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PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, MAY 22, 1981
PAGE 4
A large group of ministers were at the airport to meet Mr. and Mrs.
Armstrong. A number of office employees were there also. With the nearly
two-hour sermon in Melbourne and the travel time, it was an extremely long
day.
Our schedule was tight in New Zealand. Mr. Armstrong wanted to be back
in Pasadena within 2 weeks from our departure. We flew after the Sabbath so
we would have a full day available on Sunday. Mr. Armstrong was to speak in
Auckland at 1:30 p.m. There was to be a television hookup to Christchurch.
At 4:00 p.m. he was to talk to the ministers and their wives as he has done
on United States church visits. On Monday he was to depart Auckland at
11:00 a.m. after
a
brief visit to the offices between the hotel and airport.
When Mr. Armstrong arose Sunday morning the pain in his chest was back
with force. It was his worst morning of the trip. He was taking oxygen
when I entered the room just after midday. He told me he did not feel he
could take the sermon and I would have to stand in for him.
Peter Nathan and I realized this heart problem troubled Mr. Armstrong
in the morning and usually left later in the day. As it was 10:00 a.m.
Sydney time, we decided to postpone the meeting in hope that Mr. Armstrong
would recover and take it himself.
Captain Black asked the house doctor to give H.W.A. a brief check to be
sure nothing serious was developing. Nothing was. But predictably, the
doctor recommended he not attend the meeting.
H.W.A. deeided to go anyway. He had not spoken to the New Zealand
brethren before and wanted to very much. Additionally, many had come from
outlying areas to see him. He went into his room at 2:00 p.m. to dress.
But after he had put on a fresh shirt, he felt absolutely exhausted and
realized he would be foolish to go.
As I left the hotel room for the meeting, I noticed that Mr. Armstrong
had already returned to bed.
I arrived at the hall about 2:15. I explained the morning's events and
gave Mr. Armstrong's apologies for not being there himself. I stood in for
him the best I could. That is a tough assignment, especially for a group
that was so eager to hear Mr. Armstrong in person for the first time. God
used him to build His Church doctrine by doctrine, year by year, trial by
trial; no pinch hitter can come close. It is just not the same.
Mr. Armstrong was able to speak to the ministers and their wives at
5:00 p.m. All New Zealand ministers were there plus the elders from Tonga
and Fiji. He asked that the ministers inform their congregations of his
disappointment that he was not able to speak to them himself. Then he
covered the high spots of the instruction he gave to the Australian
ministers.
That night Mr. Armstrong and his party had a quiet dinner with Peter
and Karen Nathan.
The next day, Monday the 18th, Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong toured the New
Zealand office. He wanted to see every square foot--and did so! While in
Mr. Nathan's office, Peter gave him a complete report of New Zealand and the