Two quick weeks

Hardly had we sent the district off to New Zealand...

The day after their departure, one of the grand members of the district passed away. And we learned about new customs and funerals. She was 70, the mother of 8. Affectionately known as 'Mame Coco' by missionaries, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren as well as all the members of the church. We also learned about some of the local history of the church that we hadn't come across before.

Mame was something of an icon, almost a legend. She was the first convert in New Caledonia, having married a Church member from French Polynesia, the island of Tubai. (Tahiti is also part of French Polynesia, just another island.) She joined the church at some peril as her family ostracized her for many years. This was long before there were chapels or much of anything here.

Legendary also, was her devotion to her family and the missionaries. Among her 8 children, 4 live here. One daughter is the Relief Society President in Riviere Salee, Another son is the former District President, and yet another is on the high council now, the youngest. Two children are in Tahiti unable to get here in time and two others in France. Of course, there were a number of grandchildren and great grandchildren. To the youngest of them, they all knew her and wanted to talk about her. She was known to be quite direct when one of them appeared to stray. A firm invitation to come to Church and dinner afterwards at her house were always forthcoming in such circumstances.

One of our current missionaries confessed that on Sundays, he had but to stand at the exit to the parking lot with a forlorn look while rubbing his stomach to be invited for Sunday dinner. Which he mastered!

One other amusing anecdote was her cell phone which was never turned off and rang at any time, particularly during church meetings. Our Tahitian missionary/narrator noted that he always smiled at this, because it was always somebody in need, usually a family member. And then she would be off to retrieve somebody, give them a ride to Church or other.

The observances for a death are two-staged. A wake in the evening and then a service the next day. But the wake is itself a full-blown service with hymns, prayers and talks. Usually shorter than the service the following day. The main event being for the wake is passing by the coffin to pay respect. The newest feature to me was the frequent touching of the body with strokes to the hair, squeezing a hand, pat on the cheek or a kiss good-by by everybody who was there.

However, the feelings present as well as the response to remarks were identical to what I would have expected in the US. Temple covenants and knowledge of the Plan of Happiness, including the resurrection, are the foundation for hope and joy in our lives for anybody who follows the Savior, anyplace in the world.

Zone Conference followed immediately along with the long-awaited arrival of Elder Harry from Vanuatu.

We had a great few days with our mission president and his wife who were at the beginning of a 2-week trip of zone conferences here and in Vanuatu. We had not seen them since the beginning of December, before the holidays. Lots to talk about and plans to make for upcoming changes.

Elder Harry's long-awaited arrival proved to us that we cannot predict the French visa approval system. I had inquired only two days prior and was told there was no information. And then he arrived. Apparently the heavier than usual winter in Europe is making things a little tough. Elder Harry speaks, as his native tongue, bislama (pronounced 'bish-lama), with some English and some French. We are happy to welcome. In addition we have two local youth serving 2-3 week mini-missions. Immanuel Blucker, the younger brother of Elder Blucker now serving in Hawaii and the second, a recent convert, Sister Tiale.

On a more agrarian note, we are now at the end of a great local fruit season. The mangoes are just finishing. This sweet, juicy fruit grows on trees the size of a large apple tree. The fruit itself is larger than a pear and very tasty. The Tahitian missionaries know how to climb up after them as well as how to slice them around the single, large seed at the center to enjoy the golden fruit. The last of them is being gathered in the following pictures that are taken just outside our office door.

Just before the mangoes were lechis. A strawberry sized fruit growing again in trees in clumps. The tough, prickly skin gives way to a juicy fruit about the size of an eyeball and the same color. But very tasty. You just have to be prepared to get a little messy. We will continue to enjoy the papayas, bananas, pineapple and coconut just about year round, we are told.

In conclusion, Sister Mautz continues her cookie-baking classes. this time with some members who enjoy the results of her efforts enough to want to try themselves. Sister Kartotaroeno's family invites us regularly for family home evening. Their 3 young sons have adopted us. We understand the results of these efforts were quickly consumed while their mother was at work. The whole neighborhood enjoyed them.

