The Many Faces of Rescue

Stake Clerk, Brother Rangi Williams

We heard a great talk in Sacrament meeting today by  Brother Rangi Williams who serves as the Stake Clerk in Waterview Stake. His talk was titled What We Must Do to Be Rescued By The Savior. It was powerful!  I asked Brother Williams for his permission to share parts of his talk here and he generously agreed.

Brother Williams based his talk on a conference address by Pres Dieter F. Utchdorf from the Sunday morning session last April called "He Will Place You On His Shoulders and Carry You Home."

Brother Williams began by asking the congregation "Have any of you needed to be rescued?"   He then shared some personal stories of times when he was rescued and spoke about the parable of the lost sheep. 

Image from Seeds For the Soul

 One comment he made went right to my heart:

"Does the sheep need to have a big house, a flash job, plenty of money or a prominent education before the Good Shepherd will come to the rescue?   No.  Certainly not!  His sheep are worthy of divine rescue simply because we are loved by the Good Shepherd.  Our Savior, the Good Shepherd, knows and loves us.  He knows and loves you."

This is consistent with what President Utchdorf taught in his address:

"My dear brothers and sisters, my dear friends, I testify that God sees us as we truly are—and He sees us worthy of rescue...

He will rescue you.

He will lift you up and place you on His shoulders.

He will carry you home."

I've been thinking about that a lot, and what it means to be rescued, as well as how I might be better engaged in "going to the rescue" of others in need.

There have definitely been times when I needed rescuing. Larry literally saved me from drowning one time when we lived in Florida. My older brother, Wayne, rescued me more than once from dicey situations I got myself into as a kid.

Elder Bennett and I most certainly experienced God's rescuing love during our recent travels on the South Island of New Zealand.

We had a very full day on Wednesday, truly the icing on the cake after several days of travel through stunning beauty and many special spiritual experiences.  That evening as we were driving back to the house where we were staying we were bone tired, but very happy.   It was dark and rainy outside, but inside our hearts were filled with light.

We were talking about how blessed we were for all the experiences we had over the trip, and indeed over our entire mission experience.  As we drove through the dark, wet night we were both feeling happy, and perhaps a bit distracted.  We were thinking about getting back to our room to pack up in preparation to return to Auckland the next day.

As we went through an intersection, just a few short blocks from the house where we were staying, all our peace and happiness came to an abrupt halt when a car came zooming in front of us.  We were about to slam right into it.  I honestly don't know if they ran a stop sign or we did. No matter how many times I play the event over in my head, I still can't make sense of it.  One minute we were going along safe and happy.  In the the next minute everything turned upside down as we could see our car and this other vehicle zooming toward each other, about to have a very serious crash.  Both Elder Bennett and the other driver slammed on their brakes as hard as they could.  The tires screeched on the wet pavement, but there was no time to stop.  We were headed straight for impact.  It seemed there was no way we were going to avoid it, and we knew it was going to be bad.  

We were careening toward each other at a speed that told me there would soon be broken glass, tangled metal and quite possibly seriously injured bodies in the mix.  In that instant I could SEE in my mind's eye the impact coming.  I could sense that it was going to be horrible.  In that terrible instant, I knew we could get seriously hurt or even killed.

Except it didn't happen.   Our cars both went zooming straight at each other and then just STOPPED.  This wasn't brakes slowing us down.  We were moving and then we weren't.  We just stopped. The two cars were perfectly still exactly next to each other. The next day in the light we could see just the faintest paint transfer where we had lightly touched.  But there was no impact.  There was no harm.

Our hearts were pounding and our breath came out in ragged gasps from our chests.  We kept looking around saying "Are you ok?  Are you alright?"  We expected the other driver was every bit as shocked and amazed as we were.  However, we never met that driver.  Once he or she came to grips with the fact that there had been no collision, they simply pulled away and drove on down the road.  Shaking, we did the same, going on to our little rented house where we offered fervent prayers of thanks for this protection, for this rescue.

I know beyond any shadow of a doubt that we were protected from what could have been a horrific accident on the streets of Dunedin that night.  I know our "Guardian Angels" were there, taking charge of the momentum of both vehicles regardless of the laws of physics.  I don't know why we were kept safe.  Plenty of other faithful missionaries have been injured or even killed in accidents at various places around the world.  Bad things do indeed happen to good people.  But for whatever reason, God protected us that day.

As dramatic as that experience was, it is no more remarkable than all the other many ways that we have been rescued.   As Brother Williams said in his talk: "being rescued by the Savior has many meanings beyond just physical rescue".

I think back to a season in my life when my mind and heart were filled with confusion and sorrow.  It was a time when life's trials seemed more than I could bear.  Yet Heavenly Father was surely with me during those dark days, sending the right people into my path to lift me back into the light.

