The Gospel is True. . . are you?

I just lost the post that I have been working on for 2 hours.  Thus it goes for one so inept with computers.  How I wish that all that was lost could be found as far as computers go.  Still I will begin again.  Reminds me of repentance.  One wrong move can cause heart ache and grief. . . back to the beginning I go.

"A good picture is all about perspective"  Sister Meyer

The weeks fly by.  Before we knew it we were headed to the Temple with the Missionaries again.  This past week President Thatcher was asked to drive a van full of Missionaries because the bus wasn't large enough to bring them all.   The first half-hour of the journey is devoted to personal scripture study but after that the missionaries visit, sing or nap - a good option for many.

The two missionaries behind us started to visit with me.  Elder Tartaglia from Italy, who is learning English at the MTC to enable him to serve in Perth Australia, asked me, "Have you and President Thatcher ever been to Italy?"  I told him we hadn't and he said, "The first time I see you and your husband I think that I know you.  I think that I have seen you before."

I asked if he had ever been to Utah?

"When I was very small boy my father bring me to Utah." he told me.  (I learned he was raised in the church.)  "I have been wondering how I know you since I first saw you and President Thatcher on first day at MTC.  Does this ever happen to you? That you think you know someone before?"

I told him it does happen, that sometimes you meet someone and feel that you have always known them.  I said that we probably knew each other before we came to earth.  We talked of the story of President John Taylor who as a boy had a dream of a magnificent building with 6 spires.  The dream happened before Joseph Smith ever went into the grove to pray to 'ask of God'.  It was as an old man living in SLC and the Prophet while much of the construction of the SL Temple was taking place that he remembered his dream and recognized the temple as the building in his boyhood dream.

And then Elder Tartaglia, in his broken English tried to explain his feelings, "I know already that the Church is true, but when this happen, I know MORE that the Church is true."  He spoke quietly and with reverence.

Isn't that a beautiful way of expressing what we all feel as experiences and new insights build our testimonies. . . we have known, but now we know MORE that the Church is true!  As he told me this experience he had it strengthened me.  Perhaps, just perhaps, we were supposed to be here on this mission meeting these wonderful humble missionaries.

On the bus with Elder Tartaglia and Elder Mokoi

Elder Mokoi, next told me his story.  As a little boy in Tonga, (not a member of the Church), he was at a neighbors house who were members and watched a movie of the prophet Joseph Smith and the First Vision.  It touched him.  He said, "We had a little grove of trees behind our house so I went there and knelt down and prayed like Joseph Smith.  He said, pointing to his heart, "I feel it in here.  I feel it!"

Elder Mokoi never knew his father.  He left his mother before Elder Mokoi was born. He loved his mother.  He had two older brothers who chose to live lives of drinking and laziness and he, watching them, decided that was not how he wanted to live. He didn't want to break his mother's heart like they had.  He had a sister as well.  She joined the church and served a mission in Tonga.  As a teenager he listened to the missionaries and was baptized.  He hadn't told his mother about his baptism and when she found out he came home one day and all of his things were outside on the front step of his home. He was no longer wanted at home.  I asked where he went and he said to the home of a member. (I find it very interesting and sad that his mother was more upset with her son who only wanted to follow the Lord than with the two who lived such bad lives)

When he got his call his sister was very proud of him but his mother still would not see him.  He told me he received an email from his sister while he was here that said that the missionaries were in his house teaching his mother.  "When I read that," he said, "I can not continue reading.  I know I will cry.  I am so happy that my mother is listening to missionaries."

We just love the humble, faithful young people who come to serve the Lord as missionaries.  They are remarkable.  Even some of the ones with family support have interesting stories.  One sister in her talk on Sunday told about her father who was the bishop for 10 years and wanted all of his 7 children to serve missions.  She is the only one who has and told us she is the hope of her family.  "When I left my father told me, 'Stay on your mission and complete it or you will not be my daughter anymore.'  That broke my heart.  I think I have mentioned before that many missionaries from the islands with families who are members are told by those families that they should not write home while they are on their missions.  They are missionaries and must devote themselves to the work.  If they call home on Christmas or Mother's Day, their mother will tell them, 'You should not be calling.  You are a missionary." and will then hang up on them.  And yet these missionaries who love their families continue to serve.

I think this is why the missionaries love all the hugs they receive at the MTC.  President and Sister Howes have us give hugs at every meal as the missionaries line up for the cafeteria.  Sister Howe, Briggs and I, hug every sister and shake hands with every Elder.  President Howes, Briggs, and Thatcher hug every Elder and shake hands with every Sister.  There are more hugs in the halls and in greeting throughout the day.  The MTC is a safe place filled with love and the missionaries feel at home here.  They thrive on the love.

Sister Tokuma from Samoa and Sister Meyer from Canada

These two Sisters are happy fun companions.  You can't help but smile when you see them.  They bounce happily down the halls of the MTC.  We asked them, with the permission of President Howes if they would make a little video for us that we could take to our 14 year old investigator, Teqwyn Edmonds.  We asked that they tell her about their experience in the church.  Sister Meyer has been raised in the church and Sister Tokuma is a convert and was baptized when she was 16.  They made a cute happy video for us telling Teqwyn about YW's and Seminary and how they will bless her life.  They encouraged her to be baptized and testified of the blessings that would come into her life and how the gospel will help her family.

We took the video to Teqwyn who loved that these two missionaries would be interested in her.

