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.  

South Island Trip - Day 4: Milford Sound

Saturday was a day  we had set aside for a trip to Milford Sound - one of the most beautiful places in all of New Zealand.  It did not disappoint.  The weather was absolutely perfect and the views were out of this world.

 We got on the bus that would take us there about 7:30 that morning.  The views all the way up to the fjord were absolutely stunning.  Then, once we got to the Sound, we got onto a boat that took us on a lovely cruise up through sheer granite cliffs to some of the most majestic views we had ever seen.   We had a nice buffet lunch aboard the boat.  Then we went up to the top deck to fully appreciate the beauty of this very special place.

It was nearly 8:00 PM by the time we got back to our room in Queenstown.  We were tired, but feeling so full of awe for all that we had seen.


We are so grateful we got to spend this time on the South Island for our final part of this mission.  We've felt especially close to each other and to Heavenly Father as we prepare ourselves to transition back to our American life.   These past 22 months have been such a precious gift.  Our time here has truly been the icing on the cake.

Our LAST trip to the Northlands

Of all the traveling we have done throughout New Zealand, the region we have loved the best in the Northlands.  We serve as Area Family History Advisers for Whangarei an Kaikohe Stakes, so we have had quite a few trips up that way for various trainings.   We've made some good friends and enjoyed the beauty of the area.   This week we had one last trip to make.   On our way up we stopped at Parry Kauri Park in Warkworth, a place we have been to many times.   Usually we just make it a quick pit stop and admire the two giant kauri trees that are very near the carpark to the museum.   This time, however, we took time to walk through the surrounding trail to appreciate the beauty of the place.

Hugging a kauri tree goodbye.  I will miss these mighty sentinels of the forest 

Rather than stay right in Whangarei, this time we opted to rent a homeaway bach a little further up so we could visit the beach at Matapouri on the Tutukaka Coast.  It wasn't very far out of our way and it let us appreciate more New Zealand Northland beauty.

Being in close proximity to the ocean is one of the things we will miss most of all.   We have truly learned to love being near the sea.

Tuesday evening we had dinner with our dear friends,  Bruce and Doreen Savill and Rosemary Waters.  These dear people will always hold a very special place in our hearts.  From our very first visit we just hit it off so we have always made a point to go see them whenever we are in the area.

 Rosemary is from Ireland and Bruce & Doreen are native Kiwis.  We've shared much laughter, some fine meals, music, and a friendship we will never forget.

The following afternoon we met with Brother Murray, the new High Council Adviser over temple work and family history for Whangarei Stake:  He's a great guy and we know he will do a fine job in his new responsibilities.

Then that evening we met with the Stake Presidency and high council in Whangarei one last time.  We talked about the Family History Workshops and discussed ways to engage people in the wards and branches in an ongoing way.  

President Poutu talked with us about the closeness of the Maori people to their ancestors and his desire to find ways to learn more about his histories of the people in the area.

The next day we had hoped to see a bit more of the area for our final farewell to the area, but it was pouring rain.  So we just packed up and hit the road.

On our way back we stopped at the FHC in Whangarei and had a great visit there with Sister Reti and Janice Gardner who staff the place and several others who had come in to work on their own family history.

We showed them how to use partner websites and talked about key skills such as standardizing data and merging duplicates in FamilySearch.  We listened to their concerns and heard about the good things that are happening there.   They were a delightful group.

Finally with that visit done we were ready to hit the road, back to Auckland.  The rain continued to pour all the way home. It felt like the sky was mourning with us as we said our goodbyes. My heart was heavy to leave the place I love so much. I felt humbled and grateful for all the many wonderful experiences we had in there over the past two years.  I was sad to acknowledge that I would most likely never see the place or the people again.  We have had so many blessings on this mission, it is hard to see this time coming to an end.

Another Busy Weekend

We had a lot going on this weekend.  No P-Day for us!

On Saturday we spent the morning with Redoubt Stake helping out with their Family History Day.  They had set up several different workshops.   Larry taught the class on attaching photos and stories.  I taught how to use partner websites like Ancestry.Com to find records not available in FamilySearch.  We also brought a bunch of laptops for the Family History beginners class to use.  The stake leaders had done a lot of pre-planning and put a lot of effort into this as it is leading up to their stake conference.  We were grateful to get to be part of it.

