Monthly Archives: October 2020

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Does God really want to speak to you?

The only picture we have this week is a a very important one…..Jacob & Gracia’s baby bear! We sure love him!!

Written by Carter. Monday through Thursday of this coming week, Faye and I will attend a mission leadership seminar in Taupo, a place we haven’t been to in the central area of the North Island of NZ. I will speak briefly on a couple of medical topics. Last Sunday, I had a brief, “coincidental,” in-person conversation with Elder Ardern and asked him if he had guidance for me in what to present at the mission leadership seminar…and he gave me a suggestion. I don’t think it was a coincidence that we met. The mission presidents (and their wives — or “companions,” as they are often called now) from NZ will be at the seminar in Taupo in person; the others will attend via Zoom.

We had nice video conversations with the kids and grandkids this week. I sure do love them and am proud of them!

When I was on one of my walks, I passed a man sitting on a bench outside a nearby supermarket. He didn’t have any shoes on and his clothing was very dirty and shabby. I’m pretty sure he was homeless. I felt like I should ask him if he needed any food…so I went back and did that. He said, “No, I’m good.” I’m grateful for that prompting. I’m also mindful of a line in The Chosen, where Jesus says, “Don’t even congratulate yourself for doing something good.” I do that sometimes. Praise be to God (and not to me).

I met a lady on another of my walks who is looking for someone to watch her dog for a couple of months…while she is in alcohol rehab. I sent an email to the other senior missionaries to see if they know anyone in their local wards who would be willing to do that. I don’t think it was a coincidence that we started down the same path at the same time that day. I pray the Lord will bless and strengthen her as she works toward overcoming what must be a difficult challenge in her life.

This week, I read Alma chapter 60 and was impressed with Moroni’s character. The Holy Ghost gave me this thought: “That’s one reason why there are ‘war chapters’ in the Book of Mormon: to reveal the character of Moroni.” How would Moroni have known his own character had it not been for the adversities through which he passed? The same holds true for me and my adversities, which allow me to develop and reveal my character. Specifically, Alma 60:32 says, “…it is the tradition of their fathers that has caused their hatred…” This shows his great compassion toward his enemies. He’s trying to see the best in them.

I have recently been studying the scriptures and Preach My Gospel (PMG) in an effort to learn to rely more on the Holy Ghost. A suggested activity from PMG was this: “Write a description of the nature and role of the Holy Ghost.” This was my response: “The Holy Ghost is a personage of spirit. He bears witness of the Father and the Son and of the truth. He helps me know the truth of all things. He warns me and comforts me.” I’m thankful for this activity and especially for the Holy Ghost’s influence in my life.

The Area Mental Health Advisor serving in Samoa told me about the Church’s course on “Emotional Resilience,” which I have also been slowly working through. It has been very helpful and insightful for me to do that. I recommend it to those who are interested.

Faye and I watched a 2015 devotional talk by Elder Kim B. Clark, where he talks about the importance of learning and teaching the doctrine of marriage, as taught by God through His ancient and modern prophets and apostles. I also recommend this to those who are interested.

I affirm that God is making known His will for His beloved sons and daughters. As President Nelson said, “Does God really want to speak to you? Yes!…Oh, there is so much more that your Father in Heaven wants you to know…” I humbly acknowledge God’s guiding hand in my life. I promise you that He earnestly wants to guide each of you, as well. He is your loving Father. He wants the best for you.

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It takes a heap o’ livin’ in a house t’ make it home

We went on another trip to see more of the Botanical Gardens. Did you know that bananas grow upside down? They reach toward the light.

Written by Carter.
Yesterday was New Zealand’s national election. Jacinda Ardern was re-elected prime minister; she is very popular here. Her father is the twin brother of Elder Ian Ardern, our area president. She was raised in the Church, but does not actively participate currently. She seems to maintain a lot of her wholesome upbringing, however.

We had an activity at the area office with the other senior missionaries Monday evening. Elder and Sister Ardern were our guests: they both spoke briefly, then opened it up for questions and answers. I asked what helped them maintain a strong marriage. She responded that praying together from the earliest days of their marriage has helped greatly. He said to remember three, three-word phrases: “Let us pray,” “Can I help?” and “I love you.” How simple, yet profound!

Tuesday morning, I attended a devotional where the area presidency updated the area employees and missionaries on the status of the area…and their vision for moving forward the Lord’s work. It was very inspiring! A factoid that stuck with me: NZ’s population is about 20% Maori and Polynesian, 80% European and other ethnic groups. Conversely, Church membership is just the opposite: 80% Maori and Polynesian, 20% everyone else.