Teqwyn watching Sister Tokuma and Sister Meyer

I can't remember how much we have told you about the Edmonds family.  We love them.  We are teaching them.  The mother Keala is a member but hasn't been active since her youth.   Her partner is Doug, a very nice man and the father of the two little girls, Tiare and Waimarie. The two older girls are Teqwyn, 14 and Georaeah, 9 (pronounce Je-ray-ah). Keala's younger brother Richie, 32 lives with them too.  Only Keala is a member.  They love the missionaries - we are the 10th set that have visited them.  They are excited when we come and we love them.  They are so easy to love.  We usually have home evening with them.

Last night (home evening) we got a call from Keala saying she and the two little girls were in Hamilton but that they would still like us to come for the others.  When we got there there Doug wasn't home but we had a wonderful visit with Richie, Teqwyn and Georaeah.  We always play a game and this time it was the chocolate game.  You open a big bar of chocolate - the kind with squares imprinted on it.  Next you start to roll a dice.  Everyone rolls once and the first one to roll a 6 gets to start cutting the chocolate.  When they free a square they get to eat it and keep cutting and eating until someone rolls another 6.  It was lots of fun.  You might want to play it for your home evening.

Last visit we had read part of chapter 11 of 3 Nephi with them.  Last night Elder Thatcher had us all take turns reading the rest of the chapter.  There was a powerfully sweet spirit in the room as we read together from the Book of Mormon about the Savior giving the power to baptism to Nephi and others and teaching them how to Baptize and why it is so important.  Teqwyn especially seemed moved by reading.  After a few rounds of taking turns she wouldn't give the book back and kept reading in her beautiful soft young voice with it's charming New Zealand accent.  You could sense she was understanding and what she was reading and feeling the importance of it.  We asked when she finished what she felt and she said, "I feel that it is very important."

"Do you understand why the Savior is teaching this to these people and do you question if what he says is right?" we asked.

"It makes sense to me.  It is right." she said.  She told us she would be baptized sometime.   We then marked her Book of Mormon at 2 Nephi 31 and gave her the assignment to read that chapter and pray about it.   She is a joy to teach.

Doug came home before we left.  He treated us royally and seemed genuinely happy to see us.  Oh, how we want to bless this family with the gospel.

We also had great visits with our other two families the Singh's (our Hindu family) and Moses and Antonina.  Each time we have felt the companionship of the Spirit as we met.  We are just so grateful that the Lord hasn't left us alone as we teach.

You might think that until Megan leaves we are the only missionaries in the family but that isn't true. We received a text from Katie saying;

'Ben was a persistent missionary this weekend.  Today was the primary program and he wanted his friend Olivia to come.  Here is their texting conversation. . .'

To Oliveea from Ben
Do. You. Want. To. Come. To. Church. In. Winnumma?

From Olivia to Ben
We will come next week maybe

From Ben
Pleas. Will. You. Come Oliveea

From Olivia
Maybe?
What Time

From Ben
11
If. You. Come. You'll. Get. To. Come play with my friends

From Olivia
We will be there

Katie said, 'She ended up coming with her mom and Grandma.

Ben and Oliveea at Church 

Missionary work makes you happy doesn't it Ben!!!!!

We love hearing about all you are doing back home.  It has been a busy week.

Baptism Day for Kyle 

Everyone in this family is now a Member of the Church - our first fully baptized family

Congratulations Kyle.  You look spiffy in that new suit.  You look like a missionary.

Happy Birthday Anna! 23 becomes you

I keep trying to get someone to send me my birthday list off my computer.  I know we are missing birthdays.  I know it was Anna's this week and Andrea's as well.  It was Katie Howell's last week and Laura's this coming week.  I fear I have missed wishing happy birthday to ones like Eric, Melissa, Grace, and Kyle, Murphy, and probably other little ones.   We love you all.

Aaron had a big day of chemo infusions- always that smile through it all - and then a nice nap

Stephen, James, Steven, and Will on the same flag football team

 Do you recognize any members of this flag football team?  They affectionately call themselves the 'Thadfields'

Successful Harry Potter sale - Congratulations to some of our favorite Wizards; Stephen, James, Michael and Josh

Josh and Stephen's Cache Valley Fair entries are going to the State Fair! Congratulations

 It made us so happy on our Sunday to receive pictures from Lorraine of the work crew at their house.  We love how you help each other and Lorraine seemed delighted with so much getting done.

part of the work crew; Joe, Murphy, Greg, David, Matt - building loft beds 

Murphy, we understand organized this crew and did a great job with it all

Murphy, it is our understanding organized the crew and prepared for the work to be done.  Murphy is so handy to have around and so happy and willing to help.

Lily happily entertained Gideon

Alex scrubbing the steps

Alex was scrubbing steps and cleaning in the garage while Alison and Jennie were downstairs dejunking.  I hear that Paul was there as well and Eric and Thatcher.   I just didn't get pictures of everyone.   We heard that pizza's arrived from Winnemucka.  I know that Melissa and Amy are helping out with the children this week.  It is all wonderful to us, as we watch from so helplessly far away.  We love your goodness.

Noah enjoying his 'park preschool'

We hope everyone is enjoying school as much as Noah likes his 'park preschool'.

We are excited to watch for all you who are going to be in the choir at the Priesthood Session of Conference.  We will watch the Women's meeting next week and Conference the week after that.  We will print off the talks before hand and instead of taking notes we will just mark the talks.  There are perks to this way of watching Conference. 

