THE MAKING OF OUR MISSION

Prior to coming to New Zealand, we were told by good friends who had served their missions not to be surprised if we were to discover that we had to make our own missions. If there’s one thing this blog celebrates this time around it’s how the mission we are serving is not like the mission we thought we'd serve. But it's the mission the Lord has called us to serve. We discover this day by day as we live in faith to discern the Lord’s will in the work that needs to be accomplished. His will, we're finding, is not found in doing the same thing over and over again--praying in the same way--engaged in the same schedule. It’s found through willing to live differently, to go different places than you might otherwise have planned, in order to serve Heavenly Father in a timely fashion through faith in His Son. God is teaching us how to serve this way.

Canola Fields

Because the Dunedin Stake Center was being re-carpeted, we couldn’t hold our Zone Training Meetings there. The only option open was to drive 2 hours to Gore. (It may sound like a long way off, but it’s only 92 miles.) The trip is quite picturesque itself. Lots of variations on the color green. Lots of hills and vales: cart paths, sheep, a variety of trees and fields. But our senses were almost shocked as we came upon these canola fields. 

Intense As. . . . 

They reminded us of the fields we saw in Austria.

Gwen Stevenson-Grant Baptism

In the middle of October, Gwen Stevenson-Grant was baptized. 

Left to Right: Mother, Christine and Gwen.

She has been attending the 1^st Ward for many years with her mother. I think most of the membership thought she was a member. She is always called upon to share her thoughts. People have asked her to participate in this and that during Sunday School and Relief Society Lessons. Imagine their surprise to find out that she hadn’t been baptized. JannaLee and I happened to be talking to her and found out that she wasn’t a member of record. We shared this with Elders Gardner and Andelin. They asked why. We said we didn’t know, but that they should ask her. After sacrament meeting that Sunday, they approached her. She said that she had always felt like she’d like to be a member, but she didn’t know how to go about it. They said they could take care of that. She began taking the lessons. She was living with her partner of 8 years at the time, but, due to Gwen's commitment to become a member of the Church, they began living in separate flats. They lived separately until the day before Gwen was to be baptized. They wanted to be husband and wife. So the day before Gwen’s baptism they tied the knot.

L to R: Elder Ward, Gwen, Sister Ward 

Since her baptism, Gwen has carried a light with her that is noticeable. Her husband, Doug, is looking into the Church, as he sits in on the "after baptism sessions with Gwen and the missionaries. Gwen is hopeful that he will want to be baptized, and that they will be sealed in the temple.

JannaLee’s Look

Why does JannaLee look so good? Why do people continue to comment on how much they love her power grey hair? Well one main reason is that she is a beautiful woman. Another reason is that she found Cal Ross. 

LtoR: Cal Weaving His Magic, JannaLee Amazed

Actually, Sister Edward recommended Cal to her. He cuts hers, her husband's, and all the missionaries' hair. Cal enjoys cutting hair. He has made it into a kind of art form. He twirls his scissors in one hand, while flipping a comb in the other as he uses yet different fingers to clip JannaLee's hair up to make the right cut. He has a contagious personality, and connects with his customers. And JannaLee is sold on the way he cuts her hair. Cal is less active, but who knows, maybe there’s more in God’s plan for him than solely cutting JannaLee’s hair. You can’t cut hair without speaking to your customer. JannaLee just might say something that will move him to consider the gospel in a new light. That's what missionaries do, right?

Lego Saturday

Dunedin hosted a Lego show one Saturday in October at the Edgar Center. JannaLee saw it advertised and invited the NZ Ward's to join us that day.  I was expecting Lego displays and figures like I saw in New York. There we saw large statues of Star Wars characters—as well a full-sized X-Wing Fighter—all made out of small Lego bricks. So, as I thought about what I’d see at the Edgar Center, I was stoked.

As it turned out, there were simply Lego projects laid out on tables for spectators to see. It was underwhelming at first. But then I began to consider what it took—the time and patience it required—to build some of these models. I began to have a greater appreciation of the projects I was looking at. The model of Edoras was one such project. The model consists of 25,000 Legos. Much is there, from the small chickens to the little cat, to the horse (and, yes, poo dropped behind it). 