For some reason, I started listening to poetry: there is some really good stuff out there. My favorite collections (so far) are The Complete Collection of Emily Dickinson’s Poems and 101 Famous Poems by Roy C. Cook. My favorite poem (so far) is “Home,” by Edgar A. Guest. My favorite paragraph in that poem is this:

Ye've got t' weep t' make it home, ye've got t' sit an' sigh
An' watch beside a loved one's bed, an' know that Death is nigh; 
An' in the stillness o' the night t' see Death's angel come,
An' close the eyes o' her that smiled, an' leave her sweet voice dumb. 
Fer these are scenes that grip the heart, an' when yer tears are dried,
Ye find the home is dearer than it was, an' sanctified; 
An' tuggin' at ye always are the pleasant memories
O' her that was an' is no more -- ye can't escape from these.

Many times in the past… we’ve wondered if we should move to a new house, a new town, a new life. But we never felt like we should when it came right down to it. We have a lot of good memories in that home, that far outweigh the weeping part. After reading this poem, we are reminded that this is our home and we love it. It is sanctified from what we experienced with Ashton. We feel like we have made the right decision to stay. We also feel like it’s a significant part of our healing to realize that.

I accompanied the sister missionary I mentioned last week (who had a keloid/large scar related to a dog bite) to a doctor’s appointment. The plan is to administer low-dose radiation to the incision if/when the keloid is cut out — to prevent it from recurring. The appointment went well. Rather than drive, I rode the bus and had a beautiful view of the city, without the distractions of other cars, where to turn, etc. I had a nice, brief visit with the young man sitting next to me. I told him I could have driven, but decided to ride the bus, “…to sit next to you, I guess.” He chuckled at hearing that. I don’t know if anything will come of that interaction, but I hope to have left a good impression as I tried to represent Jesus Christ.

I have enjoyed following President Nelson’s invitation to “…make a list of all that the Lord has promised He will do for covenant Israel,” remembering that one of the meanings of the name “Israel” is “Let God prevail.” I pray that I will trust God and let Him prevail in my life. I pray that I can help Him find others who are also willing to let Him prevail in their lives.

I’m trying a different approach to help me learn from General Conference: In the past, I may have “sprinted” for several weeks after Conference, wanting to learn and implement as much as I could as quickly as I could. It worked pretty well, but I may have run out of enthusiasm at times. This time, I’m going to try to be more patient with myself, making it more of a “marathon,” giving myself time to adequately digest/relish/savor/absorb each talk (maybe several times) before moving to the next talk. I pray that the Holy Ghost will guide me to know the next small step the Lord would have me take to repent and become more like Him, through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. If any of you would like to share with me what you have found helpful to make the most of General Conference, I would greatly appreciate it.

With reverence and gratitude, I invite all to know—as I do—that the heavens are open. God lives. He has heard and answered my sincere prayers; He will hear and answer yours, as well.

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We are all in.

Written by Carter. No photos today.

A man who works at the Church’s area office in Auckland invited Faye, me and two other senior missionary couples to his home for dinner and a game of Pictionary this week. He and his wife are both from Australia, but have lived in NZ for 12 years. It turns out that he was missionary companion with John Fry, also from St. David! Small world! They have five children and are a “lovely” (NZ term I hear a lot) family. When he was growing up, his parents had the younger missionaries (mostly from the US) over a lot; I think he wanted to perpetuate that for his children…but with senior missionaries this time.

A pediatric kidney specialist who is also a member of the Church serves on a committee that is looking for ways to help meet the medical needs of people in the south Pacific islands. He contacted me on Facebook and I set up a conference call with the humanitarian services director here in Auckland. The Church is very “keen” (another NZ term I hear a lot) on contributing to projects where they can work with local partners to meet a specific need, while still helping people maintain as much self reliance as possible. He will get back with us when he has a specific project he’d like the Church’s help on.

I think I mentioned a sister missionary who was knocked down and bitten on the face by a dog several months ago. The scar is healing, but she has developed a keloid over part of it, which she may need to have cut out in a few months. I have been conferring with a US plastic surgeon, who recommended a couple of treatments that were a little different than what the NZ plastic surgeon was planning. English is not this sister missionary’s first language. Because of that and her young/inexperienced age, I felt like I needed to be with her at her appointment last week. I wanted to make sure we were all on the same page. The doctor seemed a little annoyed at first that another doctor — and one from the US — was trying to influence how he managed her keloid. However, by the end of the visit, I felt like the Lord helped soften his heart somewhat. I think he could see that my requests were reasonable and that I was really trying to help her — just as he was. I’m sure her sweet, sincere demeanor helped, as well. He even asked her a genuine question about what her plans were when she returned home. I had a prayer in my heart before and during the visit, and afterward prayed in thanks for the Lord’s help.

