Here at 'The Rock' . . .

We have spent most of the past week at the MTC.  President and Sister Howes have had meetings and dinner appointments with Kellend Mills who is the Director of all the MTC's worldwide and the manager of the MTC in Provo.  Then early Friday morning they flew off to Fiji for a Mission Presidents Seminar.  They had asked us to stay at the MTC while they were gone ( they will be back this Wednesday) so we have moved into the MTC.  We greet the missionaries for every meal, are here to handle any problems or needs that might come up, administer any medication or bandage any wounds, pass out evening snacks in all the rooms,  gives hugs before bedtime,  wake them up at 6:30 in the morning.

Driving up early Friday morning our task seemed intimidating.

New Zealand MTC early Friday Morning - 'The Rock'

We have known this was coming for awhile now.   The first time they asked if we could take charge here, I began to smile.  The request brought to mind that episode in the Andy Griffith Show where Andy leaves Barney in charge of the jail.  I could picture everything falling apart with us in charge.  After all it seems a logical comparison as far as competency and ineptitude; Andy Taylor / Barney Fife  along side  President and Sister Howes / Elder and Sister Thatcher.  It has worried us.

President Thatcher got into form quickly and whipped those missionaries into shape letting them know what was expected.

"Now here at 'The Rock' we have two basic rules.  Memorize them so that you can say them in your sleep.  The first rule is . . . Obey all rules.  Secondly, do not write on the walls, as it takes a lot of work to erase writing off  of walls."

President Thatcher in charge!

Happenings at 'The Rock'

On the first Tuesday of each new Intake there is an Area Authority Devotional at the MTC.  This last Tuesday we were privileged to have Elder Ardern of the 70 speak to us.  If you remember he just spoke in Conference.

The Devotional was great. Elder Ardern had been the principal at the Church College in Hamilton and is a wonderful teacher. He used the white board and taught from the scriptures and PMG. He had the missionaries participating saying that participation increases Revelation.

He began by telling a story from when he was a missionary in the Franco-Belgium Mission. President Kimball came to his mission and greeted all the missionaries, shaking their hands.  The line progressed steadily until Elder Kimball came to him. “The line stopped when it got to me,  Elder Kimball asked, ‘Where are you from?’ I told him, 'New Zealand'.
‘Where?’
'New Zealand.' Then he asked a question we can all ask yourselves. Do you know why you are here?' He then pulled me close and whispered in my ear, ‘You are here for a purpose!’"

He told the missionaries that Christ's message was to come unto Christ and be saved.  That must be our message.  He asked them how Christ ministered and told them they should minister in the same way.

As he was speaking the scripture came to my mind from Isaiah. The one that Christ quoted in Nazareth about the Messiah, declaring himself to be the Messiah and that he had come to do certain things. The scripture is Isaiah 61:1. I turned to it and read…

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.”

It was a revelatory moment for me. Our work really is the same work that the Savior did. Our message is the same and we minister in the same way. I read; ‘preach good tidings unto the meek’ and thought of Enekosi.  I read; ‘bind up the broken hearted’ and thought of Natasha. I read; ‘proclaim liberty to the captives’ and thought of Moses. I thought of how our message and ministering will bless their lives as described in the next verses of the scripture;

“. . .   to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.”

As we take His message to these people we see the Lord ministering to them in their lives and feel the joy that comes to them. It is a marvelous work and a wonder.


That was a wonderful devotional but our District meeting later that morning, though small and simple was just as inspiring. In fact, what I learned in District meeting and what I felt there may stay with me far longer than the first meeting of the morning.

Elder Salesa is a sweet Elder and he plays the piano

Elder Salesa and family prayer

Our district leader Elder Sully asked that we go around the table and each tell how family prayer had effected our lives. Everything was pretty much what you would expect to hear; we were on again off again … our family were converts and never had family prayer until we joined the church. Then we have it sometimes… 'I used to threaten the kids if they didn’t want to pray I would call on their mother!' (of course that was from Elder Thatcher).

Then it was Elder Salesa’s turn. He is the sweetest Elder from Samoa. He was our District leader last meeting but is now one of the Zone leaders. He began by telling us that family prayer has always been very important to him and that he loves family prayer. The Spirit filled the room as he told us how the nation of Samoa is Christian, and the whole island has family prayer. There is an hour of curfew when everyone knows they need to be home in their family having prayer.

Men line the streets in white tee-shirts and red lava-lava’s (or something like that) they watch so that no one is playing or swimming or running around. If a car goes by it has to go very slowly. The hour is for family prayer. The whole nation participates every night.

He said that in his village his neighbors are members of the church. The homes are open so you can hear the hymn the neighbors have chosen to sing and your family choses another one. Everyone sings a hymn. He said he always loved this part of the hour and this is when he would feel the Spirit the strongest - as they sang the hymns as a family. Then they would pray. Someone would be called on to offer the family prayer. His family consisted of a big group - cousins, aunties, uncles, grandparents, and all of them prayed together. Never once in his life did he live a day without family prayer and never, not one day went by that they didn’t pray for the missionaries. He told us he can feel the prayers of his family as he serves now.

No one questioned the value of family prayer as he spoke so softly and fondly of this time spent with his family in Samoa. And all of us in the room wanted to experience what he did while growing up. I asked him since so many prayers were offered for the missionaries and the leaders of the church if many of his family had served missions. ‘Yes,’ he said, ‘all of them. all of my 5 sisters, and my cousins, all serve missions.”

Elsa Watkinson and Elder Thatcher 

As part of the Rescue night at Clover Park Ward we decided to visit Elsa, our sweet 67 year old friend that we met on one of our first nights visiting members of the ward. She lives alone, is a convert to the church, and is always so grateful for any visit from us. Her health isn’t good. She is very heavy and has trouble with her feet. It is difficult for her to walk so she spends most of her time in her chair or using her walker to go to the bathroom. We usually take her apples which, we did tonight along with a container of potato leek soup that I made this afternoon.

In our visiting she told us how hard it is for her to not be able to do much or get around. She wants to go to church but can’t because of her feet. I asked her if she would like a blessing. “Oh, that would be very nice.” she said in her exuberant way. Elder Thatcher went out to the car to get his consecrated oil and read her the scripture in James 5:15;

“Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven.”

