TIME FLIES ON WINGS OF LIGHTNING

From our end of things, time is in overdrive. It’s hard to believe that it’s been almost a month since we posted our last blog. But there it is.

More about Watson

Watson is growing up. 

Watson Thinking "Woe!"

He’s more responsive to us these days. He squinches his nose up at times. He’s learning how to smile. He has yet to figure out what tickles are for. 

Watson Thinking: "Who did you say you are?"

He experiences them as irritations that build up inside him until he has to makes some kind of noise in order to relieve the pressure. But little by little his sisters, and sometimes his parents, are teaching him what tickles are all about. 

I have yet to torture the wee one.

Olive and Her Cape

Olive has wanted a cape for a long time—way before she broke her arm. But it seemed that things just weren’t in the cards for her, until she broke her arm. These days a cape is not only stylish, but extremely practical for her. She was ecstatic to find one that was, not only practical, but well suited to her sense of style. 

Olive sporting her new cape

She keeps waiting for the day that the doctor cuts the plaster cast off and gives her a fiberglass one. That way she can transform it into a steam punk cast.

Elder Ramirez Leaves

Transfers saw Elder Ramirez leave to go up north to serve in Hakitika. He has served in Dunedin for 9 months. He and his companion had attended a dinner meeting with the newly called 1st Ward missionaries and ourselves Sunday night. 

From Left: Reuben Katene, Elders Andelin and Ramirez

The mission office had sent out transfers. But the missionaries are not supposed to see them until Monday, their P-Day, when they can access email. But given the torment Elder Ramirez was suffering, we bent the rules a bit for his sake. He had been feeling that he had been targeted by the Lord to move, and, sure enough, his intuitions were correct. The few days he prepared to move he tried to be brave. Yet it was evident his heart was breaking. 

Elder Amulek Ramirez

We enjoyed one last testimony from him on the Tuesday before his Wednesday flight to the north. He said he knows that JannaLee and I “are true.” He’s a good missionary and will bless those who get to know him.

Yvonne and a Blessing

Yvonne Budd. 

From left: Lily, JannaLee, E Bowers, E Edward, Sister Smith, Pres. Smith, Yvonne, Sister Dial

The woman sitting across from JannaLee. 

She attended the 2^nd Ward Quiz Night with the sister missionaries. She was pleasant enough. Sort of quiet as we extended ourselves to get to know her and make her feel welcome. While we talked with each other I watched as Sister Patea would semi-whisper to Yvonne that she was sure that I would do it, if she asked. (Whatever “it” was.) Yvonne would nod her head, then talk about something else. 

I shared with the group JannaLee’s and my experience of being locked in our bedroom. Yvonne busted up over that. She had a laugh that was explosive. It was funny to hear it come from her face. It didn’t just come from her mouth. Her entire face would change shape, and she would laugh with a belly laugh that was audible from three tables over. When she would finish, she and Sister Patea would have their same chat, always gesturing in a subtle way toward me. 

Finally, after the games were over and we were settling down, we began talking about Yvonne’s up-coming cataract surgery. She was scheduled for August 24^th. This was two weeks from the day we were talking. It became obvious as she spoke of the surgery that she wasn’t just nervous—she was petrified. It was then that I felt I should help Yvonne ask the question that was building up inside her. I was impressed that she was trying to generate courage to ask me for a blessing. So I told her that at such times in members lives, they often ask brethren holding the priesthood for a blessing of health and comfort. “Would you like that kind of blessing?” I asked. Yvonne’s eyes brightened as if I had asked if she wanted to be healed. 

We excused ourselves from the social and went into one of the classrooms. Yvonne and the Zone Leaders, JannaLee and the Sisters, and I had a prayer. Elder Bowers anointed. I blessed Yvonne that her surgery would be a success. Contrary to the 50/50% risk one of the specialists gave her about losing her sight, I blessed her that she would fully recover. I blessed her with other blessings of comfort, as well.

