Written by Faye

Dear Whanau and Friends,

We had a fun and interesting little trip up to the northernmost end of the north island this last week. Most of New Zealand shuts down for 2 weeks during the Christmas and New Years holiday and most everyone goes on vacation. Even the doctors’ offices are closed for the two weeks. It was difficult to find a place to stay but we finally found a little farmhouse on Air BnB that had two rooms. We went with another couple here, Brent & Ella Romney. It turned out to be a pretty cool old farmhouse built in the early 1900’s that had a river running behind it with a dock. I used the word interesting to describe this trip because when we arrived, the lady who lived there was drunk….she smoked almost constantly except for when she was sleeping and swore way more than I’m used to hearing. (Ella and I did a lot of giggling that first night because … what else could we do but laugh!!) She also had two big Rottweilers that roamed the house freely. The dogs were really nice though. We had no other place to stay so we decided to make the best of it. The rooms were clean and the river in the back was so beautiful! Rosemary turned out to be really nice and gentle and it will be a great memory for us. She ran her place like a bed and breakfast and made bacon & eggs for us the 3 mornings we were there. The home was located out in the country two kilometers off the highway on a dirt road. We walked in the mornings and saw horses that ran up to the fence to meet us with a fantail bird flitting around the horses like a fairy. It was magical!. There were herds of cows along the beautiful hills and valleys. We had 3 full days of traveling around the area and had a great time seeing some new parts of beautiful New Zealand.

Rosemary asked about our missionary tags and we got to tell her why we are here and what we do as missionaries. Carter gave her a Book of Mormon and I left a pair of my reading glasses with her so she could read it.

I hugged her when we left… she smelled like cigarettes, & bacon. We are friends. I’ve been praying for her. I hope she’s going to be OK.

January 1, 2021

Yesterday I went to a car wash to clean up our car after our trip. The automatic wash had just started when there was a big crash. My car lurched forward and the car wash stopped. I sat there a little dazed wondering what had just happened. I got out and saw the car that had been waiting behind me backing away with her front end banged up. I just got rear ended! Who gets rear ended at a car wash? The manager was yelling at the woman. I felt bad for her and walked around to talk with everyone. It was obviously not intentional. The manager stopped yelling when he saw me. We exchanged information for insurance purposes and took pictures of the damage to each other’s cars. The right side of my trunk was buckled and the right back tail light was broken. She became pretty rattled and started crying. I gave her a hug and told I was sorry this happened. Her name is JoAnn. After she drove away, the owner of the place drove up to access the damage to the machinery. I could tell he was stressed. They gave me my money back and the manager finished washing my car in one of the self-serve bays.

As I drove off, I realized that I had just witnessed another situation that Who I represent made a difference! I remembered that when I walked up to the yelling manager, he looked at my badge for a second and stopped his yelling. He was very calm and optimistic after that. When the owner walked up to me, he also read my badge, paused for a bit, looked up at my face and kindly said, “We have Sister Mayberry here.” I felt him calm down too.

Our car is still very drivable, all the lights and blinkers work correctly, but when I drive it, there’s a constant dinging sound and light on the dash trying to tell me that a door is open. We also cannot open the trunk. I emailed the fleet manager at the area office but it was New Years Eve here and I have not heard back from anyone yet about what I need to do.

I testify that the Lord is in the details of our lives. He calmed that little storm at the car wash. His influence was there… and I am so grateful.

Oceans of love to you all as this new year begins!

Dear Whanau,
We hit our year mark on the 18th! 6 more months to go!!

Valda has been coming to church on a regular basis. I am beginning to see that we were sent to attend the Auckland ward just for her. I’m pretty sure we were assigned to this ward because the executive secretary knew about Ashton and Elder Magalogo was in this ward who served with Ashton in Fiji. It was really nice to get to know him and his cute family. They moved away though a few months after we got here and then we were assigned to visit Valda. She saw our name tags and we were instant friends. She wrote this in her Christmas card to us, “Thank you for helping me rediscover the things that are REALLY important in our lives.” We are taking her to lunch this Tuesday for her Christmas present. She’s a fun lady with a good sense of humor. She is teaching us some Maori.

We got to go to the Auckland mission Christmas party this past week. It was a real treat to be surrounded by young missionaries again. We got some pictures with missionaries who have served in our ward and who Carter has worked with managing their medical care.

The senior sisters have an activity every Friday and this past Friday we learned how to post a memory on Family Search. I wrote a Christmas memory on my Grandma Nora’s page. We also had a cookie exchange. There’s not very many of us now so we are getting close with the few that are left.

Today was our Christmas program in Sacrament meeting. We sang in the choir and Carter & I were asked to sing the song Starbright. Luckily we had just sung that with a group for our Monday night Christmas activity, so we didn’t need much practice. Those Tongan & Samoan men in the choir sound amazing. They can really sing!

We went to a devotional tonight for Spanish speakers. They are going to start a Spanish branch in our stake. We met a sister who was a missionary in the MTC in Peru when we were there. Super small world. She was the only missionary with a New Zealand accent so she was easy to remember.

Arohanui, (Much Love)

Faye

Aroha= love
Nui= Big
Whanau= Family (pronounced Fawnoo, with the accent on the first syllable)

First section written by Faye: We had a sweet Sunday today. We got up earlier than usual because Bishop asked us to attend their ward council meeting, which started at 7, to help with the ward emergency plan. It was good to see how they worked together and hear and feel the bishops mantel for the ward. He’s a good man. Those people can laugh and joke around. They are fun!

Our friend Valda came to church today! We are wondering if we were sent to this ward just for her, to bring her back to Christ. She seems to respond well to couples from the US who wear the missionary name tags. I think it’s because she used to work with Elder Loren C Dunn when he lived here. She talks about him and his wife ALL THE TIME. The other members couldn’t get anywhere with her, but we have always felt welcome whenever we visit her. She is 83 and is trying to get her life in order for when she dies. She stayed for both meetings & choir practice. She said she felt really good being at church and taking the sacrament again. She wants to come back next Sunday. I sure love her. She is trying to show her love for God by the little things she can do. I had a good conversation with her about that a few weeks ago. God will know she is willing and doing her best with all the struggles she has had in her life.

There’s a Spanish speaking sister that moved into our ward this week and she attended our ward for the first time today. She just joined the church 4 months ago. Her name is Susana Jimenez. We took her and her 10 year old son to the ward Christmas party at Long Bay beach yesterday. She has been in NZ for 2 years now. She’s from Monterey, Mexico. Her English is about like my Spanish, we can understand better than we speak. She is trying to learn English so she can get a job in her field which is accounting. She’s a great lady and the ward members have embraced her. The way they introduced her was, “We have a new member of our ward that speaks Spanish!”

That’s one thing about NZ that I really love. There are so many languages spoken here. The NZ people are so welcoming to everyone. There are 2 Brazilian families in our ward, some Filipino families, Asian, tons of Polynesian and of course Maori. There are lots of Indian people here too.

It’s starting to get hot here. It’s hot when it gets in the 70’s. We got the fans our of our storage unit. The Christmas season is under way. I attended a stake Christmas concert Sunday night. The music of Christmas makes it Christmas for me. There are some talented musicians here. The sisters and I got together and made angels out of shells. I also made a miniature nativity. It was fun! I felt like an Activity Day girl! So fun to do some crafting.

Second section written by Carter:

We had some nice video conversations this week with our children & grandchildren. I sure do love them!

Several people recently have commented on how their lives have been blessed because of the pandemic. One older man said this: “I’m grateful for being in a pandemic lockdown with my wife. We have had a lot of fun together!” A young wife and mother also commented on how she and her husband had gotten closer than ever as they spent time together during the lockdown. A sister bore her testimony today, mentioning that she has returned to Church activity largely because of the pandemic, which allowed her to choose to “settle down” and re-evaluate her priorities.

This week, I fell in love with President Oaks’ talk, Love Your Enemies. I especially love this thought: It is possible to obey and seek to improve our nation’s laws and also to love my adversaries and my  enemies. While not easy, it is possible with the help of my Lord, Jesus Christ.

Yesterday I called a 90-year-old widow from our church congregation St. David, AZ. I was getting Facebook messages from her that made me concerned that her account had been hacked…and it had; she had taken care of that when I called her, but we then had a nice conversation. She’s still quite physically active: walking outside when weather permits and riding her stationary bicycle inside the other days. Good for her! She’s one of my heroes!

For some reason, I was struck by the scriptures that clarify that my cleansing is made possible by the Atonement of Christ, but the actual cleansing and refining is done by the Holy Ghost…as I allow Him into my heart to do that. I knew that…but that concept especially resonated with me this week. I love it when the Holy Ghost teaches me like that!
As I was reading 3 Nephi 18:10, which says, “…and this [partaking the sacrament] doth witness unto the Father that ye are willing to do that which I have commanded you,” I had this thought: That small act of eating a small piece of bread and drinking a small cup of water is symbolic of my willingness to keep Christ’s commandments. My willingness can start small and then grow. Paraphrasing: “I am willing; Lord, help Thou my unwillingness.”

Our bishop is from Tonga, where he taught high school. When he immigrated to New Zealand, he did not have the English skills nor NZ teaching credentials to continue that same job here. He learned how to weld and now owns a fabrication business. He shared this experience in ward council today as an example of striving to be flexible in our career paths. The context was a discussion about a sister from Mexico who was an accountant there, but cannot find that kind of work here because she lacks adequate English proficiency. The ward leaders want to help her find work, but it may not be in the same field as when she lived in Mexico. Right now, she is cleaning a gym because her husband lost his IT job during the pandemic.

As I have accepted President Nelson’s invitation to search the scriptures for what the Lord has promised He will do for covenant Israel, this scripture in Jeremiah 24:7 touched me: “And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the Lord: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.” How does this apply to me personally? One thought is that God will work upon me so that I will want to return to Him (repent) after I have sinned — as all mortals have and do and will. I love that thought! I would also love to hear some of your favorite promises from the Lord to His covenant Israel.

I humbly testify that Christ’s New Testament Church was restored in 1830 through the Prophet, Joseph Smith. As a young man prior to this restoration, Joseph had searched for the truth; like many of us today, he wanted to know God’s will and his standing before his Creator. His searching led him to the Bible, which encouraged him to ask of God. When Joseph did kneel in humble prayer, God, the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ did in reality visit him and speak to him. They called Joseph to be Their instrument in the promised latter-day restoration of all things. Once again, there was a prophet upon the earth who could authoritatively speak in the name of God because he was called personally by God. Other heavenly messengers also personally visited Joseph and restored Christ’s ancient priesthood, which was necessary to organize Christ’s Church again upon the earth. That same priesthood authority is possessed today in a living prophet named Russell M. Nelson. The main purpose of this priesthood and this Church is to prepare the world for the Second Coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 

Written by Carter. Faye and I attended a 3-day ward Relief Society camp at Camp Tuhikaramea, adjacent to the Hamilton Temple grounds. It is a beautiful, spacious area owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and managed by a volunteer senior missionary couple who have served there for 4 years now. We stayed in cabins and had some very fun activities: a sunrise testimony meeting overlooking the temple; an obstacle course; amazing food prepared by men from the ward; the new Mulan movie; sitting around a firepit to warm up in the cool night air; stopping at Pokeno on the way home for ice cream — the latter apparently a tradition for trips to the temple for many years. The first night, everyone took turns singing karaoke. Grandma Amy would’ve been proud as I sang Mac Davis’s song (with minor editing), It’s Hard to Be Humble! The most impressive activity was a water slide that is built on the side of a hill: water is sprayed on a tarp that lines the bottom and sides of a half-pipe-shaped ditch in the ground and then slicked with liquid detergent. There’s even a curve in the track, with the further edge banked up to help keep sliders on the track. However, many of the sisters were going so fast that they went over the bank and landed in the grass on the other side! Then they got back up laughing — and many did it again and again! These sisters know how to have fun! One of my purposes for being at the camp was in case someone needed medical attention; with some of those landings, I thought my assistance might be necessary…but fortunately, everyone came out without major injury. These ladies are also tough!

Yesterday, we had a nice Thanksgiving dinner with the other senior missionaries…and some other people in the area who are from the US. The food was delicious! I also had a wonderful time getting to know several of the other attendees better. We went around the table expressing what we were grateful for. One of the senior missionaries said this: “The social aspect of a senior mission is well-kept secret!” I agree! We have made some dear friends on our missions!

Last week, I met one of the first converts to the Church in the South Pacific island country of Niue (pronounced “new-way”). He’s in his seventies. His daughter-in-law is going to loan me a history of his conversion story. I love stories of the Church’s pioneers in any location and era. They help blaze the way for the rest of us to follow. I’m grateful for their sacrifices in the face of sometimes-overwhelming opposition.

I’m listening to the recordings from a recent webinar sponsored by the Arizona Suicide Prevention Coalition’s “Hope Conference.” One of the speakers entitled his remarks, “Remember the Dash.” On most grave headstones, there is a birth date, then a “dash,” followed by the death date. His point was to focus on the person’s life — and not on the manner of their death. That was a good reminder for me.

Every week, I fall in love with a new general conference talk. This week, it was Elder Rasband’s talk, “Recommended to the Lord.” I am grateful for a living prophet, who encourages us to prepare for and live worthy of a temple recommend. In my experience, doing so has been a great protection and strength. After Ashton’s suicide, the temple was one of the few places I could find peace. I’m also grateful for my parents’ examples of maintaining a current temple recommend. Dad loved to deer hunt, so always made sure he had a current hunting license in his wallet. Only half-joking, he sometimes said, “My temple recommend is so important that I keep it in my wallet — right next to my hunting license!” Those who knew Dad also know how important that temple recommend must have been to him!

I solemnly testify that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. When He lived on the earth as a mortal Being, He restored and taught the same gospel that had been taught to prophets before Him. He performed many miracles. He called Apostles and gave them priesthood authority to preach the gospel and perform saving ordinances such as baptism. He established His Church. After His crucifixion, His Apostles were rejected and killed. Without Divine Leadership and revelation through a prophet, the people collectively fell (and individually fall today) into spiritual darkness, or apostasy. With the death of Christ’s ancient Apostles, His priesthood authority was taken from the earth for a period. This is known as the “Great Apostasy,” which was foretold by ancient prophets and apostles. (Stay tuned next week for some “good news” in this ongoing story of God and His people!)

With love, I humbly invite all to choose to stay by God’s “Tree of Life.”

Written by Carter. We had a wonderful visit to the gannet (bird) colony at Muriwai  Beach on the west coast of New Zealand yesterday. What a beautiful and amazing experience!

Faye and I had a wonderful experience listening to Elder and Sister Bednar during the weekly missionary devotional. They talked about patterns in the scriptures. One of those patterns is that we often do not know beforehand the things we should do. This gives us the opportunity to prepare beforehand, then trust God in the moment of decision. Their counsel to the missionaries was this: “Be good and do good. Be a little better today than you were yesterday and a little better tomorrow than you were today. That’s enough!” Love it!

This week, I studied Elder Quentin L. Cook’s talk, “Hearts Knit in Righteousness and Unity.” A takeaway for me: As I strive to be one with the Savior, I will be one with Faye, my family, and other covenant keepers. I very much want this blessing of unity with Faye.

I also studied President Russell M. Nelson’s talk, “Let God Prevail.” I enjoyed discussing this talk in our church’s “men’s group” (elders quorum) today. 
What a treat to listen to God speak through President Nelson yesterday as he gave a message of hope and prayed for the world! How inspiring! I know that President Nelson is a prophet of God! In his message yesterday, President Nelson encouraged everyone in the world to share something on social media every day for the next seven days for which they are grateful. This is what I shared on Facebook today: 

I am grateful to be Ashton Richardson Mayberry’s dad. I am grateful for everything I learned during his lifetime. I am grateful for everything I learned from, since and because of his suicide, on January 28, 2014. I am grateful for what I will yet learn from my grief, whether it be from Ashton’s suicide or whatever other sorrows and tragedies life will bring me…and I am grateful that I don’t know now what those will be. I am grateful for the opportunities to choose how I will respond to my challenges, weaknesses and setbacks. I am grateful for the opportunity to choose to trust God and the knowledge that that is one of the very purposes of life and its trials. 

