Everyone has challenges and things that they struggle with

Email #66
Area: Mildura South Pickers of the Marion Zone
Companion: Elder Fala & Elder Siaosi

Excerpts from Mom's email:

Hey Mom!

This week started off really great with one of the best P Day's I have had on my mission. We had a district P-day activity where we went to play laser tag together, which is something simple but it was really fun because I really love those in my zone. We simply had a good time with one another. Then we went to the chapel to play games and sports and things which was really nice as well. It was a great start to a week that was full of ups and downs as usual weeks go.

This week was a little bit different then other weeks that I have had this transfer. We finally had the chance to travel down to Berri again to teach the Samoan pickers down there. We started off with a trade off where Elder Fangaiuiha (the Tongan speaking missionary) was with Elder Fala and I, so we could teach the Tongans up here while the other zone leader took my other companion Elder Siaosi to Berri with him. It just was an interesting change of pace and to be able to see how they do things. It was nice while he was up here because in one day we got two new investigators who are really solid. They speak both English and Tongan, so they will probably take over the teaching for him to help understanding.

While on this trade off, we had one of the funniest follow ups with a potential ever! It was this aboriginal man named D......, who when we first met him was really nice. His daughter was sick and he asked for us to come back another time when he is more available. So we came back a few days later... so we knock on the door and he looks past us with just a straight face. He starts to walk right past us like we weren't even there, walks to his metal mail box, and slams his fist into the mailbox.. "Leave my house!" he says in a weird voice. He then just lays down on the mailbox resting his head for a solid 3 min as we just look at each other confused (keep in mind that we had no way out off his property because it was gated and he was blocking the exit). Then he just turns around holding his hand in pain and says "I haven't done nothing wrong". So we slowly walk around him and get off his property. We are on the other side of the fence at this point and are able to talk to him. I was ready to leave, but Elder Fangaiuiha has served in Alice so he has delt with a lot of drunk aboriginals. Anyway, he walks up as if he was going to hug us over the fence. We just handed him a picture of Christ to distract him, then he wanted more of them haha. We just walked back to the car after all this and I feel like it was just one of those "had to be there" kind of moments, but it was really funny!

Then when we finally got down to Berri later on Friday, we were able to first go see our recent convert, S..! It was just really good to see her, because it has been a few months. She is doing really well! She is now up to Alma 44 and is loving it! She comes to church every single week without fail! She even gave a talk on Sunday! After visiting S.., we went to the pickery down there to see them. They ended up just getting back when we got there at around 6:30 at night, all ready to shower and get ready for the night. So we held a Latu (family home evening) with all of them. We shared a message in English, Tongan, and Samoan! I wish I got a picture, we just sit on the floor on mats in a old shack. We set a time to teach them this week now individual. Their new supervisor is coming in and that is the one we have been waiting for! I will just say that he will probably be a strong investigator and a huge help in the work there!

Love you heaps and have a good week!


Excerpts from Dad's email:

Hey Dad!

Yeah that was our front room, but with 5 Elders in the flat some of us sleep on the floor. The islanders actually prefer the floor, so that is where they sleep.

Well we had our first Fireside here that we put together! It was so great! People came from Robinvale, Broken Hill, and Berri (all neighboring towns at least 1 hour away). The music was the best part of the whole thing! Bishop's kids have the greatest voices ever. I think I have sent you videos of them singing before, at least I hope so. Then we sang "Joseph Smith's first Prayer" and I hope to get a recording of that one to. Many of our investigators, including B....... came as well!.

B....... is doing really well still! We went by to continue teaching him and he had a lot of good questions such as "why can't other churches have the priesthood" and "how do I know if it is the spirit or my thought?". He is super genuine and really wants to know! We finally got him a Book of Mormon in his native language, Swahele. We marked all the scriptures that can answer some of his questions and wrote our testimonies in the front. It will be our gift to him when we see him today!

This week was kind of a rough one towards the end. There was some contention in the companionship that was not good and it was really tough. On Sunday was when most of this occurred and it was really hard. At one point though we were asked to go give the sacrament to a man who really needed it. So we had to put all these things aside and when to this man's home. We will call him Brother WH. So Brother WH has been struggling with repentance and overcome a few things. After we blessed the sacrament he explained to us how these visits have given him the strength to overcome temptation for 2 months now. Now Brother WH has a very very basic knowledge of the gospel and was less active for a very long time. He began to teach us without even knowing it. He talked about turning to the Lord and he will direct you to how to overcome your current challenges. He shared a scripture in 1 Nephi 3:7, and taught us without knowing! He said "everyone has challenges and things that they struggle with. I'm sure even you Elders sometimes make mistakes, not us much us us mortals do though. But each of us can have God's help with these things." You know, this one man who we were supposed to be uplifting, uplifted us! Told us what we needed to hear. I really do feel that God knows us and sometimes uses even a man like Brother WH to communicate with us. Now that my companions have acknowledged these things, we feel stronger then before somehow. The lord really does work miracles in our lives.

What a week this was! So many things I would love to tell you about! Love you heaps and have a good week!

District P-day activity playing laser tag

In this dream, the Savior appeared to him and spoke to him

Email #65
Area: Mildura South Pickers of the Marion Zone
Companion: Elder Fala & Elder Siaosi

Excerpts from Mom's email:

Hey Mom!

This week has been a huge blessing on my mission! Not just miracles in my area, but in the entire zone has occurred! To start, we witnessed the baptism of our brothers T... and S....!

S....'s baptism occurred first directly following his wedding! I wasn't able to see the wedding but I heard it was just a simple one but following they had a baptismal program that was almost all in Tongan. Our investigator, Benedict came to that baptism and he really enjoyed it! The spirit was very powerful and it was a great experience for all of  us involved. The Berri Elders did a nice musical number in Tongan as well with the guitar.

Following that a few hours later, T... had a program all in Samoan, even the hymns. I didn't understand half of what was going on, but I am pretty used to that by now haha. The best part of the night was when T... bore a powerful testimony (again in Samoan but I had a great translator next to me). He told his story of his conversion process. When we first started teaching T..., he moved out of his partners home, who was a member. Now that he was in a home with many non members with bad habits such as drinking, his desire began to leave him. We kept trying to visit him, but time and time again we got the same answer, "T... isn't here". We found out later that he really was, but he was just telling them to say that. A few weeks pasted and one night he had a dream. In this dream, the Savior appeared to him and spoke to him. He told T... that we are truly His servants and that he needs to allow us to help him. He spoke to him about how this one choice is going to bless the rest of his life and his children's lives. The very next morning, we got a call from T... that he is ready to meet with us and that he will meet us at the chapel. For the next few weeks, each lesson the spirit spoke. There was many tears and testimonies born. How grateful I am to be able to be a part of this man's journey. It is experiences like this that increases my faith in God and Jesus Christ, that they live and that they love each and every one of us.

My message to each of you is that God know's you! You knows your problems right now! He hears your prayers! I hope each of you listen to what he has to say to you as well. He speaks today and you can especially here him through his living prophets. I just love this gospel and I pray that you can feel that same about it as I do!

Love you heaps mom! Have a good week!


Excerpts from Dad's email:

Hey Dad!

Man that Ensign photo has a good story actually. So We were simply finding as usual and my companion, Elder Siaosi was asking me interesting questions. We started talking about how the gospel has a science to it and that god works miracles because he understands how these things actually work. So in Samoa they don't have the best education program from what I have gathered so I was explaining to him the creation in terms of the universe. He didn't even know what the sun really is and stars and even the solar system. He didn't know about any of that so over time I slowly explained these things to him. I drew pictures to explain each thing basically and he just kept wanting to learn more. Pretty funny, but when I was drawing a picture of the Milky Way and explained the creation in that sense, Elder Fala snapped a photo haha. Not planned and kind of a random experience but yeah :)

As for B......., he is doing awesome! He came to S....'s baptism, had a chapel tour, came to church, and he even fed us twice! Haha we were teaching him and following the lesson he brought us to his families home next door and they fed us some African food! Really great family they just don't speak any English haha, but dang I see what james was talking about with the kids! They are the cuttest kids ever I just love them! I want to get them a soccer ball or something today because they have like no toys. B.......'s understanding is continuing to grow, we even just taught the Plan of Salvation which all all really new to him!

Yeah as for the bikes, I haven't had a chance to ride it yet because Elder Fala hurt his leg. He was playing basketball with a recent convert and tried to dunk the ball and screwed up his knee.. So yeah he has to use crutches for a week or so so no bikes for us :).

Love you heaps!

Elder Fangaiuiha & Sione

Elder Bryner, Elder Fala, Tony, Elder Siaosi

Bishop's kids singing musical number

Tony

Tony & Elder Fala

We found him as we we're riding bikes

Email #64
Area: Mildura South Pickers of the Marion Zone
Companion: Elder Fala & Elder Siaosi

Excerpts from Mom's email:

Hey Mom!

