Missionary Meals, Early Morning Seminary, Stake Choir, and Stake Conference

Another very busy week. Monday started with Early Morning Seminary. The normal second adult was sick, so we stepped in to help. It does give us a good way to start the day. Monday was also the first p-day after transfers last Thursday. So, we had the North and Central Districts over for Breakfast. The Carlisles came to help too. It is a fun way to get to know our new missionaries. We have four this transfer, two in each district. We kept our four Sisters and replace one companion in each of the remaining four Elders companionships. It was a lot of fun. They all hung around until nearly 1:00, then headed out to do some other p-day activities. I'm so glad they feel comfortable at our flat. We love having them.

I spent the afternoon working on the New Convert Initiative as well as a couple of video calls with our daughters. We were scheduled with Sierra, but Sean called earlier to give us an assignment for Mother's day. It gave us an opportunity to visit with MyLiege since we didn't see her last week because she was so busy with Easter Dinner. We had good visits with both families. Sierra is currently looking for another job. She is hoping to get some medical insurance, and her current job can't offer that to her. 

Lastly, we had a Bishopric dinner at our house. We slow cooked a ham and made scalloped potatoes. Everyone else brought something to fill out the meal. We enjoyed good food and wonderful company. It is nice to get together once in a while in a non-business setting. We got to know each other better. 

After early morning Seminary on Tuesday, we picked up the Bream Bay Sister to take them shopping for some warm clothes for our new Sister there. She is from Pappa New Guinea, which is very warm. She has been very cold since she arrived in New Zealand. There is a member in the Denby Ward that operates a free secondhand clothing shop. We took the Sisters there first. Sister Kau found several items of warm clothing that will help a lot. She still needed some rain boots and a rain slicker, so we took her to The Warehouse. They have everything. She found just what she was looking for. 

On our way home, a rock hit our windshield and cracked it. So, we stopped at the windshield repair shop on the way home. We were able to take a picture and send it to the vehicle missionary in Auckland so he could file an incident report all the while they were fixing the window. By the time the window was fixed, the paperwork was completed, and we were able to leave. 

Still on our way home, we got a call from the Elders wanting to know if Elder Wilcox could go with them to a teaching appointment later in the day. So, Steve went to the appointment, and I worked on my Seminary lesson.

Wednesday went from early morning Seminary to DCM. Our Hika Elders taught the Seminary lesson that morning. Normally they will teach on Tuesday, but "someone" forgot to set an alarm. Lol It all worked out as Sister Paratene always prepares a lesson just in case. Hahaha DCM went very well. Elder Olson is our new District Leader. He ran a very good meeting. 

My Adorable Great
Granddaughter, "Ru"

After DCM, the Hika Elders came over for Comp Study. We also fed them lunch before having a great comp study. They were teaching a lesson later, so we talked about what they would teach. 

After dinner, we headed to the Stake Center for Stake Choir Practice. It was a short practice, because the Provo BYU Women's Soccer Team was presenting a devotional for the youth. Of course, it made me think and miss my two granddaughters who are attending BYU Provo. Neither one is on the soccer team. 😢As we were leaving, a couple who were travelling with the Soccer Team approached us and called us by name. They then told us that Elder Jackson Swenson is their grandson. He is serving here in the New Zealand Auckland Mission. They were able to meet him briefly. When he found out they were headed up North for a devotional he told them to look us up. Luckily, we happened to be at the Stake Center for Choir practice, or we wouldn’t have met them. We had a very pleasant, albeit brief visit with them before the devotional was going to start and we had to leave. It is a small world!

We didn't have to go to early morning Seminary on Thursday since I normally teach at the Stake Center. Sister Paratene had arranged for someone else. However, since the Stake Center was being professionally cleaned on Monday and Tuesday, they had to bump Seminary down a day. Monday is Zoom, so that one didn't count.) So, my lesson was on Friday. We actually got to sleep in a bit for the week. We had our Zoom SPF mission meeting, which was followed by all four Sisters showing up for their mentoring sessions. 

