Our big news this week is that Jacob Antonio Mayberry Velasquez was born on August 19th to Jacob & Gracia at Intermountain Riverton Hospital in the Salt Lake area. He weighed 6 pounds 14 ounces. Our prayers were answered for the health and safety of Momma & baby and they are doing well. Daddy Jacob is doing really well too as you can see in the picture!
He is adorable and we are in love.  We can’t wait to meet him in person! 

He is grandbaby #8

Written by Carter. I finished the 40-Day Joy Challenge for the third time. I’m going to sign up to do it again. I like it because it helps me “have a track to run on” in my efforts to experience more joy, knowing that a) “Man is that he might have joy” and b) that I am able to bless others more as I experience more joy myself. Of course, I don’t obtain improved results unless I do something differently than I’m now doing them…but I love the motivation and ideas that Tommy Newberry gives me in this challenge. I’m grateful for good men like him who help me live closer to God’s plan for me. If you are interested, click on the link. It doesn’t cost any money, but you “pay” by his sending maybe 4 email invitations during the 40 days telling about paid programs you can sign up for. That seemed like a small price to pay for the good material I received. You can always just delete those…but those were thought-provoking, as well, and it took me less than 90 seconds to finish each of those promotional emails. Each “joy challenge” activity could be completed in 10-15 minutes. I don’t get anything from your signing up; it’s just been a big blessing for me and I’m spreading the word.

I finished reading Life After the Death of My Son: What I’m Learning, by Dennis L. Apple, who is a Christian minister whose son died of a sudden illness at age 18. It was very thought-provoking. I highly recommend it for parents who are grieving their child’s death…and for those who might be trying to provide emotional support and love to those parents.   

The senior missionaries had a family home evening on Monday at the area office. Everyone was assigned another person to “highlight” and comment on Christlike attributes they had observed in the other person. One of the couples gave a short lesson from Elder Neal A. Maxwell’s inspiring June 1996 Ensign article, “Becoming a Disciple.” It was wonderful just being together. Of course, ice cream with toppings afterward was a nice ending to the evening!

I initiated the evacuation of a missionary off one of the Pacific islands to Honolulu for emergency medical treatment. It was amazing to see all the moving parts to that process: the area presidency, the Missionary Department in Salt Lake City, the insurance company (Aetna), the transport company, the mission nurse in Honolulu, the hospital in Honolulu and the government leader in the island nation had to approve the plane landing amidst a pandemic lockdown. Yesterday, I had to send an emergency email to the airport manager, certifying that the missionary being evacuated had a medical emergency…or the manager wasn’t going to let the plane land! Fortunately, my email sufficed and the missionary is in Honolulu! Breaking news: the mission president just called me. All the tests in Honolulu were negative!

A miraculous sidenote to this medical evacuation: the initial plan was to charter a non-medical plane for the evacuation; the Church had even paid for the flight to make sure it happened. However, there were enough medical concerns about the missionary the decision was changed to make it a medical evacuation. What to do with the paid non-medical charter flight? There were some missionaries who were stranded on this mission because they couldn’t get flights in to take them home because of the pandemic. Apparently, the medical flight arrival softened the decision-makers on the island enough that they allowed the charter to land, also, and they took these “overdue” missionaries home! It’s amazing how the Lord orchestrated all this to put His servants where He needs them to be at this time!

Another missionary was admitted to hospital with abdominal pain who was diagnosed with a liver abscess from amoeba! I’ve read about that in my training, but was never involved in a patient with that condition. I consulted with an infectious disease specialist in US on management. The mission president was concerned because the missionary wasn’t doing well that night. He wondered if this missionary might need to be transported off the island…but where to send them during pandemic? The other missionary was a US citizen, so could go to Honolulu; this one wasn’t! I spoke with the Seventy in Salt Lake City who oversees Missionary Medical about this sick missionary. He told me he was going to put his name on the First Presidency’s prayer roll…something I didn’t know existed until my mission here! I told the mission president this, and he conveyed this to the missionary and their family. The next day, the mission president told me: “This missionary is doing so much better today. Their family said they are doing better ‘Because the prophet prayed for them!'” I believe that is true, but I’m also sure that the faith of the sick missionary and their family was a big factor in their improvement, as well! What a blessing to see miracles like that.