This week was another great one! T... is doing really awesome! We have had daily contact with him this week and are almost done with the lessons! He came to church and is keeping every single commitment! He is the man! We have a lesson with him today again which should be awesome! Yeah V..... came to church as well! We need to follow up on that one for sure, I think we will be tomorrow.

We had a ward activity this week that went really well! There was a talent show and some singing and things going on. The culture here is really strong islander, so there are different things that is completely new to me sometimes. Trying new things is always really fun and I even tried horse meat for the first time:). Tasted pretty good actually! It's a Tongan thing haha. They eat dog too, so I hope to try that soon as well. We had it at a members home, Kiwi. They are Tongan and they love to feed the missionaries! They had this huge pot of meat just cooking in the middle of the kitchen! There was heaps of food! Then on Sunday we went to a members home and they had just the biggest table full of food because their family is in from all over Australia for a baby blessing. They feed well here that is for sure!

The work is going strong here! We decided to do a transfer action plan for the zone which is basically a list of things each of us is going to do to accomplish each indicator. Our goal for the month behind is is 5 baptisms and since we set these "Action Items", the zone is more united and we are so blessed for it. There are now 5 baptisms scheduled in the month of may! Miracles are happening right now! One of our "Action Items" is to follow up with all potentials we find within 24 to 48 hours. Well we did that just yesterday and we have a very prepared new investigator who is now as well on baptismal date! He is from Africa in Kongo! His name is B........ We found him as we we're riding bikes we just talked to this man, which is always a bit weird at first when you just ride up to a person and start talking to them. Anyway, he has not been here in Australia very long, but he is here with his family. We followed up the next day, taught him the Restoration, and he loved it! It is all really new to him. He is Christian, but he has always wondered if there is one God, why is there so many different beliefs about him. When he came here, he realized just how many beliefs there are. He committed to read the Book of Mormon and pray to know if it is true! I'm really excited about him, because he has the most real intent to know! After the lesson he asked if we would go next door to meet the rest of his family. He just led us straight into the house and before you know it, we met this huge family, not many of whom speak English. Elder Fala is really funny, he got really excited and just asked if we could take a picture with all of them. I mean we just met these people and we are taking a photo with them, but haha that is just my companions for ya. Just the most open and friendly people haha!

Love you heaps!


Excerpts from Dad's email:

Hey Dad!

Yeah we don't have the smart phones yet, it was announced in MLC that just the Zone Leaders and the Sister Training Leaders will be getting them at first to trial them. It is a process I guess but we will get them soon I hope. I think zone conference will be when we will get them but I am not sure. Every missionary in the companionship will have one, but I don't know how that will work with my companions TBD haha. No renovations yet, I don't know when we will be doing that.

We have two investigators that are progressing! The rest of them are doing okay, but it is just a process for sure. T...'s baptism is coming up on May 19th! He is pretty golden! Then we have another 4 in the zone this month as well! Smashing it here! We teach T... at the chapel usually. He walks all the way from his home, even for church and it is a pretty long walk! We taught him many of the lessons this past week and the really cool thing is when we were teaching him the Law of Tithing he said "Yeah I already know about that one. I have been paying that for a long time now to the church". His ex partner is a member, so he learned about that a while ago and he started paying it and has felt it bless him so he just continued to pay it! That was a miracle of itself! It is interesting for me to teach him because much of what is said, I don't understand. In fact I only can really keep up with the subject they are talking about in the lesson haha. I share what I can in Samoan, but a lot of the time Elder Fala will translate for me. He is really good at that! It works, it just has took time to adjust and practice doing that. I am so used to leading the lessons because my whole mission I have been the senior companion, training and things so usually new missionaries have a hard time directing the lesson. Both my companions are fairly new missionaries, so I still do in English a lot of the time but in Samoan I can't. They have both stepped up really well!

The other pickers have been hard haha. We drove out last Monday to their place which is about a 30 min drive one way to see them and because they are in the middle of no where, they never have visitors. So we knocked on the door and we hear them all getting really scared hahaha. I get it, because they are in a new country.  Living in the middle of no where, they go a little scared. They wouldn't open the door and where even to scared to see who it was. They said in Samoan "What do you want? DO you want to eat the horse ball?" Haha I didn't get it either, but I guess from what my companions were saying, when Samoans get scared they act tough. They thought we were ghosts, they said and tried to scare us off haha.

Love yours!

Titled "Accident Ensign Photo"

Benidict's Family

Sports Night

Hmmm, new Spiderman missionaries?

Horse Meat