Miracle Days

Too much is happening. Too much to write down, too much to record—to remember.

We’re not sure how your days feel, but the days fly by here in New Zealand. By the end of the day we’ve done too many things to write comfortably in a journal—but we try, just the same.

For instance, I’ve just finished a couple of entries having to do with the miracle of a brother turning to Christ in order to kick his life-long addiction to alcohol. After years of trying all he could think of, the conditions were right. I was inspired while giving him a ride to church. “So John,” I began, “Where is Christ in all this? Where is Jesus in all that you are doing to overcome your addiction?” As I wrote in my journal, he spoke somewhat in general terms about believing in God and praying for strength. But after church on the way back to his flat, he commented on how he had never considered Christ important to the main focus of efforts. “As I thought about your question to me, I began to feel happy, hopeful—like finally there would be a way to kick this thing.”

Fast forward. I gave John a blessing. In the blessing I told him that if he were sincere; if he were honest; if it was his desire to be delivered from his addition; “in the name of Jesus Christ,” I said, “you may be healed.” After the blessing, John was smiling. He hadn’t smiled like this since I’ve known him. I asked him to explain. He said he finally sees how the Savior is the one through whom he can truly kick his addiction. “It seems,” he said, “I had to have most of my life crumble down around me, to watch all my efforts to kick this habit fail, in order to see Jesus standing there in the ashes as my Savior.” John said he felt hopeful, almost silly for feeling so happy for the revelation.

Four days later, I asked John if he was going to the Detox center this week. He said they wouldn’t take him in his condition. I asked him what was going on. He said, “I’m six days sober.” To date John is nine days sober, and he continues to live each day as one more success “relying wholly upon the merits of Christ, who is mighty to save” (2 N. 31:19).

When I consider John and the miracle he is currently living, I have to exclaim in the words of Ammon: “Who can glory too much in the Lord? Yea, who can say too much of his great power, and of his mercy, and of his long-suffering towards the children of men? Behold, I say unto you, I cannot say the smallest part which I feel” (Alma 26:16).

JannaLee Drives in New Zealand

JannaLee’s been wondering when she was going to drive in New Zealand. Every time I have broached the subject, she’s declined. But two days ago, while we were sitting in the driveway of the Elders talking to one of our family, JannaLee got impatient, told me to get in the passenger seat while she repositioned herself in the driver’s seat and drove home. Another miracle. She just might get to a point where she can go grocery shopping in South Dunedin on her own! (Don’t worry. According to mission rules, we can be apart for short stints for grocery shopping and the like.)

Watson Mark Ward

Weighing in at 8 lbs. 4 oz., baby Watson was born the NZ Wards on June 17, 2016. 

Fern is in love. She wants to hold Watson all the time. 

Bea puts Watson on Fern’s lap while supporting both Fern and Watson on hers, and Fern sits there, looking at Watson, stroking his head on occasion—in love—content to sit for hours. 

Everyone else loves Watson, as well. We saw him for the first time since his birth two days ago. He was reasonably awake. He is handsome. 

He resembles Ryan (in his own way), and is a more cuddly version of his great, great, grandpa: George D. Ward. Everyone we talk to about his birth can’t believe that he was born on Bea’s birth day. “That’s pretty speetial,” they say. I think there’s more miracle involved than we know.    

June’s Birthday

June wanted to go skating on her birthday—ice skating, that is. So Ryan took the girls to the ice rink by our flat. Fern didn’t skate. The girls and Ryan and others they went with pushed Fern in a wooden cart designed for ice pushing. 

June, Wesley, Eden, Fern, Ange, and Ryan on the Ice

June and Olive were quite confident in their skating. Ryan, on the other hand, was a good sport as he ventured out onto the ice, trying hard to keep his arms from flapping every once in a while as he felt himself losing control. To his credit he didn’t fall, but it was funny to watch him work to maintain his composure while skating out of his comfort zone.



JannaLee and I looked on from the sidelines.

Giving June birthday presents is as much fun for the one giving as it us for June receiving them. 

June is ecstatic when she opens any present. It’s fun to watch her “light up.”

All for a Peanut

It happened so suddenly. I was driving down Lovelock Road, winding my way from Ryan’s home to Dr. Tat Loo’s office. JannaLee had given me a handful of peanuts from our peanut cup. I had thrown a few peanuts in my mouth before. This time in an attempt to do the same, one peanut dropped out of my hand and onto my chest. Without thinking, I glanced down to find the nut, being jarred to look up in time to recognize that the left front tire was hitting the curb. The car banged up and over the curb. I countered, steering the car back onto the road. I was shaken. My heart was thudding in my chest. JannaLee had shouted during the incident, so I knew I had scared her.