James and Greg

Thatcher, Eric, and Stephen 

Mark

We love you all and miss you terribly but we are loving serving this mission together.  We feel the blessings of the Lord everyday and are learning much about how this great work is moving forward across the earth.  This gospel is not only true but it is alive and it pours life into all of us.  

Take care and be true.

We will too.

Love,

Mom and Dad

Grandma and Grandpa,

Elder and Sister Thatcher 

Angels from heaven or just old missionaries . . .

It has been a full wonderful week here in New Zealand.  We have felt like missionaries.

On Sunday we were told that President Thatcher would be driving the van to the Temple on Thursday with the missionaries who had not yet received their endowments.  Usually President Briggs has this responsibility.   It would be our first time driving to Hamilton so we thought it might be wise to take a test run just to see if we could find our way.  So Monday morning we made the journey.  When we arrived in Temple View and pulled into the Distribution Center and Museum we found everything closed but happened to find Elder King there with his companion.  Elder King had left the MTC only a week ago and was excited to tell us that he and his companion had met a woman and challenged her to baptism and she had accepted.  Pretty good for his first week in the field.

Our tall Elder King in Hamilton

Once every three weeks there is an Area Presidency Devotional at the MTC.  This event fell on Tuesday and the speakers were  Doug and Michi Matsumori.  He is General Legal Counsel for this area.  He has been a mission president in Japan and Sister Matsumori is very loved at the MTC because she volunteers here every intake day.  She is just delightful.  We loved their talks.  Past Mission Presidents know what missionaries should be and teach with practical powerful principles.  I will send their talks that I recorded to Megan.  She will love them.  If any others would like to listen let me know and I'll send them to you as well.

On the Sunday before the Area Devotional we form an MTC choir and practice a song to be sung at the Devotional and at the Temple that week. Sister Briggs is in charge of the choir and she does a beautiful job picking music.  This time we sang 'Did You Think To Pray'  The missionaries loved singing it.  The recording doesn't do it justice but maybe you can get an idea of the MTC Choir.  Of course the choir changes every three weeks.



Thursday was Temple Day with the Missionaries.  We arrived early to drive the 5 missionaries who were going to the Temple for the first time and their escorts.  These missionaries come from places where there is no temple.  They are humble and sweet.

Sister Auatabu with Sister Datt (escort), Sister James Nila with Sister Sua (escort), Elder William, Elder Tangarasi, and Elder Tom on the next row with their escorts Elder Mafi, Elder Fa'aoa, and Elder Agavale at the back

Sister Auatabu is from Kiribati (pronounced Kirabus), both of her parents have passed away.  Sister James Nila is from Malaysia.  She is the only member of her family in the church.  While in the Temple the temple matron, Sister Roberts, loving put her arms around these two sisters and told them, "I will be your mother today."

Elder William, Elder Tom and Elder Tangarasi are all from Vanuatu.  Elder Tom is Elder Moses' (from the last intake) brother and Elder William is their nephew.  These three were the last to arrive at the MTC this intake and came with a plastic grocery sack filled with one extra shirt.  Sister Howes told us the clothes they had on were badly worn.  They have been given clothing, missionary shoes and scriptures, and now they have been endowed with power from on high.  It is an honor to associate with these faithful servants of the Lord who teach us daily of faith, courage, and sacrifice. My, how they glow.

After the temple session we ate a delicious meal fixed by the cooks at the Temple.  These are the best meals we have in New Zealand.  We look forward to them.  The missionaries always sing the song they have practiced that week for the dear woman who prepares the food for them.  She always thanks them and then gives them a word or two of council afterwards such as, 'Be good missionaries and come back after your mission to be married in the temple.'  After the song this day, 'Did you think to pray', she had tears in her eyes and said, "I am without words.  I am thinking of my parents.  That was my mother's favorite song and she would sing it to us often."  That was all she could say, she was so moved by the missionaries song.

Leaving the temple we drove the short distance to the Distribution Center and the Church History Museum of the Pacific.  We love going there.  The missionaries never have enough time in this special place.

posing in a hut in the museum - Elder Fa'aoa, Elder Finau, Sister Lealaiauloto, top- Sister Tangulu, Elder Movete, Elder Mokoi, Sister Taufanga

My sweet friend Rangi Parker - always at work at her computer

Once again I stepped in to Rangi Parker's office.  I was excited to share with her information on Aunt Rosie's maternal grandfather John Nelson.  He served a mission to Samoa and Tonga in his youth and after serving 3 years, and thinking he was going home, received a letter asking him to stay and be the mission president as his president had become very ill.  He accepted the call and stayed another 3 1/2 years. Aunt Rosie had sent me the story of Elder John Nelson receiving that call and links to pictures and other information on Family Search.  You should have seen Rangi light up when I gave her this.  She was so excited about it!

"We were just talking about how we needed more information on Samoa, and here you come in with this wonderful information." she said.

 I think Aunt Rosie and I will now be one of the miracle stories she tells.

One fun thing, as we pulled into the parking lot at the MTC safely home and the missionaries were exiting the van Sister Sua started chanting, 'Thatchers are True!, Thatchers are True!'.  It took a second but then we realized they were reciting Mark and Emily's family Motto.  The volume increased with the smiles on their faces as they chanted and we joined in.

We went for a walk Thursday evening and checked on our 'Boo Radley tree'.  No takers yet, but we added a few coins to the take and will check back.