She is also assisting the sister missionaries with an English class each week. The three children are the daughters and the nephew of a Vietnamese woman who runs a little store just down the road from the office. The children politely introduced themselves in English giving their names and ages. Each week they copy in their notebooks the things from the blackboard they learned that day so they can study and be quizzed the following week It is apparent the following week that they did. The children love singing "I am a Child of God" at the end of the class. Since learning a new language is ever present in her life she enjoys watching these children take on a similar challenge.

The weeks slip away as we are busy helping the missionaries and members. We are grateful to be here.

Temple-bound Saints, a new missionary ...

The New Year brought a new Sister missionary as well as the departure of 107 of the District's members for a long-awaited 3-week trip to the Auckland New Zealand Temple. An annual event.

But first, a surprise birthday party for Sister Swapp, one of the sister missionaries, on New Year's Eve. The missionaries in her missionary district got together, invited us, and surprised her with pizza, bubbly cider and a cake. The ruse to get us together was preparation for a song for an upcoming worship service in Sacrament Service. But the guitar accompaniment gave it all away. A couple hours of fun before we all hunkered down at home while the all-night reveling passed.

Saturday morning brought us a new sister missionary. Sister Chugg is from Riverton, Utah and has had no French. Her companion is a delightful Tahitian sister who speaks very modest English. We expect they will both make rapid progress.

However, the high point of the last couple weeks was sending off the District of Noumea on their annual Temple trip to the Auckland, New Zealand Temple. Especially wonderful because we know these people well now and were involved in helping some of them get ready for this trip. As you look at these pictures, you will recognize, perhaps, a few of them from earlier blogs.

Alfred Mahuric, for example, is a friend we visited early in our time here last May. With a Priesthood blessing from his Branch President, he has succeeded in giving up tobacco long term and looks much happier and healthier. He has regained the respect of his children and the love of his soon-to-be eternal companion.

The folks from Houailou are also pictured. We drove to Houailou last September so that President Ostler could interview them for their recommends for their first trip to the Temple. The couple will be sealed as well as receiving their endowments. The prospect of being together as a family eternally is an indescribable blessing to them.

An additional tender experience. As you can imagine, the planning for such a trip is significant. The cost at about $1500 per person is quite significant. A family of 6 for example is a real sacrifice. So much so, in fact, that the District President wondered out loud as to the value of the whole effort given that he saw little increase in statistical measures of activity such as home teaching or attendance at Sacrament Service. A difficult question until this experience. The Tama family, also featured in the pictures, requested my giving them temple recommend interviews which I willingly did only a few weeks ago. Sister Tama was particularly appreciative of her husband, the Elders' Quorum President, as he presided in their family and provided for them. He always sees to family Home Evening, daily family prayer and scripture reading with their young family of 3 children as well as spending fun time with them. When he came in, we proceeded. At the end he asked if his wife had said anything. I shared some of her comments since they were so positive. He then asked me for a blessing explaining that he had only recently been back to work after several weeks unemployed. They were sacrificing a great deal to be able to go to the temple. The Priesthood blessing reassured him that he was doing as he should and that all would be cared for in his family. And so they too have departed for the Temple. The lesson I learned is that the next generation of leaders is learning obedience and sacrifice as they prepare to lead the church here. A Zion's camp experience.

President Yannick Hauata is taking his aging parents who will be sealed and then he to them.

The Seikos from Lifou are in the group. Sister Mautz appreciated warm embraces and tearfully told them how grateful we are for their two children who are serving full time missions here in New Caledonia.

And so we went from person to person greeting, encouraging and sharing the joy and excitement of this great departure and trip. We are grateful to have the privilege of knowing these faithful saints whose focus on things eternal and at great sacrifice, teaches us so much of the joys of living the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the blessings of understanding His Gospel in its fullness.

La Veille de Noel et Noel

The blessings of being a full time missionary were particularly abundant during the days surrounding Christmas. Gifts, good food, wonderful company with missionaries and members and a baptism Christmas Day.

At the open market on Wednesday as we did our shopping for the long-awaited watermelon (our Christmas gift to each other) the Likau family, who are fishermen across multiple generations, presented us with three large very fresh lobsters and 2 pounds of fresh crevettes. What to do?

Our Tahitian senior zone leader knew exactly how to proceed including securing several gallons of fresh seawater in which to cook them. Sister Mautz thought you just put them into boiling water and cook them until they stop crying (her words) but the process was even simpler. Done when they turn from brown to red. Cleaned the crevettes and froze it all for dinner on Friday. Pictures nearby will give you the flavor of the events.

Sister Mautz baked lots of cookies, 4 varieties, to make individually gift-tagged plates of cookies for each of the missionaries. Those gifts were assembled Thursday morning and gratefully received on Christmas morning with such exclamations as: 'This will probably be the only present I get this Christmas' or 'All for me?' There will definitely be more cookies.

Prior to our dinner appointment Christmas Eve, the combined District and missionary choir presented its second Christmas concert en pleine aire at a local community center in Mont Dore.

In French tradition, Christmas Eve, La Veille de Noel, is the big family gathering and dinner. Every missionary companionship was invited, so we accepted an invitation to dine with the Gayas who returned in July from presiding over the Madagascar Mission. Dinner was delicious and lasted 3 1/2 hours in true French tradition including salmon hor d'ouvres, foie gras with red cabbage, roast duck and a wondrous raspberry dessert enjoyed while watching the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and a presentation of the Nativity. We dined al fresca and poolside with a gentle sea breeze. So much for traditions of snow and fireside coziness. But for the absence of our own children and grandchildren, the setting was perfect. Lengthy dinners provide great conversation times as we learned of their conversion over 35 years ago and the significant contribution (our words, not theirs) over those many years in building and leading the Church in New Caledonia. Missionaries found them, or actually her mother, in going door-to-door. Within 6 months their family, his brother's family and the grandmother had all joined the Church thereby providing the base for the growth of the branch in Magenta.

Noel dawned warm and breezy. Technology provided the chance to talk 'face-to-face' with all of our children and grandchildren in the morning. They were each happy and safe and making great progress in their lives. We are grateful.

By the time we distributed the aforementioned cookies at the office and finished the conversations with the family, we almost missed our breakfast out on the beach with fresh squeezed orange juice, bacon and eggs, toast, hot chocolate and a very large croissant.

The baptism took place at 5p. Pako Kilama is a retired senior police officer. He has been studying with the missionaries for some time. We were delighted to spend part of the day observing the peace promised at the Savior's birth coming into Pako's life through faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ, repentance and baptism. What more could a missionary desire of his Heavenly Father than such a blessing?

Of our 24 missionaries, only three teams had no place to go for Christmas dinner. So we sat down to potato salad, pork chops, lobster and lightly sauteed-in-butter-and garlic crevettes. And the non-traditional dessert of watermelon. Shared experiences of the day and testimony. Went to bed grateful for our Savior, and happy to be serving Him in New Caledonia.

We send our love this holiday season to all and testify that Christ lives as a resurrected Being, the Savior and Redeemer of the world.

The days before Christmas

The weeks before Christmas blur across Seminary graduation, the missionaries' Christmas dinner and Soiree de Talent and Branch activities including a Relief Society Cultural evening. The combined District of Noumea and missionaries presented two Christmas musical soirees. And of course a few preparations for Noel including baking cookies.

Following the visit of President Callister, we settled into Christmas mode. Ten days later was the missionaries' Christmas dinner and talent night. These are for just the missionaries, but the members know how much fun they are and hope to find a way to attend. Our Mission President and his wife were expected, but a potential strike by the firemen at the airport made flights dicey for a few days. Although the strike was resolved before their scheduled arrival, their tickets had already been cancelled. But the show must go on.

Musical numbers, clog dancing, jokes, a rap presentation, native dancing by the sisters and then a war-like 'dance' from Tahiti from the Elders made the evening move right along. All in great taste. Pictures nearby will share some of the atmosphere.

