Hamilton New Zealand Temple

New Zealand Temple, Nov. 2015

We had a nice week, filled with spiritual blessings.  We were able to attend the temple with a less-active brother, Eric Taho, who we, and the mission leader in the ward, have been working with.  His extended family is very active and they were all there to support Eric as he went through the temple.  His wife was unable to go through the temple, because she is having a hard time quitting smoking.

Last Sunday we fasted for her.  We were supposed to break the fast together, but they didn't come to church..  We went to their house, along with the mission leader, to see how they were doing.  Eric had just gotten home from work and his wife, Loma, was still having challenges with smoking.  We visited awhile, and as we were leaving, Elder Henderson said, "When you are ready, we'll be glad to give you a blessing to help you stop smoking."

As we were going out the door, Loma said, "Our son (16) is going to Australia next week, to live with his aunt and uncle.  Would you give him a blessing before he goes?"

Elder Henderson said, "Eric holds the priesthood, it would be good for Eric to give his son a blessing.  I'll be glad to help teach him how give a blessing."  

They had their son come up from downstairs, and his father gave him a blessing.  After the blessing Eric's wife, Loma, asked for a blessing, so her husband gave her a blessing.  All this time their 6 year old son had been watching what was going on and he said, "I want a blessing."  

So his dad gave him a blessing as well.  It was very interesting to see how things turned out.

At the New Zealand Temple, 2015

On Tuesday, we went to our missionary meeting with the missionaries from our ward.  Our ward mission leader, Brother Benton's partner couldn't go on visits, so we split up and Jim went with Brother Benton, and I was going to go with Sister Strickland, and Sister Aparamo.  After the men left, Sister Strickland said, "Now that the men are gone we can have a nice visit and get to know each other."  

I told them a little bit about myself and then Sister Brothers, (an elderly lady, whose home we meet in_ began to talk about her family.  She told us how her son had been killed in a car accident and how angry she was with the Lord.  She talked with the Lord for days and then in dreams her prayers began to be answered.  She became active in the church and has been faithful every since.  

Then Sister Strickland talked about her conversion to the church.  How she wasn't a member, but she had a brother who was a member and his chidden were members.  She noticed how happy and positive they were in their lives.  She realized how unfulfilling and hollow the life she was leading, was.  There was only so much partying and drinking a person can do and what an empty life it is.  So she was baptized and has been going strong ever since.  

Sister Aparoma married a man who was a member of the church, but he was never very active.  She was a non-member, but she converted to the church for her husband.  They h ad a family and things were going along pretty well, and then her adult son died.  At the funeral the bishop said to her, "Are you going to come back to church and be active, so your family can be together forever?"  She told the Bishop she would and she's been coming to church faithfully every since.  

It turned out to be quite a spiritual testimony meeting.  Everyone had tears in their eyes.  You never know what challenges and hardships people face.  We love the members in the Sunnyvale Ward and enjoy serving them in our calling as missionaries.