She was interested in this. Then Elder Thatcher anointed her with the oil on her head and then told her he would seal the anointing and place his hands on her head one more time. He gave her a beautiful blessing and her response afterwards was one never to be forgotten.

“What is this sealing?” she asked. “Oh, I feel so wonderful. When you gave me that blessing I feel so excited, and happy, and cry, all at the same time. I feel so, oh, I don’t know - such a feeling!”

She told us that this is what she needed. That people come and bring her food that she doesn’t need, “I’m obese. Food is not my friend.” she said. “This is what I need. I need your prayers and you came and give me this blessing. I have only had the anointing one other time in 16 years. Oh, thank you, thank you.”

She was so excited about it and started saying that maybe she would be able to go to church and do things now. After thinking a minute she said, “Take up thy bed and walk! That is what I am thinking right now.”

I thought of Sister Howes telling us that when you receive a blessing to listen to the things you hear and feel and not just the words said over you. Those are your blessing as well as the words.

The thought came to show her the little children’s video of children talking about Christ healing the crippled man. She was so delighted with it. She could hardly watch for her excitement.

I can’t imagine Elder Thatcher ever giving another blessing that will be received with such whole souled gratitude and joy.

Elder Digo, Elder Guiaba, Sister Sasa. Elder Suianua, Sister Yuen, Elder Tarsong, Elder Adele, Elder Boeboe

Temple day on Thursday had four of our missionaries attending for the first time; Elder Muiava, Sister Sara, Elder Tarsong and Elder Boeboe.  Always a special day.




Elder Summerhays of the Summerhays golf family is head of the church Museum of the Pacific.  he is well loved here.

myself with Elder Hardy - he comes from good stock for sure!

Elder Hardy is from Cache Valley.  Cindy Young from the ward texted me to say that her nephew was at the MTC.  This handsome Elder is the great grandson of Marion Olsen.  We just love his grandmother - Jeri, who is Marion's daughter and would come to Paradise often to be with her father.  He is a fine Elder. There are 2 others here from Cache Valley as well.

A talented group - S. Carter (Logan) S.Yuen (Hong Kong) S. Sasa (PNG), S. Moana (Canada), E. Champou (French Canada)

This group made such beautiful music together one night after classes.  It filled the MTC with a soft evening peace.  It was sad to see them head off to their rooms for the night.

Brother Mills, who I mentioned has been here at the MTC this week held a meeting on Friday for all the Missionaries.  It was wonderful.  He showed pictures of all the MTC's in the world and told about each.  We wanted to give a cheer when the England MTC was shown.  It is the only one with a pond and looked beautiful.  We knew that Megan, or rather, our young and beautiful Sister Thatcher, was there and having an MTC experience along with 3000 other young missionaries in MTC's around the world this week.  It is quite an army.

Kyle looses his sister for two years - the Lord gains a mighty missionary

Many of our thoughts are in England with Sister Thatcher.  We used her 'farewell' talk in our devotional on Sunday.  It was on 'Recognizing the Spirit.'  Her thoughts were the perfect addition. It will be good to hear from her.  I am hoping she will let us put her letters on this blog.

I'll end with a quick update on our investigators Enekosi and Leitu.  We have been unable to meet with them as often as usual because of our duties at the MTC.  We did meet  a week ago after they had attended Sacrament Meeting. We left worried because although Enekosi expressed love for the Book of Mormon and gratitude for what they had learned he commented that all the churches were similar and maybe he should go to one where there were more old people.  We have worried and prayed about them since then.

This afternoon we met again.  They greeted us warmly as usual and our appointment with them was just wonderful.  Enekosi had been reading more of the Book of Mormon.  'I love this Mormon Book', he told us.  We had taken Leitu a birthday present on Friday of some church videos we had purchased at the distribution center Thursday on our temple trip.  Leitu said that Enekosi had watched them and loved them.  President Thatcher bore testimony of the Book and how it is he keystone of everything in the church.

We played a video of Elder Holland testifying about the Book of Mormon.  I think it is called 'The Book of Mormon - Safety for our Day'.  I worried when I started it that it would be too long but they were captured by it and the most powerful Spirit filled the room.  Leitu spoke reverently when it ended, 'It is so beautiful.  I haven't read the book but I listen to you, and I listen to Enekosi and I listen to this man and I love it too.  It is so good isn't it.  It only teaches good.'

Leitu has surgery for her cancer on Wednesday.  We will wait to see them again until after she is home but we will keep in touch every day.  We love them.  We love being with them and talking about the Lord and His gospel.  Our time with them is filled with a Heavenly presence;  times rich with the Spirit of the Lord.  We come away so grateful, so very grateful to have a front row seat watching the Lord do His work.  It is a wonderful thing for our eyes to behold and our hearts seem unable to contain all the joy we feel.  

Evening falls on the MTC

We walked around the MTC property tonight and wondered if the church would build a temple on these grounds.  It was peaceful and though night was falling, the missionaries inside were still in their classes teaching each other the lessons they have been preparing.  They came here just normal Single Adults and have become missionaries who spend many hours each day studying the word of God and preparing themselves to go out and Preach the Gospel.  We are reminded often that this is the school of the prophets - they will go from this place carrying a mighty testimony that Jesus is the Christ - hence prophets.

Morning comes early here.  I'll quote a little President Monson in closing:

Good night,
Sleep tight,
Wake up bright
In the morning light,
To do what's right
With all your might!

Much love,
Mom and Dad
Grandma and Grandpa
Elder and Sister Thatcher

Megan

New Zealand is beautiful.  Sometimes you want to pinch yourself to make sure you are not in some kind of a dream.   We turned down this beautiful street while looking for an address while in Auckland.  The light filtering softly through the enchanting branches gave it an unearthly quality.  If cars hadn't lined the roadway I could have believed that we had turned a corner and entered the Realm of the Elves.  The picture doesn't do it justice.

'The Green Glistening way of Glory"  I think that is what Anne of Green Gables would call it

We went to Auckland to visit one of the missionaries from the Auckland Mission, Elder Vaioa.  He is the Elder from Samoa who has had 2 brothers and his father pass away while he has been on his mission.  He recently injured his knee spiking a volley ball and had surgery last week.  We told him we would visit him as he recovered.  He was so happy to see us.  Maybe it was the treats we brought. He was lucky because the missionaries president let him stay with an uncle in Auckland while he recuperates and he will then be able to finish out the last few weeks of his mission.

Elder Vaioa, myself, the uncle

All of these missionaries lift us as we interact with them.  We love their faith and devotion.   If we could just live long enough to see how the Lord will use them in their future lives.  You know He will.


It is amazing how much happens in a week in a mission and how quickly those weeks fly by.  Page 13 of PMG is often quoted here at the MTC.  I'll put it here for you Megan but I have a feeling you will become very familiar with every page of the White Handbook before long.

'Time is one of the most precious resources Heavenly Father has given you.  The period when you are able to serve the Lord with all your time and all your efforts is extremely short.  Use it fully and wisely.'

We were delighted to be woken this morning by the sound of a text on my phone.  It was from Alex.  He had recorded the talks given by Megan and Jeff.  We must have received them soon after they had been given.  We listened to them again and again.  If we closed our eyes it felt like we were there in the meeting.  We even recognized the sounds of some of the grandchildren and familiar laughter when Megan waxed humorous.  Well done both of you.

Our almost 'Sister Thatcher'

We had a new intake of missionaries arrive at the MTC last Thursday.  As I met each new sister missionary I thought of Megan.  I watched as they entered this new, unknown place, met all the other missionaries, all new faces, from cultures unknown, and I thought of what it will like for Megan.  Over the last 5 days I have seen worry turn to confidence and great friendships grow.  That is one of the perks of serving a mission Megan, you will meet friends who will be lifelong friends that you will feel closer to than you could have imagined.  We are excited for you.

There were 8 Sister Missionaries among the group.  All beautiful - all different - all wonderful!

Sister Chaves (from Brazil), Sister Tarati (from French Polynesia), Sister Liu ( China), Sister Fonseca ( Brazil),
Sister Malaki (Samoa), Sister Yuen (Hong Kong), Sister Moana (Canada), Sister Sara (PNG), Sister Carter (US)

Highlights of the week 

Enekosi and Leitu

On Friday we took Enekosi and Leitu on a tour of the church.  We picked up the key from the Bishop so we were the only ones at the church.  It was magical just like we had been told it would be.  I remember Lorraine telling us that the first time she stepped into an LDS meeting house she felt like she was 'home'.  There is a spirit in our meeting houses that we don't notice if we have entered one every week of our lives.  

Enekosi and Leitu seemed to love it.  When we took them into the Chapel, they looked around with smiles on their faces.  Enekosi sat down on one of the benches and said, "I feel like I want to be a member of your church.  I will be right here for the rest of my life."  

Elder Thatcher explaining things to Enekosi and Leitu in the chapel
"I feel like I want to be right here for the rest of my life."  Enekosi

While in the chapel Leitu told me, "It has been so long since we were in a church.  It has been since he quit playing piano for Samoan Church and went way off.  Our children were all in Sunday School then but our grandchildren have never been to church.   It feels good.

When we looked in the gym Leitu saw the Basketball standards and commented that their youngest son, who is 19, loves basketball.  'It is his favorite'.  We told them he could come here to play with the other young men. 

We loved showing them the baptismal font where they could be baptized.  They loved seeing that.  Elder Thatcher told them that anyone with the Priesthood could baptism them.  He could baptize them but he would rather have someone from the ward perform the ordinance because we would be going home and they would make friends here in this ward.  As we left the room Enekosi said to me, "I want Elder Thatcher to baptism me.  He was very certain of that and I told him Elder Thatcher would be honored. 

As we continued through the church showing them other rooms they frequently commented on how big this church was.   

We took them into the Bishop's office and told Leitu that they could be married in this small private room or in their living room at home.  The Bishop could do it either place or in any other room in the Church.  Leitu looked around and said, "I think I would like it to be here."  That was exciting to us because it means she is starting to want to be married and that needs to happen before they can be baptized.  

As we were preparing to leave we asked them how they felt about being there in the church.  We loved what Enekosi said, "When I walk inside it's like I feel the Holy Spirit say, 'Where have you been?  You belong here.'"

It is like Lorraine, and many others have said, when you walk into the church for thee first time it is like coming home.

Sacrament Meeting with Enekosi and Leitu

We got permission to leave the MTC and attend Sacrament Meeting on Sunday with Enekosi and Leitu.  They wanted to come but wanted us to go with them the first time.  As we drove to the church we had our fingers crossed that they would actually show up.  We arrived 15 minutes early because we told them we would be waiting for them just inside the church.  But they were in the parking lot waiting for us.  They must have come at least 20 minutes early.  (I hope all you returned missionaries are smiling at this and shaking your heads in wonder)

We can't tell you how perfectly they were received by the good saints in the Clover Park ward.  Sister Vaivai hugged Leitu when she was still in the hallway and spoke to her in Samoan welcoming her.  Brother Vaivai (1st counselor in the Stake Presidency) spoke with Enekosi for at least 20 minutes after the meeting.  He spoke in Samoan and we could tell that they really hit it off.  After their visit Brother Vaivai walked over to Elder Thatcher and said, 'We are now best friends.  We must have known each other in the pre-earth life.  Thank you for finding, teaching, bringing them here so I could meet him.  I will always be grateful to you.  

Sister Thatcher, Leitu, Elder Thatcher, Enekosi, President Vaivai

President Vaivai sent a deacon down to our bench during the meeting to tell us they would call on us to bear or testimonies - so we didn't actually get out of speaking in Sacrament Meeting that day even though President and Sister Howes took our place speaking at the MTC.  We were thankful.  It allowed us to bear testimony to Enekosi and Leitu in that setting.  

All the other speakers spoke on messages that were perfect for them.  And after the closing prayer they were swarmed with members coming to shake their hands and meet them.  They just could not have been more warmly received.   We asked if they would come again next week and they said of course they would.  Leitu even wants to come to the party on Friday night with her granddaughter.   They couldn't stay for the other meetings because  they had company at home from Samoa.  They came to church even when they had company.   We floated back to the MTC on wings of joy.

Tracking with Elder Thatcher 

On Friday evening we had an appointment with Tito and his family.  They are a family we met tracking the same day we met Enekosi and Leitu.  This would have been our 3rd appointment with them.  But when Tito answered the door he looked surprised and said he thought our appointment was for next Friday.  He couldn't meet then. 

