Another of Mom & Dads Elders

From Lds.org.au

Australian Missionary Safe after Japan Earthquake and Tsunami

Elder Stephen Bardzinski with Mission President Baird and Sister Baird, in Nagoya, Japan

25 March 2011

WYNDHAM, Victoria - "He is where he needs to be," says Heather Bardzinski, mother of Mormon missionary, Elder Stephen Bardzinski, who serves in the Japan Nagoya mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

"We were holding our breath until we heard word about Stephen after the Japan earthquake and tsunami. Within twenty-four hours the bishop of our ward (congregation) and the Japan mission office gave word to us that he was safe."

Stephen's fraternal twin brother, Ben, is serving a mission in Ecuador at the same time as Stephen. "They are being looked after," their mother said. "I wouldn't want to hold them back from being where they need to be."

Elder Bardzinski told his family by email that several of the missionaries from Tokoyo were now in his mission. He also mentioned that there were no transfers planned for the next three months.

After the experiences of fellow mission leaders regarding the Brisbane floods and the Christchurch earthquake, Japan mission authorities were well prepared to account for their own missionaries. This took place within hours. Parents were then notified that their children had been located and were being cared for. Many times the missionaries were put right to work in the trenches, rebuilding the area where they were previously teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.

This is Elder Bardzinski's third time to Nagoya. His first was through a scholarship he acquired through a school exchange programme. He loved the country so much that he worked and saved for the funds to sightsee for a month on a second trip.

"Later, when he opened his mission papers his face went white. He seemed shocked to realize that he would be able to live for two years in the same area in Japan that he had grown to love," his mother said.

Elder Bardzinski's friend from a neighbouring congregation in Hoppers Crossing, David Goddridge, is also serving his mission in Japan. He is safe in Kobe.

To read the Wyndham Weekly news report on Elder Bardzinski fulfilling his dream, click here.

3 of Mom & Dads Elders

These are three of mom & Dads missionaries that came home a little early.

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

Bach

Abby did great at the talent show today. Thought we'd share it with our family abroad.

Japan Update...

date Tue, Mar 15, 2011 at 10:58 PM subject email to Whitney mailed-by hotmail.com

This is a letter I sent to Whitney this afternoon after a conference call with our authorities in Tokyo:

Hello Sister Baird,

I'm sure by now you have heard some not so good news for the 80 missionaries coming to Japan. If not please don't share this until your leaders do.

I'm sorry we gave you wrong info yesterday. We didn't realize how big this nuclear plant disaster would be.

Dad had a conference call today with Tokyo. The Quorum of the 12 decided on Tuesday morning they wanted all missionaries in Sendai and Tokyo evacuated. All Sendai missionaries are going to Sapporo and Kobe, Fukuoka and Nagoya will all get around 40 each of the Tokyo missionaries. We've also been instructed to send all of our missionaries that are going home in April and May home on this Friday. They already have flight plans for them. We have a few very sad missionaries and one very happy one ... they told us to send those ones that wanted to go early as well. We have about 9 or 10 leaving on Friday.

They also told us that missionaries coming in April would not be coming, at least at this time. I think they will probably keep you all in the MTC for a while longer just like the ones that can't get their visa's.

The church is very mindful of their missionaries. They want you to be very safe. I know you are all feeling sad but don't worry, we are praying that things will be back to normal soon.

Meanwhile we are getting a bus load of missionaries tomorrow (40) from Tokyo that will be staying here. At the same time we will have around 10 others that will be here to leave the next morning.

{McKenzie inserts: that's 50 missionaries at ONE TIME!!!! Holy Cow!!}

I think this will be a crazy next 2 days. I'll keep you posted.

Love you. I know that you will help others be positive and happy.

Love you forever.

Momma

Pres. & Sis. Baird

I've had quite a few loving phone calls wondering if my parents are okay.

They are doing well. You are all so kind to think of them, the missionaries and all of us at this time. Your phone calls have ment a lot and I thought I would share the emails (starting with the first one) since the earthquake.

Thu, Mar 10, 2011 at 11:14 PM

Just had to tell you all, we just had my first good earthquake. I was at the kitchen sink, and Urano shimai was in the laundry room getting ready to go. I started to feel so dizzy I thought I needed to kneel down, it kept getting worse. then i heard the doors shaking. I looked at the curtains and they were swaying so was the light and the pictures on the wall. I guess the epicenter was near Tokyo. Wow it must have been big there. It lasted for a few minutes. Weird.
Love you all
Your shakin' momma

Fri, Mar 11, 2011 at 2:15 AM earthquake

Hello,
Just wanted to tell you we're all okay. We had a really good shaking that lasted a long time, they said ours was around a 5. Nothing like Tokyo and Sendei missions where it was a 8.4.
The church is so good and protective. They have had us call all our coastal area missionaries inland immediately. We do have many of our Japanese missionaries who have families in the areas that were hit hard.
We love you all.
Sister Baird

date Sun, Mar 13, 2011 at 6:33 PM subject earthquake

Hello everyone,
We are all fine in the Japan, Nagoya Mission. We don't have any damage here that I'm aware of. The missionaries families are safe and now the search is on for the members in those areas.
As I watch the BBC's news and they talk about Japan, they speak of a people who aren't being rude or looting. How everything is orderly. How the people are not out of control. People are still showing up to work this morning, even if there is no building to go to. They are trying to resume their routine. Digging out. Amid all this turmoil, they are still polite and orderly. This is so how the people of Japan are. It's an incredible country, we love it. Our missionaries love it too. They want to go and help. For now, they are helping here by teaching people of the peace that comes from having the gospel. We all love these people. Our hearts break when we see their faces and hear their stories.
Thank you for your continued prayers for the missionaries, members and people of Japan.
We love you all.
Sister Baird, Bonnie, Mom or GrandmaRecently emailed

date Sun, Mar 13, 2011 at 6:04 PM subject RE:

McKenzie,
...We have been traveling up to Nagano which is only about 3 hours from Sendai, we just got back late last night. The aftershocks up there were much worse than here in Meito. We were on the 11th floor of the hotel and we swayed a few times. The cell phones earthquake alarms would go off, it was a little unnerving. All of our missionaries families are good in that area. They were all so worried, we let them call and talk to them, it helped them feel a lot better. We had a houseful that night and it was crazy to get everyone inland, the trains had stopped running. We did it though and had everyone in safe places by about midnight. It's a bit frightening to see how fast those things hit and to see the total devastation it causes. I feel bad for President and Sister Tateoka, they are leaving in July. I'm sure they will feel they are leaving so many things that aren't fixed by then. They used to be in our ward in South Provo.
It looks like the nuclear plants are something we might all need to worry about. Radiation checks are being done in those areas but more plants seem to be having problems which will inevitably mean we may have power problems later. We're suppose to be feeling aftershocks for months they said.
Thank you for thinking about us. There's no damage here, but as I rode over those massive bridges and went through the tunnels to Nagano, I thought a lot about being shaken around on those. The Japanese make things very safe here. It's that an earthquake that is about 9 on the scale, does it's own thing. I guess the tunnels would be a pretty safe place to be.
I hope you're all doing well. We love you all and think of you everyday.
Jamata ne.
Mom

Thanks again for all of your thoughts and prayers. I will contine to post progress and changes.

We love you all.