Elder and Sister Baxter in New Zealand: Is It Really December?

IS it really December?!

The first week of December has been like a fast roller coaster ride, lots of highs and lows. Not sure where to start....

A visit from the David, Annie and Hans Baxter family was a definite HIGH. they brought with them a little bit of Christmas and we spent Thanksgiving with them exploring a "Living Thermal Maori Village" in Rotorua and our Thanksgiving meal was cooked in a steam vent. We were graced with the Pohutu Geyser showing off. WE also tramped the Tongariro Crossing, the Track which is rated the #1 one day walk in the world. It was a beautiful day!

The biggest low came when we received word that Jeanne Cameron’s fight with pancreatic cancer ended. She is An amazing example of what a disciple of Jesus Christ looks like. Evaluating life and what I would change if I only had 3 weeks to live has been sobering. Her life speaks to the kind of quiet service that she endlessly performed. Our family has received MUCH from her.We are so blessed to have Brendon Cameron as part of our family and know his mother will be greatly missed.

With heavy hearts we traveled to a 3 day Mission Christmas Conference where all 200 of the New Zealand Hamilton Missionaries met for celebration and instruction. This group included beautiful young (and some well seasoned) missionaries from all over the world. We were overwhelmed by the power and spirit these missionaries carried with them, and we came away feeling uplifted and ready to go back to work.

We got back to Turangi and received word that our Kentucky grandson, Atticus, had taken a fall and would need to stay in the hospital until his surgery to set the broken bones in his wrist and elbow.

Word came again that even though the broken bones took a little more to pin than expected, our prayers had been answered and Atticus was doing well. The real job is now up to Audrey to keep this little man quiet for a week at home before the hard cast can be placed on his arm.

Another text arrived alerting us that David Annie and Hans, who left the North Island to caravan tour the South Island were stuck between a washed out bridge on one side and a washed out road going the other direction. In New Zealand this road closure could last for a couple hours, days, weeks. They are on day 3 and have already missed their flights home to the US. We are hoping it won’t be many more days. A coworker in the hospice thrift shop told us yesterday that the last time this happened , the tourists ended up being helicoptered out. At least David and Annie are keeping the tradition of taking the “Baxter short-cut “ way home.

We said goodbye to the children at the Maori school. They will start their summer break next week. They gave us some pointers on the best swimming spots in the river and cautioned us to be careful of the fast current. Later that day they surprised us with handmade thank you Christmas cards. Elder Baxter helped cook a "sausage sizzle feed" for their lunch.

Happy 10th Birthday to grandson Sam Harris who sneaked a birthday into the middle of this roller coaster week.

Sometimes it is hard to be far from those you love especially when some extra help would be appreciated. I am grateful to my children, family, and friends who have supported all these happenings with prayers, and worked to sustain those in need. I wish I could have been present to celebrate Jeanne Cameron’s life. Thank you to all who were there! I will cherish the email she sent me last Sunday where SHE lifted MY Spirit with kind words and encouraged me to keep working hard.

I know that Jesus Christ Coming to this Earth and giving His Life that ALL of us will live again is what sustains me in the “lows” and fills me with JOY in the”highs”of life. Merry Christmas to you all! HE is the reason for this season of celebration!

Kia ora! From the land of the long white cloud (Aotearoa)!

With Much Love,

Sister Ruth Ann Baxter