Email #88
Area: Oaklands Park
Companion: Elder Turcotte
Excerpts from Mom's email:
In the mission, things are moving slowly. We really need to get the zones success up. We have discussed that the only way we are going to do that is first by getting ours up ourselves. Having had build our teaching pool more this week, I honestly feel that next week has much more potential. We expect 3 at church and each on date, and that is for sure an achievable goal in our area at this point! The zone I pray will follow! We will be trying our best to show the progression in the zone as it comes by something the Marion South Zone leaders showed us. It is simply a chart that we send out each night that shows our progression to our weekly goals. It should be fun to make!
We had a really good experience this week teaching our new friend T...! It's funny, when we first found T... he really didn't seem all that interested, but asked us to come by another time so we did. Next time we showed up and turns out he is solid as! We taught the first day in 20 min because we had another appointment to get to and it was just supposed to be a quick follow up. Anyways, we gave him a pamphlet and came back on Saturday. He read the whole thing and studied it, researched it, and loved it! He said he agrees with everything said. He then said, "I really think though that I need one of those books of yours, the Book of Mormon. I need to read that before I can really know if this is true." We were blown away and couldn't get a Book of Mormon out quick enough haha. He accepted a date for Baptism on Nov 24. I think it might take a little more time for him because he wants to be sure before he makes a big commitment. He wants to come to church so high hopes for him.
I haven't talked about it to much in past emails how much I enjoy serving others in my zone and getting to know them! We have some great missionaries in our zone that I just love so much! Many of them are brand new in the field and it's great to see the fire they have! It has also been funny to watch them adjust to Australia and the culture because 2 of them are from Utah and one from Idaho. One sister has been really concerned for ages when she hears "sweet as". In Australia, that is just a term used all the time to say something is cool or nice. She thought all these missionaries were saying something else this whole time. Idk what must have gone through her head, but low key I feel bad because she is kind of pretty and might have thought we were referring to her or something lol. We also had one elder try Vegemite for the first time... He hated it haha. Then the sisters have asked like 3 times about the spiders and how to protect themselves from them. Just a whole heap of funny stuff that I am just used to now. Reminds me of when I started my mission I guess.
Did you get the picture from a member. I think she sent it to you in Facebook or something. Nice family, we had dinner with them last night. Members have been really great here! We are building a great relationship with a few specific ones. That is why I like to be in a ward for a while because you can get such a string bond with the members. The most success I have seen in my mission has been though the members and it all starts with a relationship with them. That's hard to do when you are only in an area for one transfer. Hopefully the ball will keep rolling with the ward I am in right now.
I'm glad you enjoy the pictures! It was a good time for sure and something I won't ever forget! It's not everyday you get to do stuff like that. For Australians it is common place and not that cool, but for me it was awesome! I have seen heaps of kangaroos before, but never so close to the point to pet them and hold them.
Excerpts from Dad's email:
Hey Dad!
They kind of celebrate Halloween, but Australians are not very big on holidays for some reason or another. They recently in the past few years started celebrating Halloween. They are definitely missing out. I haven't heard anything on the release date yet, but I am supposed to soon I guess. Probably my guess would be my next interview.
Wow! Mom told me about how long I have.... that is crazy! I honestly don't know how I feel about it. Part of me still is no where near close to leaving and part of me is excited for the day. I've realized I only have once in my life to do this and once I get home, there is just heaps of other things that I will be having to do. It how true this statement is, but I still feel like missionary work is one of the most difficult things I will ever do! Especially in Australia! It's hard haha. As time goes on, I realize more and more how difficult this may be for some missionaries. I've been lucky!
Through these trials, I sure have learned a lot! It mn this information!! For some reason, it is through hard times where the spirit teaches you the most. ay not seem like a lot to someone who knows so much, but to me it feels like my brain can't hold oWe can have spiritual experiences, feel the spirit, even in the most difficult of times. Joseph Smith received the revelations found in Doctorine and Covenants 121, 122, and 123 while facing one of the hardest trials in his entire life, Liberty Jail.