Waiting to be discovered. . .  just like our ancestors are waiting to be found and taken to our hearts and the temple

On Friday morning we got a call from Sister Howes asking if we would like to go with them to visit the Jewish wood carver from Bethlehem.  We had heard of him.  All the senior couples love to visit his shop and buy nativity sets that he carves.  We jumped at the chance and enjoyed a morning of wonder watching this dear man and his wife create art from blocks of wood.

We watched him carve a kiwi bird, which he gave to me afterwards.
His wife fed duckings while we watched and made us fresh squeezed orange juice.
They treated us like honored guests.
Their names are Jiries and Marcela Giacaman.
Jiries loves the Mormon missionaries and caters to them, for instance, he carves nativity sets and for the angel in the set he carves the Angel Moroni.
I now have the Nativity for my collection from our mission to add to all of your mission Nativities.

Jiries Giacaman working on a Kiwi

Have you spotted Angel Moroni?  Don't you think these little spoons  will be a magical addition to the fairy house

Friday night we attended a Stake Relief Society activity that our dear friend Sister Briggs had been asked to teach a class at.  The activity was on 'Redeeming the Dead'.  Sister Briggs is an expert in Family History.  This was at their stake and we only went to support our friend. But we were treated like dignitaries.  As we sat in the back of the chapel we heard our names called by the Stake President from the podium asking us to come and sit on the stand where we rightly belonged.  These island people treat the missionaries like angels from heaven.  It is always humbling.   Sister Briggs did a great job.

Sister Briggs and her Stake Relief Society President 

The display of family history from the sisters.  Notice the sister sitting by her display of her family.  Can you see how she is dressed?  This is because, like Aunt Janice told us,  it is very cold in the churches here during the winter.

Saturday was just a wonderful Missionary Adventure day.

We had an appointment with the Singh family - our dear Hindu family at 11:00.  Elder Thatcher had prayed and studied to know what we should teach them and thought it should be the 'Plan of Salvation'.  I have thought how much I wish I had asked Lorraine to make us visuals to teach the plan with.  Those would have been beautiful and helpful.  We did get some from a sister missionary that we have used and it helps with children to be able to show them visually the plan.

Roy, the father was only there for a while and then had to leave because of a new job but we taught the mother Shelley and Ronak, (7 or 9) the son.  They were so interested and listened attentively as we taught.  I asked Ronak what he thought about what we had taught them about being children of God and that we lived with Him before we were born on earth.  He answered, "I think it is true!"  We left them with the pamphlet and asked Ronak if he would teach his father about the Plan of Salvation.

We asked Shelley if she had been reading the Book of Mormon.  'A little,' she said, 'Ronak has the book every night.  He takes it to bed with him to read. He reads a little every night.'  We could have jumped and done one of those dats (is that what they are called?

Next we headed to the hospital.  One of the families we teach - the Edmonds family, Keala and Doug, have 4 daughters; Teqwin (14), Gearaeah (9) Tiare (2) and Waimarie (10 months).  The two youngest have spent time in the hospital this week.  We heard that Waimarie had pneumonia and was in the hospital so we went to see her.  Elder Thatcher was able to give her a blessing.

Little Waimarie - doesn't she melt your heart?

The hospital hallway - made me appreciate PCMC

President Thatcher trying to figure out how to pay his parking -you had to pay to park at the hospital  and  I guess we took too long finding our car after paying and had to go back in and pay some more - $8 to park for 30 minutes

Next we had an appointment with Antonina and Moses and girls.  Moses, who also has a new job was gone but Antonina's older son Jermaine (15) was there and we loved him immediately.   We watched a children's video on the Sacrament so the girls would know what to expect when they went to church.  They remembered from going before about the sacrament and seemed very excited to go to church.  

Elder and Sister Freeman, who just completed their mission and are now home in Farmington, left us some of their teaching supplies including games to play with the children.  We played 'The Bee Game' a game about the Be's that president Hinckley taught.  The children love playing it with us and so do the parents.

Elder Thatcher playing the Bee Game with Samantha, Kesha, and Naomi

Because I had done most of the teaching with Ronak and Shelley, Elder Thatcher taught the 'Plan of Salvation' to Antonina and Jermaine.  Even though Antonina has been a member of the church she seemed to learn as much as Jermaine.   It was a beautiful lesson.  While he taught I colored with the little girls.  You get to use all kinds of talents as a missionary.

Our mission adventures for the day were still not over . . .

Next we dashed to our ward church house where there was to be a baptism for two children in the ward. We found Kennedy Taufa (8) and Lamanite Ulugia (10) all dressed in white waiting to be baptized.  Lamanite had been baptized in Samoa but his records had been lost, so he was being baptized again.

After the baptism, our wonderful bishop, Bishop Uta'i, who was a Stake President in Samoa for 20 years, asked Elder Thatcher if he would confirm Lamanite.  It was quite an honor for Elder Thatcher. I tell you, they treat us like angels from heaven.   Lamanite's mother and father were very grateful.  Our next goal is to prepare Paselio Ulugia, Lamanite's father, to be ready to ordain him to the Priesthood in two years.

We thought that the name Lamanite was a funny name to give a boy, but now we think of Samuel the Lamanite and those faithful Lamanites who never fell away and we think it a perfect name.

Bishop Uta'i, Lamantine Ulugia, and Elder Thatcher

We then dashed to the MTC for our weekly Presidency Meeting.  It was delayed a few minutes as President Briggs and President Thatcher were asked by some of the missionaries if they would let them practice their new teaching skill of helping someone recognize the Spirit on them.

