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.