I have learned that it's hard to express the things I feel to people sometimes. We cannot express spiritual knowledge in words alone. We can, however, with words show another how to prepare for the reception of the Spirit. The Spirit itself will help us do so. “For when a man speaketh by the power of the Holy Ghost the power of the Holy Ghost carrieth it unto the hearts of the children of men.” (2 Ne. 33:1.)
I love learning things like this and I know that they will help me through the rest of my life!
Love you heaps and talk to you soon!
October 29, 2018
October 24, 2018
A strong belief in God and Christ and knows they love her
Email #87
Area: Oaklands Park
Companion: Elder Turcotte
Excerpts from Mom's email:
Hey Mom!
Sorry that you are getting an email late this week, we had temple today!
So I will talk a little bit more about last week so that there is plenty to talk about on Monday. It was a good week that I enjoyed especially at the beginning. We started our adventures of the week going to a National Park were Kangaroos walk around and other wildlife! It was really cool because we roamed around kangaroos, emus, wombats, Aussie birds, and I even held a koala!!! I'll try to send all the videos and pics that I can so you can get a better idea. I've seen a lot of animals all over the place, but not like this! Being able to actually walk up to them and pet them and even hold a few of them! Got a good Australian experience!
We were really busy through the week with a few things the senior couples asked us to help them with. We have been trying to get the Sisters over to there flat here for a while, but had a few problems with it. There were elders there before, so the senior couples asked my companion and I to go over there and clear out all that we can, to throw out all the left behind stuff from past missionaries. There wasn't that much, but it filled one of those big black garbage bags. Then later they asked us to go get the whole zones keys cut so that each missionary in the companionship has a set of keys, plus we need a set for ourselves to their flats. So that took a bit.
Besides all of that, we also have knocked heaps of doors with not to much luck this week. We found a few people here and there, but I realize more and more how much this culture is against God. Somebody told us that Australia is just a God forsaken country, but I feel more so that they have forsaken God. It is really sad sometimes. However, when we do find people here that give us the time of day, you know they are pretty solid haha.
The sisters are no longer in our zone (long story in of itself) so we get to teach A..... now!!!! We are so excited for that because she is just so awesome. This is what my companion wrote in her description on the area book: "SO FLIPPING KEEN. Keenest door knocking potential I have ever met. We talked about restoration and how families can be together forever. We taught about modern apostles and prophets and she agreed to come to church and conference this week. She used to got to a Lutheran church, but doesn't feel settled and is looking for something more. Likes how we said holy ghost and not holy spirit. It's what her dad used to say. Gave her Book of Mormon and restoration pamphlet and she teared up a bit. Wants to come learn more. She has a strong belief in God and Christ and knows they love her." So as you can tell, he is pretty excited to haha. We've gone by with a member and were able to establish a great relationship with her and finished teaching the restoration! We look forward to our next visit this next week.
B..... as been doing very well as well! He just soaks up what we teach him and is actually keeping commitments! We need to follow up with him this week, but he has been pretty busy so we will try later this evening.
We also had our trade off with the the Elders in Mount Barker! I went to their area with Elder Goodrich, a new missionary from Utah while my companion went with Elder Maddock, our district leader from England into our area. I really enjoyed it a lot being able to be back in the hills again! Plus Elder Goodrich is a new missionary, so he knows all the good movies that came out so he was telling me about all that I have missed and have to catch up on in between doors. He didn't spoil anything for me, more so just teased what there is and man I am excited for all of those new movies! They sound really good! Anyway, we were able to especially help the member work up there. We have still been trying to get up and running the family history stuff for proselyting and in that time I was in Mount Barker, we were able to talk to the family history consultants for their ward and get them on board with everything!
Love you heaps and talk to you soon!
Excerpts from Dad's email:
Hey Dad!
Not to many other stories this week really haha! I will tell you about a few things though.
So today we were able to go to the temple and being able to be with the zone has been so good! A recent change has happened in the zone where some elders moved into an area where the sisters once were. We still are not sure why the sisters were shifted, but it is what it is. The bright side is now Elder Malio, one of my old companions is now in my ward! We even get to hang out a little bit on pday which is really nice. We went to a pizza place today for all you can eat and it was heaps good to catch up with him. I probably have told him and Elder Fala more then any other companion because we drove so much up in Mildura!