When I finished, Yvonne jumped up from the chair and began wrapping herself around everyone in the room in a most enthusiastic, grateful embrace. She exclaimed while doing so, “I feel so much better. I feel calm! Peaceful!” And so she did. She went back into the social a new woman. Talkative. Her burden gone. It was beautiful to see. We were grateful that the Lord saw fit to use us to bring it to pass.

Fast forward to August 24. The surgery was a success. Yvonne is recuperating from her surgery at home still grateful for the blessing. She attended church last week.

Just Across the Road

While delivering invitations to some non-members to attend the 1^st Ward Quiz Night, JannaLee and I stopped to admire the landscape in the midst of the neighborhood they live in. 

JannaLee Addressing Invitations

The Home of the Gaffneys

You don’t see this kind of country just off the road from 249 Harvard Avenue—or even up the road a bit at the top of 2^nd South in Rexburg. 

Just right of a neighborhood we visited

The landscape continues to amaze us. Dunedin is a picturesque city, there’s no doubt about that. 

The other side of the field above

It’s too bad that those who first laid out the city did so with a map drawn up in Edinburgh, and imposed upon the landscape with little modification to account for the hills and valleys that actually exist here. That’s why roads shoot up at 65% angles into the sky, and roads and streets are narrow intersecting in the most odd places. There’s always something to look at.

Teaching Institute Twice

Two weeks ago we met with Elder and Sister Johnson. 

From left: E and S Johnson, JannaLee and me

They are Coordinators working under Bro. Aspinale for Seminaries and Institute Programs in Southern New Zealand. Bro. Aspinale is the Church Coordinator for all of New Zealand. The Johnsons learned that I was going to substitute for Bro. Hore for two classes while he was away. So they felt they needed to come to Dunedin to in-service me. 

They were relieved to find out that I had been a teacher in my pre-mission life. In fact, Sister Johnson and I became fast friends when she found out that I had taught C. S. Lewis at BYU-Idaho. She teaches Lewis during education week at BYU. She taught in the Religion Department: Ancient Scripture. 

Anyway, we had a short in-service, then spent the rest of the day eating lunch and touring Dunedin. 

Along the Esplanade

Imagine that: JannaLee and I were tour-guides to the Johnsons. It wasn’t exactly the blind leading the blind. In fact, it was rather interesting to JannaLee and me that we knew enough about Dunedin’s “high points” to actually conduct a decent tour. 

Johnsons at Signal Point

All the while we took the Johnsons to Signal Point, and to Baldwin Street, 

The Johnsons on Baldwin Street

and around the Octagan they kept expressing how grateful they were to be able to spend some “down time” with us. They said their assignment keeps them busy traveling to in-service the teachers of the various seminary and institute units. But this doesn’t take into account the fact that they are preparing and teaching their own classes. As they spoke, JannaLee and I realized that their calling might have been ours, had we asked to serve as SI missionaries. 

The more they spoke of administrative and formal teaching responsibilities, the more grateful we were that we were called to be MLS missionaries here in Dunedin. God bless ‘em.

The Dunedin 1^st Ward Vision

We enjoyed a richly spiritual evening meeting together with the Ward Mission Leader, Reuben Katene, and the Ward Missionaries. Ryan and Bea attended. We discussed how important it is for us to remember that our first responsibility in living true to the ward vision is to look unto Christ in all we do. Only then will we be in a position to be inspired by the Savior to invite others to come unto Him. This invitation, Ryan taught, needed to be one we extend to each other as we serve and interact with the sole purpose of caring for one another. As we do, we won’t invite others to come unto Christ by formal invitation only; we will invite each other to live better, to look to the Savior as we share our experiences with each other and encourage each other to live more faithfully, with greater hope, more love. 

As we discussed this perspective the Spirit impressed us that God will put us in position to reach out to less actives—those of spouses and other family members—and to non-members. As we reach out and invite them to join with us through the love of Christ, we will do so conscious of the truth that we need them just as much as they need us. Through His love they will feel that we are asking them to join us to contribute their talents to building up the kingdom of God in our ward as only they can. Living according to this vision, we will have much success to glory in. We will talk of what Christ is doing through us, and rejoice in what he’s doing through others.

