2 months to go!
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Running Away
Our sweet mission president says that the senior couples have a "get out of jail free card". I think he understands that we have worked hard our whole lives to be able to do this mission. He also understands that it costs a whole lot of money that mostly comes out of our pockets and that it can be a pressure that we have worked our whole lives to be free of. : ) Here we are again, back on the front lines so to speak and it can get a little overwhelming and lets face it, we are not spring chickens. There is no way that we can keep up with the young elders and sisters although some of the time we try. He therefore grants us from time to time a little "vacation" time.
We took one day of that time on Friday. We have had our shoulders to the wheel pretty much all the time even when we went to the north island and the temple. They were a little bit like working vacations. We saw a lot and did a lot even there. Friday was literally a mini-vacation. It was awesome. Because of the holiday, which New Zealanders pretty much observe from before Christmas to the 6th of January, people are not very available so appointments fell through and we found ourselves with a whole day free. We woke the usual time and Ken said, "Let's get in the car and ride up to Tekapo." Tekapo is a lake on the way to Cook.
We got on the road pretty early and headed up to the Southern Alps. We intended on going to Tekapo and then to Twizel, a little town south of there. Even then we couldn't let go of the missionary handle. lol In Twizel there is a couple and their 3 children who are members and can't get to church often because it is 2 1/2 hours away. They are on the western most boundaries of our little branch and the only members there. They are both return missionaries and have a strong little family. We did end up seeing them and having dinner with them as well but I digress.
The scenery as we went on this little get away was amazing! To begin with, there were thousands and thousands of lupine growing everywhere. You can't begin to imagine the color, variety and number of flowers. I remember taking my mom on a little trip to Bear Lake a few years ago. There was a yard full of snapdragons and the Bear River valley was full of wild flowers. The hills were literally blue and I have never forgotten that. In that same way, I will never forget this trip. There was mile upon mile of purple of every shade, blue, pink, white, yellow and peach. I took a "jillion" pictures. Maybe I exaggerate but it seemed like that many. I still have the sight of it in my mind. At home I got excited at the sight of one lupine but thousands are overwhelming.
We did the usual "tourist" stop at the little chapel at Lake Tekapo but since it was early in the morning still, we decided to make the run all the way to Mt. Cook. The scenery changed from alpine to high mountain desert much like home. It was wonderful. We stopped at Lake Pukaki to have lunch before starting the leg to Cook. The mountains were mirrored in the calm waters of Lake Pukaki. It was gorgeous and for some reason, tuna sandwiches tasted better. I have seen few lakes with water that clear. Nothing was growing in it and there was no polution from boats or other water craft.
We stopped at Peter's Point for a panoramic view and met a lovely lady there named Pat Pendergrast. She was busy doing watercolors of the area. As she painted, she made her living selling books about her paintings, wild flowers and her mountaineering experiences. We bought a book, a print and exchanged cards and thoughts on God. We continued on and as we got closer and closer, nothing prepared me for what I would see.
When we arrived at Mt. Aoraki (Mt. Cook) it took our breath away. The mountains there are beyond comprehension until you see them. I suppose it is the same as the first time you see anything new and that massive. I felt like I did in Alaska only closer. I felt like I do in Utah on looking up at Timpanogos. Those mountains are so rugged and even in summer, they are covered with a thick layer of blue glacial ice. Pictures are not adequate although I tried my best to get some. Pat's paintings were much more near my memory of those colors. I tried my best in Alaska to render justice to that color but the camera cannot do it unless you have a really expensive setup. My jaw literally dropped in awe and I have seen some beautiful sights here before.
Ken and I have talked a lot about how you explaining a spiritual experience with non-spiritual eyes. It is impossible. I'm sure it is no news to any of you that you can't explain seeing something amazing with real eyes by using words or pictures either. I guess that is why Pat tries so hard to paint things in the way that her eyes saw them. I came away with a renewed determination to do that. I came away thinking that I need to interpret with my own eyes what I tried to capture with my camera. It will not be the same as a digital image but it will be my interpretation of what I have seen however primitive.
I am adding some of the camera images for effect! smile!
We took one day of that time on Friday. We have had our shoulders to the wheel pretty much all the time even when we went to the north island and the temple. They were a little bit like working vacations. We saw a lot and did a lot even there. Friday was literally a mini-vacation. It was awesome. Because of the holiday, which New Zealanders pretty much observe from before Christmas to the 6th of January, people are not very available so appointments fell through and we found ourselves with a whole day free. We woke the usual time and Ken said, "Let's get in the car and ride up to Tekapo." Tekapo is a lake on the way to Cook.
We got on the road pretty early and headed up to the Southern Alps. We intended on going to Tekapo and then to Twizel, a little town south of there. Even then we couldn't let go of the missionary handle. lol In Twizel there is a couple and their 3 children who are members and can't get to church often because it is 2 1/2 hours away. They are on the western most boundaries of our little branch and the only members there. They are both return missionaries and have a strong little family. We did end up seeing them and having dinner with them as well but I digress.
The scenery as we went on this little get away was amazing! To begin with, there were thousands and thousands of lupine growing everywhere. You can't begin to imagine the color, variety and number of flowers. I remember taking my mom on a little trip to Bear Lake a few years ago. There was a yard full of snapdragons and the Bear River valley was full of wild flowers. The hills were literally blue and I have never forgotten that. In that same way, I will never forget this trip. There was mile upon mile of purple of every shade, blue, pink, white, yellow and peach. I took a "jillion" pictures. Maybe I exaggerate but it seemed like that many. I still have the sight of it in my mind. At home I got excited at the sight of one lupine but thousands are overwhelming.
We did the usual "tourist" stop at the little chapel at Lake Tekapo but since it was early in the morning still, we decided to make the run all the way to Mt. Cook. The scenery changed from alpine to high mountain desert much like home. It was wonderful. We stopped at Lake Pukaki to have lunch before starting the leg to Cook. The mountains were mirrored in the calm waters of Lake Pukaki. It was gorgeous and for some reason, tuna sandwiches tasted better. I have seen few lakes with water that clear. Nothing was growing in it and there was no polution from boats or other water craft.
We stopped at Peter's Point for a panoramic view and met a lovely lady there named Pat Pendergrast. She was busy doing watercolors of the area. As she painted, she made her living selling books about her paintings, wild flowers and her mountaineering experiences. We bought a book, a print and exchanged cards and thoughts on God. We continued on and as we got closer and closer, nothing prepared me for what I would see.
When we arrived at Mt. Aoraki (Mt. Cook) it took our breath away. The mountains there are beyond comprehension until you see them. I suppose it is the same as the first time you see anything new and that massive. I felt like I did in Alaska only closer. I felt like I do in Utah on looking up at Timpanogos. Those mountains are so rugged and even in summer, they are covered with a thick layer of blue glacial ice. Pictures are not adequate although I tried my best to get some. Pat's paintings were much more near my memory of those colors. I tried my best in Alaska to render justice to that color but the camera cannot do it unless you have a really expensive setup. My jaw literally dropped in awe and I have seen some beautiful sights here before.
Ken and I have talked a lot about how you explaining a spiritual experience with non-spiritual eyes. It is impossible. I'm sure it is no news to any of you that you can't explain seeing something amazing with real eyes by using words or pictures either. I guess that is why Pat tries so hard to paint things in the way that her eyes saw them. I came away with a renewed determination to do that. I came away thinking that I need to interpret with my own eyes what I tried to capture with my camera. It will not be the same as a digital image but it will be my interpretation of what I have seen however primitive.
I am adding some of the camera images for effect! smile!
Monday, December 24, 2012
A New View of Christmas
Spending time away from home and family in a place where Christmas is definitely not the big deal it is at home has given me a new view of Christmas. I remember Christmas when I was young and it wasn't as big a deal then either. The tree did not go up before the second week in December unless you were shameless. The tree had to be perfect. The presents were many fewer. The excitement was just as big! It doesn't seem that Christ was the center of Christmas then or here in New Zealand either. So what is the difference. Well, I have been giving it a lot of thought and apparently my perspective on it has changed greatly.
This year doesn't seem like Christmas at all. It is hot (or at the very least warm outside). We are having BBQ fare for lunch. Lots of homes don't have trees. Many people go to the beach. I had difficulty finding a Nativity set that was what I wanted. You know, something to remind me of New Zealand's love of Christ. I ended up making my own from a Paua shell and plastic clay. I started contrasting that to home in my mind and suddenly my mind had a whole new take on Christmas in America. This was especially true after we asked each of the guests at our house on Christmas Eve what Christmas was like in Samoa, Tonga, Tasmania and as Kiwis.
Here are my thoughts today, one of the first to see Christmas day. It is true that America has very much commercialized Christmas and some of it isn't for the better. There are too many toys, too much sugar, too much very loud music and may I say, way too much cinnamon assaulting our noses especially in little boutique stores. It always makes me sneeze! That being said, I am finding that the contrasts have only served to highten my joy in the true meaning of Christmas. The decorations in profusion bring satisfaction to my soul and remind me of the simplicity of the Saviors birthplace of the light when he was born. There were great lights in the heavens. The star was there and the angels must have shown ever so brightly. The gifts, often way too many and far too expensive remind me that the Savior received only three gifts that were recorded and they were given long after his birth. They were though, the best that could be given and offered in total loving humility to a child by three grown men.
The joy on the faces of adults and children must have been the same. It is the joy on our children's faces as they see the lights or open their gifts that for a fleeting moment evokes the same joy on the faces of Mary and Joseph, the shepherds and wise men as they knelt at the feet of the Christ child. I accutely feel this "lack of presence" right now. Not the lack of my Saviors love but the lack of ability to share it with my family, those I hold most dear, even though I am sharing it with many here that I love as well. It is kind of like the feelings I had after my mom died, wanting to tell her something important then realizing I couldn't because she was no longer here with me. It is a slightly unsettled feeling that I don't care for much. I do feel my Saviors love but it seems to have been greatly magnified in my mind when I saw my children "walking uprightly before the Lord" and knew I got to observe it more closely. I watched our annual family video with much more awareness, emotion and pride this year. I longed to hold each parent and child as I watched. They are my world, my "work and my glory". None of this means anything without each of them in their place.
I have never felt the sanctity of the Saviors birth more profoundly than when looking on the stark white simplicity of the nativity sitting in the center of the temple reflecting pond surrounded by the brilliance of thousands upon thousands of gleaming colored lights or Santa kneeling by the Savior's manger in my favorite Christmas image. I watched 'Joy To The World' so many times this year. Each time I longed to be at temple square looking at the lights and the temple. Making the trek up the ramp to see the Christus was always a highlight. I usually observe these surrounded by my loved ones. I have never felt so much alone yet so much aware on a Christmas day as I am feeling this Christmas day. I hope this feeling never goes away. I hope I understand this very feeling more each year. I look forward to many more years of observing these contrasts with my beautiful family. I guess it really is all in your point of view!
This year doesn't seem like Christmas at all. It is hot (or at the very least warm outside). We are having BBQ fare for lunch. Lots of homes don't have trees. Many people go to the beach. I had difficulty finding a Nativity set that was what I wanted. You know, something to remind me of New Zealand's love of Christ. I ended up making my own from a Paua shell and plastic clay. I started contrasting that to home in my mind and suddenly my mind had a whole new take on Christmas in America. This was especially true after we asked each of the guests at our house on Christmas Eve what Christmas was like in Samoa, Tonga, Tasmania and as Kiwis.
Here are my thoughts today, one of the first to see Christmas day. It is true that America has very much commercialized Christmas and some of it isn't for the better. There are too many toys, too much sugar, too much very loud music and may I say, way too much cinnamon assaulting our noses especially in little boutique stores. It always makes me sneeze! That being said, I am finding that the contrasts have only served to highten my joy in the true meaning of Christmas. The decorations in profusion bring satisfaction to my soul and remind me of the simplicity of the Saviors birthplace of the light when he was born. There were great lights in the heavens. The star was there and the angels must have shown ever so brightly. The gifts, often way too many and far too expensive remind me that the Savior received only three gifts that were recorded and they were given long after his birth. They were though, the best that could be given and offered in total loving humility to a child by three grown men.
The joy on the faces of adults and children must have been the same. It is the joy on our children's faces as they see the lights or open their gifts that for a fleeting moment evokes the same joy on the faces of Mary and Joseph, the shepherds and wise men as they knelt at the feet of the Christ child. I accutely feel this "lack of presence" right now. Not the lack of my Saviors love but the lack of ability to share it with my family, those I hold most dear, even though I am sharing it with many here that I love as well. It is kind of like the feelings I had after my mom died, wanting to tell her something important then realizing I couldn't because she was no longer here with me. It is a slightly unsettled feeling that I don't care for much. I do feel my Saviors love but it seems to have been greatly magnified in my mind when I saw my children "walking uprightly before the Lord" and knew I got to observe it more closely. I watched our annual family video with much more awareness, emotion and pride this year. I longed to hold each parent and child as I watched. They are my world, my "work and my glory". None of this means anything without each of them in their place.
I have never felt the sanctity of the Saviors birth more profoundly than when looking on the stark white simplicity of the nativity sitting in the center of the temple reflecting pond surrounded by the brilliance of thousands upon thousands of gleaming colored lights or Santa kneeling by the Savior's manger in my favorite Christmas image. I watched 'Joy To The World' so many times this year. Each time I longed to be at temple square looking at the lights and the temple. Making the trek up the ramp to see the Christus was always a highlight. I usually observe these surrounded by my loved ones. I have never felt so much alone yet so much aware on a Christmas day as I am feeling this Christmas day. I hope this feeling never goes away. I hope I understand this very feeling more each year. I look forward to many more years of observing these contrasts with my beautiful family. I guess it really is all in your point of view!
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Family Responsibility
It has been an interesting couple of weeks to say the least. There have been so many ups and downs it's hard to believe. We have spent some awesome moments with some wonderful people and when we do, we feel there is nothing better in the whole wide world. We have had our share of worries and pain along with the rest of you. There have been many times I have wondered how we can go on living life this way with all it's little intricacies. I have pondered and wondered way more than I thought I ever would over questions that I hoped I would never have to ponder.
