Yesterday was a wonderful day for us and especially two of our investigators; Amelia Rogers, who we have been teaching for over three months, and Denise Peacock, the English lady who we've worked with just four weeks were baptized at the Waihau Branch in Okaihau on Saturday. Sister Olsen had made up a program for the service during the week and had assigned all the participants so everything went smoothly at the baptism. Everyone brought a plate of refreshments, so there was a very nice luncheon afterwards. Each of these sisters has a humorous side so that when they get with the other sisters in the branch there is lots of laughter. We invited Amelia's father-in-law to confirm her and her mother-in-law to speak.
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| Amelia with her in-laws, sister, daughter, and granddaughter |
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| Sister Olsen, Amelia, Denise, and Elder Olsen |
Today in sacrament meeting both were confirmed and given the gift of the Holy Ghost. Sister Olsen and I were also the main speakers in sacrament meeting. Amelia's family were here to support and be with her so Saturday evening we invited Denise out for dinner to celebrate the occasion. We finally got to eat some New Zealand lamb, as we ordered a rack of lamb. It was tasty but a little under done for our liking. Denise is frequently inviting us to come to dinner so we took her up on it last week and she served us salmon steak, broiled with a light herbal seasoning and it was just delicious. It was fresh salmon and had no hint of fishy taste as we sometimes get at home. Two weeks ago Denise called us very worried about a positive breast exam and that the doctors wanted her to report to the hospital in Whangarei for further tests. Brother Van Den Berg and Elder Olsen gave her a blessing the night before and Elder and Sister Olsen got permission from the mission president to leave the zone area to take her to the hospital and accompany her when receiving the news of what the doctors might find. We were all relieved a couple hours after the final tests when the doctors told her they could find nothing. Again we feel the Lord had a hand in the outcome.
The last month for Amelia was very busy as she was planning and hosting what is called the "unveiling" which takes place on the one year anniversary following the death of her husband. This is a Mauri tradition that is not uncommon in other societies. The surviving spouse walks with her mate emotionally and spiritually till the year is up and then they are free to go forward with life. So with some concerted teaching, fasting and prayer she finally felt she could move forward and be baptized. Denise's divorce was final on the day she was tracted out by Elder Olsen when we were doing splits. So both Amelia and Denise are, in a sense, starting a new life, blessed with the gospel.
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| The skies are another testament of God's handiwork |
We've mentioned earlier that in August and now it looks to be September that we may be transferred to Hamilton to do some special work with the development of the property made available after the closing of the church college. Don White (wife-Rosemary), friends we've known since junior high and college, who works for the church in Hamilton has been instrumental in developing plans for that area. They have been going to all the stakes in New Zealand and presenting the development plans. They were here last Saturday night and shared those plans with our area. The Church has prepared development plans for all the property with features that will maintain and enhance the area around the temple. Part of the Church's plans include a 40 acre wooded area that a good brother over the past several decades has planted thousands of trees around a couple of small lakes. The plans are to proceed immediately to develop a youth camp like the one above Heber City for youth groups, and families to use. New Zealand presently has no such place set aside for the church youth programs. Because of Elder Olsen's background in Landscape Architecture they have asked Sister Olsen and me to move to Hamilton and prepare to work with volunteer groups one or two days a week now and up to 50% of our time when the schools are out in Dec-Feb to plant an additional 8,000 trees they have on hand. This is so they can be growing while it will take a couple years for the structures and roads to be built. The good thing is that we will be able to continue proselyting but it will be in a more built up area and I am sure we'll be assigned to a ward or stake. Another plus is that we won't spend nearly as much money on gas, but best of all, we will be close to the temple. We will truly miss this area, however, and the awesome people we have met here in both the Waihou and Matauri Bay branches. Last week we attended the smallest church meeting we've had; only 9 people were present in Matauri Bay, and that included a high councilman who spoke and us. (If a couple of bigger families are not there due to illness or out of town, it makes a huge difference). But despite the small numbers, the spirit was there!
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| Proposed camp area where we'll be working with youth groups to plant thousands of trees. |
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