I have to say that one of the highlights for me during this meeting was counseling with Ryan, as our bishop, witnessing the Lord work through him as he and our ward mission leader orchestrated a most inspiring discussion.

From left: Proud father, Fern, and Bishop Ryan Ward

Breech of Contract

The elders in South Dunedin had a flat inspection a while ago. They failed it. The way the evaluation was written up it appeared that if they didn’t pass the next go-around, they’d be evicted. They couldn’t understand why the landlord said that the weeds needed to be taken care of, and why he had indicated that there was mold in the windowsills. JannaLee and went over and “opened their eyes.” JannaLee worked inside on the windows while I worked with the elders outside digging out tree-like weeds and other grasses that had encroached upon the flowerbeds. 

From Left: E Ramirez & Andelin

We shoveled out the corners of the property, where leaves and other debris had been piled. We pruned bushes, and cultivated and raked the grounds. We even edged the lawn as best we could with a trowel. By the time we were done we had an entire trailer full of trees, brush, and weeds to go to the “Resource Reclamation Area.” A week later the Zone Leaders helped us pile it in the trailer. 

From Left: Elders Pearse, Bowers, Andelin, Ramirez

Bea had commented that she has known some managerial firms that maintain properties to gun for tenants they don’t like. All the while we were working, we had to wonder whether our work would be in vain—whether the landlord was just trying to justify his eviction of “The Mormon Missionaries”—or whether we were simply working under a persecution complex. 

Grounds Supervisor

Those Supervised

Yesterday we found out. Good news. The flat passed inspection. The breech of contract has been lifted. The elders were even complimented on a job well done.

The Birds, The Birds

Two weeks ago JannaLee and I read in the news that Spring would arrive “in two weeks.” We laughed at what seemed to be the precision with which such a prediction could be made. But the temperature is changing quite markedly, and the birds . . . the birds must have read the article. For the last week or so JannaLee and I have been awakened at 4 in the morning by the chirping of birds. We’re not talking about one or two. It’s like we have been transported to the aviary over the night. The chirping is intense, and it goes on for two hours, then, in an eerie sort of way, it stops. I’m thinking God wound the birds in NZ wrong. He set their timers three hours too soon. In my head I hear the Primary song playing:

In the leafy tree tops

The birds sing “Good morning.”

They’re first to see the sun,

They must tell everyone.

In the leafy tree tops

The birds sing “Good morning.”

There’s only one problem. The sun doesn’t rise in the day until 7:04 am. So I’m inclined to alter the song just a bit:

In the leafy tree tops

The birds sing “Good morning.”

They’re first to see the sun,

I’d like to shoot each one.

In the leafy tree tops

The birds sing “Good morning.”

Transfers and Tunnel Beach

On a Wednesday a couple of weeks ago, JannaLee and I rose from bed early. I got up at 3 am, since I don’t like to be rushed. JannaLee got up at 4:15 am (cussing me for getting up at 3 am.). We needed to drive to Mosgiel to pick up the sisters by 5 am to get them to the airport around 5:30 am. We made it. We said farewell to Sister Dial, 

From Left: S Dial, Patea, E Ward

and brought Sister Patea back with us until she could join the other two sisters arriving at the airport around 10 am. We all slept until around 9 am, then drove once again to the airport: a drive that takes about 35 minutes. There we met Sisters Rima (from Tahiti) and Sister Gibbons (from Idaho Falls). The sisters would form a trio this transfer, and, from the looks of things, they will be a strong three-some.

From Left: S Rima, Patea, Gibbons

After taking the sisters to their flat in Mosgiel, JannaLee and I decided not to take the motorway, like we always have done, but to take the “scenic route” back to Dunedin. The trip was definitely scenic. It took us up and down hills as we drove along the coast. At one point we noticed a sign indicating “Tunnel Beach” pointing right. We took the road, and came upon a path that lead down and around toward the beach. 

The Road to Tunnel Beach

JannaLee Venturing Forth

As we walked a ways down the path we met others coming up. We asked them how long it took to get to the beach. “It’ll take you about 45 minutes to an hour,” they said. We didn’t feel like we could take a couple of hours to go down and back, so we stayed by the bend in the path and took some pictures, breathing in the fresh ocean air. Though I thought we were miles from our flat, Tunnel Beach is about 15 minutes from where we live. We’re excited to go back with Ryan and Bea and the kids. They’ve never been. 

