Our little blue car with steering wheel on the wrong side!

President Jolliffe is the mission president for 2 more weeks, then they go home to England. They are lovely people and we had a wonderful evening with them.

On Thursday, we "drove around on the left side of the road" and practiced "going backwards" on round-abouts, looked around at the shopping areas, and then in the evening went to dinner at President and Sister Jolliffe's home with the Brazzeals. It was such a nice evening - we sat around the table and visited for a long time. They are really lovely people, and we wish we were going to get to know them longer. They leave for their home in England in a couple of weeks. We probably won't see them again, but it was really lovely. President Jolliffe told us that we would be going to Ashburton about an hour south of Christchurch, and that the branch president there was very excited that we were coming.

On Friday morning - the 16th, we got up at 5:00 am, got ready and to the ferry by 7:00, and then had a beautiful 3 hr ferry ride. Then we drove in our car down the east coast to Ashburton - and got here at 8:00 pm. It was a beautiful drive, and a winding road, so we couldn't go very fast. The mountains were all green with lush pasture, and sheep and cows everywhere, with ocean on the other side. It was a beautiful 9 hour drive! One place we pulled over, there was a seal or a sea lion. We woke him up and he was very kind to pose for a picture! When we got to Ashburton, we were exhausted! There was not a motel room available in any motel - a track meet in town! We went by the last motel, and I said, "just go in and ask". There was a young oriental couple checking in, and when the manager said he didn't have any rooms, they said, "you can have our room, we have some friends we'll go stay with". It was a miracle! We were so exhausted and thankful! All they had was a house which had been converted - 3 bedrooms, and everyone shared the bathroom & living room and kitchen, and a small heater in the middle of each bedroom - but we were thankful! It was right next to the highway and the train tracks - when the train roared by, all we could do was laugh! We said, "whose idea was this - to go on a mission!"

We felt better in the morning and went by the place that the mission home had "secured" for us, on the recommendation of a realator. It was really not acceptable - garbage all over and a box with a dead cat in it, and cigerette butts out front. Nasty! I almost went into shock from it all. We decided to spend the day looking around for another place - which we did! The city of Ashburton is really a beautiful little town (about 30,000 people). Every neighborhood we saw was lovely (except where that place we were to stay!) We found one nice little house that was about the right price - but it's unfurnished, so we'll have to see about that. We also met the branch president, (who is 36), and his councelors, (one has 13 children) and the missionaries! The church, is down town - and as luck would have it, there is a dollar store (only it's $2 here!) right across the street! It's not quite the "quality" I'm use to, but will have to do! We went to "movie night" at the church tonight, and met quite a few people, and watched the movie "Tangled". Kenny even enjoyed it! Only on a mission! The McDonalds is our landmark - everything is some direction from there. There is also a Domino's Pizza and a KFC and a really nice grocery store. We are staying at a nice motel for a couple of days until we figure out where to stay. We are feeling much happier tonight, and are sure everything will work out fine. Will add some pictures tomorrow!