Family History

One of the goals our Area Presidency gave to us at the first of the year was to help members and friends to record 15 family names of direct ancestors in 2015.  We had already done our four generation (15 direct ancestors) work several years ago, but felt that we could still find other family names.  We were told by the Area Presidency that can we increase our faith in Jesus Christ and love for our family through submitting and performing temple ordinances for family members who have passed on.   Not only will we have the eternal gratitude of our loved ones, we will be bound together as families for the eternities to come.  This past year we have been able to find and submit several family names and then go to the temple and perform the temple work for them.

Two weeks ago we left the office early and drove to the town of Hamilton.  Upon arriving there we went to the home of Vic and Rangi Parker.  We had previously been invited to spend the night at their home which is minutes away from the Hamilton Temple.  We dropped off our bags and went to the temple to participate in family temple work there.  After the session we stopped to take some pictures of the Christmas seasonal lights which are already on at the temple grounds.  While in the parking lot Gary offered to take a picture of a couple.   Coincidentally,  the couple (the Shurtz) had just returned from Tonga where they had been volunteering in the humanitarian dental clinic with Elder and Sister Johns, who just went to Tonga to direct the dental clinic in September.

We then returned to the Parker's home for the evening.  Elder and Sister Parker have undertaken the task of writing the history of the Church in New Zealand.  We had a delightful visit with them.  She showed a fascinating movie about the life of Matthew Cowley an early missionary in New Zealand and later member of the Quorum of the 12.  We had a great nights sleep and in the morning went back over to the temple to participate in another session.

After our session, we drove home, stopping several times on the way at stores and shops that we are usually too busy to visit.  We figured we better check some of these places out sooner than later, as we will be going home before we know it.

Dr. and Sister Shurtz

View of temple from Parker's home

Vic and Rangi Parker

"The first thing that everyone should do is to gather all possible information about himself that might be found in the home and from close relatives.  The purpose of this is to identify yourself as an individual and to know from whom you have descended."  Howard W. Hunter, Primer in Genealogy, Ensign, February 1971

Post Script - This post was finished and ready to be published, but as we typed the thought above, we had the impression to share a bit of family history that we discovered recently.  Last week our daughter went to a Remembrance Day Program at the local elementary school in Raymond, Canada.  During the program they showed pictures of veterans.  One of the pictures was of a young man who looked like her brother.  The name on the picture was George William Winters.  She inquired if Gary's father had been in the service (his name was George).  We said no, but thought we could check with a cousin who had relatives from Raymond and see if there was any connection.  We sent out an email and heard back the very next day that yes, George William Winters was the son of Gary's grandfather's brother.  But now, the story gets even better.  The person who gave his cousin all this information about George Winters was a man named Ray Court.  Ray Court was a cousin to our son-in-law's grandfather.   It is indeed a small world.

Canada Day and the 4th of July

Last Tuesday was the 1st of July which is Canada Day.  Our youngest daughter and her family live in a small Alberta town.  Her two older sisters braved the 12 hour drive and took three of our grandsons to visit our Canada daughter, her husband and three other grandsons.  The boys had a wonderful time being in the parade and visiting their cousins.  Every night they build a fire in their backyard fire pit and roasted marshmallows.  They floated the Milk River, visited the Cardston Temple, Waterton Park, and had a great time.  We love how our children support each other while we are away.

Saturday was the 4th of July in New Zealand.  We got up early and went with two other couples to the Hamilton New Zealand Temple.  Have we mentioned that it is winter in the Southern Hemisphere?  When we left our apartment it was raining and a temperature of 11C/52F.  When we came out it had warmed up some to 12C/54/F.  We know it is in the high 30's C/90's F in Utah and Canada and 41C/105F in Mesa, AZ.  Our children tell us every time we talk to them and we still tell them that it is cold here.  Here we are at the temple yesterday wearing our coats for the 4th!

From our Apartment Balcony 7:30 am 4th of July

After our temple session we came out and the sun was shining.  It was still cold.  We visited for a short time with the visitors center director and his wife where we learned of the passing of Elder Boyd K Packer.  Then we did a little shopping at the distribution center and headed back to Auckland for a FHE - 4th of July celebration with the other senior couples.

