Christmas Holiday the Kiwi Way!

It's time for another Kiwi Companions blog post! The day and weeks seem to pass so quickly!

The 2016 Pacific Area Plan from the Area Presidency, which we have participated in conceptualizing and preparing, was launched on December 7. After all of the meetings, discussions and considerations, it was very nice to see it finally “roll out.” This beginning is a preview of what is to come. The actual sharing of the plan in detail with members across the South Pacific in stakes and wards will happen in the first part of January 2016. Here is a link to the preliminary-launch video:

http://www.mormonnewsroom.org.nz/article/area-presidency-send-message-to-pacific-latter-day-saints

The Latter-day Saint funeral for Jonah Lomu, the world-renowned rugby player from New Zealand was held on Tuesday, December 1^st at the Robertson Road Stake Center in Mangere. Over 900 family members, friends and fellow members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints honored Jonah’s life. We served as public affairs representatives for the Church at the funeral, helping to coordinate the activities of members of the media who attended, as well as taking photographs for a news release on Mormon Newsroom-Pacific and generally helping in any ways we could. Among the dignitaries who paid their respects were His Royal Highness Prince Ata, representing Their Majesties, King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau'u of the Kingdom of Tonga; current and former All Blacks rugby players; and local government officials. Speakers included Jonah’s brother, John; his father-in-law, Merv Quirk; and his long-time physician, Dr John Mayhew. Latter-day Saint leaders who spoke were Elder Kevin W. Pearson, President of the Church’s Pacific Area, and Anthony Wilson, the Lomu family’s stake president. We participated in preparing this article about the funeral, including taking the pictures used in the article:

http://www.mormonnewsroom.org.nz/article/family-friends-and-faith-leaders-remember-jonah-lomu-at-funeral-services

On Wednesday,December 9^th, we joined with many of the senior missionary couples and the entire complement of Pacific Area Office employees for a fun-filled Christmas Party at a nearby ward meeting house. The food was great, and the entertainment featured skits put on by each department including their senior missionary couples and the Area Presidency members and wives. Actually, we looked pretty silly, I think, but that’s what we were supposed to be, so we must have been successful. Susan and I and our group wore tinsel-covered, red or green Christmas tree hats and bobbed up and down while we lip-synced to a version of Boney M’s “Joy to the World.”Nice, huh?

When Friday evening, December 11^th came, we traveled to the center of the city and the Auckland Town Hall to watch and enjoy the Auckland Symphony Orchestra and a 120-member Latter-day Saint choir perform their annual Christmas concert. We really enjoyed this special evening, and it brought the spirit of the season to us in a marvelous way. These two groups have been performing together in December for many years. The hall was packed with people from various denominations who seemed very enthusiastic about the performance. Once again, here is the article I wrote the next day which includes a video clip and several pictures which I took while at the concert.

http://www.mormonnewsroom.org.nz/article/auckland-symphony-orchestra-and-church-choir-share-christmas-spirit

Last Saturday evening at about 11:00 p.m., Susan and I met our son John and our good friend, Heidi Webster, at the Auckland International Airport. We were thrilled to see them arrive safely for their first visit to New Zealand. It was a joy for us to have familiar faces from home with us once again.

Heidi is a beautiful redhead who was in Young Ambassadors the same time John was. So they toured South America with YA way back when. Then they together headlined the cruise ship shows for those eight months or so traveling all through the Caribbean, Mediterranean, and North Baltic countries. They have kept in touch through the years and get together now and then. So when it was time for John to come to New Zealand, knowing that we could only travel with him for a few days, Heidi was his ready and willing companion! She is beautiful inside and out, and we had so much fun with them.

We stayed at a charming lodge located on the waterfront in Russell New Zealand.While there, we took a bus trip to the northernmost point in New Zealand, Cape Reinga, where one can see beautiful vistas as well as the coming together of the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean; their waters are colored differently, and so it’s easy to see how they converge.

We also took a boat trip among the many interesting islands in the area called Bay of Islands. While doing this we fished for Red Snapper fish. We caught Jack Mackerel fish for bait, which was totally fun as we caught two to three fish simultaneously on one line. The lines each had five hooks, and so our attempt was to be first to catch all five, but I don’t think we ever actually did more than three. Each of us eventually caught a Red Snapper which are beautifully colored fish and are a New Zealand fishermen’s favorite.

After our time with Heidi and John, they took off to the South Island on their own. We went back to work at the office.

John and Heidi “made” our Sacrament meeting last Sunday as they were invited to sing and bear their testimonies (our ward is very spontaneous, especially when the assigned speakers are no-shows). And when we were up north with them, our little fishing boat captain sailed us into a rock cave called "The Cathedral," because it has the same formation as the inside of one of the huge stone cathedrals in Europe. There, Heidi and John treated us to a duet of Ave Maria. It was very cool, and our captain told us the next morning that he wished he could have stayed there for hours and just listened to them sing. They will return to Auckland tonight (Saturday), and she flies home to be with her family in Arizona for Christmas.

Our time with John and Heidi went by entirely too fast! But isn’t that the way it is in life with that which we enjoy?

In between all of our comings and goings, we’ve done some Christmas shopping and decorating of our apartment. In many ways, like the Christmas concert and the small, colorfully-decorated tree we have, it does seem like the holiday season here in New Zealand.

In other ways, like the warming summer season here and no snow on the ground, it does feel a little strange for us. Not being with family and long-time friends also takes a bit of an emotional toll on us from time- to-time, and moment-to-moment. But, it’s all good. And we are so grateful to be able to serve our mission and do our best to follow the Spirit and assist as God would have us do. We have felt and recognized the blessings of heaven in our lives and the lives of those we love back home. For this, we are most grateful!

John will be with us through Christmas, and our son, Brent, and his family will arrive next Tuesday to spend Christmas in New Zealand; more wonderful, fun times for us all. We can’t wait!

The Christmas season is a wonderful time for each of us, as sons and daughters of God. What blessings we enjoy, having the restored gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives and knowing of His great love for each of us. The love and caring guidance of our Heavenly Father is also priceless.

We watched the First Presidency Christmas Devotional via our computer a few days ago and loved it so much, just as we do each year. Nothing compares with being taught and guided by servants of the Lord.

At this wonderful season, we extend our love and heartfelt best wishes to each of you and your families. We pray each day for your welfare and pray that heavenly blessings will be the lot and guidance of your lives. As missionaries here in the South Pacific, we know more assuredly than ever before that our Father is in His heavens, and that Jesus is our Lord and Savior. They do, in reality, know each of us personally and are anxious to help show us the way every day that we live. About this, there is no question.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, with all of our love!

Barry and Susan

P.S. Here is a picture of Susan, John and Heidi playing in the surf near Cape Reinga; they were obviously having fun!

Work, work, work...and a Missionary Thanksgiving!

Work, work, work…has been our tune for the past two weeks…but it’s all good! Being busy is exhausting at times, but also keeps us going, and, as they say…never a dull moment!

The week before last we were involved in meetings every day, helping finalize our plan, as the Area Communications Committee, for rolling out the Area Presidencies’ 2016 objectives and goals to all the church in the Pacific Area. The Committee’s mission statement is “The Pacific Area Communications Committee aligns with the Pacific Area Presidency to facilitate sharing messages that deepen faith and trust in our Heavenly Father, the Lord Jesus Christ and His Atonement” (which our great committee members worked on for some time).

We built a calendar for the year’s communications to reach every member in the Pacific Area, paying special attention to turning increasingly to technology to help “spread the word” throughout the area, while keeping in mind those who do not have the tools to receive the messages that way, and getting the messages to them more traditionally.

It has been a challenging, but exciting assignment, and we have so much enjoyed working with our committee members who will now have the responsibility, through their church employment, to carry out the plan. And, best of all, the Area Presidency gave it the thumbs up!

Last week we turned our attention back to posting Mormon Newsroom articles. Barry wrote seven, including two related to the bombings in France, one on the Fiji graduates and another on Marama Elkington, an LDS rowing champion, plus he did the photographs for another. I wrote one on Primary Sacrament Meeting Programs around the world (much thanks to Leslee, Kathy, Amy, and Shar in Africa), and another on a welfare project in Tonga, helping the elderly and disabled there.

I have also been spending days trying to figure out hotel accommodations and some crazy flight itineraries to get our Public Affairs people,spread throughout the far-flung Pacific islands, to and from the Fiji Temple Open Houses in January without having them take four flights, through four different nations to get there. Sometimes it seems like a ship going directly from island to island would be faster!

I’ve also been spending time planning and shopping for our Senior Missionary Thanksgiving Dinner which took place the Saturday following the U.S. Thanksgiving Thursday. I was in charge of decorating…and that was a challenge!! Of course, they don’t celebrate it here (no Pilgrims or Pocahontas) AND, it is Spring here not Fall, so no Pumpkins, Indian corn, or colored leaves either!

Soooo…I had to “phone a friend,” and my good friend and neighbor, Sue Mika, ever so generously sent me a speedy “Thanksgiving in a Box,” she called it! She sent tablecloths and napkins (“serviettes” here) and paper turkeys, and VOILA! We had Thanksgiving décor. We were able to purchase gorgeous, huge, fall-colored sunflowers and gerbera daisies which Sister Buckner turned into beautiful floral arrangements. Eight sisters each took a table to set and decorate, which they did with creativity and beauty.

With shells abundantly available on the beaches here, these shell turkeys Sister Buckner made for each of her place settings took the prize!

Everyone had food assignments so the serving tables were covered with all the traditional foods we love. Cooking here has been a bit challenging since we are on the metric system and we are cooking at sea level. Everything cooks faster and hotter. So even though I turned my oven 50 degrees lower than recommended, my turkey was done in two hours instead of three. I turned the oven to warm, but by the time we pulled it out, at first glance, it looked like the turkey in National Lampoon’s Christmas movie! I was aghast! But as Barry began to carve, it really was fine, still tender and juicy. Whew!

Of course, even though I wasn’t assigned to bake a pie, I just couldn’t let Thanksgiving go by without my favorite pie crust cookies!!

With the Area 2016 Plan mostly behind us, the travel arrangements almost complete, ten new articles posted, and Thanksgiving Dinner decorated, cooked, and eaten, we were happy today to just attend church, teach Relief Society on self-reliance, rush back to the office to provide a luncheon for 20 or so multi-stake Public Affairs people in for social media training (THANK YOU Subway platters!), and return to our flat with the whole evening ahead to rest and enjoy.

YAY!! It was a good two weeks.

BUT…in the midst of all this, they announced the sudden and tragic death of one of New Zealand’s superheroes, 40 year-old Jonah Lomu. A former player on the All Blacks, New Zealand’s world champion rugby team, Jonah has been compared to our Michael Jordan, but in his legendary rugby performance. And nothing in the U.S. compares to the adulation and following given to the All Blacks! They represent the entire nation!! And they just won the world championship again…a world record.

In fact, Jonah was at the World Cup in England, and had only just returned home when he suffered cardiac arrest and died. He had been struggling for years with kidney disease, even while he was playing ball. But just a day or two before his death, his doctor had given him “a clean bill of health.” (Guessing the doctor feels kind of bad now.)

Though he was a bit of a “bad boy” by our standards, he obviously had a great soul, treating all his fans with kindness and attention, giving generously to the needy and less fortunate, and in 2012, finding the Gospel of Jesus Christ, being baptized, and becoming a great Dad to his two young sons.

Because he was a member of the church, we have become involved in the Public Affairs aspect of his LDS funeral, to be held as the fifth and last memorial service for this giant of a man here in NZed.  We have attended meetings discussing everything from press lanyards, parking passes, reserved seatings, ushering, press kits, VIP’s attending, photographing, not photographing, etc.

Thursday night we attended a three hour planning meeting at the church where the funeral will be held, with some 15 or so, including the Stake Presidents involved, his bishop, the mortician, the family representatives planning the program, etc. Jonah’s wife’s father, a member of the church, was there and we could feel his humble and great spirit, we felt the great loss this is to their family, and we sensed the overwhelming task his young wife has faced trying to honor the several different cultures, traditions, family, friends, teammates and nation who all want to have a part in saying their farewells to this man. As her father said, “She hasn’t been given a chance herself to mourn yet.”

http://m.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11552889

So, our Monday and Tuesday will be filled with preparing items for and attending and assisting with the funeral. They are anticipating a very large crowd and the services will also be broadcast to four other church houses here in New Zealand and three in Tonga. They also expect people to stand along the route to the cemetery, waving their goodbyes to one of the most famous, well-loved sons of New Zealand.

So, as I said earlier…Never a dull moment.

We are sustained through all of our highs and lows by the wonderful opportunity to attend our ward each Sunday where we renew our covenants and are taught by humble, faithful, valiant saints and by our scriptures study each morning. We just finished reading the Pearl of Great Price and wanted to read more from the New Testament.

In James this week we were touched by these words, brought to our attention by our outstanding Gospel Doctrine teacher, Brother Couch, a close family friend who had just dressed Jonah’s body in his temple clothes: “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.”

Message to us: Treasure every moment…treasure every relationship…every opportunity to do good…every gift given by our loving Heavenly Father. That when we return to our Heavenly home we can feel that we did our best, kept the faith, and endured to the end. Thank goodness for the gospel of Jesus Christ and for His redeeming Atonement that gives us hope and peace, comfort and love.

With all our love to you, dear ones…Barry and Susan

Work, Shop, and Beach.

In the first verse of Hebrews 12, the Apostle Paul shares these thoughts, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, . . . "

This was the theme of today’s Sunday School lesson in the Glen Innes Ward where we attend Church. It caused us to think about our lives, our missionary service, and the week we have just concluded here in New Zealand. The sentiment of Paul’s message is worth considering each day. It’s been a good but busy week, as is usually the case.

We began the week with a Monday morning Devotional at the Pacific Area Offices of the Church where we work. The gathering was a special occasion as we heard from the Young Men’s General President of the Church, Stephen W. Owen, and the Second Counselor in the Sunday School General Presidency, Brian K. Ashton, who replaced John S. Tanner last June. Interestingly, Brother Tanner was inaugurated president of Brigham Young University–Hawaii just last week. Brother Owen was sustained in his presidency at last April’s General Conference. These two brothers had also participated in a six-stake Priesthood Fireside on Sunday evening at the stake center near the New Zealand Missionary Training Center in south Auckland. I attended that meeting and was charged with taking photographs for a news story about the meeting. The story has since been published in Mormon Newsroom-Pacific. You can see the article online at:

http://www.mormonnewsroom.org.nz/article/church-leaders-address-new-zealand-young-men

Each of these men spoke about changes taking place in various Church programs, including a complete rewrite of the Church’s teaching curriculum which is currently being evaluated by the Church. These two leaders had just concluded a several-day visit to New Zealand and were on their way to stops in Tonga and Vanuatu. Undoubtedly, their time in these three countries will give them contrasting perspectives to consider in their callings.

It was fun for us to say “hello” to Brother Owen again since we have known him personally for many years when we lived in the Provo Utah Edgemont Stake. In fact, I served on the Stake High Council with Brother Owen during the mid-1990s. He was surprised to see us but seemed happy about it.

Much of this past week was taken up trying to serve the needs of the Area Communication Committee, a group commissioned in each Area of the Church by the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. We were called as Coordinators of the Pacific Area Communication Committee by Elder S. Gifford Nielsen several weeks ago. The purpose of these committees is to facilitate the spreading of messages from the Brethren to members of the Church. In this part of the world, we are trying to meet the needs of the Church in three stages of Church-maturity. These are known as the Emerging Church, the Growing Church, and the Mature Church. We are happy to serve, but our tasks of coordination can be a bit daunting, and so we sometimes find ourselves very busy with this part of our missionary service.

One week ago, we invited Elder and Sister Jeff and Linda Champlin to travel with us to Matakana, New Zealand. There we had fun at the farmer’s market, which is held each Saturday morning. We enjoyed ourselves very much. The Champlins replaced Elder and Sister Guy and Paula Fugal who returned home to Pleasant Grove, Utah. The Champlins are from Cache Valley, Utah. We have tried to be as much help to the Champlins as the Fugals were to us when we first arrived last summer. Being new missionaries can be quite challenging; and being Public Affairs missionaries has its own set of challenges, as we’ve learned in our first months here in the South Pacific.

At the end of this week on Saturday, we decided to stay close to home (our apartment), doing cleaning, washing, grocery shopping, and so forth. We also took time in the afternoon to walk to the beach at Takapuna, where we live. It was a beautiful day, and many people were out and about enjoying the sunshine. After our walk, we had a very fun dinner at a beach-side restaurant.

On different occasions during the week, we enjoyed talking and texting with members of our family back home who are spread from Utah to New York, Minnesota, Texas, and California. For us, an important part of serving as senior missionaries is our desire that the Lord will watch over and care for our loved ones; and we are convinced that He is doing just that!

Have a wonderful week, and we will be in touch in another few days. In the meantime, it is our prayer that Heavenly Father will bless you in your daily walk; or as said by the Apostle Paul, “. . . let us run with patience the race that is set before us, . . .

Elder Barry and Sister Susan Preator

Hello, Samoa!

What a great experience to be sent to Samoa for some meetings with our Director of Public Affairs there, SapeleFa’alogo, and get acquainted with one of the countries we support in our work.

Samoa is a beautiful island with so much color everywhere, from the abundant green foliage to the brilliant blue waters; from the houses painted in all the bright colors—sometimes three or four per house—to the crazy-colored, open-air public buses that look like they rolled out of a cartoon; from the colorful island clothing to the beautiful white of the temple and the many chapels that ring the island. It is all eye-candy.

I think they must have thousands and thousands of coconut trees on the island! Everyone has some in their yards, and they grow along the roadsides and beaches. And they use those coconut shells for every purpose imaginable…road markers, fences, jewelry, clothing, wall coverings, furniture, etc. It’s pretty crazy!

The people, as in all the island nations we’ve visited, are warm and friendly, gracious and giving. We had just finished eating a scrumptious dinner an hour or two earlier when we were invited to join the stake leadership in a traditional Samoan “feast”—at least, that’s how I would describe it. Maybe for them it was just a typical potluck dinner. Believe me, we were REALLY stuffed when we finished that meal!

We had luckily arrived on the island earlier that day, when, after our dinner together, we went with Sapele and his wife, Fiona,  to observe from the gym (seated behind the cameras and monitors), a local television station film an hour-long devotional service to air the following Sunday evening. The saints filling the chapel were dressed in lovely white with green palm print fabric, their Samoan songs lifted the roof, and though we couldn’t understand a word of the Samoan speakers, the Spirit filled the building. It was a wonderful experience to be there.

The next few days we were privileged to meet with various government officials, including the Deputy Prime Minister, the Attorney General, the Minister of Women, Community, and Social Development, and the Charge d’Affaires of the U.S. Diplomatic Office, talking with each one about the influence of the church in their communities, the need to preserve religious freedom for their citizens, ways we could work together, and invitations to participate in upcoming church-sponsored events. In each instance, we were welcomed with kindness, interest, and gratitude. It was lovely.

We also met with church leaders on public affairs matters, Elder Fata, President Te’o, Sapele, who is a former stake president, and Brother Tuise, in addition to a meeting with their committee planning a Christmas Event for Apia.

Our morning temple session was also beautiful. The temple must be one of the loveliest in the church, inside and out, and though the session was in Samoan, we again, felt the Spirit of the Lord and the goodness of the people.

Sitting at the airport waiting for our plane, Barry had the opportunity to have a heart-to-heart with Joseph Parker, a young man who is the current Heavyweight New Zealand Champion boxer. He is a church member, though he hasn’t been active of late, but is hopefully on his way back. They had a great visit and have been corresponding since then about opportunities for him to speak to our youth. 

All in all, add another beautiful memory stamp to our passports and our hearts!

Waterfalls, Craters and a Trout!

The English navigator Captain James Cook first sighted the land of New Zealand on 6 October 1769, and landed at Poverty Bay two days later. He drew detailed and accurate maps of the country, and wrote about the Māori people.

Nestled next to Poverty Bay is the city of Gisborne where Susan and I traveled on assignment last week to cover an event sponsored by the Te Ha 1769 Sestercentennial Trust and the Tairawhiti Interfaith Groups.

“Te Ha” means “the breath of life.”

On Gisborne’s Waikanae Beach early Saturday morning, these two groups marked the beginning of a Week of Prayer for World Peace, which also launched four years of celebrations, culminating in 2019 when the 250^th anniversary of Captain Cook’s landing will occur.

Participants of Saturday’s activities included members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Ringatu, Presbyterian, Buddhist, Muslim, Filipino, Baha’i, and Anglican groups.

We enjoyed this assignment very much and submitted this article for Mormon Newsroom–Pacific (Watch for the fourth article on the main carousel, Gisborne Interfaith Group Celebrates Maori, European, and Polynesian Beginnings):

http://www.mormonnewsroom.org.nz/article/gisborne-interfaith-group-celebrates-maori-european-and-polynesian-beginnings

During our trip, we learned once again how beautiful New Zealand is. We were particularly excited to visit the town of Taupo and the huge, gorgeous Lake Taupo on the shores of which the town is located.

Susan and I were amazed by Huka Falls on the Waikato River that flows out of Lake Taupo. The river and the falls have a lovely turquoise color, very much like that of Utah’s Bear Lake. We were amazed to learn that the thundering falls could fill five Olympic swimming pools in one minute. That’s impressive!

Nearby, we also walked through a spectacular thermal plane called Craters of the Moon. This geologic area is somewhat reminiscent of Yellowstone National Park, covered with hot pots, thermal steam vents, rising plumes of steam, and pools of scalding water. Because this area is quite large, the New Zealand Geothermal Association has developed extensive energy facilities that provide power for residents in many locations.

Of course, I also had to visit the local fish hatchery, when I found out there was one, just 30 minutes south of Taupo near the town of Turangi. The fish there were beautifully colored Rainbow Trout, and they were huge!

During the week, Susan was also able to finish her research and write a nice story about the genealogical efforts over many years of a local Latter-day Saint from Tahiti, Raymond Maire. Raymond takes care of several buildings in the Auckland, New Zealand area. To find the story, use this link:

http://www.mormonnewsroom.org.nz/9843895336261813187

I end this week with thoughts inspired by messages from Elder Kevin W. Pearson and Elder S. Gifford Nielsen of the Pacific Area Presidency.

After they returned from approximately two weeks in Salt Lake City for General Conference activities, Elders Pearson and Nielsen shared their thoughts and testimonies of time spent with the First Presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and other members of the Seventy. In Monday morning’s Devotional and then again in Monday’s Home Evening for senior missionaries, the Spirit was strong and the sentiments poignant.

Really, the testimonies borne were sacred, and they brought a reconfirmation of the gospel’s efficacy in each of our lives. We learned about the genuine concern of our Heavenly Father and His Son, The Lord Jesus Christ—for each of us, every day, in all of our efforts and struggles. I remembered, once more, why Susan and I are serving this mission; why The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints exists on the earth today; why we have living prophets and apostles, who are literally called by God; and why families being raised in love and harmony matter so much.

Joseph really did see and experience what he said he saw in the Sacred Grove. This I know, and am so grateful for. Until next time . . . may the Lord be with each of you, I pray,

Elder Barry Preator

5:00 AM General Conference!!

Arriving at work in Auckland

This past week brought new experiences as we settled down for our first session of Saturday’s General Conference at 5:00 a.m. Sunday morning in New Zealand! We had the same marathon day, with morning, afternoon, and Priesthood sessions all streaming into our little flat at the exact same moments everyone in Utah and around the world watched them. (Just a little strange to have Priesthood Session over by 3:00 in the afternoon!) And we kept the channel open between sessions, watching the church’s World News Reports, also most interesting and inspiring. We were up again early Monday morning to watch both Sunday sessions. Isn’t that just amazing!! Here we are 7,000 miles away and we get to sit and watch all the conferences sessions live. How truly wonderful!

As a young child growing up in Oregon, I remember getting dressed in our Sunday clothes and going to our chapel where we would sit and listen to one session of conference, brought to us courtesy of our local radio station. Either that or we would drive twelve hours through the night to reach our grandparents’ home in Salt Lake City so we could hear or attend all the sessions there.

Even so, I developed an early love affair with General Conference and look forward to it each time with eager anticipation and am sorry when it is over. And the messages were so inspired…so targeted to the challenges we face today, individually and as a whole. I loved that many explained the how and why of the gospel and church. I took many notes on all the improvements I need to and can make in my behavior and thoughts. The overriding message to me was to LOVE more fully and well and demonstrate that love, and to trust in the Lord completely, believing on Him and making operative in my life His Atonement.

I also took away from Conference profound gratitude for all the blessings and joy provided through our membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Because our conference weekend didn’t start until our Sunday morning, we were able to spend Saturday exploring again, this beautiful island nation. We drove north three hours to Paihia on the northernmost Pacific coast. It was lovely!

All the islands, bays, inlets, and greenery make everything so interesting and stunning. We note that the trees, bushes, flowers, and birds seem to be very different from those we know at home—something that makes this place seem somewhat fanciful. I can see why they like to film other-worldly movies here.

We wandered around the quaint village of Russell, a most charming place with the distinction of being the country’s first European settlement and port. Some very old buildings there along with really wonderful little cafes made for an interesting day. Plus…loved the ferry ride over and back.

Paihia, New Zealand

Russell Harbor

Rusell, New Zealand

Haururu Falls

Kerikeri Mission Station

Old Russell Church

Olga Joyce Bissett Who Fell Asleep on March 21, 1915

Barry wrote a great little article for our Mormon Newsroom this week. Check it out.  It’s the story of a stake youth trek unlike any other trek!

http://www.mormonnewsroom.org.nz/article/tongan-youth-honour-their-ancestral-heritage

Liahona Stake Trek Youth

Over three hundred youth from theLiahona Stake in Tonga had to “carry their ancestors” in a very unique, and island appropriate, literal way, to the temple. Wonderful example of bringing the importance of family history and temple work alive!

We love this work! We have our moments of struggle, homesickness, and fatigue, of course. But it is a tremendous opportunity for us to be here, doing what we are doing, learning, stretching, and serving. Our deep love to all of you and fervent prayers that you will continue on in faith, hope, endurance, and love. And if we do, we wholeheartedly agree with Sister Marriott’s family motto: “It will all work out.”

We love the Proclamation, The Stables, and Impromptu Speaking Opportunities

Although we didn’t travel to any exotic places—which, of course, is not the norm—the week was filled with memorable experiences. As is always the case, each experience proved helpful in teaching us about our mission, ourselves, our family, and our dependence upon our Father in Heaven and His Son, Jesus Christ.

Early in the week, we were reminded that The Proclamation on the Family is twenty years old. That was significant. This inspired document has provided insight and understanding to our family and to countless families in the twenty years since it was issued. On the Church’s Newsroom website, we viewed an article and video clip about the Proclamation with President Gordon B. Hinckley speaking at Women's Conference. He spoke in behalf of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve to issue this scriptural proclamation.

As each of you know, the Proclamation has become historic in many ways. It is no surprise in our modern day that Satan's assault on families is in full thrust. And, in retrospect, I know it was not coincidental that they chose to first announce the Proclamation to the women of the Church. As I watched and listened to the video clip and President Hinckley's remarks, I was very touched by his words. So much so, that I thought of my own daughters and daughters-in-law, and of the tremendous role they play in the center of their families’ lives. No doubt there are probably many, many times when these young mothers wonder if they can continue to carry on, because the challenges before them are so formidable.

To me, President Hinckley's words to the mothers in Zion and to fathers in Zion are particularly moving, insightful, and comforting. Indeed, he was a prophet of God in every respect. By remembering this important day, I believe President Hinckley’s words can be reassuring once again to each of us. 

So, if you are interested—and I hope you will be—here is the link:

http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/family-proclamation-20-year-anniversary

Then we learned that Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve had passed beyond the veil of life. Although not a total surprise, because he has reportedly been experiencing declining health, nevertheless his departure brought sadness and reflection. It is likely that every person who has ever listened to or been counseled by him has been blessed because of his sensitivity to the Spirit and his testimony of the Savior. Many of his exhortations about life’s challenges remind us of a scripture we studied in Sunday School yesterday that seems particularly appropriate:

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 2 Corinthians 4: 7-10

On a happier note, after work one evening, Susan and I decided to drive into downtown Auckland from our apartment in Takapuna, which is only a fifteen-minute journey.  We did so because the stores were open just a little longer than their normal 5:30 p.m. closing time. When we are at the office each day until 4:30-5:00 p.m., it is basically impossible to shop for needed items, other than Saturday. We were hungry after shopping and learned about a unique restaurant called The Stables. Actually, it’s a consortium of small restaurants that surround a large central eating area in what was reputed to be horse stables in days gone by. (Think upscale, old-world food court.) All kinds of foods were offered, ranging from Indian to Italian, French to Spanish, and so forth. Susan chose a New Zealand seafood offering and I couldn’t resist the German bratwurst. The atmosphere was festive and the packed eating area interesting to watch the people and the progress of the evening. We liked it very much and decided when family or friends come, we would like to take them there to experience it for themselves.

The Stables

Once outside in the evening air (wasn’t raining, for once!), we looked up in the sky and noticed the Auckland Spire towering above our heads; it was lit in a beautiful blue color, and it was quite striking from that perspective. It was interesting to be so close, since we see it in the distance every day from our apartment windows.

The Auckland Tower

Sunday morning we arose early—because Daylight Savings Time started—and drove across the Bay to Glen Innes where we attend church.  We have missed several Sundays there because of Public Affairs assignments of one kind or another, so it was nice to be in our “home ward” once again.

I got a little surprise when I entered Priesthood meeting. At the beginning of the High Priests Quorum, the leader who is Samoan said, “Now we will turn the time over to Elder Preator who will give our lesson.” Say what?! Lesson, what lesson? Elder Preator was running the question frantically through his mind!

Not knowing anything about such an assignment, I simply gulped hard and said, “Oh, fine; let’s begin.” It’s called impromptu! Or perhaps, think fast! And what subject, what scriptures, what points to make, etc.? Well, how fast can one make such decisions with a group of contemporary, Pacific area brethren from several nations looking on expectantly, like, “Go ahead, Elder Preator . . .” Well, I got it done.

We were also very happy to hear this week from our dear friends, the Fords, who are serving a Public Affairs mission in Uganda, Africa. They were in our Public Affairs training group in Salt Lake City at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in late July. They also experienced the Missionary Training Center week with us in early August. In those two weeks, we became close friends. And Michael Ford and Barry were bishops together in the BYU 2^nd stake about 30 years ago.

Their Public Affairs missionary labor sounds a lot like ours, perhaps even more challenging. Just a sample, “ . . . We were able to travel about 2 hours out of Kampala to Jinja a District which is on its way to becoming a Stake and train the District PA Council there. This weekend we are helping with an Open House in Kalooga Hills (4 hrs away) on Saturday also trying to get in some training while we are there, then back to Nairobi for a Stake fireside “Meet the Mormons” video screening and some social media training. Honestly, we drop in bed each night and before we know it we are up again and running for yet another day.“ And so it goes . . .

On the weekend, we drove to Raglan, New Zealand on the west coast. The day was clear and the countryside beautiful as we traveled to yet another part of this incredibly gorgeous country. A few pictures included will tell the story better than words can describe.

The town of Raglan

A Raglan Farm

The hills above Raglan

The mountain adjacent to Raglan

Caught a rainbow near Raglan!

Tasman Sea near Raglan

 Tonight we enjoyed our bi-weekly Family Home Evening and dinner with the senior missionary couples from the Auckland New Zealand Mission. President and Sister Balli spoke to us about being in the pattern of learning of the Savior by asking questions, just as Joseph Smith did during his life and ministry, as did Jesus also while he walked the dusty paths of the Holy Land, teaching by parables and the metaphors of tangible things in the world around Him.

“Teaching is not talking—it’s asking good questions.” He and Sister Balli had been taught these principles by Elder and Sister Bednar when they attended mission president training in the MTC the summer of 2014. It made a lot of sense, and the Spirit confirmed that we should do more of this in our teaching of and interactions with those around us.

Finally, we look forward to General Conference this coming weekend to be renewed and refreshed in the words of the servants of the Lord. Being in the mission field will make it particularly sweet for us. And we hope it will also be sweet for each of you! None of us could better spend our time than to listen to a prophet’s voice. Until next time, we love you.

Elder and Sister Preator