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!