I think I mentioned previously that a missionary was knocked down in June and bitten on the face by a dog. They had plastic surgery right away, but have now developed a keloid scar. They have darker skin pigment, so a steroid injection could soften the keloid, but also cause loss of pigment, so the scar would be more noticeable. I’ve had several emails and calls to a US plastic surgeon on how to manage the keloid. The missionary’s mother is concerned about the long-term appearance. The mission president asked me to call the mother, which I did today. She didn’t speak English, so a local Church leader interpreted for us. They both sure seem to be good people: humble, grateful, but also concerned for the injured missionary.

I received a jigsaw puzzle as a birthday gift. It’s been interesting observing how Faye and I approach solving it. What a blessing to have two complimentary personalities in our marriage! I confess that I don’t always see the differences as a blessing…but I’m striving to repent and do better here — with the Lord’s help!

I listened to two BYU Devotional talks that I recommend: a) Successfully Failing: Pursuing Our Quest for Perfection and b) Wrestling with Comparisons. One of my favorite quotes from the first one was by T.S. Eliot: “If you aren’t in over your head, how do you know how tall you are?” It reminds me of when I chose to take an honors level organic chemistry class in college. Several times in the class I realized that I was “in over my head,” but I learned and grew so much more than I would have had I stayed in the other class! In the second talk, he uses the term “wrestling to the ground” the human tendency to compare ourselves with others. He also uses the term “sit with” that weakness, get to know it, learn from it. Wow! What great analogies! I’m going to strive to implement those ideas as I strive to repent and improve through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I’m given the state of being mortally weak so that I can be humble and realize where my real strength lies: in Christ.

I feel to express thanks for those who have influenced my life: for the faith and perseverance of those who founded and perpetuated the community where I was raised; for my parents, who taught me and loved me; for my siblings and their families, who are examples to me and who love me; for my children and their families, who teach me and love me; for Faye, who is just a “virtuous woman” as described in Proverbs 31;  and most of all for God, Who is kind, loving, merciful, forgiving, patient and the essence of Perfection.    I testify that, as a companion scripture to the Bible, the Book of Mormon testifies that all human beings are sons and daughters of a loving Father in Heaven.

Written by Faye. I was asked to lead the discussion in Relief Society in our ward last Sunday. The talk we discussed was Elder James R Rasband, “A Righteous Judgement.” I felt like I was prepared, but the Saturday before while I was cooking, I felt like I should listen to the talk one more time. As I was listening, I heard in my mind, “Don’t forget the Book of Mormon.” That was significant for me because I was going to skip the first part that talked about the Book of Mormon and focus on another part of the talk. I did end up including that part… and it felt right. I don’t know why I originally decided to skip that very important part and I’m happy to be able to receive that sweet message from the spirit to help me know what was important. The Book of Mormon was an integral part of that talk.

I listened to a podcast from Book of Mormon Central this past week that really helped me. At the beginning they talked about the phrase, “And it came to pass” that is found all over the Book of Mormon. They named 3 reasons why it’s one of the most important phrases in the Book of Mormon. The first one is just because of the literal perspective. It doesn’t say…..It came to ‘stay’ or …..It came to ‘linger forever”. Whatever suffering we’re dealing with right now…it comes to pass. It comes for the purpose of passing. Everything we experience in this life will pass on by. Eventually we will be brought back into God’s presence.

We are back to level 3 lockdown in the Auckland area. They have found Covid-19 in a family in the community and want to stop it before it gets spread too badly. And they want to find out where it came from. They originally said it would be for 3 day but I’ll bet it will last longer. Our church has been canceled this Sunday. (Update: They have not found the origin, so it’s going to be for 2 weeks) It was nice to be back in our Sunday bubble with Kate & Marie. We have some sweet discussions that we could never have with our ward. We are supposed to wear masks when we are in public now….. I do NOT want to wear a mask. I do have some fabric to make some, so I’d better get busy. Carter says he’d better wear one to be a good example.

A friend of Ashton messaged me this week to tell me they had a dream about Ashton and wanted to let me know about it. Here’s part of what they said, “He was calm, peaceful and happy. He was sitting next to me, just talking with me. I don’t remember the words that were said, but I remember feeling supported and loved…..maybe he was just stopping in to let me know it’s all going to be okay. It was good to see him.” I don’t know how dreams work or what those in the spirit world are allowed to do, but I’m happy to know that Ashton is still able to help his friends. It made my day. After he died, I used to hear from him often when I was struggling and that’s what he would tell me….”You’re going to be ok Mom.” That’s his signature phrase. 

Our 8th grandchild is coming this week! Jacob & Gracia’s first, a boy. They are naming him Jacob Antonio. She is overdue and being induced on Tuesday. We are praying that all goes well and everyone is healthy. Hopefully we will have pictures for next week’s email.

Written by Carter. Note: this should have been posted August 9. However, I couldn’t get the photos to upload…and I didn’t get around to fixing it…so will post today without photos. Tomorrow I will post Faye’s letter from this week …and mine the next day.

Faye and I celebrated our 37th wedding anniversary on Tuesday by traveling with a couple from our ward to Piha, where there is black sand on the beach — from the high iron content in the volcanic rock there. It was beautiful! There were a lot of people surfing there; it’s winter, so the water is cold and they were wearing wetsuits. Surfing looks fun, but it looks like it would take a lot of work to become proficient at it!   

I think I’ve mentioned previously that I’ve been doing “Man-Flow Yoga” since about November 2019. For the past 3 months, I’ve been doing the “Bulletproof Your Shoulders” program, which takes about 30 minutes per day. I’ve had left shoulder pain with certain movements for the past 5 years. I had been to a specialist and tried the exercises he gave me — without much benefit. I’ve also tried several other approaches. Well…this yoga program seems to have done the trick with that pain! Yea for yoga (or at least this type for my shoulder)!

My sister, Janice, called me for my birthday this week. We had a nice conversation where we got caught up on each other’s families. I especially appreciated her asking how I was doing with Ashton’s death. I’m not sure why that meant so much, but it did. I read something this week that rang true with me: something about not looking for sympathy when someone mentions their deceased loved one; it’s just that their memory is the only thing that’s still alive on this earth. It lifts me so much to know that others remember Ashton, also.

We celebrated one of the other senior missionaries’ birthdays with 3 other couples last night. Again, it’s wonderful to have such good (and fun!) people with whom to associate!

I participated in a mission health council (MHC) with the Tahiti mission president and his wife. They are local members and he is a Church employee. They are serving on an interim basis until the new president can arrive from the US. I also participated in another MHC with the Samoa mission. I also spoke with the Marshall Islands/Kiribati mission president. It sounds like the conditions there are quite primitive — conditions accentuated by the current pandemic. I commented, “I hope you are keeping a good journal! You are making history there!” I would not be surprised to read stories in future histories of the Church about how missionaries, members and leaders have adapted to the pandemic. Stories from these outlying areas will probably be among them.       

I testify that the Book of Mormon teaches of life’s purpose and explains the doctrine of Christ, which is central to that purpose. I believe that with all my heart.

Written by Carter: I trained a new mission president (and his wife) over Zoom on how to use the Church’s medical software to monitor and care for missionaries’ health. They will serve in Fiji…whenever they are able to travel there. Not coincidentally, they live about 15 minutes away from where Jacob and Gracia live! They asked if they could deliver a gift when Jacob Antonio is born in the near future. What a kind offer!   

We also had dinner at the home of a couple in our ward who have done a lot of traveling around New Zealand. They gave us some tips if/when we are able to travel again. We’d like to go next to Wellington, on the south end of the north island.   

Another night, we had dinner with two other senior missionary couples who wanted us to give them tips on traveling around Queenstown. One of the “hidden blessings” of serving a senior mission is all the fantastic friends we have made with other missionaries, members and other neighbors in the areas where we have served. Those friends have been a tremendous blessing for us!   

Yesterday was my New Zealand birthday and today was my US birthday…so I have celebrated for two days! Yesterday, Faye made my favorite chocolate cake (see a previous post about that) and we had four other senior missionaries over to help eat it and to play Five Crowns, a very fun card game. Today, Faye made my favorite meal: pork chops! And I had some more chocolate cake!   

I’ve been memorizing some scriptures about marriage. I’m realizing increasingly what a precious gift Faye is from God to me! May I pay her a tribute? Ecclesiastes 9:9 says this: “Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun.” To me, that says that one of my main purposes in life is to live joyfully with Faye! Proverbs 31:10-12 says this: “Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.” Wow! What a blessing to be able to safely and implicitly trust in Faye!   

After meetings today, we visited the 84-year-old widow we told you about in a previous post. She is such a delightful person (“lovely” is what they would say here)! We had a wonderful visit! She shared some touching experiences she had recently. I felt honored that she trusted us enough to share them.   

I’ve been participating in Tommy Newberry’s “40-Day Joy Challenge” for the third time. This time, Candace is my accountability buddy; that alone has been awesome! In one of the sessions, I made a goal to postpone my worrying to a specific time. I don’t think I worry excessively, but I do worry sometimes. I was reminded of Scarlett O’Hara from “Gone with the Wind,” who said, “I can’t think about that right now…I’ll think about that tomorrow!” I decided to set my timer for 5 minutes, close my eyes and think “What if/worst-case scenarios.” I found the best time to do that is in the morning, right after breakfast. That’s when I feel the best and when the worrying is least likely to “get away from me.” It has been an almost-fun experience to have this time set aside! Often I’m done before the timer goes off.   

In another lesson, Tommy encouraged me to ask myself joy-producing questions. Most recently, I’ve been thinking this to myself when drying off after my shower: “What are four of my best strengths, and how could I use them more often in the next week?” It has been fun to think about how I can use the strengths God has given me to try to bless others. When we served in the Peru Mission Training Center, Faye  attended a Relief Society class (for women) where she made a list of my positive traits and gave me the list. Being a “words of affirmation” person, I still have that list in my wallet. I used the traits on the list when asking myself this question in the shower.   

Here’s an inspirational quote from a recent video devotional for the area office employees and senior missionaries: “Life is so generous a giver, but we, judging its gifts by their covering, cast them away as ugly or heavy or hard.  Remove the covering and you will find beneath it a living splendor, woven of love, by wisdom, with power. Welcome it, grasp it, and you touch the angel’s hand that brings it to you. Everything we call a trial, a sorrow, or a duty, believe me, that angel’s hand is there; the gift is there, and the wonder of an overshadowing presence.” Fra Giovanni, a 16th-century priest and scholar.   

My favorite scripture this week is Isaiah 40:31 “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” What a promise! I believe it with all my heart! I have experienced it personally and have witnessed it happening to others!   

My favorite thought for the week: How do I build my faith? By doing what God asks me to do even/especially when I don’t know why. That may be some of what Hebrews 12:2 and Moroni 6:4 are talking about when they say that Jesus is “…the author of my faith…”; it’s not just me believing. Christ is actively involved in helping me grow my faith.   

I witness that Joseph Smith was given the gift and power of God to translate an ancient record: the Book of Mormon — Another Testament of Jesus Christ. As I’ve stated before, I believe that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and a companion scripture to the Bible in testifying of Christ.   

Written by Carter

We passed last Sunday afternoon, with a missionary (and his wife and their two children) who served with Ashton in Fiji. He told us some experiences involving Ashton. As I see these young men Ashton’s age, I mentally picture what it would be like to have Ashton also married with two children. At times like this, the promise by President Howard W. Hunter brings me indescribable peace: “No blessing, including that of eternal marriage [marriage that exists after death] and an eternal family, will be denied to any worthy individual. While it may take somewhat longer—perhaps even beyond this mortal life—for some to achieve this blessing, it will not be denied.” Only the One Perfect Judge — Jesus Christ — can determine whether Ashton is deemed “worthy,” but I trust His perfect justice and His perfect mercy. It will be OK. There is peace in Christ. True peace is only in Christ. I’m grateful for the opportunity to choose to accept “…the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, [which keeps my heart and mind] through Christ Jesus.”   

I’m reading a book about a father whose 18-year-old son died of a sudden illness in 1991. This quote from his book touched my heart: “Still to this day, people who knew Denny will come up to us and share stories about him. It always warms our hearts when someone takes the time to share a memory about him.” If I could “coach” those who don’t know what to say to a grieving parent, when possible, this is always a “winner” for me. You might see tears from the parent. Some of the tears will be from missing their beloved child…but some of the tears might be of pure gratitude for your Christlike act of helping the parent know that their loved one has not been forgotten. We watched the Pixar movie, “Coco” last week…and I cried…like I did the other two times I watched it. I understand it’s “just a movie,” but it reminded me of the importance of remembering our deceased loved ones. We will see them alive again when they are resurrected…but until we pass from this life, our memories of them can be such a sweet delight!   

At my sister, Janice’s, recommendation, we watched the movie “Out of Liberty,” which depicts the months-long imprisonment of Joseph Smith in the Liberty Jail in Missouri. Our 3rd-great-grandfather, Alexander McRae, was in that jail with him. I thought the movie did a good job of depicting the integrity of the jailer and how he protected them from the mobs who wanted to kill the captives. I am grateful to stand (or at least sit) on the shoulders of giants who paved the way so I can enjoy the blessings of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Now…to stay true so I can pass that torch/baton to the next generation!

Some of the missionaries in the islands have not been able to return home (even when they have completed their assigned time of 18-24 months) because there are no flights leaving those countries and/or they are not allowed to return to their home country. The mission president of three such US missionaries encouraged them to enroll in online BYU classes. They will attend classes in the morning, then proselyte in the afternoon…until they can return home.

I previously mentioned a man in the islands with a benign brain tumor. He was not able to get into New Zealand, but (long story) was able to get into the US. It sounds like they are taking good care of him there.            

In closing, I affirm that, under the direction of the Father and the Son, heavenly messengers came to instruct Joseph Smith and re-establish the church of Jesus Christ. The resurrected John the Baptist restored the authority to baptize by immersion for the remission of sins. Three of the original twelve Apostles—Peter, James, and John—restored the apostleship and keys of priesthood authority. Others came as well, including Elijah, who restored the authority to join families together forever in eternal relationships that transcend death. What a blessing to know that these authorities have been restored by God to the earth once more!

At church today, none of the speakers showed up including the high council speaker. That has never happened before. The program is usually planned and goes well. Bishop asked the Elders, Carter and me to bear our testimonies. Then he and the one counselor who was there spoke. They both told some interesting stories.

The counselor grew up in Samoa. He said that growing up in Samoa was hard for kids because if they did anything wrong they got hit and sometimes beat up by their parents. He liked volleyball and really wanted to try out for the volleyball team after school. But he also had the responsibility of cooking their family’s dinner, especially the taro. So he ran home and cooked the taro quickly. There’s a rule in their family that if they don’t have any meat to eat with the taro then there needs to be some coconut cream to eat with it. He knew there was no coconut cream and he knew he would be in trouble, but really wanted to get back to try out for volleyball. He was feeling good after the tryouts because he did well but when he got home, his brother told him that mom & dad were waiting for him. He said the next thing he remembers is waking up in the hospital and heard his mom crying at his bedside. He had been beaten up before but never this bad. He joined the church when he was 14 and loved going to the church school because the teachers there were not allowed to hit the students. He said he still loves his parents because they were doing the best they could with what they knew. He went on a mission and loves bringing his family up in the gospel of Jesus Christ that teaches us to treat each other with love, patience and kindness.

Bishop Kau grew up in Tonga. He said as a child going to school he never ate lunch. They got up in the morning and ate what was left over from the meal the night before. There was no food to take for lunch and he didn’t eat anything until dinner that night. He told us that now he gets up at 5:00 am to go to work. His wife is still sleeping but there is a lunch waiting for him to take to work… he cried when he told us about the lunch. He also told about how his father would make him take notes when they were at stake conference. When something was said that his father wanted to remember, he would tell him to write it down. He said he felt like his dad’s secretary and didn’t like doing it but he wanted to obey his father. On the way home his father would ask him about what he wrote down and they would talk about it on the 1.5 hour walk back to their village. He appreciates having to do that now.

It turned out to be a wonderful sacrament meeting. Those 2 men are good, kind men. I appreciate their leadership in our ward. The bishop admonished us to take just 5 minutes a day to pray, go read a few verses in the scriptures and do something kind for someone else. Just 5 minutes. We can all take 5 minutes.

After our trip to Queenstown I’ve had this thought: 

I’ve never really liked taking pictures of landscapes.  I used to think that there needs to be an actual person in the picture to make it memorable and relevant. But after living in New Zealand and especially now that I’ve been to parts of the South Island, I’ve changed my thinking on that. 

I now see my Creator. 

These pictures are only taken with my phone. But even so… He’s there. I see Him. I feel Him. He is the Artist, the Sculptor, the Landscape Designer of this breathtaking beauty. 

Oceans of Love,    Faye

Sunday – Happy Birthday to Jacob on the 18th! Our baby is 26. I’m glad he was born. He is a great caboose for our family.

We are down in the South Island, staying in Queenstown. Our work is light and now is a good time to travel. We’re here for a few reasons: to celebrate our anniversary, and to visit one of Ashton’s fellow missionaries who served with him in Fiji. It’s a working vacation too. Carter still gets calls and I still work on missionary recommendations in the evenings.

Ashton served with Jershon Wihongi who is from Auckland, New Zealand. He now lives on the South Island in Dunedin and is at the university there in pre-dental studies. He is one person I wanted to visit when we came to New Zealand. I messaged him to tell him we were coming down and it turns out he and his family were going to be in Queenstown the same time as us! We were prepared to make the drive to Dunedin, but glad we didn’t have to. We spent a lot of our Sunday with his little family. I was happy to know that he was as excited to see us as we were to see him. When he first found out about Ashton’s death, he sent me all the pictures from his mission that had Ashton in them. It was such a blessing at the time and was so kind of him to do that. We first met and sat by his family at church this morning and then they later came to our AirBnB. We ate an early dinner together and chatted until it got dark. We talked about how it WAS NOT a coincidence that we were both in Queenstown at the same time. He was happy to talk about the 2 months he spent serving with Ashton on the island of Taveuni, and we were happy to listen. It’s a great day whenever we get to see a missionary from Fiji who served with Ashton. His wife, who’s name is Oshan, (pronounced “ocean”) and children are the sweetest. When we first met at church, I was fighting back my emotions sitting next to them. But I prayed to feel at peace. The Lord blessed me and I did have a joyful day with his family. 

I was touched by a story told at church today. The high council speaker said that when he got to the chapel early this morning, he was told they might have to cancel meetings for today because the pipes were frozen. The toilets would not flush. He said, with some emotion, that he talked to God and told him, “I have six days in the week do to all my work but I only have one day to take the sacrament and renew my covenants. Please let us renew our covenants today.” He then went into the kitchen, turned on the sink and the water was running when it wasn’t earlier. He called it a miracle. I believe in miracles and am so happy this little branch received one today. He also said, “You make history every time you walk in the door of this chapel. Your children are watching you.” 

I recognized one of the missionaries there who has only been on his mission for 6 weeks. I remembered his picture from his recommendation I had reviewed a few months ago. The other missionary had returned from his mission in Mexico because of Covid. He had been there for a year and his Spanish was good. He was reassigned to the Wellington mission. He and Carter talked together in Spanish. He was happy to speak that language again.

The little chapel is a house they have renovated into a chapel. It’s small and gets lots of visitors like us on Sundays. The Dunedin stake is huge and covers lots of territory. When stake visitors come to visit the Queenstown branch they come with their family and stay Saturday night at a hotel. It’s a 3 1/2 hour drive from Dunedin.

Monday – This morning Elder Wihongi messaged me, “Wish we had more time with you both, thank you for being able to meet with us and make us some yummy food. Such a blessing that we were able to meet. Love you both very much.” 

MADE. MY. DAY.

Candace had just sent me a beautiful song from a virtual choir that she sang in. Rubi had just sent a picture of their family visiting with Jacob & Gracia. All three combined really got to me and I lost it for while. Lot’s of tears came. I love and miss our children & grandchildren and I didn’t realize how much I love and need to hear from the Fiji missionaries who served with Ashton. I melts my heart to know that Elder Wihongi really wanted to meet us too and that he was so warm and loving to us. The Lord really blessed me yesterday to be able to feel peaceful, but today…. I’m letting loose and I really need to. I had a good cry this morning and then tonight again as I finish writing. This is part of the healing we came for. I can’t help but think that it must have been a hard thing for those missionaries too when they were told that Ashton died.

Sam Abplanalp, one of the missionaries Ashton trained, is coming to do a rotation with Ralph and Phil in Sierra Vista in Oct-Nov. Wish I could be there to help him with whatever he needs. But Candace and Ralph will be able to help him out. He needs a place to stay while he’s there. He was in the hospital with Dengue Fever in Fiji when Pres. Klingler came and told him that Ashton had died. Sam told us he was low anyway from his illness and that was the lowest point in his mission finding out that Ashton died by suicide. He’s another one who has been very kind to us. When it gets closer to us traveling to Fiji, he’s going to give us some pointers on how to best travel to Taveuni and where to stay on the island.

It’s good to see those guys moving forward in their life and careers. Ashton would most likely be in medical school. He wanted to be a radiologist. I know he will get the opportunity to finish his earthly life and have a family someday.

Sending Oceans of Love………..Faye

Written by Carter

The area medical advisor in Australia is going home the end of July. His replacement is from the US and can’t get into the country until who knows when. He will cover as much as he can via phone and email from the US. He and I went through the MTC and medical training together before we went to Peru (he went to South Africa)…so we know each other! Our wives and we got to be very good friends during that short time. I look forward to working with him!

I participated in a video call originating from Salt Lake City with several mission presidents going to our area and the Philippines. I look forward to working with these new couples.

On Thursday, we flew to Queenstown, a beautiful city among the mountains on the South Island of New Zealand. Faye and I will celebrate our 37th wedding anniversary on August 4…so this trip is an early celebration. I’m grateful to be married to my best friend!    On Saturday, we went on a guided tour of Milford Sound, including a boat cruise where the bow touched a waterfall. We also went on a helicopter ride that landed on a glacier! As we drank in the beauty of the day, I was overwhelmed with gratitude for my Creator! What amazing and beautiful handiworks He has made! Words don’t do it justice! Pictures don’t, either, but that’s the best we can do.

