October 11, 2015

We get General Conference here a week after the U.S. so today between sessions we went to our favorite park, One Tree Hill, for a picnic and a view of the city. It wasn't a very nice day with wind and clouds, but there were still tons of people there.

These are cherry trees in bloom and picnicing below them are a large group of native Japanese celebrating their tradition of eating under cherry blossoms at springtime. 

Elder and Sister Bath from Sandy, UT, are our newest Senior couple, and they attended both days of conference with us. We were also happy to share some of the sights close to home with them. Sister Bath is the new mission nurse and Elder Bath hit the ground running helping Elder Garth with his million jobs!  See how happy they are to be on their mission! 

This is New Zealand. Isn't she pretty? The north island is on the right and we are located in the neck of the skinny part going up. The South Island has the snow on the mountains. 

Transfer week was while we were in Utah, so at District meeting this week, there were three new sets of Elders, and a new Zone leader. Two Elders were greenies; a Vietnamese from Australia, and a Japanese/Hawaiian from Salt Lake City. 

Our New Zone leader is an American from Italy. Does this sound crazy? 

Our Zone leader, after meeting us, said how he can hardly wait to be a Senior missionary "and serve an MLS mission like the Martin's do"! I think he liked the part about us not having any rules.

Our Tahitian sister took us to the Auckland Fish Market today! We bought fresh salmon that was so delicious when we cooked it for dinner! Fish is very expensive and there are so many kinds. Snapper is popular, and more money than salmon. We also bought smoked salmon. We need to take advantage of the wonderful fresh fish here, and stay away from fish and chips in the restaurants.

We saw the Relief Society in action this week as one of our dear members was in the hospital and the family needed meals brought in. These generous women know how to do food well, and spring into action when there is a need. They did the same for a funeral the week before. We are in awe at their service and generosity! 

I'm in love with all the wisteria I see growing all over. I finally had to take a picture. 

I shared my new-found talent with Sister Sayer and Sister Bryne. They did great and were quite happy with their Ketes! Thank you to Gaelene, my generous teacher, for providing the flax for us to use! 

We had interviews last week with the Mission President and he asked us what our feelings were about our work so far. At the time I was feeling a little discouraged, but Craig was more upbeat. Our work is like a slow trickle. Later that night, I made a list of at least ten ways we are having an impact, so I feel better. President Balli got out his Preach My Gospel and reminded us that our success is measured by our commitment, not by outward results of our efforts. I thought about a comment made by a woman in testimony meeting last month where she said how happy her family was when we came for Family Home Evening and how special our message was to them. I need to remember that we represent Jesus Christ; we wear His name on our badge, and our message is His message! We are committed! We need to pick up our pace, though, because time is going by so quickly! 

We brought the movie, "Cokeville Miracle" from Utah, and have shown it to a couple of families. It is a true story and so good, teaching about prayer, the love of family (in this world and the hereafter) and the faith of children. We highly recommend it.  

Friday, we had a movie night with one of the active members, and showed them "Meet the Mormons". They loved it and thanked us for coming. They said they were humbled because they "know we could be spending our time elsewhere" and we chose to be with them!  We truly felt privileged to be with them! 

On a family note, we got good news that our son, Taylor, was offered a job transfer to work in the Phoenix area! We are so excited that he and Crystal will live closer to our family. When we bought our home in Arizona, never did we imagine that any children would live there, let alone 3 of them! We are looking forward to getting more details about their move. 

Today is Emily's birthday! Happy birthday Emily! You're as beautiful as ever! 

We thoroughly loved General Conference this weekend. The presentation of such great wisdom, from every speaker, must move us to action! More prayer, more scripture reading, more service, simplicity, and more love!  Read and re-read the talks, and make them a part of our lives! 

Here are a few quotes from Saturday's sessions:

"Are we making decipleship too complicated?"

"Start where you are!"

"What's in the Old Ship Zion that we should hang on to?"

"Joy in our life is proportionate to how centered we are (to Jesus Christ)."

