We live our days ahead of you, but Conference is delayed. . .

The Father and Son's Choir for Priesthood Session

We have only caught snippets of conference so far.  We did listen to the whole final session together in our flat on Monday morning.  It was wonderful.  We listened hungrily.  President Thatcher has already experienced Conference as a missionary on his early mission to Holland, so he knew how the words of the prophets have an added glow while you are serving a mission.  But I am experiencing it for the first time.  The talks seemed to sing the music we want our investigators to hear.  We ache to have them listen for themselves, and feel the power of the Spirit as if flows from the leaders of this church.

New Zealand members watch conference on the Saturday and Sunday after you all enjoy it at home.  To watch it live here they would have to assemble in the middle of the night.  So they broadcast it at the churches on the following Saturday and Sunday.  They will do this at the MTC for the missionaries.  And in our Clover Park Ward as well.  This Saturday at the MTC, they will watch the Saturday sessions and in the evening the Priesthood session for the Elders and the General Women's session for the Sisters.  We are anxious to see the Father and Son's choir from Cache Valley then, with  all the missionaries.  We will be so proud.

Yesterday we finally got the Priesthood session downloaded on our computer so we could see and hear the choir with Greg, Eric, Thatcher, Mark, James and Stephen who participated in it.  I spent a couple hours searching, rewinding, and taking pictures of them as they sang.  We recognized a lot of friends in the choir as well as our family members.  It was fun to see and wonderful to hear the beautiful music they performed.  Greg told us that Elder Stevenson came up into the choir after the session and said, 'You have done Cache Valley proud!'  We thought the same.

Thatcher, Stephen, James, and Eric outside the Conference Center, all looking sharp, if I do say so myself!

Eric, 'Put your shoulder to the wheel!'

Greg, who always does his, 'duty with a heart full of song'

Mark, (top center) 'We ever pray for thee, our Prophet dear'

James, 'May my heart, be turned to pray'

Thatcher and Stephen 'We all have work, let no one shirk!'

An extended family member we didn't know was singing, Garth Ferrin

We were happy to see the Paradise 3rd ward represented so well with our dear Brother Mat Weaver and his sons Joe and . . 

Jacob Weaver ( or is it Jacob and Spencer? Joe might be on his mission)

Gifford Baugh and son - such old good friends!

Even Sheryl Clawson (the man in glasses) 

Sheryl Clawson is an old friend from our Providence days.  Jeff and Aaron forever immortalized his name in our family by giving his name to one of the kittens in a litter.  They named each kitten after a famous person.  If memory serves, there was a George Wash-his-paws, a Simon Ball-of-fur, a Golda Mouser, but they struggled to name the last kitty.   I think if was Jeff, who with delight remembered our friend and ward member, who in Jeff's young mind, was as famous as any of the other people honored in such a distinguished way, I remember his exuberance as he shouted out the perfect name for the last kitten,  'Sheryl Claw-son'.

We also saw Brother Hutchins, and Doctor Graham and several others from our Hyrum Stake.  It made us feel not so far away and also that we, and those we love back home, are all a part of the same  great Latter-day work, bearing testimony by song as well as word and all 'putting our shoulder to the wheel.

Update on missionary work:

The Edmonds;  We love this family.  Keala, the mother is rare in these parts.  She calls us! She thanks us often and encourages the children to listen and learn.  Her younger brother Richie (in his 30's) has stolen our hearts.  He is the kindest and gentlest human and is such a help to this family.  We stopped by yesterday for a moment and he held sleeping little Waimarie in his arms with a big smile on his face and little Tiana holding onto his leg.  He always seems so happy to see us.

But our happiest news is that Teqwyn the 14 year old not only came to YW's last night but brought 2 friends with her.  She is our first investigator that we have gotten inside the church and she loved it!  Richie told us she was at the church so we dashed over and took this picture to send to the two Sister
missionaries who had made that sweet video for her.

Teqwyn in the pink sweater at the YW's activity

Corinne Ols, is the YW's first counselor and she has worked her magic with Teqwyn.  She has visited her and invited her to YW's.  We LOVE Corinne.

