Blessed by “Modern” Technology

March 2 – 8, 2026

Our lifts (elevators) were still out most of the week and were finally up and running again on Friday, March 6. In 2 Nephi 2:11 it says, “ For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, … righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad.” We had never been “grateful” for the elevators…until they didn’t work. Only then did we realize what a huge convenience it was to get upstairs quickly (and painlessly!), carry up groceries, move items between our flat and the car, and even have access to our car on basement level 6! I think it’s hard to have gratitude when you only know the “good.” There’s a song written based on this scripture – called “Opposition” by Carol Lynn Pearson and Lex de Azevedo. I first heard and sang it as a child and it made a lot of sense to me why opposition is so important for our growth, understanding, gratitude, and helping lead us to Jesus Christ. The song goes:

You can never know the good if you never know the badYou can never be happy if you’ve been sadYou’ve got to taste the bitter so you can know the sweetYou’ve got to be hungry to be glad that you can eat
You’ve got to be sick to be grateful for your health.You’ve got to need money to appreciate wealth.There’s got to be some problems to rise aboveYou’ve got to be lonely so that you can know love!
It’s called opposition, my friend, opposition a necessary condition in this world of ours

If you’ve ever climbed a mountain when the sun in raging hotA sip of cold water is the best thing you’ve gotIf you been out playing all morning in the snowthen jump into a nice warm tub’s the nicest thing you know!
When you’ve been working hard you’re glad to hit the sackWhen someone you love’s been gone you’re glad when they’re backWhen you make a mistake or two and when you do it rightIt’s just like the world turned from darkness into light.
It’s called opposition, my friend, opposition a necessary condition in this world of ours
Opposition Song

That was a great lesson for us – to be grateful and acknowledge how blessed we are to have “modern” conveniences that TRULY bless our lives…along with a multiplicity of other blessings we are thankful for!

The week was a little slower – due to not having a car or working elevators – we had more time in our flat. We attended some lessons with the sister missionaries, checked missionary apartments (we help “check” the apartments every 6 weeks to make sure everything is working and in good order), and taught our usual lessons – temple prep and Book of Mormon class. On p-day we caught up on our shopping at Target, Costco and Coles. Funny enough, while at the store, we found a rack with 3 University of New Mexico t-shirts for sale. Crazy! Ha ha!

He already has this one, haha

wrong size!

On Sunday we met at our church building at 8:15 am to take public transportation with other group members and friends to Mortdale for Stake Conference. It was a beautiful conference, reminding us to draw closer to the Savior everyday – believe in Him, trust Him, follow Him – make our discipleship our number 1 focus. That evening we had our crew over for dinner – our last dinner together with Elder Duare before his transfer next week.

We love Elder Daure.

Feeding the missionaries, Elder Daures last meal.

The Tongan choir, they sang a beautiful hymn “Folofola Mai ‘a sisu” listen to it here: https://youtu.be/Zl6il__FIp0?si=zpAYfnVAX7vbbHRA

A couple funnies-

At dinner on Sunday we made hand pressed hamburgers (I don’t like the frozen ones!) with all the fixings for the missionaries! There was lettuce, tomatoes, onions, sliced pickles, guacamole and all the condiments you could want. One of the Filipino sister missionaries asked us, “Where’s the tuna for the hamburgers?” Who knew??? 🤣

A couple days after the elevators were working, we walked past the open door to the fire escape stairs and I suggested we walk DOWN the stairs instead of taking the elevator – just for a little more exercise as we walked to the church. As we walked down the 10 flights of stairs, I told Eric that walking down was fine but I NEVER want to have to walk up again. We got to the bottom…but the door to the lobby was locked! We went down a little further to the parking garage level, but that door was locked too! We were locked in the stairwell! Much to my dismay, we started walking back UP the stairs, trying the exit doors on each level. We were finally able to exit on level 8!!! UGH! Then we had to take the elevator down. Life lesson – SKIP the extra exercise – ha ha!😆

Even though it was a slowish week, we enjoyed some down time and continued loving our service as senior missionaries! ♥

10 down, then 8 up.

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Some things I learned this week:

This passage in Proverbs 3:5-6 has taken on a deeper meaning to me this past year and I’m still learning about it everyday:

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

TRUSTING in the Lord – What does that mean? What does that look like? Why should I do it? What are the benefits?

To me it means TRUSTING that the Lord’s way is the BEST way – I can continually – daily/hourly – seek His way as I prayerfully seek Him for guidance and direction. I should still make plans and prayerful move forward, seeking Him in all things. If He tells me to stop – I can change directions. Instead of praying for Him to help me with MY plan, I want to turn to Him and ask what is best for me according to His plan. He is the God of the universe – He created the heavens and the earth – and all things that are in them. He is the literal father of our spirits. He sent His son, Jesus Christ to atone for our sins and to be resurrected – so that we, His children, can repent, change, follow Him, have peace, joy and safety in mortality and live again! Why would I NOT trust Him?!?! President Nelson repeatedly taught “Let God prevail” (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2020/10/46nelson?lang=eng). I only have a tiny piece of the puzzle of my life – but trusting God is saying, “I know He sees the end from the beginning, He sees the whole, beautifully completed puzzle – I want to trust Him and let Him prevail in my life!” We can’t see the whole picture – but He does!

When we received an answer to prayer to serve a full time mission – there were many things that had to be done, resolved, etc. in order to go – financially, temporally, physically, etc. We trusted in the Lord and He helped us through every aspect of our preparation – not that it was easy – but we were blessed to have all things resolved and completed so that we could follow Him and come to Australia. As we teach the people here – at church, in our Book of Mormon study class, in our Temple Preparation class, in our gospel lessons with the Jr. Missionaries – I have realized that ALL God’s commandments are for the BENEFIT of His children – not to make things “hard” in our lives, not to “punish” us but to BLESS US, to help us receive JOY in this life – even amidst trials! Why WOULDN’T we want to put our TRUST in the Lord? He ALWAYS has our best interests at heart – He is a perfect God, a perfect Heavenly Father. His desire is for us to gain experience, learn, grow, follow Him by faith – Have MAXIMUM joy!! Faith requires TRUST! I love when the Spirit teaches me and I gain a “deeper” understanding of something I’ve always known. The truths become much more than words; they become a part of me and increase my testimony and love for the Lord! 💕

DID YOU KNOW? If you look up “trust in the Lord” – there are 100’s of references in the Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine in Covenants. Here are a few:

Psalm 118:8-9 – It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.

Psalm 71:1-3 – In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion. Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me. Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.

Psalm 115 – Ye that fear the Lord, trust in the Lord: he is their help and their shield. The Lord hath been mindful of us: he will bless us;…He will bless them that fear the Lord, both small and great. The Lord shall increase you more and more, you and your children. Ye are blessed of the Lord which made heaven and earth. The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.

Psalm 31:1 – In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.

Nahum 1:7 – The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.

Isaiah 26:4 – Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:

2 Nephi 4:34 – O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm.