"And ye shall go forth in the power of my Spirit, preaching my gospel, two by two,in my name, lifting up your voices as with the sound of a trump, declaring my word like unto angels of God. And ye shall go forth baptizing with water, saying: Repent ye, repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
-D&C 42:6-7-
Elder Kaka (Assistant to the President with Elder Tu'ihalangingie also Assistant to the President taking the picture) Elder Toleafoa (Auckland, New Zealand), Elder Bawden (Mesa, Arizona, USA), President and Sister Kezerian, Sister Key (Auckland, New Zealand), Sister Pole (Auckland, New Zealand), Sister Pangata'a (Auckland, New Zealand), Sister Fifita (Auckland, New Zealand), Sister Brown (Hamilton, New Zealand). We welcome our newest intake of awesome missionaries!
Sister Hann, Sister Nielsen, Sister Key, Sister Pole, Sister Brown, Sister Fifita, Sister Harris, Sister Boehmer, and Sister Pangata'a. Going out for their first time to go street contacting. Well, the new sisters first time.
The backyard of the mission home.
Elder Tu'ihalangingie, Elder Kaka, Elder Toleafoa, and Elder Bawden.
Singing a few hymns before the end of there first day in the mission. It's almost 9:00 p.m. and there is still light outside - We wish this could last but we will enjoy summer while it's here!
Riccarton District: Elder Pelo, Elder Gacad, Elder Zollinger, Elder Nelson, Front: Sister Alcock, Sister Toutai, and Sister and Elder Harding (Who are soon leaving for Invercargil) Elder Yarrington must have been in an interview-sorry we missed you!
Sister Harding, Sister Alcock, Sister Kezerian and Sister Toutai.
The view on our way back from interviews and proselyting with the missionaries in Westport!
We meet up with one of our wonderful Returned Missionaries, Sister Tito Kenny
Our great missionaries returning home with honor. Elder Hehepoto (Australia), Sister Kirifi (Australia), Elder Norford (Aus)tralia, Elder Kavea (Australia) and Elder Siale (Auckland)
Sister Eames and Sister Ingles fixed a wonderful farewell lunch for our missionaries.
Last transfer in the Wellington New Zealand mission.
More New Zealand Missionaries. Who wants to be transfered to the Horse District? (You get to wear hats!)
More beautiful chapels of our friends of other faiths.
Beautiful New Zealand!
Elder Kaka consented to sing our new mission song for us so we can all practice and be able to sing it well. At the end we will all sing "How great thou art, How great thou art!" in English. You may have occasion to sing "How Great Thou Art" in Maori in some of your wards.
Missionary Work in the Wellington New Zealand Mission is much different now than in the early proselyting days of the missionaries back in the late 1800's. We teach a great variety of people from around the world now. Samoan, Tongan, Asian, African, Fijian, Maori, Pakeha, people from all the isles of the sea and from European countries. In the early days many missionaries lived and worked among the Maori people and learned to speak the language fluently. Many inspiring stories of the love of the people and faith promoting experiences have been recorded. One story from the journal of Asa York Tiffany, illustrates the importance of relying upon the Lord and recognizing where our talents and abilities come from and avoiding pride.
After Elder Tiffany had been in the mission field for a little more than a year, word had spread that he spoke the Maori language like a Maori. The Government people had been wanting to do some allotment of lands, of some of the Tribes who hadn't received their allotments,, but they needed a good interpreter to explain things to the people. They had heard of Elder Tiffany's mastery of the language, so they asked him to go with them and act as interpreter for them.
He got permission from the President of the Mission to go. This was a great honor to be chosen for such a task. he and his companion went to the place designated for the meeting. he felt impressed on the way they should kneel and ask the Lord for his spirit and guidance but it was raining and it was a little late, for it had taken them a longer time than they had expected and he said to himself, "I'll be all right, haven't I been speaking this language for a year?" So they hurried on to the meeting. When it came time for him to interpret for these men, the spirit of the Lord left him and he stuttered and stammered and could say nothing intelligible. He finally told the Government people he didn't feel well, but if they would set another date for a meeting he was sure he could do better. It was the most horrible feeling he ever had in his life. The Elders left the meeting very humiliated, and as they came to a clump of brush where they were out of sight they dropped to their knees and begged the Lord's forgiveness for their terrible pride.
The Government people were rather disgusted, for there was considerable talk of this Elder's ability to speak the Maori Language. When the next meeting was called, Elder Tiffany asked the Lord very humbly for the spirit and for the Lord to be with him at this time. The meeting was a big success and the Government people congratulated Elder Tiffany on his thorough knowledge of the language.
In this great "work of salvation", we must ever rely on the Lord and give him thanks for everything we are and every talent we have been given.
