Baptism & Received release date

Email #92
Area: Alice Springs
Companion: Elder Olsen

Excerpts from Mom's email:

Hey Mom!

This week has been really great! First off, I love Alice Springs! It reminds me a lot of Katherine in very many ways. When I arrived here off the plane I could tell it would be different to anywhere I have served. The aboriginal culture that I've missed so much is here strongly. I have missed the kind people of the Northern Territory as well! For some reason, people are a lot nicer up here! The weather is getting pretty hot, but I don't mind it! I love it here!

My companion, Elder Olsen is great! We get along super well and are just loving it together! He comes from Highland, Utah and has been on his mission a whole 2 months! I look forward to spending this transfer with him honestly! We seem to laugh a lot more then I have and training him will be a lot of funny moments for sure.

The people of Alice Springs is one to see! They are honestly some of the most interesting people I have ever met! For example, we have our friend Mack. Now Mack is a friend that has been looking into the Church for a while now. Here is the thing about Mack... He has lived one heck of a life!!! Since he was young, we served in the military for years! He served with he likes of navy seals in all of these crazy secret missions. During a battle with forces in Iraq, he was hit by an RPG. One of the most amazing, powerful stories I have ever heard in my life was this. As he laid there on the ground dying rapidly while those around him already where dead, he could hear on the radio that Iraq forces were closing in. He prepared to put up a fight to make it harder for them. The heat from the ground was over 50°C and he could see the heat coming off the ground, knowing it will kill him faster. As laid there, for the first time, he prayed to God saying, "If you are really there, you better show me now." The a cool breeze swept over him.

Well, his life long friend, Kylie, stepped in and saved him, intercepting him with her team before the Iraq forces could get to him. As she checked him and did what she could, she noticed that his body temperature was cool. She wondered how in the world she was sweating like crazy while he is on the ground, cold. It saved his life. From that experience, he lost his leg and one of his fingers, along with some other fingers in other instances. That as well was the first time he considered there being a God. His life has been saved three huge times like the one I just told you about. He is a walking miracle. When the missionaries, one of my close friends actually, knocked on his door a while back, he was going to say no. He asked what they wanted and they said "we want to tell you how you can be happy". Now a days down the line, he has one of the greatest testimonies I have ever heard! We are continuing teaching him and pray soon the doctors may find a way for him to be baptized.

We went to this little aboriginal community and I got to see my favorite thing about bush country, the kids! Man I missed the kids out here!! One of them was just carrying around a lizard she caught and somehow she tamed it or something haha. Then they showed us their hiding places in the community haha.

We got to do a lot of unique finding this week as well! One of them is that sometimes the branch President, President Ford, holds these basketball rallies with the best basketball players in Alice Springs. Literally they are like the top players around and they do this thing to try to gold a court as long as possible. Pretty much if you win a game, your team stays on the winning court and if you lose, you go to the other court and so on. Well Pres Ford invited us to go play with these guys to try to get to know and possibly find one of them. Dang they are really good! It was a lot of fun and actually got to know a lot of them really well. Hope it pans out more.

Thanksgiving here was a blast! Many of the members here in the branch are actually from America and all work on this military base. They held a "Turkey Bowl" activity that we were able to go to! It was a really good time and lots of really good food! We played a bunch of games and helped them do some of the activities. Then we had a true Thanksgiving dinner at the Clark's, or missionary senior couple here in Alice. It honestly was a really great Thanksgiving this year!!

Saturday continued to be a really great day because of the baptism of Kazia! Here is the cool thing! This is the wife of a friend of James's from his mission. He might remember Jordan McQueen? He said he would Facebook him. Anyway, the baptism was really great! Many non members showed up that we were able to talk to and work with. Then afterward, they had a dinner that was really good as well! They are a great little family! Jordan is really cool and I look forward to getting to know them more over time.