When 27 amazing people lost their lives in the states this week (yes Gordon, I agree there were 27 "victims") I thought my heart would break. I could see my grandchildren, so many near that age and I longed to hold them and try to help them understand why this would happen. I made a comment on facebook in reaction to another comment I saw and went before the firing squad. I felt on the line for expressing an opinion and then reflected over and over about whether that opinion was valid in view of all the comments that were flung at me. I only got one attempt to try to come to a concensus. Thanks Randy. I love you and agree with much that you said.
Well, here is my opinion now. If I could give up every firearm we own, and it would save one child, I would do it in a minute. I am not naive enough to believe that it would change anything. I truly believe that only through coming back to moral values and teaching our children in faith centered, family centered homes will there ever be a change. That is consistent with my gospel beliefs and all that I have observed in my life outside my own personal beliefs. I see much about me now that tells me that is not going to happen any time soon. In the meantime, something has to change and it has to change quickly before too many more are lost.
For all of you gun lovers out there, I loved it when my family would gather at 3 in the morning to pack up their gear so they could go on a family oriented hunting trip to get meat and to share time. Hunting is fast becoming a rich man's game like so many other sports. One son did not even get a permit this year though he applied. Our family has not been able to hunt together for many years now because money and "management" is controlling the game. Fortunately, that is not all we do to keep our bonds tight. We had guns to hunt and to target shoot and for keepsakes of better times. Many of my family still enjoy hunting and I would never want to take that away from them.
Yes, people kill people. We have had 4 suicides under the age of 15 here in little Timaru in the last two months. I'm not sure but I think most were not from guns. One woman here was killed with a knife the other day. Gun laws are pretty strict. Many of the police don't even want to carry guns. There is a lot of violence against women, children and men against men. Yet, so many things that tear the family apart are allowed here. This is something that I hope I never will understand. I hear constantly about parents drinking and doing drugs with children in the house. I have seen a 10 year old walking around with a beer in his hand. Children are passed around households like so much junk! It is wrong! I know it and they know it but yet it continues. When parents start taking responsibility for themselves and their children, maybe this will stop.
Maybe people kill people rather than guns but having an assault rifle handy sure makes it easier to do a lot more damage to a lot more people. I asked my husband to explain a point about "clips" in guns today because I didn't feel informed enough. Shouldn't 4 bullets in a chamber or clip be enough to take down an animal if you are a decent hunter. Why do you need to put 11 bullets into a small child? Someone explain that to me and then I will see your point. Until then, don't take me on about it buster! This is my blog and this is my opinion so I shouldn't have to answer to anyone. There is no reason under God's sky for anyone other than the military or police to have automatic weapons. These are made for one thing, to take people down and you all know it. Twenty children and 40 parents and who knows how many relatives and friends must now live with this. THERE IS NO REASON FOR IT. IT IS SENSELESS!!!
Again! Explain to me why 20 children and 6 more innocent people had to die for one person's selfishness and I will change my mind. There is not a quick fix. Yes, get better help for mental health issues. Yes, teach respect for life. Yes, put controls on the violence our children are watching every day and so and so on. Yes, allow us to protect ourselves. YES, do something immediately to stop all this. You and I know it isn't going to happen. Only the people of America can really make it happen if they truly want to. IT STARTS IN YOUR HOME!
When 27 amazing people lost their lives in the states this week (yes Gordon, I agree there were 27 "victims") I thought my heart would break. I could see my grandchildren, so many near that age and I longed to hold them and try to help them understand why this would happen. I made a comment on facebook in reaction to another comment I saw and went before the firing squad. I felt on the line for expressing an opinion and then reflected over and over about whether that opinion was valid in view of all the comments that were flung at me. I only got one attempt to try to come to a concensus. Thanks Randy. I love you and agree with much that you said.
Well, here is my opinion now. If I could give up every firearm we own, and it would save one child, I would do it in a minute. I am not naive enough to believe that it would change anything. I truly believe that only through coming back to moral values and teaching our children in faith centered, family centered homes will there ever be a change. That is consistent with my gospel beliefs and all that I have observed in my life outside my own personal beliefs. I see much about me now that tells me that is not going to happen any time soon. In the meantime, something has to change and it has to change quickly before too many more are lost.
For all of you gun lovers out there, I loved it when my family would gather at 3 in the morning to pack up their gear so they could go on a family oriented hunting trip to get meat and to share time. Hunting is fast becoming a rich man's game like so many other sports. One son did not even get a permit this year though he applied. Our family has not been able to hunt together for many years now because money and "management" is controlling the game. Fortunately, that is not all we do to keep our bonds tight. We had guns to hunt and to target shoot and for keepsakes of better times. Many of my family still enjoy hunting and I would never want to take that away from them.
Yes, people kill people. We have had 4 suicides under the age of 15 here in little Timaru in the last two months. I'm not sure but I think most were not from guns. One woman here was killed with a knife the other day. Gun laws are pretty strict. Many of the police don't even want to carry guns. There is a lot of violence against women, children and men against men. Yet, so many things that tear the family apart are allowed here. This is something that I hope I never will understand. I hear constantly about parents drinking and doing drugs with children in the house. I have seen a 10 year old walking around with a beer in his hand. Children are passed around households like so much junk! It is wrong! I know it and they know it but yet it continues. When parents start taking responsibility for themselves and their children, maybe this will stop.
Maybe people kill people rather than guns but having an assault rifle handy sure makes it easier to do a lot more damage to a lot more people. I asked my husband to explain a point about "clips" in guns today because I didn't feel informed enough. Shouldn't 4 bullets in a chamber or clip be enough to take down an animal if you are a decent hunter. Why do you need to put 11 bullets into a small child? Someone explain that to me and then I will see your point. Until then, don't take me on about it buster! This is my blog and this is my opinion so I shouldn't have to answer to anyone. There is no reason under God's sky for anyone other than the military or police to have automatic weapons. These are made for one thing, to take people down and you all know it. Twenty children and 40 parents and who knows how many relatives and friends must now live with this. THERE IS NO REASON FOR IT. IT IS SENSELESS!!!
Again! Explain to me why 20 children and 6 more innocent people had to die for one person's selfishness and I will change my mind. There is not a quick fix. Yes, get better help for mental health issues. Yes, teach respect for life. Yes, put controls on the violence our children are watching every day and so and so on. Yes, allow us to protect ourselves. YES, do something immediately to stop all this. You and I know it isn't going to happen. Only the people of America can really make it happen if they truly want to. IT STARTS IN YOUR HOME!
Friday, November 30, 2012
Remembering.
Can't believe it has been a month since I last posted something. This month has just flown by. Thanksgiving has passed and it wasn't quite the same even though we had a lovely meal with the Sr. missionaries from the north island at the mission office. We are at home right now getting some things together for our baptism today. We are really excited about this one. We have told you about this man that Ken met at the op-shop. He has done everything he has been asked to do in order to be ready for baptism. It hasn't been easy for him because he has many challenges but in a way, it has seemed easy.
When we first met him, he told us that he kept asking his partner, "What would Joseph Smith do?" with a very smart alecky attitude. Well, we told him what Joseph Smith would do and he has followed our requests. He has since left his partner and given up smoking and coffee. He seems so much more at peace with himself. When we first met him, he would pace and act quite agitated sometimes. He has stopped that too and is so much happier. His son will be baptised by him tomorrow. It is pretty amazing to watch such a change in someone's life.
We spent last weekend in Masterton on the North Island. Ken's great grandfather served there for 3 years starting in 1895. We were able to find the Marae that we had a picture of. It is in Dannevirke and so we weren't able to see it but we were able to visit two others, the first two units of the church in New Zealand which grandpa would probably have attended. We visited one at length and heard lots of history from it. The other, named Te Ore Ore, was near where he lived but there was a funeral taking place there so we were unable to go to that one except from afar. There are very strict codes of behavior surrounding activities being hosted at the Maraes. You must be invited to go on the property and you do not enter unless given permission.
We spent one morning inspecting the original carvings from the Te Ore Ore Marae. The lady whose grandfather carved them now has them in her possession and is restoring them. It was amazing to hear the story of them and what they mean. There were a lot of church teachings incorporated into them. The Maraes have now become Maori cultural sites and there is no church directly connected with them as it was in the past. The two we visited were originally constructed as units of the church.
We gave a little fireside at the Featherstone Branch buidling which included everyone from Masterton to Featherstone. The Masterton church is under renovation because of the earthquakes. It was very interesting to meet some of the people there and to find them connected to some of the pictures we had with us. It was so interesting to learn more about the area and what grandpa might have done. Most of all, it was wonderful to see where he may have walked and remember through someone else' eyes, days gone by. It is a trip we will not soon forget.
When we first met him, he told us that he kept asking his partner, "What would Joseph Smith do?" with a very smart alecky attitude. Well, we told him what Joseph Smith would do and he has followed our requests. He has since left his partner and given up smoking and coffee. He seems so much more at peace with himself. When we first met him, he would pace and act quite agitated sometimes. He has stopped that too and is so much happier. His son will be baptised by him tomorrow. It is pretty amazing to watch such a change in someone's life.
We spent last weekend in Masterton on the North Island. Ken's great grandfather served there for 3 years starting in 1895. We were able to find the Marae that we had a picture of. It is in Dannevirke and so we weren't able to see it but we were able to visit two others, the first two units of the church in New Zealand which grandpa would probably have attended. We visited one at length and heard lots of history from it. The other, named Te Ore Ore, was near where he lived but there was a funeral taking place there so we were unable to go to that one except from afar. There are very strict codes of behavior surrounding activities being hosted at the Maraes. You must be invited to go on the property and you do not enter unless given permission.
We spent one morning inspecting the original carvings from the Te Ore Ore Marae. The lady whose grandfather carved them now has them in her possession and is restoring them. It was amazing to hear the story of them and what they mean. There were a lot of church teachings incorporated into them. The Maraes have now become Maori cultural sites and there is no church directly connected with them as it was in the past. The two we visited were originally constructed as units of the church.
We gave a little fireside at the Featherstone Branch buidling which included everyone from Masterton to Featherstone. The Masterton church is under renovation because of the earthquakes. It was very interesting to meet some of the people there and to find them connected to some of the pictures we had with us. It was so interesting to learn more about the area and what grandpa might have done. Most of all, it was wonderful to see where he may have walked and remember through someone else' eyes, days gone by. It is a trip we will not soon forget.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
A Remarkable Day
Today we had a difficult choice to make. We had set up the entire day with teaching appointments when we got notice that we were invited to go to Christchurch to an ARP meeting. We were a little torn. We had finally started getting some people to attend our ARP meetings and we probably needed more training but we already had set up the day. We decided to stay home and do the teaching appointments because we are called to be missionaries. We surely are glad we chose to stay.
Our first appointment was with a lady that we met briefly before the missionaries knocked on her door. Because the mssionaries are no longer allowed to teach single sisters alone, they gave us her name so we could contact her. We had already set up one appointment which she had to cancel because of another appointment. We were kind of tentative thinking that perhaps she may cancel again. It was quite the opposite. She welcomed us warmly and listened to everything we said with deep sincerity. We taught her many things and she was so receptive. She is coming to church on Sunday and we have a return appointment next week.
Next, we visited a man and wife who we have known almost since we arrived here. He had walked up to us in a business, looked at our name tags and invited us to come see them at their home. He had not intended to go to that business nor had we. We both decided to go on an impression and we all felt the spirit guiding us. We taught them almost the same set of lessons that we taught the first lady. These lessons included the dvd "The Restoration" and some short clips from another church dvd. There was a strong feeling in the room and we felt that we made much headway especially when he was challenged to pray about what we taught and he said, "I think I already know." We will see them again next week as well.
Our third appointment was with a fellow we have been teaching along with his young son. He is a man we met in an op-shop shortly after we arrived and had only a brief "Hi, how are you?" kind of conversation with. We happened to drop in to his home one night. We did not know it was his home and really didn't remember meeting him until he reminded us. He had been looking for us. He has been praying, reading and coming to church regularly. He has committed to do what we have asked him to do. He has been having "feelings" he has never felt before for some time now and we set a tentative baptismal date for Dec. 1. He is so nice and so sincere. He really wants what is best for the future of he and his son.
All of these people have had difficult lives. One of them said, "If you had come a few weeks ago, I would have said no. Today, I am in the right place and I am ready." We would have loved all of them regardless of whether we were allowed to teach or not. There are many here that we love even though we know we may never get the opportunity to teach them much about the church except what they see. Today was remarkable in that we had two good choices to make. One, to go to the meeting and learn more about the ARP or two, to go out and share what we hold so dear with some wonderful sons and daughters or God, our brothers and sisters on the earth. We are so grateful that Heavenly Father led us to make the choice that was just right for this particular remarkable day.
Our first appointment was with a lady that we met briefly before the missionaries knocked on her door. Because the mssionaries are no longer allowed to teach single sisters alone, they gave us her name so we could contact her. We had already set up one appointment which she had to cancel because of another appointment. We were kind of tentative thinking that perhaps she may cancel again. It was quite the opposite. She welcomed us warmly and listened to everything we said with deep sincerity. We taught her many things and she was so receptive. She is coming to church on Sunday and we have a return appointment next week.
Next, we visited a man and wife who we have known almost since we arrived here. He had walked up to us in a business, looked at our name tags and invited us to come see them at their home. He had not intended to go to that business nor had we. We both decided to go on an impression and we all felt the spirit guiding us. We taught them almost the same set of lessons that we taught the first lady. These lessons included the dvd "The Restoration" and some short clips from another church dvd. There was a strong feeling in the room and we felt that we made much headway especially when he was challenged to pray about what we taught and he said, "I think I already know." We will see them again next week as well.
Our third appointment was with a fellow we have been teaching along with his young son. He is a man we met in an op-shop shortly after we arrived and had only a brief "Hi, how are you?" kind of conversation with. We happened to drop in to his home one night. We did not know it was his home and really didn't remember meeting him until he reminded us. He had been looking for us. He has been praying, reading and coming to church regularly. He has committed to do what we have asked him to do. He has been having "feelings" he has never felt before for some time now and we set a tentative baptismal date for Dec. 1. He is so nice and so sincere. He really wants what is best for the future of he and his son.