Once we were done with that event we packed everything up and then headed over to Panmure Stake for a Family History event over there.. We were doing this with Art & Heather Schwencke who took us to lunch on the  way.  They are great folks!                                                                                                    At the Panmure event Youth and YSA took part in several different workshops.  Larry helped with the indexing group and I showed people how to retrieve lost usernames and re-set passwords.  The group also went out to a nearby cemetery to photograph headstones.  The energy of the young people was awesome!

When that was done we once again packed up all the stuff - computers, banners and signs, etc and then took all that back to the office.  By the time we got home we were pooped!  We made an easy supper of grilled ham and cheese sandwiches and called it a night.

I did stay up for a while reading lots of background information on the life of Howard W. Hunter for the lesson I would be teaching in Relief Society the next day.

Sunday we had our usual meetings in Auckland Ward and then that evening had dinner with the Streeters followed by a Come and See Fireside.

When we got home from that we started making plans for our upcoming trip to Whangarei this next week where we will be training a new High Council Advisor & Family History Center Director and having our final visit with our dear friends there.  So we have had a lot going on.

The days seem to be zipping past us faster and faster as we wind down our final time here in the mission.  (We are now down to  just 43 days till be return to the USA.)   I hope I never forget these people or this amazing place.

This mission experience has shaped my spirit in so many ways.  As eager as I am to see my family and be back in our home ward, leaving this will not be easy.   I have loved this mission more than I can say.

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.

Return to Okura - Stairs-Stairs & More Stairs

 Today we headed out for a P-day adventure with our new friends who have recently come to the mission, Stephen and Christine Streeter. We really enjoy them!  We wanted to show them the Okura Estuary Reserve.  It's one of our favorite bush walks that we have been to many times..

We stopped to show them all our usual landmarks like the "Adversity Tree" with the roots navigating around a giant stone and the"Circle Tree" that always reminds us that when we find ourselves going in the wrong direction we can TURN AROUND.

We have brought others here before, and everyone has enjoyed it.  However each time we have visited in the past we always stopped when we got to the first major set of stairs.

There are a whole other set beyond what shows up in this picture.
 We did not count them, but there are A LOT of stairs!

We knew that if we went down all those steps, we'd have to climb up them again on the way out.   Since there was so much beauty in the first section of the hike, we were satisfied only experiencing that part.

This time however, we decided to walk all the way to the cottage.   The Streeters are pretty serious hikers and they were up for the challenge.  It was a gorgeous day.   Why not?  So on we went.  We were not disappointed.   We saw so much more on the next section - from the bridge over the creek where there was a sweet little waterfall all the way down to the beach.

We had fun all taking turns on the rope swing by the Dacre Cottage and loved soaking in all the lush beauty of the place.

Here is a little history about Dacre Cottage:

This little brick building was erected originally about 1855 on a block of 3334 acres purchased in 1848 by Ranulph Dacre, an"adventurer merchant" who operated trading vessels between Sydney and New Zealand carrying livestock, produce and timber. The land formed part of a 20,000 acre Weiti block originally sold to Henry Taylor by Maori chiefs of the Ngati Whatua; Ngati Poa; and Ngati te Matua tribes. 

By 1842 when the land claim had been verified, Henry Taylor had sold more than half of the block to H.B. Sparke of Sydney. Captain Dacre purchased the land from Sparke but did not settle on the land. Dacre's sons, Henry and Septimus, farmed the block as a cattle station. The cottage was constructed of bricks that were believed to have been used as ballast in Dacre's sailing vessel,s and originally had a shingle roof which was later replaced by corrugated iron. The Dacre family farmhouse was built nearby, (south of where the large Norfolk Pine now stands), and the little brick building was used as an abattoir when the family moved into their farmhouse. 

After some play and rest it was time to head back UP the hill, retracing our path up all those many stairs.  By the time we got back to the car Stephen's phone said we had hiked 11.79 kilometers (a little over seven miles), and had climbed a whopping 80 flights of stairs.  By the time we were done my knees and feet were weary and sore, but it was so very worth it!

When we got home we took a break for some rest and a shower.  Then we headed over to the Streeter's apartment to have dinner together.  We had to keep reminding ourselves that we had only just met them a couple weeks before when they arrived.  We all got along famously as if we were dear old friends.

Truly, one of the sweetest blessings of this mission has been the special friendships we have made along the way.  These are people we hope to stay close with for many years to come.