Work is the key!

Our world is generally busy and stressful at times. We discovered a very peaceful place above the hustle and bustle this week.  It is called Till's Lookout.  Doug rode his bike and I walked several mornings for exercise.  The views are so beautiful and we arrive just as the sun is rising.  The bike/walk path leads to a very peaceful Arboretum with a large variety of trees and plants.  The quiet atmosphere of this place promotes meditative thoughts and spiritual insights.  It is a wondrous way to begin the day.

Wednesday, we were able to drive to a town called Matamata to meet our friends the Brocks and Chidesters whose cruise tour group was touring the Lord of the Rings movie set callled Hobbiton.  We joined them for the tour and enjoyed some time together visiting.  

Thursday, we drove to a place called Tamaurunui to tour a flat (apartment) that we are leasing for a senior couple arriving this month.  We found the flat to be a good accommodation and were able to confirm the lease.  We enjoyed some pizza for a late lunch before commencing our trip back to Hamilton.  We were travelling on Highway 4 back to Hamilton, when suddenly we saw a detour sign, signaling that we needed to turn left on a different road.  We travelled on the twisty winding road that took us up into higher elevations and back down into some small rural towns.  We kept questioning aloud when would we be led back to Highway 4.  We seemed to be going further and further away from the highway.  Our GPS has not been reliable for awhile, which has been frustrating.  As we came to a small town named Ohura, we decided we should turn around to see if we had missed the turnoff that would take us back to highway 4. Just as we were about to do so, we saw a young woman with two children.  She was very kind and offered to take us to the Hope Center where she was living.  She had only been in NZ for three months, but there was someone at the Hope Center who could direct us back in the direction toward Hamilton.  As we arrived at the Hope Center, a man came out to greet us.  He introduced himself as George and invited us into a lounge area.  He commenced to preach to us---many disjointed, random things.  We knew that they were Seventh Day Adventists.  He would ask us questions, but before we could answer, he would continue talking.  This went on for 30-40 minutes.  We were able to get one comment made during that entire time, and it was that "we are all children of our Heavenly Father, and we can pray to Him and receive answers.  We can know the truth of all things through the power of the Holy Ghost.  We can know for ourselves, not having to depend upon man's private interpretation of the scriptures".  We finally stood up and said we needed to get on our way back to Hamilton.  We finally found our turnoff that led us back to highway 4 and we made it back home, only two hours later than we'd anticipated!

We had to travel up to South Auckland on our P-Day to deliver some items to missionaries.  We'd arranged to meet our mission president and his wife afterwards for a bike ride along the Karangahaka Gorge.  It was much fun and gorgeous scenery.  We did a total of 16 miles round trip.

When missionaries come into the office, I've made a habit of asking them to share a special experience they've had recently.  One of our assistants shared an experience he and his companion had recently.  They were almost at the end of their work day, which ends at 9:00 PM.  It was 8:30 and they didn't have anything to do or anyone else to teach or visit.  They decided to kneel down and offer a prayer at the corner of the street where they were.  It was dark, of course, but while they were praying for direction as to where they should go, a woman came along and asked what they were doing.  They answered that they were praying to Heavenly Father to know where they should go to find someone whom they could teach.  As they were conversing with her, she set an appointment to have them come to her home to teach her!  This was one of those times when a prayer was answered immediately.  It's not always the case, but we're glad these two missionaries experienced their miracle.

We get to hear Elder Rasband, one of our twelve apostles speak to us here in
Temple View this Sunday at a special stake conference.  We're excited to see and hear him!

We bear testimony of the blessings that come as we make and keep sacred covenants and are obedient to God's commandments.  Our missionaries are taught by our mission president to have their boots on the ground and work until 9:00 PM.  President Ezra Taft Benson, a former prophet, said:  "I have often said one of the greatest secrets of missionary work is work!  If a missionary works, he will get the Spirit;  if he gets the Spirit, he will teach by the Spirit; and if he teaches by the Spirit, he will touch the hearts of the people and he will be happy."

"When we are in the service of our fellowmen, we are only in the service of our God."
Mosiah 2:17