We haven't had as many contacts with the families this week due to school break and their being very busy, but Elder Thatcher thought we needed to go visit all three families last night and invite them all to Conference this weekend at the church.  He wrote out a 3/5 card for each family with an invitation to read the testimonies of the 3 and 8 witnesses of the Book of Mormon and to have family prayer.  We had 3 wonderful visits.

At the Singh's house, Ronak happily brought the Children Friend we had given him and showed me each article he had read and the games in it that he had played.  He said he was trying to remember to say his prayers.  They sounded excited to come to conference.

Antonina's little girls were also very excited about Conference.  We told them we could watch it with them this Saturday or Sunday and that we would make them coloring sheets for Conference.  They loved that.

I really like my inspired companion.  He is always praying for these families and seeking to know what to teach them and how to be more effective.  I love following by his side, as we 'go and do' what he has felt we should.

I am learning to recognize the Spirit as I have never understood before.  I feel the lightness in my heart and the warmth of the Spirit in my soul, on a much more regular basis than I ever have.  I am so grateful for this.  The teachings we hear at the MTC are clearer in my mind and my faith is being strengthened as our being led by the Spirit is escalating.  I hear President Howes testify to the missionaries that if they just ask, the Lord will guide them, the Spirit will tell them where to go and what to say, 'He will!' President Howes testifies, and it goes down into my heart as a certainty!

All the common things we say in the church and hear over and over again, have a new glow for me;  We are children of a loving Heavenly Father!  We have a Savior who wants to help us! Prayers are heard! The Book of Mormon has a power to change us and bring us closer to God! We are led by prophets today!  Instead of having the ring of sameness, all these statements shine with a newness of life for me.

I was trying to explain to Sister Howes this feeling last night and she told me this is because I am feeling the spirit of missionary work.  She said that so often when people leave the field they have an emptiness in their lives because the great spirit of this work is dormant.  She talked about Clayton Christensen's, book 'The Power Of Everyday Missionaries' and how he teaches that to become missionaries wherever you are will bring that spirit back into your lives and homes.

We have watched so many of you being missionaries in your wards and among your friends.  We have long admired your good missionary efforts.  We  are  thankful that you, and anyone who loves the Lord can share what they love with others and  can feel what we are feeling here.  We hope to be better 'everyday missionaries' for the rest of our lives.  We want the gospel to feel fresh and  alive in our hearts always. It is the Spirit that giveth, not only life, but a newness of life, even to words, thoughts, and doctrines we have always known.

Amy, Megan, Jeff at the Logan Temple

Congratulations to our dear Megan.  Our first Endowed Grandchild.  We are excited for you as you embark on this adventure of a mission.  We have a little glimpse of the things you will face and of the power that is about to come into your life.  We love you Megan.

Go Aggies! Alex and Lauren look happy at the big win against BYU

Sounds like a few of you got to watch the battle between BYU and the Aggies.  Many of you must be smiling and some a little dismayed.  President Briggs tells us it is a great year to be serving a mission with BYU so painful to watch.

Greg and Jett enjoying the fall weather

We get the sweetest reports of the grandchildren missing us.  Jett often tells his mother that he misses us.  He sends us emails asking when we will come home and saying he is sad because he didn't get to hug us goodbye.  We miss you too, Jett.  We miss all of our darling, sweet, wonderful grandchildren.  We would love to give each of you a big hug.  And we will in a few short months.

Murphy, Easton and Benson

Murphy sent us this picture of Conference time in Paradise.  It looks so beautiful there.  We feel very spoiled in that we have so much space in Paradise.  The homes here are close together and the lots small.  Our little neighbor children have a porch the size of our little bedroom at the top of the stairs at home, to play in.  They ride their big wheels up and down the sidewalk and we long for them to have room to explore.

Our darling neighbor, Deanna the mom, Roman the big sister, and Titus and Eli the little brothers

These children love to knock on our door because we give them suckers and other treats.  The missionaries who lived here before us gave the children cookies.  It was Amy's idea to be the Lollypop missionaries.  It has saved time and I think we are just as popular.  Sometimes we offer fruit.  Deanna likes that.  She is all for healthy treats but Titus and Eli will take the apple or banana and just stand there waiting for the lollypop as well.  We never can resist.  They will sing us songs as a thank you like 'Jesus Loves Me, this I Know', or 'Twinkle, twinkle, little star'.  We are teaching them, "I am a Child of God".

