Adventures in Paradise 66

Adventures in Paradise 66

Kia Orana, everyone! Our excellent adventure continues with a remedial lesson on those things that I already knew. I have been reminded of the power of prayer, the strength of faith, the importance of trusting in the timing of One who knows best and the value of having loving friends and family. In many ways, last week was a week to forget, yet forgetting would mean letting go of treasured moments and Tender Mercies.

Almost two weeks ago, on Monday morning, Ward and I greeted two friends at the airport. They were arriving from Los Angeles and were looking forward to six days in our paradise. The morning played out as it most always has, as they were greeted with beautiful eis, kisses on the cheek and the promise of a week of adventure. It was to be the vacation of a lifetime. Sadly, the “adventure” did not go as planned. One week ago, on Wednesday evening, our American friend forgot, for just a moment that this island drives on the left side of the road. In that moment, her rental car struck a motorbike and injured its passenger.   

Moments after the accident our friend Tony, called to inform us that we were needed. This first phone call signaled the beginning of the involvement of people who cared and wanted to help. This help was not limited to those on this island. We experienced an influx of concern from those in America. It is beyond frightening to find oneself in a police station in a foreign country. This fear is exasperated when the police try to intimidate. As we became involved in the process here, advice from friends was offered, phone numbers for the American consulate in New Zealand were supplied and loving words of support were given. My friend, while in the midst of a police investigation, was dealing with the forfeiture of her passport and the unnerving prospect that she had injured someone. She quickly realized however, that she was not alone and that people were anxious to help. She also knew that caring people here and five-thousand miles away were praying for her. We were reminded of the adage that, “A friend in need is a friend indeed”.  We have all been buoyed up by the love and concern that we have experienced in these last few painfully long days.  In times of distress, this is a lesson that I am happy to relearn. 

During the next days, we became very aware of how we were being blessed with Tender Mercies.  While at the police station, after surrendering the passport, I called our friend David who arrived at the exact moment that the police chief was leaving the building. From that moment, we noticed that the chief’s ’demeanor changed and David became the one who spoke to the chief on our behalf. David was the one who convinced the chief to provide us with a court date on very short notice. When we realized that we should probably seek an attorney, again though a series of phone calls and “lucky” conversations, we managed to find the one attorney who had the expertise to help us. This attorney amazingly had an unusually open docket, so she was able to devote the extra time that this case needed. Oh yes, Sarah, our attorney, had lived next door to us here at the mission home and although we had not known her name, she knew us and that instant recognition also became a source of comfort.  During these last two weeks, we have had many such experiences. We have experienced people being in the right place at the right time, independent of our actions. There have been unexpected phone calls and bits of helpful information that seemed miraculously to appear just as they were needed. I cannot call these experiences happy coincidences, for I know them to be some of the Tender Mercies that bless our lives from time to time. I have been reminded of just what a blessing these Tender Mercies are in our lives.

While the Cook Islands have land court judges and JPs, there are no judges living in the islands to hear criminal matters or those matters requiring fines and jail sentences. We were unhappily surprised to learn that although we could present ourselves to be heard yesterday in court, the JP would only be able to set a return date for sentencing. My friend waited patiently for her turn, being fully accountable for her mistake as well as more than willing to pay for court costs, scooter repairs and hospital bills. She was anxious to make this right and quite honestly, having missed last weeks Saturday flight back to the US, was praying to be able to return this coming Saturday. My friend was not the only one praying and Ward and I were fasting as well. The case was heard and we were stunned when the JP scheduled her sentencing hearing for March 2! How could the court expect a tourist to extend her stay another month? This was not good news. The attorney had one more idea, but one that had never succeeded before. She petitioned New Zealand to provide a judge ( it would be Saturday there)  who would be willing to pronounce sentence and an order for passport return over the phone. So, the fast was extended, focusing on a favorable answer from New Zealand. Again, during this very stressful time, we were aware that the timing of events was indication of something other than mere coincidence. We felt strongly that the right people were put in our path at the right time. We spoke about this often during this last week. There was no mistaking the direction of One who knows best. I was constantly reminded of a quote by Elder Oaks when he spoke about timing. He said that having faith in Jesus Christ is learning to trust in the Lords timing. We were trusting! For me, the subject of the Lords timing is not a lesson that I have forgotten in my life. As we went to bed Thursday evening, there had been no call from a judge. I was amazed that I was as calm as I was. I was trusting in timing.

This morning (Friday in the Cooks, Saturday in New Zealand), we received word that there would be a teleconference at noon our time. That meant that a judge had agreed to come in on his Saturday and would hear the case and pass sentence! This was truly the miracle that we had been praying for. Did I mention that my friend had run out of her medicine and could not find it here? Yes, there were many concerns Friday morning. Then, as if on cue, we received a call that the young woman had been released from the hospital and was expected to make a full recovery. This news came just in time to share  with the judge. Might I mention again, that never in the recent history of the Cook Islands has there been a teleconference? We now refer to the attorney as Sarah the miracle worker, but I know that miracles come from another source and I believe that Sarah was given the guidance that she needed to make these arrangements.

My friend was ordered to pay for scooter repairs, lost wages for the young woman, hospital and court costs. The local bank was willing to provide Ward with the cash payment requested and the long lost passport was returned to the grateful owner. Oh, by the way, the bank does not usually make this sort of transaction, but they made an exception in our case. My friend will leave us tomorrow evening a week later than planned, but in profound gratitude for supportive and loving friends and family. She will not soon forget how many people prayed for her, nor has she missed noticing the Tender Mercies and the myriad of experiences concerning the “timing of things”. We here have all been reminded of just how much our Heavenly Father loves us and provides ways for us to be rescued.

So, as always, we are happy and trying to work hard. We have relearned old lessons this past two weeks. We hope that perhaps you may have been reminded as well of those moments in your life that included such lessons. We are grateful for the opportunity to witness miracles and to be reminded that we are watched over in this life. There is no need for us to provide photos this week, as I am sure that you get the picture.

Love, Ward and Susan                           Elder and Sister Belliston, serving in the Cooks