To the Editor:
“Be kind to strangers.” That was my motto during my recent trip to New Zealand. It got me all the information I needed when I went to Russell in the Bay of Islands to find out about my deceased sister.
One woman gave me a copy of the obituary and names of coworkers. Within two hours, I had visited the gravesite at the cemetery, seen her home and had tea with this stranger in front of the shop where my sister had worked in the town square.
When I visited the Carmelite monastery in Christchurch, the old nun I talked with insisted on paying for the taxi to get back to the hostel. The hostess at the hostel gave me a free day so I stayed eight days and paid for seven. She also sent some Ceylon tea home with me because I thanked her for the tea she provided at the hostel.
There were so many kind strangers at the airport, the church and the markets, but I can’t mention them all.
Please be kind this Christmas season and the blessings will come your way.
Creston