Jesus and the Children

 This painting hangs in the MTC.  One of the sister missionaries talked about it last Sunday.  She said that she loves to look at it.  The look on the Saviors face attracts her.  She said that if anyone ever looked at her like that it would fill her heart with joy.  She is beginning to believe that the Savior maybe loves her like that, and delights in her.  She is coming to know of her worth.

Elder Thatcher and I understand that look.  We feel delight in all of you.  We see your worth and are so thankful for each one of you.  As we teach the little ones here, we feel that love as well.  I think the Lord fills us with it.  I know he loves all of us but it is so easy to love the little ones.  They give such love back.

We love you, pray for you, and are so grateful to have you in our lives.  We can testify of family and the beauty of the plan of Salvation because we have felt that beauty in our own family.  We have you and that brings us such joy.  We can testify of friendships and love of neighbors and of the goodness we feel in this church, because we have experienced life among the saints of God, and have been molded by all we have known and loved.  We can testify of the beauty of the Doctrine of Christ because we have been blessed by it so profoundly.

Signing off for another week,

Mom and Dad,
Grandma and Grandpa
Elder and Sister Thatcher

The Gospel is True. . . are you?

I just lost the post that I have been working on for 2 hours.  Thus it goes for one so inept with computers.  How I wish that all that was lost could be found as far as computers go.  Still I will begin again.  Reminds me of repentance.  One wrong move can cause heart ache and grief. . . back to the beginning I go.

"A good picture is all about perspective"  Sister Meyer

The weeks fly by.  Before we knew it we were headed to the Temple with the Missionaries again.  This past week President Thatcher was asked to drive a van full of Missionaries because the bus wasn't large enough to bring them all.   The first half-hour of the journey is devoted to personal scripture study but after that the missionaries visit, sing or nap - a good option for many.

The two missionaries behind us started to visit with me.  Elder Tartaglia from Italy, who is learning English at the MTC to enable him to serve in Perth Australia, asked me, "Have you and President Thatcher ever been to Italy?"  I told him we hadn't and he said, "The first time I see you and your husband I think that I know you.  I think that I have seen you before."

I asked if he had ever been to Utah?

"When I was very small boy my father bring me to Utah." he told me.  (I learned he was raised in the church.)  "I have been wondering how I know you since I first saw you and President Thatcher on first day at MTC.  Does this ever happen to you? That you think you know someone before?"

I told him it does happen, that sometimes you meet someone and feel that you have always known them.  I said that we probably knew each other before we came to earth.  We talked of the story of President John Taylor who as a boy had a dream of a magnificent building with 6 spires.  The dream happened before Joseph Smith ever went into the grove to pray to 'ask of God'.  It was as an old man living in SLC and the Prophet while much of the construction of the SL Temple was taking place that he remembered his dream and recognized the temple as the building in his boyhood dream.

And then Elder Tartaglia, in his broken English tried to explain his feelings, "I know already that the Church is true, but when this happen, I know MORE that the Church is true."  He spoke quietly and with reverence.

Isn't that a beautiful way of expressing what we all feel as experiences and new insights build our testimonies. . . we have known, but now we know MORE that the Church is true!  As he told me this experience he had it strengthened me.  Perhaps, just perhaps, we were supposed to be here on this mission meeting these wonderful humble missionaries.

On the bus with Elder Tartaglia and Elder Mokoi

Elder Mokoi, next told me his story.  As a little boy in Tonga, (not a member of the Church), he was at a neighbors house who were members and watched a movie of the prophet Joseph Smith and the First Vision.  It touched him.  He said, "We had a little grove of trees behind our house so I went there and knelt down and prayed like Joseph Smith.  He said, pointing to his heart, "I feel it in here.  I feel it!"

