TRIALS AND VISITORS

True, it has even too long since we have posted but we have been under a lot of stress lately and posting on the blog hasn't been a very high priority. Alecia has been quite ill and bed ridden for the past three weeks. She continues to suffer from sores in her mouth as well as a long list of other symptoms. Mostly a lot of pain and discomfort in the abdominal area, and absolutely no energy.  As sick as she has been, she stays resolute in her faith and "stick ability"! The doctors here have done several blood tests and even sent them off to a hematologist for a reading. The first set of tests showed a low white cell count and they were thinking it could have been cancer. We had to live with that for three days before they got the readings of a new test which indicated her count had recovered to normal. It was probably the three longest days of our lives. The hematologist wasn't aware she is taking methytrexate for her polymayalgia which affects the white count. As the medication wares off the white count increases. A lot of technical stuff, huh? 

Anyway, now they are looking at an irritable bowl disease or Chrones disease. We have a consult with a specialist this coming Wendsday and a scope set up for the following Tuesday. We will keep you posted on further developments along these lines. 

The missionary work continues in OAMARU for us though. I have taught 2 institute classes so far which Alecia has helped me prepare for. Her spiritual insight is invaluable and the lessons wouldn't be the same without it. The Lord knew what He was doing when He made us companions! I have gone out with the missionaries to several teaching appointments but sad to say we have had a lot of "door step" cancellations. We keep on keeping on though. The Elders are amazing in their commitment and dedication to this work. It is a joy to be involved with them. We now have a Samoan, a Tongan, a Figian, and an American serving here. Fun!!!! We have planned a fireside, devotional, on member missionary work and will be putting it on this Sunday in the 2nd branch and  later in the 1st branch. The saints here are so mission oriented, it is amazing. It seems to be on top of their to do list!

The young women leaders asked if they could come over for a service project and they came over last week to clean the house and bring a meal in. They vacuumed, washed cabinets, mopped the floor, did some ironing, and dusting. They were so sweet and we had such a good time with them. It was presious watching the sister leader showin the girls how to iron my shirt and pants. The meal was great too and we all shared dessert together.

We also had a visit from our dear friends Dent and Deborah Hales. When they knew we were coming to NZ for our mission they signed up for a cruise that had a port stop in Duneden so we could hook up. How cool is that!!! Here are a few pictures of that visit. The beach scenes are one of the attractions down here on the South Island. 

Took these pictures driving up to Oamaru from Duneden. Alecia was able to go out or lunch and visit that day and we had a great reunion. Absolutely love the Hales, bestest friends anyone could ever ask for.

Went for a drive one afternoon and took these pictures of the look out over one of the pinquin colonies.

The pinquins were out to sea feeding at this time of day and return at dusk.

Disclosure! I wrote this post a couple of weeks ago and a lot has transpired since then. Since then Alecia has had a CT SCAN  which was normal, YEA! She is going in for a gastroscope tomorrow and we will get a new post off with some fun pictures and updates.

SPRING IN OAMARU

Its so fun to see the new growth not only in our yard as we look out the windows of our home, but also in the work out here in Oamaru.

 

We are experiencing a missionary effort in both branches, by not only the missionary's but also the members and leaders and it's exciting. We had a sacrament on missionary work and our very own Elder Osburn was the main speaker and told of his conversion story. A few days later we had an open house with one member,who is of humble means and the father of 9 children providing the food. He is the ward mission leader. There were 24 investigators that showed up and 75% of them he invited.  Elder Osburn spoke again.

 The missionaries have placed flyers all over town to invite people to come and listen to prophets and apostles at a world wide broadcast. This week is when we listen to conference here because we are a day ahead. We had to get up at 5:00 am to hear conference live,it was so wonderful and had such a special spirit. They tried the flyers last year in Nelson and they were hoping for 300 to show up and they got 500,so exciting. 

The ward mission leaders meet with us and the missionary's weekly at our home and the ward counsel meeting every week is how we get the names to reactivate  less active in both branches. We have been going out with the missionary's to teach non members with them. Rand and I actually have a family to teach with three sons and a single mom every Thursday evening. She and one son are members but two of her sons have yet to be baptized. Every Tuesday night  we teach an institute class on the B of M at the church.The work is definitely moving forward in this part of the vineyard. 

Every other Thursday we have district training in our home. This last Thursday was the first time in our home so I gave my Crepes breakfast You should have seen them put down the crepes. 

Elder Danies the new ZL standing to the left ate 9. 

Training in our living room. 

That, of course, put Sister Osburn down for a week and she hasn't recovered yet. She has had a sore 

 throat since she got here as well as sores in her mouth. We brought an investigator to church who had a bad cold, so she caught that too. On top of that a kidney stone appeared that week and had a trip to the doc. Now ct scans and blood work  because her irritable bowel is only letting her have soup every day. She has cried many tears about why would he send us out here now when she is having a hard time coping with all the changes, work and stress of everything. Her body is still in charge of her daily activities. 

It is so hard to work with and then have to say goodbye to some of these missionary's that we love so much and we know why we had to come now.  We just lost our first few missionary's today. The ones that taught us what and how to do this.They get a candy bar card when they leave. ( I have to hug them goodbye).

Zone leader Elder Barryhill

DL Elder McClullam

There is no doubt it's Rand that had to come to further the work. He will have to go with the missionary's when she can't. Sister Osburn is determined to get to the little Philipino family with the single mom each week for sure cause she has a special spot in her heart for that sister. We hope you will pray with us to bring that little family some joy with the gospel in their life. 

In closing are some pics of our little seaside town we love so much. Old town.    

     

Penguins come to shore every night (dusk) beautiful beaches with these amazing sea shells all over.

P.S. Sorry it has been so long between postings,we'll do better in the future. One of the advantages of long time waits is that we got two letters/emails from people wanting to stay in touch--Yeah!!! Way to go Kress and Kim. 

 To catch you up on some things that have just transpired: the couple that we put the wedding on for with all the attendant costs etc. have dropped the missionaries. We think they just couldn't handle living the commandments and changing their lives. They also wore members out asking for money, rides, etc.interesting!! So it goes sometimes. 

Also of interest is that we got to hear Elder Vern Stanfill, newly called to the seventy, speak at his fair well in the Big Fork ward in Kalispell. Got to meet him too. Great man who will be serving in Africa for the next five years. Enjoyed his talk at conference.

We want to share a scripture with you. We had been praying and fasting ferverently about Alecia's health problems when we came to the following scripture: Mosiah 24: 12-16. It was the answer we have been seeking for quite sometime and spoke to us loudly. 

We again bare our testimony that this is the Lords work. It is his restored gospel of Jesus Christ. This is His true church with the fullness and completeness of His word here on earth. Mat we all love him and each other. Elder and Sis. Osburn