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!
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