President Utchdorf said in his talk: "it matters not how completely ruined our lives may seem.  It matters not how scarlet our sins, how deep our bitterness, how lonely, abandoned, or broken our hearts may be.  Even those who are without hope, who live in despair, who have betrayed trust, surrendered their integrity, or turned away from God can be rebuilt...The joyous plan of the gospel is this: because of the eternal plan of happiness provided by our loving Heavenly Father, through the infinite sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ, we can be redeemed from the fall and restored to purity".

There was a time when I felt very lost in so many ways.  Yet Heavenly Father was there for me, with a love and patience I could scarcely comprehend.  Brother Williams talked about his own hard times and various ways he felt rescued.  I could relate.  While my circumstances may have been very different, I felt every bit as much like a repaired humpty dumpty as he described.

There is much I do not know.  I love the quote from David Bednar who said in a 2013 talk:

"I do not know why some people learn the lessons of eternity through trial and suffering—while others learn similar lessons through rescue and healing. I do not know all of the reasons, all of the purposes, and I do not know everything about the Lord’s timing. With Nephi, you and I can say that we “do not know the meaning of all things” (1 Nephi 11:17)."

But this is what I know for sure:  whether in times of safety or times of peril and adversity - God's love is real.  Even when He doesn't rescue us from some of the bad things that happen in this world,  He WILL rescue us in the way that matters most of all.  If we are willing to do our part, by turning to Him with faith and obedience, He will ultimately bring us home.  That is something I know beyond the shadow of a doubt.  

Blessings from the Storms of Life

Tonight we went to the Come and See Fireside held in Otara Stake.  The music and the testimonies born were very powerful.  What I will remember most, however, is reconnecting with Sister Kilgrow.

We met Sister Kilgrow in early November of last year.  She had broken her ankle ice skating on a p-day activity. She was unable to put any pressure on it at all, so there was no way for her to do her usual mission responsibilities.  During her lengthy recovery she spent her days in the mission office helping with various paperwork and in the evenings the senior missionaries took turns having her in their homes to keep her well cared for while her companion was out with others doing proselyting work.  When we had her over to our place we had a nice meal of corned beef and cabbage, then afterward we showed her how to sign on to FamilySearch.  We taught her the basics of building a family tree and how to add photos.  That was the only time we saw her.  Once she got back on her feet she was working in a completely different area than us.

That night, however, had a big impact on Sister Kilgrow.

When she spotted us after the fireside she immediately came up to us to thank us for teaching her how to do family history work.  She shared with us how much joy she felt in finding records for many of her family members, including the great-grandmother she was named for.   She spoke of preparing their names to take to the temple and feeling very blessed to have that opportunity.

Perhaps Ireland Kilgrow would have found someone to teach her about family history sooner or later had we not met.  But the fact remains that the ONLY reason we crossed paths was because of some very painful adversity. She did not want to break her ankle.  It seemed like a terrible, awful thing to have happen that completely stalled her mission experience for a time.   However, because of that injury she has had multiple baptisms take place - proxy work for her ancestors that she has found records for.  Because of that injury she now has a passion for family history work that she says she wants to keep doing for many years to come.

This was a good reminder to me that our loving Heavenly Father can use EVERY experience we have in our lives - even the ugly and painful ones - to bring us blessings and joy.   There are many things that we wish we never had to experience.  But adversity is part of this mortal existence.  We all will have to go through dark, difficult times.   When I am facing heartache, physical pain, or worry over loved ones I hope I can always remember Sister Kilgrow and look forward with trust, knowing that somewhere, somehow out of that terrible experience there will be growth, there will be opportunity, there will be a silver lining.  I want to stay open to finding the blessing in every experience, not just the ones that come wrapped up in pretty packages.

Monday Devotional - Enduring Adversity

Elder Jeff Champlin of Public Affairs department gave the talk in our PAO Devotional this morning.  It was so powerful!   With his permission, I am sharing the full text of his message here:

Elder Jeff Champlin

“The dial on the wheel of sorrow eventually points to each of us”, said Elder Joseph B Wirthlin (Oct2008).

In April conference, Elder Donald L. Hallstrom of the Presidency of the Seventy asked “When difficult things occur in our lives, what is our response?  Is it confusion or doubt or spiritual withdrawal?  Is it a blow to our faith?  Do we blame God or others for our circumstances?   Or is our first response to remember who we are – that we are children of a loving God?  Is that, then, coupled with the absolute trust that He allows some earthly suffering because He knows it will bless us – like a refiner’s fire – to become like Him?”