After the mentoring sessions, we all ate grilled ham and cheese sandwiches and then had a wonderful comp study with the Sisters. After lunch we had a nice discussion about sections 41 and 42 in the Doctrine and Covenants. It was mainly about what the Lord called His “law to govern [His] Church.” I love hearing their thoughts and feelings about different verses in the scriptures. We always have a great discussion. I have to mention here that Steve made a comment, and I challenged him. As it turned out HE WAS RIGHT! I told him I would put it in my journal that night...which I did!

The Hika Elders showed up just as we were finishing so that Elder Wilcox could join them on another teaching appointment. It went very well. I stayed home as one of the Sister Companionships had another conference call.

Then it was time for dinner and another trip to the Stake Center. Steve attended the Bishopric and Elders Quorum Presidency meeting with the Stake Presidency and High Council. They had a guest speak from Auckland in the Seminary and Institute program.  After he talked to them, he gathered the Seminary Teachers that were there into the High Council room so we could receive some training. I enjoyed that very much. He shared a lot of tips and tricks with us on how to get our students to be engaged.   

I taught my Seminary class Friday morning. I don't think everyone got the message that there would be class on Friday. I only had four students. It took a little while for them to warm up, before we moved into a fully engaged. It ended up being a pretty good class. 

After class, we took a road trip to all three flats that we inspect. It wasn't an inspection trip. We taped three laminated flyers on the fridge in each of our three flats. It makes for a very long drive, but for the most part the weather was very nice. We ran into a few sprinkles along the way, but it was mostly sunny and warm. We listed to an audio book about President Russell's life called Insight. We worked on our Mother's Day assignment from Sean after we got home.

Our Saturday morning and early afternoon were kind of a p-day for us. We spent that time relaxing and just enjoying being together without having any official work that needed to be done. By 2 it was time to get ready for the Stake Conference Leadership Session. We had a visiting Area Seventy, Faapito Auapaau for the conference. He is from Samoa and gave two great talks on Saturday. Steve got to read several scriptures during the Leadership session. The Stake Presidency calls him “The Voice”. They love having him read. 

After the Leadership session, we had our Stake Choir Practice for Sunday morning. I think we sounded pretty good. After practice, we headed back to our seats. President Reti gave Steve an “eye” and motioned for him to come up to the stand. Apparently, Elder Auapaau told President Reti he should find something else for Elder Wilcox to read for the evening session because he likes his voice too. President Reti introduced Elder Wilcox to him and Elder Auapaau gave him a hug. 

After the Adult session we had an occasion to visit with him again briefly. He mentioned again how much he likes Steve’s voice. He wanted him to read again so he could get a recording. I mentioned that our kids recorded Steve reading the Nativity scriptures one year after we had a medical scare and the kids realized they wouldn’t have Grandpa around forever. Elder Auapaau asked me to send him a copy. So, I sent him a link to our video.

Sunday started with Stake Choir practice before Stake Conference started. We did the prelude song before Conference started. I think it turned out very well. Then after they did the Stake Business, we sang This is the Christ. It sounded good, but I’m not sure we sounded as strong as we did in our practice the day before. We still got complements. 

We heard from several great speakers, including a young girl from primary, a young woman, and a young adult. Of course, we also heard from several adults, including a Senior Couple who recently returned from their mission, a couple from the Auckland Temple Presidency, and an immigrant from America who talked about how some severe trials in America paved the way for them to come to New Zealand. Of course, we also heard from Elder Auapaau from the Pacific Area Seventies. He focused on ways we can increase our Spiritual Momentum. 

After Stake Conference, Elders Davis and Gardner came over for lunch and comp study. We couldn’t seem to coordinate with them earlier in the week. I’m glad they didn’t give up. We had a great visit and lunch with them.

Have a Wonderful Week! May the Fourth Be With You!!!

All our Love,

Elder and Sister Wilcox