To answer your question, it is super hot here all the time! Well not all the time, but pretty much haha. It's supposed to get hotter to 👍😂. All good though, I just carry a water bottle that keeps it all cold and put on that blue cloth that you sent ages ago to help me stay cool. It works pretty well! The worst part is biking because the bikes currently suck... Good news is we are getting new bikes up here, brand new! Really nice ones! Hopefully today or tomorrow we will receive them.

That's basically my week!

Love you and hope you have a great week as well!


Excerpts from Dad's email:

Hey Dad!

Well what a change of pace! I went from a hard time being stuck in a rut last transfer to having a bomb companion in a sweet area! I love it here! I really do! I really hope I finish here honestly!! The branch is super awesome. Here, full of Americans and Samoans! It is big enough I feel like to be a ward, but idk how that works.

My companion told me to tell you about my forgetfulness this week haha. So the other day we road our bikes up to this part of town that is a decent bike ride away in the morning and once we got there I realized that I had forgot my badge... Haha can't go without that so had to ride back and get it 😂. Funny thing once my companion dropped something on the way there to while going up this hill and didn't realize it either. We had to go back and get that to... Then yesterday the Clark's asked me to bring this envelope thing that they need from me and I told my companion to remind me when we stop by the flat. Well he reminded me to grab it but after getting ready, I still forgot it. We drive to the Clark's house and I realize I forgot it but luckily we still had some time to go get it. Honestly we were busting up laughing at all of this! That's why I really love it here, we laugh even when some would get upset or frustrated. I just feel happy here and hope to learn to laugh even in times like that. It makes life a whole lot better! I also hope I'm not so forgetful this week hahaha!

So for Christmas, we are trying to get permission to go to Uluru! They did it last year here so that would be amazing! President said we probably can he just need permission from the area presidency to let us. As well, the senior couple mention that we might be watching Antman and the Wasp for Christmas to!! Man I miss senior couples BTW!! They are the best!!! Anyway, Christmas is going to be awesome here!

Time is flying! It will be crazy to get home as soon as it is coming. Here is the big news... Are you ready?! My release date is February 12, 2019 officially. I don't know if you knew that, but now you know:) I will let you know more details as they come probably next transfer!

Love you heaps and have a great week!

Arrival in Alice Springs

Branch Activity

Branch Thanksgiving

Devil Dog

Devil Dog2

Hiding place

Kazia's Baptism

What we do when we are bored

Witchiti Grub

Transferred to Alice Springs!!!

Email #91
Area: Alice Springs
Companion: Elder Olsen

Excerpts from Mom's email:

Hey Mom!

Well I have a lot of crazy news! First off am update on transfers! So I have been transferred! You won't believe where.... Alice Springs!!! I will be training a new missionary names Elder Olsen! I was so surprised! President told me in his email "I want you to know that I have been having the strongest impression the past three or four weeks that you would be going to Alice Springs. This is the will of our Heavenly Father and I've had the spiritual confirmation that this is where you are needed and supposed to be at this time." I hope that gives you the same feeling it gave me! I'm excited! I'm ready for a fresh start to finish strong!

Sorry for emailing so late I just arrived in Alice about 20 min ago BTW.

Anyway my only concern was that I would miss Ford's sealing, but he even addressed that saying "I know this will be disappointing as it will not allow you to be in Adelaide for the temple with your past convert. I am sorry about that but I truly know that this is what Heavenly Father wants for your mission--not for you to be denied the blessing of Alice Spring for a worthy desire like attending the temple."

I've never had such mixed feeling about a transfer ever. A lot of sad things... I love the ward so much that I was in!!! My companion and I finally figured things out and aligned nicely. I will miss many missionaries so much that I might not see again. It is sad to leave all of that.

On the bright side, I have a fresh new start! Elder Olsen is awesome! I hear Alice Springs is amazing! I'm really just excited for the next transfer. Oh I'm the district as well and the funny thing is that the district and zone is comprised of 7 missionaries and a senior couple. So that's funny those under my stewardship are the zone leaders and the northern Territory STLs. I know some of them pretty well because I've met most of them except my companion and one of the elders. Should be a fun transfer though.

