"JUST DON'T GIVE UP!"

There are so many beautiful flowers here right now.  There have always been flowers blooming because the winter didn't bring frost, but the flowers are different with each season and especially beautiful right now.

New Zealand is blossoming

We have enjoyed a great missionary week.   We have had people to teach and love.  Here is our report.

Matthew and his children

I think I mentioned last week that while tracting we met Matthew, a man who invited us back to teach his family.  We promised them donuts, which we delivered.  The four children, Trinity, Tristan, Matty, and Dakota are delightful and they love cats, especially Dakota.  There are at least 4 beautiful cats in the family.

We tried to teach them a lesson on the Restoration.  The children loved it when their father told  stories he remembered about the prophets of the Old Testament.  He especially loved the story of Noah and the Ark.  These children are Maori and go to a Maori school so they knew nothing about the Bible or Jesus. And their father had turned his back on God years ago and is just now seeking Him.   Don't you think it would be fun to be the first to tell someone the great stories we have grown up with?  Soon the children, all except for Matty became bored and one by one left the room.

We felt the Spirit come when Elder Thatcher turned to JSH and had Matthew read, starting in verse 7 and reading all the way through 19.  and also 23, 24, 25.   Joseph Smith’s words seemed to draw the Spirit.  They ring so true. The children, as if pulled by something began coming back into the room.  They sat quietly on the couch by their father and listened.

When Elder Thatcher started telling them about the visit of Angel Moroni we had their interest.  We showed the picture and the story was told with great feeling.  The children listened quietly and intently to the story.

The Angel Moroni visits Joseph Smith

We bore our testimonies of the beauty of the gospel and the blessings it has brought into our lives.  We told them we had been born in the church and then a thought came into my mind.  I suddenly wanted to tell them about my grandma Amacher.  I happened to be wearing the necklace that grandpa Amacher gave grandma Amacher when they were married.  I told them about my grandma, who had found the church when she was young and diseased.  They listened so earnestly as I told the story of how she was healed by the Priesthood.  I showed them the necklace I was wearing that had been my grandma's.  It was a missionary moment to remember.

We invited them to have family prayer together and pray individually as well.
We invited them to read more in the Book of Mormon.  We had left them two copies of the Book of Mormon at the last visit - an English copy and one in Maori which the children had wanted.  Both Matthew and Matty had been reading.
We invited them to go on a church tour with us this Thursday and they accepted.

Matthew said the prayer at the end of the lesson on his own.  He thanked the Lord for answering him of late and for accepting him back.  He thanked him for his children and their lives.  It was a beautiful, humble, sweet prayer.  The children followed us out to the car where we gave them candy and CTR rings.

Dakota, Tristan, Trinity, Matty

The Singh Family

On Tuesday we met with our dear family the Singh's.  Shelley, Ronak, Riana, and Aunty Lolita, from Fiji, were there and we taught a first lesson because we had not taught Aunty Lolita yet.  Ronak remembered everything and could answer all of our questions.  He is an amazing kid.  Since we first met him we have been impressed.  

While we talked about repentance Elder Thatcher asked Ronak if he knew what it meant to repent.
He didn’t really so we talked about doing something wrong - sinning - and how you can tell when you have done something wrong because you feel so badly about it.  Elder Thatcher taught him how you repent and that to repent is to change.

As Elder Thatcher was speaking a story came into my mind. I told Ronak the story about when I was around Ronak’s age and was angry at my mother and stuck my tongue out at her.  Ronak started to laugh and I told him how terrible I felt inside because I loved my mother.  I apologized to my mother but I also knelt down and asked Heavenly Father to forgive me because it had hurt Him too.  It was a story that came to my mind and in telling it I felt the Spirit teach Ronak and Shelley about repentance.  They could relate and understand.  Shelley said that Ronak is like that. If he does something wrong he feels terrible and will cry and apologize.

Two days in a row while teaching, a story had come to my mind that when told brought the Spirit with power into the room.  I know that missionaries are given words to speak in the very moment they need them.  We all need to speak the things that are brought to our remembrance for that is when the Holy Ghost becomes the teacher.

Ronak was interested in Elder Thatchers Bible and told him that he really wanted A Bible.  We told him we had one in the trunk of our car and Elder Thatcher went to get it for Ronak.   He showed him a little about the 'big book' - the topical guide, the Dictionary, the maps and the footnotes.  We showed him how to find all the different books in the Bible.  There is now a Bible in their home.