A great time was had by all.  We had a short lesson and a traditional 4th of July meal - hamburgers with all the trimmings, chips and root beer floats.  After dinner and before our floats we played "Minute to Win it".  Since we all have a "handicap" of being seniors - we did "30 seconds to win it".  We played several games; Defy Gravity, Suck it Up, Elephant March and Cookie Face.  The winners got star glasses and we all posed for a group picture.

Each holiday celebrated away from our family reminds us how much we miss them.  Our missions have helped us set priorities and remember the things that are most important.  We look forward to spending holidays and special occasions with our children and grandchildren next year.  

We are thankful for all that we have and grateful that we were born in a day with all the modern conveniences which we enjoy.  We know we are right where the Lord wants us to be.  We know the gospel is true and are thankful for the opportunity to serve.   We appreciate living in a country where we enjoy the blessings of freedom.

"Your absence is the most powerful testimony you will ever bear to your posterity.  The day will come when they will rise up and call you blessed because you were gone for a season.  Those grandchildren will never pray as hard for you as they do while you are serving a mission."  Elder David A Bednar,  Mission Conference, February 28, 2015 

Doing the Work

Things have settled down for us at the Area Office and most things are returning to normal.  March/April was very hectic for us with Cyclone Pam and preparing information for the area presidency to take to General Conference.

We spent this last week getting ready for our Area Welfare Counsel Meeting.  The AWCM is held once a month.  The Area Welfare Counsel consists of ourselves, the area welfare manager, Hans Sorensen, our administrative assistant, Luisa Vaifale, the self reliance manager, Paul Reid, the area controller, Doug Martin, the director for temporal affairs, Brent Buckner, and a member of the area presidency, Elder Haleck.  In this meeting we review various Pacific Area welfare issues.  This is also where the humanitarian projects submitted by our couples are presented for approval.  Before each monthly meeting we review every project and prepare a powerpoint presentation for consideration, discussion and approval by the AWCM.  After the meeting we send letters to each of the couples and let them know if their projects have been approved and also record the necessary information into the humanitarian project database.

We are also working on an assignment to inventory and restock Pacific Area emergency response containers.  Most Church areas do not have these emergency response containers, but the Pacific Area is unique in that the islands are so isolated and many countries do not have supplies readily available for purchase should there be an emergency.  We took some time on Friday and went to a church location in south Auckland to inventory a container.  These containers are stocked with supplies that people would need after a disaster like Cyclone Pam.  There are 5 containers in New Zealand.  We are looking to relocate these 5 containers to more remote locations in the Pacific.  In New Zealand most things can be purchased without much difficulty.

Nothing too exciting this week, but this is why we are here and we are glad to do what needs to be done.  We had the opportunity to go to the temple Saturday and do some family temple work.  We enjoyed a special time in the temple.  After doing family temple sealings, we talked with the Brother John Ramsden, our temple sealer.    He has worked in the Hamilton Temple since 1971 and had the privilege to work with Elder Glen Rudd and our son-in-law's grandparents, Lynn and Patricia Newman, who also served in the Hamilton New Zealand temple in the 1980's.  

On a side note, Flat Stanley came to visit us last week.  We took him down to the beach by work and he visited our work and apartment.  Now he is on his way to Canada to see our grandsons.  Maybe he can have another birthday party with the one who just turned 9.  Happy Birthday!

"My brothers and sisters, in our lives we will have temptations; we will have trials and challenges.  As we go to the temple, as we remember the covenants we make there, we will be better able to overcome those temptations and to bear our trials.  In the temple we can find peace."  Thomas S. Monson 2015 April Conference

Visitors from Home

Our daughter Sara and her husband, Jac, came to visit us on Sunday, March 15, 2015.

Jac and Sara arriving at the Auckland Airport

We had several mini trips planned to show them all over the North Island.  Unfortunately mother nature had other plans.  Cyclone Pam hit Vanuatu on March 13, 2015.  That put a damper on all plans and adventures.  Being well acquainted with emergency response we knew what to expect.  Monday was filled with meetings and phone calls.  Tuesday morning was more of the same.  Tuesday afternoon we drove down to Hamilton and visited the temple.

Susan, Jac and Susan at Hamilton New Zealand Temple

Wednesday morning we rented a car since Jac could not drive our church vehicle.   Susan's hand is still in a cast so she cannot drive a car either.  Gary flew to Vanuatu while Sara, Jac, and Susan drove to Waitomo to see the glow worm caves.  On our way we had to stop at Pokeno for ice cream.  