Here is some bad news that I don't think you will really like, but it is not all that bad. The pacific area presidency has requested that we would discontinue talking over email back and forth with family including using the google hangouts feature. So I won't be able to talk to you back and forth on Mondays anymore, but that's not to bad because I don't have all that long left. I can still email you the of coarse and you can send as much as you want, I just can't reply. I'll just try to put as much as I can in emails and make it worth it. Maybe send questions you want answer in emails as well if you want, but make sure it is prior to Monday so I can read them before.

Well this past week was actually pretty good. My companion and I had figured things out for the most part and had a really good week serving together. I found out on Saturday that I was packing and so we made Sunday the best that we could. It also so happened to be Elder Turcotte birthday so we did a lot. I went to say goodbye to a lot of people who I would miss, mostly being members. They have served us so much and I am so grateful for each of them!

We also had our mission tour this past week with President Haleck! I had learned so much from the MLC (Mission Leadership Council) he attended and as well for the multi zone conference that we had. It reminds me back to when Elder Stevenson visited the mission over a year ago. Always a spiritual feast to be a part of and it is crazy just how much you learn.

We recieved some training on how to use the new Light the World program and it should be huge! Much of the training was on setting goals. We learned in the eld that President Haleck feels with the way the mission is right now, we could be the leading mission in 2019 in the pacific area with an exception to only a few missions that are basically far beyond. It was an honest and exciting thought. I believe that is possible as well and that would be a huge jump from where we are right now. It's unfortunate I won't be here to see it, but I will be watching from a distance.

On Sunday, like I said we went to many homes! We started with coordination Meeting and turns out our WML's wife had lunch prepared for us. From there we went to a recent converts home where one of his non member friends was there (she also came to church and she is not taking the discussions). They gave us cake and everything because of my comps birthday and that I was leaving. We continued to have this special treatment all day haha. Another member from Africa really wanted me to try her Fufu dish before I left so she made that for us and we had to pick it up. Then we went to dinner at bishops house and they fed us heaps including one of the best cakes I've ever had that she made from scratch!!! At this point I was just soooo full and we still had one more visit for the night. We went to the Davison's home were their less active son had a non member there for dinner. We couldn't attend dinner, but we said we can try for dessert. So we get there already filled and they have more ice cream and sweets for us..... Haven't been that full since Mildura!! What an end to my time there that was! Again, the members were a huge light there since it wasn't the most successful area work wise.

Well love you and have a great week!


Excerpts from Dad's email:

Hey dad!

I'll try to include as much as I possibly can, but idk how much I have. I am emailing on my phone since I just got here, but I can't use the instant messaging anymore anyway. Ask mom about it. So yeah sorry about that I am disappointed to.

I will be talking to president my next interview about my departure date and should be recieveing word from the mission office soon for a estimation. Pretty crazy how fast time is flying. If you haven't heard from mom yet, I'm going to Alice springs! I have now served in almost every zone in the mission, but two (City and Modbury) which I am okay with not going there haha.

From what I have so far learned about my new area, it might be some what similar to Katherine. My companion is from Utah I think so it will be cool to have him. Training again is pretty exciting! President literally told me that he needs a trainer more then he needs a zone leader right now. There are so many missionaries coming into the mission so we need more trainers. I figured I would train at some point because he warned me about it a while back that he want missionaries to finish missions as the trainers to raise up a new generation of missionaries.

I'll have to give you the full down low about Alice once I have experienced it, but from what I have heard it is a cool experience! I've always wanted to serve there so we will see how it goes. Only worry is it is super hot, but that's okay I will adjust... maybe. At least I can come home with a good tan! It's 35 today when I flew in.

I'm excited to be working with the little aboriginal kids again!!! That will be so great! That was my favorite part, so I hope it will be similar. I hear we have communities there as well. A huge bright side to coming here at the end of the mission is that when a Missionary goes to Alice, they always come back with dirty cloths stained a reddish color from the sand. I won't have to worry about that haha.

Lots of members from America, because I guess there is a military base here.

The flat I am in is pretty nice and comfortable. Luckily the air con is super good in it so that will be nice!!

Besides all that good stuff, I am doing well! I have taken my rear view mirrors down and am just looking forward from here.

Love you heaps and have a good week!

I have gained a greater witness of the Atonement of Christ

Email #90
Area: Oaklands Park
Companion: Elder Turcotte

Excerpts from Mom's email:

Last night, I was reading back through my mission journal for the first time in a very long time. As I read, I had feelings that I have learned to recognize better! I began to wept because of the love I felt for those precious memories. From the MTC to now, the overwhelming feeling that I have felt while rereading my own accounts, is love. Why I came out in my mission is a little different then why I stay. I have realized just how much I have changed. I have gained a greater witness of the Atonement of Christ for I have seen it again in my life!

I have reflected back to Doctrine and Covenants 122:9 again and again. "Hold on Thy way... fear not.. for God shall be with you forever and ever." Hold on they way... I'm holding on Mom! More and more, I remember why I still hold on.

The week started out with a really fun district Pday! We got together and played sports at the chapel and games. We played a game called poison for a while which is basically a game for basketball. It was a lot of fun and very refreshing. One of the assistants was showing me how to do some crazy karate for when people on the street get too crazy haha. He is really good and wasn't even trying honestly. I've seen him go off on a poor punching bag and man he almost broke it haha. Now with some personal training, I'm ready for any guy who tries to mess with us lol.

Through the week we tried something a little fun to help motivate the zone. We made a scale to keep track of how many potentials we were finding through the week scale was the tree of life and our eyes are to the temple! I'll send a photo so it makes sense. We filled in the scale each night and sent it to the zone with a text for motivation and encouragement.

We did a lot of jetty finding this week giving it a better shot. It is actually a lot of fun to try to go and find on the jetty because people are a lot nicer out there. They will be fishing or walking along enjoying the view and we just always catch them in a good mood haha. Many were catching squid and even a dude who I was talking to let me have one to take home. Unfortunately we have no idea how to take it home or even how to cook him, so I didn't take it.. would have been good though I wish I did haha. Even saw some dolphins out there and a seal.

We are teaching a recent convert's daughter who is 8 years old named C.......... Her mother is so close with God!!! She is from Gauna Africa and this week she had us over for dinner! It was really good African food and things I've never tried before. She told us about some of the miracles in her life one being her daughter. They miscarried many times and she prayed so hard to have a child. She said in a prayer if He will bless her with a child, she will name the child after Him, hence C.......... The other huge miracle is two years ago when missionaries found her and taught her the gospel. Remember my trainer? He apparently taught her! Now we are teaching her daughter! That's pretty cool to me!

Love you heaps and have a good week!


Excerpts from Dad's email:

Hey Dad!

This week was a lot easier but still has its struggles. I am really wondering how this next transfer will go. Much of these past to transfers I just want to move on from because it has not been my favorite time I have had on my mission. I'm hoping to move on to the final chapter and that I may make the most of it. Transfers are this Sunday, so next email you will know if I stay or go. I am honestly hoping to go outlying again.

There was one pretty funny moment that was also kind of disappointing, but I bet you will find it amusing. So we have been teaching this one kid named Alex. He was being taught about a year ago by other elders but he dropped off for a time. He just showed up to church one day and so we talked to him of coarse and that is what happened a year ago as well. The reason is that he has a long distance girlfriend that is in the states and she is a member of the church. She really wants him to look into it so he did. Anyway, we went over to his house to teach him more and found out a few things. He was just on his computer the whole time and he told us how he gets home from work at 2 and then plays video games the rest of the day until it was time for bed. His mom would just bring in food for him and took his garbage that he was done with as well. She was really nice to us as well bringing us these frozen yogurt things that were super good. Anyway, he told us that he really is just going just to impress his long distance girlfriend. Apparently she asks him what he learned at church every week... He showed up again this week to church and we realized the whole time he was in class he was just playing poker on his phone. At least we got frozen yogurt out of it haha wasn't a complete waste of time.