New Zealand has the only high-mountain parrot, a kea. We saw several on our trip. It supposedly has the largest brain-to-body weight ratio of any bird. Our guide said it has the intelligence of a 4-year-old human. I thought I was clever when I asked, “Is that a boy or a girl 4-year-old?” I’m pretty sure there is a difference!

We attended the branch meetings here in Queenstown in the morning. It’s wonderful to have “family” wherever we go in the world…having the same lessons with the same doctrine, taught by the same Holy Ghost.

I’m reading a book written by the father of an 18-year-old boy who died of an unexpected illness. This quote rings true for me: “Sorrow shared is sorrow halved.” I don’t know why, but I have found that to be true for me. The person I’m sharing with doesn’t need to “fix” me or have “just the right thing” to say; just listening with love is enough. More than enough.

I gained some profound insights as I listened to this week’s Come Follow Me lesson on the Talking Scripture podcast (Episode 61):

1. Comparing my testimony to a growing tree, I have fed it over my lifetime…with prayer, scripture study, repentance, forgiving, serving…and now my testimony is feeding me! I love that thought!
2. A quote from C.S. Lewis’s “A Grief Observed,” “You never know how much you really believe anything until its truth or falsehood becomes a matter of life and death to you. It is easy to say you believe a rope to be strong and sound as long as you are merely using it to cord a box. But suppose you had to hang by that rope over a precipice. Wouldn’t you then first discover how much you really trusted it?… Bridge-players tell me that there must be some money on the game ‘or else people won’t take it seriously.’ Apparently it’s like that. Your bid – for God or no God, for a good God or the Cosmic Sadist, for eternal life or nonentity – will not be serious if nothing much is staked on it. And you will never discover how serious it was until the stakes are raised horribly high, until you find that you are playing not for counters or for sixpences but for every penny you have in the world. Nothing less will shake a man – or at any rate a man like me – out of his merely verbal thinking and his merely notional beliefs. He has to be knocked silly before he comes to his senses. Only torture will bring out the truth. Only under torture does he discover it himself.” From that, I’m reminded to feel gratitude for the trials of life that have forced me to examine and challenge my beliefs, sending my roots deep into the foundation of Christ. Only in Him can I have a foundation that I can trust in all things and in all times and places. Always.

Some may find it hard to believe that I sometimes struggle with my weight…but I do. I don’t have a lot of “science” to back this up, but something I’ve tried lately is to weigh myself every morning. If I’m over my target weight, I postpone breakfast until noon…trying to fit a “reasonable” amount of calories between noon and 6 pm. I’ve started asking myself when I have the munchies in the evening, “Will this taste better now than breakfast will taste in the morning?” Sometimes that helps me forego that evening treat…because I really like breakfast!

I’ve become interested in the stories of my ancestors who were the first ones to join the Church in their families. Last week I read of Grandpa Esker’s conversion from an interview with Grandma Amy by Jamie Sue Richey. It was entered on FamilySearch by Ester Daley in 2013. It was wonderful to read those memories. I’m grateful for the faithfulness of my ancestors, who have helped me enjoy the blessings I have today.

For some reason, I was thinking this week about the blessings that have come to my life because of my decision to serve a mission as a young man. I’m grateful for parents who helped instill the importance of missions early…and they “walked the talk” by serving a mission themselves. I thought of the two years of schooling that was postponed because of my mission. However, I was a so much better student after my mission than I was before. I was so much more mature (more than just two years of chronological age “more mature”). I was so much more focused, driven and dedicated. Making that decision to serve others (instead of just thinking about myself) opened so many doors and options for me. So many of the blessings and opportunities I enjoy even now I can trace back to my decision to serve a mission as a young man. Choosing to serve a mission was definitely the best decision I could have made for my life. The other hingepoint decision for me was choosing to marry Faye in the temple. It’s a reminder that I can never get ahead of the Lord: He blesses me while I’m serving Him…AND He blesses me for serving Him!

In the vision where God, the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, appeared to Joseph Smith, Joseph learned that, following the death of the original apostles, Christ’s New Testament church was lost from the earth. Joseph would be instrumental in its return. I’m grateful to know that the same Church that existed during Christ’s lifetime exists on the earth today, as well: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Written by Carter

Last Sunday, we played games with some other senior missionaries and with a neighbor from the apartment building that they invited. We had a nice time. I’m grateful for good friends and for new friends.    

We celebrated the 4th of July with the other senior missionaries at the area office on Monday. Faye planned a patriotic music program that went well. It reminded me how humbly grateful I am to be an American! Then we ate ice cream sundaes. This is the first time we’ve all met together since the lockdown. It was good to be together in person again.

