Scott McKenna of Temple View, New Zealand

By Julie Wardell

Nine-year-old Scott McKenna gets up at 6 every morning to do his chores. And he wouldn’t have it any other way! He loves living in Temple View, New Zealand, on a farm with his parents, sister, Amy (11), brother, Sean (6), and many animals.

Thomas, a pig, is one of his responsibilities. He feeds Thomas from a bottle and cleans his pen once a week. Scott loves caring for animals and wants to start a breeding business with Thomas. The money he earns will go into a special missionary fund. He also spends time caring for his pony, Friend. Scott makes sure Friend is fed, groomed, and exercised. If the pony is left free to roam in the yard, Friend mows the lawn by eating it! When a school for disabled children is not in session, Scott takes care of their horse, Star Dust. He also cares for the chickens and his dog, Cutey, and sometimes he milks the goat.

Horses are an important part of the McKenna family. Mom teaches riding lessons to disabled children. Both Scott and Amy are excellent riders and belong to the Pony Club. Scott has received the top mark, a Pony Club Certificate, for his riding. Gymkhana is his favorite horse competition.

Math is Scott’s favorite subject in school, and he is in the top group in math as well as in reading. He enjoys reading the Black Stallion books. He likes to play soccer and cricket at school. The children in his classroom recently knit a blanket and sent it to Uganda, Africa. Knitting was so much fun that he knit a scarf for his dad’s birthday.

Scott was born with a hearing problem. In 1988 the doctors operated on his ear, hoping it would improve his hearing. The day after the operation, he asked his mother, “What’s that noise?” He had never heard rain hitting a roof before. Later he was excited to hear birds and cicadas chirping.

As a Blazer A in Primary, Scott not only enjoys listening to talks, he likes to give them too! During family home evening he is always ready for a game of Missionary Zeal, and he enjoys the “kindness auction” his family is participating in. Whenever someone does a kind deed, he gets a card. Later the cards can be used to buy something at the family kindness auction.

Everyone in the McKenna family appreciates a particular kindness of his: He makes delicious desserts! Biscuits (cookies), fudge, coconut loaf, and chocolate cake are his specialties.

The seasons in New Zealand are just the opposite from those in the United States, Canada, and the British Isles. So on warm summer Christmas Eves, the McKenna family puts on a special outdoor pageant. They use their hayloft for the manger, and many of their farm animals as they act out the story of the birth of Jesus.

Scott is a boy with many interests and talents. He’s a hard worker who is willing to get up early to accomplish his many tasks. He’s already working toward what he wants to do when he grows up—serve a mission, win an equestrian gold medal at the Olympics, and be a dairy farmer.

Photos by Janet Thomas and Julie Wardell

Scott is proud of his Cub Scout uniform.

Feeding a pig from a bottle is fun.

Scott (center) poses with Friend, Sean, Cutey, and Amy.

The chickens are always eager to see Scott with their feed.

The beautiful green countryside of New Zealand

Scott getting Friend ready to ride

Friend and Scott make a good jumping team.

Amy (left) and Scott, with Sean behind him, enjoy riding together.