"How do we make the Lord's ways our ways?"

Ask the Lord, "What lack I yet?"

"Never deliberately fly into a thunderstorm (temptation)."

"We don't marry perfection, only potential!"

"I didn't raise my children on money, but on faith!"

"If you want more than you now have, reach up, not across."

"To all mothers everywhere, I say thank you. You're doing better than you think you are!"

"The world used to fight for our children's energy and time, but today the world fights for our children's identity and mind."

I could name a ton more quotes. 

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is simple. Simple to read, to feel, to share, and to do! 

May we all strive to follow Christ, simply!

We love you, we thank you for your prayers, be safe!

Elder and Sister Martin

October 4, 2015

Leaving our mission for two weeks helped us realize how precious the time was that we had left here in New Zealand! Our children didn't seem as sad when we left this time because it is now for only a year instead of 18 months. How quickly does a year go by?  Many ward members here expressed happiness that we had returned and said they missed "the white couple" on the second row! Also, we had such a compliment during Fast and Testimony meeting today when a young soon-to-be missionary told how touched his inactive dad had been after we had presented a Family Home Evening lesson and game of Charades in their home. He is excited to be leaving soon on his mission to Guam so he could "do what Elder and Sister Martin are doing, sharing the gospel and touching lives." 

We freely give of our time and means to be serving here, with no thought of reward or compensation! Our rewards and blessings are so great though. We serve in a wonderful ward and love the members. We appreciate so much being welcomed into their homes, even by the ones who don't really want to see us! Each day we leave our apartment with the ward list in one hand and our planner in the other, just visiting members. At night we have specific appointments teaching lessons and sharing Family Home Evenings. After being gone, we're playing catch-up with much to do to make up for lost time!

This past week a wonderful previous member of the ward passed away. She had lived a full life and spent her last years over in Australia with her daughter. The family brought her home to NZ for her services and burial. There were so many loving tributes to this dear woman from friends in the ward and her large, caring family. Wednesday night was a Ward Service in a home, for her family and just ward members to express their feelings. Thursday night was the Family Service for anyone to attend, where each of her children and their families spoke or sang and gave their own tributes. Then Friday morning was the funeral and burial. Of course we didn't know this lovely lady, but it was wonderful to see this outpouring of love for her. 

This sweet man is "the woodcutter" with his dear wife. You can't leave Auckland without visiting their shop and purchasing some of his carvings. They are Christian and from Palestine and he uses native wood for carving all kinds figures. He even has a "Mormon section" with ornaments of the NZ Temple the prophet, Moroni. Saturday, several of the Senior couples went to his shop and I bought a cute set of little carved kiwi birds, and some other things for Christmas gifts. 

Driving along the countryside, we see more beautiful green, green hills and fields. Our last destination on Saturday was a trip back to Muriwai Beach, because it was the time of year to see the Gannet colonies nesting after wintering in Australia. 

All of the white dots are the gannet birds sitting on their nests. The males are flying back and forth getting nesting material to fortify the nests, while the females sit. Maybe they take turns on the nest while each hunts for food. When we came here two months ago we just saw empty nests on these cliffs.

With all the birds back, there is a stench in the air from them, even with the tremendous wind blowing. Next month when the eggs hatch and there are more birds, plus warmer weather, it must stink really bad.  We were told there will also be no ground showing between the nests because of the volume of birds. Talk about overcrowding! You can see the angry looking waves of the Tasman Sea.

The wind was incredible out there. Up on the distant cliffs are homes even! Not sure if I could stand living there with the constant wind. 

On the north side of the gannet covered cliffs, down below is the black sands of Muriwai beach, with a nice golf course just up over the low bluffs. Not sure how good the golfing is with so much wind, but the parking lot looked full. It's impossible to see, but the water is filled with wind surfers. Of course, they love and need the wind. 

We ran into Elder and Sister Reeves, who are just finishing their two year mission as office support in the Mission office. They live on Kangaroo Island in Australia. We love it any time we get to be with them, and will miss them very much when they leave in two weeks! 

