Anastasia
Heart don't fail me now
Courage don't desert me
Don't turn back now that we're here
People always say
Life is full of choices
No one ever mentions fear
Or how the world can seem so vast
On this journey to . . .
(somehow this seems to fit)
You won't believe this but we met an investigator while grocery shopping this time - no tracting involved. We were in the fruit department when this darling woman came up to us and said she knew we were missionaries. She had waited patiently while we finished talking to a little boy about coconuts before she approached us.
Her name is Anastasia. She was born in South Africa but is married to a Samoan (Pele, which means 'darling') and has 4 little children, Zion-Leigh (6), Zara-Leigh (5), Omari (3), and Lucy (4 months). She has met with missionaries before and has a love for the church already. She told us that when she saw us it was like there was light and electricity surrounding us. When we asked if she would like us to come to her home and teach her family she was very excited and told us to come the next day.
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| Anastasia and Zara-Leigh |
We have met once with Anastasia and learned a little about her life and desires. She is married but she told us the marriage was a troubled one. Her husband was a member of the church from Samoa but not active since his childhood. We hear this story often. It makes us appreciate the missionaries at the MTC from the islands, who somehow make it on missions. Anastasia and Pele lived together before being married and were only married because of her. Her grandmother was Christian and drummed into Anastashia's head as a child - MARRIAGE! So she knew that is what she should do and Pele went along with it. She is wanting to change her life and she already seems to know that the Mormon church is the place where truth and light exist.
We met with her last night. Her husband wasn't home but her aunt Geraldine was, and the two of them sat down with us as we shared lesson one. It was a wonderful, spirit filled hour. They both ate up every concept we shared.
"What you have just taught us about God is what I have always believed." Anastashia told us.
She also said, "When I go to the Life church there are hundreds of people and one man speaking. But here are two of you with two of us - we can ask questions and be taught so personally." We want them to know that the church will include both big meetings and one on one learning and serving others.
We asked them to pray about what we had taught them to know if it is true and Anastasia said, "I know it is true. I know by just looking at you and thinking about your family and seeing how these things have blessed you."
When we opened up a scripture to read, aunt Geraldine told us that she grew up in a Catholic family in South Africa and that every Monday night the family would gather to read from the Bible and discuss what they read. Then they would talk and share about their day with each other. She loved those times and seemed to love to be reading from the scriptures with us.
They wanted to learn. We left each with a Book of Mormon and encouragement to read tonight. We invited them to hear Elder Andersen on Sunday and they seemed to have a desire to go and hear an Apostle of the Lord. (Have we mentioned that Elder Andersen is coming to New Zealand and to our Stake as well. There is a special Stake Conference this Sunday and we are trying to invite everyone we have met. It is making for a very busy week.)
From Elder Thatcher; "I thought it was one of the best teaching experiences we have had on our mission. They acted very golden, were eager to learn more, and because they were so eager they wanted us to come back today.
Missionary work is the most humbling thing for me. We went last night after fervent prayer. We so want to share the gospel and we know how hard it is for people to embrace all the change that joining the church requires. We pray for angels and of course the Holy Ghost to be with us. We pray for the right words and the right questions to ask. We pray knowing that we can't do this without the Lord's help. Then we pray in gratitude for the help received. And we ponder at the wonder of this work. We love seeing how Heavenly Father watches over his children and knows each heart. We have had so many touching experiences. Tings have happened that we have heard other missionaries talk abou. To hear Anastasia tell about how she saw us at Pak and Save and we were glowing is one of those things we will hold in our hearts and ponder. We hope all of you are praying for the missionaries and those they teach. Those prayers have power. We feel them.
Anastasia's and Pele's children are so beautiful. Little Omari would point his finger at Elder Thatcher and say, "You gave me candy!" We promised him banana's next time.
