I’m Hyrum from New Zealand

Kia ora e hoa ma! *

From an interview by Amie Jane Leavitt

*Kia ora e hoa ma!**

Are there penguins where you live? Well, not only are there penguins where 10-year-old Hyrum K. lives, but they are tiny blue penguins! The South Island of New Zealand is a very beautiful place. It has lots to see, from rugged snow-covered mountains called the Southern Alps to heaps of sheep that roam the green mountain valleys.

I live in a small town on the eastern coast of the island. The blue penguins that live nearby are the smallest penguins in the world. Their feathers are the same color as the sea.

For my town’s Victorian heritage celebration, we dress up in old-fashioned costumes. One year I got to ride a high-wheeled bicycle called a penny-farthing.

One time at school I told my friends what church I belong to. I also told them I believe in Jesus Christ. It made me feel good to talk about what I believe. I’m proud to be a member of the Church.

I love spending time with my family. We go on picnics together at the park and play games like dodgeball, soccer, spotlight, and water-balloon fights.

Our family goes to church in a small chapel. There are a lot of children in our branch, so I have lots of friends at church. I like learning about the scriptures. One of my favorite Book of Mormon stories is about Samuel the Lamanite.

After school I play on a soccer team. I am also part of a musical theater club. We sing and dance onstage in big performances. When I grow up, I’d like to be either a schoolteacher or a famous actor.

I Love to See the Temple

The Hamilton New Zealand Temple is about 17 hours away from where Hyrum’s family lives. To get there, they drive all the way up the coast of South Island, take a ferry, and then drive another 10 hours! They try to visit there once a year.