Kia ora! Our excellent adventure continues with thoughts suggested by a quote from Shakespeare. In the play, “Romeo and Juliet”, parting is described as such sweet sorrow and we are in the midst of experiencing that very emotion as we prepare to part company, if only for a time, from people whom we love.

As you can imagine, there is sweetness in knowing that we are coming home. We have missed the simple pleasures that await us. My tulips are blooming and I so love a Utah spring. There are smiles and hugs to be shared and reminiscing in our future. There are babies we have yet to meet although we already love them and two new great grandbabies who are on their way. We look forward to seeing the changes that have occurred in the lives of those we last saw eighteen months ago and yearn to offer words of comfort to those friends who have lost loved ones in our absence. We are coming home!

Yet, we are experiencing another sort of sweetness which involves the sorrow that Shakespeare describes. Parting is not easy, nor thankfully, permanent. We have spent our last few days here being treated to the goodness that we have grown to expect from our friends in New Zealand.  In the midst of the beginning of Gisborn’s rainy season, we have been showered with visits and acts of kindness. We will depart on Monday, knowing that life is good and being thankful for mobility and the opportunity to return. We know, without a doubt that we will see many of our friends again and that makes leaving a little less painful.

In our last blog written from New Zealand, we wish to share with you the faces and stories of those we have come to love. We hope that in some small measure, you will catch the essence of who these friends are and what they have meant to us.

As always, we are happy and still trying to work hard. We look forward to reunions with many of you and should you be interested, we have been asked to speak in our home ward, Sunday May 15 at 11:00 am. Thank you for being supportive during our time away from you and we can’t wait until we are able to see your faces!

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

 

 

It's just possible that I should apologize for the number of photos this week, but I wanted to share as much as I could so that you would appreciate where are hearts are. 

This is Andres who came to say goodbye to the missionaries at the bus station. I will miss seeing him in his monster robe and pajamas.

 

Kelly and Cameron (who was baptized last week) came to say goodbye to Elder Fineau. Watch for Kelly's touching announcement appears at the end of these photos. We will miss them.

 

Blake is now the best pumpkin pie baker in Gisborne. We will miss him! 

 

Tania and Arirki came to say goodbye to Elder Jonnson. He will miss them and so will we. 

 

Cameron was baptized last week. We love him and his little family and we will miss them dearly.

 

We will miss casual evenings with our sweet friends. I will also miss the hugs and kisses.

 

I will miss kind friends who are willing to share an umbrella.

 

Ward will miss huge taro leaves and the Tongan elders will miss the Lupulu that he makes with them.

 

I didn't think that I would miss a sausage sizzle, but I might!

 

We were surprised by a going-away dinner in our little branch. We will miss the West men and the kindness they have shown to us.

 

Lindsay couldn't stay but came to say goodbye on behalf of his family. He has been a good friend and we will miss him.

 

I will miss the generosity of all those who contributed to our farewell dinner. The food was delicious.

 

I won't miss Ward taking a photo of me while I am eating! One of the members donated a lamb to be roasted on the spit and it was delicious.

 

These women are great examples of the diversity of our little branch. The woman on the left, Fianza Whatiteri is Maori and Juliet Lardelli married into an Italian family who were early settlers in the Gisborne area. 

 

We will miss these two single mothers and their children. They were all baptized within the year and they are happy about the positive direction their lives are taking.

 

What a surprise! Ward is dancing "Little Grass Shack" AGAIN! There is no opportunity to miss it!

 

 

 The Blandfords just purchased a home that they plan to move onto family land in our little village. We are sorry to miss the chance to welcome them in their new home.

Here is Kelly again with her surprise. Her baby boy, due in August will be named Belliston. Many of you will be able to meet them when they come to Salt Lake to be sealed. We have no desire to miss having them in our lives!

Adventures in Paradise Volume 2 #63

Kia ora! Our excellent adventure continues with thoughts concerning just how powerful a few words can be and how grateful we were to be on the receiving end of them. Last week, circumstances were such that a return trip from Hamilton was going to take much longer than we anticipated. On the best day, the drive from Hamilton to Gisborne takes a little over five hours. The two lane road is challenging in the daylight and as that light faded, it became painfully obvious that we were going to be making most of that journey in the dark, having left much later than we had planned. There is an especially challenging portion of that road that is called the Gorge, and in addition to the curving road, there is a steep drop off on one side and danger of falling boulders on the other. The wise driver expends great effort in trying to assure that that portion of the drive (which takes about an hour) is made whenever possible in daylight.

Due to circumstances way beyond our control, we left Hamilton, knowing that we would be driving most of the way in the dark and dreading our entrance into the Gorge. We were already tired and frustrated and anticipated that we would not arrive home in Gisborne until the wee hours of the morning. We were not pleased. In the middle of our discussion about the unhappy situation in which we found ourselves, a text message came in that touched our hearts and became a sweet and welcome diversion to the dread that we had been feeling. Our friend Hone Whaanga (remember a “wh” has an “F” sound) sent a message that touched our hearts. What follows is the conversation that Hone and I exchanged as Ward drove through the dark.

Hone:     Hi guys are you both available on Saturday April 16 at 4:00 pm?

Me:         Yes, we have that day open.

Hone:     Cool! We would like to cook a meal for you both that day as a gesture of thanks

               for your selfless love, time and effort which you have shared with us during the

               time which we have been blessed with to have you both in our lives. I’m glad       

               that I am texting because I wouldn’t be able to hold it together as it is hard  

               enough to do via text. We love you both so much and I can’t thank you enough.

Me:        And I’m glad that I am reading this text rather than hearing it in person. You

              would be seeing Elder Belliston crying his eyes out too. Thank you for a very

              sweet message. Xoxoxoxoxoxxoxo

Hone:    I had hoped that the 18 months would never come but I know that you both have

              family and friends and a lovely home that is waiting for you to go back to. I

              appreciate the time that I had to feel your influence and love and to learn that      

              precise obedience is what is most important. I really understand now that service

              is where the Savior is because I feel Him around me when you both counsel me

              and comfort me. I will always hold you both dear to me forever.

Me:       You know how much we love you and your family!

Hone:     I know. We know. We all love you both!

Me:        We are now forever family and we will stay in close contact. AND we will come

               Back!

Hone:     Yessssssss!  That’s a plan!

Me:        We are almost to the gorge and will not have phone coverage much longer. We

               love you!

Hone:     Love yous (not a typo) too!

We spent the rest of our moonlit drive home reflecting upon what had just happened. Suddenly the drive was not nearly as daunting as it had once seemed to us. We were touched by Hone’s words, but more importantly we were again, through that heartfelt message, reminded of why we chose to serve in the first place. It is the loving, permanent connections that are formed when you choose to serve others. We would not have missed this adventure in paradise for anything and if we are ever asked why in the world would we choose to leave home and family for an extended period of time, we have only to share a copy of this text.

As always, we are happy and trying to work hard. We have also been reminded why it is that so many missionaries choose to return over and over again to the lands where they served. Our adopted countries and the people that we love call us back. It’s just the way it is. In a little over three weeks, we are excited to be coming home, and we are confident that there will be equally happy homecomings as we return to the Pacific sometime in our future.

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

 

This is Hone and his daughter, Halo. We love them to pieces!

Adventures in Paradise Volume 2 #62

Kia ora! Our excellent adventure continues with a reminder to be grateful. Last Thursday, we came home to find that our electricity was off. As it turns out, a young driver had lost control rounding a tight curve on our New Zealand roads. It was wet and slippery and the young man, having missed the turn, hit a power pole. Seven hundred of our rural neighbors were affected and we quickly realized that having no electricity in the country is far more inconvenient than experiencing the same situation in an urban area. Not only could we not turn on lights, stoves, computers and other items, we also could not turn on the water!

In the country, where everyone depends on water from tanks (which must be filled by rain water) there are extra concerns regarding its use during a power outage. The owners left us detailed instructions on what to do and they were daunting. “Don’t run water as there is a risk of emptying the pressure tank in the attic and causing an airlock. During an outage we flush the toilet using a bucket and the spring water. If an airlock were to occur, cold water runs but the hot water doesn’t. The problem is solved by putting water down the “exhaust” pipe of the kitchen hot water cylinder. We run a hose from the spring water tap up to the pipe on the roof (preferably get one of our sons to do it).”

Not wanting to experience the frightening prospect of an airlock, we hoped for a speedy remedy to the power problem.  In the meantime we began a lengthy conversation about all the things that we take for granted. Certainly in this case, we realized that we had not fully appreciated what a blessing it is to always have water. We were reminded how we simply expect to turn on a tap or flip a switch without thinking twice about the miracle it really is. We thought of those who do not have the luxury of that immediate response and decided to be more thankful. And in that moment, we determined to be more patient with life’s little inconveniences.