Enduring or overcoming severe challenges ultimately comes down to surrendering , or sacrificing, our will and turning to the Saviour who has made the ultimate sacrifice.

Elder Jeffrey R Holland said it simply, “You can have something you want, or you can have something better”.

Choosing the Lord’s will – over our own will - is the essence of the Law of Sacrifice.

Our trials have an eternal purpose.  And they not only bless us, but our hardships endured well, bless others.

However the opposite is  also true.  Trials not endured well can have long-lasting negative impacts on others, most notably family.

According to President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “If you are injured but forgive, patiently and willingly endure the difficult sorrows and trial of life, or make difficult, seemingly unfair sacrifices, blessings flow, even unto the saving of families and the blessing of future generations.”

In 1923 staggering economic hardships meant the Turner family would need to give up their farm and move to the town of Corrine, in northern Utah.  Ida Turner searched the regional advertising section of the Salt Lake Tribune.  There, in the newspaper, misplaced among the list of “houses for rent,” was an ad that read: “Wanted, a home for a boy.”

Ida was deeply moved by the cryptic classified advertisement.  It reopened a deep wound in her heart.  Sorrows she had tried to suppress washed over her anew.

Her husband, Horace, resisted her.  After all, they barely had enough to feed and clothe themselves, their son and three daughters.

Ida wouldn’t, couldn’t let it go.

When her husband relented, she mailed a response to the advertisement.  There was no further correspondence.  Yet within weeks, the boy, Jack, age 9, accompanied by his father holding a small bag of Jack’s meager belongings, arrived at the farmhouse unannounced.

Jack’s father explained he was in the military and was frequently transferred from one army post to another.  This time they were sent from Florida to Fort Douglas, east of Salt Lake City.  Jack’s father said that where ever they had lived – which so far included 4 eastern states – they found a place for Jack, because Jack was disobedient to his mother, who had two younger children to raise.

That day was the beginning of what Jack described as the happiest days a boy could ever have.  He was loved, and for the first time felt like part of a family.

Over a year later, Jack’s father returned to Corrine, again unannounced.  He had come to take Jack.  He was discharged from the army and was moving his family back to Florida.

Jack and his foster family were devastated.  This news was especially painful for him and Ida.  She felt the hole in her heart open wider than ever as she watched Jack looking back at here out of the car’s rear window as his father drove away.

Weeks turned to months and months to nearly two years.  Jack moved from one foster home to another throughout Florida and Georgia as his father sought permanent employment.  Along the way, Jack wrote simple letters to Ida about being unhappy, lonely, burdened with excessive chores in the homes of strangers, and wondered why he couldn’t stay with his own family.  If given the chance, he wrote, “I will be a good boy”.

In one letter he mustered the courage to ask Ida to write his father and ask if he could return to Utah and live with her again.  Months later Jack, almost age 12, found himself on a train under the care of the Red Cross, returning to Utah.  He never saw his father again.

After his arrival at the Turner home, Ida told Jack about a little boy whose mother had died at his birth.  His father remarried and his new wife did not like the little boy, so he couldn’t live with his family.  She told Jack he was that boy.

Then was when Jack learned the angry woman he thought was his mother was not his real mother.  Ida also told Jack that she had a child who had died, how it had broken her heart, and caused her sorrow the depth of which only a mother could feel.  She told Jack her little girl, Alice, would have been his same age.

It is not much of a stretch to say that Jack and Ida lived happily ever after.  Jack was anxious to join the church of the Turner family: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  He served as a missionary for 2 ½ years, fought in World War II for 4 years, and then returned to Utah, fell in love and married in the Logan Temple.

Together, he and his bride had 10 children.  I am their fifth child.

Our family, now 202 in number, has benefited down to the third generation, because of the choices made, the sorrows endured, the patience shown, and the faithful lives lived by a lost boy and a grieving mother who made him her own.

All of us have people like Jack and Ida in our lives, past and present.  Perhaps even someone we work with here.

Many have overcome, or are striving to overcome, unbelievably difficult things, some far grater than Jack and Ida endured – things for which their loved ones and us are, and will be, the blessed beneficiaries.

May we honour and be forever grateful for those whose sacrifices and sorrows – endured well – bless us and those we love.

And may we realize that our choices, made while under the pressures of life, impact not only ourselves, but those near us who need us to be faithful, especially our families – now and for generations to come.