Tunnel Beach

The Plan of Salvation and Tino

Perhaps one of the most enjoyable experiences we’ve had lately is teaching Braydan and Tino “The Plan of Salvation.” Tino is Braydan Martin’s girlfriend. Tino attended church with Braydan about two weeks ago. She also stayed for the Gospel Principles Class and Relief Society. She’s 20, a cultural Catholic, shy, and interested in studying the gospel. A couple of days after we had met with her at church, Braydan texted me to say that Tino was wondering if JannaLee and I would be able to teach her the missionary lessons. I texted back, saying that we were too busy going to Tunnel Beach and that if she wouldn’t mind. . . . NOT! Of course we’d love to teach her.

So we made arrangements to meet them on a Friday afternoon at Braydan’s flat. Braydan has a room adjoining other rooms in a large complex on campus. We met in his room. He and Tino sat on his bed up against the wall. JannaLee and I sat across from them on chairs. We felt like the best approach for our teaching would be to invite them to read in the “Plan of Salvation” pamphlet with us, then to expound on what we were reading, giving them opportunity to ask questions or make comments.

As we took turns reading the pamphlet the Spirit entered the room. We could all feel its increasing presence. JannaLee would share her thoughts on our pre-mortal option to choose Heavenly Father’s Plan or Satan’s. I taught the importance of recognizing we really did choose to come to earth to find Christ in order to live true to the Father’s Plan and fulfill our eternal purpose. Braydan would ask if he could share a thought, then he’d explain how his life is much more meaningful when he lives to actually keep the commandments to fulfill his godly purpose. In connection with this, we asked Tino what she had thought of Christ in her life, being raised Catholic. She said she’d never really thought about Him. He was just part of the tradition her family participated in. This gave us the opportunity to bear testimony of how important Christ was, and is, to Heavenly Father’s Plan. Through our discussion we all, in our own way, celebrated the Savior, teaching and testifying of how great He is, and has been, in our lives. Tino listened intently.

An hour passed. JannaLee and I pointed this out to Braydan and Tino, saying we’d be happy to come back another time. To this Braydan and Tino said that we didn’t have to go; that they were up for more instruction if we had time. In that moment I thought of the reaction of the Nephites to the Savior when He told them that they needed to go home and contemplate what he had taught them. Their reaction? They pled for Him to stay with them. We had been talking about the Savior in poignant ways, and Braydan and Tino wanted more. So we stayed another hour. When we finished, Braydan confessed that he had assumed the lesson would be for Tino, not for him. But he was surprised at the things he had learned. We had all been taught. We started out with a simple plan: to read together and discuss a church pamphlet. We had read and discussed basic truths of the Plan of Salvation, nothing one might call profound. And yet, we were all edified and were drawn to rejoice with each other as we came to know and feel through the Spirit how profound the Plan is!

Just one more observation. There’s something wonderful that shines in the eyes of someone who is being enlightened by the Spirit when first learning of Christ and His gospel. Tino had that something in her eyes as we said goodbye.

More, But No Time

There’s much more we could share, but we’ll call this post good for now. 

Elder and Sister Ward at the Esplanade at St. Clair

We can’t begin to share the blessings we’ve received while serving here in New Zealand. Our love of God has been deepened by the Spirit in ways that are curiously surprising to us. We know Jesus is, not only the Christ, but our Savior, in ways that thrill us and promote hope and courage and love. Our relationship with each other is growing deeper as the Spirit opens our hearts and gives us confidence to be with each other who we really are, while teaching us how to become our better selves. And the witness that we bear day in and day out is that God wants his families united. He wants them put together forever. He wants less active spouses joined to their active mates. He wants his non-member children to be invited to church, where they can find His Son and be sealed to each other in His temple. He wants to pour out blessings upon His children to the point that they are empowered to live true to their purpose of living with Him eternally. 

This witness we bear gratefully, and in the name of Christ in love.