In pondering this, we realized that there are so many moments in life when we may forget to be grateful. Do we take the love of family for granted because we simply expect that that love will always be there? Do we fully appreciate that we have the freedom to choose; that we have enough food to eat or a place to call home? It may seem a little thing, but I am missing the change of seasons that I have known at home and will appreciate them all the more, having not experienced them for two years. Our lives are full and the next time I turn on a faucet, I have determined to be more grateful.

As Easter approaches, I find myself ruminating on the sacrifice of my Savior and the ultimate gift he gave us all. His suffering went beyond what most us of are neither able to comprehend nor possibly fully appreciate. I am reminding myself to not take His sacrifice for granted. It is truly the gift that keeps on giving. We all have been promised immortality and He told us that he is the “Living Water” and to me, this is the ultimate analogy. We know that our bodies cannot live without water and Christ is telling us that we cannot live without Him either.

As always, we are happy and trying to work hard. We wish you all a Happy Easter and hope that a sense of renewal and gratitude will be with you this Sunday. While we are not homesick, we are now allowing ourselves the opportunity to look forward to seeing you all again.

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

Adventures in Paradise Volume 2 #61

Kia ora! Our excellent adventure continues thoughts of another looming adventure. Ward’s father always used to ask, “Are you traveling or going somewhere” and that is the way we are beginning to feel as we hold plane tickets in our hands. We are definitely traveling as we have mixed feelings about leaving New Zealand in five weeks. But the reality is that before arriving in Utah, we are going somewhere and we are beyond excited.

The truth is that as much as we will immediately miss those whom we love on this island, we have been missing others on another island for several years. It’s a tender time for us and we have been reminded, once again, just how difficult it is to move on. When we left the Cooks four years ago, our friends told us that you never say good-bye; rather you simply say see you later. That phrase is turning into a reality as we now also possess plane tickets to Rarotonga. After leaving New Zealand April 27, we will be flying to spend a few days with our Cook Island friends and that excitement is helping to temper, if just a bit, the sadness we feel as we anticipate leaving our home here in Gisborne.

I have always said that I wished to live in another country long enough so as not to feel like a tourist. To be honest, I rather fancied myself in the South of France wearing a beret and enjoying a baguette, or somewhere in the Italian countryside riding an old bicycle with a basket of fresh herbs attached to the handlebars. I wanted to soak up the culture and hoped to learn a little of the language. Never did I ever entertain the idea of living in Polynesia. Not ever. That was not even on my radar, yet here I am tearfully facing the prospects of leaving dear friends while at the same time anticipating reconnecting with others. That is what a mission will do to you and you may view this as either an enticement or a warning! You will never be the same, nor would you want to be.

Not being the same is the reason why, after having been away from family and friends for a year and a half, we have decided to postpone our homecoming just a bit longer. We know that we will absolutely return home, but we are not so clear on when or if it would be possible to return to the Cooks, or to New Zealand for that matter, so we have created our opportunity by adding an extra week to our return date. We have dear friends who have promised to meet us at the airport, a generous offer of lodging, and children who have grown up while we weren’t looking. We are approaching our reunion with tender feelings and deep emotion.

So, the woman who once imagined herself sporting a beret and savoring a baguette, has enjoyed wearing floral head eis instead. That loaf of bread has been replaced by the traditional and delicious fresh savory pies of New Zealand and by mangos and Banana Poke in the Cooks. Cycling in Italy has been substituted with vaka (canoe) paddling lessons in the rivers of Gisborne and if I wanted anything fresh, I only had to go as far as our orchard, where mandarins, oranges, grapes, peaches and apples were found in abundance. Did you know that there is even a fruit called a Lemonade, which tastes exactly like its name?  I even learned that Rocket is an excellent salad greens base for a tossed salad. My French and Italian are non-existent but my understanding of Maori has increased dramatically and with that increase has come an appreciation for the culture and traditions of both islands. To be honest, I still love Europe and its history, but it will never feel like home. The islands where we have learned to live and love is home.