JannaLee and Edoras

Olive and Her Race Car Creation

We sat and waited while Olive, Bea, and June played in the mound of Legos provided for anyone who would like to build anything—or create a car to race at the track on the opposite end of the mound. Olive built a car and raced it. It came in last, but each car when it crossed the finish line crashed and exploded as it dropped off the racetrack. After that, we walked with Olive around the show, since Bea had asked Olive earlier stay with June while the adults took the show in. 

LtoR: E Ward, S Ward, June, Ryan, Fern, Bea, Watson, Olive

It was a good time.

Time Out for a Picnic

The Botanical Gardens by Ryan and Bea are beautiful and serene. They are wonderful to walk through. What’s more, they make a great place to picnic. We found a spot to ourselves and ate cheese, crackers, hummus, cream cheese, apples and pears. 

Friends with NZ Wards 

The Brunt children joined us. They are being home-schooled with the NZ kids. We sat, stared off at the flowers and trees around us, talked a bit. All this for about an hour or so. Then from the southeast, clouds started to roll in. Before we could get everything gathered up, the temperature had dropped 10 degrees, it seemed. The wind began to blow. It would rain before we knew it.

General Conference NZ Style

It’s interesting serving here in New Zealand—especially around General Conference time. On the weekend of Conference held in the states, we are aware here in New Zealand that apostles and prophets are speaking to the world-wide membership of Church. But we’re not included—not yet. The tradition here is to broadcast the Conference the following weekend. So on the week following the initial broadcast, we went over to the Wards, ate a traditional French Toast Breakfast, and listened to Conference. 

LtoR: Ryan, Watson, and Grandma Ward

The tradition I refer to is one we began while staying over October Conference weekend at the family cabin near Sundance Ski Resort. We did this for five or six years. On the morning of the Saturday Session, we would have a large breakfast of French toast, bacon and eggs, orange juice, and chocolate milk. We haven’t gone to the cabin for some years now. But Ryan and Bea remember our time there, and they’ve chosen to keep the Conference Breakfast tradition alive. So we went over to their house, ate breakfast, and then listened to Conference: Proving that traditions that "go around" can "come around" if parents and children are keen to make them happen.

Sister Tupou

Elder and Sister Missionaries seem to come and go: week-end and week-out. Here we’re saying goodbye to Sister Tupo. 

LtoR: E Ward, S Tupou, S Ward

Sister Tupou is from Tonga. She is one who is not only used to warm weather, but must have it to function. Her time in Dunedin was a sacrifice for her. She was often ill with a cold, and driving back and forth frequently with the Sister Leader, Sister Soloai, from Invercargill to Dunedin, made her terribly car sick. Her mission experience witnessed that God asks us to do hard things individually, and that many times we really don’t know how hard a challenge or task is for others. But God does. And He blesses us to accomplish His will through our faithfulness. 

The Amazing Race

Joel Gaastra, our Elders Quorum President, put together a version of “The Amazing Race.” All told, it took the Dunedin 2nd Ward two plus hours to accomplish it. He had us going to the beach, making sand castles, climbing hills in our cars to various other sites in town, taking pictures, photo-bombing each other for additional points. One particular challenge was to buy an ice-cream at a drive up window. 

Elder Ward

Sister Ward

Then instead of taking the ice-cream from the attendant by the cone, we were to grab the ice-cream part, and drive off--leaving the cone in the attendant's hand. Ryan did this while Bea recorded it. 

I didn’t do it. But JannaLee and I enjoyed our ice-creams after taking our picture in front of the Molars at the end of the “mouth of Otago Bay.” 

LtoR: E Ward, Molar, S Ward

We came in 11^th out of 20. Not bad for 60-something year-olds who really had to think hard about where we were supposed to go.  

An aside: Opting not to climb Jacobs Ladder, a savage set of 279 stairs straight up the side of a hill, we chose to place a Book of Mormon with our testimonies in it.  We did so with our non-member neighbors.  They thought it was great when we approached them saying we were in an Amazing Race and would they help us out?  

Sean, S Ward, Nikki

Much easier for this old companionship than the stairs!

Twister

Every time the NZ Wards come to visit, Fern has one important question to ask: “Can we play Twister?” She loves Twister—at least for the first 5 minutes. Then, as you can see, she loves doing other things with the Twister mat. Twister mats make decent tents. 