Elder Mokoi never knew his father.  He left his mother before Elder Mokoi was born. He loved his mother.  He had two older brothers who chose to live lives of drinking and laziness and he, watching them, decided that was not how he wanted to live. He didn't want to break his mother's heart like they had.  He had a sister as well.  She joined the church and served a mission in Tonga.  As a teenager he listened to the missionaries and was baptized.  He hadn't told his mother about his baptism and when she found out he came home one day and all of his things were outside on the front step of his home. He was no longer wanted at home.  I asked where he went and he said to the home of a member. (I find it very interesting and sad that his mother was more upset with her son who only wanted to follow the Lord than with the two who lived such bad lives)

When he got his call his sister was very proud of him but his mother still would not see him.  He told me he received an email from his sister while he was here that said that the missionaries were in his house teaching his mother.  "When I read that," he said, "I can not continue reading.  I know I will cry.  I am so happy that my mother is listening to missionaries."

We just love the humble, faithful young people who come to serve the Lord as missionaries.  They are remarkable.  Even some of the ones with family support have interesting stories.  One sister in her talk on Sunday told about her father who was the bishop for 10 years and wanted all of his 7 children to serve missions.  She is the only one who has and told us she is the hope of her family.  "When I left my father told me, 'Stay on your mission and complete it or you will not be my daughter anymore.'  That broke my heart.  I think I have mentioned before that many missionaries from the islands with families who are members are told by those families that they should not write home while they are on their missions.  They are missionaries and must devote themselves to the work.  If they call home on Christmas or Mother's Day, their mother will tell them, 'You should not be calling.  You are a missionary." and will then hang up on them.  And yet these missionaries who love their families continue to serve.

I think this is why the missionaries love all the hugs they receive at the MTC.  President and Sister Howes have us give hugs at every meal as the missionaries line up for the cafeteria.  Sister Howe, Briggs and I, hug every sister and shake hands with every Elder.  President Howes, Briggs, and Thatcher hug every Elder and shake hands with every Sister.  There are more hugs in the halls and in greeting throughout the day.  The MTC is a safe place filled with love and the missionaries feel at home here.  They thrive on the love.

Sister Tokuma from Samoa and Sister Meyer from Canada

These two Sisters are happy fun companions.  You can't help but smile when you see them.  They bounce happily down the halls of the MTC.  We asked them, with the permission of President Howes if they would make a little video for us that we could take to our 14 year old investigator, Teqwyn Edmonds.  We asked that they tell her about their experience in the church.  Sister Meyer has been raised in the church and Sister Tokuma is a convert and was baptized when she was 16.  They made a cute happy video for us telling Teqwyn about YW's and Seminary and how they will bless her life.  They encouraged her to be baptized and testified of the blessings that would come into her life and how the gospel will help her family.

We took the video to Teqwyn who loved that these two missionaries would be interested in her.

Teqwyn watching Sister Tokuma and Sister Meyer

I can't remember how much we have told you about the Edmonds family.  We love them.  We are teaching them.  The mother Keala is a member but hasn't been active since her youth.   Her partner is Doug, a very nice man and the father of the two little girls, Tiare and Waimarie. The two older girls are Teqwyn, 14 and Georaeah, 9 (pronounce Je-ray-ah). Keala's younger brother Richie, 32 lives with them too.  Only Keala is a member.  They love the missionaries - we are the 10th set that have visited them.  They are excited when we come and we love them.  They are so easy to love.  We usually have home evening with them.

Last night (home evening) we got a call from Keala saying she and the two little girls were in Hamilton but that they would still like us to come for the others.  When we got there there Doug wasn't home but we had a wonderful visit with Richie, Teqwyn and Georaeah.  We always play a game and this time it was the chocolate game.  You open a big bar of chocolate - the kind with squares imprinted on it.  Next you start to roll a dice.  Everyone rolls once and the first one to roll a 6 gets to start cutting the chocolate.  When they free a square they get to eat it and keep cutting and eating until someone rolls another 6.  It was lots of fun.  You might want to play it for your home evening.