As always, we are happy and trying to work hard. We are grateful for the experiences that have been the fabric of our lives here. We cherish the relationships that we have formed and find it difficult to count our tenure here in terms of weeks or days. We will return here someday and we are grateful for the blessing of social media where we are only a mouse click away from our new forever friends. We are also grateful for your support over the years, and most especially while we have been away from you these last months. We are so excited to see your faces and renew relationships. It all just has to wait, however, as we take a side trip to another place where loved ones are waiting.

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

 

 

We hope you enjoy our sentimental journey back to the Cooks

 



Luna is now going on seven. Where did the time go? We can't wait to see her!

 

 

Ake was our first baptism in the Cooks. She was single at the time. Now she lives in Auckland with her husband and two beautiful daughters. She is in the Relief Society presidency. We have loved being able to visit with them while we have been in New Zealand. 

 

This is family transport in the Cooks! We love and miss Gus and Elizabeth and their girls. They have since had another daughter and we are not sure where they will put her! 

 

Tere and Mumsy with baby Belliston. Belliston is now almost five and we can't wait to hug him!

 

 

I taught this little family to say " See ya later alligator."

 

 

Luanne used to call me Sistabelliston as if it were all one word. I hope she remembers us, if even a little bit. We have not forgotten her.

 

Chad was our very last baptism.  We love and miss this family.

 

We can't wait to be greeted by our friends. This, I think, is the sweetest way to say hello

 

There were very tender moments during baptisms at the beach

 

 

 Ward looking pretty native in a shirt made for him by a local. You could see him coming for miles!

 

 

This was our backyard in the Cooks. In the background you can see Blackrock. That is why our blog is called the Blackrock Bulletin. 

 

Jake Numanga has greeted incoming international passengers every day for over thirty years. His singing and uke playing is legendary and he was recently named a national treasure. We can't wait to see his perform at the terminal. And to call out, "Hey Jake!"

 

 

The Georges sell the best fish at Saturday market and we hear that they will have a plate waiting for Ward. Actually, Ward told them he was coming so that they could be prepared!

    

 

  

  We last saw Ina Price and her husband, Larry in Salt Lake just before we left for New Zealand. They were serving their second family history mission. They are home in the Cooks now and we look forward to spending some quality time with them!

 

 



We have missed the beautiful sunsets in Raro and plan to spend every evening basking in their beauty. It is beyond peaceful.

Adventures in Paradise Volume 2 #60

Kia ora! Our excellent adventure continues with some thoughts on the words we use and the ways in which we choose to use them. From our perspective, while living over ten thousand miles from America, we are becoming alarmed by the increasing intensity of the rhetoric being displayed as the political process plays itself out across the country.

At first I found it curious that more of our Maori friends were asking about what they considered to be the mean-spirited tone of the debates than were our Kiwi friends. But as I spoke with them, it became clear that the Maori people possess a much different attitude towards their language and the rules that govern its use. There seems to be a much higher law concerning verbal interaction in the Maori culture and that difference is one of the reasons that our friends here are so mystified by the behavior displayed by some of the American candidates.

One of my Maori friends explained to me that in their language there is no profanity. The worst thing that you can say to a person is that you want to boil their head! In that culture, the Maori believe that the embodiment of the true person is centered in that person’s head. If you were to boil that particular body part, you would in essence, dilute their identity, their sense of self and their personal power. It is truly a fate worse than death, although death would certainly be the result. But that threat is hardly ever made, because it is prevented by other rules of conduct within the community. We have spoken before about Maraes and the special place that they hold in the lives of native New Zealanders. Those buildings were the center of the community and were used for everything from religious observances to public meetings to funerals. The buildings were considered sacred and treated with great respect. Even today, an outsider must be formally invited onto the Marae by a member of that particular community. One cannot simply walk in without an invitation and expect to be welcomed.

The traditional code of behavior prohibits any arguing or derogatory conversation once one enters the building. You may disagree with anyone you choose outside, but the moment you enter the Marae, proper conduct is expected. The Maroi have such a distaste for public displays of bad behavior that currently most meetings concerning land management or those having to do with treaty discussions are all conducted in Maori specifically because there is no way to express profanity in that language. The aim is to stay level-headed and respectful. I was struck by the civility of these decisions and found myself desperately wishing that we Americans could somehow adopt the same tone in our behavior. Can you imagine the atmosphere in political or religious debates if the participants were held to Maroi standards of interaction? That is a movement that I could certainly get behind and I would vote for that idea without a moments hesitation!

