As we are obedient, the outcome will always be beautiful

Email #102
Area: Alice Springs
Companion: Elder Richard

Excerpts from Mom's email:

This week was yet another week in the mission field with its ups and downs. To some degree it went slower then normal though haha. I don't know if it is the anticipation or what..😅 At the same time though, some days went really fast because they were really fun!

I had some pretty fun times this week! One of them was our trade off with the other elders! I went to their area again and had a blast! The highlight was going to the Ledbutters (on date for the 9th) and they are an awesome family to teach as always. We had a lesson on obedience by following Elder Ostraff how to fold a paper bird. The only thing was, I couldn't watch how to do it. In the end everyone had a nice paper swan while I had my version on a paper bird, which didn't look great haha. We learned that sometimes we don't know why certain folds happen and might even seem pointless, but as we are obedient, the outcome will always be beautiful.

We had a great miracle this week that was a tender mercy to me!! So M... has had a hard time with his health for a while and has hindered him from coming to church. Well the doctors figured out a few things and he is not in as much pain now. So this last Sunday, M... came to church and it was amazing! His comments in Sunday school were awesome! There were a few members there that thought he had been a member his whole life by the comments he made! I'm really grateful he came my last Sunday here! That was one thing I was really praying for! I hope soon after these problems pass, he will be able to enter the covenant path. He spoke to me this week about maybe skyping in on his baptism when it happens! That would be cool!

One of our challenges from zone Conference was to begin to implement family history in our work. Starting on the 10th for a month, they are doing a family history Blitz. The mission department has asked this mission to test how well family history would work in missionary work. So for a month, all the missionaries here will do is use family history in the initial contact. No other form of finding. Sounds pretty fun to me, too bad I will miss it honestly! To gear up for it, we have tried to find ways to do it here in Alice. We found that walking through town with a clip board and asking people to do a quick 3 question serve about families opens the conversation.

The questions consist of:
1. Do you know the names of your great grandparents?
2. Do you know where they were born?
3. Have you even done family history?
    if so, what resource did you use? (my heritage, family search, ect)

As we asked these questions, practically everyone we have talked to has said they tried family history, but it was just to expensive to do. That leads to us introduce Family Search, which is the largest database of names and family history resources in the entire world, all free to use. Even that we have a family history center with consultants that can help you all for free. See how that works!? It works really well!!! I was pretty surprised actually just how well it works!!


Excerpts from Dad's email:

Hey Dad!!

Last few weeks coming to a close... Pretty crazy!! It doesn't quite feel real yet. Probably will when I get in the plane, not the one to Adelaide but one home hahaha.

Man I don't know what to expect when I get home. I've been thinking about that. What is my next step in life? Well school, dating, and all the general stuff but where do I start? What do I work towards? Goal setting has been a blessing in my mission and I want to have a goal to work towards. I'll talk to you more about it when I get home for sure haha. Man real life stuff here!! Hahaha! That's okay though, same part of God's plan.

I was reflecting last night as I went to bed what has occurred in the past to years. Man I have been so dang lucky! I've been able to experience things and receive so much that I don't feel like I deserved! So many Miracles that I have seen that I never though were possible, some to sacred to even write about. This has been a special part of my life and I think will shape the rest of it to come. My patriarchal blessing talks about that and I'm starting to make connections. One part talks about the avenues of education I want to search for and to "expand my vista's". I think I might know where to go with that. I have received as promised, training in the spirit. I've come to understand it more then I thought I would. It's pretty amazing what the gospel is! I mean, I feel like I am fulfilling part of a personal prophesy! Idk if I'm making any sense though haha.

Now only with a week left, I'm not sure what I can achieve. That is what I am wondering right now. What else can I do? I guess I just have to go and find out.

Did you have a chance to sort through the photos from last week? I am sending quite a bit more haha. Some may raise questions hahaha. Yes, some stories you may have to wait for lol. I'll keep working hard until the very end! I hope this has blessed you guys as it has blessed me. I'm excited to see you all soon!

Well I got some cool stuff to show you all including gifts and things. It is crazy how giving some people are here! I've picked up some cool as stuff! Any other request of what would be cool to bring home? I've got a good amount of suit case space I think and only have two pdays left, only one in Alice where there are unique things. Let me know if anything in mind pops up.

Love you and will talk to you next Monday!

Aborigine dot art

Todd river

Cool tree

Ray

Ties

Sisters making ties

Bearded dragons

Cooking bearded dragons

Kangaroo

Just hangin' out

Stick bug

Two legged dog

Wallaby

Zone Conference

Email #101
Area: Alice Springs
Companion: Elder Richard

Excerpts from Mom's email:

It's been a pretty good week! District pday have us a great start where we played our version of chopped! We had the first course, the Elders had the main coarse and the sisters had dessert! The Elders did a really nice big burgers that were amazing! Even put coconut in it which was our surprise ingredient we have them.

