More Energy Give Me

Whoever wrote the lyrics to the hymn “More Holiness Give Me” thought of everything but that.  This week has been exhausting.  We have had so much to do and there didn’t seem to be enough hours in the days—even if we started at 5:30 a.m.  However, we got everything done and I only had one minor break-down.  The Lord really does magnify us when we give it all we’ve got.

Online seminary class started this morning, January 31, 2011.  We have worked very hard to round up students.  It was suggested that we have between 7 and 15 students for manageability and to provide a feeling of group membership.  When we started out, we were worried about finding 7 kids.  We ended up registering 19.  We realize that since last year was such a miserable failure, some of them are going in with a negative attitude.  We’re not sure that we can get them through to completion, but others are very enthusiastic and their parents will be great support.  We will try very hard to make it a positive experience.  We have students all over the South Island; from Waimate, Southbridge, Lincoln, Blenheim, Rolleston, Greymouth, Tapawera, and Palmerston.  We also have students on the North Island; from Taihape and Sanson.  This is a great program for students who are in isolated communities.  We know that if they have a desire to learn and to increase their testimonies, the Spirit will help them do so.  We are praying for each and every one of them.

Because we are what our children call “techno-tards”, we have needed much assistance from Salt Lake to manage the site.  Brad Boyce (Rich and Glenna’s boy from the old Logan 19th ward) has been so wonderful to work with.  He even skyped us from home when he was sick.

We did a two-day loop of the northern half of the island.  It is the first time we have gone in that direction and we spent Tuesday and Wednesday driving, driving, and more driving.  We drove about 3 hours north through dry and arid scenery, until we rounded a bend and saw this…

the beautiful turquoise water splashing against the black volcanic rock near Kaikoura.   

Just off the coast of Kaikoura are deep oceanic trenches and canyons.  These funnel cold water, rich in nutrients, up to meet warm surface currents from the north.  This mixture of temperature, combined with the nutrients, create the perfect conditions for marine life—a marine biologist’s heaven.  Seals and whales were plundered here in the 1800’s and early 1900’s.  Now they are protected and people come to spend time with creatures of the sea.  The New Zealand fur seals live in colonies on the coast.  They nap on the smooth sandstone slabs right next to the parking lot.  Visitors are told not to come between the seals and the sea, or to get too close.  They bite.

This guy didn’t act like he could be bothered by anyone.  They look friendly.

A little further up the coast we found Ohau Point seal colony. 

If you look closely at the little pond in the rocks, you can see many baby seals.

Across the street and up a little is this 5-10 minute walk to a secluded waterfall and pool.  From March to October this pool is filled with baby seals who swim up stream and stay while their mothers fish in the ocean.  Hundreds of baby seals entertain tourists with their antics. 

We will be back here when the baby seals return. 

Kaikoura is also a place to eat delicious seafood.  We stopped at this little roadside stand and ate the most wonderful, fresh fish and chips with a vegetable salad.  We shared a meal and had plenty.

Blenheim was the next stop.  Blenheim is green and lush—home to many, many vineyards.

Here we met with President Prasad, a kind and gracious man, originally from Fiji.  We met his wife and two sons who will be in our seminary class.  I can not say enough about the generosity and hospitality of the Saints in New Zealand.  The Prasads wanted us to spend the night and eat dinner with them, but we had to make it to Nelson that night. 

The next morning we met with the seminary and institute teachers in Nelson.  We met at the Well’s home, dispersed materials, and discussed the coming year. 

Brother and Sister Wells (institute teachers) and Jenny Reneti (seminary teacher) in Nelson. 

Sister Reneti and the Wells told us about Brother Wilson in Tapawera, a village about 45 minutes south of Nelson.  He is raising some grandchildren who might benefit from online seminary.  We decided to go in search of them.  Going west would mean we could hit Greymouth and the west coast on our way back.

Shanelle and Shannon McMillan in Tapawera.  Their grandfather, Duncan Wilson, really wants them to have seminary.  Shanelle seems more willing than Shannon. 

We found evidence that Paul Egan might have spent some time in New Zealand.  What do you think?

Next stop, Greymouth.  We met President Kinikini in his home and once again were greeted with warmth and kisses.  These people live in humble circumstances, yet they are willing to share and give so much.  The Kinikinis wanted us to stay overnight with them and have a big breakfast, but we needed to be in Christchurch by 6:30 that night.  They told us their back door was always open to the missionaries, and, even if no one was home, we could come in and rest and eat anything we could find.  Their daughter, Heamoni, and a neighbor, Sione, will be in our seminary class. 

The way home was through Arthur’s Pass.  Rob has been trying to get us to take a P-day and drive through Arthur’s Pass.  I can see why.  It was spectacular.  The west side of this island gets lots of rain and so these mountains were heavily forested.  The roads were VERY narrow (absolutely no shoulder) and VERY curvy.  It was difficult to take pictures because there was no place to pull over and it was raining, but John did a pretty good job with these.