Here is sweet Mele, who turned 10 today, and we, along with the Sister missionaries, got to help her celebrate with her family. Mele's family are so happy for her today, but sad too because their mom is in the hospital for a few days. She was very much missed by all of us! 

I thought I would share this great advice from Elder Ballard, given last month at a Regional Conference we attended in Utah County, where he talked about simple, personal habits that keep us “rooted, grounded and connected” to the Lord Jesus Christ.

He said “I would be shrinking from my duty if I did not warn you of the challenges we face today. There are two powers in the universe. One invites us to choose the right and experience eternal joy and happiness. And the other invites us to choose the opposite, bringing sadness and regret.”

He spoke of a small grove of giant Sequoia trees planted on the BYU campus some 50 years ago. He said these trees can grow to between 164 and 279 feet high in the wild and live to be over a thousand years old. He said “that their unique and resilient bark protects the trees from forest fires and also repel bugs and fungi that can damage and kill a tree.” He then talked of one of these trees that died last year. The campus arborist wanted to know what killed the tree. He found that the construction of the nearby Life Sciences Building shifted the underground aquifer and the feeder roots no longer were able to obtain the water that was needed, therefore the tree died.

Elder Ballard said, “this is a perfect analogy to what happens when stalwart Church members, the very elect from all appearances, seek to stand tall and erect in faith, but die spiritually.” He counseled the Saints to always let their feeder roots obtain their nourishment from the well of living water, even from Jesus Christ.

We are trying our best to bring the message of Jesus Christ back into the lives of members who have lost their way for awhile. If we leave homes with a message of love and hope, having invited the Holy Spirit, a spark of remembrance begins. We never know what will happen, either now or later, but we can't give up. We don't want to give up!

We love you all and appreciate your love and prayers for us an all the missionaries around the world. There is so much good happening from all the service rendered. At a time when there seems to be so much evil, there is also much more good!

Have a great week, and we will too!

Love,

Elder and Sister Martin

September 27, 2015

Something we thought would never happen was meeting Sister Coe, our Relief Society President from New Zealand, in Utah! We love her and rely on her so much in our Waterlea Park Ward, and here she is on our Saratoga Springs doorstep so far from her home! She visits her daughter every year and it was a joy to be with her at our church meeting with Michelle, her daughter, who lives in Layton, UT! Sister Coe is a dynamic matriarch of her family and the ward. She has an unwavering testimony of the Church and was so valuable to Elder Martin and I with information and help, getting started in our work 6 months ago! She volunteers 3 days a week at the Auckland MTC, Tues. nights at the Family History Center, and one other day at a city office. She is the definition of "service" and has been RS Pres. for 7 years!

This was one of the best reasons for coming home for Mom's funeral - being with all our children, although minus a few in-law children and grandchildren. What a joyful reunion it was after being so far away for 6 months! Christy flew from Kansas City, Taylor from Texas, and Jenny from Arizona. Kenny and Emily drove all night from Arizona. All of them sacrificed time and great expense to be with us and honor their beloved "Granny".  It was a wonderful time together.

Also wonderful, was having a chance to be with all my siblings as we shared our love for Mother during her beautiful funeral service! Carolyn, Kerry, Corey and their families came from California. Stephen and Marty and their families drove up from Cedar City. Sherrie lives in Orem where the funeral was. She was an angel to Mom for the last 18 months, caring for her every need. 

Aunt Bernice, 98, and Aunt Pauline, 95, are Mom's lovely sisters, that I love dearly. Aunt Pauline gave a wonderful talk about their sisterly love and family devotion. Not pictured, but attended also was Uncle Chic, 93, and Uncle Karl, 85. Mom was very close to all her siblings her whole life! All 7 of them have wonderful families, devoted to the Gospel. We are so blessed to be part of this loving family with a legacy of love and dedication to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to His Church!