Last visit we had read part of chapter 11 of 3 Nephi with them.  Last night Elder Thatcher had us all take turns reading the rest of the chapter.  There was a powerfully sweet spirit in the room as we read together from the Book of Mormon about the Savior giving the power to baptism to Nephi and others and teaching them how to Baptize and why it is so important.  Teqwyn especially seemed moved by reading.  After a few rounds of taking turns she wouldn't give the book back and kept reading in her beautiful soft young voice with it's charming New Zealand accent.  You could sense she was understanding and what she was reading and feeling the importance of it.  We asked when she finished what she felt and she said, "I feel that it is very important."

"Do you understand why the Savior is teaching this to these people and do you question if what he says is right?" we asked.

"It makes sense to me.  It is right." she said.  She told us she would be baptized sometime.   We then marked her Book of Mormon at 2 Nephi 31 and gave her the assignment to read that chapter and pray about it.   She is a joy to teach.

Doug came home before we left.  He treated us royally and seemed genuinely happy to see us.  Oh, how we want to bless this family with the gospel.

We also had great visits with our other two families the Singh's (our Hindu family) and Moses and Antonina.  Each time we have felt the companionship of the Spirit as we met.  We are just so grateful that the Lord hasn't left us alone as we teach.

You might think that until Megan leaves we are the only missionaries in the family but that isn't true. We received a text from Katie saying;

'Ben was a persistent missionary this weekend.  Today was the primary program and he wanted his friend Olivia to come.  Here is their texting conversation. . .'

To Oliveea from Ben
Do. You. Want. To. Come. To. Church. In. Winnumma?

From Olivia to Ben
We will come next week maybe

From Ben
Pleas. Will. You. Come Oliveea

From Olivia
Maybe?
What Time

From Ben
11
If. You. Come. You'll. Get. To. Come play with my friends

From Olivia
We will be there

Katie said, 'She ended up coming with her mom and Grandma.

Ben and Oliveea at Church 

Missionary work makes you happy doesn't it Ben!!!!!

We love hearing about all you are doing back home.  It has been a busy week.

Baptism Day for Kyle 

Everyone in this family is now a Member of the Church - our first fully baptized family

Congratulations Kyle.  You look spiffy in that new suit.  You look like a missionary.

Happy Birthday Anna! 23 becomes you

I keep trying to get someone to send me my birthday list off my computer.  I know we are missing birthdays.  I know it was Anna's this week and Andrea's as well.  It was Katie Howell's last week and Laura's this coming week.  I fear I have missed wishing happy birthday to ones like Eric, Melissa, Grace, and Kyle, Murphy, and probably other little ones.   We love you all.

Aaron had a big day of chemo infusions- always that smile through it all - and then a nice nap

Stephen, James, Steven, and Will on the same flag football team

 Do you recognize any members of this flag football team?  They affectionately call themselves the 'Thadfields'

Successful Harry Potter sale - Congratulations to some of our favorite Wizards; Stephen, James, Michael and Josh

Josh and Stephen's Cache Valley Fair entries are going to the State Fair! Congratulations

 It made us so happy on our Sunday to receive pictures from Lorraine of the work crew at their house.  We love how you help each other and Lorraine seemed delighted with so much getting done.

part of the work crew; Joe, Murphy, Greg, David, Matt - building loft beds 

Murphy, we understand organized this crew and did a great job with it all

Murphy, it is our understanding organized the crew and prepared for the work to be done.  Murphy is so handy to have around and so happy and willing to help.

Lily happily entertained Gideon

Alex scrubbing the steps

Alex was scrubbing steps and cleaning in the garage while Alison and Jennie were downstairs dejunking.  I hear that Paul was there as well and Eric and Thatcher.   I just didn't get pictures of everyone.   We heard that pizza's arrived from Winnemucka.  I know that Melissa and Amy are helping out with the children this week.  It is all wonderful to us, as we watch from so helplessly far away.  We love your goodness.

Noah enjoying his 'park preschool'

We hope everyone is enjoying school as much as Noah likes his 'park preschool'.

We are excited to watch for all you who are going to be in the choir at the Priesthood Session of Conference.  We will watch the Women's meeting next week and Conference the week after that.  We will print off the talks before hand and instead of taking notes we will just mark the talks.  There are perks to this way of watching Conference. 