I am grateful for the “enemies” I have had, now have and will yet have in my life (people who don’t like me very much and people I don’t like very much). My “enemies” give me the opportunity to be introspective about my personality and how my response to a given situation may have been less-than-ideal. My “enemies” give me the opportunity to forgive…and to ask forgiveness. My “enemies” give me the opportunity to look at situations from another person’s perspective. My “enemies” give me the opportunity to repent and strive to improve where I have made mistakes. 

I am grateful for the people I have met and the experiences I have had because of Ashton’s suicide and my other trials: they have helped me become a better person. One of those people I have met…is Carter Mayberry: my trials have helped me get to know myself better. Another person I have met (more deeply, that is) is Faye Richardson Mayberry: she is one of life’s true “warriors” who is a wonderful travel-companion on this life (and grief and healing) journey. Our marriage has been strengthened in spite of…and even because of…Ashton’s suicide. Most of all, I have met more deeply my Heavenly Parents. I have felt Their perfect love for me and for Ashton. I have felt Them grieve as I have grieved and weep as I have wept. I have met my Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. I have felt Him gladly and willingly shoulder, lift and bear my burdens. I know that He knows perfectly what I have felt…because He has felt it all (and more) personally and intimately Himself…more completely than I can comprehend. I have met the Holy Ghost, one of Whose titles is “The Comforter.” I have felt that comfort in very personal and real ways.

In summary, I am grateful for this invitation to choose gratitude. #GiveThanks

I solemnly testify that God calls prophets to teach His gospel in every dispensation (periods of time when prophets have taught the gospel, or “good news” about Jesus Christ). Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and other ancient prophets all taught the gospel. All previous dispensations have ended in apostasy, where the people rejected the prophets and the gospel. 

I humbly invite all to choose to stay by the tree of life.

Written by Carter. We had a nice video chat with our children and grandchildren. It was wonderful to see them and hear from them. We asked them what they would like us to pray for…in their behalf; they also asked us the same question. It’s wonderful to feel that mutual support among the family.

I was home when a 40-year-old apartment inspector had his appointment with us. He was a very nice Maori man who was raised with friends who were members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I asked him if his friends shared their beliefs with him and he said they had. I told him that, if he ever wanted to know more, I could arrange that. He said, “I’ll bet you can!” I said, “Yes, that’s why we are here.” We had a nice chat about his family. His three children are very interested in sports, including baseball, which is rare here in NZ. In retrospect, I should have been more “bold” in asking him what he knew and if he wanted to know more…rather than speaking generally.

For some reason, Saturdays tend to be a “down” day for me. As I was partaking the sacrament (like a communion) last week, I asked God, “What do I need to start doing that I’m not now doing? What do I need to stop doing that I’m now doing?” I felt like I should plan something specific I to do on Saturday to serve someone else. When Saturday came, I did a couple of small, deliberate acts of service…and my day was much better! Imagine that: as I strive to follow Christ’s example, I feel better!

I had a video chat with one of my Venezuelan “sons” who lives in Peru. It was his birthday. He, his wife and son are all doing well. It was wonderful to see them!

After about 2 months, I finally finished another 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle. It was much more challenging than the first one, but it was so satisfying to finish it! It’s a beautiful photo that I relish even more because I feel like I contributed to putting it together!

Yesterday, I attended my first rugby match. The son-in-law of a man who works at the area offices is on a semi-pro team and got us complimentary tickets. That man sat by me and explained the rules. What an interesting game!

We listened to two missionary devotionals this week: one was by President Ballard and Elder Holland, who both spoke prophetically on the power of the Book of Mormon. Another one was by Mark L. Pace, Sunday School General President (and his wife), who both spoke about the Holy Ghost and prayer. I’m grateful for the Holy Ghost, who has helped me know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and, along with the Bible, is Another Testament of Jesus Christ.