Waitomo is about 3 hours South of Auckland.  The Waitomo Caves were beautiful.  We actually toured 2 different caves and then drove back to Auckland.

Inside the caves

The glow worms

The next morning we returned our rental car and headed out to Matamata with another senior missionary couple, the Bennetts from Boise, Idaho.  Elder Bennett could drive our church car so he could take Gary's place on the next part of our adventure.  Matamata is the home of Hobbiton.

After our tour of Hobbiton we were back in the mini van and off to Rotorua.  Rotorua is a town with lots of geysers and hot pools.  They have nightly dinner shows where you can learn about the Maori culture.  

We spent the night in Rotorua.  Then the next morning it was back in the van and off to Turangi.  Turangi is nearly 5 hours from Auckland, but only a two hour drive from Rotorua.   It is near the Tongariro National Park and home of some of the best fly fishing in the world.  Gary and Jac had hired a guide to take them fly fishing.  (This is why we had Elder Bennett along - to take Gary's place on the river.)  We stayed in a fishing lodge which backed the Tongariro River.  Jac and Elder Bennett had a good time.  All the fishing gear was included in the price.  We think Jac is ready to come back to New Zealand again just to go fishing.  

While the boys fished we went on a hike.  Sunday morning Elder Bennett cooked us french toast on the outdoor grill before we went to church. 

A Panoramic view of the Tongariro River with the mountain range in the background

We went to church at the branch in Turangi.  Some of the members did not show up that day, so they asked for volunteers to help in the Primary.  Sara did a wonderful job.

After church we drove back to Auckland and met back at our apartment with Gary who had returned from Vanuatu a few hours earlier.

"Often we don't realize that the trial is what enables us to reach the destination the Lord has in minds for us.  He will not let it destroy us, but He will let it move us in the direction we need  to go."  Emily Freeman,  21 Days Closer to Christ

Labour Day

Monday was Labour Day in New Zealand.  Most everything was closed, including the Area Office.  However,  Hamilton New Zealand Temple was open.   So we got up bright and early and rode down to Hamilton with another couple, Brent and Debbie Buckner.  Brent is the Director for Temporal Affairs in the Pacific Area.  We left here about 6 AM and arrived in time to do an 8:30 AM session.  It was nice to attend the temple as a patron.  We worked every Friday in the Draper Temple prior to our mission call, but attending as a patron was a nice change.  We now have a greater appreciation for all that temple workers do.

After our session we went across the street to the visitors center to meet neighbors of my brother and sister-in-law.  They had the day off, but we visited with them on the phone.  We changed at the visitors center into more casual clothes, so we could go hiking.  When we left, we noticed workers on the temple grounds putting up Christmas lights.

Debbie and Brent with Susan

In front of the Christus

Preparing to put up the lights 

The pile of white by the yellow bin is lights 

Her hair will tell you how windy it was

We got into the car and headed west to the town of Raglan.  We had direcions and a description from other missionaries which read:  "A typical west coast hippie/surfer beach town that is worth visiting - on the way you will see a sign for a waterfall; it is about 15 minutes drive from the main road."  We saw the sign "Bridal View Falls" and decided "why not"?  Did we mention that it was raining?  We arrived and made the 10 minute trek to the top of the waterfall.  It was a beautiful sight, but the signs beckoned us - 250 stairs down to the mid-way point and another 250 and to the base of the waterfall.  We treked to the bottom and enjoyed ourselves thoroughly even if it was raining.  Of course, what goes down, must come back up.  Susan felt it in her quads the next day.

This is half way down

Plague at the bottom

View from the bottom 

Brent, Debbie, Gary and Susan

After we hiked back to the top, we drove the rest of the way to Raglan.  We ate lunch at a quaint little place called "The Shack". It didn't look like much, but the food was great.  When we entered there was a surf board hanging above the counter.  We finished our lunch and drove to look at the beach - they have black sand beaches, but it was raining enough that we decided that we will have to return another day.  The fame of Raglan is that it is the place where "Endless Summer" was filmed. The story begins and ends here as the star in the movie follows the surf around the world.  Starting and ending in Raglan.

It took us a bit longer, twice as long to get home - everyone returning from their Labour Day Weekend.  It seems no matter where you go - things are much the same.