Another curious aspect of the Maori language is that it has fewer superlatives than does English. When ever I hear a Maori speak in their language or sing one of their beautiful songs, I have noticed that often the same word was repeated two or three times within the same sentence or stanza. When asked, a friend explained that instead of using a superlative as a description, the word was simply repeated for emphasis. That repetition relays to the listener the esteem in which the object or person is held. It seems a very simple concept, but when you think of it, the idea of respectful repetition can engender a whole new way of expressing love or admiration. I have been experimenting with this concept in the past few days and I have found it touching to experience the tender feelings that come by simply repeating the same word or name two or three times. I will leave it to you to insert any word you wish should you think to try the same experiment, but I think that you will find that this simple change can carry with it great impact.

The lessons on respect and civility that I have learned from my sweet friends here in New Zealand, will stay with me for a lifetime. Do I wish that the ongoing drama that has become our political process would adapt some of the attitudes that prevail here? Yes, of course I do! It would be so refreshing to see candidates express differing opinions without trading insults, but for now, it just seems to be the way it is. Last week, my blog centered around the difference that one person can make. While we may not be in a position to encourage positive change in the political arena at this moment, we can take steps to encourage respectful behavior within our own spheres of influence. One person who chooses to behave in a positive and restrained manner towards others, just may leave a lasting legacy with those who will be our future leaders. In the meantime, our interaction with others need not resemble the child-like behavior that we are being subjected to at the moment.

As always, we are happy and trying to work hard. We value the lessons that we have learned here in the last 17 months and look forward to the time when we again will be positively influenced by the examples that you set for us at home. If I were to just close by saying, “Home, Home, Home”, I am certain that you would understand how much we have missed it and you.

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

 

 

 

We thought that you might enjoy a little tour of some of the Maraes in our area. You might notice that the color scheme is always the same and the intricate carvings are stunning.

 



Adventures in Paradise Volume 2 #59

Kia ora! Our excellent adventure continues with some thoughts on the power found in one person’s actions.  There is a beautifully pristine beach on the south island of New Zealand. For many years the Abel Tasman Beach was privately owned by a wealthy Kiwi family. The family, knowing what a treasure this was to the South Islanders, allowed the public complete access, provided the area was treated respectfully. One day, several months ago, word reached the residents that the beach was to be sold and that the most likely buyer was a private land development company. The as yet unnamed organization hinted that this playground would no longer be open to the public and in fact, might be in line for some sort of holiday destination development.

Duane Major, a young and unassuming “tree-hugger” was stunned by the announcement. He realized that once private development took possession, the beach would change and so would any opportunity for the ordinary person to enjoy all that it had to offer. Duane off-handedly joked to his brother-in-law, Adam Gard’ner, that to avoid the looming disaster, maybe they should buy the beach! Their outlandish plan would include a grass roots campaign to solicit donations from other Kiwis who felt the same way about the beach as they did. The idea was to suggest that individuals could make a difference by donating any amount of money that they were able. There would be no contribution that would be too small to be helpful and if New Zealanders, one person at a time, could contribute, there just might be a way to preserve the land for the future. As the idea took shape, the two men assured the donors that if successful, their plan was to deed the beach to the Nation Park system as part of a land trust agreement, thus providing permanent access to all future visitors.

How crazy was it to think that one man, with no previous fundraising experience could, by relying on others, one person at a time and one contribution at a time, create enough public interest to compete with a corporate giant having deep pockets? How indeed? The first efforts of the two young men were somewhat comical and often tongue-in-cheek as their initial publicity offerings were stick figures drawn with markers on salvaged cardboard. The stick figure spokesmen caught on and suddenly the pledges started rolling in. Duane said that he was almost the most surprised of anyone as the campaign seemed to take on a life of its own. Finally, and in the eleventh hour, an unnamed donor came to the rescue and pledged the remaining funds that were needed and an offer was tendered to the family.

Last Tuesday morning, as the whole country turned on the news, we saw two young men in t-shirts waiting nervously to hear the decision of the family concerning the offers that had been broached. Each man’s shirt bore a silk- screen-printed photo of the Abel Tasman Beach and each of their two faces registered the stress of waiting for an answer. At eight-thirty sharp, the newsroom exploded with the decision. Duane and Adam had bought a beach! By evening, almost every front-page in New Zealand showed two grinning young men in t-shirts looking out of photos that carried the caption, “ We Bought a Beach!” In all of the ensuing interviews, mention was made continuously of the difference that one person can make and the effect that it can have on so many others.

