Written by Carter. We were able to get our first “COVID jab” (as they call it here) on Monday; we will get our second one three days before coming home. We feel blessed to be able to get that before returning home!

I participated in my last Vanuatu Mission health council. There are only 28 missionaries there now and most of them are from Vanuatu itself. This is a challenging time, but I am confident that the Lord will “consecrate [their] afflictions for [their] gain.”

Yesterday, we drove with five other senior missionaries to visit a new exhibit at the Matthew Cowley Pacific Church History Centre about the labor missionaries who built the Church College of New Zealand and the Hamilton Temple. It was awe-inspiring to see all the faith, love, devotion, consecration, and miracles that went into those projects! A common saying of these labor missionaries was, “Difficult things we do immediately; impossible things we’ll have done by tomorrow; miracles may take a little longer.” The exhibit shared some of those miracles.

After visiting this exhibit, we then visited Blue Spring, which is appropriately named. The water from the spring takes 50-60 years to filter down from a nearby plateau. the resulting water is so pure and clean that it produces water that is a beautiful blue color, while being virtually clear.

We spoke in sacrament meeting today. My assigned topic was “How do my choices show that God prevails in my life?” I felt like I should use Ashton’s suicide as an example in my own life. Here is a paragraph from my talk: There are some situations that are black and white. For us, this was one of them: We could either choose to let God prevail…and walk with His help, His comfort, His peace, His hope, His joy, and His Plan…or we could choose another path, any other path, whatever other path…and walk that path alone. We choose to walk God’s path…with His help. When Jesus asked his disciples if they would also leave Him (as some of His other followers had), Peter responded, “Lord, to whom should we go?”

OK, are you ready for some fun?! I am throwing down the gauntlet! Here’s the background: as I was growing up, the Mayberry family loved to compete with one another. We would have foot races, arm wrestling, etc. When I was in high school, Grandma Amy even instigated a “biggest smile” contest! I remember that one because I won! Yes, I have a big mouth! Also when I was in high school, my dad (at least 50 — which sure seemed “old” at that time!) and Uncle Roland had a foot race! Does anyone have the film of that race? Anyway, the last time I participated in a footrace was seven years ago, at a family reunion with my siblings and their descendants. About three strides into my race, I partially tore my left hamstring muscle, so couldn’t finish the race. Well…it has continued to be painful when I’ve tried to run…until about a year ago. I’ve been seeing a sports medicine doctor because I injured my right hamstring tendon in a service project over 15 months ago! He has been very helpful and it is improving. At our last visit, he asked what goals I had. I told him I wanted to hike Rincon Peak with my two of my brothers. I didn’t say this, but I didn’t want to be “the one” they were waiting for! He prescribed some exercises to help me prepare. A few weeks after that appointment, I thought, “I want to be able to participate in a footrace with my brothers again!” I made another appointment and he gave me more exercises to do. So…here’s the plan: I will prepare to hike Rincon Peak with two of my brothers on October 21 (ask me if you want to know why I picked that date). Anyone else interested is also welcome, but prepare so you’re not  “the one” we’re waiting for, either!🙂 Because preparing to hike is different training that preparing for a footrace, I will wait until after the hike to start training for the footrace, which will be mid-January 2022. Why then? a) Because I need three months to prepare for a footrace nowadays; I don’t want to tear my hamstring again! b) Because I mainly want to beat my “little” brother, Andy. Andy loves chocolate, which is abundant before Christmas. I’m hoping he gets (and eats) a lot of Christmas chocolate, so is nice and fat when we race in January🙂! Since I’m the one throwing the gauntlet, I get to set the terms, right? 50 yards (I’ll be 59; that’s all I can do now), at the St. David track, mid-January 2022. We can have other groups, but you must be at least 54 (Andy’s  age) to be in my group. My cousins are invited, too! I’m even willing to share the training regimen with you so you don’t tear your hamstring like I did!