BYU-Hawaii Choir visits New Zealand

"In this work there must be commitment. There must be devotion. We are engaged in a great eternal struggle that concerns the very souls of the sons and daughters of God. We are not losing. We are winning. We will continue to win if we will be faithful and true. We can do it. We must do it. We will do it. There is nothing the Lord has asked of us that in faith we cannot accomplish."

-President Gordon B. Hinckley-

 The US Ambassador to New Zealand, David Huebner, welcomed the BYU Hawaii Concert Choir to New Zealand. He emphasised the importance of such visits to deepen the people-to-people connections that are  - and always have been - the foundation of the warm, strong relationship between our two countries. We need some of our returned missionaries in this choir!

The the 45 member choir performed at the marai at Te Papa and at Porirua's Te Rauparaha Arena. Their performance was enthusiastically performed and well received. 

Some of you will remember this returned missionary. Our daughter went to the reception of Dave Rowe this week and sent us this picture! Congratulations Brother Rowe!

Two great new intakes this week! From the MTC in Provo - Back Row-Assistants to the President Elder Petaia and Elder Howard. New Missionaries:Elder Johnson (Orem, Utah), Elder Dutson (Rexburg, Idaho), Elder Sio (Anaheim, California), Elder Parker (Ontario, Oregon), Sister and President Kezerian. Front Row- Elder Hepworth (Sunnyside, Utah), Elder Dunbar (Zillah, Washington), Elder Sauvao (New Zealand), Sister Haacke (St. George, Utah), Sister Unsicker (West Point, Utah)

Auckland MTC arrivals- Back Row- Elder Tilini (Fayetteville, North Carolina), Elder Savage (Panguitch, Utah), Elder Pelo (Heber, Utah), Elder Bearnson (Highland, Utah), Elder Hopoate (Auckland, New Zealand), Elder Medley (Tooele, Utah), Elder Harrington (Sandy, Utah), President Kezerian. Middle Ro- Sister Vila (Tayug, Philippines), Sister Olamaleva (Apia, Samoa), Sister Niutupuivaha (Tongatapu, Tonga), Sister Manuo (Whangarei, New Zealand), Sister Kezerian, Front Row- Sister Housman (Keaau, Hawaii), Sister Manu'a (Melbourne, Australia).

Dear Missionaries and Family-Thank you for the kind Mother's Day, Father's Day and birthday wishes. We love and appreciate you all!

Beautiful sunset in Nelson

Aotearoa

Land of the long white cloud

Farewell Elder and Sister Turner! They have served so faithfully and tirelessly.

I will finish this blog entry later but you can enjoy the pictures!

Sister Training Leaders!

"Because true believers are "meek and lowly of heart," they are ready to be taught things they "never had supposed" as was Moses, the most meek man upon the earth. Let the intellectually proud pace up and down in their tight conceptual cells if they choose, but the humble find such too confining.

Two other virtues of the meek are that they are not easily offended and they do not resist counsel. Nor are these lowly in heart inclined to see themselves as being "above"all the seemingly routine duties of discipleship. Duties are not to be rejected on the basis of "I've done all that before," as if God were required to supply us with new thrills. Mortality has been described by the Lord as being like working in a vineyard-never as an afternoon at a carnival. Besides, how could we pretend to be true believers of Christ, if we shunned the chores of the kingdom!

Furthermore, brothers and sisters, we will find that when we have personal spiritual experience - which keep us close to the Lord - these will almost always occur in the course of our carrying out the specific duties named earlier, since it is not enough for us to have once been close to the Savior. Alma said, it we have once "felt to sing the song of redeeming love, "can we feel so now?" Dutiful discipleship creates many happy memories, but it does not make nostalgia a substitute for fresh achievement. Instead of having a "woeful countenance,"the true believer in Christ has a disciplined enthusiasm to work righteousness. As, week after week, he tries to help people who "droop in sin" the electricity of his enthusiasm for righteousness helps to brace and to straighten the sad."

-Elder Neal A. Maxwell-

You can't go too far in New Zealand without running into a beautiful shoreline. 

Our first Sister Training Leaders - Sister Nowers, Sister Fitisemanu, Sister Taleni, Sister Carter and Sister Saunders.

Another first - Instead of Zone Leader Council we now hold Mission Leader Council. Back: Elder Tu'ihalangingie, Elder Van Beek, Elder Hunt, Elder Godinet, Elder Ma'u, Elder Salaivao, Elder Kaka, Elder Smith, Elder Atkinson, Elder Bender, Elder Siale, Elder Barnes, Elder Armstrong, Elder Howard, Sister Carter, President and Sister Kezerian. Front: Elder Cottle, Elder Petaia, Sister Nowers, Sister Fitisemanu, Sister Taleni and Sister Saunders.

 Not only the beaches and shoreline are beautiful, notice the clouds! Thus Aotearoa - Land of the long white cloud.

 Our new sister office missionaries - Sister Eames and Sister Ingles. Everyone will come to know and love these two dear sisters. Now you can put a face with those kind voices.

 President Kezerian is still pushing A&W Rootbeer. You'ld think we have stock in the company but actually, he loves it so much, he can't think of a better reward for the appreciation he feels for our awesome mission leaders.

More A&W.

 If any of you recognize President Kezerian's desk - it's now been reassigned - anything for the Sisters! When the Sisters are happy everyone is happy! That great wisdom came from raising 5 daughters.

We welcome Elder Tagi! He may only be with us a short while but we're grateful his visa hasn't come yet!

While at the office  Elder Kaka was flipping through some books we had out and he found a picture of both of his Grandparents who served as labour missionaries here in New Zealand.

Then he found a picture of Elder Hemi's grandpa.

Then he found a picture of his brother when he attended BYU-Hawaii. He is the one on the farthest right. BYU-Hawaii is the most internationally diverse campus in the country. At the time his brother attended there were students from over 70 countries.

Wellington New Zealand Mission Reunion at BYU-Hawaii!

Hopefully everyone connected with their Mother on Mother's Day! I appreciated the Happy Mother's Day Wishes and express my love to one and all!!

Sister, Sisters, Sisters

"We affirm that missionary work is a priesthood duty, and we encourage all young men who are worthy and physically able and mentally capable to respond to the call to serve. Many young women also serve, but they are not under the same mandate to serve as are the young men. We assure the young sisters of the Church, however, that they make a valuable contribution as missionaries and we welcome their service."

-President Thomas S. Monson

 Our first intake ever where the Sisters outnumber the Elders. Thanks for answering the call Sisters!

 Breakfast in the mission home.

 Taking the Sisters out for their first day of proselyting (and Elder Adams)

 Having all the Sisters around makes President Kezerian feel like we are at home with our five daughters!

 You have to admire our Elders for helping out in the kitchen.

 Elder Greer and Elder Van Beek kicked everyone out of the kitchen and took over dishwashing. They have learned some valuable skills.

 By including our three assistants this picture looks a little more balanced. Back:Elder Petaia (Assistant) Elder Howard (Assistant), Elder Adams (West Point, Utah, USA) Sister Patterson (Alpine, Utah, USA), Sister Watene-Zelezniak (Sydney, Australia), Sister and President Kezerian, Elder Greer(Assistant) Front: Sister Hough (Kettering, United Kingdom), Sister Puletua (Apia, Samoa), and Sister Hann (Dundee, Scotland).

Returning with honor: Elder Teaupa, Elder Kaumavae and Sister Holladay. Thank you missionaries!

Also returning home, Elder and Sister Chesley. We love the Senior Couples!

Napier District - Elder Bender, Elder Smith (Hawke's Bay Zone Leaders) Elder Dorius, Elder Tuckett, Sister Kezerian, Sister Patterson and Sister Nowers.

Flaxmere District - Elder Crawford, Elder Kerr, Elder Lawrence, Sister Toutai and Sister Kirifi.

Hastings District - Elder Nelson, Elder Hilliman, Elder Dalit, Elder Evans, Elder Taelega, Elder Nevitt, Elder Kavea and Elder Palmer.

LDS News from the United Kingdom - We wish this was in New Zealand

Mission President Seminar - Sydney, Australia

"Teach the missionaries to be true disciples, to be exactly obedient, to be a learner, to exercise faith, to work tirelessly and to expect miracles."

-Elder Kevin W. Pearson-

During the Pacific Area Interim Mission Presidents Seminar we received counsel from our Pacific Area Presidency, Elder Kevin W. Pearson, Elder James J. Hamula and Elder F. Michael  Watson.

For those who are from Sydney, Australia here is a little bit of home. What a beautiful city.

With the population close to 4 million people, this is a great city to do missionary work. President Kezerian and I took our mormon.org cards and Books of Mormon.

Nearing the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Just like New Zealand, there seem to be many clock towers

Goodies galore. Hopefully the missionaries don't buy these.

 Darling Harbour.

We kept thinking we were seeing missionaries. There were so many men in suits.

President Leota (Samoa Apia Mission), President Lekias (Auckland New Zealand Mission) and President Kezerian. 

Before our meetings started. We thought it a beautiful view.

 At the end of the day - Wow!

Sydney Australia Temple.  This was the first temple built in Australia. Elder Bruce R. McConkie of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, a former mission president of Australia, presided over the ground breaking services for the temple. At a fireside that evening, he said, "There is no reason why we can't have temples in Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, or where ever the number of saints justifies it." His statement proved prophetic with the construction of the Adelaide Australia Temple, Melbourne Australia Temple, Brisbane Australia Temple and Perth Australia Temple.

Elder and Sister Shaw (Marshall Islands Majuro Mission) Elder and Sister Lifferth (Australia Melbourne Mission) both couples are finishing their missions July 1st. They've been great examples, friends and mentors. We love and admire them all.

Many important messages were given at the seminar to help us move the work forward one of the greatest of which was to remember that we are increasing faith, deepening conversion, building future leaders and strengthening future husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, What  an honor it is to see missionaries become true disciples of Christ; lifelong learners and leaders who make and keep sacred covenants and endure to the end. We love you missionaries!