We went back to our car a little disappointed and wondered what we should do.  We had one hour before we were expected at the MTC.  President Thatcher said we should go tracking and finish Clutha Crescent since we were there.  It shouldn't surprise any of you that I really didn't want to do that.  I thought we should go early to the MTC.  President Thatcher sat quietly.  He doesn't force me into these things, but I could tell he felt we should tract so I told him I would happily go with him.  

When knocking at the first door a young looking woman with a baby answered and Elder Thatcher asked if her mother was home.  She said her mother in law was home and that the baby was hers.  We asked if we could show her a little video of Jesus and some children and she let us into the home.  

As we walked into the living room there was a girl in a wheelchair.  I immediately knew she had Cerebral Palsy because she reminded me so much of Kelli Werner.  Thinking of Kelli, I instantly loved her.  Her mother was also there and several other family members.  The girl in the wheelchair was named Denise she is 13 and she loved the video, watching with the excitement you can imagine if you know Kelli.  She wanted to see another one.  And after that they wanted one more.  This time we told them we would play one with a song we loved and they could sing along with us.  We played the video of lots of people singing, 'I Am a Child of God' and they all tried to sing along.  Denise was making happy noises and excited arm movements.  We told her about Kelli, friend that everyone loves.  I have the recording of the wonderful talk Kelli gave in Sacrament Meeting with Kathy giving Kelli's words,a couple years ago and told Denise that I would bring pictures of Kelli and that talk for her to listen to next time we came.  

While this was all happening Elder Thatcher was visiting with the other family members - a younger brother named Tomato, and the mother and father of  baby Denver, Mariah and Quentin. We learned they were Maori and other things.  Denise's mother, Natasha came close to me and began to whisper, "We have had some very hard things happen in our family.  And I have been thinking I can not stand it any more.  For two weeks I have been praying to God (If there is a God), to help me somehow.  I believe He has sent you here."  

Then she whispered some of the hard things she was carrying.  They have 7 children.  Before Denise was born she had a baby boy who when 4 months old was in bed with her and she rolled on him in her sleep and he died.  She said she knew she was the worst person on earth to have hurt her baby and that God must hate her.  Then this past year they have had two grand babies also die.  Their pictures were on the wall.  She once again said she knew God hated her and was punishing her.  Here was this loving mother who so gently and lovingly cared for Denise who felt she was hopelessly lost to all goodness.  

I whispered back that she was wrong.  She was a daughter of God who loved her dearly and wept with her at the loss of her baby.  I told her that because of Jesus Christ she and those babies would be resurrected and she would hold them again and raise them.  As I taught her these things a dark cloud seemed to lift from her face.  She smiled and whispered.  "I have been waiting 14 years to know this."  We turned to Moroni 8 and I read with her the words of Mormon about little children and how they are alive in Christ.  Then I gave her the book.  She held it to her heart and thanked me.  She believed every work I had told her.  She didn't question, she just believed and the joy in her face was so touching to me.  She said her partner would not be happy we were talking about God because he was very bitter.  

We told them we would come back to teach them more.   They all wanted that. 

Mariah, Denver, and Quentin Roberts
Sister Thatcher, Denise, and Natasha 

I am not only grateful for the beautiful truths we have about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the true nature of God, but I am profoundly grateful to have a missionary companion who leads me to tract.  None of the wonderful miracles we are experiencing would be happening if we hadn't done as my companion felt we should and gone tracking. 

We emailed Kathy and Kelli Werner and told them we had called them on a mission with us and to send pictures.  So Kelli is our new companion. 

Kelli had no idea she would be doing missionary work in NZ with us

I need to end this and head to a meeting.  I haven't checked it for mistakes or put more pictures in.  It will have to do. 

Much love from,
Mom and Dad,
Grandma and Grandpa,
Elder and Sister Thatcher 

Miracles are happening . . .

When our son Mark was on his mission in England it seemed that every letter he wrote home began with the words, 'Miracles are happening!'.  I would pick up his letters from the post office in Paradise and before opening the envelope I would guess what his first sentences would be . . . 'This mission is awesome! Miracles are happening!'  I was almost always right.

Now, being a missionary myself and serving here together in New Zealand,  Elder Thatcher and I are better able to understand our Mark's enthusiasm.   The simple truht is . . . MIRACLES ARE HAPPENING! Let me share a couple.

Elisapeta (Mousie) Skews

On Monday Morning Elder Thatcher received a phone call from Sister Clark at the mission office.  She said a woman named Lily had called them.  She had a Catholic friend who lived in our Clover Park ward area that needed a blessing.  She asked if someone could be sent to bless her and Sister Clark thought that since it was in our ward, she would ask Elder Thatcher to take care of it.

The woman's name was Elisapeta (Mousie) Skews.  Her address was 20 Libnei Ave.  That street was unfamiliar to us but that's not unusual.  After months of driving around our ward area we are still finding new streets and finding ourselves lost in the maze of roads.

Elder Thatcher wondered who he should take with him to give the blessing.  Because we work at the MTC every Sunday, and work with inactive and non-members in the ward, we don't know many people in the ward.  We naturally thought of President Briggs who had assisted in the blessing for Leitu.  But, we thought, since she is in the ward, it would be good for her to meet others there and have a contact with someone.

We called our good Bishop Utai to see if he could assist.  He was at work until later in the afternoon but his wife said he would be happy to go with us.  Elisapeta wouldn't be home until after 4:00 anyway so that was fine.

We had family home evening with our Edmonds family and it was after 6:00 when we left there.  We drove to the Bishops home since we hadn't heard from him.  He had just gotten home and had only that moment heard there was a request for a blessing.  He told us to wait while he got cleaned up and he would go with us.  We hated to take him away from his family on a Monday evening and knew he was tired from a long day at work, but still he came.  He followed us since we had the address and he too was unfamiliar with the street name.

Bishop Utai with Lamanite Ulugia and Elder Thatcher

(This is the only picture we have of Bishop Utai. I think it was already in this blog but we wanted you to see his face for this story)


Having punched the address into our NavMan - our GPS navigator,  we were embarrassed and a little heart sick as it took us way outside our ward boundaries.  We kept driving until we were way up behind the MTC in a part of town that was much more affluent and had a totally different feel to it.