Trusting, as Elder Wirthlin has said, “that the Lord compensates the faithful for every loss…and every tear today will eventually be returned a hundred fold with tears of rejoicing gratitude.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Elder Taylor as a Missionary to Louisiana

Jack during happy days in Corinne, Utah

Ida Turner, the woman who gave Jack a home

REFERENCES for Quotes:
Halstrom, Donald. April 2016.  “I Am a Child of God”.
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2016/04/i-am-a-child-of-god?lang=eng

Wirthlin, Joseph. October 2008.  “Come What May and Love It.”
 https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2008/10/come-what-may-and-love-it?lang=eng

Uchtdorf, Dieter. April 2016.  “In Praise of Those Who Save”
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2016/04/in-praise-of-those-who-save?lang=eng

Other great talks on same topic:
Halstrom, Donald. April 2010.  “Turn to the Lord”
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2010/04/turn-to-the-lord?lang=eng

Uchtdorf, Dieter. April 2012. “The Merciful Obtain Mercy”.
 https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/04/the-merciful-obtain-mercy?lang=eng

Ucthdorf, Dieter. April 2007.  “”The Point of Safe Return”.
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2007/04/point-of-safe-return?lang=eng

A Dickens Kind of Day

Charles Dickens opens up his famous story Tale of Two Cities with these words:

"It was the best of time, it was the worst of times...."

Today was one of those days.

On the POSITIVE side ...  we helped Harbour Stake with their big indexing event.  This is part of the world-wide indexing challenge FamilySearch has been promoting in hopes of getting 72,000 indexers working over a period of 72 hours. Indexing is such an important part of making family history records available, so we were glad we could help out.

Go to this link to get started:  https://familysearch.org/indexing/get-started-indexer 

We took about a dozen laptops from the Family History closet to the event and had various signs and promotional materials to add color to the event.  Different people came and went throughout the day. We helped them get logged on and showed them the basics, answering questions as needed.  Indexing will probably never be my specialty, but I'm learning enough to assist with basic stuff.  It was a fun event with lots of people happy to take part in the project.  We were having a great time.

However...part way through the morning we needed to leave to go make a phone call back to the USA to talk to our vet.  That's when the bottom dropped out of our day.

Sweet Morgan the Wonder Dog has been struggling lately.  When we saw her in January she was perky and well.  But since then, our son reported that she wasn't eating much at all and she was getting very thin,  She appeared to be very low in energy and just didn't seem herself.

We thought perhaps it was stress from having us leave, then come back, then leave again.  We were concerned maybe she didn't get along with Aaron's dogs.  We were sad she wasn't thriving, but we were hopeful she was going to be ok. Knowing Aaron's kids were going to be gone to Michigan for six weeks and that Aaron and Stephanie were planning a big vacation, we decided this was a good time to make other arrangements for who should care for our dear dog.  So we shifted her to our next door neighbor on Edna Street in Boise.  I knew that they would give her lots of tender love and attention, which they did.

Dana was amazing with Morgan.  When she confirmed the same thing that Aaron had said - Morgan wasn't eating and she was looking really thin, Dana went the extra mile, cooking chicken and rice and other things to try to entice her to eat.  Dana reported that Morgan seemed happy enough, but she was moving very slowly and had very low energy.  So we asked to have the vet look her over to see if there was anything serious to be concerned about.  We got the email today that we needed to call the vet for his report.

Morgan's vet, Robert Ormond, said he could feel a large mass in her abdomen.  Checking all her vitals, he was quite sure she had some form of cancer.   We were devastated.  Dr. Ormond said he would try her on an appetite stimulant to see if he could get her to eat some, but he didn't hold out much hope.

So now we are preparing ourselves for what is sure to come.  We cannot let her slowly starve as the tumor takes over her little body.  We'll have to have her put down.  So I've cried and cried all afternoon, trying to hold it together when I needed to be around other people, but mostly I'm just falling apart.

We've had our Basset Hound for 12 years and she is a very treasured member of our family.  Leaving her behind to go on this mission was so hard.  We did the best we could to make arrangements for loving care for her in our absence.  Still, we worried over her plenty.  She was OUR dog and we knew she would not understand why we went away.   I'm not for one minute regretting the decision to serve. This mission was exactly the right thing for us to do.  Still, not being able to say goodbye to our beloved pet is a sacrifice we had not anticipated having to make.

Feeling so sad, so utterly bereft over this.

She is such a good dog.  The thought of losing her is breaking my heart.

Morgan as a puppy 2004

Lynda and Morgan in the mountains of Oregon - 2009?

At the Oregon State University experiment station in Athena, OR

Larry and Morgan in our back yard in Boise, 2012

Sick Again

We are now back from Fiji and trying to regroup for our time here in New Zealand.  I've been fighting another bought of bronchitis and have felt pretty puny.  Sigh.

When we got back from our Tonga trip I got really sick, coughing so hard for days I could hardly get any sleep.  (And I REALLY needed rest, having come back utterly exhausted after doing 22 trainings in 12 days which probably had a lot to do with why I got sick in the first place).  This time isn't as serious as that episode, but it still feels pretty crummy.