As I mentioned last week, my sick missionary workload has decreased because of COVID-19. One project I started working on this week is translating my father-in-law’s (Cecil Richardson) journal from Spanish. He served in Mexico in the late 1950’s. He wanted to immerse himself in the language, so kept most of his journal in Spanish…which has made it inaccessible to most of his family. My brother-in-law (Jeff Shepherd) worked his “technology magic,” scanned the journal and sent it to me to translate. It has been insightful to see Cecil through his 20-year-old missionary eyes. Reading his experiences also remind me my mission to Venezuela as a young man.

I made a list of things that are actually better because of COVID:

  • It has given me time to slow down so I can see what a treasure Faye (and her personality) is. When we served in Peru, a couple in their 80s had served 7-8 missions. Someone asked them what motivated them to serve so many. He said (perhaps only half in jest), “So that I can have my wife all to myself! When we’re at home, our children and grandchildren are clamoring, “Mom/Grandma! Can you help me with _____ ?” I can see a lot of truth to that! Being on this mission during COVID has been like a prolonged “marriage retreat”! We have spent more time together playing games, getting to know other couples, watching movies, discussing the scriptures, going on outings, praying together, etc. I feel like we have had a “strong” marriage, but I feel like the Lord has really blessed our marriage as we have served together. I would even say it’s in the “great” category right now!
  • After watching Saturday’s general conference session in our flat, I had more time to reflect on what I heard and felt without the distractions that sometimes accompany having other people around. I almost always enjoy being around other people…but it’s also sometimes nice to be just Faye, me and the Lord.
  • President Nelson said, “General conference last April was viewed by more people than any preceding it, and we have every expectation that will happen again.” COVID eliminated a lot of the competition for people’s time. Perhaps the overall adversity associated with COVID has turned people’s thoughts and hearts more to God, as well.
  • When COVID broke out, Faye suggested that we start saying a kneeling prayer before eating lunch…and we have mostly continued that habit since then. We have been praying together a lot more in general since COVID started, which has turned our hearts more to Him.

Elder Andersen’s April 2020 general conference talk on “Sacred Memories” really touched me. Since then, I have made an effort to record much of my life history, especially sacred experiences. Several of these experiences have been appropriate to record on Family Search and/or share with my family. Doing this has brought me abundant blessings. Elder Rasband said this in October’s conference: “I promise you as an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ that as you strive to redouble your righteous efforts, you will feel renewed in your devotion to God the Father and Jesus Christ, you will feel an abundance of the Holy Ghost guiding you, you will be grateful for your sacred covenants, and you will feel peace knowing you are ‘recommended to the Lord.'” I testify that all of these blessings have come to pass in my life. I acknowledge the Lord’s abundant blessings in response to my often-feeble efforts. Admittedly, I do not live in a COVID “hot-spot.” However, I still feel more peace than I think I would be feeling had I not been following the promptings from April’s general conference.

In Elder Bednar’s talk, he mentioned a family where a child had passed away, At the funeral, the father said this: “I want you to know that as far as the gospel of Jesus Christ is concerned, our family is all in. We are all in.” I couldn’t say it better. The same is true for me and my house/family: We also are all in.

Two hundred years have now elapsed since the Restoration of Christ’s New Testament church was initiated by God the Father and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ. Millions throughout the world have embraced a knowledge of these prophesied events. I gladly declare that the promised Restoration goes forward through continuing revelation. The earth will never again be the same, as God will “gather together in one all things in Christ” (Ephesians 1:10).

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A Divine Reset

This is a native Kauri tree that is 800 years old. This tree is so big and tall you can barely see us.
A beautiful hibiscus flower at the kauri museum.
We also went to Tawharanui National Park. The sea was a beautiful blue!
We got there at low tide and were able to walk through come caves that the water usually fills at high tide.
The McMurrays took us with them to see the Kauri forest. They work in the legal dept. and will be going home in a month.

Hasn’t General Conference been a treat?!

On Monday, We joined Candace and her family via Zoom as they sang happy (36th) birthday to her. Later that day, we joined Jacob and Gracia via Zoom as Jacob blessed their baby, Jacob Antonio. It was wonderful to see all the love and support from friends and family. And our baby boy is growing up; he’s 26 and a father himself now! Wow!

