Arriving in Auckland

It takes 17 hours to fly to New Zealand from Salt Lake City, including a layover in San Francisco. That said, our plane lifted off on Monday evening, October 25, 2015, and landed in Auckland on Wednesday morning October 27 at 5:30 am. Time Travelers? No, we crossed the international  date line.

All Smiles Before Takeoff

We arrived and were given two hours to "fresh'n up" and then put to work in the Public Affairs department at the Area office in Takapuna, a suburb of Auckland.   More on our work later, but suffice it to say we have been working almost non-stop since our arrival.

Downtown Auckland at sunset as viewed from a 10th floor flat at Devon Point, across the bay. Not our flat!

President and Sister Balli and Elder and Sister Champlin at the New Zealand Auckland mission office. 

Although we work at the Pacific Area office, we technically report ecclesiastically to President Rick Balli, fellow former NY Rochester missionary circa 1975-1977.  It was great to get reacquainted.  He and Sister Balli were gracious and welcoming.

New Zealand is hilly.  Looking down on Auckland.