I kept thinking of Todd while we drove along the edge of these drop-offs.  I’m not sure he would have enjoyed this as much as I did. 

There is a car park at the very top.  As we pulled over we noticed these birds.

Kea birds—one on the top of the car and one on a post to the right of the car.  We assumed that these were pets of the people in the vehicle and that they were just giving them a little outside time.  When we got home we asked and found out they are Kea birds—wild, mountain parrots.  Cars left unattended in Arthur’s Pass will be stripped of all the rubber around windows and doors. Windshield wiper blades and antennas will also be taken by these birds with very strong beaks.

Like every place in New Zealand, the scenery changes rapidly.  You go through wooded mountains in the Pass, to these mountains with little vegetation and giant scree slopes.

We made it home in time for an “Australia Day” celebration at the Bournes’ who are transplants from Australia.  We sang the national anthem, ate Australian food including ‘Vegemite’, and practiced our Aussie accent.  We thought of our friends the Bakers and wondered if they were celebrating also.

Thursday night we had institute and Choir.  Our choir doubled since last time. 

These boys look silly, but they really sounded pretty good.

After institute we visited with Tui Jameson-Day (I wish I had her picture to put here) until after midnight.  It has been very easy to love these young adults and the other people we meet here, but Tui is in a class all by herself.  Sometimes in life we meet people who enlarge our souls and help us to see what a great blessing life is.  Tui is one of those people.  She is 25 years old and a widow.  Tui told us of her life, of her time away from the church, and her marriage to Chris.  Chris was not a member but was a good person, and she knows that if she had gone back to church, he would have followed.  A year ago, Chris went on a motorcycle rally.  As she kissed him goodbye, she felt a deep and unexplainable sadness.  For the first time in many years she got down on her knees and told her Heavenly Father that she wanted to change her life. 

Chris had an accident that day and the next 15 days were spent in the hospital by his side.  His parents, non-members, were there, too.  Chris was an only child.  His injuries caused him to have several strokes and the decision was finally made to remove him from life support.  Tui, with tears running down her cheeks, told us of the powerful spiritual experiences she had during those 15 days in the hospital.  Chris was given a Priesthood blessing and the Spirit was so powerful in the room that everyone felt peace.  Tui was alone with Chris as he died.  She said she told him not to worry about her, that she would be all right.  As his spirit left his body, she felt his arms around her and then, he was gone. 

Her story is not different from many others, but her attitude is.  She says it was the most beautiful thing she has ever experienced and that she is truly amazed at the gentle way that God has steered her back in the right direction.  Someone on the outside looking in on her life, would think her experience was gut-wrenching, not gentle.  But, because of her experiences with the Comforter, she has felt the loving hand of her Heavenly Father supporting her and correcting her.  Tui says that she is enjoying the journey, that she feels completely protected and cared for by God.  She trusts Him and His plan for her. 

Chris’s parents have since joined the Church.  What they felt in that hospital was undeniable.  Tui is definitely my hero of the week.  I got a chance to meet Tui’s mom and Chris’s mom in Rangiora on Sunday.  What wonderful women!

Saturday we had a Young Adult activity at the Canterbury Museum in downtown Christchurch. 

It was an interesting museum with a few things we don’t have in museums back home, like…

stuffed kiwis, and

vehicles for exploring the Antarctic.

Saturday afternoon it was down to Ashburton for piano lessons.  I had about the same amount of students, but this time they came in two sessions.  Next week I’ll divide them again after I get a sense of their capabilities.  They are all so cute and so eager.  I’m still working on getting a keyboard for one of the families.

Sunday we were asked to speak in the Rangiora branch—about 30 minutes north of Christchurch.  During the combined Priesthood and Relief Society meeting they talked about 72 hour kits.  Emergency preparedness is a big topic here.  It was mentioned in the meeting that many people believe the September earthquake was only a precursor to a bigger quake yet to come.  There was also some mention of the volcanoes that we are living on.  I don’t know what they’re all worried about, we haven’t had a quake for 4 or 5 days.  I don’t think our 72 hour kit in Bountiful is going to do us much good here.  When we get a minute, we’ll start working on a new one.

One last item—a little invention of John’s that I found quite amusing.  Rather than purchase something, John always uses what is available.  That’s why he tends to be a little like a pack-rat.  He can see value in everything.  Before we went on our trip, I suggested we buy some file container to collect our receipts.  John came up with this little beauty…

a clear plastic sheet cover, cut off so that it will fit in the glove compartment.  The top is folded down and held in place by a paper clip.  Large receipts can be put in that way.  However, and here is the genius, he cut a little slot in the cover and reinforced it with tape.  (John just informed me that it is not just reinforcement, but it is a little handle that you can lift up—“Genius”, he says.)  Smaller receipts slide right in.  He won’t feel a bit badly if you want to make one of your own.

Institute gets into full swing in two weeks.  I don’t think things are going to be slowing down anytime soon.  I need more energy, more patience, and more sleep.