Before we left they had a visitor.  It was Roy's mother Timtim (Rita or Vita), Ronak and Riana's grandmother.  A lovely woman full of energy.  She was so nice to us and gracious.  She called Riana her ‘favorite’ and Ronak laughed and said he used to be her favorite.

Also during the discussion Riana had my phone and accidentally face timed Anna.  It was fun to talk to her a minute and introduce her to Riana and Ronak and Shelley and show them her picture on my computer and let Lolita see our big family.

Before leaving we picked up Ronak's Book of Mormon and turned to Mormon 1.   We read how when Mormon was 10 years of age Amaron came to him and told him he was 'a sober child and quick to observe'. 'Ronak', we said, 'you remind us of Mormon.  You are also quick to observe and learn quickly.'  We showed him the picture of Mormon working on the plates and told Ronak that the Lord had important things for him to do with his life and to not let a day go by without prayer and reading in the scriptures.

Mormon prepares the plates

As Elder Thatcher was going to get the Bible for Ronak and there was a lot of commotion with the grandmother coming.  I said to Shelley and Ronak that they were the only people we had ever taught who didn’t know about Jesus; who weren’t Christians.  I told them we didn’t know how to teach them everything and that our teachings weren’t very smooth but we had so much more to share with them.  Ronak said, “JUST DON’T GIVE UP!” He said it with such sincerity that it touched my heart.  I asked for them not to give up on us and Shelley said, “We won’t”

This touched Elder Thatchers heart when I told him about it.  The Spirit seemed to stay with us that night as we were once again filled with the gratitude and wonder that perhaps only missionaries feel.   We left with an appointment to come back next week.  

Bananas growing in a crowded yard - seen while tracting

Tuan Tran

We met with Tuan Tran on Wednesday.  We taught him the Plan of Salvation.   It is always the most effective to share scriptures with Tuan.  He values the truths found in the scriptures and loves to read new ones.   So even though we used the common props for teaching the Plan of Salvation that we spread out on the kitchen table before him, we spent most of the time reading the scriptures Elder Thatcher had selected for this lesson.  Because many of the scriptures were in the D&C and Pearl of Great Price we gave him his own Triple Combination.  He was so happy and said he had found references to the D&C in his study of the Bible we had given him and in the Book of Mormon but didn't know where to find those scriptures.  He is not an investigator that we worry will never read what we give him.  He reads.  He reads slowly and carefully, he ponders until he understands the verse he is reading and then he moves on.  And he loves the truths he is learning. 

When we finished teaching we asked if he had learned anything new.  With a sweeping motion of his arm indicating all the props depicting the Plan of Salvation, he said, 'All of this, especially the kingdoms, celestial, terrestrial, telestial.

Before the lesson started he ran into another room and brought back a gift for me that he had made.  It is a stand for my iPhone.  I noticed one like it last time at his house and commented that he was a good engineer and it was so handy.  On the front of it he had a note that reads:

hand made iphone stand

To: My sister N Brother in Lord Jesus Christ Thatcher!
These Bible’s Words fulfilled in me:
Psalms 119:6;10;11
Psalms 01:1…6
Alma 30:46-60
I present to you for remembers
God bless you n gives you miracles
Tuan Tran

I couldn't stop the tears from forming in my eyes as I later read these scriptures that Tuan says are fulfilled in him.  Isn't it touching that he includes a Book of Mormon scripture among the Bible ones.  They truly are scriptures that reflect Tuan's life and love for the Lord.

Here is one of them.  Psalm 119: 6, 10, 11  
Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.
With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

His life has been one of survival, of war, starvation, imprisonment and very hard things.  Yet he has, through many miracles, had his life preserved and guided.  He told us during the visit that when he was fleeing with his military group he prayed to know which way to go.  His answer said one way and he was captured by the communists by going that way.  Then he said,
God know everything, you see, that what I need - I find the Bible in prison.  God know - he direct.

Tuan gave the closing prayer.  I had turned on my recorder to record some of his stories and hadn’t turned it off so I have the recording of his beautiful prayer.  It took me a long time listening to it over and over again to understand the words he spoke but here is the prayer of Tuan Tran:

“Our Father in Heaven, our Lord Jesus Christ, (spoken with such love)
Accept and hearings our voice, and praying we now,
and we all the time invite you intos our heart.
Thanks you way, and you help, to send your messenger to preach and explain of your word in my heart.  and I’s all the time wish and follow you all the way to the end, that is you will.  I don’t want to outside of you law and you will. Please help us do you will.  And then the lead our Elder and Sister Thatchers to let the many listens, and then a miracle, and they help the way to go some how to spread law word. That is my wish, in the name of Jesus, I pray, Amen”

This prayer is as beautiful to us as is King Lamoni's prayer in the Book of Mormon.  We know Heavenly Father hears such prayers.  Any Father would be moved by them.  We are sharing beautiful truths with Tuan that he hasn't known before, but he is teaching us to be humble and to love God and the Lord Jesus Christ and to treasure their words.

