Crazy week and crazy transfers

Email #79
Area: Oaklands Park
Companion: Elder Turcotte

Excerpts from Mom's email:

Hey Mom!

Well this week was pretty crazy! Got a heck of a story for ya! Well on Tuesday we went to see one more person for 5-10 min before a dinner appointment. As we were inside, our bikes were stolen! Don't worry, the story gets better! The bikes were placed on a bike rack on the back of the car and there was a D-Lock on the bikes, but Elder Hirro doesn't know for sure if he rotated the dial on the lock when he placed it on. Well we reported it to the police right away.

Then on Thursday, we saw a kid riding Elder Hirro's bike and followed him back to his house, which was right across the street from where they were stolen. He put a hood on and everything and as soon as he saw the car he took off. We remained outside the house in the car until the police arrived, but it took some time so one of the guys, probably his guardian, tried to talk us out of reporting it. The police recovered one of the bikes, but the kid claimed to only have stolen one. We found out from the officer that this house is known for drugs and getting into trouble. He even knew the kids by name.

Well my bike is still missing... again. The police have a very good lead on where it is of course though. I don't know what is up with me and bikes! I have been so careful, making sure there is always a lock on it. I just didn't think to check to see if it was rotated after my companion put it on.

That same day another crazy thing happened. We were following up with a friend at his door step and we hear garbage cans knocked over. Next thing this lady just runs up looking like she saw a ghost or something. She was shaking, panicky, and had a cut on her hand. We were all comfused, but she told us there is some guys following her. This is just after we were talking to the police BTW, so I wondered "what in the world is wrong with this town today!" So she hoped the fence next door to hide and now she was looking for someone to help. She was to scared to think straight that was clear. So we walked her home to be safe, but she seemed a little crazy to be honest. She had a bag of photos and picture frames that weighted a good 35 pounds or more. She didn't seem all there in conversation and the experience was just strange. So Thursday was a crazy day!

We also traveled down to Mount Gambier this weekend before transfers and we had some pretty cool experiences. On Saturday we were having a difficult day at first, not much success. Then at the close of the night, we had about 20 min worth of daylight lift to knock on doors immediately following a follow up with an aboriginal friend (which was also great). Well the very first door we knocked on, a younger man named J.... answered the door. After answering a few of his questions that turned out to be quiz questions and of we got them right he would let us inside. Well I guess we got them right so he let us in and he had even more questions. Let me tell ya these were some really good questions, but sometimes hard to answer. He has had so much hardship in his life that I couldn't even believe it! Him and his partner have had multiple miscarriage, his sister is being abused, and he told us about some of the darkest events I've ever heard that he has had to go through. He began to cry as he told us how badly he wanted to believe in God, but just felt he couldn't. Tears went down his face as he wished to see his daughters he has lost before they even were born. Then he asked a difficult question. "If God is so loving why weren't they allowed to live?" We begun to explain the plan of Salvation breafly: "Our purpose in this life is to receive a body to learn and grow.." and before I could get the next word out he asked "but why didn't they get to learn and grow?" At this point, the spirit took over! "It is because they are perfect. They didn't need to go through this existence, but to only receive a body. They didn't need to go through the hardships. 'Little children are alive in Christ.. all children are alike unto me; wherefore, I love little children with a perfect love; and they are all alike and partakers of salvation...." - Moroni 8. His partner as she heard these words began to cry. These two have never had a belief and God and J.... said with much emotion "Nobody has ever explained it to me that way. I know they are in heaven. I need to get there to do I can see them again." This was such a powerful experience and one that I will never forget! I pray that the missionaries that go back will take good care of them! There are. Now a set of elders and sisters in Mount Gambier, so I know all of my friends there will be taken care of!

As for transfers... yes, I've been transferred. It is a very bitter sweet as most transfers are. I have really loved my time back here and I will sincerely miss my companion Elder Hirro. He has become a brother to me and has taken such good care of me. We have found joy in this work!

This mission has experienced the largest transfer it has ever seen! I would not be exaggerating very much when I say that almost the whole mission was changed around. Only 1 in this zone did not move areas! Many zone leaders are now normal missionaries, district leaders are all new, new trainers, everything has changed! There is a slight culture shift among missionaries that we are not trying to "move up the ranks", but are all servants of the Lord! That being said, I've moved to Oaklands Park as the Marion Zone Leader. I feel a lot of different emotions. I feel humbled and very surprised, but ready for the new transfer! My companions name is elder Turcotte and he is from Masa Arizona. We flew up to Darwin together when I was there, so we know each other a little bit. I think we will get along really well!