Fern Under Cover

Speaking of Fern, the Kiwis have a type of candy that’s like whoppers, but are called Maltesers. I’m addicted. So are the Wards. So on the night of my birthday we ate some of these “crack balls”. It was hard to have just one. It was hard to have just three. I think we had, in total, 10 or so. These definitely made an impression on Fern, because when she was getting ready to leave, she looked up at me and asked: “Can I have a tweezer for the road?”

Sister Patea

Last week Sister Logimalofee Patea died.  Don’t panic. That’s a missionary expression for “went home” or “was released from her mission.” In Zone Training one missionary stood and introduced his companion as having killed two companions. It’s a bit unsettling to hear this when you’re not used to what it really means. Anyway, Sister Patea flew home to Samoa, concluding her service to the Lord here in New Zealand. 

LtoR: S Taylor, S Patea: "Ah, We found the key!"

She’s pictured here holding the key to her flat with Sister Taylor, the Sister Leader. The reason? On exchanges, the Sisters often forget to get their flat key from each other. This has required JannaLee and me to drive out to Mosgiel on occasion to unlock their flat for them. This time they took our key. It was nice to get it back from them. But we don't mind rescuing them on occasion. Whether it's flat inspections, District Training, Zone Training, meetings on Sunday, or Missionary Coordination Meetings, dinners or lunches, it’s always great to associate with the Sisters--whatever the occasion.

Studying the Book of Mormon

We have been blessed immensely by reading the Book of Mormon as though it were a novel. What this means is that we’ve been reading it, not only as a book of scripture, analyzing verses of by cross-referencing or pondering principles or doctrines, but by reading it as one would read a novel: page by page, chapter by chapter, simply to live vicariously through the words of the story. 

Sister Ward and the Book of Mormon

By doing so, we’ve experienced the power of the Book in ways witnessed by Parley P. Pratt and others who testified that they couldn’t put the Book down until they had finished. There truly is a power that begins to penetrate your mind and heart as you immerse yourself in the pages of the Book of Mormon. The Spirit’s witness of God’s reality and Christ’s mercy grows within you, until you are brought to marvel at the many accounts in which God reaches out to believers and performs miracles in their lives through their faith in His Son. Witnessing account after account the intimate and personal ways He loves His children moves you to ask within yourself: “Could God influence my life this way if I had faith in Christ the way they do?” And with the question comes the confirmation of the Spirit, “Not only could He, but it’s His sole desire that you’ll let Him bless you this way.”

While reading this way we’ve been asked by President Hudson to highlight our reading in four particular ways. We’re to highlight in different colors references dealing with

1. The names of Deity.

2. The doctrines and principles of the gospel

3. The attributes of deity: loving kindness, mercy, goodness, grace

4. The utterances of God, Christ from their own mouths, or from the mouths of the prophets, i.e., Thus saith the Lord.

It’s surprising what the Book of Mormon looks like after you’ve highlighted a chapter this way. Moreover, it’s impressive to peruse the Book after you’ve highlighted a couple of books within it. In ways its difficult to describe, the colors on the page testify as to why the Book of Mormon is such a power witness of the mercy of Christ and God’s loving kindness to all His children. 

Universe Necklaces

JannaLee saw these necklaces on line. 

From the moment she saw them, she wanted one for herself—and all the girls in the family. So she ordered them for Christmas. But that is never a really good idea, especially if JannaLee is not present to govern who gets them, and when. 

LtoR: Bea Looking Gorgeous; JannaLee Looking Gorgeous

Since these necklaces had been sent to each girl’s home, and since JannaLee is currently on the other side of the world, and since Christmas was a few months off, they each felt that they were pretty safe opening them just after they arrived. They did, and they love them. So much for Christmas. But, gosh, it's fun getting unexpected gifts on just an ordinary day.

St. David Street

There is a Ward Street in Dunedin. There is a David Street here, as well. But I was impressed when I came upon this street just down from the college dorm in which Tino, our investigator, and Braydon, her friend, live. 

Elder Ward Being Elderly

St. David . . . . It has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?

Moving Myra Clark

Sisters Patea and Rima went to Sister Clark’s home to help her get ready for her move on Friday. Fact is, she is moving her things little by little by van throughout the week. But in order for the van to “move,” we have to sort through her things. For Sister Clark to move out by Friday, her house needs cleaning. That’s what we did: sort, throw things in the rubbish, and clean. We did so with neighbors who happily donated their time to helping Sister Clark. Alistair, Judith, Heather, Victor, Bruce, Mavis, Malou, another Maori gentleman, Sister Clark’s daughter and son-in-law (I think), and JannaLee and me. Cheryl Yamoah came after we left around 1 to help. She was tearing down a metal shed when we got back.