All of these people have had difficult lives. One of them said, "If you had come a few weeks ago, I would have said no. Today, I am in the right place and I am ready." We would have loved all of them regardless of whether we were allowed to teach or not. There are many here that we love even though we know we may never get the opportunity to teach them much about the church except what they see. Today was remarkable in that we had two good choices to make. One, to go to the meeting and learn more about the ARP or two, to go out and share what we hold so dear with some wonderful sons and daughters or God, our brothers and sisters on the earth. We are so grateful that Heavenly Father led us to make the choice that was just right for this particular remarkable day.
Thursday, October 25, 2012
From Shanghai with Love
This sweet message was one of three we received yesterday from our Chinese friends who are home again in Shanghai. She has sent us 5 so far in the last 2 days. It just proves to me that when the spirit wants to touch someone, it will if the vessel is open and ready. I don't even know how to express the feelings of that single night and the next morning. We were with this family for only a few hours yet I feel bonded for a lifetime. I cannot post their pictures due to certain regulations but I have many that she sent us. We returned our family pictures to her. She lives in a housing complex within a nuclear power complex. I one day hope that we can visit her or she and her family can visit us. It doesn't matter where but until that day, our hearts and spirits are bonded. Just like home, she can't remember my name but she caught onto Happy Ken! : )
Happy Ken, hello, finally can see you soon, I use online translation, though not very accurate but I can know about meaning, even say nothing, I can feel your heart and the great love, because our hearts had interlinked, heart are interlinked, borders and space are not problems, only love is the need to express, thought is the need to exchange, the language really is a problem, not, I believe, we will have very good communication and exchanges, as Dunedin that wonderful evening, I'm from deep inside Thanksgiving to god can give us the good night, let we can meet bosom friend and appreciate each other, I never did not think of this life can have you so precious friend came into my life and into my heart, I'll treasure treasured the good, the beautiful for I am holy holy, I for the good and moved so very grateful!
We together of the time is short, but the mind is actually in an instant fusion, this is extremely valuable, that good night, I felt great love is love and love is holy love, I seem to accept the baptism of the love, the love brings me never had the happy! This is the most beautiful and good human feelings, this is god to give me the best gift!
You send me the book, I will carefully see of, also is met very good treasure with all my life, this know this gift of precious and weight, more know it for what I mean, and I think this is the will of god, you are the god sent the messenger of love, to spread love to care for us. I think we will often contact often bosom friend, hope we can expect to see the that day!
on October 25, 2012
Sunday, October 21, 2012
A Difficult World.
I'm just a little sad this afternoon. I got an e-mail from our mission president's wife telling us we cannot post any pictures or names of our new converts because people get them and make it very hard for them. What is the world coming to. We can't even celebrate happy occassions because others will not let us. I had a baptismal picture of our little convert family on my site but had to take it off along with any names I had put up. Seems even the good things can be made to look bad. Good thing I have that memory, bad that I can't share it in the way I would like.
Friday, October 19, 2012
Tired But Happy!
It has been a crazy three weeks. We spent the week of the 1st in Dunedin helping out with the new missionary couple coming in. They are the Webbs from Centerville and they are really sweet people. Dunedin is beautiful but I guess it can get pretty cold. It is cold here so 3 hours further south can't help but be more cold!
We came home Thursday night in time to get ready for our wedding and baptism. It was a good thing we did because there was much to do. The wedding came off Friday morning about 12 and the baptism ended up being held at the chapel rather than the due to weather. You never know here, it's kind of like Utah! Anyway, it was wonderful. I have been trying to donwload the wedding and baptism pix for a slideshow but so far, no luck with that. Will keep trying.
We cleaned up on Saturday, had meetings all day Sunday and then headed to Auckland on Monday at 4 in the morning. We arrived in Auskland in time to catch the van to Hamilton 1 1/2 hours away. We spent the week at the temple. It is a beautiful place and we had a wonderful week. We worked in the baptistry every day, Tues thru Fri. and hit multiple endowment sessions topped off by a sealing session with our branch members getting family names done. One of our members was sealed to her adult daughters which was so nice for them. Her husband died less than a year ago.
We went to the Hamilton Botanical gardens which are really beautiful. There are gardens for England, Italy, Japan, China, India and the US that we were able to visit. I am sure we missed some of them. Took tons of pictures. On the way home Saturday, we were able to visit the Auckland MTC which was very interesting. They are prepping for double the amount of missionaries with the age change. Flew home Sat. afternoon, got home about 7 and went for groceries and a couple of other things and collapsed.
Sunday we showed 3 sessions of conference with a linger longer between. On Monday, we started trying to catch up with all that didn't get done the previous 2 weeks. It is amazing how hard it can be when you leave a bunch of things behind to catch it all up! I think we have pretty well done it though. A non-member couple who are friends called because she was having surgery and we spent most of one day with them. Add in institute and lessons for our investigators plus all the other church duties and it has been pretty busy. Oh well, we like it because we really feel like we are needed and accomplishing something here.
I am so grateful we got to go to the temple. It was a wonderful experience. We walked around it every time of day and night. At night, it looks like it is floating in the air. The weather was awesome until Saturday when we left, then it was raining like crazy and blowing even worse. Guess it was time to go home. I love my own little bed in Timaru.
We came home Thursday night in time to get ready for our wedding and baptism. It was a good thing we did because there was much to do. The wedding came off Friday morning about 12 and the baptism ended up being held at the chapel rather than the due to weather. You never know here, it's kind of like Utah! Anyway, it was wonderful. I have been trying to donwload the wedding and baptism pix for a slideshow but so far, no luck with that. Will keep trying.
We cleaned up on Saturday, had meetings all day Sunday and then headed to Auckland on Monday at 4 in the morning. We arrived in Auskland in time to catch the van to Hamilton 1 1/2 hours away. We spent the week at the temple. It is a beautiful place and we had a wonderful week. We worked in the baptistry every day, Tues thru Fri. and hit multiple endowment sessions topped off by a sealing session with our branch members getting family names done. One of our members was sealed to her adult daughters which was so nice for them. Her husband died less than a year ago.
We went to the Hamilton Botanical gardens which are really beautiful. There are gardens for England, Italy, Japan, China, India and the US that we were able to visit. I am sure we missed some of them. Took tons of pictures. On the way home Saturday, we were able to visit the Auckland MTC which was very interesting. They are prepping for double the amount of missionaries with the age change. Flew home Sat. afternoon, got home about 7 and went for groceries and a couple of other things and collapsed.
Sunday we showed 3 sessions of conference with a linger longer between. On Monday, we started trying to catch up with all that didn't get done the previous 2 weeks. It is amazing how hard it can be when you leave a bunch of things behind to catch it all up! I think we have pretty well done it though. A non-member couple who are friends called because she was having surgery and we spent most of one day with them. Add in institute and lessons for our investigators plus all the other church duties and it has been pretty busy. Oh well, we like it because we really feel like we are needed and accomplishing something here.
I am so grateful we got to go to the temple. It was a wonderful experience. We walked around it every time of day and night. At night, it looks like it is floating in the air. The weather was awesome until Saturday when we left, then it was raining like crazy and blowing even worse. Guess it was time to go home. I love my own little bed in Timaru.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
A New Life
We hurried home from Dunedin because that trip happened in the midst of another very important event. There were serious preparations on for a marriage and a baptism and we felt like we had been slacking a little in not being there to help. The wedding was to take place at our home and the baptism was planned for Te Moana Gorge near Geraldine. There was a lot yet to do and little time to do it.
At little surprise to us, the branch had stepped right up to help get things ready. I started getting calls about table clothes and flowers and food etc. as soon as we got back. We had a stressed bride whose wedding dress was not finished (a prime stressor for any bride) and other worries as well. With a little love and attention and a couple of blessings, those things resolved themselves and the feat was on it's way.
The day dawned sunny and clear, if a little chilly. Missionaries, branch members and family started to arrive to set things up. A branch sister brought 3 big pavlovas (the couple's favorite dessert) and bouquets for the bride and bridesmaid. Another sister arrived with two big pans of yummy pudding, Yet another brought the amazing chocolate cake and one more brought a gorgeous table arrangement. Missionaries scurried around setting up chairs and tables and putting paper on them. The guests began to arrive.
The big moment was almost there. The bride came with her brother who would give her away and her daughter who was the maid of honor. She was pretty tense and just a little scared, just the same as any other bride. She was escorted her to the groom and Pres. began the ceremony with a traditional Maori welcome. Just like every wedding, the vows were short and sweet, rings were exchanged and the singing began. We were favored with several songs by various people until the food arrived. They had a big traditional hangi "feast" and everyone enjoyed themselves even when the wind started to blow a gale!
With the weather changing quickly, there was concern about what to do about the baptisms. The bride's friend called and said it was pouring in the gorge (not unusual here) and so they decided to go to the chapel for the baptisms. Fortunately, Pres. had listened to the promptings that said, "Fill the font." He did that so it was all ready though unheated! The font was almost as cold as Te Moana Gorge water. : ) Nevertheless, four people were brought to the waters of baptism. After seven tries, 2 for mom, 3 for daughter and 1 for each of the boys, they all came out of the water fresh and clean. I couldn't see Mom but Ken said she stood at the top of the stairs beaming as her children were each baptized. When she came out, she was shining. She looked like a different person. It was pretty amazing.
We are so fortunate to be able to take part in the new beginnings of this little family. I'm sure God will bless them to carry on doing what they know is right so that we can see them in the temple next November. That is the plan and we will have faith that it will happen.
At little surprise to us, the branch had stepped right up to help get things ready. I started getting calls about table clothes and flowers and food etc. as soon as we got back. We had a stressed bride whose wedding dress was not finished (a prime stressor for any bride) and other worries as well. With a little love and attention and a couple of blessings, those things resolved themselves and the feat was on it's way.
The day dawned sunny and clear, if a little chilly. Missionaries, branch members and family started to arrive to set things up. A branch sister brought 3 big pavlovas (the couple's favorite dessert) and bouquets for the bride and bridesmaid. Another sister arrived with two big pans of yummy pudding, Yet another brought the amazing chocolate cake and one more brought a gorgeous table arrangement. Missionaries scurried around setting up chairs and tables and putting paper on them. The guests began to arrive.
The big moment was almost there. The bride came with her brother who would give her away and her daughter who was the maid of honor. She was pretty tense and just a little scared, just the same as any other bride. She was escorted her to the groom and Pres. began the ceremony with a traditional Maori welcome. Just like every wedding, the vows were short and sweet, rings were exchanged and the singing began. We were favored with several songs by various people until the food arrived. They had a big traditional hangi "feast" and everyone enjoyed themselves even when the wind started to blow a gale!
With the weather changing quickly, there was concern about what to do about the baptisms. The bride's friend called and said it was pouring in the gorge (not unusual here) and so they decided to go to the chapel for the baptisms. Fortunately, Pres. had listened to the promptings that said, "Fill the font." He did that so it was all ready though unheated! The font was almost as cold as Te Moana Gorge water. : ) Nevertheless, four people were brought to the waters of baptism. After seven tries, 2 for mom, 3 for daughter and 1 for each of the boys, they all came out of the water fresh and clean. I couldn't see Mom but Ken said she stood at the top of the stairs beaming as her children were each baptized. When she came out, she was shining. She looked like a different person. It was pretty amazing.
We are so fortunate to be able to take part in the new beginnings of this little family. I'm sure God will bless them to carry on doing what they know is right so that we can see them in the temple next November. That is the plan and we will have faith that it will happen.
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Shanghai via Dunedin!
This week our mission president asked us to go to Dunedin, easily the prettiest place we have yet seen here. We were to greet a new couple, Elder and Sister Webb and help get them set up to start their mission experience here. We had the opportunity to do a few things here that were fun and enjoyable before meeting the Webbs who had been on a plane for who knows how many hours. We picked them up, took them to get groceries, out to dinner and then back to their flat for some well needed sleep. They are wonderful people and we had a good time with them today.
The big bonus came after we took care of them tonight. For some reason, I chose a little bed and breakfast to stay in while we were here. I checked out lots of regular motels etc. but we love B&Bs and this was about the same price as the hotels so I booked it for two nights (we planned to stay three but couldn't because of the wedding at our home on Friday). When we got back from delivering the Webbs to their home, we came back to our place expecting to just hang out and relax a while. What we got was sooooo much more.
As we came in, Ken checked in the lounge. There he was greeted by a chinese lady we had seen the night before with her husband and daughter. They are here on holiday and mom and dad wanted to talk with us. They invited us in to "sit down" and have a cookie with them. We sat down and things started out a little awkwardly. They didn't speak English and we didn't speak Chinese. After a lengthy picture taking session which included the owners of the B&B, the daughter soon became a go between and we had a delightful time talking with them.
The mom kept talking about feeling one anothers hearts and soon the spirit was alive in that room. They were so sweet and genuine. There was much teasing and sharing of feelings and love. You could feel it in the room. It seemed to make the air heavy and it was pretty amazing. We were having a missionary experience and we hadn't even tried. She seemed to have so much respect for the fact that we were working for the church. We gave her a thank you note and a pass along card and our business card. She gave us some good luck charms from China. We gave each other our hearts.
Thanks President Kezerian for asking us to do this thing which was so right and which has led to the sharing of e-mails and addresses and future opportunities. Thanks Heavenly Father for inspiring him and us. We are so blessed to be here, two Americans, doing what we are doing and sharing the gospel with all God's children in Dunedin, New Zealand with a family from Shanghai, China. It can't get better than this!
The big bonus came after we took care of them tonight. For some reason, I chose a little bed and breakfast to stay in while we were here. I checked out lots of regular motels etc. but we love B&Bs and this was about the same price as the hotels so I booked it for two nights (we planned to stay three but couldn't because of the wedding at our home on Friday). When we got back from delivering the Webbs to their home, we came back to our place expecting to just hang out and relax a while. What we got was sooooo much more.
As we came in, Ken checked in the lounge. There he was greeted by a chinese lady we had seen the night before with her husband and daughter. They are here on holiday and mom and dad wanted to talk with us. They invited us in to "sit down" and have a cookie with them. We sat down and things started out a little awkwardly. They didn't speak English and we didn't speak Chinese. After a lengthy picture taking session which included the owners of the B&B, the daughter soon became a go between and we had a delightful time talking with them.
The mom kept talking about feeling one anothers hearts and soon the spirit was alive in that room. They were so sweet and genuine. There was much teasing and sharing of feelings and love. You could feel it in the room. It seemed to make the air heavy and it was pretty amazing. We were having a missionary experience and we hadn't even tried. She seemed to have so much respect for the fact that we were working for the church. We gave her a thank you note and a pass along card and our business card. She gave us some good luck charms from China. We gave each other our hearts.