So sorry by the way that I have to email so dang late today! It was the craziest day ever! So I drove to Murray Bridge to the office twice to take 4 Elders and there luggage back and forth so that took a few hours. Then we had transfers itself, which pretty much the whole mission changes so that took extra long. I honestly have never seen anything like it! I have never seen so many missionaries at the mission office! I got to see my old companions though! Well a few of them. That was really nice especially Elder Siaosi because he is like my son haha. So lots of driving and getting the zone organized and still have not even done shopping yet. By the time emailing is over, Pday will be over as well. Here is the crazy part, we had to change around all the sim cards and we just realized when I got here to the library that we have no phone numbers saved on the sim and we don't know why. So after this we have to drive another 30 min to the office to figure this out to haha. I can't express just how crazy this transfer day was lol!

Well love you so much and talk to you next week!


Excerpts from Dad's email:

Hey Dad!

So to explain the videos, there should be a video of me eating balut. It is a dish from the Philippians, you know my companion. So it is a duck egg that is a egg growing...so it is basically a baby duck... Haha don't judge me😆 I would try it only once, but turns out it is pretty dang good actually!

We went on a trip to Mount Lophty so that is all the photos there. Saw some nice wildlife!

Not much else just a crazy week most is in the last email.
Love you!

Selfie

Dogs in Mount Gambier

Packing for transfers

Samoan birthday party

Selfie with kangaroo

Eating balut (duck egg)

Samoan birthday party

Hike in Mount Lophty

Trade Off in Murray Bridge

Email #78
Area: Murray Bridge
Companion: Elder Hirro

Excerpts from Mom's email:

Hey Mom!
It's only been a couple of days so not to much has happened but there was a few things.

Trade Off:
On Friday this week I went on trade off with the other elders here in Murray Bridge. The Elder I was with, Elder Didkovskiy, is from Ukraine and is about 6 months into his mission. He was really fun to be with because I just love his accent so much! We knock in the door and the people always look so surprised so hear like a Russian accent followed by an American haha. We even had one lady ask "Don't they put you with people who can speak the same language?" In my head I was like "we both as speaking English haha". I guess it just sounds like a different language. I must admit though, when I first got here, it didn't sound like some Australians were speaking English either. We went down to the park while on trade offs and I haven't seen much of that part of the area before. We were seeing some massive birds down there. There was this one lady from the middle east who was feeding the birds and the one with the huge beak tried to bite her. I guess those ones aren't to nice haha. It was a successful day though and I really enjoyed being with him.

Flat Inspection:
We had a nice little problem with the flats this last week as well. We had a flat inspection and I guess the guy who did it is not to fond of missionaries... So this happened last week when I was sick, so we were there for the inspection and he told us only that the kitchen stove needed cleaned and the shower a little better. Then we get this report from the senior couple that the owners of the flat got a bad report and are considering kicking us out. Even president texted me concerned about losing this flat. I was so surprised because it looked fine. Anyway, we cleaned this flat like crazy and it looks like a shining pearl at the moment. The senior couple came by to check it out and said it looks great! So the follow up inspection will be soon so hopefully they send a different dude.

Sorry it's not much just has been 3 days lol.
Love you!


Excerpts from Dad's email:

Hey Dad!

Man we had a freaky experience this week. So we were teaching a girl named N.... and she has been showing some weird signs. She kind of enjoys attention I think and we are pretty sure she has other issues. So we were teaching the plan of Salvation and she brings up her two year old baby whom we have never met. My companion saw a picture of a baby and her from a distance as her phone screen saver so he asked about it. She told us how her baby is with the father on the weekend and then showed us the picture on her phone. Man, it was a baby doll and the kind of one that Jaela has that creeps me out. So my companion and the young RM that was with us turned and looked at me not knowing what to say. I wasn't sure if I saw that fight because by the way she talked about she was completely serious. Kind of caught off guard my tongue got a little tied for a moment until I was able to get us back on lesson. Well this especially freaked my companion out because when he saw the photo up close he got chills. I don't really know what to do with that still not sure what is wrong there, it is a long story.

Well today we are going on a hike with the rest of the district. It should be really fun and hopefully the weather will be nice. It will be over in mount Barker which is 30 min or so away so not very far. I just need to go replace the back left tire on the car because the other day it blew out. We have the spare on it, I just can't be going 110 k's with that thing on to Mt Barker.

That's all I got for ya this week.
Love you!

"Therefore, go forth unto this people, and declare the words which I have spoken, unto the ends of the earth"

Email #77
Area: Murray Bridge
Companion: Elder Hirro

Excerpts from Mom's email:

Hey Mom!