As I have thought about the events of this week concerning the beach, I have found myself focusing on all of the people who have made a difference in my life, one person at a time and I am beyond grateful.  I only had one mother and I am so grateful for her love and unfaltering support. I only had one father and I will never underestimate the role that he played in my life. My parents were not rich or famous; far from it, but the influence they had in my life was proof of the power of one. In a particularly difficult phase of my life a decade or so ago, I found myself buoyed up by one person at a time who would leave a note or a card of encouragement and love in my mailbox. For three years, I taped those notes to the inside of a cupboard. Every time that I opened that door, I felt a rush of love and support from those thoughtful messages. Those who thought of me at that time, may have wondered if one note from one person could possibly make a difference in my life and I am here to say that it made a bigger difference that anyone could imagine. There were days when that one note saved me and I cannot express how grateful I am to this day for that thoughtfulness. My spirits were lifted by one person at a time and it made a difference.

Ward could tell much the same sort of story. When his wife, Judy was so ill, he and his family were supported and loved often by one person at a time and they still speak fondly of those who were so thoughtful and supportive. I am certain that many of those friends and family who dropped by for a visit or who may have left a meal, a hug, a card or a treat did not fully appreciate how much it meant to the Bellistons to have been remembered. Long after the suffering has subsided, the memory of a single kind gesture lingers on. It is again, the power of one. 

So, since most of us will not be purchasing any beaches in the near future, we will have to be content with appreciating the good that we can do for others as we remember that one person can make a big difference. One smile may save the day for someone. A phone call could come at the exact perfect moment. If those latest cookies you baked are not perfect share them with someone anyway. Often it truly is the thought that counts and long after the receiver forgets that the treat wasn’t perfect, they will remember that you were perfectly thoughtful. And we all being who we are, will make a difference for someone else, I promise!

As always, we are happy and trying to work hard. We so appreciate all of you and the individual differences you have made in our lives. We have learned so much from you and have been the recipients of  much thoughtfulness over the years. If any of you cannot imagine where you have made a difference, we would be more than happy to share our thoughts with you. Just ask.

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

Beautiful Abel Tasman Beach

Duane (left) and Adam celebrating on "Their" beach.

Adventures in Paradise Volume 2 #58

Kia ora!  Our excellent adventure continues with news of a milestone birthday and how it was celebrated. In truth, this is really not a blog so much as it is two photos with a few names attached. Due to weekend plans, there is no time for my usual writings, so this is a very condensed version of our weekly message. We are excited to be leaving for Hamilton tomorrow morning to be with our little Cook Island family as one of the boys turns twelve on Sunday. Usharn will celebrate his birthday Sunday by being ordained to the priesthood and he has asked us to attend and has invited Ward to participate in that ordinance as his extra grandpa. After church, we are looking forward to a family dinner and chances to hug our favorite Kiwi kiddos.

But I digress. Ward turned seventy-five (!) last Tuesday. We all find that number a bit difficult to fathom and I always think of him as perennially going on fifteen. But his birthday arrived and with it a very sweet two days. Of course while the calendar in New Zealand said that it was his birthday one day, the fact that in Utah that date arrived a day later, gave us an opportunity for double celebrations. He was king of the house for two days and was touched by all of the birthday wishes he received from both countries.

By far, the biggest and most touching surprise of the day came Tuesday morning after our weekly district meeting with the young elders and sisters. I mentioned to them the week before that it was Elder Belliston’s birthday and asked if they could plan something special. That something special brought tears to Ward’s eyes, as the group entered the room singing Happy Birthday. The candles indicated the correct age and there was a sparkley banner and two kinds of ice cream. We thought that you might enjoy seeing how and with whom Ward celebrated a milestone that he had dreaded. It turned out that it was a day that he would not have missed for the world.

As always we are happy and trying to work hard. We have appreciated the thoughtfulness of being remembered on a special day and hope that we can return the favor. We miss you all, but for the moment, we are relishing the last few weeks of our great Kiwi adventure.

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

Ward had a lovely morning celebrating with a few of his favorite young people. Several countries are represented here: Tonga, Philippines, Taiwan, Australia, Sweden, Samoa, and America

Elder Pierce from Rexburg, Idaho is one of the tallest missionaries in our mission. Sister Boligar, from the Philippines is the very shortest. We are a study in diversity and we love it!