The entire house was a ruckus. Women calling men “bread bags” and yelling at each other one minute, cooperating the next. Alistair swore he was going to call the police on Mavis. They got into it over something I have little knowledge of. It seemed that their anger for each other was feudal in nature. By that I mean it seemed that they were fighting about issues that had occurred long before today. Just looking at each other ignited their rage. Other than that, everyone did their thing. I felt like I was working in the middle of a variety of Charles Dickens characters. 

LtoR: S Rima, S Myra Clark, S Patea, ?, ?.

All his books somehow had been rewritten to include each character on all pages of every book. They were rough, rowdy, crass and calloused. But they worked. Some of them didn’t have all their mental faculties. But they could vacuum and stomp down the rubbish in the dumpster, or the “skip”; they could sort, order, arrange furniture, and clean.

One time while I was vacuuming, Victor got wind that I was an Elder for the Church. He intended to lay a trap for me by asking, “Why did Noah get drunk?” I later realized that he was really asking, “If your church doesn’t believe in drinking, why did Noah in the Bible get drunk?” But when he asked the question at first, I thought he was telling me a joke. So I asked him back, “Why did Noah get drunk?” He was puzzled. He stopped, looked away for a moment, looked back at me and said, “I dunno. I asked you.” I said, “Well, I don’t know.” By the look on his face it was obvious that the encounter didn’t go the way he had expected.

On another occasion the Sisters were talking with a gentleman who pressed them, saying, “I know that you’re going to try to get me to stop drinking.” Sister Patea and Rima said, “We’re not on a mission to get you to stop anything. You have your agency. We’re here to teach you the gospel of Jesus Christ for your eternal happiness.” The man paused, then said, “That sounds good.” He gave them his address for a return appointment.

Brighten Reserve for Lunch

I’m not sure what was going on between JannaLee and me at the time, but we decided to pick up some Wendy's sandwiches and drive out to the beach. We didn’t talk much. Just looked out at the ocean, at the beach, watching rain drops spot the windshield. 

Beach at Brighton Reserve

Our sandwiches were cold to match our mood. It was a somber time in the life of a senior missionary couple: a time of prayer to learn what we needed to learn to become reunited.

Gwen Marshall and Margaret Bowen

A couple of weeks after taking this photo, Gwen, the woman on the left, was hit while walking in a pedestrian crossing. The impact shattered her pelvis. 

LtoR: Gwen, E Ward, Margaret, S Ward

She is in the hospital now, trying to recuperate from this accident. She is 85. The doctors say it will be a slow-go if she recuperates at all. However, last we heard, the doctors are feeling more optimistic. The fragmented bones of her hip seem to be knitting together. That, in itself, is a miracle. But we would all like to see Gwen rise from her bed, able to walk, able to offer the service and the comfort and the wisdom and testimony that has become her trademark of personal discipleship of the Savior. 

A related note. Sister Bowen, the woman between JannaLee and me, is due for surgery on her back December 5^th of this year. She has waited for this operation for two years. She says whatever happens is fine with her. If she dies, all is well. If she lives, all is well. If she struggles to recuperate from the operation, all is well. She’s writing up a prayer to give to her doctors before they wheel her into the operating room. She’s going to have the doctors say it. She thinks that’s most appropriate under the circumstances.

Tino

We’re still praying for Tino to be baptized. She has left Dunedin for three or so months. She’s working up in Masterton, sheering sheep. It’s tough work, but she feels she can earn enough money to put herself through the next year or so of her schooling. 

LtoR: JannaLee, Tino Antonio-Johnston

She hopes her parents will give her their blessing to be baptized. We hope and pray so too.

Cookie Bake-Off

The Dunedin 1^st Ward held a Cookie Bake-Off Contest. Everyone—or most everyone who attended—brought cookies from their own ovens. We spent the first part of the evening sampling each others cookies and voting on them. There were many categories to choose from. But when all cookies had been sampled, it came down to this. The sheer enjoyment of cookies and milk. What better way to associate with each other? Bea emceed the awards. 

LtoR: Meg, Jared Smiley, Ramarie Reid, Bea, Courtnee Hakopa

Cami Fruean took away the coveted “Golden Cookie.” 