We took time out to spend an afternoon at Sundance Resort in Provo Canyon, goofing off and enjoying the outdoors, with the fall leaves turning in the background. Butters and Dusty, are a big part of the family, and are with us, but Dusty is black and hard to see right next to Butters.

These beautiful daughters are our pride and joy. This picture taken before Heather got blasted in the face with a football thrown by Taylor! Kenny and Taylor are in the background throwing the football. You can see that Bridget loves Kinley, her little cousin!

We love New Zealand for its beautiful landscape, but Utah has so much beauty too! I love walking along the trail with Dusty, mine and now, Heather's dog, in Provo Canyon, from the lower parks to Bridal Veil Falls! So beautiful, and so close to home!

Also, one of my favorite views is from our Saratoga Springs home, with the golf course, Utah Lake, and the beautiful mountains in clear view. 

Another shot includes the fun pool at the clubhouse, golf course, lake and mountains. These are some of the wonderful reasons why we love summertime in Utah!

This is the entrance to New Zealand just off the airplane in the terminal. It was not as hard this time to leave Utah and our family because we love our mission and our dear friends in the Waterlea Park Ward, and we were ready to come back "home" to them!

We had a little jet lag, and spent a day with other Senior couples exploring the town of Thames. It is a historic town in the Bay of Firth about an hour south of Manukau. It was a beautiful, clear and sunny day, so we had a wonderful time. 

P-days exploring different beaches is always wonderful to me. I think Elder Martin enjoys it too. Just being outdoors in the sunshine makes us happy, and we always find unusual shells.

How would you like these in your front yard? Look in the background at the large guitars too! There are three of them, with one hidden behind one of these giant heads. Not sure what the meaning of them are, but they obviously mean something special to the home owners.

The Pokeno Ice Cream Shop is the place to stop on any trip home from the Hamilton temple or any time you are near Pokeno. This was our first time there, but we had heard all about it. For $3 you get a giant double scoop of ice cream and tons of flavors to choose from. There is always a crowd there, with members is suits and Sunday clothes.

In closing, I want to share a little article about Elder Holland, who recently made his first trip ever to the country of Cambodia where more than 2,000 members gathered to listen to him.

 Elder Holland spoke of four reasons why he would join the Church today if he were hearing of the gospel for the first time.  He stated, “The whole world would join if they knew what I know,” and continued to explain the four following points:

1. “God appeared on earth, in our time. He called prophets again, like in the old times. He gives authoritative Priesthood to the Church.”
2. “The Second reason is the Book of Mormon. I would walk, climb, swim, run, overturn any stone, move the forest if I heard of a church that had seen Jesus Christ and had a book of his teachings. The Book of Mormon has 532 pages teaching me more about Jesus Christ.”
3. “I can have my family forever! … I do not know of any other church on earth that can tell me I can. We can live again together through blessings of the temple forever.”
4. “This Church has the Aaronic Priesthood, and the Young Women’s program.  Also the Primary, where the children memorize the articles of Faith. Some young children know more than most of the world knows. We need all the help we can get. I want help raising my children.”

Holland closed his remarks by inviting everyone to accept God’s gift. “God is giving us a gift,” Holland said. “Please accept it. Don’t miss your chance.”

I love this and believe with my whole heart and soul that these 4 reasons are all true! We are so blessed today because our parents, grandparents, great grandparents embraced the Gospel and taught us to love the Savior. We pray that our children and grandchildren and so on with continue in this faith and be forever blessed! 

We pray that our dear friends of other faiths will be strengthened in their love of the Savior by reading the Book of Mormon! It is truly a gift for our time!

Have a great week. We pray for you as you pray for us, and all the missionaries around the world. Love, 

Elder and Sister Martin

September 12. 2015

My sweet mother decided it was time to go, and died peacefully this week on September 8. Craig and I felt we needed to return home for her funeral and left Thursday. That afternoon we had a District send-off lunch and the Elders gave me this beautiful bouquet. It was so very thoughtful of them, but since I couldn't take it with me, I was happy to gift it to a dear friend!

