Adventures in Paradise Volume 2 #19

Kia ora everone! Our excellent adventure continues with another perspective on the two lines that I cited last week.

 

“We drink from wells that others have dug

  We warm ourselves by fires that others have kindled.”

With tender regard and gratitude for those who have gone before, I would like to share a touching tale of faith, perseverance and sacrifice. For us, this story started when Ward discovered a tiny grave in a secluded country cemetery in the village of Matutuke, New Zealand. This little grave is tucked into a corner, surrounded by Maori headstones and is protected by a two-foot high picket fence. The white paint on the fence is faded and peeling, but the etching on the marker is still legible.

To the Memory

Of

Sarah Jane

Beloved Daughter

Of Wm and K.L. Paxman

Born Sept. 17, 1885

Died March 10, 1887

That simple marker started a two-month quest for Ward that has reaped amazing and touching results .The mystery of who that child was and how she came to be buried among generations of Maoris has become almost an obsession for Ward and we wanted to share the story with you. There is a bit of a surprise ending, so we hope that you will keep reading until the very last sentence.

William Paxman president of the Juab stake in Nephi, Utah was called to serve as a mission president in the late 1800’s. His assignment was to preside over the New Zealand mission and he was to serve for a period of at least three years. Fifty-one year old William was accompanied by his twenty-four year old wife, Katherine Ann Love Paxman, and their six month old daughter, Sarah Jane. One can only imagine and hopefully, appreciate what an arduous journey it must have been for this family. We have no way of knowing exactly how long the voyage was, but we can fathom the primitive conditions they endured, especially while traveling with an infant.

We only assume that the actual headquarters of the mission at that time may have been in Auckland, but we do know that in March of 1887, President Paxman, his wife, Katharine and now eighteen-month old Sarah Jane were in the Matutuke area for some sort of church gathering,. From the papers that Ward has located, it appears that it was a mission conference. Again, we do not know the particulars, but today the drive between Auckland and Matutuke is over seven hours, so we can safely conclude that travel time in 1887 would be equated in days, not hours!  An announcement at that conference would prove to be groundbreaking.

We know that this mission conference opened March 12, 1887. Noting that date, it becomes sadly obvious that two days before that event, little Sarah Jane passed away. We have no information as to the cause of her death, but we can only imagine the grief that two loving parents must have been experiencing. In her hand-written notes, Katherine describes the meetings but does not discuss the death of her child.  Katherine’s narrative speaks of the meeting agenda, including the assigning of missionaries to their districts. She mentions by name some of those in attendance, but there is not a mention of her baby. One must assume that Sarah was buried so far from Auckland because there was no way to return her body in a timely fashion, especially considering that March is considered the end of summer and the heat would have been a factor. I am imagining even as I relate this story, how this young mother must have felt in her loss.

Katherine goes on to write of the history making announcement that was made at that conference. She states that young Elders Richards and Saunders had been assigned to begin the first translation of the Book of Mormon into Maori. While many members of the LDS church believe that Matthew Cowley was the first to translate the Book of Mormon into Maori, we now know that this early translation predates Matthew Cowley by almost 32 years! We also know that this first translation took place in a little village near present day Gisborne where we are currently serving.

My heart is full as I relate what twenty-five year old Katherine wrote only two days after the death of her baby girl. She states that she has been appointed to cook for the translators and has been asked when ever possible, to act as scribe as well. Quoting now directly from her writings, we read , “ I was appointed to go and cook for them and help what I could by recording as they translated; so that my labors will begin shortly and I will be thankful to have something to occupy my time and attention.”  From a mother’s point of reference, Katherine is saying that her heart is breaking. But even then she finds something to be thankful for. She sees the long hours of cooking and acting as a scribe to be a blessing. What a remarkable attitude that is!

There are varying accounts of just how many Books of Mormon were available from that first translation. We have heard that there were between five hundred to two thousand copies made available to the members on the north island, due to the dedication of those two elders and one grieving mother. Their efforts blessed the lives of many people living in the area where we now serve. Their work and sacrifice are remembered and appreciated.

So, we only assume that William returned to Auckland. We do know, however that he continued to serve as mission president for another two years. Again, as a mother, I cannot imagine what Katherine must have felt as she left that little grave behind as she traveled back to the mission home. I also cannot imagine what emotions Katherine must have experienced when she left the country and returned to Utah, leaving her baby in a land so far away from home. I am overwhelmed by the strength William and Katherine and so many like them have exhibited as they worked to serve our Heavenly Father by serving a few of His children.

One hundred years later, as a show of gratitude and respect, the people of Matutuke erected a white picket fence around Sarah’s grave and to this day, that little plot is maintained by people who appreciate the efforts of those who went before. It is a very sweet gesture and not unexpected as we work with and get to know the hearts of the people living in that little village on the north island of New Zealand.

As Ward began researching this story, the Paxman name rang a familiar bell to him. There are many Paxmans who still live in and around Nephi. There was a Paxman family who lived in the house in Nephi where Ward’s family eventually resided. Even as I write, Ward is checking his facts and hopes that his connection to this story will involve a link to a common home. He asked me to wait to publish this blog until he knew for certain, but I was anxious to tell this story and will be happy to include his discovery as an addendum in a later blog.

As always, we are happy and trying to work hard. We continue to be touched by the sacrifices of others. We are deeply grateful to all those who have given so much in the service of others. King Benjamin reminds us that when we are in the service of our fellow beings, we are only in the service of our God. We appreciate you and the examples of service and sacrifice that you have been in our lives as well. We would not be the same without you.

Love, Ward and Susan    Elder and Sister Belliston, serving in Gisborne, New Zealand

 

 

Sarah Jane's mother, Katherine Ann Love Paxman

 

The little grave in Manutuke

 



In Loving Memory of Sarah Jane