'We should have asked Elder Briggs', we said to each other.  And as we arrived and got out of our cars we apologized to the Bishop who answered, 'It's alright.  It's all good.' While standing outside the house Elder Thatcher asked the bishop if he would anoint and then Elder Thatcher would seal the anointing.

The door was open waiting for us and as we stepped inside we saw Elisapeta sitting on a couch.  Her head was bald and one leg was noticeably missing.  She told us she was a staunch Catholic, but she had family members who were Mormon and her friend had told her she should receive a blessing from the Elders of the church.

Bishop Utai began talking to her.  She was Samoan, as is Bishop Utai.  Within seconds he had discovered that she was the sister of the wife of his best friend.  He knew her family intimately.  He loved them.  There was an immediate connection.  Bishop Utai was a Stake President in Samoa for 20 years.  This man, his best friend, had been a bishop in his Stake and then his counselor in the Stake Presidency.  He knew that Elisapeta's sister would be jumping for joy when she heard he was there with her Elisapeta.

Elisapeta, who is a classy woman, and spoke perfect English told us how much she had been missing her home, Samoa, but because of her cancer she had been unable to return there.

I had whispered to Elder Thatcher that Bishop Utai should seal the anointing.  That change was made.  Bishop Utai gave her a beautiful blessing in Samoan.

It was an amazing experience.  As we left we all knew that the Lord had orchestrated this.  Bishop Utai was supposed to have given that blessing.  He told us that the moment he walked in the door he felt something.  He looked at her and knew she was Samoan.  And then to find out all the connections he had with her family,  he knew that he had been brought to that home by the Lord.

Her story was a hard one.  Two years ago she was diagnosed with cancer in her leg.  It was unusual because it is a cancer that mostly affects children and young people, and she is over 60.  I am quite sure it is the same cancer that our Steven Blodgett had.

She had treatment, then an amputation, then two surgeries in her lungs where the cancer had spread and has recently had chemo again.  Because things were once again looking bleak she had listened to her friend and asked for a blessing from the Mormon Elders.  She did not complain about her terrible journey.  Her faith in the Lord was strong. She faced her life and wherever the journey would take her with courage and faith.  We all loved her.

After the blessing, all of us were uplifted.  She thanked us.  The link with her family was meaningful to her and to be given the blessing in her native Samoan was sweet.

We were so grateful to have been there and to see again the Lord working in behalf of His children.   The Lord is aware of His children.  He loves and blesses them.  His is a marvelous work and a wonder.  We seemed to float home that night with feelings of awe.  Once again as bumbling missionaries we had been able to be a small part of that great work.  We are witnesses of Heavenly Father's love for all, and of His quiet workings among His children.

The Sparrows fall

We know that Heavenly Father knows and loves Elisapeta.  We are also taught that even little birds can not fall without His notice.   Here is a true story - a little miracle for all the children.  This happened this week at the MTC and Sister Howes sent me the pictures.

Sister Howes looked out the window of the MTC and saw that Abinadi, one of the workers at the MTC, was huddled around something on the grass.  She went out to see what was happening and found that there was a mother duck with her 5 ducklings.  The mother was worried because one of the ducklings was stuck in the gutter and couldn't get back up on the grass with his mother and the other ducklings.

The mother duck and her 5 little ducklings

the little helpless duckling

Abinadi and Sister Howes gently helped the little duckling back onto the grass where  he promptly ran to his mother.

Sister Howes tried to shoo them on their way but the mother duck just kept walking around in circles and those circles led the six little ducklings precariously close to a grate in the gutter where they could have fallen through and been lost.

Not a safe place to be with little ducklings

 Try as she might, Sister Howes couldn't get the mother to move on to a safer place.  And then, as she got closer to the grate she thought she heard something.  She could hear quiet quacking sounds coming from deep down inside the grated hole.   President Howes came out to help and he and Abinadi lifted the grate.

President Howes and Abinadi 'To the Rescue'

There were 6 more baby duckings in that drain

That mother wouldn't leave because she had 6 more ducklings in peril.  Abinadi ran into the MTC and brought out a dust pan with a handle so they could reach the ducklings and lift them up our of the drain.

very gently they prodded the ducklings into the dust pan

Then up, up, up they lifted them one by one until they were free

The happy mother and her 12 duckings leave the MTC

The grateful, happy, mother duck then took all her rescued little ducklings with her and they were on their way.

Don't you just love happy endings?  Can you see how Heavenly Father watches over even the little ducks and sparrows?

Jesus taught that Heavenly Father watches over little sparrows, and that not one of them shall fall on the ground without the Father knowing.  Jesus then said, 'Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.' (Matthew 10:29)

I know that means that Heavenly Father will watch over us.  He knows when we are sad or hurt or in danger.  He is watching.  Doesn't that make you feel less afraid about your life and what lies ahead of you?

I love the teachings of Jesus.  I love how Heavenly Father watches over His little birds and ducklings.  I know he is watching over Elisapeta, and that He is watching over all of you too.


Enekosi and Leitu

Leitu and Enekosi taken today

In the last blog entry I mentioned that we had gone tracking on Clutha Crescent and found 3 new investigator families.  Well . . . MIRACLES ARE HAPPENING!

Let me give you an update on our dear friends Enekosi and Leitu.  We have gone to meet with them everyday this past week that we were not at the MTC.  They are the people that missionaries dreams are made of.

They loved the song we sang with them that first visit, 'I am a Child of God'.  When we went the next day Enekosi told us that when we sang that song he felt that we had been sent from God to help them.  We bought them the Primary Music from the Distribution Center when we went there on our temple trip.  We gave them both the CD recordings and the book of piano music of the primary songs.  We try to sing a primary song with them every visit.  This always brings the spirit.  When we arrive he  has the CD's playing the primary songs.  I wish we could take all you children with us to sing the songs for them.

We have taught them 4 lessons from PMG and showed them many videos from the church.  We have given them the Book of Mormon in both English and Samoan.  We were so filled with joy when Enekosi showed us his copies of the Book of Mormon. He had marked them heavily.  He tells us he reads a verse first in English and then in Samoan.  He reads out loud so that Leitu can hear.