This week and a half has been chalk full, so I'll fit as much in as I can. So the week started off with a nice trade off with the elders in Mt Barker. For a change I decided that one of them can come to my area and give him a few tips and things. Well that was my thinking anyway, but then I ended up learning more from this newer missionary then he learned from me I think. Funny how that happens. We got to try a new feature to our teaching, using smart phones! It was especially helpful on this trade off when we taught a man who spoke little English. Well an app that we can now use is one that can translate the things he doesn't understand! We taught a man about God in Vietnamese! The smart phones are a great new tool that we now have to teach the gospel! I'll be honest, moving all the area book records to the phones has been difficult though and a learning curve, but it will be really good with time.

At the end of last week, we traveled to Mount Gambier (about 5 hours or so) and had a great weekend there! We found this one filipino down there just knocking doors, taught him the restoration, and he invited us to come back the next day. So we come back the next day and he has his roommates and a few friends there with him.  All of whom are willing to learn about the gospel! My companion was extra excited, because it reminded him of home with all the food they had haha. We also visited all we could there including our investigators who will have a new born baby within two weeks most likely! We taught them the Plan of Salvation and the mother really felt connected knowing where her baby is coming from.

The weekend there was really nice, except for the huge hills on bikes and all the rain haha. The hills there are steep as and so many of them!

Had two sick days this week unfortunately (probably because of the weather in mount gambier), but in that time I learned heaps in my studies! When a member came by to drop off food and give a blessing, he said something that stood out. Something a long the lines of: "Trials are like a large bolder. You can try to move it. You can try to carry it on your own. But a wise mine can take that bolder and carve a beautiful peace of art out of it. There is always a blessing in our trials if you have the vision to see it."

I have come to better understand the purpose of us coming to this earth because of the experience of serving a mission. I have been separated from the presence of my family, my parents whom I've learned so much from. However, I have learned more here in Australia then I could have ever learned if I remained home. This is why God sent us to earth. Yes we learned so much from him before we came to earth, but we never had a chance to apply those things. Yes it was hard to leave his presence. However, both us and God knew how this experience would change us and help us achieve our potential. I'm sure it was just as hard (if not infinitely harder) for God to send us here to mortality as it was for you to send me on a mission. This experience has helped me greater appreciate and recognize the sacrifice God made by sending us here to earth. It has helped me recognize the love he has for us even more.

"May each of us treasure this truth: One cannot forget mother and remember God. One cannot remember mother and forget God. Why? Because these two sacred persons, God and mother, partners in creation, in love, in sacrifice, in service, are as one".- Thomas s Monson

Love you and have a good week!


Excerpts from Dad's email:

Hey Dad!

Today was really nice because we went to the temple! I haven't been to the temple for now more then 6 months and I really missed it a lot. Gordon B Hinckley gave a promise to missionaries that every time they leave the temple, they will be empowered and ready to speak with power and authority! I definitely feel that way! My last thoughts before I left the celestial room was if there was anything else He wanted me to do. I turned open to the Book of Mormon and read the first verse I saw, a way I sometimes seek guidance. My answer came from 3 Nephi 11:41 which says "Therefore, go forth unto this people, and declare the words which I have spoken, unto the ends of the earth." A very straight forward and clear answer that I just need to keep preaching the gospel and am doing His will. It felt like a "keep it up son" and was really touching and powerful for me.

It was also really good to see some of the missionaries. There is one elder who I met when he first arrived. I was in Grange and was training. One day I get a call that I am going to have a second trainy and his name is Elder Ostroph. Well I had him for about a week and he got shipped off to Alice Springs. Well I was able to catch up with him and exchange a few experiences we had with the aboriginal culture.

I heard a great parable recently that I thought I would share: "When a silversmith is purifying the silver, he puts it in a scorching hot fire. He watches as the impurities separate from the silver. When the time is right, he takes it out of the fire. It is when he can see himself in the silver that he know it is time. When the savior can see himself in us, that is when we can be taken out of the refiners fire."

Recovering from the flu was pretty tough, but I noticed something. Healing the body and healing the soul are two different things! Healing the body requires a need to turn inward and think about yourself. Healing the soul requires the exact opposite, turn yourself outward. The day following being sick I felt spiritually drained until I got out there and served!

Our investigators are all doing well. Has been tough lately to meet with all of them due to being down in Mount Gamiber and being sick, but for those that we could they are doing well. Hopefully we can play catch up for the next few days. N.... we saw yesterday and I am starting to understand her needs a little bit more. We found out that she has a daughter, so that opens up a few things. She doesn't seem to live with her because of medical reasons, but I hope to meet her sometime. I think she is 2.