James and Greg

Thatcher, Eric, and Stephen 

Mark

We love you all and miss you terribly but we are loving serving this mission together.  We feel the blessings of the Lord everyday and are learning much about how this great work is moving forward across the earth.  This gospel is not only true but it is alive and it pours life into all of us.  

Take care and be true.

We will too.

Love,

Mom and Dad

Grandma and Grandpa,

Elder and Sister Thatcher 

Angels from heaven or just old missionaries . . .

It has been a full wonderful week here in New Zealand.  We have felt like missionaries.

On Sunday we were told that President Thatcher would be driving the van to the Temple on Thursday with the missionaries who had not yet received their endowments.  Usually President Briggs has this responsibility.   It would be our first time driving to Hamilton so we thought it might be wise to take a test run just to see if we could find our way.  So Monday morning we made the journey.  When we arrived in Temple View and pulled into the Distribution Center and Museum we found everything closed but happened to find Elder King there with his companion.  Elder King had left the MTC only a week ago and was excited to tell us that he and his companion had met a woman and challenged her to baptism and she had accepted.  Pretty good for his first week in the field.

Our tall Elder King in Hamilton

Once every three weeks there is an Area Presidency Devotional at the MTC.  This event fell on Tuesday and the speakers were  Doug and Michi Matsumori.  He is General Legal Counsel for this area.  He has been a mission president in Japan and Sister Matsumori is very loved at the MTC because she volunteers here every intake day.  She is just delightful.  We loved their talks.  Past Mission Presidents know what missionaries should be and teach with practical powerful principles.  I will send their talks that I recorded to Megan.  She will love them.  If any others would like to listen let me know and I'll send them to you as well.

On the Sunday before the Area Devotional we form an MTC choir and practice a song to be sung at the Devotional and at the Temple that week. Sister Briggs is in charge of the choir and she does a beautiful job picking music.  This time we sang 'Did You Think To Pray'  The missionaries loved singing it.  The recording doesn't do it justice but maybe you can get an idea of the MTC Choir.  Of course the choir changes every three weeks.



Thursday was Temple Day with the Missionaries.  We arrived early to drive the 5 missionaries who were going to the Temple for the first time and their escorts.  These missionaries come from places where there is no temple.  They are humble and sweet.

Sister Auatabu with Sister Datt (escort), Sister James Nila with Sister Sua (escort), Elder William, Elder Tangarasi, and Elder Tom on the next row with their escorts Elder Mafi, Elder Fa'aoa, and Elder Agavale at the back

Sister Auatabu is from Kiribati (pronounced Kirabus), both of her parents have passed away.  Sister James Nila is from Malaysia.  She is the only member of her family in the church.  While in the Temple the temple matron, Sister Roberts, loving put her arms around these two sisters and told them, "I will be your mother today."

Elder William, Elder Tom and Elder Tangarasi are all from Vanuatu.  Elder Tom is Elder Moses' (from the last intake) brother and Elder William is their nephew.  These three were the last to arrive at the MTC this intake and came with a plastic grocery sack filled with one extra shirt.  Sister Howes told us the clothes they had on were badly worn.  They have been given clothing, missionary shoes and scriptures, and now they have been endowed with power from on high.  It is an honor to associate with these faithful servants of the Lord who teach us daily of faith, courage, and sacrifice. My, how they glow.

After the temple session we ate a delicious meal fixed by the cooks at the Temple.  These are the best meals we have in New Zealand.  We look forward to them.  The missionaries always sing the song they have practiced that week for the dear woman who prepares the food for them.  She always thanks them and then gives them a word or two of council afterwards such as, 'Be good missionaries and come back after your mission to be married in the temple.'  After the song this day, 'Did you think to pray', she had tears in her eyes and said, "I am without words.  I am thinking of my parents.  That was my mother's favorite song and she would sing it to us often."  That was all she could say, she was so moved by the missionaries song.

