Tokotoko

 

In December we visited a wood carver in Henderson, a suburb west of Auckland. Shauna wanted to buy a nativity creche, and found a nice one there. The wood carver and his wife emigrated here some time ago from Bethlehem, in the Holy Land. He has also made some nice kiwi bird carvings for the mission, which they use to give missionaries as rewards for keeping their flats clean. Since my birthday was near, Shauna insisted that I buy a walking stick that he had in his shop, which I gladly did. It is beautiful, carved from Japanese cedar.

Lately, my leg and hip have been giving me some grief, so I now use this cane to steady myself as I walk. It is most useful and is beautiful as well.

I started to get many comments about my walking stick, but especially from the Māori people. There is a traditional stick that the Māori leaders use, as a symbol of their authority, I believe. It is called by them, a tokotoko. I had no idea the significance of my walking stick. It still serves me well, nevertheless.

One of the people who commented on my tokotoko mentioned the spirals carved into it. I just thought it was a decorative touch. It curved a bit so I thought that was to just add to its character. I was asked, "how many generations?" I was then informed that each spiral indicated a family generation. I had noted previously that it had ten spirals.

Upon thinking more on my tokotoko, I reflected on my own ancestry and came up with this amazing observation. If I followed my generations back and forward, I might easily come up with ten. Putting it together, I also thought it would be clever to alternate fathers and mothers in each generation. It worked! I am in the midst of a ten generation span of people who were in the Gospel in their lifetimes. Here is how it works (leaving out names of people who are still living):

1. my great-granddaughter Biesinger, living in Hungary.

2. my grandson Biesinger, in Hungary.

3. my daughter Buchanan/Biesinger in Ohio.

4. myself, temporarily in New Zealand.

5. my mother, Arvilla Jacobson, married to Forrest "D" Buchanan.

6. her father, Eddie Matthias Jacobson, married to Sarah Delilah Anderson.

7. his mother, Rebecca Deseret Dutson, married to Ole Hansen Jacobson, who was baptized in Denmark.

8. her father, John William Dutson, married to Elizabeth Jane Cowley, from the Isle of Man.

9. his mother, Ann Green, married to John Dutson, whose family managed the inn, The Green Dragon, in Herefordshire, England.

10 her father, William Green, married to Jane Prosser, who both joined the church in England and died on their way to Zion.

What a remarkable heritage, and a fitting reminder carved in my walking stick! Also, I love seeing the truly international nature of this progression. The Lord's hand is made bare in the eyes of the world and His kingdom is being established throughout, in preparation to the coming of His Son, Jesus Christ. We look forward to that day, soon to come.