President Briggs being taught by Elder Umaga, President Thatcher being taught by Elders Luamanuvae and Lucignano

We always love to return to the MTC.  It is like a place to go to be refilled with desire, and testimony.  We are continually taught how to be missionaries and charged with the desire to serve.  I bet President Thatcher tells me every day that OURS  is the PERFECT Mission.


Sundays as we have said are just wonderful days here.  We love to associate with the missionaries.  We get to hear them give talks, many using their newly developing English,  and sing with gusto the songs of the Restoration.  We thought of our Jonny as we sang 'Praise to the Man' with the missionaries.  Jonny sings with enough spirit and manly strength to sing with these Pacific Island missionaries.

Assembling for the Zone Picture again.  Our attempt last week didn't work out

We gave talks in Sacrament Meeting on the Restoration.  President Thatcher read his favorite story about  Gerturde Sprecht, the German Theology Professor who joined the church.  The missionaries loved it and Sister Howes is sending them all a copy via email.  

 Dad is a very good missionary.  He rises early many mornings - and you can guess how early that is, and studies and prays.  It is in those early morning hours that he is given ideas and thoughts that we try to implement in our work.  We love being companions.  We love serving the Lord, we love the message we carry, we love all of you.

Our Sunday Devotional blessing

Sundays are our favorite days.  They are very different than those we spend together in Paradise but they are still filled with wonderful people, with church services and the Sacrament, and with inspiring messages.  We go home tired at the end of the day but also filled with gratitude. It is such a blessing to be around young missionaries and strong seasoned leaders.  

Sister Meyer, Elder Tuimauga, Sister Tokum, Sister Howes, Sister Lealaiauloto, Sister James Nila, Sister Taimani

These darling missionaries wanted a picture taken while I was looking up stories on the computer Sunday afternoon.

We have many assignments at the MTC some of which worry us.  We give Sacrament Meeting talks, President Thatcher teaches in Leadership Council Meeting and conducts many meetings.  We also have the assignment of teaching an evening Devotional on Sunday evenings.  Our turn comes up every three weeks.  We picture the great Devotionals given at the MTC in Provo and are thoroughly intimidated at the prospect.  Also we watch President and Sister Howes teach and do Devotionals and are amazed at the power of their teaching.  They know how to reach and lift missionaries and their knowledge of the gospel is profound.  We always listen on the edge of our seats.  Elder and Sister Briggs are great as well.  Sister Briggs, who is amazing at Family History, teaches a Family History Devotional that is wonderful.  The missionaries get so involved that they don't want the meeting to end as they are feverishly finding their family on family search for the first time and seeing the names of those they love come up in their family group sheets.  President Briggs always teaches with the power of the Spirit.  All the missionaries love him. In short we feel concern when our time approaches.  That concern has grown because our first attempt was quite a flop.  We didn't want to talk about it or think about it for days afterwards.

It was our turn last Sunday.  Our assignment for the Devotional was 'The Book of Mormon'.  We had no idea what to do.   For 2 weeks Elder Thatcher has been studying and praying for help with this devotional.  Ideas came to him.  He would share them with me.  I couldn't see it very clearly but he had been so faithfully praying and working that I felt he must be on track.  He wanted to do it on Missionary Mottos and having the missionaries find their motto in the Book of Mormon.  While reading through the section in PMG on the Book of Mormon, in the Ideas for Study section there is a line which reads: "Read Alma 26 and 29 as companions.  Share how you feel about your mission."  When we read the two chapters we were so inspired by the feelings of Ammon and Alma that we knew we should use those chapters.

Elder Thatcher decided that he would do the activity about choosing Missionary Mottos and I should do the beginning of the Devotional using the first Devotional we had done.  Try as I might I just couldn't make it fit.  So Friday night we changed my whole part of the presentation.  The ideas began to flow and what usually would have taken me days came together rapidly.

Elder Thatcher thought it would be great if Mark and Emily would send us a picture of their family Motto or a video of the children saying it and Emily went to work for us and sent us this:

We were worried up until the presentation.  I was looking up stories on line at the MTC in every spare minute on Sunday and just before the time of the Devotional Elder Thatcher and I let ourselves into an empty Senior Couples room at the MTC to have a final prayer for help.

I'll let Elder Thatcher's entry from his journal Sunday night tell the story. . .

10 Sept 2017

We just got home from the MTC.  It is so nice to be home so we can relax.  What a day it has been.  This morning mom and I role played with the district how to help the Leaders set goals with their districts.  It went well and I was very glad.  Then I had to conduct Sacrament Meeting and that went fine.  

Then this evening mom and I had our presentation on the Book of Mormon to present in the Devotional.  We gave it on making a missionary Motto from Alma 29 or 26.  We worked on it for over a week, maybe two weeks and at times like this you just can't thank the Lord enough for all His help.  You fully realize that every step of the way the Lord was answering your prayers and He was even inspiring you to pray and what to pray for. 

Kathy did the first part in a power point and did such a beautiful job leading up to the activity.  Then President Howes printed up a sheet with the first 15 verses of Alma 26 and we gave each missionary a sheet so they could underline each potential motto, and also handed them a 3x5 card so they can write their motto on it. 

We got a lot of participation after the 1st or 2nd verse and they learned what we were after. 

