Senior Couple journal — New Zealand Hamilton Mission
June 14, 2015 to June 20, 2015
Dear friends and family,
Are you tired of hearing about the rains in New Zealand? Sorry, but I must tell you that the Taranaki area has received some of the heaviest rains during the last few days that it has ever received. Roads have been washed out, side-hills have broken loose and covered highways, and rivers have overrun their banks. We are soggy but safe here at our home. Have I mentioned that New Zealand turns very green in the rainy season? :o) I emptied our rain gauge of over 6 inches of rain water this morning. We received that in the last 4 days.
1/ Scripture joke for the month: Did you know that Alma was a vegetarian? Check out the explanation below.
2/ Church history quiz for the week: One of our church presidents called his nephew to serve as his first counselor in the First Presidency. Can you name the prophet and his nephew?
3/ Update for the week: Two entertaining and true stories this week —
During a recent stake conference here in New Zealand, the stake president called on a handsome Maori young man to join him at the pulpit. The young man had been given no forewarning about this surprise invitation. The stake president asked the young man “What is your 10-year plan?” The young man replied, “To go on a mission.” “Wonderful,” replied the stake president, “and then what?” He replied, “To get married in the temple!” “Excellent plan!” replied the president. The stake president then turned to the congregation, and thinking primarily of the first part of the young man’s reply, he asked, “Who in this congregation is willing to help this young man achieve this plan?” Obviously thinking more about the second part of his plan, several attractive young women quickly and anxiously raised their hands.
Brother and Sister Amaru, friends of ours here in Taranaki, recently had identical twin baby boys join their family. They named the babies Ezra and Ethan. The babies are truly identical and very hard to tell apart, even for the parents. As the day for the baby’s blessings approached, Brother Amaru proposed that they bless Ethan first. His reasoning was that since Ethan was the second-born twin, perhaps they should give him the privilege of being blessed first. Sister Amaru thought that they should be blessed in the order in which they were born. Brother Amaru consented and no further discussion ensued. On the day that the baby boys were blessed, Sister Amaru handed the first baby to Brother Amaru, and he took the baby up to the front, joined in the circle of priesthood brethren, and gave the first baby its name and blessing. What he didn’t know was that his wife, at some point after their previous conversation, had decided that perhaps it would be a sweet gesture to name Ethan first, thinking that in the future Ethan could say, “Yes, I was the second-born, but first-blessed!” She hadn’t mentioned this change of heart to her husband, and thus she handed Ethan to her husband first. Brother Amaru, thinking that he had Ezra in his arms, gave the first baby the name of Ezra. He then took that baby back to Sister Amaru, ready to exchange for baby #2. Sister Amaru sheepishly whispered to her husband that he had just given baby Ethan the name Ezra. After some deliberation, a somewhat chagrined Brother Amaru took baby Ethan back up to the front, explained to the Bishop what had happened, re-joined the priesthood circle, and this time gave Ethan his rightful name. The Spirit helped him give almost the identical blessing to the baby that he had previously given. He then exchanged the babies and gave Ezra his intended name and blessing. You hear often about children needing to be baptized twice due to an arm or toe sticking up above the water. But having to re-do a baby blessing?? By the way, Sister Amaru now keeps a small drop of finger nail polish on the tiny toenail of one of the babies so that they can tell them apart more readily.
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4/ Answer to the scripture joke: A careful reading of Alma 8:21-22 reveals that Amulek brought forth bread and meat and placed it in front of Alma. Verse 22 states that Alma only ate the bread and was filled. Sounds very vegetarian to me. He apparently was on a high-carb diet! :o)
5/ Answer to the Church history quiz: President John Taylor called his nephew, George Q. Cannon, to serve with him in the First Presidency. President Taylor was married to Leonora Cannon, who was the sister of George Cannon, the father of George Q. Cannon.
Much love from two very blessed missionaries,
Elder and Sister Taylor
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