After the baby blessing, I sent a text to Jordan and Jacob: “I’m glad you have a son; now you have some idea of how I feel about you!” Then I realized that Heavenly Father can say the same thing to me…and about me! I’m grateful for His divine plan, which centers on families.

I asked my father-in-law, Cecil Richardson, to check our yard — and pull up any goathead (vicious, thorny weeds) that he found; I didn’t want them to become seeds for plants to grow next year. He called me and told me that he didn’t find even one plant in the yard! It occurred to me that Heavenly Father has been watching over our belongings while we are gone. Heavenly Father took care of it before my earthly father (-in-law) needed to do anything. When we were set apart by Pres. Trejo, Heavenly Father promised, “Your family and belongings will be watched over and protected while you are gone.” Thank you, Heavenly Father! I have seen that over and over as we have served here!

I’m grateful for my in-laws: what a blessing they have been in my life…as has being married to one of the wonderful daughters they raised (Faye)! As I was praying with Faye this week, the thought came into my mind to express gratitude for Faye, who is a “wonderful travel partner in this mortal journey.” 

Candace introduced us to 16 Personalities, which helps people understand their own (and other’s) personality. I enjoyed learning about mine, but have especially enjoyed reading about Faye’s personality with her. It has been fun to learn together about her personality! We are enough alike (especially in what is “really important”) to get along, but just enough different to keep things interesting and to help us grow. I’m grateful for Christ’s Atonement, which helps bridge the gaps in our personalities. 

Our sweet granddaughter, Hannah, has a YouTube channel. Her videos are really good! After she shared her thrift-store-shopping experiences, she asked for comments on what she bought and suggestions on content; I responded, “My favorite “outfit” is my beautiful granddaughter’s adorable personality! More Hannah is my content request! I love you, Hannah! (I hope it’s okay that your grandpa is one of your biggest fans!)” Similarly, what the world needs from every one of you is more you. Nobody else can do it!

We discussed 3 Nephi 17 this week in our couple scripture study. That is currently my favorite chapter in the scriptures because Jesus heals their sick and ministers to their children one-by-one. If I were there, I would have brought Ashton! That thought brings me to tears! Even though I could not bring Ashton to personally be healed by Christ, it gives me great comfort to know that Ashton – and I – will be judged by the same Being Who performed all of those miracles with the people in the ancient Americas.

In a recent training by Elder David A. Bednar, he commented that apostles are sent all over the world to visit stakes, wards and missions. He said something like this: “As important as that administrative work is, I try to always remember that I am there to represent Christ, who never missed an opportunity to minister to ‘the one.'” I’m grateful to have been ministered to by one of Christ living apostles, Elder Renlund, when he came to Lima in 2018. I feel very much that God is mindful of me and my circumstances. I had to go to Peru to visit with one of the apostles (also from the US) who had recently spoken on the subject of suicide. I have no doubt that the Lord put everything into place so we could meet with Elder Renlund there. I felt like I was “the one” that day.

I listened to some training by Elder Weatherford T. Clayton, the Seventy over Missionary Medical. He mentioned that the earth, the Church and missionary work is experiencing a “divine reset,” giving us an opportunity to re-assess priorities and practices. One example of an improvement because of the pandemic is this: previously, when general authorities would conduct mission tours, they were not able to meet personally with very many missionaries. Now they can only conduct virtual mission tours, which allows them to interact with many more missionaries.

I participated in two mission health councils this week: with the Samoa Mission and the Vanuatu Mission. Because of COVID-19 restrictions, the missionary numbers in Vanuatu has decreased from 160 to 29, with 4 over-stayers (they can’t get home because their country’s (Kiribati) borders are closed) and 5 locals assigned there temporarily until they can travel to their permanent assignment. It has been challenging, but they have been able to help connect some over-stayers with My Path and English Connect, which has the potential to bless their lives and their families’ lives for generations to come.

Because there are less missionaries in the area, my workload had decreased. I’ve tried to spend that time in productive pursuits, including family history. I have been writing down my own life history and researching the conversion stories of my ancestors. In April General Conference, President Nelson said this, “I promise that as you increase your time in temple and family history work, you will increase and improve your ability to hear Him [the Son, Jesus Christ].” I humbly report that I have witnessed that in my own life.

I love this quote by Abraham Lincoln: “I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had no where else to go. My own wisdom and that of all about me seemed insufficient for that day.” That’s one of the purposes of adversity, isn’t it — to allow us to choose to turn to God for His strength, wisdom and comfort?

I declare that Jesus Christ invites all of us to come unto Him and His Church, to receive the Holy Ghost, the ordinances of salvation, and to gain enduring joy.