearts, we express our deepest appreciation to you for always being willing to not only jump in to help but also to do it FIRST CLASS!!!!

We love you and express our sincere heartfelt gratitude for your friendship and the joy you bring to those you serve with in the Pacific Area.

Much love, respect and appreciation,

Giff >>

Area Council Meeting

This was our last Area Council meeting ... we are very sad about that! We are going to really miss our Area Seventies. It seems like I communicate with them all almost every week. They are such wonderful men and servants of the Lord. The Pacific Area is 9,000 miles by 5,000 miles, so that gives them quite a large area to cover. Plus, not all of them live in the location they are responsible for with Elder Cummings handling Papua New Guinea (and living in Sydney), Elder O'Riordan covering Perth and Adelaide (and living in Melbourne), Elder Thomson covering all the way from south Auckland to the south island (and living in Hamilton), etc.  They are all just fabulous!

The Area Presidency and Area Seventies in the Pacific Area

As usual, Sister B. did a superb job on all the meals. The other sisters helped out as well and it turned out perfectly.  Sister B. also used her shell and sea glass collection (items we've picked up here on the beaches over the last 17 months).  She got lots of compliments on the table decorations.  I was asked to make some remarks and bear my testimony, so that was pretty nice too!

We had some great meetings!

The Area Presidency all help with the clean-up!!!

Temple Trip with the Area Presidency

We've talked about doing a temple trip all together, but given everyone's schedule we just haven't done this for a while. Well, we finally got a day where all of us had some time.

We left the office at about 1:15pm (after the weekly AP meeting). Sister B. had made lunches for everyone, so we had that on the way done. I drove the van and we had fun discussing the "Area Plan" on the trip.

We met up with the senior missionaries that serve in Hamilton (about 20 couples). The mission president, President Rudd, was there too, so that made for a great session. We met President Going (the temple president) as we entered (he checked our recommends).  It was a wonderful session!

Left to right: Elder Haleck, Sister Haleck, President Pearson, Sister Pearson, Sister Nielsen, Elder Nielsen, Sister B. and Elder B.

We went to the distribution center as well and had a great day.

Youth Conference in Christchurch

We were asked to do some social media training at a youth conference in Christchurch, so that made for a fun weekend. Elder and Sister Thomson were also there, so we stayed with them. They found a great rental that was just 20 minutes from the conference (a lot closer than being in the city), and it was cheaper too! Elder Thomson is the Area Seventy that covers the south island. We were able to see some of the sights here as well, so that was fun. They had been numerous earthquakes in Christchurch from 2010 to 2012, so they are still doing a lot of rebuilding.The youth conference was great and the kids were fantastic!

Sister B with our luggage!!!

A lot of reconstruction work going on!

Here's the video we made of the skits they put on: