We believe in miracles!

We’re continuing forward with our work, always learning new things, and doing our best with what we know.

This past week was filled with the unexpected.  The most unexpected and saddest thing we’re experiencing right now as a mission is the heart-wrenching news we’ve received over the past two days regarding one of our wonderful missionaries.  An MRI showed a large mass behind his eye. A biopsy done yesterday confirmed that the mass was an aggressive malignant cancer.  Our mission president gave him a beautiful priesthood blessing, and we are participating in a mission-wide fast in his behalf today.  His mother arrives in New Zealand tomorrow and he will begin chemotherapy.  We believe in miracles!  We are exercising our faith for our missionary that he will receive a miracle and be able to continue his work here in the mission.  At the same time, we desire to accept Heavenly Father’s will in behalf of this missionary.

2 Nephi 26:13–Christ works miracles among men according to their faith.
Mormon chapter 9–(We recommend that you read this chapter about Miracles.  It is a favorite passage of scripture.). You can download a copy of the Book of Mormon for your phone!

Doug and I were able to experience more of outdoor New Zealand last Saturday and yesterday.  We did a bike ride last Saturday, a walk around Lake Rotoroa yesterday, and a visit out to Ragland Beach and Bridal Veil Falls.  Our main purpose for going out to Ragland was to attend a hangi.  A hangi is a traditional New Zealand Maori method of cooking food using heated rocks buried in a pit oven, also called an umu.  It is still used for large groups on special occasions.  The special occasion was the farewell of Elder and Sister Taylor and also the welcome home of a sister missionary who has just returned from serving in Korea.  Elder and Sister Taylor are finishing their mission, and have been attending the branch (congregation) in Ragland for eighteen months.  The branch members love them!

We bear testimony of the reality of God, who is our Heavenly Father.  We know He sent His Son Jesus Christ to suffer for our sins and to provide us with power through His Atonement.  They love us, and we love them.  The Holy Ghost witnesses the truth.  When we are baptized by the proper authority, we may receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.  We are so grateful to have the guidance of the Holy Ghost!

We love our family and friends!

Elder and Sister Folland




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