I will go and do the things the Lord has commanded

Email #54
Area: Mildura South of the Marion Zone
Companion: Elder Mose and Elder Fala

Excerpts from Mom's email:

This week has been a very quick one! It just flew by way too fast! Been driving quite a bit as well near the end of the week. So basically we still have been figuring out where all the pickers are at and how we are going to work with that. I think we will get official word on it on Wednesday. A good highlight of the week was when I went with the Mildura North elders up to Broken Hill! That was really cool up there, but it is another 3 hours away. About 8 hours away from Adelaide! It even is in New South Wales so our zone covers three different states. So that was on Friday and then the next day I had to travel down to Adelaide to drop off a leaving missionary. So that was good and I have to do it again for Elder Mose on Wed because he is also finishing his mission. Lots of travel, but I have learned heaps from all the talks we listen to. Also have seen a million kangaroos now (half of them are road kill ones on the side of the road). I'm pretty used to driving long distances now so it is no big deal.

With the missionary going home that was in Berri, I have spent the last few days with Elder Malio as his companion for a few days. I have been coming down to Berri often to teach their investigators and something pretty cool is that one that we have taught all the lessons since I've come down here is getting baptised this sunday! She has been doing awesome! It is a little weird to have taught someone all the lessons who isn't even in my area, but that's just how crazy this transfer has been. Also going up to Mildura North for a baptismal interview for tomorrow morning so many Miracles going on!

Really great to be able to help the zone where I can and to see the miracles within! Going up to Broken Hill was a great experience with the members there. We went to one members home and they had 4 lessons lined up for us! Two of them are young kids and they were fun to teach! I think they are adopted or something, but whatever the members are catching in Broken Hill, they need to spread that to all the members because they are doing awesome!

Really sad to see Elder Mose go this week and it is kind of a mystery what is going to happen next, but I know it is going to be exciting! Hopefully can let you know more about that next week!

Love you so much! Have a good week!


Excerpts from Dad's email:

Hey Dad!

Well the weather here is cooling down a little so that's nice. Yeah I will be taking Elder Mose down this Wed for his leavers stuff. Already had to bring one missionary down because he went home as well.

The Samoan is going pretty good. Been hard to learn it being away from my Samoan companion so much being in Berri and Broken Hill. Felt like I didn't spend all that much time in my own area this week, but that's okay. Part of being a zone leader I guess. Still studying the language best I can I just need to get more resources for it like a English to Samoan dictionary. Hoping to get that in Adelaide when I go down.

Speaking of, when I was down in Adelaide, it so happened that the Mildura Ward was down there for their ward temple trip and Willy was able to go! We weren't able to go to the temple in time, but we got permission to go to the activity they had afterward. What was really cool is that my old ward in Grange was there too! That was really cool to see them! Ford's wife and son were there and I was able to talk to them! He is doing really well and apparently Josh (Ford's son) is being taught now finally! As well he is going to Seminary every day! He is just killing it! So excited about that. I was able to teach Josh a little bit, but never all the way through. Hope to hear about his baptism soon. Willy loved the temple as well! That trip was definitely worth it all to see all of that and being able to talk to them!

This week is going to be more smooth I hope! The trade off I was at up in Broken Hill got interrupted and we had to drive all the way back to Mildura. Basically we drove to broken hill (three hours) spent a good part of the day there and then I got a call that I need to come back down to take a missionary to Adelaide. It was unexpected so we drove back down that night and I left for Adelaide the next morning. So came to 16 hours of travel in the two days... Luckily about 6 of those I didn't need to drive because the north elders drove us to and from broken hill. But then had the 5 hour drive to Adelaide and then back later that day. Pretty crazy, but it was for an emergency so it is understandable. Sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do and I was happy to do it. "I will go and do the things the Lord has commanded" right? If I'm asked to do something by my leaders, I do it. Simple as that:).

I love serving Dad! I really do! I find more joy in the work every day! Even with all the craziness and unexpected things, I love it! I never in my live thought I would enjoy missionary work this much. I also never on my mission have been itching to go knock some doors haha. With all the busyness it has been hard to do that, but now I am really anxious to do that! I think part of our Pday will be sacrificed today because we want to get out there!

Love you so much! Have a good week!