Last August as workers were cleaning up a boiler room in an Auckland church building, they came across a set of large books. At first they thought they were out of date lesson manuals. On closer inspection they discovered they had stumbled upon complete sets of scripture in braille ― The Holy Bible and The Book of Mormon, among other religious texts.
Sensing their value and noting their excellent condition, the scriptures were taken to the Church’s Area Office in Takapuna for safe keeping and until someone could be located that would benefit from their use.
Temple View, Hamilton resident Joan Lake was asked if she would like to have the scriptures. She readily agreed. The scriptures were delivered to her home on Tuesday 14 January 2014.
Elder David J. Thomson, Area Seventy for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, John A. Kendall, President of the Temple View Stake and Richard Tottie from the Pacific Area Office were present when the books were delivered.
“Sister Lake is an inspiration to all of us as she serves faithfully and cheerfully,” Elder Thomson said.
President Kendall added, “Joan attends the temple regularly and needs little assistance finding her way independently. Her example is admirable to all who come.”
Joan has a genetic condition called Usher Syndrome. This disorder results in a combination of hearing loss and visual impairment that becomes evident in youth and adulthood.
At age 12 she noticed that she was losing her hearing and at 20 she was wearing hearing aids.
After marriage and two children Joan took classes to learn sign language and eventually worked as a teacher’s aide for students that were deaf. “I thought I knew sign language until I started to work with the students,” she admits, “but they are the ones that taught me.”
Joan gradually started losing her sight about 10 years ago and is completely blind today. “Losing my sight has been the hardest part of this syndrome,” she says.
In spite of her challenges, limits are not a part of Joan’s life. She maintains her cheerful, independent attitude, cooks her own food using recipes in braille, and has access to email. She even has a talking clock.
Hiking, camping, and just being outdoors was a big part of Joan’s life. Joan has hiked to the top of many of the mountains on the North Island of New Zealand including Mt. Taranaki near New Plymouth.
Occasionally she talks one of her family members into taking her out to enjoy the cool, fresh air of the mountains.
Music is another part of Joan’s life. She taught private and group piano lessons at Church College of New Zealand for many years and continues to play the piano for her personal enjoyment today.
Joan has accepted the assignment to lead the music in her local Mormon congregation.
Her son Nic relates, “I often hear my mother singing in the wee hours of the morning, memorizing the words to the hymns she will lead on Sunday.”
Joan started to learn braille in 2003. She explains that each letter has its own symbol and each word is spelled out. “It was like going back to grade school to learn to read again.”
“Many adults give up learning braille because it is so difficult,” Joan says. “Children are much more adaptable and successful.”
“It took me three days to read one verse of scripture when I was first learning to read braille, and now I have read the Book of Mormon three or four times,” Joan said.
Son Nic pays tribute to his mother saying, “It takes great effort for my mother to fulfil assignments. It’s not easy or convenient for her. Simple tasks such as finding someone at church can be challenging, but she makes the best of it cheerfully.”
Joan says that she finds great comfort in her life from a favourite scripture often quoted by Thomas S. Monson, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, found in the Doctrine and Covenants 84:88: “I will be on your right hand and on your left…and mine angels round about you to bear you up.”
Joan gives credit to the mortal angels in her life who assist her as well as the heavenly angels that she feels surround her.