Temple Day with the Missionaries

Thursday

We woke up early around 3:30 am, but having gone to bed at 7:30 it was still a much needed good nights rest.  We were excited because Elder and Sister Briggs were picking us up at 6:45 and taking us to the MTC.

Early Morning at the MTC with Elder and Sister Briggs

First Light at the MTC 

Thursdays are Temple Days for all the missionaries.  Because there is a big group right now at the MTC (57 of us made the trip), President Howes had chartered a bus to drive us to Hamilton where the Temple is.  When the group is smaller they use the MTC vans for the trip.  Two of the missionaries were going for their first time so they went early with Elder and Sister Briggs and 4 other missionaries in the van so the rest of us would fit in the 49 seats of the bus.

We all ate breakfast together before we left and then had a meeting in the chapel of the MTC where President Howes spoke for a few minutes giving instructions and a message about the Temple.  He was the first Temple President of the Adelaide Temple and has a great love and understanding of the Temple.

 He taught us from Section 109 vs. 13. . . all people who shall enter upon the threshold of the Lord's house may feel thy power, and feel constrained to acknowledge that thou hast sanctified it, and that it is Thy house, a place of thy holiness. When we enter we feel his power and when we leave we leave armed with that power. 

So when we enter we feel His power and when we leave  we are armed with His power . . .

vs. 22 . . . And we ask thee, Holy Father, that thy servants may go forth from this house armed with thy power, and that thy name may be upon them and they glory be round about them, and thine angels have charge over them;

of course the next verse is very applicable for the missionaries. . .

And from this place they may bear exceedingly great and glorious tidings, in truth, unto the ends of the earth, that they may know that this is thy work, and that thou hast put forth thy hand, to fulfill that which thou hast spoken by the mouths of the prophets, concerning the last days. 

It was a perfect send off.  We had been told to observe what we felt as we entered and left the temple.

Missionaries board the bus for the Temple Trip

The first half hour of the trip was personal scripture study.  The early departure had meant their morning scripture study had been postponed.  It was quiet and peaceful during that time and then the singing began.  Elder Thatcher and I were seated in the middle of the bus.  The Sisters were in the front and the Elders behind us.  These Polynesian Missionaries love to sing and their voices are amazingly beautiful.  The Elders would start a hymn, usually in their native language.  The sound was soft and soothing.  Then the Sisters would start a different song.  I don't think they could hear what the ones in the back were singing.  Their voices were beautiful and sweet as well.  Every once in a while they would hear what the others were singing and join in.  It was a treat to hear that music. We commented on the beauty of it to President and Sister Howes later and they said this group wasn't even a singing group.  Apparently sometimes the singing becomes competitive between the Samoan and the Tongan missionaries and it gets louder and louder.  Maybe we will experience that sometime in the future.

The Elders on the Bus . . .  

The drive to the temple is about 1 1/2 hours, all through beautiful green hill country with lots of cattle and sheep.  The cemeteries we passed were so charming on the steep hillsides.  It was really our first look at the New Zealand countryside. The farm houses reminded me of the farm in the movie 'Babe'. I couldn't really take pictures because the bus windows, though large were pretty much fogged over the whole way.

The Temple is on the most beautiful spot, on a wind swept hill with green fields all around.  It looks like the Swiss Temple to me and I bet it is about the same age as that temple.  Like every temple it was organized and smooth running.  There were packets laid out for every missionary with their name on it all ready for them.  We also were included in this pre-packaged temple clothing.


Before the session we met in a chapel in the temple where the Temple President and Matron spoke to us.  Their name was Roberts and they are New Zealanders.  Sister Collett, the wife of the only Senior couple at the MTC right now was able to play the organ in the meeting and was delighted with the opportunity.

The session itself was made up of mostly all  missionaries - a large session at that.  It was quite a sight to see all those missionaries dressed in white in the Celestial room.  They are such a happy friendly group.  When one would come through the veil they would be greeted by hugs and smiles or handshakes from all the others.  It was a touching thing to watch.

The temple had prepared a meal for our large group.  We nearly filled the small cafeteria.  A delicious buffet had been set out for us.  Everyone seemed to love the food.   After the meal all the kitchen help came out into the dining room and the missionaries sang 'Called to Serve' to them as a thank you.  Most of the cooks and servers sang along and it was beautiful.  These people know how to sing!

Missionaries outside the Temple after the session

We left the temple with the wind tossing us about, got onto the bus again and drove just a short way to the new Church Museum and Distribution Center that was just barely dedicated about two weeks ago.  Dad and I bought temple clothes.  We should have brought ours for we will need them every week.

With the few minutes we had left before we were supposed to get on the bus, we wandered into the Matthew Cowley room.  A Maori sister was telling Elder and Sister Briggs about her cousin who had been the baby that Matthew Cowley was told to give a name to, and while he was about it to give the baby his sight as well - he had been born blind.  It was a story Elder Thatcher and I have loved since we were youth.  I told her I felt badly that I hadn't recorded it and she told it over again for me to video her telling it.  I'll attach the video here so all of you can feel her testimony as she bears it in her own words.  You are in for a treat.  I told her 60 children would hear it and she seemed to love that.

Mission - Sister Parker Matthew Cowley Story from Thatcher Family on Vimeo.



She has been working on Church History in New Zealand for 15 years and was very interested in President Briggs story because he has had 5 family members serve in New Zealand over the years.  She thinks that is a record and was writing his story down.

At the new Church Museum of the Pacific some of the Elders made music together

President Thatcher and Elder Feng

The above picture is of Elder Feng.  He is a convert to the church of one year from China.  He heard about the gospel at Snow College.  Of course he is the only member of the church in his family.  He will be serving his mission in Melbourne Australia. We love Elder Feng

The ride back to the MTC featured more soft singing.  Many slept on the way.  We got back about 4:30, had dinner at the MTC, visited with President and Sister Howes and President and Sister Briggs for awhile and then left with the Briggs to try to get a few things done.

They have been so good to us, taking us around and helping us get situated.  They took us to a kind of a mall where we were able to get our phones set up with sim cards.  That took a while but because of their help not nearly as long as if we had been on our own.  Next we stopped at a place to  to buy me a curling iron and blow dryer.  The to a grocery store for a few items to have on hand.  We ate the best kiwi I have ever tasted - it was a golden one.  Wow!!!  They will pick up our car for us tomorrow and then we will have the frightening experience of dad trying to drive in this traffic on the wrong side of the road.  Pray for us!

Bed sounded like heaven to us again.  We are not yet over losing that entire nights sleep during our flight and find ourselves fighting heavy eyelids whenever we sit quietly anywhere.  We did sleep well and will have a little more laid back day today - Friday.

We think of all of you back home and miss you.  We are a little, or really a lot out of our element here and wondering how we will able to do everything expected of us. Just learning to pronounce the names of the missionaries is a big challenge.    But they are so easy to love.  They are marvelous.  We have met Elder Levani Damuni from Kent's ward.  He lives up to all the good things we have heard about him.  He's a big, strong, handsome, great Elder and a Zone Leader here at the MTC.  We have loved getting to know Elder Daniel and Sister Maureen Collett who are the only senior couple here right now but fly out today for their mission in Vanuatu.  They have 9 children and one of their sons served there some years back.  It will be pretty primitive for them.  Each and every missionary is inspiring to us.  There is such a great feeling at the MTC.  It is sacred ground.

We love you all.
Elder and Sister Thatcher