Adventures in Paradise Volume 2 #25

Kia ora! Our excellent adventure continues with some thoughts on timing. At the moment, we are experiencing a serious case of having been in the right place at the right time. and we have once again been reminded of how important it is to act on the promptings that we receive. It is the story of new homes, helping others and appreciating how far reaching one simple act can be.

A little over a month ago, Ward and I were on our way to Hamilton to attend a conference. We were traveling down a by now, very familiar country road, when we both had the impression that we needed to turn off and visit a couple who had just been called to the Philippines.  The Burts had decided to sell their home in order to help fund their mission, and when we noticed the “For Sale” sign, we both felt the prompting to stop in and visit with them before they left the country. Having never been to their home before, we chose the first driveway that we found and luckily noticed their car  parked in front of a sprawling ranch house.

This home, viewed down a tree-lined drive was surrounded by paddocks, and orchards. Ward, who is a country boy at heart, was in awe of the open spaces and the lack of neighbors. He felt that eventually the Burts would be sorry to have sold this little piece of paradise, but knew that they were doing what they thought was most feasible under the circumstances. Time was also a huge factor, and the clock was ticking. Francis and Peter were given a total of six weeks to prepare and the strain of that undertaking was showing on their faces.

In addition to the dilemma over the sale of their home, Francis, especially, was concerned about what they would be facing in the Philippines. In truth, they had expected that their call would require them to serve much closer to home. They were anticipating a call to Australia, or even possibly somewhere in their own country. The Philippines was not even on their radar and they had no idea where or how to begin. To add to the anxiety, unlike Ward and I, who were each allowed two fifty-pound bags, the Burts had the extra challenge of packing eighteen months into one suitcase each. Francis off-handedly mentioned just how nice it would be if she could actually talk with someone in the Philippines so that she could know more what to expect. I mentioned that friends we had made in the MTC on our first mission, Brent and Janet Barlow, we currently serving in that country and that when we arrived in Hamilton that evening, we would try to contact them by e-mail.

We sent two e-mails that night from our hotel in Hamilton. The first was to the Barlows and it turns out that not only were they in the same mission, but the Burts were actually replacing them! By the next morning, the Barlows had contacted Francis Burt and she had the information she needed to move ahead, with her planning. In a moment of clarity, I realized that we were the only people in New Zealand, and perhaps the whole world, who knew both the Burts and the Barlows! What an amazing coincidence that proved to be! The second e-mail we sent that evening was on a whim. We were so concerned that the Burts would have to give up their home that Ward wrote and offered another alternative. If the house didn’t sell, we could move in and the church would pay rent on their home for the duration of our mission. Peter Burt thanked us for the idea and said that depending on the outcome of the auction, he would consider our suggestion as plan “B”. We heard nothing more about this and considered the matter closed until a little over a week ago.

Early on Thursday morning, the phone rang and the Burts informed us that the house had not sold and asked if  we  would still be interested in moving. In a fortuitous meeting the previous Sunday, Francis Burt literally bumped into the Elder in charge of missionary housing, who happened to be in Gisborne for the weekend. In discussing their plight, they had asked Elder Saunders if the church would possibly be willing to move us into their home. The brief discussion centered around the fact that time was of the essence and that the Burts were quickly running out of options. Our moving has had much less to do with our enjoying a pleasant home in the country than it has to do with the fact that two people who were trying diligently to be of service needed assistance. It was not about us.

The day before we were to move in, the Burts learned that their departure was to be delayed by two weeks, so the four of us have been roommates for the last few days! I have had a little window of insight into polygamy as I have shared a kitchen with another woman, and it’s HER kitchen! It seemed like a case of bad luck and terrible timing, until the Burts discovered that neither their new charge cards, or bank accesses were working. There was also a problem with insurance activation and had it been discovered after their arrival in the Philippines, it would have been disastrous.  The Burts now had an extra two weeks to work out their banking and insurance problems. An added blessing of the two-week delay was that there has been time for them to visit with the only son who was not able to visit them in Gisborne before their departure.

Last week three of our dear young sister missionaries were awakened at 4:30 am by someone trying to break into their flat. They were frightened and it served to confirm their unease about the location of their apartment. They stayed with us for three days (the Burts being out of town) as we were searching for a new, safer home for them. This morning, Elder Saunders (remember he is in charge of housing) called to ask us to stand ready on Friday to help the sisters move. You will never imagine where they are moving unless you have a sense of the supreme case of perfect timing involved in our saga. If you do have that sense, you may have already guessed that the sisters are moving into 159 Clifford. If that address sounds the least bit familiar, it might be because it is our old address! And the last amazing plus side to all of this is that the other set of sisters are moving into that home as well. All five young women now will be living in a home in a quiet village neighborhood! The house will also be filled with the same Salvation Army furniture that Ward and I enjoyed for the last six months!

After relating the tale of our adventures in moving, it may be worth remembering that all of this occurred due to the fact that Ward and I felt impressed a month ago to stop and say hello to new friends. We have been struck by the way that simple visit has turned into a blessing for so many and we are grateful. Often we act on those quiet “suggestions” and we never know why. This is one of those rare, but sweet occasions where we have been fortunate to see the end from the beginning and we are humbled by the experience. The added bonus here, is that in eighteen months, the Burts will have their beautiful country home waiting for them when they return to Gisborne. It will not belong to someone else. By the way, our bonus is that the sheep will arrive here next week and we are looking forward to welcoming their babies in the spring. We can hardly wait!

We are struck by the perfection of the timing of the events of the last month. We are so grateful to have felt the unmistakable influence and guidance of Someone who always knows best. I cannot imagine any way that we, personally, could have orchestrated the events of the last few weeks and had the outcome be so perfect for so many. I have counted several little miracles and I overwhelmed by the experience.

As always, we are happy and trying to work hard. We are also grateful for the perfect timing that has put all of you into our lives. You each in your own way are miracles and we are grateful. We are also grateful for the opportunity of living so far out in the country that we do not draw our bedroom curtains at night. Instead, we watch as the moon and clouds drift lazily across the starlit night sky and are awakened by brilliant sunrises every morning. All is well.

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

 

Peter and Francis Burt welcome us to our new home

 

The Burts are standing in front of their kitchen door. If you look to the right, you will see a sun-filled living room (in New Zealand it is called a lounge)

 

Our favorite young women who just moved into our old house. Please note the broad grins as they welcome us to our old/their new home.

 

 

Looking east out of our bedroom windows. The windows continue around the corner to the north 

 

This photo was taken from our bed this morning at 6:15. It is glorious!

 

Ward took a walk this morning and found this little pond and waterfall

 

Please disregard the couple in the foreground and focus on their backyard!