I didn’t write last week because we left Sunday afternoon on a little get away to Christchurch in the South Island with another senior missionary couple (Brent and Ella Romney) for a 3-day vacation. Christchurch is nicknamed “The Garden City.” I don’t know what the city looks like the rest of the year, but she was decked out in her spring best when we were there! She was not holding back any of her beauties! That afternoon, we spent a couple of hours at the botanical garden and “drank in” all the flowers, trees and plants there. The gardeners outdid themselves in planning to put complimenting-colored flowers next to each other.
The next day (Monday), we drove to Akaroa, about 1.5 hours south, where there is a long harbor. We took a boat cruise into the mouth of the harbor, where the boat captain pointed out a blue penguin, and later about 15 of the world’s smallest dolphins — Hector’s dolphins, about a meter long. They were very inquisitive and would swim alongside the boat as we moved. On the way back in, we saw maybe 50 fur seals and their babies sunning themselves on the rocks. There is also a salmon farm in the harbor; Faye commented that she now knows where the “Akaroa salmon” she buys come from!
On Tuesday, we drove about 1.5 hours northwest into the mountains to Hanmer Springs, a place with a hot mineral spring. A company built a water park there where you can soak or go down waterslides. Elder Romney and I went to the park while our wives shopped. Then we went on a couple of beautiful hikes.
On Wednesday, we went to a museum in Christchurch and saw some beautiful old buildings before we flew home. It was a nice, relaxing trip. We were required to wear masks on our flights.
There are about 12 missionaries from the Philippines serving in Vanuatu who could not return home because the Philippines closed their borders. Now, they will be allowed to return, but they will have to pass through Solomon Islands (SI), which is requiring a negative COVID-19 test — even for passengers not deplaning there — and even though they are coming from Vanuatu, which is COVID-free. We were scrambling to try to find those tests, but, after a lot of negotiations (by others), the SI dropped that requirement, allowing these missionaries to return home tomorrow. Some of them have served past their called time and were having a difficult time emotionally with not being able to return home.
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are encouraged to fast (go without food or drink for up to 24 hours) once per month. They donate the value of those meals (or more) to the Church to be help those who are “poor or needy.” it’s been humbling to be involved in making recommendations for members who will need help from these “fast offering” funds for medical purposes. It has also been inspiring to see how the Church administers these funds: smaller amounts can be approved by local leaders, while larger amounts are approved by the area presidency (the office where I serve) and the largest amounts are approved by the Presiding Bishopric (Church leaders in Salt Lake City). I’m grateful to know that the “widow’s mite” is being watched over so carefully by the Church.
I listened to a missionary devotional where one of the speakers commented on how people throughout the world have had to improvise (produce or make something from whatever is conveniently on hand) because of COVID-19. The speaker pointed out that there have been changes with how the Church operates because of COVID-19, but our Church leaders are not improvising. They may not have known that this specific pandemic was going to hit at this time…but the Church was prepared for pandemic. Think back to the changes from the past 2-3 years: How did they prepare us for the pandemic? God is not improvising; He has a plan. In some ways, the Church (and missionary work) is even stronger now because of the pandemic!
I listened to another devotional where Elder David A. Bednar spoke on meekness. For some reason, I was reminded of riding horses when I was growing up. Dad’s horse was Tex, who was an excellent horse for roping calves. He was very eager to run behind the calf in just the perfect position (on the left of the calf for a right-handed roper and at just the right distance) so the roper could throw the loop over the calf’s head. If the calf veered right or left a little, Tex would change course so the roper was still in position. If I am like a horse and God is my rider, if I am meek, I allow Him to guide me…and even anticipate what He might want me to do…like Tex would do for his rider. No analogy is perfect, but I hope you get the point.
For $29.95, I purchased access to the FAIRMormon Conference held last month. FairMormon is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing well-documented answers to criticisms of the doctrine, practice, and history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I highly recommend it. One of the speakers pointed out, “It is the youth who are the real investigators in this Church.” I think we need to be prepared to give faithful answers to sincere questions that often arise. Two of the speakers were the creators of Pillar of Light, a “graphic novel” (comic book type) about Joseph Smith’s First Vision. They did an amazing and inspiring job at telling the story and helping readers feel the Holy Ghost testify that Joseph Smith did in reality see God, the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.
When I last wrote, I told about feeling “down” for a few days as I remembered and missed Ashton. I appreciate several of you reaching out to me and offering your love and support. One friend reminded me that it’s normal to weep for the loss of a loved one. It reminded me of the what the Lord said in Doctrine & Covenants 42:45 “Thou shalt live together in love, insomuch that thou shalt weep for the loss of them that die…” Well…that’s one “thou shalt” I have obeyed many, many times! Last week, we had a very good virtual suicide loss survivor support group with people we met in Arizona before coming on the mission. Just talking about my experience helped me process why the virtual candle-lighting ceremony was so hard. I still think I’ll do it again in the future. Grief is just hard sometimes! That doesn’t mean I’m doing it wrong; in fact, it could mean that I’m doing it right…by facing into the storm!
I recently shared the experience with two other senior missionaries about Elder Renlund promising “in the name of the Lord” that our boy (Ashton) was fine, I thought (and said) for the first time, “It would be nice to hear Jesus Himself say to me that Ashton is fine…but I don’t feel like I need that; I’ve already heard that through one of His ordained apostles.”
I declare that Jesus Christ has once again called Apostles and has given them priesthood authority. What a blessing to live in a time when there are living prophets and apostles — just like when Christ organized the Church when He was upon the earth Himself.