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