During the time I was struggling with the chronic pain after I injured my shoulder in Samoa, or when I broke my wrist the first time we went to Fiji,  I often would find myself sitting up in the wee hours of the night, unable to sleep.  One of the ways I coped was to read every conference talk I could find with searches like "Adversity", "Suffering", or "Pain".  I found some really great talks on these topics and have had time to seriously ponder them.  I am well familiar with the scripture that says "For it must needs be that there is opposition in all things...."   (2 Nephi 2:11)

Right now I am not that bad off. I am definitely not well. But it could be so much worse.

Still, I feel sick enough to be uncomfortable and whiny.  It also has caused me to think about the challenges that lie ahead as an inevitable part of aging.  Granted, aging goes smoother for those who practice good health habits, staying strong and flexible, managing weight, and being engaged in life.  Still, ALL of us sooner or late will go through a time when our bodies will experience increasing aches and pains and limitations.  For some, serious illness or debilitation can bring crushing emotional as well as physical suffering.   

I think about the people I know and love who are going through truly huge challenges right now...and there are several.  I think of times in the past when I was going through dark periods when life really was a struggle.

I ponder about the nature of suffering, not to be gloomy, but rather to understand better my own reactions to difficult experiences and seek the lessons that it has for me.

If I have learned anything at all about coping with opposition it is this:  hurting is not permanent.  It can feel like it at the time.  Some kinds of pain can be so overwhelming that we can feel as if we can never see the light of day again.  But having ridden my way out to the other side of some very dark situations in the past, I find I've gained a sense of perspective.  So now I am much more able to see that tough times we go through really can soften us spiritually,  give us more compassion for others, gift us with a greater appreciation for the blessings of our lives.

EVERY life will know pain.  Some big.  Some more minor.  The trick, I think, is not to fight it or blame it or bemoan my state when I'm in the thick of hurtful times, whatever the nature of the specific circumstances may be.  Ideally, I'd like to be able to practice acceptance of all things more completely..  It is what it is.  That's easy to say.  Sometimes, however, it's hard to achieve.  Even though I truly do believe there is always much to be grateful for, even in the midst of hardship,  when stuck in the middle of a challenge, it can be incredibly difficult to maintain that detached optimism.   

I have no doubt that life still has plenty of lessons to teach me about adversity. For now, I just wish I could quit coughing and get some rest.

Kauri Glen

The first few days after our return from Tonga I was totally wiped out.   Utter exhaustion wore my general strong resilience down to a nub and I ended up sick in bed for a couple days.  I hoped just getting some rest would get me back on my feet, but that didn't do it.  I wound up with a nasty case of bronchitis and needed to go see a doctor to get on meds in order to kick it.  Fortunately, once I had a couple days of antibiotics and a course of Prednisone in my system, I felt much better.  So Larry and I had a chance to get out for a hike and a bit of geocaching to enjoy New Zealand beauty before having to leave all over again.

We continue to be amazed by the many pockets of native bush that have been preserved all around Auckland.   There are MANY hectares of reserves that are open for hiking all around the city.  They have beautiful trails and places for picnics.  This was our first time at Kauri Glen.  We enjoyed it immensely.  After being stuck in bed feeling sick for a few days it felt absolutely wonderful to be back to my old self and to be able to be up and around again.

That got me thinking a lot about the role of adversity in our lives.  Sometimes we wish we could avoid the struggle and hard times that come our way.  But it is through the hard times we learn, grow, and come to appreciate the good.

While recovering from my broken wrist I had a lot of pain.  Even more than my hand itself, the complications I had with my frozen shoulder really gave me a lot of problem.  Most of the time we were in Tonga it was still hurting a lot every morning when I would first get up.  Generally after I got moving around and did my exercises as instructed by the physiotherapist I had gone to, I would begin to get some relief. But those first couple hours of each day could be pretty miserable.

How we choose to respond to the pain and problem in our lives really does define the quality of what our lives are like.  EVERYONE gets some sort of hardship - some more than others.  But we all have our hearts broken.  We all have to deal with sickness to one degree or another.  We all have disappointments or injustice that happen. People we thought we could trust let us down.  Opportunities we thought were just within our grasp go to someone else.  We have losses of all sorts to cope with.   Life just plain hurts in so many ways.

But it is just as true that there are things to celebrate and be grateful for.  There are miracles and beauty and things that can bring us awe and wonder.  We choose which we will focus on.  We choose which images, feelings, experiences we will hold onto, what we will ponder on, what will be the focus of our day to day lives.  We can stay stuck holding on to our pain or we can endure it with grace while putting our main attention on all that is good.