I’ve been gradually writing my life story. A grateful memory: when we considered potential medical residencies (30 years ago), one of the main criteria we used was whether they were a “reasonable” distance from a temple. I’m grateful for God’s help in selecting that criterion. Keeping that focus on the temple has been symbolic of my efforts to keep my focus on God and the covenants I have made to keep His commandments. He has blessed me beyond measure for those efforts…and has strengthened me in those efforts.

This week, I studied Elder Bednar’s general conference talk, “We Will Prove Them Herewith.” I’m grateful for his reminder that my priorities cannot be defined by the world; if the world thinks “x” is important …it’s probably not that important. I need to keep my priorities aligned with God.

I also listened again to a talk by Elder Lawrence E. Corbridge, “Stand Forever.” What a powerful talk! He talks about the different ways to learn truth. He emphasizes the difference between “primary questions” (of which there are only a few) and “secondary questions,” which are endless. Four primary questions that he asked are profound; I am grateful for God’s help in knowing the answers to these questions: 

1. Is there a God who is our Father?
2. Is Jesus Christ the Son of God, the Savior of the world?
3. Was Joseph Smith a prophet? 
4. Is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints the kingdom of God on earth?

I solemnly testify that God is our loving Heavenly Father; we are literally His children, created in His image. He loves us and will help us make right choices. Through Jesus Christ, we can live with God again.

Written by Carter. I have been reviewing Michelle D. Craig’s General Conference talk this week. I am grateful to know the truth from God—that I am His son and that I have a divine nature and eternal destiny. As you ask Him sincerely, He can also help you to know those same truths for yourself.  

We watched the Pacific Area Youth Devotional, broadcast from the area office in Auckland. Bonnie H. Cordon and Steven J. Lund participated virtually from Salt Lake City. It was very inspirational. I’m impressed with the musical abilities of so many of the Polynesian youth! During the devotional, I was reminded of a commitment I had made mentally to myself, but am now putting in writing: I will always have a current temple recommend until the day I die.

As I mentioned last week, we attended the Mission Leadership Seminar in Taupo Monday-Thursday. It was a blessing to be a “fly on the wall” as these leaders were taught, and to feel guided as I contributed briefly on a few medical topics. Here are some highlights for me:

1. Returned missionaries: Find your replacement with you return home…and have it be someone who was not already planning to serve a mission.
2. The best invitations are tailored for the person…I thought of my suits that were tailored in Lima and of my racing bike, which was custom-built for my needs.
3. The temple is the reason for becoming a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint. Generic “goodness” alone is not enough. We also need ordinances and covenants to return to the presence of God.
4. One morning, we visited nearby Huka Falls, which was a very impressive example of the potential power of water that is unleashed as it rushes downhill. Specifically, it can be used to generate electricity, grind wheat, etc. One of the mission presidents compared the water in the calmer portion of the river to the of authority of the priesthood. When that water is channeled through the falls, it can be compared to the power of the priesthood, where God can use us to bless others as we strive to keep His commandments and look for opportunities to serve in His name. 
5. One of the area presidency taught, “What is the simplest thing I did (when I served as mission president) that gave me the largest return? Building relationships with the young missionaries by teaching them doctrine of Christ.” I think that can also apply in families and in relationships with others we encounter in our lives.
6. One of the mission presidents encourages missionaries who are being disobedient with this thought: “I cannot change you; I can only love you as you change.”
7. Another thought-provoking question from a member of the area presidency: “If all that my children knew of the gospel came from me — as their only source — how much would they know?” He then referred to 3 Nephi 7:18, emphasizing that it is possible to have so great faith on the Lord Jesus Christ that our children and grandchildren cannot disbelieve our words. Of course, they still have their agency and can choose to act in accordance with their beliefs — or not.
8. Being in the South Pacific, most of the young missionaries are Polynesians. Part of the training was on how to understand and love them as they serve…since their culture and upbringing is different than for most Pakeha (the Maori word for those primarily of European descent).
9. One of the area presidency said, “Missionaries serving during the COVID-19 pandemic are the Willie and Martin Handcart Companies of this century!”

I testify that those who prayerfully study the message of the Restoration of Christ’s New Testament church — and act in faith — will be blessed to gain their own witness of its divinity and of its purpose to prepare the world for the promised Second Coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

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.