Of Drifts, Thrift, and Shifts

Drifts…

The calendar says July 24th, but my eyes tell me it is December 24th.  In church we should have been singing “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day”, instead of “Come, Come Ye Saints”.  Snow in Christchurch is not unheard of, but it is rare. There is no equipment to clear the roads, so most everything has shut down.  Families are working on snow sculptures, cars are pulling children on sleighs, and once again, university is out.  Some of our YSA showed up at our flat and dragged us to the institute building for a snowball fight.

Hayley Lee outside our window that she had pelted with snowballs.

Jeremy Beck, Alyse James, and Sina Posala

The Sisters have been staying with us for a couple of nights.  They have felt unsafe in their flat since one of their neighbors started stalking them.  Sister Yu is from northern China and is very accustomed to snow, but Sister Wu, from Taiwan, is seeing it for the first time.  I can understand the thrill--just not in July.  It feels so wrong.

Thrift…

The New Zealand dollar just keeps climbing against the American dollar.  That means our mission is costing more and more, and we are trying to be frugal.  I have put off having money transferred, hoping that it would go back down, but John just read that the New Zealand dollar will stay strong for the rest of 2011.  Kiwi exporters are suffering by the weakened American dollar and are hoping that something can be done. Economics has never been my strong suit, but I can feel the effects as we go through our money much more quickly.

Shifts…

There is nothing so constant as change in this church.  We attended zone conference this past week to meet our new Mission President and his wife.  The Kazerians are from Orem, Utah.  President Joliffe, our last President, was bright, articulate, organized, well-respected, and British.  Sister Joliffe was all smiles.  President Kazerian is tender and full of warmth.  Sister Kazerian is all smiles (must be a requirement for mission mothers).  The missionaries will be well loved. 

Christchurch Stake also got a new stake presidency this weekend.  Elder F. Michael Watson (recently assigned as a counselor in the Pacific Area Presidency) was here to oversee the process.  Our outgoing President was Morris McDonald.  He has only been Stake President for three years, but he served as a counselor in the stake presidency for eight years before that, and he and his family have been through the wringer for the past few months.  They have endured earthquakes that have devastated them financially--much of their money being invested in rental properties, their car was burned by vandals in their driveway, their home has been violated by intruders, their oldest children have caused them much concern and grief, the stake has been decimated leaving wards and branches without priesthood leaders, church buildings have been destroyed, stake members have been traumatized, and those are only the things we can see. I’m sure there are many that are unseen. Because of the stress, he has lost 35 kilo (77 pounds) since January.   As his wife spoke, President McDonald put his hand in front of his face and wept.  He has earned a rest.

The new Stake President is Jared Ormsby who was recently released as a counselor to President Joliffe.  He is only in his early 30’s, but will do an excellent job.  Martin Bourne is one of his counselors and will be a great support.  

Elder Watson said that when he found out he was coming to New Zealand, he went to talk to President Monson.  He said, “I’ve got a problem, President.  I’m going to Christchurch where the people are really hurting.  What shall I tell them?”  President Monson told him to tell them three things:

1.  We are aware of the them.

2.  We are praying for them.  (Elder Watson said that meant that they are on the prayer roll every Thursday when the First Presidency meets with the Quorum of the Twelve in the temple.)

3.  Please tell the people of Christchurch that I love them.

I think these people loved knowing that they are not forgotten in their trials.

President Ormsby shared this quote from President Monson, “The future is as bright as your faith.”  I love that!  Faith is power.  Power to create character from struggle, power to turn bad into good, weakness into strength, trial into triumph.  Power to overcome all odds with the help of God.