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| Omari and Elder Thatcher |
Leai and Alofa
We have also been teaching a wonderful woman named Leai and her member husband, Alofa. I don't remember if I have written about this family. Alofa is a member of the church who was active in his childhood and moved to New Zealand when he was 12 to live with his grandfather. His grandfather told him that as long as he was living with him he would not go to that Mormon church, he would go with him to the Methodist church. Out of respect for his grandfather, Alofa did just that. He attended the Methodist church for years with his grandfather. That is where he met his 'lovely' wife, as he calls Leai. "But," he told us, "two years ago my grandfather died, and then I went back to the Mormon Church that I love. I take all my 5 children with me and they have been baptised in the church. I want you to teach my wife."
We met Alofa while tracting on Rapson Road. A little girl opened the door. We could see past her into a living room where two older people were sitting. They didn't look happy to see us at the door but the little girl did. She seemed to know who we were and ran to get her father who issued us into the yard where he spoke to us and told us the above.
The family lives with Leai's father and mother who are strong Methodists. He told us he would ask Leai if she would let us teach her. She agreed and we have now met 3 times at the church to teach her. It is a joy. She is 'lovely' just as Alofa told us. She is also bright and a true investigator. She has a law degree and loves to study. She is reading the Book of Mormon and brings good questions to our lessons. She is also serious about giving this church a chance. She has friends who are x-mormons who are working against us but she keeps reading and praying. Alofa, who speaks less English comes to the meetings and reads along in Samoan. He attends the Samoan ward with his children and the great saints of that ward are working with this little family.
Leai has told us that when she knows the church is true she will be baptised. We pray for her and for Alofa. We know that the Lord is true to His word and will answer her if she seeks to know and prays with faith in the name of Jesus Christ. She loves the Bible and knows how to communicate with God. We smile when we think of Leai and we pray.
Natasha
You might not remember Natasha. She is the mother of Denise that we met months ago. Denise is like Kelly Werner and we had a special missionary time in their home. We have tried and tried to meet with them again. Natasha's partner is very against us and Elder Thatcher told her we couldn't teach her without his ok. She is too afraid to ask him. Still we have gone back time and again to give them things and find out how they are. On Monday we stopped in and her son told us that Natasha was in the hospital. We immediately went there to visit her. The parking was totally full and after driving around for 1/2 hour without getting a spot I jumped out of the car and went in alone to find her while Elder Thatcher stayed in the car.
It was all miraculous that I got to see her. We only knew her by her partners last name and she wasn't registered under that. A sweet woman at the reception desk started looking through thousands of patients names. When I told her the address of Natasha she was able to locate her and I was off down the maze of corridors in Middlemore Hospital and finally to her room.
We had such a nice visit. She is in a lot of pain and they have her pretty drugged up but she was so pleased to see me and asked if I had anything she could read. I went out to the car and got her a Book of Mormon, a pamphlet on the testimony of Joseph Smith and several Ensigns and New Era's. She was thrilled.
Often missionaries don't get to do the work they want to do but they get to go on little errands for the Lord. Sometimes we get to share love and kindness and sometimes people will take something inspiring to read. We do any and all of these in hopes that the Spirit will touch hearts and lead those people we have met and come to love along, ever nearer to truth and the Lord. We invite others to come unto Christ in many ways. Sometimes we visit the sick. I often think of what President Monson would say to his daughter Anne after they had made a visit to someone, 'I think we did some good today.'
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| Natasha in the hospital |
Tracting Report
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| Elder Thatcher with his tracting book |
We continue to tract and we continue to have miracles. We knocked on a first door one night and met Ilaisaane, a sweet Tongan woman who let us in so kindly. We spent the rest of the evening there.
When we were all sitting down she told us they had been Mormons and very active at one time. There was a picture of a handsome young man on her mantle and another picture of what looked like the same young man in a professional Rugby uniform. Elder Thatcher asked Ilaisaane if it was her son. She told us he was her son but he was dead. 'He died in 2013 on this very day.' She told us. He had played rugby professionally and thought he was being placed on the highest team and instead was cut. He committed suicide which was a terrible blow to the whole family. Sometimes you just know that you were supposed to be someplace at the time you were there.
