RICHNESS

RICHNESS

 IN CULTURE:

 

                      

Our Stake celebrated its fifth anniversary.  The wards presented songs, dances, and stories from different Melanesian areas of New Caledonia:  La Foa, Lifou, Maré, Ouvéa, and Ile des Pins.  My wish to see Melanesian dancing here and experience more of the culture was fulfilled as we enjoyed this colorful celebration of the creation of the Nouméa Stake. 


A month later after more weeks of rehearsing and making costumes the wards also held a small-scale Tahitian Heiva with games and food during the day and a dance competition at night.  There were lots of nonmembers attending and participating. A spectacular success!

IN BEAUTY:  In the sea.

By the sea.

                                    

                                     

The rock formation is called "La Poule Couveuse"  or "Brooding Hen" of Heinghene.  I thought the pigs were cute as we passed them in the car.  I said I wanted a picture, but when we backed the car up the little black pig hopped down.  I sighed.  We took a couple of pictures and then this little piggy put his head up on his mother's back again and posed for us.

And in the mountains with verdant streams, waterfalls, and wild orchids.

It has been a joy to share the richness of New Caledonia with family who have come to visit.

IN FRIENDSHIPS:  with church members  and with people in the community.

On the top left are church members who were among the first to welcome us to the ward and befriend us.  The two girls are from the family who own and operate a Vietnamese restaurant.  We walk there for lunch when we have zone conference.  The man is the father of a family of famous sculptors, the boy our stake president's son, and the three boys are our friendly neighbors.  The one on the right told us he loves Donald Trump.

IN ASSOCIATION WITH OTHER MISSIONARIES:

These are  missionaries assigned to our ward for this transfer.  The three sisters have almost completed their first transfer and the two in the middle are on their last.  Below the South Zone is taking pictures of the North Zone at the last zone conference.

The Jeans have served with us here in New Caledonia since last February.  We only get to 
see the other senior couples at the Senior Conference in Vanuatu each year, but we work with some of them concerning cars, health issues, visas, etc., by phone and by computer.



IN THE SPIRIT:

Watching people be baptized is the richest experience of all.  There were several baptisms in New Caledonia in July.  Two young sisters joined the church in the northernmost sector of the mission, Koné, where, due to the lack of a font, baptisms are done in the ocean.  A man had divorced his wife, but was living with her again.  He wanted to remarry her and be baptized, but she refused saying she liked things as they were.  Instead of becoming angry, as he might have in the past, he decided to try behaving in a more Christ-like fashion and fasted and prayed instead.  She changed her mind.  They were remarried in the morning, he was baptized in the afternoon, and the family is happy and excited for their husband and father and his newfound faith.  

A young father and mother were baptized. They want to be sealed in the temple and raise their family in the church. An 11 year old girl was baptized. Her father is a member and her mother isn't. Her father wanted her to decide for herself to be baptized.  She decided she was ready and he was one happy father. 

There have been several baptisms on the Loyalty Island of Lifou.  This brings us a great deal of joy. We were able to visit there last fall.  We love the people in the small branch. We are overjoyed to see the members working hard and the branch growing. The members had found a family for the missionaries to prepare to be baptized. President Granger sent missionaries back to stay for an indefinite amount of time--perhaps a transfer.  The island hasn't had any missionaries living there for about two years.  The elders taught and baptized those who were prepared. They have found and are preparing others, some of whom have been baptized. The missionaries will remain in Lifou for at least for two transfers.

 

This is a picture from a youth fireside about putting on the whole armor of God.  They made the armor out of cardboard so that the young man could withstand the "fiery" darts the others threw at him which were labelled with the challenges young people face today.  They have been doing a great job as member missionaries.  Several nonmember youth attended a ward camping activity and four spoke in sacrament meeting the following Sunday.  One young man has since been baptized and two young women are being taught.  The youth go to seminary early each morning and bear powerful testimonies and give wonderful sacrament meeting talks.  

I am so grateful for the abundance I have experienced in my life because of the blessings of the Gospel.  I'm grateful we have a loving Heavenly Father who has given us a plan to follow to make it possible for us to have peace and joy in this life and eternal life in the life to come.  I'm grateful for a Savior who suffered according to the flesh that he might know how to succor his people.  I'm grateful for the hope, strength, and comfort this knowledge gives me as I face the challenges of this life.  I'm grateful for the richness we have experienced in so many ways as we have been blessed to serve as missionaries in New Caledonia.

SINCE THE CYCLONE

SINCE THE CYCLONE

Our Chapel

We were pleased there wasn't too much damage when we walked around our neighborhood after the cyclone, but when we went to our office we discovered our chapel didn't fair so well.  Since April four wards have been meeting in the Rivière Salée chapel.  We are hoping to be back in our building by July.

 It's Always Hard to Say Goodbye

Elder Gray, who came to the mission with us, was transferred to Vanuatu.  Sister Casuga's departure was delayed for a few days by the cyclone.  We would have loved to keep her even longer, but we couldn't.