Man I don't know what else to tell you about this week without talking about this week. I want to save some things for Monday...
This is what you get for now lol ;)
Area: Oaklands Park
Companion: Elder Turcotte
Excerpts from Mom's email:
Hey Mom!
Sorry that you are getting an email late this week, we had temple today!
So I will talk a little bit more about last week so that there is plenty to talk about on Monday. It was a good week that I enjoyed especially at the beginning. We started our adventures of the week going to a National Park were Kangaroos walk around and other wildlife! It was really cool because we roamed around kangaroos, emus, wombats, Aussie birds, and I even held a koala!!! I'll try to send all the videos and pics that I can so you can get a better idea. I've seen a lot of animals all over the place, but not like this! Being able to actually walk up to them and pet them and even hold a few of them! Got a good Australian experience!
We were really busy through the week with a few things the senior couples asked us to help them with. We have been trying to get the Sisters over to there flat here for a while, but had a few problems with it. There were elders there before, so the senior couples asked my companion and I to go over there and clear out all that we can, to throw out all the left behind stuff from past missionaries. There wasn't that much, but it filled one of those big black garbage bags. Then later they asked us to go get the whole zones keys cut so that each missionary in the companionship has a set of keys, plus we need a set for ourselves to their flats. So that took a bit.
Besides all of that, we also have knocked heaps of doors with not to much luck this week. We found a few people here and there, but I realize more and more how much this culture is against God. Somebody told us that Australia is just a God forsaken country, but I feel more so that they have forsaken God. It is really sad sometimes. However, when we do find people here that give us the time of day, you know they are pretty solid haha.
The sisters are no longer in our zone (long story in of itself) so we get to teach A..... now!!!! We are so excited for that because she is just so awesome. This is what my companion wrote in her description on the area book: "SO FLIPPING KEEN. Keenest door knocking potential I have ever met. We talked about restoration and how families can be together forever. We taught about modern apostles and prophets and she agreed to come to church and conference this week. She used to got to a Lutheran church, but doesn't feel settled and is looking for something more. Likes how we said holy ghost and not holy spirit. It's what her dad used to say. Gave her Book of Mormon and restoration pamphlet and she teared up a bit. Wants to come learn more. She has a strong belief in God and Christ and knows they love her." So as you can tell, he is pretty excited to haha. We've gone by with a member and were able to establish a great relationship with her and finished teaching the restoration! We look forward to our next visit this next week.
B..... as been doing very well as well! He just soaks up what we teach him and is actually keeping commitments! We need to follow up with him this week, but he has been pretty busy so we will try later this evening.
We also had our trade off with the the Elders in Mount Barker! I went to their area with Elder Goodrich, a new missionary from Utah while my companion went with Elder Maddock, our district leader from England into our area. I really enjoyed it a lot being able to be back in the hills again! Plus Elder Goodrich is a new missionary, so he knows all the good movies that came out so he was telling me about all that I have missed and have to catch up on in between doors. He didn't spoil anything for me, more so just teased what there is and man I am excited for all of those new movies! They sound really good! Anyway, we were able to especially help the member work up there. We have still been trying to get up and running the family history stuff for proselyting and in that time I was in Mount Barker, we were able to talk to the family history consultants for their ward and get them on board with everything!
Love you heaps and talk to you soon!
Excerpts from Dad's email:
Hey Dad!
Not to many other stories this week really haha! I will tell you about a few things though.
So today we were able to go to the temple and being able to be with the zone has been so good! A recent change has happened in the zone where some elders moved into an area where the sisters once were. We still are not sure why the sisters were shifted, but it is what it is. The bright side is now Elder Malio, one of my old companions is now in my ward! We even get to hang out a little bit on pday which is really nice. We went to a pizza place today for all you can eat and it was heaps good to catch up with him. I probably have told him and Elder Fala more then any other companion because we drove so much up in Mildura!
Man I don't know what else to tell you about this week without talking about this week. I want to save some things for Monday...
This is what you get for now lol ;)
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