This is a fun selfie taken earlier in the week at District Meeting. Missionaries love to take pictures of other missionaries and we are always honored when they want a picture with us, the Seniors. 

Elder Fitzsimmons is going home to Utah next week and will already be gone when we return from the USA, so we had to get a picture with him. He is a great young man working hard in the Niuean ward. The Niuean Island is one of the smallest countries in the world and is a pacific paradise! We love District Meetings and learn so much at them!

It was so strange getting on a plane for home after being gone 6 months and seemed like a dry run for when we really go back in a year. I don't even like thinking about that! It was a joy to see this sign though, as we entered our homeland. We are happy to be in the U.S. for a short time to honor our mother, and reassured our NZ members that we have a return flight on the 23rd! 

I know my daughter loves me when she stocks up on one of the things I've missed in NZ! Diet Cherry Coke! On our way home from the airport, we had to stop at Maverick's for a much anticipated 44oz! 

We had a wonderful service for Mom and it was a great reunion with all my siblings. Also, most of the grandchildren and half the great-grandchildren were there!  All of our children came, which was wonderful for us! They loved their Granny so much, and would've come even if we couldn't be here! 

I loved all the talks and we had wonderful music. Craig, Christy, Brian and Kass sang Mom's requested song, "How Great Thou Art"! Mom wanted all the grandchildren in attendance to sing, and we had a lovely solo by our niece, Kimberly Strand! 

I have to share these pictures of Mom showing that she was young at heart. These photos are part of Christmas cards she sent out a few years ago.

So many people besides her family, loved "Granny". There's so much Good I could write about her and I'm happy to say, we had a few chuckles during the services today! She will greatly be missed! 

Proverbs 31:28 

"Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her." 

We are happy she is with Dad again and know it was a happy reunion! 

Thank you for all your prayers and sympathy for our loss! You are all so kind and generous and we love you. Have a great week! 

Love, 

Elder and Sister Martin

September 6, 2015

Happy New Zealand Father's Day! Craig got to celebrate Father's Day twice this year! It was Fast Sunday, so he didn't get his favorite breakfast, but there were many tribute testimonies to Fathers! 

Occasionally, one of the Elders or Sisters has a dental or doctor appointment and we always offer to take them. We like getting to know the missionaries and helping out. For the kids coming from the Islands where they don't have adequate dental care, the Church gives them 6 month checkups. If there is a problem more than a cavity, and the family can't pay, the tooth is extracted. This week we took a Sister for a filling, and an Elder to the doctor for a monthly shot. Elder Martin and I have our 6 month dental checkup and cleaning appointments next week. Another first in NZ! 

There is an 8 year old boy who's mother has a drug problem and is not a member.  We've been wondering how to help him have contact with the Church with little or no support from his mom. Thankfully, we started having FHE once a month with a close neighbor, who invites this boy and his younger siblings to join in. He's a smart boy and happy to learn. We hope this helps both families. 

We have a TV in our apartment, but we never watch it. Craig can't believe he doesn't mind leaving it off. In the evenings and after our morning walk, time is spent making phone calls, reading (scriptures, Church publications), and planning lessons. We catch up with the news and financial reports on the computer, and I write in my journal. I admit to getting on Facebook once a day, but we've committed to making these 18 months a special time for putting the "normal" aside, and doing what will help us help others. Sometimes, I find it a nuisance to grocery shop or do laundry, but those things can't be helped. 

A member of our ward went into the hospital with flu-like symptoms and found out she has cancer. We dropped off a get-well card, and in it wrote words of encouragement and support. Not thinking too much of it, we later got a text message from her thanking us for our timely words. They were just what she needed to hear at that moment and it really strengthened her. She has since thanked us again several times, because it meant so much to her. A simple card of encouragement can mean so much!  I will try to remember that!