It is especially hard when four leave at once.  At the end of a regional broadcast at our stake center, which was the day before they left, the congregation sang "God Be with You til We Meet Again."  

After transfers we only had two sisters left in the south zone and eight in the north. We have had two French Polynesian sisters hop on this mission train in May.  We now have a total of thirty-four missionaries which is the least we have had since we arrived and some apartments are vacant for the time being.  Fortunately over the summer we have more arriving.

This is one of the two new sisters from French Polynesia.  She is from Tupua'i the last area that our son Benjamin served in when he was a missionary in Tahiti.

This sister's father passed away and we were touched by her desire to stay and finish her mission.

            

 It's Fun to Have Visitors

                                

We love being able to share this place we love with people we love.  Elder Glade's sister, Sue Mendenhall, and her husband, Jeff,  and our neighbors and friends Al and Linda Switzler got us out of the office and enjoying the island more.

Our son Geoff and Cortney standing by some remnants of World War II on a hill near our apartment.  At one time or another we have met each of our children's mission presidents. Geoff, on his way here, actually ran into our mission president. The Grangers were attending a training in New Zealand.

                                  

Phare Amedée is a lighthouse built in 1862 on a small island a 40 minute boat ride from Port Moselle in Nouméa.  The view from the top is worth the climb to get there. 

There are lots of sea snakes, tricot rayes, on the island.  They don't seem to be bothered by the humans.  This one was fat and over five feet long.  An online review of Phare Amedée said "only the French"  would allow snakes to exist at a tourist attraction.  

The pilot fish and his friends liked hitching a ride on the bottom of the glass bottom boat.  

White sand beaches and clear blue waters are worth putting up with a few snakes as long as they don't surprise me.  I was glad I didn't end up swimming with one.

                                           Hiking a fork of the Dumbéa River.

  

Recent Baptisms

As soon as the refreshments were served after her baptism, Suzanne grabbed a broom and went to work cleaning up the church.  I asked if I could take a picture and someone tried to take the broom away from her.  I told her I wanted the broom in the picture because it symbolizes her willingness to go to work  building the kingdom now the she is a member of the church.  Her sister Giselle was baptized in January and has been very faithful.  Angelo was excited to finally be baptized and the older gentleman had taken a long time to make the decision to be baptized.

Institute

                                   

These are the institute students from the Rivière Salée and Dumbéa wards that we teach every Thursday night.  This year there are 4 different classes in the stake and each class has more students than the class for the entire stake had last year.  Not having to travel so far for institute has really helped the attendance.   

Return to Île des Pins 

We went back to the Isle of Pines.  We visited the Ouamambaré family again.  There son had passed away and we wanted express our condolences.  When we told President Granger we were going he asked us to tell them what an amazing missionary their daughter is. She is the only member in her family and is serving in Vanuatu.  They told us how to find their son's grave.

The Post Cyclone Highlight

                                   

Elder Glade had a meeting at the church and I was waiting in the car.  I saw the stake patriarch (who lives on the island of Lifou) walking toward the car.  I got out to greet him and noticed a woman behind him with a huge smile on her face.  It wasn't his wife. It took me a minute to realize that it was Jeanette!  I got the biggest hug from her and the warmest smile and handshake from her husband, Michel.  She was baptized when we were in Lifou last fall.  She couldn't walk and spent her days in bed or in a wheelchair.  She is walking now! Her brother is amazed at how happy she is and is curious about the church.  Elder Glade, Frère Aliki, and the two elders with us in Lifou were able to assist the Patriarch in ordaining Michel to the Melchizedek Priesthood and they are planning to go to the temple next January.  They had time to come to our house for dinner and home evening.  A lot of Melanesians don't smile much for pictures--we really had a great time.  The Patriarch taught us a game and everyone was out except him and me.  He let me win and then there were high fives all around. These are some of our favorite people in the whole world.  We're so grateful for the incredible experiences we have been blessed to share with them.  

CYCLONE COOK

The calm before the storm.  This is the sunset from the end of our street on Sunday night before the storm rolled in.  It had been overcast all day and we weren't expecting such a glorious sunset when we went for a Sunday evening stroll.

  

These brothers gathered at the church Monday morning to make sure the building was open and ready for any members or others who don't have adequate shelter.  A lot of people here construct homes from boards and corrugated tin.  These neighborhoods are referred to as "squats."

After noon everyone the government required everyone to stay inside.  The winds blew the trees until they were horizontal and drove rain under the door in the hallway outside our apartment.  Because New Caledonia has good storm drains we didn't experience the flooding or washed-out roads that occurred when the storm struck Vanuatu.  The storm picked up speed and the worst of it arrived sooner than expected and didn't last long.  By about 11 p.m. the winds had died down and, after strong winds all day, the night seemed calm.