President Howes after the meeting told us it was 'brilliant' and that we need to have that taught with every intake.  He made us feel so good about it - he is such a great leader.  I haven't seen a better one, at least that I have been privileged to work closely with.  Even Sister Howes said it was excellent. 

I think we must feel so grateful because our first devotional presentation we felt was such a flop and so disheartening for both of us. 

One of the reasons it worked so well is that all the words for the mottos came right out of the Book of Mormon so they already have great spirit and power.

(Back to me - Sister Thatcher)
It truly was one of those times when you felt the power of the Lord helping you and were so grateful. One thing we are learning loud and clear here in New Zealand is that we are nothing without the Lord.  To quote from Ammon in Alma 26:12  Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his Strength I can do all things. . .

Thank you Mark, Emily, James, Stephen, Josh, Michael and Rachel.  The missionaries loved you.

Here are the paintings we used to tell some of the great missionary stories of the Restoration.

Dan Jones - Missionary to Wales

Dan Jones was with Joseph Smith at Carthage Jail the night before the prophet was killed.  As they lay next to each other on the hard floor, the Prophet asked his Welsh friend if he was afraid to die.

"Has that time come think you?" Dan asked.  "Engaged in such a cause i do not think that death would have many terrors."

The Prophet then gave what would be his last recorded prophecy as he told Dan, "You will yet see Wales and fulfill the mission appointed you ere you die."

The next day Dan Jones left Carthage to deliver a letter from Joseph Smith to a lawyer.  A mob thinking that Dan was going for help from the Nauvoo Legion went after him, firing bullets all around him.  Fortunately Dan accidentally took a wrong road, and the mob did not catch him.  The next day he learned of the death of Joseph and Hyrum.

Two months later he was sailing for his native Wales to fulfill a four-year mission and the prophecy.  When he arrived there were about 250 members of the church in all of Wales.  When he left there were 4000, and later after his second mission to Wales another 2000 had been added.

Heber C. Kimball and Brigham Young "Hurrah for Israel"

During a Sunday meeting on June 4, 1837, in the year-old Kirkland Temple, Joseph Smith approached Heber C. Kimball, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.  "Brother Heber," Joseph spoke quietly into his ear, "the Spirit of the Lord has whispered to me: 'Let my servant, Heber, go to England and proclaim my Gospel, and open the door of salvation to that nation.'"

Elder Kimball was stunned.  He was painfully conscious of his lack of education and deeply intimidated at the thought of preaching to, as he viewed them, the much more cultured and sophisticated English.

When the time came for them to leave on their missions for England both Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball were very ill as were their families.  Brigham left his wife sick with a babe only three weeks old, and all of his other children were sick and unable to wait upon each other.  Not one soul of them was able to go to the well for a pail of water, and they were without a second suit to their backs, for the mob in Missouri had taken nearly all he had.

Heber was sick as well, as was his family, "Our trunks were put into the wagon by some brethren; I went to my bed and shook hands with my wife who was then shaking with a chill, having two children lying sick by her side; I embraced her and my children, and bade them farewell.  My only well child was little Heber P., and it was with difficulty he could carry a couple of quarts of water at a time to assist in quenching their thirst."

"It was with difficulty we got into the wagon, and started down the hill about ten rods; it appeared to me as though my very inmost parts would melt within me at leaving my family in such a condition as it were almost in the arms of death.  I felt as though I could not endure it.  I asked the teamster to stop, and said to Brother Brigham, 'This is pretty tough, isn't it; let's rise up and give them a cheer.'  We arose, and swinging our hats three times over our heads, shouted: 'Hurrah, hurrah for Israel.'

Vilate, hearing the noise, arose from her bed and came to the door.  She had a smile on her face.  Vilate and Mary ann Young cried out to us: 'Goodby, God bless you!'  We returned the compliment, and then told the driver to go ahead.  After this I felt a spirit of joy and gratitude, having had the satisfaction of seeing my wife standing upon her feet, instead of leaving her in bed, knowing well that I should not see them again for two or three years."

When their ship arrived at the docks in Liverpool England it is told of Heber C. Kimball that he leaped from the ship before it landed so his feet would be the first to touch English
 soil.  Thus, he was the first Latter-day-Saint to arrive in Europe.

Elder John Groberg and his departing companion Feki, "Hurrah for Israel!"

Elder John Groberg served his mission among the Polynesian people.  His first companion was named Feki Po'uha.  Elder Groberg loved this companion who had so much faith in him.  One time Elder Groberg asked,

"Feki, why are you so?  Why do you have such faith in me?"

"Why shouldn't I? You traveled so far to teach us, what you say must be true."

"Yeah, but what if I lied to you?"

"You wouldn't lie, Kolipoki."

"But what if I did?"

"Then you've come a long way just to tell a lie."

"When I was a boy my father was a drinking man.  He used to beat my mother.  I wasn't strong enough to keep him off her.  But the missionaries, they came and they showed him the truth.  Only the truth was strong enough."

"One day I went to thank them for their sacrifice.  And they just shook their heads and told me . . .  of other missionaries who sacrificed much more.  They were sick to death with the fever.  As they left their families behind . . . to cross the sea to preach god's word.  They stood up in their wagons and shouted: 'Hurrah for Israel!'  Every time I see my father after that . . .  every time he wasn't drinking,  I think the same thing: 'Hurrah for Israel!'  I think the same thing every time I hear you teaching."

