Adventures in Paradise Volume 2 # 34

Kia ora! Our excellent adventure continues with some thoughts concerning what I learned while baking a cake. Two weeks ago, the young sister missionaries called to ask if I knew anything about floral arranging. The sisters were helping a young couple plan a budget-minded wedding and they were looking for flowers and someone to help display them artistically. While I was quick to admit that I knew very little about arranging, I did offer them free access to any flowers that were currently blooming in our garden. As that phone call ended, I turned to Ward and expressed my relief that I was not going to be expected to pull a rabbit out of the hat. While I am always happy to be of service, I was grateful that I was not going to suffer the stress of performing a particular task without proper qualifications and experience. I remember mentioning something to him about having dodged that particular bullet and voicing relief that they hadn’t asked me to supply the wedding cake!

Early the next morning, the phone rang again and this time, that bullet made a direct hit. The sisters were now begging for a wedding cake! While promising the bride that they could not guarantee anything elaborate, as the baker was a novice, they still suggested that a carrot cake would be most welcome and the bride had requested three tiers! My dreams of providing a simple 9x13 cake quickly dissolved as I was also told that there would be eighty guests! Had I been at home in Utah, a request of this nature would have been paralyzing, even though I might have had access to proper equipment. The same request being made in a small farming town in New Zealand, without the proper tools was beyond debilitating! I had no idea where to start or how to go about the task. As concerned as I became for my own sanity in this situation, my concern over disappointing the bride was overwhelming.

Over the years, as I have been hired to fashion many wedding dresses. I have often experienced moments of doubt over my ability to produce a beautiful custom gown. But my concern or self-doubt was always buoyed up by the fact that I knew that I had the experience and training to figure out a workable solution. I would always start from the point of what the finished dress should look like, then working backwards, I was able to visually plot out what the steps would be in creating. I had faith that the answers would come as I needed them and that faith was backed up with many years of success. I am more than willing to admit, that I always prayed over those dresses, as I always felt that I could use all the help that I could get!

So, remembering the first act that I always took with my bridal gowns, I decided that I should begin my task the same way that I had always done before. I prayed for guidance and a clear mind. I prayed that clarity of thought would lead me to workable solutions and that my service would be pleasing to the young couple. I prayed for inspiration. And, having had some experience with prayers being answered. I had faith that direction would come. I was also praying that those answers would come quickly! I prayed for knowledge and the ability to use the gifts that I had been given to serve someone else. I prayed that previous experience and knowledge would come to the forefront of my mind and that I would be able to perform well. At first, I thought that I was asking for a miracle, then I felt reminded that my experiences could be instrumental in the “miracle” that I was praying for. I was reminded to listen and be quiet enough to hear. So I began to listen and I moved forward. I am willing to admit that while my faith in myself was a little shaky, my faith that prayers would be answered was steadfast.

I have found in my life, that seeking knowledge through prayer and from others who are wiser and more experienced is the key to my learning. I have learned to ponder things out through my mind with full faith that answers will come. I have learned to cherish this process while being willing to admit that I need help. Admitting that I need help is not a sign of weakness. Rather, I believe that it is a hallmark of real faith. I have also learned that we are expected to use our talents, whether they are in the developmental stage or not, to serve others. I have learned to be open and to listen. I have learned to act upon what I have been prompted to do. I know that it doesn’t matter whether I am seeking direction on baking a wedding cake or help in making a life-altering decision. If I ask, there will be an answer. It’s that simple.

So, without going into great detail, my prayers were answered and the direction I needed came in amazing and timely ways .Very early in the morning on the day before I was to bake the cake, I was awakened with the thought to go on u-tube and watch a wedding cake tutorial. I have never watched u-tube, so this was not something I would have thought to do on my own. Answers came, including my finding containers in the kitchen that worked well for the size tiers that I needed. Early the day of the wedding, the rain and wind stopped and beautiful flowers appeared ready for the picking. The tiers were supported by dowels that Ward located in a hardware store and I used a plastic bag to do a little decorative piping.  We managed to deliver the cake safely despite bumpy roads and logging trucks bearing down on us. I was relieved, the bride was thrilled and there was enough cake to feed everyone.

While a cake may not play into someone else’s testimony of the power of prayer, it does in mine. Once again, as in many other times in my life, I prayed for direction and that direction appeared. As I sat with that cake perched precariously on my lap in the car on the way to the reception, I had the opportunity to consider how precariously we may find ourselves perched in life from time to time. I have learned to do in my life what I did with the cake that day; hold on for the ride, keep my eyes focused ahead of me and pray that I arrive safely and in one piece. 

As always, we are happy and trying to work hard. We are grateful for all of you who have been supportive of us in the past. Many of you have been answers to our prayers and we have faith that you will always be there for us. And should you need a wedding cake in the future, I will be happy to direct you to the nearest bakery!

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

 It's a miracle! The cake is finished!

 

 

Perhaps I should be wearing a smile or a little makeup. But I was tired and relieved. 

 All of the flowers came out of our garden.