Just after these festivities, three of our missionaries departed for home. Sister Richards from Virginia, Sister Carter from Utah and Elder Manarani from Tahiti. Tender departures. Sister Richards lives just a few minutes from us, so we hope to see her again. She hand carried needle work finished for grand child number 11 in the Mautz family.

The following weekend the Noumea 1 branch hosted a Relief Society Cultural evening focusing on several native cultures. Sisters in the branch representing these cultures arranged displays of fabrics and clothing, prepared food indigenous to the culture and then did dances from that culture. Included in the collection were African, Tahitian, Melanesian and Wallisian and Vanuatuan. Even the Elders' Quorum rose to the occasion to present a Wallisian war dance. We were particularly entranced by the children who sat on the floor in front to have a good seat. Every once in a while they had to be moved out of 'harm's' way. A delightful evening with variety of food and dancing. In one particular dance, we learned that a woman who had a blouse extending well down over the top of her skirt was a sign in the native culture of a hard-working, loved woman. You will notice in the pictures a particularly long, lavender over-blouse.

That Saturday, December 19, was the baptismal service for the Nicholl's family. They learned of the Church through the Bluckers whose son has now left to serve a mission in Hawaii. The extended family is likely to follow in the foot-steps of the family patriarch and matriarch. Brother Nicholls has lost a foot due to diabetes. A tender moment observed as two brethren helped him into the baptismal font and unhurriedly got him situated comfortably and just right. The broad smile following told the whole story. His wife and a grand daughter joined the Church with him.

The major Christian holidays of Christmas and Easter are great opportunities to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ through music. This year was no exception. The combined choir of missionaries and the District Choir comprise just over 50 voices. We presented a Christmas fireside to a full chapel and cultural hall of over 300 people. The music presented all fit into a narration of the birth of the Savior and his Atoning Sacrifice. Images of these sacred events were projected. We were delighted to have friends of our own from the apartment building where we live in attendance. Preparing the music takes several weeks of Sunday evening rehearsals giving ample time to contemplate the mortal life which commenced at Bethlehem and whose purpose was realized at Gethsemane and Calvary.

Before we knew it, the week of Christmas arrived. We were concerned that our missionaries were all cared for. But all worked out wonderfully.

Here are two clips from the talent show. The missionaries worked for weeks on P-day to get ready for the show.

What does a missionary want for Christmas (and other news)

So we find ourselves a few days before Christmas, 2009. In spite of music and the Town Christmas tree and decorations, the 90 degree temps can't fool us! And the missionary work continues apace.

On December 2 Noumea officially welcomed the season with a lighting ceremony at the Place des Cocotiers (Place of the palm trees) downtown. The music, including traditional carols, was provided by a small group of singers from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The evening was balmy, who could resist. We were en plein aire for the evening with small children laughing and running everywhere blissfully safe without being guarded by their parents. The choir sang and the mayor spoke. We walked leisurely afterwards visiting with missionaries who had come with their 'amis de l'eglise and we visited with these amis. A lovely evening. We are grateful to have Christmas in the summer!

The children of Noumea are in summer vacation which started at the beginning of December. That includes Seminary graduation for the lycee attenders. Some attend early morning, others a weekday evening class. The evening was to have been presided over by the CES superviser from Vanuatu, but the airport strike complicated matters so that he could not come. Several of them spoke sharing testimonies and appreciation for their teachers. Tender moments. I enjoyed the opportunity to address a few remarks to the youth of the district. The evening included presentations of graduation certificates as well as certificates for all those participating. The District President and I shook hands with and congratulated each of them.

We have been helping one of our missionary teams teach a young woman. She is also something of a cook and very interested in learning to make new treats. Elder Huuti concluded that he could get more of Sister Mautz's chocolate no-bake cookies and teach his amie de l'eglise a new recipe. So one afternoon they arrived with ingredients and Sister Mautz conducted a cooking class. Julia Child would have been proud. The results weren't quite up to Sister Mautz's standard as the cook wanted to substitute brown for white sugar. But the elders certainly did not complain!

