Pacific Area New Zealand Mission

Our mission to serve in the Pacific Area of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

President Kelly, Elder and Sister Krieger, Bishop Carroll

Kathy and Kurt Krieger were set apart as missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Sunday, August 11, 2024, by our Stake President Donald Kelly. Joining us was our Bishop, Scott Carroll. Kathy was especially reminded to keep a detailed journal and Kurt was reminded to rely upon the Spirit especially to find unique solutions to problems. On Monday the 12th we flew to SLC from PBI (via ATL and an unscheduled stop in DEN because of weather in SLC). On Tuesday the 13th we started orientation at Church HQ. While in our training we were notified that we received our New Zealand visas, unexpectedly early! Wednesday we continued our OGC training then had dinner with the Schmutzes and Slaters. We spent the rest of the week in SLC doing some shopping.

Welcome to the MTC

On Saturday August 17 we took a shuttle and checked into the MTC in Provo. Our room was S2 334 where other senior missionaries are staying. Sunday we attended church in the MTC with other senior missionaries followed by a "Go and Do" exercise. The day was topped off by attending the Departure Devotional for all of the missionaries leaving the MTC the next week. After dinner we attended a Discipleship Devotional.

Devotional with the missionaries

Eating at the MTC took some getting used to as it is packed and is a very cafeteria style service with lines of junior missionaries at every station. The noise level makes it hard to enjoy the mediocre food. It turns out that the junior missionaries are instructed to let the senior missionaries cut in line and we took advantage of that if the line seemed extra long.

With the Walkers and Hepworth's

On Monday we had an orientation meeting, a welcome from the MTC presidency, and then we broke up into districts. Our district "J" consisted of us, Joe & Cyndee Hepworth (we got to know the Hepworths at our OGC orientation as they are headed to Tokyo where he will be an AALC) and E/S Walker (who are headed to the Washington D.C. Temple Visitors Center where they will work with Dave and Julie Colton.)

Monday afternoon was class, a tour of the MTC and a meeting with our MTC Branch Presidency. Each day we had class in the morning and afternoon, being taught out of the Preach My Gospel manual. Friday at noon our classes were over. 

View out our window

Our flat

Our complex

On Saturday we left the MTC and stayed two nights in SLC then on Monday August 26 we flew SLC to SFO then to AKL arriving Wednesday August 28. Paul (the Area Legal Counsel, our boss) and Irene Rytting picked us up at the airport and drove us to our "flat". We are staying at Shoalhaven Apartments, Unit A212, 130 Anzac St Takapuna. Two bedrooms, two baths, a small study, and a kitchen/dining area/living room with a TV and an up/down washer/dryer! Someone was kind enough to put some food in the cupboards and fridge that got us through the first few days. The flat is great except it has been unused for some time and has an overwhelmingly powerful mold/mildew smell that permeates everything.
We then stopped by the Area Office for a quick tour. That evening we had dinner with the Hafens who also work in OGC in the office. We started working on Thursday and worked until about 2 and again on Friday then out for some shopping each day. On Thursday the Hilliers took us out to Al Forno, their favorite restaurant in Takapuna. Friday night leftovers from Al Forno. Saturday it rained giving us the excuse to stay home and try to recover a bit more from the jetlag.

Showing our flat and office in Takapuna, a suburb of Auckland