Important dates and milestones of our senior couple mission in New Zealand
- Summer of 2013: Interviews with our bishop, Bishop Dale Maughan and our stake president, President Dan Gagon
- 09-13-2013: Received our mission call to serve in the New Zealand Hamilton Mission, serving under President Charles A. Rudd
- 12-22-2013: Our “farewell” in our Spanish ward, the Grandview 20th Ward (we had served for 3.5 years in this ward as missionaries)
- 12-29-2013: Our “farewell” in our home ward, the Grandview 10th Ward
- 12-20-2013: We entered the Provo Missionary Training Center, staying at our own home each night during that week of training
- 01-06-2014: Arrived in New Zealand, met by President and Sister Rudd in the Auckland New Zealand airport
- 01-07-2014: We were informed by President Rudd that we would be serving in the Taranaki District during our mission, including the towns of New Plymouth, Waitara, Hawera, and Manaia. I was so thrilled, as I served in Taranaki as a young missionary 43 years earlier! I was ‘going home’.
- 01-08-2014: Arrived in Inglewood, Taranaki, New Zealand, our assigned area, and got settled in our new “home”
- 01-15-2014: Taught our first lesson to non-members (Alex and Rohan)
- 01-22-2014: Taught our first lesson in Spanish in New Plymouth
- 01-26-2014: I was called to serve in the following callings – 1) District Executive Secretary 2) District Clerk 3) Addiction Recovery instructor 4) Temple preparation instructor 5) District newsletter editor. I was set-apart for all those callings by President Harry Gaastra, District President.
- 02-01-2014: Sister Taylor was called to serve in the following callings – 1) First Counselor in the District Primary presidency 2) Addiction recovery instructor 3) Temple preparation instructor 4) District newsletter editor. She was set-apart for those callings by a member of the District presidency.
- 03-23-2014: Elder James J. Hamula, our Area president and General Authority Seventy, visited our District for district conference
- 04-23-2014: I was informed by President Gaastra that he was going to recommend to President Rudd that I be called as the Branch President of the Hawera Branch in the Taranaki District
- 05-17-2014: President Rudd informed me that the Area Presidency will consider the recommendation for me to serve as the branch president of the Hawera branch on Tuesday, May 20, 2014
- 05-25-2014: President Rudd informed me that the Area Presidency approved the recommendation that I serve as the Hawera Branch branch president. I was excited and apprehensive at the same time, but grateful for an opportunity to make a difference in this meaningful way.
- 06-01-2014: Sustained and set-apart as the new president of the Hawera Branch in the Taranaki District. Michael Horvath was called to serve as First Counselor, with no Second Counselor being called at that time.
- 06-08-2014: Hawera Branch’s annual branch conference. A ‘thank-you’ social was held to honor the outgoing branch presidency.
- 06-15-2018: The Stratford ‘group’ held its first meeting. The meeting was held in the Tranquil Funeral Home, owned by Charles Hana, the recently-released president of the Hawera Branch.
- 06-21-2014: We attended an All-Black rugby game in Hamilton, at the invitation of President Charles Rudd and his wife Annette.
- 06-27-2014: The Lord inspired me to have Brother Horvath handle all aspects of the Hawera Branch with the major exception of ‘worthiness’ matters. This was beautiful preparation for him as the Lord groomed him for future priesthood service.
- 07-06-2014: The date of the first disciplinary council to be convened in the Hawera Branch in many, many years (if ever).
- 07-20-2014: The Stratford group met for the first time in a rented room at the War Memorial Center in Stratford, having outgrown the funeral home in just a few weeks.
- 08-24-2014: Sister Christina Turner is call as the new Relief Society President in the Hawera Branch.
- 08-29-2014: Brother Horvath and I initiated the Duty To God program in the Hawera Branch. The young men had never heard of this program before!
- 10-19-2014: Brother John Davidson is called as the new 2nd Counselor in the Hawera Branch presidency. On this same date, a ‘group’ leader and a ‘group’ missionary leader are called to serve in the Stratford group, marking yet another milestone in the growth of this vibrant new unit.
- 12-16-2014: A mission-wide conference was held at Camp Tuikaramea in Temple View. We were in charge of an “initiative games” activity that was very successful.
- 02-25-2015: Elder David A. Bednar spoke to both our mission and the New Zealand Auckland Mission.
- 03-10-2015: Elder S. Gifford Nielsen of the Seventy did a mission tour of our mission.
- 03-20-2015: “Meet The Mormons” debuted in theaters in New Zealand.
- 03-21-2015: An interfaith concert and musical presentation was held in Stratford, organized by Sisters Fisher and Taylor.
- 03-29-2015: Taranaki District Conference was held, with all three members of the mission presidency and their wives in attendance.
- 04-12-2015: General Conference viewed by members of the Taranaki District.
- 04-26-2015: A new branch presidency is sustained in the Hawera Branch. Michael Horvath is sustained as the new branch president.
- 05-10-2015: I am called to serve as a member of the Taranaki District Council, with responsibilities for Stratford and Hawera.
- 06-14-2015: The brand-new Stratford Branch of the Taranaki District is created, with Tom Filipo as a counselor in the branch presidency. Hayden Wright is sustained as the branch president. The creation of this branch is a miracle of the first-order!
- 08-01-2015: I am called and sustained as the Hawera Branch Clerk and Hawera Branch Executive Secretary, in addition to my other callings.
- 10-28-2015: A senior-couple seminar is held for all the senior missionaries in our mission.
- 10-31-2015: Susan and I attend an Addiction Recovery Program seminar in Wellington, New Zealand. I get to see the areas where I served as a young missionary!
- 11-22-2015: Susan and I give our last talks in the Hawera Branch.
- 11-27-2015: We say good-bye to our little home, many wonderful friends, and drive to the mission home in Hamilton.
- 11-30-2015: We bid farewell to our mission president and his wife, board an Air New Zealand jet, and head for home.
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