Thanks President Kezerian for asking us to do this thing which was so right and which has led to the sharing of e-mails and addresses and future opportunities. Thanks Heavenly Father for inspiring him and us. We are so blessed to be here, two Americans, doing what we are doing and sharing the gospel with all God's children in Dunedin, New Zealand with a family from Shanghai, China. It can't get better than this!
Monday, September 17, 2012
Facts I Needed to Know.
It has been an extremely interesting few days here. I have learned so much that I didn't understand or know before. First, we have been visiting a little family that lives in what can only be described as a hovel. There is trash everywhere and about half the time they are so drunk they are either loving you or fighting you. I went there again this week because we saw them on the street in a nearby town, drunk again. They asked us to take them home and my first thought (shame on me) was to say we couldn't and to worry about who would see us. My next thought was that they are God's children too and we were invited there in the first place by a family member who loves and cares about them. We loaded them up in the car and drove them home at which time she grabbed me by the hand and said, "Come on woman!" and so I followed. Inside she gave me some flowers woven of flax leaves that she had been saving as a gift for me. Why? Because I took them some carrot cake which they "portioned out" and ate over several days because no one ever brings them anything. On our way home Ken's comment was, "The whole have no need of a physician."
On Sunday we met a man who is in heart failure. We were a members last attempt at getting this man to listen to something about the church. He has many friends within the church but she is the only one who has ever really challenged him to "Come Unto Christ". He told us many stories of war. He was in the army for 30 years in Malaysia, Viet Nam and elsewhere. He was so gentle and kind. He had many mormon friends from boyhood and his father had been LDS. He said something about the mormon kids being the ones he wanted to be with and I asked him what drew him to them. He seemed to think on that. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit with him and my prayers for God to lead us to those who need us were answered when he held his hands out with the palms a couple of inches apart and said, You have opened the door this much." We left him a Book of Mormon and a Finding Faith in Christ video and a promise to come back and see him again. His wife gave us avocados. Should we keep on trying?
On the beach today we met a man who told us an almost unbelievable story. I had never heard of this before but know it is true. He was put on a boat in England at 14 months of age. He was given a phony name and listed as an officer in the armed forces. When they reached New Zealand, he was put off the boat with lots of other children. Their parents were making a valiant effort to save their lives or they were just taken without consent and put on the ships. Their identities became lost aided by the people here and even the armed forces and police. Hundreds of children were left in various places with nothing and no one. He said, "I am 67 years old and I do not know who I am. I have been trying to do some searching for years and have found nothing. Someone told me to contact the "Mormons"." We were able to say, "We have a genealogy center right here in Timaru at our meeting house." He was tickled to know that and said he would go and see if they could help him.
Today we met with some Samoan saints who are at the polytech going to school for 15 weeks. He is a high councilman at home in Samoa. She is a less active member. As we talked, it became very apparent that she had little understanding of the church into which she was baptised. He, while he had more understanding, still has the idea that it is better to have Samoan wards, Tongan wards, Maori wards etc. While I agree that it might be better to have access to those languages, one thing we need to remember is this. This is a worldwide church. It is not assimilated into other cultures but rather, other cultures become a part of what this is, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The church becomes the overriding culture. That is why, when we come to Timaru New Zealand from Pleasant Grove Utah, we are still a part of a communtiy. We become no more strangers and foreigners but fellow citizens in the household of God. Thank you Paul, you are certainly right.
Are we affecting lives? I know we are. There may not be big changes and huge conversions but every life we touch is changed including our own. I hope they are all for the better.
On Sunday we met a man who is in heart failure. We were a members last attempt at getting this man to listen to something about the church. He has many friends within the church but she is the only one who has ever really challenged him to "Come Unto Christ". He told us many stories of war. He was in the army for 30 years in Malaysia, Viet Nam and elsewhere. He was so gentle and kind. He had many mormon friends from boyhood and his father had been LDS. He said something about the mormon kids being the ones he wanted to be with and I asked him what drew him to them. He seemed to think on that. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit with him and my prayers for God to lead us to those who need us were answered when he held his hands out with the palms a couple of inches apart and said, You have opened the door this much." We left him a Book of Mormon and a Finding Faith in Christ video and a promise to come back and see him again. His wife gave us avocados. Should we keep on trying?
On the beach today we met a man who told us an almost unbelievable story. I had never heard of this before but know it is true. He was put on a boat in England at 14 months of age. He was given a phony name and listed as an officer in the armed forces. When they reached New Zealand, he was put off the boat with lots of other children. Their parents were making a valiant effort to save their lives or they were just taken without consent and put on the ships. Their identities became lost aided by the people here and even the armed forces and police. Hundreds of children were left in various places with nothing and no one. He said, "I am 67 years old and I do not know who I am. I have been trying to do some searching for years and have found nothing. Someone told me to contact the "Mormons"." We were able to say, "We have a genealogy center right here in Timaru at our meeting house." He was tickled to know that and said he would go and see if they could help him.
Today we met with some Samoan saints who are at the polytech going to school for 15 weeks. He is a high councilman at home in Samoa. She is a less active member. As we talked, it became very apparent that she had little understanding of the church into which she was baptised. He, while he had more understanding, still has the idea that it is better to have Samoan wards, Tongan wards, Maori wards etc. While I agree that it might be better to have access to those languages, one thing we need to remember is this. This is a worldwide church. It is not assimilated into other cultures but rather, other cultures become a part of what this is, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The church becomes the overriding culture. That is why, when we come to Timaru New Zealand from Pleasant Grove Utah, we are still a part of a communtiy. We become no more strangers and foreigners but fellow citizens in the household of God. Thank you Paul, you are certainly right.
Are we affecting lives? I know we are. There may not be big changes and huge conversions but every life we touch is changed including our own. I hope they are all for the better.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Reflections on 9/11 and More
Today I opened my facebook and saw some beautiful posts from many people I love. It seemed a little weird to live 9/11 twice this year. Once with the people of New Zealand yesterday and once with my US family and friends today. I found that the people here reacted with the same kind of horror that we felt. The horror was that this country that the whole world looks on for support in spite of their criticisms of us, was under attack. There was total disbelief here as well as at home and there was still talk here of the effects that it has had on the world in general.
I found it a little disconcerting to read the commonplace sentiments expressed today on facebook. There were people living life as usual as I reflected on events of the past. There were also many who made comments about remembering that event and learning from it. As I talked with the missonaries, it dawned on me that they were 8 or 9 years old at the time and though they were affected mostly by the pain of those around them, they really didn't understand (because of age) the total effect it had on the world and they still don't. They see it from the perspective of a child.
I remember going to Venezuela in January after that. We were told it might not be wise to go but we weren't ready to be put on a leash. We were told not to wear our team uniforms for fear of targeting ourselves. We wore them anyway. I will never forget sitting in the Caracas airport wondering if we would get our leaders back as they took a couple of them away and if we would ever get home. We literally had to pay our way out of that country. They called it "exit tax", we called it exploitation.
I remember actually wanting to kiss the tarmack on arrival in Miami having missed all our original plane connections. I remember 4 hours of sleep in a somewhat rundown motel. I remember arriving at the airport for a 9 a.m. plane and being escorted through the Miami airport to an earlier flight as the loud speakers in the terminal blaired that the US Martial Arts team was coming through. Do you think our heads were high? You bet they were.
I don't know when I have been more proud to be an American. Today I am still proud, even in Kiwi couuntry. We still stand for something and it is recognized by many here and in other places. They still look to us for leadership and support. They adopt what we do and make it theirs. Unfortunately, some of those things are not things to be proud of. Amanda, there are still people that believe in the things the United States stands for. They still want to follow. Our job then is to give them something worth following even if it is just through one simple person at a time.
Here I am in the Land of the Long White Cloud, still proud to stand tall and be an American. Here, I am still looked at with a mix of curiosity and admiration. Then I wore a blue uniform with United States Martial Arts Team emblazoned on it. Now I wear the uniform of a Mormon Missionary and a badge that declares that I am. It is my job and yours to return that pride, that standard to the world, that Title of Liberty that stands for the only place on earth where the gospel could have been restored. We must make it again, the place the whole world looks to for guidance and direction. We can do it, one bit at a time. Stand tall, even when you stand alone. You never know who is watching.
I found it a little disconcerting to read the commonplace sentiments expressed today on facebook. There were people living life as usual as I reflected on events of the past. There were also many who made comments about remembering that event and learning from it. As I talked with the missonaries, it dawned on me that they were 8 or 9 years old at the time and though they were affected mostly by the pain of those around them, they really didn't understand (because of age) the total effect it had on the world and they still don't. They see it from the perspective of a child.
I remember going to Venezuela in January after that. We were told it might not be wise to go but we weren't ready to be put on a leash. We were told not to wear our team uniforms for fear of targeting ourselves. We wore them anyway. I will never forget sitting in the Caracas airport wondering if we would get our leaders back as they took a couple of them away and if we would ever get home. We literally had to pay our way out of that country. They called it "exit tax", we called it exploitation.
I remember actually wanting to kiss the tarmack on arrival in Miami having missed all our original plane connections. I remember 4 hours of sleep in a somewhat rundown motel. I remember arriving at the airport for a 9 a.m. plane and being escorted through the Miami airport to an earlier flight as the loud speakers in the terminal blaired that the US Martial Arts team was coming through. Do you think our heads were high? You bet they were.
I don't know when I have been more proud to be an American. Today I am still proud, even in Kiwi couuntry. We still stand for something and it is recognized by many here and in other places. They still look to us for leadership and support. They adopt what we do and make it theirs. Unfortunately, some of those things are not things to be proud of. Amanda, there are still people that believe in the things the United States stands for. They still want to follow. Our job then is to give them something worth following even if it is just through one simple person at a time.
Here I am in the Land of the Long White Cloud, still proud to stand tall and be an American. Here, I am still looked at with a mix of curiosity and admiration. Then I wore a blue uniform with United States Martial Arts Team emblazoned on it. Now I wear the uniform of a Mormon Missionary and a badge that declares that I am. It is my job and yours to return that pride, that standard to the world, that Title of Liberty that stands for the only place on earth where the gospel could have been restored. We must make it again, the place the whole world looks to for guidance and direction. We can do it, one bit at a time. Stand tall, even when you stand alone. You never know who is watching.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
It's Up then Down then Up Again
The last few days have convinced me that missionary work is an up and down situation. One day you are in the clouds and the next you find yourself being smacked soundly on the ground. We are working with some families that have proven that to be so. Add that to the fact that I am suffering a fairly large dose of homesickness and it is a really large roller coaster ride.
There are times I can do nothing but shake my head and times that I am soaring. This is a beautiful place with lots of gorgeous scenery but it would be a very difficult place to raise a family if you were not firmly rooted in the gospel and many here are not. The country promotes and condones many lifestyles that are not in keeping with LDS values and it makes it very hard for people who are not strong.
It is amazing to me how tough some of these little families in our branch are in spite of having a lot of odds against them. It is also amazing to me how little we appreciate what we have when living in Utah in the heart of "mormondom" surrounded by strength in numbers and belief. It is so easy there and some of us make it so hard. I guess it is like Ken always says, "The biggest battle you ever fight is the one that is between your ears." We have everything going for us yet we still continue to fight it.
I got a beautiful e-mail of encouragement from my daughter today and another from my son. I checked my facebook and my 13 year old grandson, Chandler, had posted a little reprimand for us all which I reposted. Why is it soooo hard for us to do the right things especially when surrounded by all the right things? Why do we care more about what everyone else thinks than we care about what the Lord thinks.
We are working with an amazing Maori girl right now who is literally taking on the change of her whole lifestyle. She is upbeat and happy. She is enthusiastic and teachable. She is excited about a new life coming her way in spite of the fact that she has had to change so much. Right now she is on her 5th day of not smoking and she is excited about the possibility of a new way of living free from that habit. Why? For her beautiful little family for whom she wants a better life.
Chandler, I reposted that post because I do believe. I want to be a better person and I want that better part for my family as well. Thanks for making me want to be better.
There are times I can do nothing but shake my head and times that I am soaring. This is a beautiful place with lots of gorgeous scenery but it would be a very difficult place to raise a family if you were not firmly rooted in the gospel and many here are not. The country promotes and condones many lifestyles that are not in keeping with LDS values and it makes it very hard for people who are not strong.
It is amazing to me how tough some of these little families in our branch are in spite of having a lot of odds against them. It is also amazing to me how little we appreciate what we have when living in Utah in the heart of "mormondom" surrounded by strength in numbers and belief. It is so easy there and some of us make it so hard. I guess it is like Ken always says, "The biggest battle you ever fight is the one that is between your ears." We have everything going for us yet we still continue to fight it.
I got a beautiful e-mail of encouragement from my daughter today and another from my son. I checked my facebook and my 13 year old grandson, Chandler, had posted a little reprimand for us all which I reposted. Why is it soooo hard for us to do the right things especially when surrounded by all the right things? Why do we care more about what everyone else thinks than we care about what the Lord thinks.
We are working with an amazing Maori girl right now who is literally taking on the change of her whole lifestyle. She is upbeat and happy. She is enthusiastic and teachable. She is excited about a new life coming her way in spite of the fact that she has had to change so much. Right now she is on her 5th day of not smoking and she is excited about the possibility of a new way of living free from that habit. Why? For her beautiful little family for whom she wants a better life.
Chandler, I reposted that post because I do believe. I want to be a better person and I want that better part for my family as well. Thanks for making me want to be better.
Friday, August 17, 2012
Surprise!
Well surprise surprise, this is Ken and not VeaLynn.....she is busy doing house things getting ready for a dinner we are hosting and then some more next week. We have learned one thing from our time here and that is FOOD followed with music is a BIG deal so I guess, like your sister said "when in Rome'. Anyway, we'll probably weigh 400 pounds when we get home. This is a funny country. This area has all the sheep, pigs and beef in the island but it still expensive to buy any. They feed dogs with cuts we pay extra for, they have so much. We have decided it is a good thing missionaries are not allowed to swim in the ocean because we have many slaughterhouses in Timaru and all are on the coastline and all dump straight into the ocean. You can tell when that is happening, thousands of gulls are having a field day with that. Sooooooo well stay out of the water for now.
