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