Senior Couple journal — New Zealand Hamilton Mission
February 8, 2015 to February 14, 2015
Greetings, dear family and friends,
We have had a busy and rewarding week. We hope you had the same.
1/ Scripture joke of the week: Who is the shortest man mentioned in the Bible? See answer below.
2/ Church history quiz of the week: Fourteen brethren have served as Presiding Bishop of the Church in this dispensation. Of those fourteen brethren, how many have subsequently served as apostles in the Quorum of the Twelve?
3/ Quote of the week: “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine; but a broken spirit drieth the bones.” — Proverbs 17:22
4/ Update of the week: We recently mentioned the two wonderful young women from our district that began their service as full-time missionaries two weeks ago. This week we share with you an email from Sister Tiffany Gaastra who will be serving in the Utah Ogden Mission. This is the first email she sent to her family and friends from the Missionary Training Center in Provo. Utah. It will be obvious to you why we are sharing this email, especially for those of you who live along the Wasatch Front. She wrote: “Dear Mum and Dad and siblings and everyone else: This week has been the most tiring, frantic, disappointing, inspiring, and spiritual week of my life! I feel like I have been here forever. I love my district! I am loving it here in the Missionary Training Center, but they quickly rush you out of your comfort zone for sure. The day we arrived we taught investigators in groups of fifty! We completely confused the poor people! I felt like a horrible teacher! I still don’t feel at all adequate yet, but I have learned more about teaching in this week than I knew existed. I don’t feel quite so lost now. I feel so much love, both for the people we are teaching now and those we will teach, and for this country. My first look at my mission field from the airplane caused me to cry because I realized I would have to leave in just 18 months. It is so beautiful here! The mountains are spectacular and the air is like mountain water, cold and invigorating. It is warm for this time of year, so there has not been much snow. I hope it will snow soon! Let everyone know I love them, and I am taking lots of pictures. A Zen hug to you all, Sister Gaastra.” No further commentary required.
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5/ Answer to the scripture joke: The shortest man mentioned in the Bible must have been Bildad the Shuhite (shoe-height) mentioned in Job 8:1. Being only ‘shoe-height’ makes you even shorter than ‘knee-high-miah’ (Nehemiah). A subdued groan is acceptable at this point.
6/ Answer to the Church history quiz: Three of the fourteen brethren that have served as Presiding Bishop have subsequently been ordained apostles. These three brethren are Sylvester Q. Cannon, LeGrand Richards, and Robert D. Hales. [Note: Since this journal entry was penned, Elder Gary E. Stevenson has served as Presiding Bishop and was called to serve in the Quorum of the Twelve.]
Much love,
Elder and Sister Taylor
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