UTAH (ABC4) — The two missionaries, who as of this morning were unaccounted for, have been confirmed as found on Thursday, Feb. 16, by local members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. All 12 missionaries are accounted for now.

Logan Williams, 18, and his companion, who had not been heard from since Feb. 15, were the last two missionaries still missing since the New Zealand cyclone hit the town they were serving in Wairoa. Logan Williams’ mother, Amy Williams, confirmed with ABC4 today, that the two boys are safe.

According to Amy Williams, she spoke with a woman in the church who is connected to the area. She was sent a photo of her son and his companion that was taken a couple of days ago. Amy Williams said she trusts this information, and that she can now confirm that her son is alive and well.

In ABC4’s original interview with Amy Williams, she said “Our biggest concern is that he’s gonna be on the frontlines helping people, putting himself in harm’s way.”

Amy Williams was correct in her assumption. According to the witness, the missionaries were located in an area nearby that was not affected by the flooding, and they have been there helping those evacuated from their homes. She said the witness told her they have been handing out food and helping the community.

“Although no one has spoken to him directly, I feel that this witness account is enough. Having faith in my Heavenly Father and my Savior has never been a problem for me, but having faith in mankind has been another story altogether,” Amy Williams said in a FB post.

She said at approximately 4 p.m., her best friend received a FB message with information on her son. She said she wanted to believe, but needed it to be proved for herself.

“So I picked up the phone, and made a phone call to the other side of the world.”
She said she talked with Kaylene Scotson-Tairua, who lives in Sydney, Australia, and is the sister to the Bishop of Wairoa. With communications down, and service spotty, Scotson-Tairua finally received a message with a picture.

“A picture of my son, not just smiling, but beaming from ear to ear! He and Elder Park have been working side by side with the Bishop all week at the Evacuation center they set up at the Wairoa chapel. He has been doing as I imagined…. busy helping others. His home was not flooded. The Church building was not flooded. Too good to be true, but true!”

Amy Williams said, she still was having a hard time having faith in this picture from the Bishop of Wairoa, so she had the following conversation with Scotson-Tairua.

“‘May I ask you something? Are you a mom?’

She said yes.

‘Okay, then you absolutely understand the anguish I have been in now for 4 days.’

Yes, she said.

‘Then I will take the leap, and stand on the shoulders of your faith if you tell me to.’ […] do you absolutely, 100%, without a shadow of a doubt trust this message from your brother…. do you KNOW my son is alive?”

She said, “Yes, he’s alive.”

Amy Williams said that faith is believing in things you cannot see, but can feel. She said although she can’t see him or hear his voice personally, she knows that he is safe in the arms of his Waiora family.

“Although I am relieved this difficult week is finally over, the weight of this trial will stay with me for a while. And I am grateful,” Amy Williams said. “It will be another reminder to not take life for granted. To hold my children close. To count my many blessings. To be mindful yet again of how fragile life can be.”

She said, while it will probably be a week or more before she gets to speak with Logan, she received the words she desperately wanted to hear. “He’s alive!”