Leaving the temple we drove the short distance to the Distribution Center and the Church History Museum of the Pacific.  We love going there.  The missionaries never have enough time in this special place.

posing in a hut in the museum - Elder Fa'aoa, Elder Finau, Sister Lealaiauloto, top- Sister Tangulu, Elder Movete, Elder Mokoi, Sister Taufanga

My sweet friend Rangi Parker - always at work at her computer

Once again I stepped in to Rangi Parker's office.  I was excited to share with her information on Aunt Rosie's maternal grandfather John Nelson.  He served a mission to Samoa and Tonga in his youth and after serving 3 years, and thinking he was going home, received a letter asking him to stay and be the mission president as his president had become very ill.  He accepted the call and stayed another 3 1/2 years. Aunt Rosie had sent me the story of Elder John Nelson receiving that call and links to pictures and other information on Family Search.  You should have seen Rangi light up when I gave her this.  She was so excited about it!

"We were just talking about how we needed more information on Samoa, and here you come in with this wonderful information." she said.

 I think Aunt Rosie and I will now be one of the miracle stories she tells.

One fun thing, as we pulled into the parking lot at the MTC safely home and the missionaries were exiting the van Sister Sua started chanting, 'Thatchers are True!, Thatchers are True!'.  It took a second but then we realized they were reciting Mark and Emily's family Motto.  The volume increased with the smiles on their faces as they chanted and we joined in.

We went for a walk Thursday evening and checked on our 'Boo Radley tree'.  No takers yet, but we added a few coins to the take and will check back.

Waiting to be discovered. . .  just like our ancestors are waiting to be found and taken to our hearts and the temple

On Friday morning we got a call from Sister Howes asking if we would like to go with them to visit the Jewish wood carver from Bethlehem.  We had heard of him.  All the senior couples love to visit his shop and buy nativity sets that he carves.  We jumped at the chance and enjoyed a morning of wonder watching this dear man and his wife create art from blocks of wood.

We watched him carve a kiwi bird, which he gave to me afterwards.
His wife fed duckings while we watched and made us fresh squeezed orange juice.
They treated us like honored guests.
Their names are Jiries and Marcela Giacaman.
Jiries loves the Mormon missionaries and caters to them, for instance, he carves nativity sets and for the angel in the set he carves the Angel Moroni.
I now have the Nativity for my collection from our mission to add to all of your mission Nativities.

Jiries Giacaman working on a Kiwi

Have you spotted Angel Moroni?  Don't you think these little spoons  will be a magical addition to the fairy house

Friday night we attended a Stake Relief Society activity that our dear friend Sister Briggs had been asked to teach a class at.  The activity was on 'Redeeming the Dead'.  Sister Briggs is an expert in Family History.  This was at their stake and we only went to support our friend. But we were treated like dignitaries.  As we sat in the back of the chapel we heard our names called by the Stake President from the podium asking us to come and sit on the stand where we rightly belonged.  These island people treat the missionaries like angels from heaven.  It is always humbling.   Sister Briggs did a great job.

Sister Briggs and her Stake Relief Society President 

The display of family history from the sisters.  Notice the sister sitting by her display of her family.  Can you see how she is dressed?  This is because, like Aunt Janice told us,  it is very cold in the churches here during the winter.

Saturday was just a wonderful Missionary Adventure day.

We had an appointment with the Singh family - our dear Hindu family at 11:00.  Elder Thatcher had prayed and studied to know what we should teach them and thought it should be the 'Plan of Salvation'.  I have thought how much I wish I had asked Lorraine to make us visuals to teach the plan with.  Those would have been beautiful and helpful.  We did get some from a sister missionary that we have used and it helps with children to be able to show them visually the plan.

Roy, the father was only there for a while and then had to leave because of a new job but we taught the mother Shelley and Ronak, (7 or 9) the son.  They were so interested and listened attentively as we taught.  I asked Ronak what he thought about what we had taught them about being children of God and that we lived with Him before we were born on earth.  He answered, "I think it is true!"  We left them with the pamphlet and asked Ronak if he would teach his father about the Plan of Salvation.

We asked Shelley if she had been reading the Book of Mormon.  'A little,' she said, 'Ronak has the book every night.  He takes it to bed with him to read. He reads a little every night.'  We could have jumped and done one of those dats (is that what they are called?

