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!