Ilaisaane and her husband have 10 children most of which live in Australia. We arranged to have home evening with them last Monday. Elder Thatcher thinks we should turn this family over to the Tongan Elders in our ward who also work in the Tongan ward in the Stake. One of them is actually related to Ilaisaane's husband and he doesn't like to attend the English ward where he understands nothing. We were able to tell the ward about this family and many of the great members live on her street. Iliasaane has a 10 year old daughter, Mele, who has not been baptised.
Many are lost in New Zealand and without tracting some of the dear people we work with would not have been found. We want to knock on every door on every street in the clover Park Ward before we leave in 8 weeks.
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| The tallest girl is Mele, Ilaisaane's daughter - the others come running when they see our car they know Elder Thatcher will have treats in the trunk for them |
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| Elder Thatcher's friends - treats bring them running |
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| We also give them cards with Jesus' picture on or the Articles of Faith you would think we had given them a great treasure! |
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| Elder Thatcher had me show them the picture of our family. You can tell they were amazed. They wanted to know all your names and how old you were. |
Coromandel Peninsula
The temple was closed on Thursday so President and Sister Briggs and the two of us took a little day trip to Coromandel Peninsula and saw some beautiful sights.
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| We stopped at the Driving Creek Railway to take a ride This place was built by one man - a potter who built his railway by himself laying every rail in order to get up the mountain to bring back clay and wood for his kilns I especially like the sign reading, 'nowhere in particular' |
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| We took a ride on the Driving Creek Railway The rails were only 15 inches apart the train was also built by the same eclectic man We knew we were somewhere that would never be duplicated anywhere else on the planet |
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| Our guide and Presidents Thatcher and Briggs in the 'Eyefull' Tower named for its magnificent views |
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| 'A one hour round trip on a narrow gauge mountain train through a beautiful forest' Sister Briggs is a delightful travel companion |
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| 'Eclectic' is a good word for this unique place check out this retaining wall build from bottles |
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| Everywhere you looked there were charming 'eclectic' details |
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| We love the silver ferns of New Zealand Did you know that at night the under part of the fern - the silver underleaf was used to catch the moonlight and would light the way as the Maoris found their way at night through the thick Bush |
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| Every sign was handmade and usually of clay Every nook and cranny was filled with something this man had made |
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| He made all the bricks that were used in many places in the railway |
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| Eclectic pottery |
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| The man himself - Barry Brickell He spent 40 years building this place and was still laying rails before he died at 84 He is buried on his mountain |
We also had time to take the beautiful hike to Cathedral Cove. This amazingly beautiful spot is featured in the Narnia movie, "Prince Caspian". Sadly my phone ran out of batteries so my pictures of it are sparse.
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| Beautiful vistas on the trail |
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| Look at this lush moss covered little cove on the trail. I was looking for fairies |
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| Cathedral Cove. It is massive and gorgeous. I will try to get some pics from Sister Briggs This doesn't do it justice |
Anne's Baptism and Kate's Blessing
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| Congratulations Anne It looks like you had a perfect Baptism Day We are so proud of you! |
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| Is it GREAT to be EIGHT Anne? It looks like your grandma Barbara was busy making your day special |
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| We loved the pictures of this special day Sara, Kate and Kent |
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| Love the baby we have yet to hold and the dress we want to know the story of |
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| The party looked fun and delicious |
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| Been feeling a little guilty about our beautiful New Zealand weather Heard from Sister Thatcher (the young and beautiful one) that England has been going through a cold snap |
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| Doesn't this picture just say it all? Ray captures how we all feel about KJ Patterson |
We think of all of you constantly and know that we will be home before long. We try not to think about that. Elder Thatcher says he doesn't allow his mind to go there because there is so much to do here. My mind has been known to wander however and it always wanders back to all of you. Prayers are offered daily for you from our little flat in New Zealand. Be true! We love you!
Mom and Dad,
Grandma and Grandpa
Elder and Sister Thatcher
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