The members have been coming through for us by the way, even when we were in sick the members brought us food. They come out with us teaching, they show the love all the time. It is just so great!

I still don't feel like I have reached the 18th month mark, it just has gone by so dang fast. Feels like yesterday I hit the year mark. Honest, serving here again in Murray Bridge has brought back a lot of memories as well. Feels like I have never left to be honest. I am not sure what the future will hold with transfers next week, but I am okay with whatever happens.

Love you heaps and have a good week!

Referral From God

Email #76
Area: Murray Bridge
Companion: Elder Hirro

Excerpts from Mom's email:

Well just yesterday I had an opportunity that really opened my eyes and got me thinking a lot! There was a missionary fireside down in Adelaide that I didn't even know about until a member said she was bringing our investigator to it! Well I felt prompted that we really needed to go so we changed up our plans and I know why I needed to be there now. From the moment Brother Reed picked us up at our flat to when we arrived home, I was learning things. Brother Reed first off has a closeness to the Lord that I thought was crazy before. Visions, dreams, ect are gifts from God to the saints. From the hour ride there and then an hour back, I pretty much received training about the spirit. He answered all the questions I had openly. I learned so much I was so surprised! I wish I could share with you right now all that I learned. The whole time in the back of the car I was just taking down notes even before we got to the fireside!

Well we arrive to the fireside and start meeting the people as they come in. It just so happened that I started seeing old friends from past areas. Well guess who came around the corner super excited! Idk if you remember F... and his family do you? It was sooo great to see them! I just got to talking to F... and it amazed me what the Gospel has done for him! He is definitely one that will be a life long friend! The whole family no doubt. He is talking about how he plans to go to Utah and visit in the future and as well wants me over for dinner before I go. Not just that, but his son is doing awesome as well! He goes to church, seminary, and all the activities! I'm not sure why he is not baptized yet just hasn't taken that step but I can feel that he will soon. I'm surprised the missionaries there haven't jumped on that yet. F... wants him to make the choice for himself and does not want to pressure him so that might be why. Seeing them just got me to reflect a lot to what my mission has not only met to me, but to others as well. I forget sometimes that this just hasn't affected me. I am here for them yes, but sometimes I forget just the impact it has had. I'm so grateful for that experience to help me remember why I am here. Helped me remember that even through the challenges and through sooo much work, there are miracles in not just my life that I see, but miracles unseen. J... is trying to go to school in Utah! F... has a calling as the youth leader. They feel close together as a family more then ever before and you can see the light in their eyes! So many things that have come in consequence of the Gospel!

It has been a good week Mom! I hope you feel Him there for you to. I have realized just how close He really to us and this work and I had no idea before just how close!

Love you mom and hope you have a good week! P.S.-Go to the temple for me this week!


Excerpts from Dad's email:

Hey Dad!

Yeah that sounds like you have done heaps of projects what the heck? haha how much has changed? Dang I am excited for all the new foods and stuff to! Yeah they feed us really well here! Close to everyday here!

This week was a very good! We found 3 new this week, one of them being a girl named N..... She is interesting because she has PTSD and things so she gets nervous for new things and has a few obsticles. However, she came to church and the members fellow-shipped her soooo well! She even came to the fireside that we had down in Adelaide which I will talk about later! We simply were following up with her one day and she said "yeah come on in", so we just let her know we will be back in a few min with a member. We called up this awesome member, Bro Reed who just dropped what he was doing to come to this lesson with us. We taught her the first lesson and it just clicked to her. She really enjoyed the Book of Mormon and that was a huge focus at the fireside as well. On Saturday she was sick so we were afraid she wouldn't make it to church, but when we called to check again Sunday morning she was all good! So another member, we call her Mama Peck, went and picked her up just before church! She loved it even though she was super nervous at first. She is very unique for sure and I just loved how the members just welcomed her in.

On Tue was a cool start to the week when we went finding. We seriously had no luck all morning and for 2-3 hours we had one door slammed after another. However that morning we prayed for inspiration to know where to go using a method I call "Referral From God". We strongly felt this was a place God wanted us to go. We knocked almost both sides of this huge street and after a long start to the day, we knocked on a door at the end of the street that looked like any other to be honest. Well we met a man named A...... who first off didn't slam the door which was nice. We got to talking and he allowed us to come inside to share more with him. Well A...... has no religious background at all, barely thought about if there is a God before. However as we talked to him, he saw it as an opportunity to test it out. He saw it like a science experiment. Simply, if there is a God, he would keep his promises and would answer. If there is not a God, he would see nothing come from searching. Kind of a good way to look at it actually! Well he is determined to find out and we will continue to work with him through his night shift concern and all!

Love you heaps and have a good week!