New Zealand Mission April 1, 2020


We have received questions about whether we are still alive because people have not seen a blog post lately. Well, we are alive, well and excited to be here. 😊

It is beautiful down here in New Zealand, even under these current extraordinary circumstances.

New Zealand went into level 4 lockdown one week ago today. We have all been counselled to stay in our homes except for exercise, going to the grocery store, or for medical needs. The only other thing that we can go out for is for essential services that we provide, such as the safety of our missionaries or others in our ministry. 


We have learned so much and experienced so many miracles this past month and a half. As many of you know, we have been serving in the mission office - Kathy is the office secretary and administrator and Fred is the financial secretary. Up until last Wednesday, we were going into the office, generally leaving our flat at around 6:00 AM each morning and leaving the office to go home at around 3:00 PM each afternoon. Since Wednesday March 25 at 11:59 PM (when lockdown began) though, life has changed, and we have moved some of our office equipment and supplies home and we continue to work from our flat. There has been an extraordinary amount of work that needs to be done in light of the lock down and in supplying for the needs of our missionaries, especially as it relates to their travel and the finances of the mission.

One of Kathy‘s responsibilities is arranging all the flights and bus transfers within the mission. She also works with the Area Mission Travel Office when we have missionaries coming into the mission and going out of the mission, to ensure that everyone has all the documentation and itineraries that are needed. Recently there has been lots of travel. This has been primarily to organize for the young missionaries, that are from foreign countries, to be returned home. Our church leaders have given guidance that all young foreign missionaries are to return home to their country of residence, if it is possible. Things will change over the next few months until the COVID-19 virus is under control and it has run its course and we are dealing with that. We have seen the hand of the Lord guiding and directing our leaders and ourselves as we make these arrangements and work together.
Fred’s primary responsibility are the finances and there has been much to do with travel in addition to the regular finances as it relates to the running of the mission. Fred has also been very involved in helping Kathy with organizing travel and with all the communication that has been going on between the mission, the missionaries and the parents of our missionaries.

As we have been going through this, we have also been receiving inspirational quotes and information from our Area Presidency, Area Travel and from the Prophet and Apostles daily. We want to share some of those with you.

Here are a few quotes and scriptures that we thought might be reassuring and bring some comfort and peace to all of us.

·        “President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency said the following at a missionary meeting in Las Vegas last Saturday (March 14, 2020) “This is not the end of the world but merely a test. A trial run for the Second Coming if you will - physically and spiritually. If you’ve been following the counsel from the Prophet about ministering, emergency preparedness, and at-home Church, you have no need to fear, you passed the test.”

From our Area Presidency:
  
  • What a blessing to be led by our living Prophet, President Russell M. Nelson, to  participate today, the holy Sabbath, in the worldwide fast to petition the Lord for relief from the physical, emotional and economic effects of this global pandemic – COVID-19.

  • Elder Ardern, Pacific Area President said,” No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the development of such qualities as patience, faith, fortitude and humility. All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable, more worthy to be called the children of God…and if through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the education that we come here to acquire and which will make us more like our Father and Mother in heaven.” ( Elder Orson F. Whitney)

  • President Ballard, speaking of covid-19 recently commented that, “From the beginning of history there have been circumstances  similar to this one. Somehow they got through them, and we are going to get through this one”. He added, “The world will win this war on the coronavirus so let’s be happy and keep going forward and do the best we can , and these circumstances will change.”

And here are a few scriptures that have been coming to our minds over this past couple of weeks that have been inspirational to us:

“Who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14

“Therefore, let your hearts be comforted concerning Zion; for all flesh is in mine hands; be still and know that I am God.” D&C 101: 16

 “I, the Lord am bound when you do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise.” D&C 82: 10

“There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon with all blessings are predicated – And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated.” D&C 130: 20 - 21

We also take comfort and have peace with the words given to us by our prophet, President Russell M Nelson. See short video clip at  one of the following two url addresses: 
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/president-nelson-message-covid-19

https://www.facebook.com/russell.m.nelson/videos/199840471336927/?t=0

At our last General conference in October 2019, President Nelson told us to prepare for this Conference in April 2020 and that it would not only be a memorable one but an unforgettable one. What an unforgettable one we expect it to be!
We look forward to listening to our Prophet, President Russell M. Nelson, and other apostles and general leaders of the church, at general conference this Saturday and Sunday, April 4th and 5th. We invite you to join with us and listen to them by going to https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/

Sessions will be broadcast on Saturday April 4th at 10:00 AM, 2:00 PM and 6:00 PM MDT and on Sunday April 5th at 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM.

We send our love and appreciation for all of you, for your prayers and kind thoughts and remarks. We love our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and are grateful for the opportunity we have to serve Him at this time. May God bless you in all your labors and endeavors and keep you safe, healthy, and happy through these current trials.

Love,
Elder & Sister Hurdman




These pictures show some of the beauty around us on one of our favorite walks close to our flat. Even in these times, there is much to be grateful for!

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