However yesterday, a family we have been teaching asked to be baptized. We are thrilled about that. Only problem is they want to be baptized in one of the main rivers here and it is still very cold. If you read in the church news about a senior elder dying of frost bite expect your Vea Lynn home early. We also have another family getting closer too. The other day she and I were talking and it dawned on us that just in our family we have more priesthood than the entire branch. We feel fortunate about that and sad at the same time because these folks have been so kind and accepting to us.
We are pushing to grow faster than i think they can stand but if they want a temple on the south island this branch needs to become a ward. It is like the wife of the branch pres. said this morning, "We need to get off our butts and do something if we want the Lord to bless us". Well said! Anyway we are doing great. Vea Lynn's health has not been better and she is loving this work so much and that pleases me. She teaches institute and after class teaches tai chi and some of the men even go so good. I am pretty busy with branch work and mission work at the same time but it has been great. We get to go to the temple in Oct. as the only stake on the south island has a stake week in the Hamilton temple. Feel bad for so many who can't go.
This is such an expensive country and the cost is so much to get to the temple. Many members sacrifice much already that many simply can't make it happen on such low wages. We all hear in the south, and I hear many prayers that the church will grant them a small temple so they can be there often. As I heard an older Maori friend tell me he would "live in the temple" if we had one closer. Well better go, Vea Lynn will catch me writing e-mails and want to teach me more about the computor. Oh yes, we haven't been at odds too much but she is teaching me again how to wash the dishes so life goes on.
From the land of the long white cloud...............Ken and Vea Lynn love you all
However yesterday, a family we have been teaching asked to be baptized. We are thrilled about that. Only problem is they want to be baptized in one of the main rivers here and it is still very cold. If you read in the church news about a senior elder dying of frost bite expect your Vea Lynn home early. We also have another family getting closer too. The other day she and I were talking and it dawned on us that just in our family we have more priesthood than the entire branch. We feel fortunate about that and sad at the same time because these folks have been so kind and accepting to us.
We are pushing to grow faster than i think they can stand but if they want a temple on the south island this branch needs to become a ward. It is like the wife of the branch pres. said this morning, "We need to get off our butts and do something if we want the Lord to bless us". Well said! Anyway we are doing great. Vea Lynn's health has not been better and she is loving this work so much and that pleases me. She teaches institute and after class teaches tai chi and some of the men even go so good. I am pretty busy with branch work and mission work at the same time but it has been great. We get to go to the temple in Oct. as the only stake on the south island has a stake week in the Hamilton temple. Feel bad for so many who can't go.
This is such an expensive country and the cost is so much to get to the temple. Many members sacrifice much already that many simply can't make it happen on such low wages. We all hear in the south, and I hear many prayers that the church will grant them a small temple so they can be there often. As I heard an older Maori friend tell me he would "live in the temple" if we had one closer. Well better go, Vea Lynn will catch me writing e-mails and want to teach me more about the computor. Oh yes, we haven't been at odds too much but she is teaching me again how to wash the dishes so life goes on.
From the land of the long white cloud...............Ken and Vea Lynn love you all
Monday, August 13, 2012
The Look In Her Eyes
Sunday past, I had an experience that I will forever consider to be sacred. It was very short but very powerful to me. It was a very busy day as Sundays here usually are. We normally have investigators coming to church and were watching for them. That morning, the primary president had asked me to do a presentation of a little program we are setting up for the branch and the relief society teacher had asked me to teach part of her lesson. One of Ken's speakers had called in sick and one had an emergency and so was going to be late. Nothing on my mind, you know the feeling. : )
Anyway, sacrament meeting went off with few hitches and as I walked down the hall I saw one of the less actives we work with going into the branch president's office. We have been working with her, her non-member partner and his son for a few weeks, an amazing story in itself which I may share at another time. There was nothing unusual about this so I went on to gospel essentials as always. We had a wonderful discussion there on prayer which I enjoyed very much.
After class, I needed to talk to Elder Jarvis about logistics and was planning to look for him when he came straight at me and said, Susan (name changed) needs to say good-bye. I walked up to her and she grabbed me and hugged me like she would never let go. The thoughts going through my mind were a big mix. I thought perhaps something awful had happened but everything else seemed normal. She was sobbing and I moved back as far as possible with someone hanging on to me like a frightened child.
That is when I saw it, that look that I have seen multiple times here but never more profoundly than this moment. That look in her sparkling, shining eyes that says, "Can I do this. Will you help me. I'm so happy but so scared! I want so much to change but don't know if it is possible. I want what you have." It will be a very long time if not forever before I forget that look. It was absolutely haunting in a positive kind of way. I have seen it in the man who seemed like a child curled up in a chair pelting us with questions. I have seen it in the 12 year girl in the 18 year old body that I had to have "the talk" with. I have seen it in the man who lost his daughter and doesn't understand. It made me want to do even more to help these brothers and sisters whom I have come to serve.
Anyway, sacrament meeting went off with few hitches and as I walked down the hall I saw one of the less actives we work with going into the branch president's office. We have been working with her, her non-member partner and his son for a few weeks, an amazing story in itself which I may share at another time. There was nothing unusual about this so I went on to gospel essentials as always. We had a wonderful discussion there on prayer which I enjoyed very much.
After class, I needed to talk to Elder Jarvis about logistics and was planning to look for him when he came straight at me and said, Susan (name changed) needs to say good-bye. I walked up to her and she grabbed me and hugged me like she would never let go. The thoughts going through my mind were a big mix. I thought perhaps something awful had happened but everything else seemed normal. She was sobbing and I moved back as far as possible with someone hanging on to me like a frightened child.
That is when I saw it, that look that I have seen multiple times here but never more profoundly than this moment. That look in her sparkling, shining eyes that says, "Can I do this. Will you help me. I'm so happy but so scared! I want so much to change but don't know if it is possible. I want what you have." It will be a very long time if not forever before I forget that look. It was absolutely haunting in a positive kind of way. I have seen it in the man who seemed like a child curled up in a chair pelting us with questions. I have seen it in the 12 year girl in the 18 year old body that I had to have "the talk" with. I have seen it in the man who lost his daughter and doesn't understand. It made me want to do even more to help these brothers and sisters whom I have come to serve.
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Our Mini-United Nations
Monday night, July 30, we went to "tea" with some very lovely people and I felt I needed to share these feelings. The family that we went to have dinner with is a beautiful little Argentine family. They have moved here to improve their way of life. They are from a large town in Argentina and I guess the work opportunities are limited there as well as the wages. Anyway, we found ourselves sitting at a table with a mini-united nations. We Americans were there with the Argentines, a German exchange student and her sponsor who is a Kiwi Maori lady. While we were sitting there, a call came in and a Brazilian family was quickly invited to join us.
We couldn't help but think what an opportunity this was for all of us with our language and cultural differences to take the time to get to know what we had in common. Opportunities like this have made me even more grateful that we chose to come on a mission. Most of the world is good as evidenced in these wonderful people at one table. The little German girl who is 15, is still having a time adjusting to the food here as well as the language and customs. I'm sure many things are unfamiliar to her but we remarked as we traveled to our little place what a brave young girl she is to travel half way across the world to learn new things. This is not to mention her parents who let her go. She is an only child.
The beautiful Maori lady who is all of 4'11 and 3/4", lost her husband a few months ago and took the brave step of trying to run their company by herself. It was too hard so she gave it up but invited an exchange student into her home to fill some lonely times. What a lovely thing to do. She is so cute and pretty amazing. Her great grandfather knew our great grandfather more than 100 years ago. We have a pictures of both of them in the things that we brought here with us. She is from the North Island but here we both are on the South Island connected through ancestors 100+ years ago.
The little girls of the Argentine family make me homesick for our little grandchildren. They are delightful little girls, one quiet and tentative, the other full of energy, both very sweet. Their mum and dad are wonderful, strong saints, committed to the gospel and the things it does for their family. How wonderful it is that we have so many things in common to bring us together in learning about each other and sharing our lives and our hearts.
I had planned to end here but we went to dinner again on Friday, this time with the Maori lady and her little exchange student and a couple who came to be a part of one another's lives when they both came here after WWII, she from England, he from Austria after serving in the German army and being held in a Russian prison camp. His life was actually saved by being wounded and put in the hospital. All of his other "mates" did not survive.
We watched as a 15 year old girl and a 90 year old man became united by their common language. It was a lovely thing to behold. The rest of us watched in amazement and then started our own little conference on genealogy. The older couple are not members but they are really wonderful people with full lives and a great understanding of what is good and right. We feel so fortunate to have been entrusted with this sacred opportunity. We can only hope and try to fill it well.
We couldn't help but think what an opportunity this was for all of us with our language and cultural differences to take the time to get to know what we had in common. Opportunities like this have made me even more grateful that we chose to come on a mission. Most of the world is good as evidenced in these wonderful people at one table. The little German girl who is 15, is still having a time adjusting to the food here as well as the language and customs. I'm sure many things are unfamiliar to her but we remarked as we traveled to our little place what a brave young girl she is to travel half way across the world to learn new things. This is not to mention her parents who let her go. She is an only child.
The beautiful Maori lady who is all of 4'11 and 3/4", lost her husband a few months ago and took the brave step of trying to run their company by herself. It was too hard so she gave it up but invited an exchange student into her home to fill some lonely times. What a lovely thing to do. She is so cute and pretty amazing. Her great grandfather knew our great grandfather more than 100 years ago. We have a pictures of both of them in the things that we brought here with us. She is from the North Island but here we both are on the South Island connected through ancestors 100+ years ago.
The little girls of the Argentine family make me homesick for our little grandchildren. They are delightful little girls, one quiet and tentative, the other full of energy, both very sweet. Their mum and dad are wonderful, strong saints, committed to the gospel and the things it does for their family. How wonderful it is that we have so many things in common to bring us together in learning about each other and sharing our lives and our hearts.
I had planned to end here but we went to dinner again on Friday, this time with the Maori lady and her little exchange student and a couple who came to be a part of one another's lives when they both came here after WWII, she from England, he from Austria after serving in the German army and being held in a Russian prison camp. His life was actually saved by being wounded and put in the hospital. All of his other "mates" did not survive.
We watched as a 15 year old girl and a 90 year old man became united by their common language. It was a lovely thing to behold. The rest of us watched in amazement and then started our own little conference on genealogy. The older couple are not members but they are really wonderful people with full lives and a great understanding of what is good and right. We feel so fortunate to have been entrusted with this sacred opportunity. We can only hope and try to fill it well.
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Becoming extraordinary through the Spirit.
I didn't know what to name this one. It is about how the spirit often provides. We had a really interesting week last week. On Monday, we took a walk and went to the little garden center down the street. While standing there talking with the owner, a car pulled in and a man got out. He walked up to us and looked straight at our name tags, then read them aloud. The next thing we know, we are in a conversation with him and he was inviting us to come to his home the next day. We did that, met his sweet wife and left a DVD and a Book of Mormon. They are planning to ask us to "tea" soon.
I had to spend a bit of time making amends with one of my friends. I posted a story about her and her family and used a word that apparently around here does not mean the same thing as it does to me. She called me out about it and I really appreciated it because the last thing I wanted to do was hurt anyone. I can deal with it when I know what I have done. I also ended up changing another post because of her wise suggestion.
On Wed. we went to Temuka. We were just filling some time between appointments, walking down the street when a little couple from Geraldine walked up to us to talk. Seems she lost everything in a fire after the Christchurch earthquake and she had just started a genealogy club. There are 8 ladies in it and I got to tell her that there is a Family History Center in our little building in Timaru. She seemed pretty excited. Everything she had including her genealogy was lost in the fire. Fortunately, her husband was warned by a neighbor and was able to get out. Later we were looking in the window at an op shop and a young woman walked up behind us to ask when we were coming to her house. We have been trying to get an appointment there for a while. We got to visit with her whole family this week.
We chose a name from the little member book we had to go and see before our dinner appointment. We walked in on a difficult situation but the man looked at Ken and said, "It's Elder Jarvis!" He is not a member and she is less active. We had no idea how he knew us until he told us that Ken had spoken to him in a second hand store. He couldn't believe that someone who didn't know him would take the time to speak with him. He had been looking for us. They have both had tough lives but I think they really want to work things out and establish a happy life and family. They decided to come to church on Sunday. Since then, she has been reunited with her mother and we have held FHE with them and another is scheduled for next Monday. It has been a beautiful thing. We had no idea that she and her mom were related. We were on our way to dinner at her mother's home when we picked her name.
I guess it goes to show that if we pay attention to the spirit, and where he leads, some amazing things can happen. Even though we feel like ordinary people here, the spirit is giving us some extraordinary experiences.
I had to spend a bit of time making amends with one of my friends. I posted a story about her and her family and used a word that apparently around here does not mean the same thing as it does to me. She called me out about it and I really appreciated it because the last thing I wanted to do was hurt anyone. I can deal with it when I know what I have done. I also ended up changing another post because of her wise suggestion.
On Wed. we went to Temuka. We were just filling some time between appointments, walking down the street when a little couple from Geraldine walked up to us to talk. Seems she lost everything in a fire after the Christchurch earthquake and she had just started a genealogy club. There are 8 ladies in it and I got to tell her that there is a Family History Center in our little building in Timaru. She seemed pretty excited. Everything she had including her genealogy was lost in the fire. Fortunately, her husband was warned by a neighbor and was able to get out. Later we were looking in the window at an op shop and a young woman walked up behind us to ask when we were coming to her house. We have been trying to get an appointment there for a while. We got to visit with her whole family this week.
We chose a name from the little member book we had to go and see before our dinner appointment. We walked in on a difficult situation but the man looked at Ken and said, "It's Elder Jarvis!" He is not a member and she is less active. We had no idea how he knew us until he told us that Ken had spoken to him in a second hand store. He couldn't believe that someone who didn't know him would take the time to speak with him. He had been looking for us. They have both had tough lives but I think they really want to work things out and establish a happy life and family. They decided to come to church on Sunday. Since then, she has been reunited with her mother and we have held FHE with them and another is scheduled for next Monday. It has been a beautiful thing. We had no idea that she and her mom were related. We were on our way to dinner at her mother's home when we picked her name.