Leitu and Enekosi

Our week held even more for us.  We got a text from Leitu asking us to come on Friday.  We shared at least 2 hours of gospel discussion with them.  We watched the video from the Church on President Monson together.  They were interested and pleased when it showed him in Samoa with the people there.  We hope to watch the funeral with them sometime.

Leitu told us that she wakes up about 5:00 every morning and while Enekosi is snoring away she prays.  When Enekosi wakes they read the Bible and Book of Mormon and then pray more.  We can tell there is a sweetness between them that wasn't there when we first met them.  We need to share that quote by President Marion G. Romney about how reading the Book of Mormon will bring a great spirit into your home.  They have witnessed this.

Sister Thatcher and Leitu

During the lesson they had a visit from Enekosi's sister and niece and children.  They were lovely people who had come to check on Leitu.  They brought food which after they were gone Enekosi divided to send some home with us.  You can't tell them no.  They want to give.

We love Enekosi and Leitu.  We want so much for them to be married and join the church.  They spoke of when they do, then they will teach their family,  Enekosi said he wants his family to not just follow him but follow the Lord. We know that Enekosi studies everything we ask him to read.  We hesitate to assign too much because we want him to keep reading in the Book of Mormon.  He is another man who treasures the word of the Lord.  

Agnes 

We had another appointment with Agnes.  She wasn't there when we arrived but her kind Tongan father had us come in and teach his grandchildren something.  They were on the back porch and we had a lot of fun talking to them and sharing some Children's Bible Videos.  They loved them! This family should be LDS.  They are great!

Rosary, Shival, Solomon, Lima, Epipheny, Tevita, and Paula watching Bible Videos

Shival, Sister Thatcher, Lima, Solomn, Rosary, Epiphany, Tevita, Paula - grandfather behind

New Intake at MTC

We also had a big week at the MTC with a fresh new intake of Missionaries.  It is always amazing to see how they keep coming - young people each one a miracle and a story as to how they came to serve missions.  We have around 50 missionaries again.   The last group to arrive were the French missionaries.  They came late and were registered as a group and interviewed that way as well.  It was about 9:30 pm at the end of a long day when we finally had them registered. 

early morning in the Moroni Room - awaiting the missionaries 

President Briggs - interviewing all eight late arrival missionaries together - French interpreter standing

Sunday readying for zone photograph

We were also able to fit a great District Meeting and a few walks into our week.  Many of our district missionaries were transferred this week.  We will miss those leaving and love those coming.

One of the new missionaries that is assigned here is Elder Daunasiga, our miracle missionary who left the MTC on Wednesday but will be staying for a few weeks in the Auckland Mission while he finishes his antibiotics.  We called our zone leader to request a Cambodian Book of Mormon for a new investigator we met tracting, Pin Pang.  (More on him later)  Elder Salesa answered and told us that his new companion was Elder Daunasiga and that he was very blessed to have him.  He told us what a great missionary he is and how he never lets anyone go without sharing his testimony with them and that what he says is so powerful!.  Elder Daunasiga told us to give a message to President Howes.  The message - 'tell President Howes everything he taught me is working!'  We love carrying such messages back to the MTC.

Playing 'Chubby Bunny' with grapes
Sister Tapu, Elder Thatcher, Elder Hopgood (from Leeds England), Elder Bartlett, Elder Sulley

Elder Bartlett wins - most grapes in his cheeks and still able to say 'Chubby Bunny'

Beautiful walk - Handsome Elder 

lazy missionary

That's our report for the week.  We miss all of you.  We are grateful for each one of you and hope your week was a good one.  Thank you for your prayers and support.  Thank you for your good lives.  We send prayers heavenward each day for all of you.  Our prayer is a little like Tuan's we all the time want to follow the Lord all the way to the end and we never want to be outside his law.   To this end we work, pray, and hope.  And with love, we try to share the majesty of the Gospel of our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ with whoever will let us into their homes.

Much love,

Mom and Dad,

Grandma and Grandpa,

Elder and Sister Thatcher