Second week: Settling in.

March 10, 2019
Note: This post is out of order Two weeks old, from my journal.

We had 57 visitors to the Museum yesterday.
The center opens at 10 a.m. on Saturdays so that gives us a bit of breathing time at home in the morning. Barry took advantage of it this week and went to Tommos Bakery in Melville and brought back half a dozen cream buns to share with our staff. He has been dreaming about them since the last time we were in New Zealand. They did not disappoint!

They are a yeast-raised, slightly sweet roll -- not fried-- cut and filled with real heavy unsweetened cream and a spot raspberry jam. Oh my!

Tommos Bakery Cream Buns

It was my turn to give the thought today at our morning devotional. I shared the conversion story of my 2nd great grandfather, William Morley Black. It was well received by the group.

Even though my 2nd great grandfather has thousands of descendants, he is my personal ancestor and I feel close to him. I love him and feel eternally indebted to him for what he has given me. His decisions changed my eternity. In a similar way Jesus Christ, who is the Savior for millions that have lived, now live or will live on this earth, is my personal Savior. I feel close to him, love him and am grateful that his great atoning and redeeming love has changed my eternity.
This morning, Taulia Tafiti, president of the Manukau Stake came into the Centre with some family members. After meeting him and visiting for a few minutes he invited Barry and me to come to his Stake Temple Fireside in Auckland on Sunday, May 26 and speak to his stake. At first, I thought we might be two of a number of speakers but he said that we would be the whole program. OKAY! We said we would be honored. I don't know what prompted him to ask.

Before we came I had hopes of being able to take the message and the vision of the Church History Centre out to the stakes but this invitation took me by surprise. I told Barry that I better be careful what I wish for.

Elder Johnny L. Leota area seventy, President Tafiti, Tommy Jr Laban, Jackson Sapoi, counselors and Elder S. Gifford Nielsen of the Pacific Area Presidency. January 2016

Sister Ruby Sateli came to the museum from Auckland yesterday and said she wanted to be involved. She is a single sister, highly qualified and works full time at a museum in Auckland. It appeared to be a direct answer to our prayers. The thought that came to my mind was somehow engaging her to work remotely. I don't even know how or what, but that seemed to be the prompting. At the very least she wants to come and be a volunteer on Saturday. It is a two-hour drive from Auckland! She was in the habit of coming to Hamilton at least monthly to the temple before it closed and sometimes more often than that to visit family in the area.

Update: In our weekly phone meeting with our Church History Team in Salt Lake City I mentioned Ruby Sateli and her qualifications. Almost apologetically I confessed that I had told her that we might be able to use her skills in some way by remote but I didn't really have any idea how. There was an immediate, positive response that some of our planned projects could have some possibilities. It was an affirmation that the Spirit speaks and we can hear it, even when we don't have the whole picture.

After the museum closed we went to the ward carnival. It was a lively, loud and fun event! Barry even got involved in the donut eating contest and won! The clouds looked threatening. Barry was sure we were in for a downpour but as I predicted they went around us. The man in the glasses at the bottom is our bishop, Tiwini Hemi. He is a doctor, very gentle, and at least 6'9" tall.

Koromatua Ward Party

At church today I experienced something I had never before seen. A Brother George Fruean approached Barry after Sacrament meeting and asked if he was from Auckland. Barry said yes. Then he said, "Did you play cricket?" Again yes. Then he said, "Were you the captain of the Papatoetoe High School team?" Barry again said yes. Then the brother said that he had played against him in a match with Auckland Grammar School. A discussion ensued about the outcome of that game and other shared memories.

In the 45 years, we have been married I have never heard anyone approach Barry about cricket! rugby, yes. But cricket, no! The facts are, he was a great cricket player. As a young man, his goal at one point was to make it his career. He was the captain of the Auckland City All-star team. He was one of the best players on the whole of the North Island. His picture hung for a time with another boy's in the Papatoetoe Cricket club as the players that held the record for the fastest century scored (100 runs).

When Barry was 17 he had an impression that he should leave Papatoetoe High School and attend the Church College of New Zealand in Temple View as preparation for his mission. This was a boarding school about 110 km (68 miles) south of his home. He followed that prompting and came here where we are now serving. Leaving his high school meant he never played competitive cricket again and he loved cricket. It was a real sacrifice that he seldom speaks about. That's why George's recognition of him as a cricket player was a special moment for me!