We attended our first branch Christmas party last night. We enjoy this branch for its unity led by a great, young branch president. The evening began in the chapel with some songs, the reading of the Christmas story from Luke and the Book of Mormon and the sharing of a wonderful experience from Madagascar told by the recently returned mission president who is a member of the branch. The talks developed around the Christmas star as a representation of the light of Christ that leads us all to welcome the Savior into our lives.

A poor, humble villager who worked long hours raising rice, met the missionaries in Madagascar. He could only come to Church on foot until he was blessed with a bicycle. Soon he would ride the 17 km to Church with one child, then return for another, then his wife. Sometimes as many as 5 precariously perched on the beloved bicycle. He joined the church. His family followed. His fellow villagers wondered what had happened to him as he no longer worked on the Sabbath. Soon they asked questions. He talked about his new faith and its blessing to his family and his life. Some of them wanted to come to Church. He was authorized to have a small service in his front yard 3 Sundays a month. Then the rainy season came and his small home couldn't accommodate the growing congregation. The church provided a small tent. They outgrew it. On the hillside a larger tent structure was erected over a plat carved out of the hillside and proudly bearing the name of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Directed by local leaders, our humble rice farmer, now the branch president. We were grateful to be there.

After this time together, we moved to the cultural hall for a feast of local dishes and gifts distributed to the children and each family by several wisemen who had somehow come into possession of Christmas stockings loaded with cookies, candy and a picture of the Savior. They bore a strange resemblance to the missionaries serving in the branch.

A final set of pictures shares views from our morning walks. Early now as it is pretty warm by 7a. Blue water, palm trees, nearby mountains but no snow.

And so what does a missionary want for Christmas. A package from home. The long awaited only twice-a-year phone call with the family. All wonderful. But best of all is the blessing of preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ and serving Heavenly Father's children in whatever way he or she can. And should one of these children of Heavenly Father accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ, how great is the joy of that missionary for the worth of a soul is great in the sight of God.

Baptisms, birthdays and bienvenu...

A very full couple of weeks. New missionary, the last of the branch conferences and 4 baptisms last Saturday.

We welcomed Elder Maker to the New Caledonia part of the Fiji-Suva Mission. Elder Maker comes to us from Tahiti. He is a calm, mature young man and is serving with Elder Styles in Bourail in the northern part of the island. Pictures nearby show him with his district as well as with his companion.

Last Thursday brought a service day at the Noumea wildlife refuge. In tropical settings large plants grow quickly. In this case, we were removing for the 'zoo' woody-leafed plants. Their root systems were large tubers from which the upper part of the plant had to be freed, then hauled up a hill to a refuse point from which they would be hauled away. Under one of these we found a resting local peacock who didn't seem to be disturbed by our chopping. And when we removed one set of cover, this bird calmly walked over to another. The day was hot and the work heavy and dirty. But service to the community here. What a contrast to the daily routine of the work 40 years ago. Pictures nearby will show some of our elders and sisters in the middle of the work as well as a shot of our bird friend if you can find her.

Ward conferences continued in our largest branch with a 'ball' as the Saturday evening branch activity. A dance with a member DJ and a great collection of music. Sister Mautz couldn't resist

The twist and a few other foot stompers. We had a great time and could even walk the next day.

Tuesdays each week bring missionary district meetings. This week we slipped up to Tontouta to attend a district meeting. These missionaries are a little further away and don't see the rest of us very often. And it was birthday week for two of their missionaries. We also wanted to see how Elder Maker was getting along with his new companion.

In addition to the last of the branch conferences last Saturday, we had two baptismal services with 4 new members of the Church. A busy and delightful day. The first were the three daughters of Sylveste who was baptized just a few weeks ago. His daughters have now followed him . Following the service, he had quite a party along the lines of a local 'coutume' or traditional tribe/family gathering to celebrate such events. We missed the event as we had a second service to attend in a neighboring branch.