Next we headed to the hospital.  One of the families we teach - the Edmonds family, Keala and Doug, have 4 daughters; Teqwin (14), Gearaeah (9) Tiare (2) and Waimarie (10 months).  The two youngest have spent time in the hospital this week.  We heard that Waimarie had pneumonia and was in the hospital so we went to see her.  Elder Thatcher was able to give her a blessing.

Little Waimarie - doesn't she melt your heart?

The hospital hallway - made me appreciate PCMC

President Thatcher trying to figure out how to pay his parking -you had to pay to park at the hospital  and  I guess we took too long finding our car after paying and had to go back in and pay some more - $8 to park for 30 minutes

Next we had an appointment with Antonina and Moses and girls.  Moses, who also has a new job was gone but Antonina's older son Jermaine (15) was there and we loved him immediately.   We watched a children's video on the Sacrament so the girls would know what to expect when they went to church.  They remembered from going before about the sacrament and seemed very excited to go to church.  

Elder and Sister Freeman, who just completed their mission and are now home in Farmington, left us some of their teaching supplies including games to play with the children.  We played 'The Bee Game' a game about the Be's that president Hinckley taught.  The children love playing it with us and so do the parents.

Elder Thatcher playing the Bee Game with Samantha, Kesha, and Naomi

Because I had done most of the teaching with Ronak and Shelley, Elder Thatcher taught the 'Plan of Salvation' to Antonina and Jermaine.  Even though Antonina has been a member of the church she seemed to learn as much as Jermaine.   It was a beautiful lesson.  While he taught I colored with the little girls.  You get to use all kinds of talents as a missionary.

Our mission adventures for the day were still not over . . .

Next we dashed to our ward church house where there was to be a baptism for two children in the ward. We found Kennedy Taufa (8) and Lamanite Ulugia (10) all dressed in white waiting to be baptized.  Lamanite had been baptized in Samoa but his records had been lost, so he was being baptized again.

After the baptism, our wonderful bishop, Bishop Uta'i, who was a Stake President in Samoa for 20 years, asked Elder Thatcher if he would confirm Lamanite.  It was quite an honor for Elder Thatcher. I tell you, they treat us like angels from heaven.   Lamanite's mother and father were very grateful.  Our next goal is to prepare Paselio Ulugia, Lamanite's father, to be ready to ordain him to the Priesthood in two years.

We thought that the name Lamanite was a funny name to give a boy, but now we think of Samuel the Lamanite and those faithful Lamanites who never fell away and we think it a perfect name.

Bishop Uta'i, Lamantine Ulugia, and Elder Thatcher

We then dashed to the MTC for our weekly Presidency Meeting.  It was delayed a few minutes as President Briggs and President Thatcher were asked by some of the missionaries if they would let them practice their new teaching skill of helping someone recognize the Spirit on them.

President Briggs being taught by Elder Umaga, President Thatcher being taught by Elders Luamanuvae and Lucignano

We always love to return to the MTC.  It is like a place to go to be refilled with desire, and testimony.  We are continually taught how to be missionaries and charged with the desire to serve.  I bet President Thatcher tells me every day that OURS  is the PERFECT Mission.


Sundays as we have said are just wonderful days here.  We love to associate with the missionaries.  We get to hear them give talks, many using their newly developing English,  and sing with gusto the songs of the Restoration.  We thought of our Jonny as we sang 'Praise to the Man' with the missionaries.  Jonny sings with enough spirit and manly strength to sing with these Pacific Island missionaries.

Assembling for the Zone Picture again.  Our attempt last week didn't work out

We gave talks in Sacrament Meeting on the Restoration.  President Thatcher read his favorite story about  Gerturde Sprecht, the German Theology Professor who joined the church.  The missionaries loved it and Sister Howes is sending them all a copy via email.  

 Dad is a very good missionary.  He rises early many mornings - and you can guess how early that is, and studies and prays.  It is in those early morning hours that he is given ideas and thoughts that we try to implement in our work.  We love being companions.  We love serving the Lord, we love the message we carry, we love all of you.