Part of our assignment as Area Welfare Specialists is to help prepare the Pacific Area is for possible disasters. The spring and summer season (cyclone season) is approaching the southern hemisphere. Because of the current El Niño weather patterns, weather experts predict up to 19 possible cyclones (hurricanes) in the South Pacific this season with as many as half of those being "category 5" (200 mph winds) storms. There is no way to tell which or when one of those cyclones could hit land. Hence "If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear" or you will be much more ready for what might come.
We had 5 emergency response containers filled with emergency supplies in different parts of New Zealand. We have shipped one container to Tahiti and hope to send the other 4 to various locations in the Pacific. These containers are not needed as much in New Zealand, as supplies here are readily available, but not so in many of the Pacific islands. The Pacific Area Office welfare team has been inventorying these containers in preparation to send them to the islands.
Friday morning we drove 2.5 hours north to the town of Hikurangi Northland to inventory the container pictured below. Once a container is inventoried we can have it packed and shipped to another island. We think this one is about ready to go. Destination unknown.
"And also cometh the testimony of the voice of thunderings, and the voice lightnings, and the voice tempests, and the voice of the waves of the sea having themselves beyond their bounds." D&C 88:90
We received permission from the Pacfic Area Presidency to travel to Salt Lake City, Utah. While we were there we were able to attend our grandson, Landon's, baptism. None of our 11 grandchildren knew we were coming, so it was a wonderful surprise to them. The rest of our family was in town for a wedding and the baptism, so we were also able to meet our two new grandson's, Fitz and Max. It was a wonderful day and we feel very blessed to have been able to take part in it.
"I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I know who I am. I know God's plan. I'll follow him in faith. I believe in the Savior, Jesus Christ. I'll honor his name. I'll do what is right. I'll follow his light. His truth I will proclaim." The Church of Jesus Christ, Children's Songbook, 77.
