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