Easy to say - hard to do when the pain is calling out for our whole attention.  But I have truly come to appreciate the fact that this world is built on opposites and that in their own way, the trials can bless our lives ever bit as much as the prizes and celebrations.  It's all a matter of how we choose to respond to them.

When we have days like today when we get to wrap ourselves up in happiness and beauty I remind myself that I am making important deposits into my emotional/spiritual bank account.  I have no doubt there will be days in my future when I feel utterly bereft, or when I want to howl with misery.   When those times come I hope I can call up these blessing times and suck on the memories - transporting my focus back to how good I have had it right now.  When the final balance comes I may not have any control over whether I got more happy days or more struggles. I may not get to pick how deep the wounds life brings my way are going to be.  Sometimes we are left with the wreckage of other people's choices or with whatever freak events happen in this crazy, random, mortal life.  But I do have control over which experiences I will play through my head the most often and how intensely I pay attention to what I am currently experiencing.

I don't have to put on rose colored glasses when things go wrong. I can acknowledge the bumps and be honest with myself when things are a complicated cluster of angst, confusion or hurt feelings.  But I don't have to let it own me.  I can put it in perspective along side of days like this when I feel so fully alive and am experiencing peace, beauty, and love in such abundance.   And that can make all the difference.

FIJI Week 1 - Bumps and Blessings

For the first week of July we were immersed in making plans for another island adventure - this time we would be traveling to FIJI!

Larry and I first experienced Fiji in 2001 when we did a trip with some of our family to the remote island of Nacula in the Yasawa chain for a week of scuba diving, snorkeling,  and general relaxation.  While I am not a diver, Larry and his sons had some amazing sights to see.  I thoroughly enjoyed the snorkeling and just spending lazy time in a hammock reading books, looking out over the pristine views of paradise.  It was an incredible experience I've never forgotten. So I was very excited when I learned we would get to go back to this lovely Pacific gem, even though this trip would be spent entirely on the main island of Viti Levu. 

Monday 13 July

Fiji was every bit as beautiful as I remembered.   However, our trip got off to a bumpy start.  We flew directly to Nausori via Fiji Airlines.  It was a very crowded plane with barely enough room to squeeze into…our knees were tight against the seat in front of us the entire time.  But we arrived safely and found our Avis rental car with no problem.  We were not given a street map, but the clerk sketched out general directions to Suva and described how we would find our way to our hotel.  We were a bit nervous, but grateful we had arrived in daylight.  We said a prayer and we were off.

Driving in Suva is not for the faint of heart!  According to World Population Review, the city has a population of 87,000 people with double that if you count the surrounding suburbs. The streets were very narrow and traffic very congested.  Pedestrians would randomly step into the busy street to cross over with no regard to oncoming traffic. Buses would abruptly change lanes or make broad turns, swinging mere millimeters from our car.  I closed my eyes and prayed most of the way through town.   Fortunately, between the skill and confidence of Elder Bennett as a driver and the watchful care of our guardian angels, we made it to Holiday Inn with no problems.

The hotel was lovely and the staff there very welcoming.   We stowed our luggage and got freshened up Then we headed off on foot to get familiar with our new surroundings.  Elder Bennett exchanged some of our NZ dollars for Fijian at Western Union and then we walked on down the road toward the library.  On the way a local man greeted us and noted our name tags. He was eager to have a conversation, but since he spoke only marginal English, we had a very difficult time understanding him.  He led us over to the nearby wharf to show us something.  I was paying careful attention to the man to try to decipher what he was saying.  Unfortunately, that meant I was not paying attention to where I put my feet.   There was an abrupt raised area in the sidewalk I had not noticed.  I tripped on the edge of the rough sidewalk there and went sprawling.  My camera went skittering on the concrete and I fell hard.

My automatic reflex was to try to catch myself with my right hand.  I knew immediately when I landed that I was hurt bad.  As I picked myself and took stock of the situation I noted both knees were bloodied and my shoulder was throbbing.  But it was very apparent the worst damage was to my right wrist.  It began to swell immediately and was deeply painful.   We had barely arrived in country and now I was in serious trouble.  We had no idea where to go for help.

We knew the most sensible thing to do would be to get ourselves to the LDS Service Center.  However, we had absolutely no idea where that might be.  What we did know was that it was right next to the temple. At first we went back to our hotel to ask where to go, but with no street names to guide us they were pretty vague on explaining how to get there.  So we stopped people on the street to ask for directions telling them we were looking for "Big white building with gold man on top!"   This elicited smiles and nods, but at first we couldn't find anyone who we could communicate with.  Eventually we found someone who spoke enough English to point us in the right direction.

