Visitors and promptings . . .

We have had a stream of visitors from Salt Lake City to our museum in the last three months.
In September we welcomed Elder Gary E. Stevenson, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, with Bishop Christopher Waddell, Presiding Bishopric, and Elder Carl B. Cook, General Authority Seventy.

We also had a week-long visit from our Museum team that supports us. It was awesome!

In October we met Sister Sharon Eubank and Sister Becky Craven. This is my favorite picture with Sister Eubank. I have no idea what we were laughing at but I can tell you she was DELIGHTFUL.

Elder Allister Odgers, Sister Noelene Odgers, Sister Sharon Eubank, Elder Barry Garlick, Sister Eva Garlick, Sister Becky Craven, Elder Ron Craven, Sister Rangi Parker, Elder Vic Parker.

Last Sunday was the Temple View Stake Conference, and Elder Ronald A. Rasband was the visiting authority.

Ten days before that, I got a call from the area office requesting that I be prepared to give Sister Rasband a private tour of the Church History Centre Museum. I was excited at the prospect and began thinking about how I could prepare.

For some time, I had thought that I should study the Fairbanks family and learn more about Elder Elliott Fairbanks and his father, Avard Fairbanks. We have an exhibit in our museum featuring Elder Fairbanks and his work on the Nuhaka Marae in 1949. I did not connect this with Sister Rasband's visit, but I spent some significant time the week before her visit, finding out as much as I could about Elliott and Avard Fairbanks.

On Saturday afternoon, the building was secured from other visitors, and we welcomed Sister Rasband, Sister Nattress, Sister Odgers, Sister Peterson, and Sister Clark from the area office.

When Sister Rasband entered the museum, the bronze bust of Matthew Cowley, just inside the door, caught her immediate attention. Looking closely at it, she said she had a particular interest in it because her mother was a sculptor. I then turned her attention to the carved lentil hanging above us and said she might be interested in it because it was carved by Elliott Fairbanks, son of Avard Fairbanks, the well-known American sculptor. She was thrilled and said the Avard Fairbanks had been her mother's teacher at one time. At that moment, I connected the prompting I received to study this family and know more about Elliott.



When we got to that part of the museum where Elliott's tools are displayed, she asked if Elliott was still alive. I told her I thought he had passed away in 2008. She said that one of his relatives had contacted her about something of her mother's, but she couldn't quite remember who it was.



Above, Sister Rasband listens to the story of Chinese immigrant Ahmu who was a stalwart in the early church in Samoa. His generosity provided the land for the Mission Home, a church school and the temple.

From the left: Sister Becky Armstrong (Service Missionary - museum daily operations), Sister Olson (Communications missionary, Australia), Sister Eva Garlick (Associate Director Matthew Cowley Pacific Church History Centre), Sister Erekson (companion of Hamilton New Zealand Mission President), Sister Nattress (Area Presidency), Sister Melanie Rasband, Sister Noelene Odgers (wife of area seventy), Sister Deborah Clark (Communications Area Office), Sister Peterson (Area Office DTA).

Sunday morning, I had the thought that I should print the obituary of Elliott Fairbanks for Sister Rasband and give it to her at Stake Conference. I knew the names of Elliott's children were listed. I tried to dismiss the thought, but it wouldn't go away, so I printed a copy.

We arrived an hour early and found seats 3 rows from the front. When we sat down, I noticed Sister Kendal, our stake president's wife sitting on the row in front of me. I leaned over and to speak to her. I told her that I had a piece of paper for Sister Rasband, and I didn't know how to get it to her. I didn't want to approach her after the meeting. Did she know how I could get it to her? She said that her husband had asked her to sit on the stand next to Sister Rasband, so she would be happy to pass it along.

Sister Rasband received it and gave me a smile and thank you from the stand. At the end of the meeting, Barry got a phone call asking us to come to the centre for lunch and prepare to take Elder Rasband through the Museum if needed. We were happy about the change in schedule. When I saw Sister Rasband, she thanked me for the obituary and said as she read the names of his children, she remembered who had contacted her!

After lunch we had a brief tour with Elder Rasband but so good!

Above, sharing the story of Paora Potangaroa prophesying in 1881, of the coming of the true church to his Maori people.

After the dedication of the Hamilton New Zealand Temple in the South Pacific, all of the other temples on our board were dedicated by President Gordon B. Hinckley. Elder Rasband served as the Executive Secretary to the Temple Committee at that time.

Below, Elder Rasband pins a tag on our map to his mission in New York City where he also served as Mission President.

What a great weekend!