After serving together for a long time Feki received word that he was to leave and go back home to construction - what he had been doing before the mission.  It was hard for them to leave each other.  As he was leaving he told Elder Groberg;

"I will build all your chapels.  You will fill them Kolipoki."

Then the when his boat pulled out into the ocean, with his arms stretched to Heaven he shouted;

"Hurrah for Israel!

Hurrah for Israel!

Hurrah for Israel!

For Israel!   Hurrah!"

Elder Groberg, from the dock answered back;

"Hurrah, Hurrah, Hurrah, for Israel!


Those are some of my favorite missionary stories.  There are so many more stories of great missionaries and great missions served.  We have many in our family.  Maybe your fathers and mothers could tell you bedtime stories of when they served missions and the adventures they had.

When Elder Thatcher led the missionaries through Alma 26 it was like there was electricity in the air. The missionaries loved finding the phrases that Ammon had used to describe his mission and that they might like to take as their own missionary motto.  I thought as I watched and listened that it was as if Ammon was there in the room.  You could feel his great missionary heart as his words were carefully considered by these young missionaries.   I think we all left the devotional wanting to be better missionaries - Missionaries with hearts aflame with testimony and filled with gratitude that we could serve in such a cause.

This is just one of the many times the Lord has come to our aid as we try to serve Him here in New Zealand.  I should write this blog more often but I seem to run out of time and energy by the end of the day.

We hope all is well at home and that happiness abounds in each of your homes. You are always in our prayers.  We love how you take care of each other.

It's always fun to have visitors at the hospital - Thanks Uncle Alex!

Thanks to everyone who does things with Anna! 

Even Aunt Rosie has been staying at the hospital.  So has Amy and Anna and I'm not sure who else.  I know that Aunt Melissa has been helping with the other children as well.  Thanks ever so!

With Touch Football season starting Charlie is here demonstrating a proper Hike!

And look at these nice visitors.  Nothing more fun than spending time with cousins even if it is in the hospital.

Be True and we will too!

Elder and Sister Thatcher
Mom and Dad,
Grandma and Grandpa

"Do your duty, that is best; leave unto the Lord the rest!"

President Thomas S. Monson

The title of this post is one of my favorite President Monson quotes.  I love how it spurs me to action with confidence because I know I don't have to do everything - I'm not responsible to make things happen -  I just have to do my part.  That part is usually small, just an act of obedience.  I don't have to  worry about what anyone else chooses to do.  Isn't that an empowering thing.  Sometimes you just have to show up to have miracles happen.  After all it is the Lord who performs the miracles.

We have been experiencing miracles here by just showing up, by just going out and visiting as we have been asked.  We are what you might call bumbling missionaries.  We are unsure of ourselves and feel very unsure what to say and how to approach people.  Our assignment in the ward is to check on the inactives and see what we can do to help them.  We have a ward list we are working from.  Many of the people on it have long since moved or died or have left the church.  We check on everyone - that is our duty.   It is frightening to knock on the doors of people we don't know and there is always a little  trepidation about what to say to them.  But when we look back on our efforts we are amazed at what the Lord has done.  We are meeting with three wonderful families right now - sharing the gospel with them and trying to help them make progress.  Elder Thatcher keeps telling me how unusual this is - that in his mission in Holland it was terribly difficult to find whole families to teach. That is still the case here as well.  But into our laps the Lord has dropped three wonderful little families, and there are many others we are working with as well.

Here is a quote from Elder Thatcher's journal:  2 Sept 2017

Before coming on this mission I secretly desired a proselyting mission.  That is all I know about missionary work and I love the feelings I get when I contemplate the potential happiness a family will have by joining the church and by being faithful in it.  Our mission here in New Zealand is turning out to primarily be a proselyting mission and we have the best of both worlds because we get missionary training in the MTC.  
We have 2 appointments today one with Antonina and Samantha and Naomi, and Keisha and the other with the Hindu family; Roy Shelly, Ronak and Riana.  
I am very grateful that the Lord has sent us on the perfect mission.  How would we have known that we would be doing so much actual missionary work. 

Samantha, Naomi and Keisha

Aren't they beautiful!  These are Antonina and Moses' beautiful little girls.  You should see them jump up and down and cheer when they see us coming.  We love the children here.  They are so welcoming.  We would get into every door and baptize every person in every family if they were all children.  We have come to understand even better than ever before what the Lord meant when he said of children,  '. . . of such is the kingdom of heaven!' I am sure that on our Savior's 3 year mission the children must have lifted his heart each time he saw them.  It is so with us.

We love this family.  They want to get their lives in order and get sealed in the temple.  They have much to overcome to achieve this.  We want so much to help them and pray constantly that we will know what to say and teach to encourage them.  We know the Lord will help us if we do our duty!  We know he will help them if they do the same.  The biggest step sometimes is just mustering the courage to show up - or repent - and then what seemed impossible suddenly slips into place - the way opens - the miracles happen.  But you have to step into the light before the power of the light chases away the darkness in your life.

Another family we love is the Singh Family.  Roy, Shelley, Ronak (7) and Riana (2).  They are Hindu and the dearest family.  We met them while looking for a family on our ward list.  That family had long since moved away but we kept going back to the house because we met a son of the family that did live there and he was so impressive and kind to us.  He had friends who were Mormon and liked to play basketball with them at the chapel right next to the MTC.  Another time we went we met another son and he was equally impressive and wanted us to come back and talk to his parents.  When we finally met the father he seemed irritated and didn't want us there.  But . . .