A man who rejected the Church thought he had gallstones and found out he has cancer and 3 months to live. We visited the home and he was too ill to see us, so we spent time with his wife. I think she needed the visit more than him. Most times the spouse and caregiver need extra support and someone to talk to. They are exhausted emotionally and physically, from holding it all together, and have their own fears. They have lots of family and ward support, but we hope to be able to help in some small way. 

We teach an inactive man once a week, and we are seeing him recognize that the days of his procrastination need to come to an end. He hasn't been to church in about 40 years, and rationalized that because he reads the Book of Mormon every day, he is ok. Our lessons have become a weekly reminder that he is not ok  Like the man I wrote about above with cancer, who this man is good friends with, the clock is ticking and time may be running out. None of us knows the future, and now is the time for us to prepare to meet God. 

Friday night the High Priest Group hosted a Father's Day Luau and feast! They honored the fathers with a lei and a dance with a child or loved one.  We are dancing near the back. 

These two men with Craig never married or had children, but were honored as well, and two wonderful women danced with them, making their night really special! The one on the right told Craig he never married because he wanted to see the world. When asked where he went, he said "Christchurch". Christchurch is on the South Island. Funñy! 

Before the meal picture of all the food trays with our Stake President Young-Yen. They served a whole roasted pig, roasted chicken, sweet-sour pork, egg foo young, chop suey, amazing rolls, fried rice, green salad, potato salad, taro, donuts, cookies and cobbler with ice cream. Most of this food was prepared by one woman in her kitchen and there was enough to feed double that attended. She had a couple of helpers, thankfully. The party lasted til 11:00, but we had to leave at 9:30 to get the Sisters home.

Driving from one appointment to another, we happened upon this flock of birds along the waterfront. Sorry you can't see their detail, and I don't know their name. New Zealand has lots of birds. There is a historical marker we read that in the early 1800's a Maori tribe traveled from the east side of the country (up at Auckland Bay) to this west side (Mangare Bay) to investigate the great noise they heard, and found it was from birds! 

Traveling back to KawaKawa Bay on Saturday with the Sayer's, we stopped to take pictures of these fun mailboxes. This is a puffer fish!

A Lego smiling guy!

A lighthouse with a little fisherman on it. At the base is a small solar panel that lights it up at night.

We found this nice Wharf with men fishing at the end of it. There is a small island out there that is owned by a family. How fun would it be to have your own island! 

The wind made for a crazy-hair day

,

Elder and Sister Sayer's are great adventurers with us! They are from Idaho and have six months left, and Saturdays spent exploring are very precious to them. 

View of Kawakawa Bay in the distance. Those boats are moored out that far. When it's low tide you can almost walk out to them. 

Random outhouse at a parking lot in the park. There are nice bathrooms at the beach, but this must be for emergencies. Never seen one like this. 

Unfortunately, Saturday night while eating at a nice restaurant with some other couples, my Church (dumb) phone, that I am very appreciative of, must have fallen out of my coat pocket and just disappeared! I have no idea what happened to it. I can't imagine someone wanting it, but it is gone! I was embarrassed to call Elder Reeves to report it missing. I should be able to get another one, but I do feel really bad for losing it. 

I really liked this quote from Elder Holland:

"God expects you to have enough faith and determination and enough trust in Him to keep moving, keep living, keep rejoicing. In fact, He expects you not simply to face the future (that sounds pretty grim and stoic); He expects you to embrace and shape the future--to love it and rejoice in it and delight in your opportunities. God is anxiously waiting for the chance to answer your prayers and fulfill your dreams, just as He always has. But He can’t if you don’t pray, and He can’t if you don’t dream. In short, He can’t if you don’t believe.” Jeffrey R. Holland

Say your prayers, dream and believe. Sounds simple, and good advice. 

We love you all and appreciate your love and prayers and support. The Elders we took to the doctor this week told us that the Auckland Mission isn't really a mission because everyone is so nice to them, and they don't get doors slammed in their faces! Maybe your prayers are softening people to at least be nice! 

Love,

Elder and Sister Martin