I guess it goes to show that if we pay attention to the spirit, and where he leads, some amazing things can happen. Even though we feel like ordinary people here, the spirit is giving us some extraordinary experiences.
Friday, July 20, 2012
The Adventure Series III
Adventures in Culture Part 2
Last time I discussed some Maori culture and this time I want to address the European culture that is here. There have been many immigrants over the years from many countries. There are Germans and Austrians, Irish and Scots and Englanders, French, Italians, Scandinavians and several other cultures represented. Most of them are hard working, independent people who were looking for a new life here in New Zealand and many of them have found it.
They have remained to themselves or mixed with the Maoris. Whatever the case, it has made for a lively and interesting blend of people and customs. We have met people from each of these areas while here. The one thing they have in common is their open, friendly attitudes for the most part. We have been warmly welcomed by almost all of them. That has been a big plus for us. From the start, it has seemed like home away from home. We couldn't ask for more.
The only difficulty I have run into is trying to understand some of their speech but hey, what's new? We have had that almost our whole lives with the deaf culture. Interestingly enough, the two things I have not come to meet here are a person of African descent or a deaf person. We have pretty much met dozens of other types of people. I have only gotten into trouble a couple of times and both of them were over misunderstandings over the way we use different words but that happens to everyone.
I told you about a little couple we met not long ago. They are truly wonderful people. They are Irish Kiwis. They became friendly with us from the first day they met us and we with them. It was so comfortable in their home. They treat us like good friends and they have become very important in our lives. While we were there at their home, I noticed a beautiful picture of the two of them taken on their farm many years ago. It is a classic photo of two lovely people and for me it represents all that is good about the people we have met here. I asked for a copy and it has a proud place on my mantle. It means something very special to me and always will.
These people and many others have come here or followed in their families footsteps as hard working, honorable people, dedicated to their families, their work and their country. These kind of people came here looking to continue something good and have done so. They all help make New Zealand what it is today, a welcoming, warm country where we feel right at home.
Last time I discussed some Maori culture and this time I want to address the European culture that is here. There have been many immigrants over the years from many countries. There are Germans and Austrians, Irish and Scots and Englanders, French, Italians, Scandinavians and several other cultures represented. Most of them are hard working, independent people who were looking for a new life here in New Zealand and many of them have found it.
They have remained to themselves or mixed with the Maoris. Whatever the case, it has made for a lively and interesting blend of people and customs. We have met people from each of these areas while here. The one thing they have in common is their open, friendly attitudes for the most part. We have been warmly welcomed by almost all of them. That has been a big plus for us. From the start, it has seemed like home away from home. We couldn't ask for more.
The only difficulty I have run into is trying to understand some of their speech but hey, what's new? We have had that almost our whole lives with the deaf culture. Interestingly enough, the two things I have not come to meet here are a person of African descent or a deaf person. We have pretty much met dozens of other types of people. I have only gotten into trouble a couple of times and both of them were over misunderstandings over the way we use different words but that happens to everyone.
I told you about a little couple we met not long ago. They are truly wonderful people. They are Irish Kiwis. They became friendly with us from the first day they met us and we with them. It was so comfortable in their home. They treat us like good friends and they have become very important in our lives. While we were there at their home, I noticed a beautiful picture of the two of them taken on their farm many years ago. It is a classic photo of two lovely people and for me it represents all that is good about the people we have met here. I asked for a copy and it has a proud place on my mantle. It means something very special to me and always will.
These people and many others have come here or followed in their families footsteps as hard working, honorable people, dedicated to their families, their work and their country. These kind of people came here looking to continue something good and have done so. They all help make New Zealand what it is today, a welcoming, warm country where we feel right at home.
Saturday, July 14, 2012
The Adventure Series III
Adventures in Culture Part I
Being here has definitely been informative. We came thinking that there would be a great many more Maori and a lot fewer "others". Boy were we wrong. After taking a day with a good friend, Joe Reihana, a Maori, we came to a lot of conclusions. One of them unfortunately was that colonization here has been as hard on the Maori as it was on the Native American. In fact, there are a great many similarities. Both of them had their land overtaken by foreigners and both are fighting to get some of their rights returned.
The Maori are very fascinating people. They have many wonderful traditions that we could learn from. They are very loyal to family ties going back hundreds of years. They allow access to their Marais (kind of a holy area) only by invitation and they are not reluctant to tell you if your interest is not wanted. Their traditional greeting is nose to nose, forehead to forehead. Our first traditional greeting was with a drunk woman but their have been many more since. They are very open and friendly until you give them reason to stop trusting you.
Joe took us to his Marai which is about 8 miles from where we live. The Maori are much fewer in the South Island but all of them know to which family they belong. The "tribes" were determined by the canoe on which they arrived in New Zealand. Ken wanted a Maori Toko Toko or walking stick and asked about it. He was told it would be better for him to go to a tourist shop and buy one because you have to "earn" one otherwise. He told Joe he would rather earn his. That is part of what warranted our trip to the Marai.
They remind me a great deal of Native Americans. Their stories are very parallel. They come to a beautiful land and make a home for a very long time. Then, other people begin moving in and taking away all that they have cared for and learned to love. They were basically assigned certain "assets", most of which was swamp land. Now they are fighting to get what is theirs returned in some measure. They have been looked down on in this young land even though they are basically a very sweet and handsome people.
The family we are helping teach are Maori. The father has been in some trouble in life and he was explaining to us how he tried to "scrub off his color" because people called him the "n" word and other bad names because of it. He said he hated being Maori so he scrubbed and scrubbed but it would not come off. It made me very sad. He is a very nice young man and is trying hard to be responsible and take care of his family. No one should ever feel like they have to scrub away who they are with soap or any other way. I'm so glad he is becoming comfortable with his inheritance now. Too bad we choose to inflict so much pain on people just because they are different from us!
Next time I'll address another element of society here.
Being here has definitely been informative. We came thinking that there would be a great many more Maori and a lot fewer "others". Boy were we wrong. After taking a day with a good friend, Joe Reihana, a Maori, we came to a lot of conclusions. One of them unfortunately was that colonization here has been as hard on the Maori as it was on the Native American. In fact, there are a great many similarities. Both of them had their land overtaken by foreigners and both are fighting to get some of their rights returned.
The Maori are very fascinating people. They have many wonderful traditions that we could learn from. They are very loyal to family ties going back hundreds of years. They allow access to their Marais (kind of a holy area) only by invitation and they are not reluctant to tell you if your interest is not wanted. Their traditional greeting is nose to nose, forehead to forehead. Our first traditional greeting was with a drunk woman but their have been many more since. They are very open and friendly until you give them reason to stop trusting you.
Joe took us to his Marai which is about 8 miles from where we live. The Maori are much fewer in the South Island but all of them know to which family they belong. The "tribes" were determined by the canoe on which they arrived in New Zealand. Ken wanted a Maori Toko Toko or walking stick and asked about it. He was told it would be better for him to go to a tourist shop and buy one because you have to "earn" one otherwise. He told Joe he would rather earn his. That is part of what warranted our trip to the Marai.
They remind me a great deal of Native Americans. Their stories are very parallel. They come to a beautiful land and make a home for a very long time. Then, other people begin moving in and taking away all that they have cared for and learned to love. They were basically assigned certain "assets", most of which was swamp land. Now they are fighting to get what is theirs returned in some measure. They have been looked down on in this young land even though they are basically a very sweet and handsome people.
The family we are helping teach are Maori. The father has been in some trouble in life and he was explaining to us how he tried to "scrub off his color" because people called him the "n" word and other bad names because of it. He said he hated being Maori so he scrubbed and scrubbed but it would not come off. It made me very sad. He is a very nice young man and is trying hard to be responsible and take care of his family. No one should ever feel like they have to scrub away who they are with soap or any other way. I'm so glad he is becoming comfortable with his inheritance now. Too bad we choose to inflict so much pain on people just because they are different from us!
Next time I'll address another element of society here.
Friday, July 6, 2012
He's Watching Over Us
Don't know quite how to start this one. While we have been busy here doing our work, things are happening at home that we hadn't expected. I don't know why we didn't expect them. I guess we thought that the blessings would come in ways such as there being no serious difficulties at home while we were gone. In a matter of three days, that has been proven wrong. I'm not naive enough to think that nothing would go wrong while we we're gone but I had hoped it would slow down a "wee" bit.
Jenny e-mailed us Wednesday (Tues in the US) to tell us that Ashy was in the hospital. We only picked it up because I decided to check e-mail while we were home for just a short in and out. We called everyone or Skyped them at least trying to get someone to tell us what was going on. We finally caught Mandi at home. Then Jen called us back to tell us Ashy was in there due to dehydration. She said while she sat in Ashy's room, she watched the fire race up the mountain northeast of Alpine. She told us of all the fires that were going on throughout Utah.
Today we came home to find another e-mail saying Micah had been in an accident but not to freak out because he was okay. It seems he had been on a narrow road when a big truck coming the other direction was awfully close so he moved over to get farther away. His tire caught the wet sand on the edge of the road and he rolled his car. The car is totalled.
Normally this would have totally thrown me but right now I am trying to look at the blessings in all this. Ashy is out of the hospital and seems to be doing well. Thanks for the blessing of people who know how to take care of very sick children. The rain in Utah has been coming and hopefully will help with the wildfires. Thanks for rain. Micah and Sarah and their boys, Benson and Taft are all okay. Other people stopped to help and Sarah's brother was close enough to go be with them until everything was worked out. The car is gone but a car can be replaced. Thanks that they are all well. It could have been much worse.
Meanwhile, Heavenly Father has a plan for us to be here helping people other than our own children. We feel helpless but we can't help but feel grateful that the kids have one another. They have friends and other family to help them when they need it. In the meantime, we are trying to help the children of other moms and dads who are concerned about their children. Some of them are still here with us. Some of them are on the other side cheering us on. Aren't we glad that we all have each other. Thanks all of you for looking after our precious children while we are looking after others.
Jenny e-mailed us Wednesday (Tues in the US) to tell us that Ashy was in the hospital. We only picked it up because I decided to check e-mail while we were home for just a short in and out. We called everyone or Skyped them at least trying to get someone to tell us what was going on. We finally caught Mandi at home. Then Jen called us back to tell us Ashy was in there due to dehydration. She said while she sat in Ashy's room, she watched the fire race up the mountain northeast of Alpine. She told us of all the fires that were going on throughout Utah.
Today we came home to find another e-mail saying Micah had been in an accident but not to freak out because he was okay. It seems he had been on a narrow road when a big truck coming the other direction was awfully close so he moved over to get farther away. His tire caught the wet sand on the edge of the road and he rolled his car. The car is totalled.
Normally this would have totally thrown me but right now I am trying to look at the blessings in all this. Ashy is out of the hospital and seems to be doing well. Thanks for the blessing of people who know how to take care of very sick children. The rain in Utah has been coming and hopefully will help with the wildfires. Thanks for rain. Micah and Sarah and their boys, Benson and Taft are all okay. Other people stopped to help and Sarah's brother was close enough to go be with them until everything was worked out. The car is gone but a car can be replaced. Thanks that they are all well. It could have been much worse.
Meanwhile, Heavenly Father has a plan for us to be here helping people other than our own children. We feel helpless but we can't help but feel grateful that the kids have one another. They have friends and other family to help them when they need it. In the meantime, we are trying to help the children of other moms and dads who are concerned about their children. Some of them are still here with us. Some of them are on the other side cheering us on. Aren't we glad that we all have each other. Thanks all of you for looking after our precious children while we are looking after others.
Thursday, June 28, 2012
The Adventure Series II
ADVENTURES IS FOOD
In case you were wondering if we are eating strange things, not really. We are eating different things and enjoying most of them. The only strange thing is how you measure it all. We went to the grocery store the first day we got here and after the sticker shock we bought what we wanted and needed and headed for home. I forgot how much it takes to get the basics of cooking and baking breakfast, lunch and dinner. I have been back to the store multiple times in search for things I forgot. Hopefully, I am finally getting close I think.
It took a while to figure out some things. Things like $10.99 for hamburger (mince) really isn't so bad when you realize that a kilo is 2.2 lbs. not 1. Milk we are not drinking so much at $5.15/3 liters. Cereal is very pricey if you want any name brand sugary stuff, just like home. Cake mix is $5/box, obviously we'll be making cakes from scratch. Sugar is grainier and salt and pepper are either powdery or very coarse. Milo is the substitute for hot chocolate and you don't make it with just water, believe me, it is terrible. You make it with milk and sugar. They now have biscuits and cookies, one and the same. The produce is awesome and there are little roadside stands everywhere. We eat carrots and apples constantly and mandarin oranges that don't come from cans. Ice cream is amazing!!! Cheap stuff is like Cold Stone.
They have lots of pies here but they are not fruit pies, they are generally "mince" or meat pies. They are delicious. They make mince pies in every size from tiny tarts to jumbos. We did finally find an apple pie and it was yummy. You buy quiche at the local bakery and it is tasty too. They have bread that rivals Aretta's multi-grain, my favorite. They are masters at pastery but could use a little help with the cookies. They are mostly hard as bullets. This is the only place you go that you leave the bag open so that the cookies will soften up. Big Macs are few and far between because the sandwich alone is about $7. Catsup is tomato sauce and costs .40 per tiny packet. Beer is cheaper than bottled water and diet coke is $3-4 for a 12 oz. We have been out to dinner twice at nicer sit down places and both times someone else paid for it. Meals start at around $17-18 at the nicer places.
It took us forever to find fish and chips that we could afford in this "fishing port". Then we found a little place that gives you two big pieces of fish and a huge 1/2 portion of chips for $8. Better than the purple turtle! They wrap it all up in paper just for fish and chips and send you home with it. They also do Chinese take away. There are lots of little butcher shops around with great meat and it isn't much different than home in price. All in all, we are getting along famously in the food department and when we get tired of our own cooking, the members invite us to "tea" which really means dinner.
Other than the prices and the much smaller variety, things are not a lot different here than they are at home. We may come waddling home!
In case you were wondering if we are eating strange things, not really. We are eating different things and enjoying most of them. The only strange thing is how you measure it all. We went to the grocery store the first day we got here and after the sticker shock we bought what we wanted and needed and headed for home. I forgot how much it takes to get the basics of cooking and baking breakfast, lunch and dinner. I have been back to the store multiple times in search for things I forgot. Hopefully, I am finally getting close I think.
It took a while to figure out some things. Things like $10.99 for hamburger (mince) really isn't so bad when you realize that a kilo is 2.2 lbs. not 1. Milk we are not drinking so much at $5.15/3 liters. Cereal is very pricey if you want any name brand sugary stuff, just like home. Cake mix is $5/box, obviously we'll be making cakes from scratch. Sugar is grainier and salt and pepper are either powdery or very coarse. Milo is the substitute for hot chocolate and you don't make it with just water, believe me, it is terrible. You make it with milk and sugar. They now have biscuits and cookies, one and the same. The produce is awesome and there are little roadside stands everywhere. We eat carrots and apples constantly and mandarin oranges that don't come from cans. Ice cream is amazing!!! Cheap stuff is like Cold Stone.
They have lots of pies here but they are not fruit pies, they are generally "mince" or meat pies. They are delicious. They make mince pies in every size from tiny tarts to jumbos. We did finally find an apple pie and it was yummy. You buy quiche at the local bakery and it is tasty too. They have bread that rivals Aretta's multi-grain, my favorite. They are masters at pastery but could use a little help with the cookies. They are mostly hard as bullets. This is the only place you go that you leave the bag open so that the cookies will soften up. Big Macs are few and far between because the sandwich alone is about $7. Catsup is tomato sauce and costs .40 per tiny packet. Beer is cheaper than bottled water and diet coke is $3-4 for a 12 oz. We have been out to dinner twice at nicer sit down places and both times someone else paid for it. Meals start at around $17-18 at the nicer places.
It took us forever to find fish and chips that we could afford in this "fishing port". Then we found a little place that gives you two big pieces of fish and a huge 1/2 portion of chips for $8. Better than the purple turtle! They wrap it all up in paper just for fish and chips and send you home with it. They also do Chinese take away. There are lots of little butcher shops around with great meat and it isn't much different than home in price. All in all, we are getting along famously in the food department and when we get tired of our own cooking, the members invite us to "tea" which really means dinner.
Other than the prices and the much smaller variety, things are not a lot different here than they are at home. We may come waddling home!
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
The Adventure Series!
ADVENTURES IN HOUSING
When we arrived in Timaru, fortunately for us, another missionary couple, the Neiders, had already secured a place for us to live. When we walked in, I immediately felt at home. It was completely furnished and was just my style. The colors were great and the house had a big open area that is really a bedroom/living room/kitchen in a row separated by big wooden folding doors. It becomes a nice great-room when it is all opened up. I didn't realize that there was another reason for this lovely arrangement until dark set in. No one's house is centrally heated here. We had a wood burning fireplace insert which was not very efficient as we would soon find out.
Warming all those areas plus the huge foyer, the bathroom across the house from the master bedroom and the two smaller bedrooms was literally impossible. I thought I would freeze to death until we figured out the system. We closed the doors and the wood fire in the fireplace plus a newly acquired space heater kept the room warm until we moved into the bedroom where another space heater warmed it up before bedtime. The kitchen had to create it's own warmth and the bathroom is heated at will by another, smaller space heater. The bed has a bed sized heating pad which you turn on 1/2 hour before bedtime. It is wonderful to get in that bed after a chilly day! Forget about the foyer and the other bedrooms. If we get visitors, we'll figure that one out.
The next issue was the mice. The house had been empty for a couple of months waiting for us and the mice had taken up residence! A few traps and a little bait and we feel pretty much in control of that issue but we had to clean the whole place completely, including washing everything we wanted to use. That in itself took 2 days. I think most everything is clean but we cleaned again Monday because I was waiting for a dryer to come and it never did but we got a lot done. We also discovered the leaks in the kitchen ceiling that happen randomly even when the sun is shining. Haven't figured that one out yet.
Next, issue: everything here is smaller, washers, dryers, refridgerators, stoves and so on. The washer stops if it is off balance and so you think the wash is done only to go check and find you have 25 min. left before you can hang it on the rack in the living room or the line in the yard, both of which take about three days to dry clothes, hence the order for a dryer that still hasn't come. They do have an awesome invention here. Because everyone drinks Milo (a barley chocolate drink) or coffee, or tea or hot berry juice, yummmm, they have a little device that heats water to boiling in a couple of minutes. It is awesome!!! By the way, most of the rooms have 1, maybe 2 plugs. Do you think they are underwired? Don't ever plug in two heaters at the same time you plan to use the microwave! In fact, you are better off not to use more than 2 things at once ever! The house had 2 phone lines but one had never been hooked up and the other wasn't working.
Now that I have my complaining done let me tell you what is terrific. We have huge windows all over the west side of the house, floor to ceiling in the living and kitchen and 1/3 of the bedroom wall.
The sun warms the house in the afternoons. We have the most wonderful views everywhere. We can see the southern alps out all of the windows. The sunsets are really something that boggles our mind. The sun is brighter here than I have ever seen and the colors are glorious. The ocean is a different color every day and sometimes from hour to hour. The garden is in little rooms, a miniature version of home with a fish pond right outside the door. It is stocked with orange and black Koi. Flowers bloom here even in winter, one here, one there. Hydrangeas are huge as are rhodedendrons and just about everything else. The clouds are amazing. I have peacock tails on my mantle. I have a roof, a kitchen, a bathroom, a place with a hot pad to sleep and sit and dream, plenty of food, lots of friends and love and the gospel to bring it all together.
What's not to like? Enough is as good as a feast and I have enough and more.
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Something to ponder.
If I have no other experience than the one I had tonight, my mission will have been a success. It taught me so much about myself and others. What we can assume and what we can't. Last Sunday a little family walked into the branch out of the blue. No one I talked with knew them but we introduced ourselves, made an appointment and went to see them on Monday. The father had been called away to a shearing job but mum and the kids were there and we made ourselves acquainted and set up an appointment for tonight. Mum and kids came to church this morning and though she has little gospel knowledge and was overwhelmed by all that she heard this morning, she was very receptive. I could tell she was feeling things that were important to her.
We met the elders at her home today and went in to teach the first lesson. We exchanged small talk and kind of "slid" into a gospel discussion. Somehow in the course of that discussion her life was revealed to almost total strangers who showed her some love. She was raped repeatedly by four boys when she was a young girl and then they took an ax to her. She crawled from the back yard to the front yard and "crawled into a green box to die". She was found there and taken to a hospital but not before she "saw a light and felt at peace with the idea that she was going to die". She did not understand it but when she told her father she wanted to go to church he just brushed her off. She wanted to know what the light and peace was. She still wants to know after all these years. We showed her "Finding Faith in Christ". There was total silence, even from the dog who had been quite rowdy.
We were trying to help her understand that a loving Heavenly Father cared about her but because her family lost everything including her father's life which he himself took due to drugs, it was pretty hard to explain. She later married and had some children and then her husband was killed in an auto accident. After that she found her "partner", the name they call a permanent relationship with no marriage here, John Heke. He is the one who wanted to come to church. She has been a good girl and they want to change their lives. I couldn't help but cry for her and the pain she is still in from those horrible experiences.
We walk down the street each day and see "people" but we don't know their stories. Maybe if we did, we would be more inclined to be more kind. That incidentally was what she said her "talent" was when asked in church today. She is kind. Should we be less? Something we could ponder.
We met the elders at her home today and went in to teach the first lesson. We exchanged small talk and kind of "slid" into a gospel discussion. Somehow in the course of that discussion her life was revealed to almost total strangers who showed her some love. She was raped repeatedly by four boys when she was a young girl and then they took an ax to her. She crawled from the back yard to the front yard and "crawled into a green box to die". She was found there and taken to a hospital but not before she "saw a light and felt at peace with the idea that she was going to die". She did not understand it but when she told her father she wanted to go to church he just brushed her off. She wanted to know what the light and peace was. She still wants to know after all these years. We showed her "Finding Faith in Christ". There was total silence, even from the dog who had been quite rowdy.
We were trying to help her understand that a loving Heavenly Father cared about her but because her family lost everything including her father's life which he himself took due to drugs, it was pretty hard to explain. She later married and had some children and then her husband was killed in an auto accident. After that she found her "partner", the name they call a permanent relationship with no marriage here, John Heke. He is the one who wanted to come to church. She has been a good girl and they want to change their lives. I couldn't help but cry for her and the pain she is still in from those horrible experiences.
We walk down the street each day and see "people" but we don't know their stories. Maybe if we did, we would be more inclined to be more kind. That incidentally was what she said her "talent" was when asked in church today. She is kind. Should we be less? Something we could ponder.
Saturday, June 23, 2012
YYYYIIIIPPPPEEEE!
I never had an idea how isolated I could feel here without my internet. Many things here are behind the times, almost like living when I was a kid. Everything is cold, underwired, underinsulated or not at all, very small or wee as they like to say here and so on but the internet is an essential. For a wee bit, I thought I wouldn't be able to get it here at our home but a nice young man came out, fixed the wiring and poof! I am back with the world up north again. It is wonderful that we can have communications from across the world and I hope I never take it for granted again.
That said, the work here is fun and interesting. We keep very busy. There are always meetings to go to and people to go visit. We have been greeted with open arms everywhere. Even the people who are trying to hide from us, once they are found are very nice. They let us know they are not interested but they are kind about it. I love the Maori people. Our branch president is Maori (pronounced very short ah, long o with a rolled r and long e, almost sounds moree). He is the sweetest man and I have already grown to love his wife. There is an active core here, about 50, who I already love and they are becoming committed to making the branch grow. Our goal is to become a ward.
We have met some wonderful members and non-members alike. Ken already has a good friend at the local furniture store who he talks about World War II with. Forget furniture here. A small couch and love seat start at $3000. People here have very little furniture unless they are well to do. We met a darling, non-member couple at the family history center the other day and have been to their house. They are "farm folk" as they put it and they really are but they live in what would be a million dollar house at home which they bought after selling their farm. I have not had that much fun talking to someone in a very long time. They are wonderful! Ken calls my office "command central" but their place makes mine look amateur at best. They have a dozen 3' to 30' satellite dishes they built, two dozen tv's and a real "command central" to run them all. They get programs from all over the world including KBYU! Their son came over and fixed our phone in about 10 minutes and "saved" our sanity. I told her that they represent all the best of New Zealand to me and I really mean it!
We went visiting in a little place called Geraldine today, kind of a small resort town. We met with a lovely Maori lady there named Virginia and found that she was raised in the area where great grandpa Jarvis served his mission. We will be comparing notes. She has been a widow only a little over a year. Her husband was branch president here until he died. She sent us to some non-member friends who Ken talked with and who invited us back. On the way home, we drove to Ala Moana Gorge where we saw Red Stags, gorgeous dark green forests and a beautiful little fishing stream. We stopped at the home of some Argentine members who are so sweet. We than went to the beach. The beaches are at the bottom of cliffs or are polished rock not sand and they really drop off. Too cold right now for a walk but maybe in the summer. We remarked how we saw parts of Wyoming, Utah and the northwest in the landscapes here only much more intense. You can't believe how bright the sun is. It is hard to describe!
It has been much less difficult for me to adjust than I thought it would be. I am even getting used to the cold. When I'm tempted to complain, I think of Amanda Barnes Smith and the pioneers and STOP IT!!! I do miss the family, especially right after I get an e-mail or Skype. Maybe homesickness just hasn't set in yet or maybe I am learning to trust the Lord's promises to us. I hope it is the latter. I love you all and am so grateful for the support from home. You may never know how much it means to us that you have all supported this adventure for us. So far, we are loving it!
That said, the work here is fun and interesting. We keep very busy. There are always meetings to go to and people to go visit. We have been greeted with open arms everywhere. Even the people who are trying to hide from us, once they are found are very nice. They let us know they are not interested but they are kind about it. I love the Maori people. Our branch president is Maori (pronounced very short ah, long o with a rolled r and long e, almost sounds moree). He is the sweetest man and I have already grown to love his wife. There is an active core here, about 50, who I already love and they are becoming committed to making the branch grow. Our goal is to become a ward.
We have met some wonderful members and non-members alike. Ken already has a good friend at the local furniture store who he talks about World War II with. Forget furniture here. A small couch and love seat start at $3000. People here have very little furniture unless they are well to do. We met a darling, non-member couple at the family history center the other day and have been to their house. They are "farm folk" as they put it and they really are but they live in what would be a million dollar house at home which they bought after selling their farm. I have not had that much fun talking to someone in a very long time. They are wonderful! Ken calls my office "command central" but their place makes mine look amateur at best. They have a dozen 3' to 30' satellite dishes they built, two dozen tv's and a real "command central" to run them all. They get programs from all over the world including KBYU! Their son came over and fixed our phone in about 10 minutes and "saved" our sanity. I told her that they represent all the best of New Zealand to me and I really mean it!
We went visiting in a little place called Geraldine today, kind of a small resort town. We met with a lovely Maori lady there named Virginia and found that she was raised in the area where great grandpa Jarvis served his mission. We will be comparing notes. She has been a widow only a little over a year. Her husband was branch president here until he died. She sent us to some non-member friends who Ken talked with and who invited us back. On the way home, we drove to Ala Moana Gorge where we saw Red Stags, gorgeous dark green forests and a beautiful little fishing stream. We stopped at the home of some Argentine members who are so sweet. We than went to the beach. The beaches are at the bottom of cliffs or are polished rock not sand and they really drop off. Too cold right now for a walk but maybe in the summer. We remarked how we saw parts of Wyoming, Utah and the northwest in the landscapes here only much more intense. You can't believe how bright the sun is. It is hard to describe!
It has been much less difficult for me to adjust than I thought it would be. I am even getting used to the cold. When I'm tempted to complain, I think of Amanda Barnes Smith and the pioneers and STOP IT!!! I do miss the family, especially right after I get an e-mail or Skype. Maybe homesickness just hasn't set in yet or maybe I am learning to trust the Lord's promises to us. I hope it is the latter. I love you all and am so grateful for the support from home. You may never know how much it means to us that you have all supported this adventure for us. So far, we are loving it!
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
FINALLY HERE!