As we drove the rest of the way down Lovelock Road I apologized to JannaLee over and over. I felt so bad, so lame, so incompetent. She seemed to take matters in stride until we began to hear a thumping noise coming from the left front wheel well. My thoughts turned to a bent axle, a broken u-joint, and a hundred other things that could have come unhinged or snapped, the names of which I have no idea. JannaLee rolled her window down to listen. Sure enough the noise was coming from that wheel well. We drove a block further and the noise became a loud wabbling, flapping sound. At the intersection, JannaLee jumped out of the car to check out the noise. “We have a flat,” she yelled through the window. All we could do was turn left. There as soon as we made the turn was a parking spot. We pulled in. We sat for a moment thinking about what we needed to do.

While JannaLee called Dr. Tat Loo’s office to reschedule our appointment, I walked around the car. The tire was flat. There was a two-inch puncture in the tire where the blow-out must have occurred. I could see that the tread on the tire was gone. When JannaLee looked at it she reminded me that she’s felt that we should get our tires looked at; that we most likely needed new tires. I could see as I surveyed the situation that she was right. We pulled out our owner’s manual and thumbed to the section on changing tires. I could find the jack. I found the crank. But there was no tire iron. We looked and looked. While we looked in this place and that, a college-aged student walked up to us and asked if he could help. 

He said he has worked for his uncle in his automotive shop, and was getting more training in that field. His name was Nico. Nico looked throughout the car with us: lifting up the rear seat cushions, and looking again and again in various places under front seats and in the trunk. No luck. While we were chatting, I asked if Nico would be interested in learning about the church with it’s family centered focus. He said he has his own church in Balclutha where he lives. He wasn’t much interested. But he was curious about the fact that when he got up this morning, he had an impression to put his tools in his backpack. He disregarded the impression. I told him that was God preparing him for the time that he would meet up with us. “Let that be a lesson to you, Nico: live to pay attention to those whisperings in the future,” I counseled.

To lengthen an already long story, the mission bought four new tires. All is well with the Corolla—so far. But now JannaLee is driving. I’m driving. Look out New Zealand. There’s one more non-kiwi behind the wheel!

Hini's Baptism

Hini Elliot has been taking the discussions from the Elders since February. She was baptized last Saturday. She asked me to confirm her on Sunday.

Hini Elliot

Great Cousin, Bethany Middlemiss, Lean Middlemis, Hini, JannaLee

Last District Meeting

We enjoyed a wonderful district meeting. 

Elders Ward, Bowers, Andelin, Ramirez, Shaik, Parry, Clawson; Sisters Dial and Call

We were blessed to recognize how important it is for missionaries to work through the members of the ward—not as one of many options in the work, but as the central means of hastening the work of the Lord in preparation for his Second Coming.

Temple Preparation Class

JannaLee and I continue to enjoy teaching the Temple Preparation Class. JannaLee is becoming a good teacher, although she would deny this if she were to read it. (Yup: She’s denying it.)

A Simple Wedding

We attended the wedding of Teresa Wilson and Kacey Phillips on Saturday. Under the circumstances, it was a lovely affair. 

Theresa escorted by her two boys: DJ and her younger son

Those involved were happy. And those of us supporting them were made happy through their enthusiasm for all that was taking place. While I witnessed the wedding and the reception that followed, I couldn't help but think back on my own marriage to JannaLee in the Salt Lake City Temple, and the temple marriages of all our children (who have been married)--and others I've witnessed in the temple. 

President Smith forgot to tell the congregation to sit down after the entrance of the bride.
We stood for 10 minutes until I got his attention. A bit awkward.

Theresa and Kacey

Head Table from Our Vantage Point

My thoughts were distracted as I heard President Smith, at one point, invite the couple to exchange their wedding vows. For some reason I heard him say, "And now you may exchange your wedding vowels." You can imagine what I thought: "A-E-I-Love-U."

The Mission We've Always Talked About

At the end of each day, we're drawn into moments in which it dawns on us that we’re serving the mission we’ve always talked about. It’s kind of surreal. 

JannaLee took this on the way to our Conference in Christchurch

At times it doesn’t seem possible. But then, when we consider what else we should do while we’re here in Dunedin, we realize we have nothing better to do than to serve the Lord. Doesn't that sound ideal? What a blessing!

Until next time, with love,

Elder and Sister Ward