Guess what!!!! So I contacted Ford this past week to catch up because it has been one year since he was baptized! He told me that at the end of November or early December, his wife and him are getting sealed in the temple! He asked me to attend! I hope I can get permission to go because that would be such a blessing! Their family means the world to me! His son I found out will be turning 18 in May and will be getting baptized as well! He goes to seminary, church, and even gave a talk this past week apparently! So great!

Love you heaps and have a good week!

Trade off with new missionary

Email #89
Area: Oaklands Park
Companion: Elder Turcotte

Excerpts from Mom's email:

Hey Mom!

I don't really know if this week went fast or slow... Haha hard to explain. It was a good week with some really good days and one or two slow ones. Over all though I can say it was good!

The week started off great with our district meetings which are always a spiritual feast. We picked up a few assignment/chores that we needed to do for the zone. For example, the car up in Murray Bridge is not running well and there is not a car dealer up there so we had to switch cars for the week and take there car in down here. Their car was pretty dirty and was just not a good car so that was disappointing, but we got her all fixed up. Then the same companionship had problems with their phones so I had to take one of their phones to go get it looked at. Haha chores of a zone leader😂 always fun! Haha nah, but I'm glad I get to serve them and help out. We try to keep things running smooth the best we can.

On Wednesday we went on trade off with the Assistants in their area. I thought that this was a great experience! I honestly learned more from this trade off than most trade offs I have ever been on! What really impacted me was the way the flat felt. Our flat is clean, but their flat felt like a home. Felt like how my you kept our home. I endeavor more to have ours the same. That and as well we developed a level of trust and brotherhood between ourselves and the assistants. I feel that relationship is strong to have in the mission!

I went with Elder McDonald who also came into the mission with me. We had a really good time catching up because we have never really served around one another before. He is actually from South Africa as well! He was a major karate fighter and was even going to represent South Africa professionally, but the mission has made that a difficult path to continue. However, he will now be going to BYU so I might be able to see him when we get home!

We then held another trade off with our district leader to replicate the things we learned during our trade off with the assistants. Simply being a model in everything that we do including cleaning and even eating. Gives them a feel of what it can be like if they conduct themselves the same. I really enjoyed it myself!

The funny thing on the trade off was our mock lesson! So I asked a member in the ward, Ben, who I'm pretty close with to pretend to be someone we are teaching. He is going on a mission soon, so he wanted to observe for sure. So I was with a new missionary who is on his first transfer, Elder Roberts. He had no idea Ben was a member the whole time. He even asked some tough questions and I turned some of them to Elder Roberts haha. In the end of it, Ben's parents gave it away though. It was a good teaching experience and gave Elder Roberts a chance to take the reins a bit more.

It was so funny because before the lesson, Sister Turner (Ben's mom) offered us lunch because she didn't know what was going on haha. So Elder Roberts just thought that this family was super solid and great! In the end he knew and it was a good time!

Love you heaps and have a good week!


Excerpts from Dad's email:

Hey Dad!

For those that we are teaching, they are all still slowly moving forward. Honestly just busy schedules is the hardest part. It's like no one is ever available. It's okay though I still enjoyed the week for the most part. The past day or so has been pretty tough however. Doctrine and Covenants 122:9 "Therefore, hold on thy way, and the priesthood shall remain with thee; for their bounds are set, they cannot pass. Thy days are known, and thy years shall not be numbered less; therefore, fear not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever."

The week over all was good just the past day or so. There was a funny moment during the week I can share. So my companion really wanted to go off these jumps on his bike. Just recently, like two weeks ago, there was a missionary who had to go home because he got hurt going off jumps and stuff on his bike on pday. Well my companion anyway insisted on going on these jumps that are small next to a bike trail we ride past all the time. I thought it was a dumb idea, so I didn't but he did. Well the first jump, no air at all. He goes again... no air except for the air he got when he flew off his bike haha. Was kind of funny. He is alright, just a few scratches. Messed up his bike a little bit though. I will send a video.

Love you heaps and have a good week.

After Elder Turcotte's little jump spill