Area: Mildura South of the Marion Zone
Companion: Elder Mose and Elder Fala
Excerpts from Mom's email:
Hey Mom!
Yeah I have had so many different experiences both hard and good ones, even this past week. My mission has changed a lot in these past few weeks to me, but that is okay because I still am enjoying it. We have had to do so much in such a short amount of time. That's no good to hear about Jaela, but I am sure she will heal okay. I will pray for her, I already do. Yeah the Samoan people are so great! It is difficult not understanding the language fully, but it is really cool to learn the language where I can.
So pretty much every other day we head down to the camp in Renmark to teach the pickers there, plus we have the camp that is about 45 min away. Renmark is close to 2 hours. Once we get there though, it is worth it because we teach the whole time until the night is over. There are actually many members there too that we didn't know about from Samoa, even a Bishop. So they come and teach with us as well and the lessons are always really good. This past week was more finding our footing there and figuring out where everyone is, but now I think we have it all figured out. We are going there tonight. Oh by the way I am over in Berri because we drove down yesterday and stayed the night. Tomorrow we are actually driving down to Adelaide for zone conference and will be there for a few days, so we are trying to teach as much at the camp tonight as we can. Probably sacrificing a lot of Pday, but that is totally fine. We just have so many that we haven't even been able to teach because a lesson can go for around 40 min. My Samoan is slowly improving, they tell me that I know more now then some Samoan Elders in the mission, but makes sense because the Lord has a purpose for me to learn the language. Still difficult though no doubt about that. I can understand more then I can speak like during lessons I can follow where we are at most of the time. Then I am able to share a few principles and I know my testimony well now. It has been a very humbling experience. "For I know that I am nothing, as for my strength I am weak. I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for he gives me strength." I can't remember where that scripture is found and not sure that I have in fully right haha, but it is true. I have come to see that more and more as I have had to rely on Him.
Being a zone leader I will admit is more difficult then I thought. There are thing that we have had to deal with that I never expected. It is a lot of responsibility for sure. I am excited for the rest of this transfer though, because there is so much potential at the moment! Our year goal in the zone is 24 baptisms. Right now we are at 4 and we have 3 more this week! We might just have to change the goal soon haha. We are on track and I personally believe we can surpass that goal in a few months at the rate God is blessing us.
Excerpts from Dad's email:
Hey Dad!
Yeah being a zone leader is pretty exciting, but man have had to do some nerve racking things. Maybe things I will have to tell you about later. Yes it is very different then being a zone leader. You learn things about missionaries because you have to help them where you can. I didn't feel ready for it to be honest with you, but I will do what the Lord wants me to do. Yeah we drive heaps!!! It is worth it all though because the work is progressing a lot! Learning Samoan has been a great experience. I have already known some from past companions, but my vocabulary has tripled this past week now that I have language study. Yeah I watch what I eat trust me. No soda or anything and I have learned the Samoan culture, so I know how to get around all the food haha. They love it though haha. I mostly remember the other languages, but I don't know my whole testimony like I do in Samoan. I can learn them though, because missionaries are from all over!
One of the cool experiences I have had in this ward is serving with the youth. They are great young men and I love getting to know them! We have been teaching W.... who looks a lot like Curtis by the way haha. He is a good kid! I have loved teaching him! His baptism is coming up on Saturday! We had to set everything up yesterday because we will be out of our area for some time.
Yeah so the higher language is basically a respectful way of speaking. It is comparable to how the scriptures speak a high form of English in a way. It is just how they speak to leaders and those of high respect. That is the main one that I am learning to speak because that is the way you teach and pray.
We had a really cool stake activity on Saturday with a great turn out. It was hosted in our ward and people came from all over for it! We had a Samoan BBQ basically which was awesome. Idk if you have ever had Oti, but man good stuff! It is like a watermelon drink. We just played sports and things like that, but it was a lot of fun. We had two baptismal interviews at the same time as well! They came down from broken hill for the activity, which is about two hours away. Mildura North Elders cover it. Yeah so Elder Mose and I were interviewing at the same time which I've never done before. Really excited though, because in a few weeks I am going to Broken Hill for a trade off and it is supposed to be nice up there.
Love you so much and have a good week!
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| Willi & Elder Mose |
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| Wow, 114.8° Fahrenheit |
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| Sand tornado |
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