Seems like forever since I have written. This has been a whirlwind few days. We left on the 6th of June at 4:55 p.m. and arrived in Wellington on June 8 at 10 a.m. having crossed the international dateline and spent who remembers how many hours on planes. We were greeted by Pres. and Sis. Kezerian. She had arrived back only the day before having had surgery in the states and then flying home with her arm at a strange angle from shoulder surgery. How could we be complaining after seeing that? We were whisked away to a zone meeting and lunch for a few hours. We were then on to the Kezerians for a couple of hours which we used to shower and then out to dinner with some of the senior missionaries. The Brazzeals, McVeys and Kezerians were very good to us. Home to bed at 8 because we were wasted.
Up early for a briefing which was very brief because Pres. Kezerian remembered he was supposed to pick up a new missionary at the airport. He did that and dropped us off to catch our plane to Christchurch. The hour flight landed in snow! Didn't see much of Christchurch because we still had two hours to drive. The Neiders from Idaho picked us up and took us to their home in Ashburton where Ken was given a brief driving lesson. I have to say that this is really weird. Everything is backwards except of course the gas and brake peddles. We both constantly turn on the windshield wipers when we are trying to turn!
Ken drove on to Timaru with Elder Neider while Sis. Neider drove me. It is really beautiful. The southern alps are on the west and the ocean is on the east and their are beautiful farms everywhere. We arrived at Timaru, went to see our home for the next few months, drove out to see their beautiful little chapel and then were off to the grocery store. Had a little sticker shock but we are already finding that if we are careful, we can keep the grocery bill in line. The produce is absolutely awesome! I love the house though it is cold but it is beautifully decorated and has a little fishpond just outside the back door just like home. It is amazing that I feel right at home already.
Sunday we were off to church at 10 and were there until 4:30. Lots of things to do and talk about. I think this little branch is looking at us like a lifeline. Ken already is in the branch presidency. I will be teaching institute. They have a wonderful little chapel which is greatly underused. There are about 190 members but only 50 active so lots to do! They are friendly and welcoming and I have had no apprehension about being here. I am actually amazed at how calm I am. I think I am more calm than Ken sometimes.
Monday, June 11, was spent trying to set up internet services, banking services and trying to get a driver's icense which failed but we were able to get it yesterday, June 18 after working on it for two hours. Had all the papers this time! Tuesday, June 12, we spent the whole day cleaning! We washed pretty much everything because the house has been empty and the mice have had a wonderful time. No more mice for a while I think. Lots of things to rid us of them.
Since then, we have done lots of things, visited several members, had several "tea" (what they call dinner) appts., been in several non-member or part member homes and have generally enjoyed ourselves. We turn promising people over to the young elders. We are getting to know the area pretty well. On Saturday, we went down to the sea at the mouth of the Orari river and it was boiling. The waves were 10's of feet high and the water looked muddy from the stirred up sand. It was beautiful but I think Ken wants to try fishing on a much calmer day. You can see the ocean from the end of our block so we will know when it is time.
It has been busy but wonderful. We feel needed and useful and loved. There are awesome people here that just need a little help to get on their way. We want to make it our mission to help them get to a place where they don't need senior missionaries any more because they can be and are capable of doing it all themselves. It is a lot like the deaf branch was when we first started going there. It is so fun to go there now and see the deaf doing everything. We love the people here already and know it is just a matter of time. After all, we are not so very different are we?
Up early for a briefing which was very brief because Pres. Kezerian remembered he was supposed to pick up a new missionary at the airport. He did that and dropped us off to catch our plane to Christchurch. The hour flight landed in snow! Didn't see much of Christchurch because we still had two hours to drive. The Neiders from Idaho picked us up and took us to their home in Ashburton where Ken was given a brief driving lesson. I have to say that this is really weird. Everything is backwards except of course the gas and brake peddles. We both constantly turn on the windshield wipers when we are trying to turn!
Ken drove on to Timaru with Elder Neider while Sis. Neider drove me. It is really beautiful. The southern alps are on the west and the ocean is on the east and their are beautiful farms everywhere. We arrived at Timaru, went to see our home for the next few months, drove out to see their beautiful little chapel and then were off to the grocery store. Had a little sticker shock but we are already finding that if we are careful, we can keep the grocery bill in line. The produce is absolutely awesome! I love the house though it is cold but it is beautifully decorated and has a little fishpond just outside the back door just like home. It is amazing that I feel right at home already.
Sunday we were off to church at 10 and were there until 4:30. Lots of things to do and talk about. I think this little branch is looking at us like a lifeline. Ken already is in the branch presidency. I will be teaching institute. They have a wonderful little chapel which is greatly underused. There are about 190 members but only 50 active so lots to do! They are friendly and welcoming and I have had no apprehension about being here. I am actually amazed at how calm I am. I think I am more calm than Ken sometimes.
Monday, June 11, was spent trying to set up internet services, banking services and trying to get a driver's icense which failed but we were able to get it yesterday, June 18 after working on it for two hours. Had all the papers this time! Tuesday, June 12, we spent the whole day cleaning! We washed pretty much everything because the house has been empty and the mice have had a wonderful time. No more mice for a while I think. Lots of things to rid us of them.
Since then, we have done lots of things, visited several members, had several "tea" (what they call dinner) appts., been in several non-member or part member homes and have generally enjoyed ourselves. We turn promising people over to the young elders. We are getting to know the area pretty well. On Saturday, we went down to the sea at the mouth of the Orari river and it was boiling. The waves were 10's of feet high and the water looked muddy from the stirred up sand. It was beautiful but I think Ken wants to try fishing on a much calmer day. You can see the ocean from the end of our block so we will know when it is time.
It has been busy but wonderful. We feel needed and useful and loved. There are awesome people here that just need a little help to get on their way. We want to make it our mission to help them get to a place where they don't need senior missionaries any more because they can be and are capable of doing it all themselves. It is a lot like the deaf branch was when we first started going there. It is so fun to go there now and see the deaf doing everything. We love the people here already and know it is just a matter of time. After all, we are not so very different are we?
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Visas.......at last!
It is kind of a weird feeling. We have waited so long that we almost decided that maybe we really weren't going to New Zealand. Then in a few short moments on the phone, all the waiting is over and someone is telling us that our visas are in Salt Lake and we will be leaving soon. It took a little longer to contact our Mission President and the Missionary Dept. and work out all the details for the travel. We are leaving on Wednesday, June 6 at 4:55 pm. It is a week away now after almost 6 months of waiting and for me it almost doesn't seem real. Ken, on the other hand, having been on one mission says it seems much too real.
Interesting what our perspective shows about us. He has had this experience once before. I have only dreamed about it. We are at once excited yet apprehensive. We have few qualms about going but many about leaving. We are nervous about leaving our beautiful family not because we don't think they can take care of themselves, for years they have shown us they can, but for ourselves and the things we will miss.
If we didn't know absolutely that we were doing the right thing, we would never leave them. We have a strong desire for them to understand that grandpa and grandma, dad and mom, can and will do hard things because they know it is right. We want them to see the example of parents and grandparents choosing to do hard stuff even if it means missing some of the good stuff. There are things we will miss but at this time in the world, we can still be part of so much.
When Ken's grandfather went in 1890, he committed for an indefinite period of time to leave a wife and 8 children. He did not know when or if he would hear from them. He only knew that he had been called and he answered. He didn't even ask for the call and only had two weeks to prepare. He sailed on a steamer and when he arrived, he depended on others for everything because he had nothing. Nothing but his faith and his love of the Lord and the gospel. We are so fortunate to have so much more at our disposal.
Now it is our turn to depend on our faith and our love of the Lord and the gospel. I hope we will make you all proud!
Interesting what our perspective shows about us. He has had this experience once before. I have only dreamed about it. We are at once excited yet apprehensive. We have few qualms about going but many about leaving. We are nervous about leaving our beautiful family not because we don't think they can take care of themselves, for years they have shown us they can, but for ourselves and the things we will miss.
If we didn't know absolutely that we were doing the right thing, we would never leave them. We have a strong desire for them to understand that grandpa and grandma, dad and mom, can and will do hard things because they know it is right. We want them to see the example of parents and grandparents choosing to do hard stuff even if it means missing some of the good stuff. There are things we will miss but at this time in the world, we can still be part of so much.
When Ken's grandfather went in 1890, he committed for an indefinite period of time to leave a wife and 8 children. He did not know when or if he would hear from them. He only knew that he had been called and he answered. He didn't even ask for the call and only had two weeks to prepare. He sailed on a steamer and when he arrived, he depended on others for everything because he had nothing. Nothing but his faith and his love of the Lord and the gospel. We are so fortunate to have so much more at our disposal.
Now it is our turn to depend on our faith and our love of the Lord and the gospel. I hope we will make you all proud!
Our "FAREWELL"?
We kind of dreaded the "farewell". We didn't want to make a "big deal" of our leaving for a mission, especially since this has become a prolonged situation. It seemed like an awful lot of trouble to get talks and have food ready etc. After the whole thing was over, we were really glad that we did it. We had well over a hundred people show up that weren't ward members or immediate family. It was so fun to see our family, immediate and extended, our ward family, our Welfare Services family, our deaf family, my martial arts family, some of Ken's business friends, some of his converts and my old roomies from college.
We had such a good time renewing friendships and spending time talking with people that have been a very important part of our lives. It is still hard to go to church and have everyone wondering why we are still here but we will get our visas eventually and then we will be off with no time for further farewells of most kinds.
We are so grateful to all of you who chose to take some of your special and important time to come say good bye to us. We enjoyed the eating and the talking long after sacrament meeting was finished. We didn't eat everything 'cause somehow, the cream puffs and the pineapple and a few other things didn't make it to the table but in spite of the little errors, it was great! We will certainly miss all of you but more importantly, we are glad you took time to help us understand how glad we are that you are in our lives.
We had such a good time renewing friendships and spending time talking with people that have been a very important part of our lives. It is still hard to go to church and have everyone wondering why we are still here but we will get our visas eventually and then we will be off with no time for further farewells of most kinds.
We are so grateful to all of you who chose to take some of your special and important time to come say good bye to us. We enjoyed the eating and the talking long after sacrament meeting was finished. We didn't eat everything 'cause somehow, the cream puffs and the pineapple and a few other things didn't make it to the table but in spite of the little errors, it was great! We will certainly miss all of you but more importantly, we are glad you took time to help us understand how glad we are that you are in our lives.
Monday, May 14, 2012
The Call!
It seems like an awfully long time since we got our call. We started paper work in Oct. and received our call in December, Dec. 21 to be exact. Like all antsy missionaries, we went to the post office and picked it up early in the morning. We then went to the Transient Services Office to do our current mission assignment and to make the calls to those we wanted to be with us when we opened it. It was a pretty private affair that we wanted to share with mostly our immediate family. There were a couple of others there as well. Some of Jason's family couldn't make it and Micah's family were with us by video-phone. What a blessing that little invention has become in our lives.
We all gathered together in the office because that is where the video-phone is so it was a little bit tight in there. Thank goodness we love each other. I had the envelope and was pulling papers out when Ken saw the right one. He immediately grabbed it and upon seeing our assignment, fell back in his chair with his hand to his mouth and said, "Oh my!" I'm sitting there for what seemed like forever, thinking, "Oh my what?" He was in no hurry to tell the rest of us. When he said, "You are called to the New Zealand Wellington Mission," a big cheer went up. There was lots of hugging and crying and laughing and more hugging.
Neither one of us could believe it. For the inevitable question, "Is that where you asked to go?" NO. THERE IS NOT A QUESTION ANYWHERE ON THE PAPERS ASKING YOU TO PUT DOWN WHERE YOU WANT TO GO! End of that myth. You can put down skills and talents and interests but they do not ask you where you would like to go and we wanted to let the Lord be the decision maker for this big one. We expect our young people to accept whatever they are called to and then we older folks want to have our preferences met. Ken's great grandfather went to New Zealand in the 1890's with 2 weeks notice, leaving his wife pregnant with their 8th child for an open-ended time. We have the blessing of knowing how long and all the comforts that we could want while there. We will go and do or I couldn't ever look him in the eye.
We all gathered together in the office because that is where the video-phone is so it was a little bit tight in there. Thank goodness we love each other. I had the envelope and was pulling papers out when Ken saw the right one. He immediately grabbed it and upon seeing our assignment, fell back in his chair with his hand to his mouth and said, "Oh my!" I'm sitting there for what seemed like forever, thinking, "Oh my what?" He was in no hurry to tell the rest of us. When he said, "You are called to the New Zealand Wellington Mission," a big cheer went up. There was lots of hugging and crying and laughing and more hugging.
Neither one of us could believe it. For the inevitable question, "Is that where you asked to go?" NO. THERE IS NOT A QUESTION ANYWHERE ON THE PAPERS ASKING YOU TO PUT DOWN WHERE YOU WANT TO GO! End of that myth. You can put down skills and talents and interests but they do not ask you where you would like to go and we wanted to let the Lord be the decision maker for this big one. We expect our young people to accept whatever they are called to and then we older folks want to have our preferences met. Ken's great grandfather went to New Zealand in the 1890's with 2 weeks notice, leaving his wife pregnant with their 8th child for an open-ended time. We have the blessing of knowing how long and all the comforts that we could want while there. We will go and do or I couldn't ever look him in the eye.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
The Test
Here we are waiting still for our visas and it is trying our patience. Everyone says there is a reason and we know that too but sometimes it seems the only reason is a seeming war between two sets of lawyers, one on "our" side (the church) and one on the side of the New Zealand government. As always, those who are most affected have little to say in the matter. It is a helpless feeling. If I get frustrated so easily with something as small as this, I can't imagine what others who are in much more dire circumstances are feeling. It seems like the wait from the first of Oct. when we first put in papers and today, May 9, 2012 has been terribly long. The pluses are that I get to spend more time with my family and lots of time to think about what this means to me. Do I really want to do this? Is it worth it? Should we ask to be reassigned (the idea did come up and what were we thinking)?
We've had lots of discussions about various things but the most prominent one has been about what our motivation really is. Unlike many couples who go on missions to "fill time" or avoid things or to take a vacation, we are among those that want to go to "work", to do something that really makes a difference in the kingdom wherever we are. We have found that can be in New Zealand or in Provo, UT. It can be across the globe or the country or the street. We have tried hard to align our thinking with that of the Lord and it has not been an easy task. Believe me when I say that if we didn't really believe in what we are doing, we would never be leaving our beautiful family to go across the country let alone half-way round the world. Every night we pray for our visas and every night, I pray for the courage to do this wonderfully terrible thing called a mission.
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