As we made our way up a winding road that traversed a hill overlooking the harbor, my hand really began to hurt.  We were both very relieved when we finally saw the gleaming white spire of the Fiji temple with the statue of Angel Moroni and his trumpet confirming we were at the right place.

We were so grateful to have guidance of Sister Knight, the mission nurse.  She took us to Fiji private hospital  and provided support throughout the ordeal.   She was such a blessing!  We also met her husband, Elder Knight, who is responsible for managing the mission finances.  They both were such great folks (from Texas, USA).  Getting to know them was the first of several blessings that came to us which never would have happened had I not been injured.   Over and over throughout the time we were in Fiji we saw evidence of how ALL things, even painful and difficult experiences, could be used to bless our lives

Sister & Elder Knight

After a long wait in the hospital  I was examined by a doctor and had my hand x rayed.  He said that the wrist was fractured and small bones in my hand above the wrist were dislocated.  He made a plaster half cast which was tied on with gauze wrapping which would keep my hand stable but also accommodate the swelling.  Our next decision to make was whether we needed to get right back on a plane to return to Auckland or if we could go ahead with our assignment.

 The following day we were able to get a CD with digital images of the xrays from the hospital.
I emailed these to a hand specialist back in New Zealand.  The doctor said it would not cause further damage to delay treatment, so we opted to remain in Fiji do the best we manage in finishing what we had been sent to do.

Tuesday- 14 July

Tuesday morning we returned to the Service Center to meet with Brother Senikuraciri to discuss our schedule.   On arrival we were very impressed to find the family history center there bustling with activity.  Members from Suva North Stake were there busy searching records.  Many were using the microfilm machines and the computers were put to good use.  The FHC was neat as a pin and very well organized.  The director and consultants were eager to assist patrons and much good work was taking place.

Suva North Stake FHC

We then traveled to Nausori Stake where we did a training for Family History Consultants.
Sister Senikuraciri met us there.

Brother and Sister Senikuraciri

Nausori Stahe Consultants

                                   

The training about the 15-15 goal was well received.  We identified 4 basic skills that many did not know how to do  1) screen capture using the snipping tool   2) merging duplicates in FamilySearch, 3) Using online MyFamily book to select languages  4) how to add photos in the memories section of FamilySearch.   Everyone was eager to practice these skills and were very appreciative.  At the end of the training they sang us a Fijian farewell song so beautifully it gave me se na vutoqu  (goose bumps).

Everyone was very appreciative of what they  learned and there was much laughter throughout our time there.  At the end of that session one of the sisters presented me with a beautiful bouquet from her home green house.

Later that evening we went back to the Nausori Stake  Center for leadership training.

Stake President Alipate Tagidugu and first counselor Manasa Cava work hard to promote My Family 15 in 15 in the Nausori Fiji Stake halves of the blessing.. Each ward in their stake has been assigned specific days to come to family history center. Every month stake leaders follow up. These are inspired leaders who understand importance of getting both halves of the blessing.

Pres Tagidugu on right wirh Pres Cava

Wednesday – 15 July

On Wednesday morning we returned to Nausori FHC to give further training to consultants.  We focused on the skills we had identified, making sure everyone there knew how to do each task and could demonstrate them to others.

That day Sister Senikuraciri accompanied us.  Her husband was working.  At mid-day the three of us went to lunch at a local fish and chips shop.  We then took her home and returned to our hotel.   We rested for a while and then spent much of the evening checking through our email and making plans for upcoming trainings.

Thursday – 16 July

On Thursday morning we went back to the FHC at the service center next to the temple.  By this time we were getting into a rhythm of how to present to the Fiji saints and were more confidant in finding our way around.  That day we would be meeting with consultants from Suva North Stake. We got to the FHC early and spent some time working with a non member family who had come to research their family until the arrival of the consultants. We were able to introduce them to FamilySearch and show them basic research tools which was much appreciated. The consultants arrived about 10:30. As with the Nausori consultants, we found those from Suva North had great enthusiasm for the work but limited technical knowledge.  They were attentive, eager to learn, and grasped the new skills quickly.  They were very pleased to have their individual photos taken which they added to their FamilySearch memories.  Of particular importance was teaching them how to sign on as a helper to assist patrons who had forgotten their user name or password or to prepare pedigree charts for leaders from the 15-15 spreadsheets.

Elder & Sister Bennett with Suva North consultants

Suva North consultants proudly display their 15 in 15 pedigree charts

While we were at the service center we were able to meet the mission president and his wife, along with some of the other senior missionaries.  It was fun to compare notes about each other’s assignments.