He related to us in detail the stories from the Book of Mormon that he had read.  He told us about the Angel Moroni and Joseph Smith and how the Angel came all through the night and the next day and because he was so tired, Joseph couldn't work.  The angel came again and told him to tell his father what had happened and when he did, his father believed him.

He told us with excitement and smiles about Lehi, and Sariah and their four sons and the younger one who is so faithful.  In great detail he retold the story of the brothers going back to Jerusalem to get the brass plates and Nephi cutting off Laban's head and putting on his clothes so that the servant thought he was Laban.  'That is a great story!' he told us.

Can you picture Elder Thatcher and I as we sat listening to Enekosi talk about what he was reading in the Book of Mormon?  Can you feel our joy and excitement by just reading these words.

Enekosi will greet us when we come (which is everyday at 12:30, unless we have responsibilities at the MTC) with the door open, a big smile on his face and the Bible and both copies of the Book of Mormon under his arm.   He will ask us what he needs to do to be baptized.

We learned that he and Leitu have never been married.  They have 7 children (I think it is 7) and have lived together for 40 years, but have not married.

On our 3rd visit Enekosi said, ' I am not worried about Leitu dying because she will be with Jesus.' (Remember Leitu has cancer and it was her becoming sick that made him change his life 2 years ago.  He began reading the bible and praying every day.  He stopped drinking and changed his life to be a better man.  He will read something in the Bible and then try to live it.) 'But,' he continued, 'We can not stand before God as we are not married. We need you to teach us what we need to do so we can stand together before God.'

Enekosi is ready to be baptized right now but knows he cannot be baptized without being married.

Leitu isn't sure about that.  She told us she had been hurt so many times in the past by Enekosi that she still has some bitterness.  She is trying to forgive, but is not quite there.  Still she listens and tells us that she tries to pray and listens to Enekosi read the Book of Mormon and likes all she hears.  She said that after we leave she sits quietly and thinks about what we have taught them.  She will often comment about what we have taught or shown her, 'Oh, that is nice, that is beautiful.' Then she will smile her beautiful smile.

On the 2nd day that we came Enekosi had a paper with his Bible where he had written a list of scriptures to ask us about.  He began with a scripture about tithing and asked us if we believed in paying tithing.  Then he took us to a scripture in Matthew where it talked about paying tribute.  Enekosi believed it meant that you pay tribute to those who teach you the gospel.  Then Enekosi said something like this, 'I don't have a lot of money and I have two payments.  My son came to get the payments and I told him he can have the first payment but I must keep the second payment to give to you.' Then from his shirt pocket he pulled an envelop and handed it to Elder Thatcher.

Elder Thatcher explained to him that we do not take money for teaching the gospel and that we never would.  He told him that after he is baptized he can pay his tithing but that no one in the church will ever take money for any service they do in the church.  Elder Thatcher told him that if he had a million dollars we still wouldn't take his money.

Leitu said, 'When he is talking to our son, I just listen to what he is saying he will do.  But I know in my heart that you will not take the money.'

Yesterday we taught them about the commandments they would need to live to be baptized.  They listen hungrily.  They are so humble and teachable.  They are so dear.

We will go again in a few hours.  We want to take them to the church just to walk through it.  They want to come to church on Sunday but want us to go with them.  We are going to see if we can slip away from the MTC just this once to go with them.

What would you teach them next? Can you feel how honored we feel to be able to meet with Enekosi and Leitu?  Wouldn't you love to come with us and enter their home and open the Book of Mormon to read with them, and feel the Spirit of the Lord as He fills that humble home and makes the truths of the gospel glow with warmth and light?  Wouldn't you love to be a missionary too?

Antonina, Naomi, Samantha, Kesha and the new puppy

We love to visit our sweet Antonina and Moses's family.  We haven't been able to see Moses for a while.  He has a new job.  But we have visited with the others. They love to play games with Elder Thatcher.   Do you that know Elder Thatcher find it funny that he is having fun playing games with the children?  Miracles ARE happening.  His competitive nature remains unchanged - he likes to win!

Elder Thatcher, Naomi, Samantha, and Nina

Naomi, Samantha and Kesha have a new puppy.  He is really cute.  I even like him.  Anna would be begging for a puppy if she could see him.

I can't remember his name but it is something cute!

Naomi and Samantha love him

The Edmonds

We usually have family home evening with the Edmond family.  We love them. They are always fun to be with.   It is their daughter Teqwyn that went to Young Women's and loved it.  We didn't have a very good visit this last time.  Doug was not home and Keala was worried about something and needed to handle it on the phone.  But we loved our visit with her brother Richie who lives with them and helps with everything in the family.  You can see how the little ones love him.

Richie and Waimarie

Richie left Hawaii and a job he loved to come to New Zealand to help his sister Keala with the children.  He has a heart of gold.  He worked at the place that Anna wants to work at in Hawaii where they give horse rides and where many of the famous movies are filmed.  He was a cook there and they told him he has a job with them whenever he returns.


Teqwyn asked if she could read something from the Book of Mormon.  She read 1 Nephi chapters 3 and 4.  She read while everything swirled around her.  She let her friend Gracie read parts of it, and gave her sister Georaeh a chance to read a few verses too, but she loves to read herself.

Teqwyn reading 1 Nephi chapel 3

1 Nephew Chapter 4

This family loves to play games as well.  Georaeh is even more competitive than Elder Thatcher and she doesn't 'let the Wookie win'!

The Missionaries are off

On Thursday we get a whole new intake of missionaries.  This means that all of those at the MTC have been flying off to their fields.  We slipped into the MTC last night to work on an assignment there and were able to say goodbye to some of them.  They were pretty excited as they were weighing their luggage in preparation for their flights.

Elder Moses, one of the dear Elders from Kiribati, one who came from poverty with very little with him is one of our favorites.  He never shakes your hand without saying, 'love you'.  He has asked many times that we take our picture with him.  He has no camera and can't take pictures of his own but he loves us to take them and hopes he will get to see them.  We had some printed for him and Sister Howes will give them to him when he leaves.

Elder Moses gave President Thatcher a big hug and shook my hand with great warmth saying, 'I never forget you! Love you! Great love and respect you!'  That is dear Elder Moses.   So full of love.  So full of gratitude.  In his most humble way he will be a great servant of the Lord.  Love pours from him and all who he meets will be blessed as we have.