Early Tuesday morning:  the skies were clearing and most of the trees were upright again.  A gorgeous rainbow spanned the sky. Our street, in the fore-ground of the picture,  is almost at sea-level and we live on the second floor. We were glad we didn't get the huge swells or high waves that were predicted.






Some of the missionaries in the north are without water and electricity--hopefully not for long.  We were without electricity about 40 minutes early on and were worried we might be without as the storm worsened.  The damage around our neighborhood resembled Hidden Oaks after a micro-burst except instead of oak and cottonwood limbs we have palm fronds and coconuts.  The structure below was an elegant tree-top retreat with beautiful hand carved furniture. Our neighbor is a wood-carver.

A sad thing for me is that the limb of the lime tree, that overhangs our parking lot, broke off. The limes are little and very juicy.  From March through September they fall off the tree and if I can pick them up before they get run over we have really enjoyed them.  I'm afraid we will get few or none now, but  this morning we picked up what blew down in the storm.

When we were first in New Caledonia a huge crane fell across a road during a heavy rain storm. We were a little concerned about this one at the top of the hill by our apartment, but it was still standing this morning. 

Fortunately the storm damage in our neighborhood is negligible. The phone has rung all morning. We haven't been able to get ready and leave.  We are headed to the bureau now to see how how bad the damage to our chapel is.  Yesterday was transfers.  They will be happening today. We are so grateful all the missionaries weathered the storm just fine.

TIME "MARCH"ES ON

TIME MARCHES ON

Another month has quickly passed.  Each day brings its share of interruptions and challenges.  The other day we had managed to get a great deal done before 11 a.m.  I said, "Today everything has gone smoothly. We've already gotten so much done!" Things fell apart.  By the end of of the day Elder Glade said, "Don't ever say that again!"  We are always trying to keep the office work done. There are always surprises.  Days end before we get everything done, but time passes and we seem to stay afloat.   

There always seem to be doctor and dentist visits, sprains, eye infections, diarrhea, headaches, rashes and sore throats.  This month brought two minor surgeries: a sister missionary had to change out of her missionary clothes before entering the OR.   I had some skin cancer removed from my cheek because it was getting bigger. The sweet Indonesian woman who assisted the doctor put her hands together and said "Pray Jesus." I don't know if she was telling me to or asking me if I had, but it was kind and comforting.  

The sister's companions kept busy while they waited for her.  They actually had done a good job talking to people in the waiting room, but they still found time to pursue a favorite pass time--taking selfies.  I don't know how they get a hold of Elder Glade's phone so frequently. 
It is always a mystery to him how these photos end up on his phone. 


There are always issues with cars--accidents, check-ups, repairs, tires.  This month the mission got three new trucks for the six elders up north.  Obviously they are excited and hopefully careful.

We had another zone conference.  This time I was in charge of lunch. In the past we have walked to a nearby Vietnamese restaurant.  The weather has been very hot most days, but the day of zone conference was pleasant enough to eat outside, and the ice cream didn't melt faster than the missionaries could eat it.

These 8 missionaries were in the MTC together.  This is the last time they will be together before the 4 sisters head home in the next two transfers.  We are losing more missionaries than are coming to New Caledonia.  Vanuatu is losing more missionaries than we are. Some of the missionaries here are being transferred to Vanuatu.  

This has led to closing two more apartments, a complicated process here and a lot of work. The office elders are helping us sort through the items brought down from the Poro apartment. Thankfully it was furnished and we didn't have to figure out what to do with furniture.

We are grateful when we occasionally have a chance to observe two missionaries have companionship study. It was a blessing to be able to watch these two Tahitian elders share, ask each other questions, and teach each other from the scriptures.  One is a recent convert who has already gained a marvelous knowledge of the gospel.





At each baptism we are reminded it is all worth it.  One young man was baptized the day he turned 18.  His mother, who is Catholic,  wouldn't let him become a member until he was 18 and he was unwilling to wait one day longer.  He had gone with his father, step-mother, older brother, and younger sister (fairly recent converts) to the temple in New Zealand.  He waited outside while they were sealed as a family and his brother was endowed before going on a mission.  Now he is looking forward to being sealed to his family and going on a mission himself.  I have never witnessed a more joyful experience than his baptism as his family and friends rejoiced with him.

Another highlight for us this month was spending time with a wonderful young family that is learning about the church. The family has attended our ward a few times.  We love being able to see the excitement people feel as they begin to learn about the gospel.  

Right now I am hurrying to finish this post while Cyclone Cook rages outside.  Everyone in New Caledonia has to be inside from noon until the cyclone passes. It may be a couple of days. The worst of the storm is still a few hours away.  We and all the missionaries have plenty of water and food and gas in our cars.  I was able to write this because we didn't go to the office today and I'm glad the electricity has stayed on long enough for me to finish.  I am grateful for the peace the gospel brings even when storms surround us.