Adventures in Paradise Volume 2 #57

Kia ora! Our excellent adventure continues with news of a garden party. Last week, as I sat in the shade of Fejoa trees, and listened to the banter that surrounded me, I was reminded of a song by Ricky Nelson. The opening line of his 1972 hit tells of a garden party that he attended where he reminisced with his old friends. In truth, Ricky’s garden party took place at Madison Square Garden in New York, thousands of miles away from our little island. But that song kept looping through my memory as I enjoyed the lazy afternoon, the cool shade and reminiscing with my new friends.

Although we travel extensively as part of our mission duties, our assignment as prescribed by our mission president, is to minister to the members of the Manutuke branch. That little branch, encompasses several tiny villages, including, Muriwai, Manutuke and Patutahi, and we are thrilled if thirty people happen to arrive for Sunday services! You may then imagine that we were equally thrilled when over two-thirds of our little branch attended the BBQ at the home of the Browns. I thought that you might enjoy, if only from a distance, the sights and sounds of our little gathering. We would like you to meet some of the members of the Manutuke branch

Our garden party is better known here as a BBQ. Unlike the hamburger, hot dog and potato salad menus at home, there are grilled sausages served on buttered bread, cabbage salad and lots of fresh fruit. At home, we would suggest a pot luck party; here you are told to "bring a plate."  By the way, Joseph Stevens is wearing the white ball cap and he was baptized the next week. 

This is my favorite photo of the day. Samantha (who is blind) is enjoying a laugh with Ross Honey. Ross is the only non-Maori in our little branch. An interesting side note is that Samantha does not shop for clothing. As a sister missionary is leaving for home, I ask if she has any clothes that she would like to leave behind. I take those to Samantha and we put together outfits for her. She is wearing one of those outfits in this photo!

This is Samatha's son, Jimmi. I keep telling her how beautiful he is and she always replies that she already knows.

As we waited for dinner, the young Elders presented a short message. I forgot to mention that there is always an abundance of fresh fish dishes available as well.

Jenine Brown and her daughter, Ihipera are enjoying a happy moment together. They are the wife and daughter of the branch president.

Jack and his father, Mefe, were waiting patiently for the sausages. Their last name is Whaitiri. In Maori a "wh" combination is pronounced as an F sound and an R sounds like a D. I have spent 18 months totally confused and afraid to address people by their names!

This is Caleb West. He and his wife, Libby just announced that their first baby is due in the fall. The man in the green shirt in the background is our branch president and this is his garden.

And here are two more members of the West family. Mark West works in forestry and his crews  are part of those charged with planting and maintaining the timber crop. If you promise not to tell, Mark's son Eru is close to being engaged, so please keep that secret.. Also try and guess how to pronounce his name.

 Samantha shares a laugh with a new friend that she met at the garden party.

As many of you are no doubt aware, Ricky Nelson did not enjoy his time at the garden in 1972 and vowed never to return.   His disappointment over the negative response he received gave him the inspiration for his song, so at least one positive thing resulted from that experience. I have been humming the last line of that song for about a week and although it has remained a continuous recording in my head, I would suggest that Ricky was only partially correct in his sentiments.  “It’s all right now and I’ve learned my lesson well. You can’t please everyone so you might as well please yourself.”  While I know it’s not possible to please everyone, the lesson we have learned  is there is often great joy in joy in the trying. Pleasing someone else is one way to make ourselves a little happier as well.

Our little garden party was far more successful for those who attended than was the far more famous one held over forty years ago. Ricky would choose never to return, but we would do it a again in a microsecond. We will cherish  reminiscing with people who will become our old friends and although there was no song born as a byproduct of this event, there was a blog created that allowed you have the opportunity to meet our friends and acquire a small sense of our experiences here. Perhaps I should blog in reverse, and leave our New Zealand friends with the opportunity to meet our friends at home!

As always  we are happy and trying to work hard. Along with our over- sized luggage, we will be returning home with larger than life memories. We have now entered that time of a mission where we have one foot in one life and one foot in the other. As much as we look forward to gathering in gardens at home, we will always be aware that others are gathering without us here in our other home. Yet, we are grateful for the memories that please us and for the gift of reminiscing.

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