Elder William and Elder Moses both from Kiribati

Elder Moses, Sister Thatcher, President Thatcher, Elder Williams

We love hearing from you and receiving pictures of the happenings back home.  It is nice to see when you get together and we are happy that someone is using this Chick-fil-A cards.

Matt, Gideon, Jenny, Tommy, Katie, Alison, Greg, Alex, Will and Tiffanie

It looks like fall has come to Utah.  Here in New Zealand it is turning to Spring.  Hope you are all enjoying the pumpkins and Halloween decorations.  Can't wait to see what you all dress up like this year.

Lily, Aaron, Ella

Our thoughts and prayers are with Megan.  We will be wishing we could hear you this Sunday.  Please someone record the meeting for us.  You are in our prayers Megan.  An adventure awaits.  If you weren't just a little scared it wouldn't be an adventure.

Still, I have so many memories of your courage as you braved the most frightening rides at Disneyland, (unlike some others who will not be named here).  And President Thatcher and I remember when you rode that high and dangerous zip-line in Young Ward over that pond without the slightest show of fear.

We have watched you face life with fun, humor, and courage.  We can see you stepping onto that plane, facing forward into the unknown with excitement and faith in your heart.  Now your parents on the other hand . . .

Go with Faith and a hug Megan.
We love you.

oh, the memories

the closest I can get to giving you a hug

You are going to be great!

With that we will sign off for another week.  As Elder Moses would say. . . 'Love You!'


Mom and Dad
Grandma and Grandpa
President and Sister Thatcher

Cluther Crescent . . .

Our Missionary work  this week was weak.  All our appointments seemed to fall through.  It is school break here.  I think they would call it their Spring Break.  But their breaks last longer than in the states.  They have a shorter summer break and longer breaks during the year.  Their summer break is over Christmas and is about 6 weeks long, we have been told.  

This break lasts 2 or 3 weeks and it has meant that our families have been off having fun, or else have had lots of company staying with them, thus not having time to meet with us.  Such is the case with Antonina and Moses.  

Moses' cousin Steve has cancer and is not doing well.  He has been spending time at their home while out of the hospital, and all their relatives and friends have been coming to spend time with him as well.  When our appointment for Saturday was cancelled because they had a houseful of company, we decided to drop some food off for them in hopes it would help them feed everyone.  

Dropping off a box of food to Antonina and Moses

Each time we have stopped by Moses' and Antonina's home this past week, Moses and his cousin and several friends have been sitting outside by their garage.  They are working on an old car.

We are aware that one of the big things people look for while buying a house, (we learn a lot from watching HGTV) is what they call 'A Man Cave'.  In New Zealand it seems that the garage is used as 'A Man Cave'.  They are fixed up with everything except cars inside.  They watch TV in their garages, they drink, and smoke, and play cards in them.  They visit, laugh, and even dance (if they are drunk enough) in their Man Cave Garages.

Moses has greeted us from his garage this week with his cousin Steve, (wearing a hospital mask) sitting with a circle of friends, enjoying each other.  They greeted us with much warmth.  Steve has been on our minds of late.  We met him the first night we met Moses.  We didn't know then that he had a very bad form of Leukemia. He has been in the hospital the last few weeks.

Families are close here.  So many have come to visit with Steve.  He was raised in the church and was even named after a missionary in Samoa.   He has not been active, but still holds a love for what he knew was true in his boyhood.  He is young, in his 30's and has a sweet wife, and a darling little curly haired boy.  (Not sure if they have other children)

We invited all 3 of our investigator families to come with us to Conference.  It is broadcast in the churches a week after you watch it live back home.  It is one of  the only times we would be able to attend church with our families because they would be watching it at the MTC as wel,l and our responsibilities would be less at the MTC.

We dropped off numerous invitations and reminders to our families, and thought for sure they would come, but no one made it.  We even went to each session at our Clover Park Ward, just in case they showed up, but no one did.

Sunday Morning Conference Session in Clover Park Ward

Still it was nice to be with the ward members who we really do not know.  We learned that we love them.  We love our Bishop, Bishop Utai, who we do know and love and met our Stake President.

Many came and sat through the cold sessions there.  It is very cold in the churches here.  No heat.  The longer you sit, the colder you become.  Still the good saints of New Zealand come, and sit, and listen, and love, Conference.  The children are beautiful.  Have I said how much we love the children here?

We arrived at the MTC Sunday morning about 7:00 for breakfast with the missionaries, and for Leadership Council Meeting at 8:00.

I was sitting by President Thatcher in the Moroni room during the meeting and noticed a little scab on his hand.  It was all but healed with only a small, white piece of skin that was not totally normal.   I thought I could just pull that piece of skin and leave the hand like new.  I began to pick.  A little of the skin came loose leaving another little piece that needed pulling.  Using my perfect fingernails, that seemed made for the job, I kept at it trying to clean up that scar.  I was able to pull off the last little piece leaving the hand perfectly smooth, but then noticed to my shock, that beads of blood were oozing out of the scar I had just picked.  I felt badly.  I hadn't meant to do harm or hurt dad but it must have hurt.

The rest of the meeting I kept thinking about how we try to correct others, just fix some little thing about them that we are sure we can set right.  There is a danger in trying to fix someone else.  As you pick at them, you are not in a position to feel when your picking begins to hurt or do damage.

It was a Sunday lesson that I needed to learn.  It wasn't taught by a speaker or in a conference talk.  I learned it from a few drops of blood, the result of my picking at some minor flaw on someone that I love dearly.   I thought of all the hurt I have probably caused each of you.  Please forgive my past picking and correcting.  I will try to do better at only picking on myself.  I can do that, and monitor when I have gone too deep, and am about to draw blood.

For a little sore on dad's hand, it taught me a big lesson!

After we realized that none of our investigators were coming to the Sunday afternoon conference session we slipped out of Dawson Chapel and headed back to watch it at the MTC.

President and Sister Howes had printed off all the talks for us so we could have them while we watched the session. That way, instead of taking notes, we marked our copy of the talks.  It was a wonderful way to enjoy Conference.