Cami Fruean

The trophy will stay in the Fruean home until next year’s winner claims it for her/himself. We all left happy, stomachs stuffed, dazed by the sugar high from pigging out. (We blessed the cookies, by the way.)

Mohi and the Book of Mormon

In Mosgiel there is a Pizza Bella on the corner of the block where the library sits. Hungry for lunch one afternoon, JannaLee and I noted it, but drove through Mosgiel to see if there was another place better to eat. We couldn’t find one, so we drove back to the Pizza Bella. While there, we chatted with the manager, “Mohi T.” He’s a young man from India. He has lived in Mosgiel for three months.

LtoR: Mohi T, E Ward

I asked him if other missionaries from the LDS Church come in to buy pizza. He said they don’t. I asked him if he knew anything about the Mormon Church. He said he didn’t. I asked him if he was a reader. He said he wasn’t. I thought this isn’t going too well as a lead into “Would you like to read the Book of Mormon?” But I continued. “Have you ever heard of the Book of Mormon?” He said no. So here it came: “If I gave you a Book of Mormon to read, would you read it?” I was waiting for another “No.” To my surprise he said, “Yes, I would.” I told him I had a book outside and I’d bring it to him. He said ok, and began to fill our order of Chicken Cranberry and Brie pizza; Chicken Barbecue pizza; two chocolate milk shakes (real thick ones); and onion rings.

When he delivered our order, we shared with him the promise in the Book of Mormon and invited him to call us if he had questions. We told him that we’d send the Sisters around to check up on him. He was good with it all.

Before heading back to Dunedin, I took JannaLee back to the Mosgiel playground and showed her the rhododendrons. 

JannaLee in the midst of her Rhotode . . . Roto ruters? . . . Rhododendrons

She loved them: would have thrown herself into them if she felt they would support her. A bed of rhododendrons! What could be better? 

JannaLee with a Blind Man or "Where Should I Look?"

I’m just glad I can spell the darn things.

Dunedin Stake Conference

October 29-30, 2016. The first Dunedin Stake Conference was held since being organized six months earlier. At the time of its organization, JannaLee and I were flying Air New Zealand from Los Angeles to Auckland. We touched down at the Dunedin Airport the day after.

But we were here for this one. It was good to meet as a stake. We felt the strength a stake can lend to the wards and branches within its boundaries as we greeted and interacted with members of both Dunedin Wards (at the same time), as well as members we’ve had occasion to meet from Oamaru, Timaru, Gore, Queenstown, and Invercargill. 

Toni Hakopa, Nicole Walters, Bev Connell, Ace and Kotuku Hakopa, Tee Mather, Whiti Hakopa,
Serena Mather, Kasi Evaga, and Bethne Middlemiss.

There were many we didn’t know. But coming together, gathering as saints in the same building, affirming our commitments, being taught by the same leaders, feeling the Spirit confirm the truth of what we were being taught—all this was edifying in ways that was surprising to me. I think the reason it felt so good is that by ourselves each ward and branch is aware of its weaknesses: the challenges it works to overcome. But together, we felt the strength of each ward and branch compensating for the weaknesses we all have. 

Darryl Eustace

President Smith sounded the call for us to now serve and sacrifice to establish Zion in the Stake. His talk echoed those given by Greg Moeller when he served as President of the Rexburg Idaho East Stake. I can still hear him: “If Zion is to be built in this stake, it will be accomplished brick by brick; heart by heart.”

It was good to meet with the Senior Couples during the Conference. 

LtoR: E Edward, S Edward, S Osburn, E Osburn, S Christensen, E. Christensen, S Ward, E Ward
(The Beckmans had to return to Gore.)
(Guess who's holding the selfie stick.)

We are serving the Lord in our unique ways: ways appropriate to the personalities and callings of each couple, as well as the conditions that make up their field of labor. 

Thanksgiving

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving here in New Zealand for the few of us who will be celebrating it. As we think of all the blessings we are thankful for, our thoughts go beyond the turkey that we will eat--although that's no small thing, turkey's being as expensive as $79 for a 12 lbs. gobbler. As we swallow hard to swallow that price, we will be thinking of our family and friends who have blessed, and are still blessing, our lives. How precious you are to us, being among the many good gifts we enjoy through the grace of the Savior and the goodness of God. 

Happy Thanksgiving to you all.

Elder and Sister Ward