Do you remember the missionary I wrote about accompanying home shortly after arriving in New Zealand? They were very emotionally/mentally ill at that time. I’ve been asking their former mission president (and wife) regularly for updates on them. I’m grateful to report that they are miraculously doing much better! They seem to be quite functional now! What a blessing!

On Thursday, I participated in a mission health council (to discuss the mental and physical health of missionaries in that mission) with the new Auckland Mission president, President Parr, and his wife. I look forward to working closely with them.

Yesterday, Faye and I took the bus downtown, where we ate lunch in the revolving restaurant at Sky City that is 52 floors up on top of the building. The bus rides were very quick and easy. We rode home on the top level of a double-decker bus. Faye is a very thoughtful grandmother: we were sitting in the front seat when she noticed two little girls a couple rows back with their father. She asked them if they’d like to sit up front so they could see. They were wide-eyed and nodded their heads “yes.” The father was grateful. When they got off, Faye commented to me what a great dad he was, complete with carrying their pink unicorn backpack! There were two teenage girls sitting in front across the aisle from us. When we gave up our seats to the little girls, they asked us if we’d like their seats? We declined, but it was a nice gesture to offer and was a reminder of how “contagious” kindness can be. I’d like to ride the bus more…just to get more familiar with the city without stressing about traffic, missing the turnoff, etc. The food at the restaurant was very good and reasonably-priced. We had a beautiful view of the city as we ate. What a wonderful day it was!

Here’s a quote I love from Tommy Newberry’s Joy Challenge: “My true self worth is based only on what God says about me…and not on what I do or how I feel about myself. I am an original masterpiece — handcrafted by the Creator of the universe!” Profound! 

A favorite quote from ComeuntoChrist.org: “He giveth power to the faint, and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.” (Isaiah 40:29) “It does not take much living to find out that life almost never turns out the way you planned it. Adversity and affliction come to everyone. … We all need to repent, to recognize weaknesses, and more fully come unto Christ. … But as we do, we will discover God-given strengths that we may not have otherwise known.”—Ellen W. Smoot   

I had this thought this week: There is a God, Who loves me enough that He has given me commandments, which help me know the path home to His presence. However, He also respects my agency; He allows me to choose whether to follow those commandments or not. My choice to obey or disobey determines my current and future blessings, but does not separate me from His love.

For “Come, Follow Me” Sunday school lessons this week, I have been reading and learning about Korihor and the Zoramites, people who taught false doctrines. I’m grateful for the Book of Mormon, which exposes the doctrines of the devil that are so prevalent today. (Notice the plural form of the word “doctrines” because they change depending on circumstances and how people want to live their lives.) These doctrines are so compelling because they appeal to our carnal or natural man. The Book of Mormon places these false doctrines directly before or after the correct, pure doctrine of Christ. (Notice the singular form of the word “doctrine” because Christ’s doctrine does not change.) How do I “Hear Him” (my Savior, Jesus Christ)? One of the clearest ways for me is through the Book of Mormon. I have learned many things throughout my medical career about the human body, how to help it heal, how to keep it healthy, how to treat chronic conditions, etc. Some of the things I have learned have profoundly influenced how I treat patients. However, nothing I have learned in medicine is more important to me than my knowledge that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. He is my Savior and Redeemer. And nothing has helped me to know that more clearly than the Book of Mormon.

I wondered to myself how many times I’ve read the Book of Mormon. Since about 1986 (when President Benson emphasized its daily study), I’ve read at least one verse in the Book of Mormon every day…lacking around 10 days during that time when I just plain forgot. Most days I have read at least 1-2 pages per day. That’s 34 years, or 12,410 days. There are 531 pages in the Book of Mormon. At 1-2 pages per day, I have read the Book of Mormon at least 23-46 times since 1986. I say this because I know there are some who wonder if the Book of Mormon is true…and that’s OK. Questions are good, because that’s how you find answers. The important thing is to take those questions to the One True Source of Truth…God Himself. As I have read the Book of Mormon, tried to apply its teachings and prayed to God about its truthfulness, I solemnly proclaim that I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I don’t know everything, but I do know that with all my heart. If you need someone to lean on until you can find out for yourself, lean on me…but keep working on finding out for yourself. I can’t give you that knowledge; only God can.    

In humility, I declare, that in answer to Joseph Smith’s spring 1820 prayer in the woods, God, the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, appeared to him and inaugurated the “restitution of all things” as foretold in the Bible. I believe that and know that to be true, also with all my heart.