The missionaries took notes - not having the talks in front of them.   Between sessions they would hold a Devotional where the missionaries would talk about the things they learned in the session - what had resonated with them.  The Moroni room had been set up with tables and 5 missionaries per table.  They could easily take notes and mark scriptures while watching.  We loved hearing the things that impressed them.  President Howes had them tell the goals they made for themselves as a result of what they had learned in Conference.

Sister Briggs and President Thatcher sing the rest song in Sunday PM Session of Conference - MTC 

 The Sister Missionaries watched the Women's Meeting in the Mormon room while the Elders watched the Priesthood Session in the Moroni Room.  I made a point of being in Priesthood meeting (just call dad and I Aaron and Lorraine) for the opening two songs and the final song.

I knew just when and where to look for Greg, Mark, James, Stephen, Eric and Thatcher and felt the warmth and joy of a happy heart when ever they came on the screen.  The music was beautiful.  We were so proud of you.

Conference filled our hearts.  Was it an extra special Conference or is it just that we are here, as missionaries that it felt so powerful?

My copies of the talks are filled with comments and investigators names by special sentences or stories that I want to share with them.   The margins are also filled with your names - not that I want to pick at you, but rather that the stories or scriptures reminded me of your faith and courage at facing life.  I marked the margin with Megan's name when I felt that something would have special meaning for her as she embarks on her mission.  My marks color faith filled sections that seemed to be meant for me, at this time in my journey.

Conference is a revelatory time - a time saturated with the Spirit.  Imagine how many hearts are warmed, strengthened, filled with determination to do better, and how many thoughts of service to be given, fill the minds of all who listen.  Conference carries power.  We leave stronger saints.  We are so grateful to be members of this church and have the privilege of being taught by prophets, seers and revelators.


Both of us felt while listening to Conference that we need to be better missionaries.  We need to do more.  President Thatcher expressed to me on our way home from the MTC last night that we needed to do more with tracking.

I think I have told you that I am a fearful missionary where tracking is concerned.  I go, but I follow my companion, and I tremble a little as he leads me along.

We went tracking this afternoon.  We decided that maybe more people would be home during the day since the children were out of school.  We first went to our investigators to set up our next appointments.  Then we tried to be led to a road to tract.

Cluther Crescent, seemed right somehow.  Maybe it was the unusual number of birdsongs coming from the trees on that charming street or the flowers that seemed extra bright and blooming there.  We decided to tract for one hour.  It was quite the hour.

pink blooms on Cluther Crescent today

We had stopped at a couple houses where no one was home, and one where the mother with 4 small children didn't seem to have time for two old missionaries.  Then we saw 3 little girls playing in a yard across the street.  'Let's go there.' I said, someone is home there.

The little girls said their grandmother was home and ran to get her.  She said she had an appointment at the hospital but we asked if we could show the children a video that would only take 5 minutes.  We even offered to show it to them on the steps outside.  She asked us to come in to the kitchen.

On our way inside her husband came out of the kitchen.  We thought he was bothered that we were there, but then he so kindly welcomed us and he and his wife sat with us as we showed the Children's Bible Video, 'Fishers of Men'.

The grandfather Enekosi, seemed to really like it.  he told us that he taught the children to pray and sing songs.  I told him we had a song we liked to teach the children called ‘I am a Child of God’ and asked if we could show that short video.  We showed them the video, ‘I Am a Child of God’. We sang along and the children sang along too.  Enekosi seemed very touched as did his wife Leitu.

He told us that he had been a bad man with many sins until 2 years ago when his wife was diagnosed with Cancer.  Since then he has changed.  He reads the Bible and prays every day.  He asked us to pray for his wife before we left.  We asked if he would like President Thatcher to give her a blessing,  explaining that President Thatcher holds the Priesthood, the same power that Jesus had and used to heal the sick.  They seemed to like that and wanted her to have a blessing.  We told them we would come back tomorrow (with President Briggs) to give her a blessing,  and would have a prayer now with them.  President Thatcher offered the prayer.

It was a sweet visit - Angels must have gone before us.  Imagine, Enokosi was asking US to pray,  and wanting us to teach them more.  He is from Samoa. We will go back tomorrow and not only give Leitu, his wife, a blessing, but teach them the Plan of Salvation.

home of Enokosi and Leitu Peni - 12 Cluther Crescent

Across the street we walked and knocked on the door of Natu Papalii.  He told us he has many family members who are members of the Mormon church.  He is not, because his father is the minister in the Assembly of God Church.  Still he invited us to come back on Saturday and teach him more.

We stopped at another home where a little boy answered the door and ran to get his mother.  She told us she was not interested.  She is Catholic.   We left but that little boy watched us from his window, waving to us for the longest time as we made our way to their neighbors home.

We knocked at an impressive door - freshly painted and well kept.  The windows in the door were clean and the porch well swept.  A boy of about 9 answered the door and went for his father.  We are not sure if this was the father or grandfather,  but he welcomed us inside when we told him we would show a video about Jesus to the boys who, he thought had been watching too much TV on their school break.   We showed, 'Fisher's of Men',  partly because we had just shown it at another house and it had been so well received.

The father, Tito Fulutusi, seemed very pleased.  He said he took the boys to church every Sunday.  He was thankful that they watched our video instead of more TV.

We also showed them, the President Hinckley video about the two boys who put silver dollars in a man's shoes.  They liked that one too.  Tito wanted to know what we believe.  President Thatcher made an appointment for Saturday to teach them more.   He wondered if they would like to be taught by Elders who speak Samoan.  Tito said he reads Samoan better than English but the boys like English.  We may have the Samoan Elders teach them.

In less than an hour we had met and made appointments to teach 3 new families.   We came home and fell to our knees.  Sometimes prayers of thanks don't seem to be adequate to thank Heavenly Father for His help.  We felt the angels round about us today.  We felt that the Lord was going before us and was on our right hand and our left hand.  We are grateful missionaries.   We love this work.

President Thatcher is the missionary here.   I'm sure this all means that we will be doing much more tracking.  I will follow my companion down Cluther Crescent, and down other roads where the birds are singing and the flowers are blooming.  Who knows, maybe there will come a time when I follow more boldly and with stronger faith and even a little excitement.

We send our love,
Mom and Dad,
Grandma and Grandpa,
Elder and Sister Thatcher