Bennetts with Fiji Mission President and his wife, LaMar and Lynette Layton from Draper, Utah

Thursday evening we gave the leadership training for a big group made up of both stake and ward leaders.  It went great!  We were particularly impressed by the first counselor in the Suva North stake presidency—President S. Anil Bhan.  He had formerly been Area Family History Abvisor for Fiji so he was very knowledgeable and had a strong testimony of the work. 

Pres. Bhan on left, Stake Pres Vito Qaqa in center and second counselor Sakiusa Maiwiriwiri on right

Friday – 17 July

We had no appointments on Friday morning, so we walked over to the Fiji museum and spent some time walking through the gardens and viewing the displays there.  Of course, as an entomologist, Elder Bennett especially appreciated the bugs and butterflies!  Because of my background in sociology I loved learning about the various elements of Fiji culture.

While in the museum we watched a demonstration of a woman making traditional ceramics.  I asked her how she learned to make the things she had laid out before her. She said her mother had taught her.  I gave her a MyFamily book and encouraged her to record stories about her family so that future generations would know about the way her culture had been passed down through the generations.

Fiji LDS Church College

That afternoon we had an appointment to see the Fiji LDS Church College (High School). We were  met by the vice principal, Salote Maiwiriwiri, who gave us a full tour of the school.  She talked with us about the way the school has incorporated the MyFamily book into their curriculum.  We also met with  English teacher Thelma Racule who explained how she uses the book as the basis for pre-writing, proofreading, editing and re-write exercises.

English teacher Thelma Racule

We spoke with some of the students and viewed the computer lab which the school has begun opening to wards in their stake for working on the 15 in 15 goal

 Students are  Opeti Salaba on left who is Head boy for the school. On right is Baleibau Duilomaloma

Head girl Savaira Veikoso smiled with joy as she talked about learning stories about her grandparents' lives.

Saturday – 18 July

On Saturday morning Elder Bennett and I got to visit a local park and take a drive along the coastline, spending some relaxing time appreciating the beauty of Fiji.

That evening we did another large group training – this time for Suva stake leaders and consultants.  It was the most powerful of all our sessions.  We felt there were angels in the room with us!

After the meeting the consultants and stake president went with us to the FHC in their stake center.  I trained the consultants on the key skills while Elder Bennett worked with the Stake President, Kamoe Varea, on his pedigree information so he could complete the 15 in 15 challenge.  There were many duplicates to be cleaned up.  Once that was done, however, key ordinance work that had been missing from the chart finally showed up and family information was more complete.  President Kamoe beamed with joy and said over and over how happy he was.

 Pres Varea on left with counselor Jese Kama     

Sunday – 19 July

On Sunday morning we got up bright and early to prepare fpr 8:00 am church services.  We went to church in the Senikuriciri’s Fijian speaking ward which meets in the LDS Church College.  We both spoke in Sacrament and then were called on to help with the temple preparation class.  I was also asked to speak briefly about family history and the 15 in 15 goal in Relief Society.

After church we went home with the Senikuraciris for a lovely feast they had prepared.  We had a nice visit with their family and then went back to our hotel to get packed up in preparation for leaving the following day.

That evening we spent some quiet time reflecting on all we had experienced and feeling very grateful to our Heavenly Father for the blessings he had shown us

.

Monday – 20 July

Early Monday morning we checked out of our hotel.  We then headed back to the school where we were scheduled to offer a devotional message for all the teachers and administration.  After that we returned to the service center where we met with Elder Adolph Johannsson.  He is the Service Center manager and the Area Seventy for this region of the Pacific.  (Elder Johansson assist Church leaders in Fiji, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Kiribati and the Marshall Islands in his ecclesiastical position).  We were very impressed by him.

Once those were done we were ready to hit the road…time to travel to the west side of the island (about a 4.5 hour drive) to begin our trainings in Latoka stake.

There are two other things that I do not want to leave out from our record of this magical first week in Fiji:

 First, I noticed early on was that whenever I was teaching I would forget all about my injured arm.  I had quite a bit of pain in the evenings and much trouble sleeping as every time I moved would send shooting pain that woke me up.   Even during the day it was a struggle.  There were also times when I got frustrated and discouraged by the awkwardness of not being able to do much of anything without help.  Fortunately Larry was kind and patient in helping me.  I was very humbled with appreciation for my sweet companion.  When I was teaching, however,  all the hardship just melted away and would lose myself in the zone of what I love to do best.

The second thing is the miracle of finding information about Dallas Olsen’s family.  I have written of that in an earlier post, so I won’t repeat all the details of the story here.  Still, I want it to be part of this record so I can never forget the absolute certainty we felt that the Lord was watching over us on this trip.