Bella Lean is a student in the local college. A pair of our sister missionaries found her walking across a park in the opposite direction enjoying music through a headset and not at all welcoming. however a quick hello opened a conversation which interested her since she is largely without family having lost her father at a young age. She is now quite at home in her new branch family.

We close our blog this week with Christmas holidays in view as well as a short zone conference with our Area President and our Mission President and their spouses. The weeks are full. We are grateful to be busy and to see the joy and peace that come into the lives of new members of Christ's Church.

Departure, branch conference and a baptism

We sent our senior missionary leader home after p-day events and transfers. Then a baptism and a branch conference to round out the past few days. And the work continues.

Elder Johnston has been the senior zone leader these last months. He and his companion are the right hand of the Mission President in moving the missionary work forward here. He is gifted in seeing talents in others, in using music and fire sides to invite others to 'come to Christ' and in administration of all the details of keeping things going. He is also a great eacher.We miss him dearly although the work seems to progress nonetheless. He left a week ago on Wednesday morning. Just before his departure, many of the missionaries gathered for a p-day picnic and kickball game. Pictures are nearby as well as a film clip of the old man in the hat running the bases.

Then it was transfer day as other missionaries moved into their new responsibilities with his leaving. Lots of tender emotions as teams that had worked hard together were sent off to take on new opportunities. we marvel at how these young men and women work together learning to help each other, take advantage of each others strengths to the mutual benefit of the companionship, and then move on when asked without missing a beat. We will see a little more of this just before Christmas as we send two of the sister missionaries home as well as another elder. We anticipate the arrival of new missionaries to replace them.

Evidence of the work's progress was another baptism, Madeleine Tui on Saturday. She is a young, educated women from Vanuatu where she was a teacher. To re-certify here is a 3-year process. With her young children she is challenged to take that time. An avid reader, she was anxious to learn about the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. Read everything she could find including the Book of Mormon. She was eager to be baptized and is anxious to serve her friends and family with her new faith. The newly found joy in her life is evident in the accompanying picture.

In the midst of all was another branch conference. These annual events bring the district leadership into each local congregation for training. This weekend it was the Noumea 2 branch which meets in the chapel in Magenta near our little office. Events started Friday evening with a snack provided by the branch and then teams formed between branch leaders and district leaders to visit those less active or otherwise in need. Elder Mautz was paired with Frere Bearune, a counselor in the Elders' Quorum Presidency. Also the son of the Branch President in Mare. He is a returned missionary and young father. A delightful evening getting to know each other and some of the branch members.

We rejoined the branch leaders Saturday morning with a petit dejeuner of hot chocolate, croissants, then leadership training for the morning. A sports day followed all afternoon and then a Soiree de Talent that evening. Quite a day. Pictures and film clips nearby will share presentations from each of the auxiliary organizations including the Primary and Young Women as well as the Relief Society and the Elders' Quorum. The entr'act was provided by a 'Tahitian' band which the branch president plays in also. The weekend's events were dampened by the Friday night car accident involving a branch member and his young family. A head-on. They were fortunately in a pick-up truck that protected them. The German-make sedan that hit them in their lane head-on exploded on impact killing its four occupants. Prayers for those who lost loved ones as well as gratitude for the protection of family were evident throughout the weekend.

One event from Branch Conference also stands out. Elder Mautz visited the Aaronic Priesthood young men during their hour. Inasmuch as there was no Priest present, the younger Teachers' Quorum President conducted with no advance warning. He capably stood, selected an opening hymn and someone to direct it, welcomed us all, called on another young man to share a favorite scripture as the spiritual thought. Then thanked everyone for what they had done and called on the visiting District Young Men's President to give a lesson. Delightful for a 14-year-old boy. A picture of the group is at the end of the 'Soiree' slideshow.

The weeks slip away with lots of activity. We will welcome a new missionary shortly as well as celebrate holidays and a zone conference with our Area President. One at a time Heavenly Father gathers his sheep back into the fold.

Some fun clips from the P-day picnic and a traveling Elder Morrill.