As we were waiting for a response from our knocking at the door, we noticed that the lights were on in the house next door and Elder Thatcher said we should knock there because at least we knew someone was home.  So I followed my brave companion up the sidewalk of that home and waited slightly behind him as he knocked on the door.  Shelley answered the door with Ronak and Riana behind her.  Elder Thatcher told her we were missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and asked if we could give them a message.  She graciously invited us in.

We found out they were Hindu and asked if they had heard of Jesus Christ.  Ronak said he knew who Jesus was, 'He was born on Christmas!'  Ronak had friends that were Christian.  We showed them one of the Children's Bible videos and they watched with interest.  We love those videos and they have never failed to bring the spirit into a home when we play them for the children.  Elder Thatcher gave them a Book of Mormon and they invited us back.

I think we had gone twice before we met Roy, the father.  He was leaving for work as we were coming one day and Elder Thatcher explained who we were and asked if there was a time we could meet with the whole family.  He graciously told us to come on a Saturday.  We did and it was a wonderful meeting.

Remember I told you we were bumbling missionaries. . . we really don't know how to teach or what to say but somehow Heavenly Fathers sends the Spirit into the homes with us and it doesn't matter how weak we are, the time spent has a glow about it.  We showed Roy, Shelley, and  Ronak  'The Restoration' video and Roy was so excited when he saw Joseph Smith plowing a field, "That is just what I used to do as a boy! Just the same!"  They watched intently.

After Elder Thatcher asked what their concept of God was and Roy told us.  Elder Thatcher gave them a Book of Mormon and Ronak ran to get the one we had left before (we had forgotten we had given them one)  Ronak said he had been trying to read it but it was hard and he didn't understand so he asked his friends who were Christians to help him read and understand it. ( Isn't that a sweet picture to contemplate?).  We all turned to Alma 18 starting on verse 24 where Ammon teaches King Lamoni.  Elder Thatcher and Roy took turns reading it out loud. Elder Thatcher would ask if they understood what Ammon was teaching and how they felt about it.  They said they believed what Ammon was teaching.  We were invited back again.

Our next visit Shelley wasn't home but we taught Roy and Ronak anyway.  We showed the video 'The Church at a Glance".  When it began with the Tabernacle Choir singing in the Conference Center Roy said, "Oh, it's big!"  It gave an impression about the church that we couldn't convey by telling them about it.  Roy told us that Shelley had been trying to read the Book of Mormon.  It was another wonderful visit.  At the end Elder Thatcher taught Roy a little about prayer and asked if he would pray before we left.  We all knelt down and Roy gave the sweetest prayer addressing Heavenly Father and in the name of the 'Lord Almighty Jesus Christ'.  Such a sweet moment. We left that home walking on clouds - floating along with the sweetness of the Spirit.

These are just a few of our adventures as missionaries.  We are as weak as any of the young missionaries we rub shoulders with in the MTC but all of us can take along with us as we knock on doors and meet strangers on the street the finest, most seasoned, most successful companion of them all - the Holy Ghost.  And with this companion at our side a mission is truly an adventure of adventures.

Next time I'll tell you about our other little family that we love meeting with.

We don't have any pictures with Roy and Shelley's family.  Missionaries aren't supposed to look like tourists and take pictures as they proselyte so maybe sometime I'll be able to send a picture of them but not yet.

We have met some at doors who are very receptive and others who are fiercely against us coming in. 

This sweet, though very large dog wagged his tail against the door so loudly that we didn't even have to knock.

a very receptive investigator

This one wanted nothing to do with our message!

Missionary work that takes little courage

While on a walk a couple weeks ago.  Elder Thatcher and I spotted this lovely tree.  I have come to call it 'The Boo Radley Tree' (for any of you familiar with 'To Kill a Mockingbird') It had two lovely little fairy like places that were just calling out for me to place pass-a-long cards inside to be found by the fairies or someone bigger walking by the tree.

When we went back a few days later one of the cards was gone.  I placed another one in that tree receptacle and sweetened the take with lollies.  We haven't been back to see if the lollies and cards were taken but I will give further updates on this missionary tactic.  I especially liked leaving this 'Family History' card because it has more meaning - do you get it?  A Family Tree.

We hope that all of you at home are simply doing your duty and leaving to the Lord the rest.  None of us are adequately prepared to do the things we are called to do each day.
  

What student feels confident starting High School or Kindergarten for that matter?

What woman is ever ready to be a mother and raise children?  It is a daunting task!  So many situations come up where we simply don't know what to do to help a child or teach a principle or handle the drama of the day.  But if we humbly face each day and seek the companionship of the Spirit we sail through hard things and what is important happens.
  

What father feels qualified and is prepared to provide and guide his family?  We are just all so bumbling in so many areas but Heavenly Father will send His Spirit if we do our part and make us equal to whatever task lies before us.

Which of you Bishops felt ready to take on that responsibility? But now, you can ever testify how the Lord doesn't leave you alone.

I would guess that Megan doesn't feel perfectly prepared to be a missionary either but she will 'do her duty' and the Lord will work miracles through her.

And those facing difficult things - did you feel prepared to face what has come your way?  Has the Lord left you alone or do you walk into the trial with the Spirit beside you to teach and comfort and lift through it all?  

It is our prayer, our hope, our desire that each of us in this family will be found doing his or her duty and then leaving to the Lord the rest.  

We love you all,

Mom and Dad

Elder and Sister Thatcher