Friday in Hamiliton

Temple Experience

I love to see the temple, I'm going there someday. To feel the Holy Spirit, to listen and to pray. For the temple is a house of God, a place for love and beauty, I'll prepare myself while I am young. This is my sacred duty. 

 I love to see the temple, I'll go inside someday. I'll cov'nant with my Father, I'll promise to obey. For the temple is a Holy place, where we are sealed together. As a child of God I've learned this truth, A Family is Forever. 

-Lds Primary Children's Hymn Book 

      This easily was the highlight of the trip! I have been looking forward to this day for so long! There is something I didn't realize I took for granite until I came over here, and that is having a temple so close. I know I don't go as often as I should, but it's nice to have the option of being able to go when I want to go, and not having to travel to get there. I have so much respect for temple going members that don't have a temple near them. I will definitely be attending even more frequently than I did before I left for New Zealand. Anyway, I have been missing going to the temple, and today I finally got to go. 

       We were picked up very early! We were told to be dressed in our temple attire, and be ready to go! We then drove down to Hamiliton. This was about a two and a half hour drive. That doesn't sound like very much, but when you don't have a car to drive two and a half hours is ages away. This is why I was glad I was here with a group who came to the temple! We got there and the temple was gorgeous! It was set up on a hill, and just absolutely stunning!

       

  

         We were really blessed. We were able to go in and do baptisms for the dead! I loved it so much. No matter where you are the temple is always the same. The spirit is so strong. It was such a calming effect on me, and brings me so much peace. I love how I can go to the temple and it feels just like home. There truly isn't a better place in the world than the temple. It was an incredible experience!

      After we had done our Baptisms, we went to the temple cafeteria and had lunch. It was such a good home cooked meal! It even tasted like home cooked food. And by home cooked food I mean American food. We had roast beef, veggies, potatoes, and apple crisp for dessert. It all tasted so good! Following lunch we walked over to the visitors center. In here, we got to go explore a round a tiny bit. After exploring, we went in and watched a movie about Matthew Cowley. Matthew Cowley was an incredible missionary. He was the main influence in helping bring the gospel to the Maori people. He came over here and severed his mission and taught himself the Maori language. By doing this he gained the respect of several of the Maori people. Then he returned to the states. Later on in his life he returned and served as the mission president for the New Zealand mission. This was really neat to see how the gospel came to the Maori people. Matthew Cowley seems like an incredible man. 

     After the movie was over, we concluded our temple journey. It truly was the most amazing thing. I loved everything about it. The peace that it brings, and the joys that come along with the temple are experiences I will never forget.

     Following the temple, we continued our drive down to Rotorua where we would be staying for the next couple of days. We got there, and we stayed at a house. We stayed with the Bronze family. The kiwi people are so incredibly nice. I can't imagine having 18 people come intrude on my house and just take over while I am living there, but the kiwi people love it and embrace it. They welcome all and more into their homes. This is something I will never understand, but am grateful for the experiences. It was a pretty home. The biggest home I have seen since I have been over here. We all had a lot of fun staying in one home together! 

     After we got there, we ate dinner, then had a little bit of time to relax. We played a few card games, and talked, and the best part of what we did that night, was make a list. Some of the girls decided they wanted to make a list of when all of the girls in the group would be married! This was the funniest thing I have ever listened to in my life! I'd like you all to know, I was voted on being last! They think I will be the one who travels, and works a little before I get married! I was completely okay with this! I felt like that was a great place for me on the list! Following this, we headed to bed. We had a early day in the morning.