Another big event was zone Conference weekend! So Thursday we had Elder Fau (assistant) with us for the day and had a good time. Turns out that he has a cousin that lives here in Alice that he hasn't seen for years. He messaged him to let him know that he will be here for a few days and his cousin invited us over for dinner and a lesson. He is a nonmember, so we were able to teach him a little. After the lesson, he took us to this place called the Gillen Club. It is some nice place where you need a membership to get in. Because he was a member, we were able to get in with him and his family. It was such good food! Probably some of the best food that I have had in a long as time! He got me the salmon!

While we were there, we got a good amount of weird looks because this is topically not a place people would see us haha. It's like that casino place where we used to eat. Anyway, while we were there, this lady calls out to us and we go and talk to her. Turns out that she has been wanting to meet with some missionaries because she has heard how it helps people. She said she is in a really hard time in her life and needs God's help. Cool place to find someone for sure! Spending some time in a trio was a lot of fun and a good change of pace.

Zone Conference itself was awesome! We received training about a how the mission department has asked our mission to do a test where we only do family history finding for a month. It sounds really cool to try and we will see what kind of fruit family history can do here in Australia. We are trying to prepare for it with members and trainings for ourselves as well how to properly use it. Unfortunately for me, this starts beginning of next transfer... 😅 But that's okay, I am enjoying help prepare for this and maybe it will help me with my family history for myself to do temple work!!

The saddest part about zone Conference was baring my leavers testimony! It happens almost every transfer where someone is leaving, but every time it feels like you have a long ways to go before it is you. Then all at once, you reach that very moment... It was very tender and I felt the spirit very strongly! I was also blessed to hear sister Saoloto leavers testimony! I was her first district leader when she arrived in the mission and now her last as well! It's been cool to finish with her because I've been able to see the growth in her and she can see it in me.

The day after zone Conference, there was this fun run that we heard about, but it was at 6am. Since President was in town, it was really easy to get permission to go. The other elders decided to wear their white shirts and ties, but we didn't get the memo haha. Nobody told us😂. But that's okay we didn't die as much as they did on the run. Elder Ostraff ran track at home, so he did really well! Took 19th place out of hundreds of people! He beat me by like 6 minutes! It was good to do, because helps the community be familiar with us. The cool thing was Kylie saw us at the fun run! Now that lead to a conversation that got us back in the door with them!

We found out that M... has been on strong medications and underwent a surgery. Now that he is feeling better, we will be going by hopefully tomorrow.

My companion and I are doing well! We seem to get along fine without any problem. It's nice not having to worry about that and just enjoy the work! Found out that his mom met the Hansen's (the ones that were in our ward). I don't know if I told you, but he knew then well. Anyway, his parents might be coming to my Homecoming. Do we know the details to that? I can't remember.

Time is still flying, but sometimes time slows down a lot. There are some slow days. The anticipation is real haha! Still pressing forward though and honestly still really enjoying it here!! Love you and have another good week!

Excerpts from Dad's email:

Hey Dad!

Time like you said sometimes seems to drag on, but probably out of anticipation. Missionary work can be very draining as you know going 24/7 and the anticipation that I won't knock another door is pretty exciting lol. However, I don't like the feeling that I won't be a missionary anymore. It's who I am right now haha and it will be weird to change, but hopefully not to weird. I'll still be me with a few changes and hopefully all good ones.

Just rounding up a few things each week just looking for the right things to bring home. It's been pretty fun and I definitely have things that are special to me to take back! More so trying to gather a few things for each of you, but as you know, you are all hard to shop for. Weird thing is for some reason or another, a lot of things I have have been given to me! Very few things that I have bought haha. I recon this week and next will be when I buy a few things. When I am down in Adelaide, I will be able to shop in the city hopefully the day before I leave. Talking to president while he was here, he basically told me what it will be like my last few days. I'll fly down on the Friday before. Saturday will be all leavers stuff going on like temple. Sunday I will be in Grange being able to go see everyone there along with Fords family. Then Monday will be last Pday where I will be able to shop and stuff and then family home evening with President. Then Tuesday I fly!

I've got know idea though what is going on this week! The work has been slow as haha! Trying to do things that are productive but it's to hot sometimes and President doesn't want us out Finding in that heat. So we have been trying to do visits, but we are running out of members, less actives, and everything to visit. Kind of complicated to fill the schedule. I've done it for two years, you would thing it would be easier but man it has slowed down a tone!!! Can't even go out to the abo communities because it's even hotter out there!

I've learned something interesting this past week.  When the Savior went into the garden, he had his disciples with him, and it was much more then just the eleven apostles. There were multitudes of them! He told them "sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder". Then he took with him 3, Peter, James, and John. He invited them to go a little deeper into the garden. He invited 3 to "watch" with him. Christ has invited some of us to "watch" with him a little deeper into the garden. There are only two callings in the world to be a full representative of Christ. That is the apostles and full time missionaries. Now has been my time being able to be deep into the garden. Christ went back to his disciples and found them asleep. He said "What, could ye not watch with me one hour?". They slept through the most important event in history. If they followed his council to "watch" with him, could you imagine what they might have saw? I don't want to sleep through this and miss what I might have seen. Now is my time deep in the garden and at some point, I will have to leave it and join the rest of the savoirs desciples in the world. My job then will be to testify of what I have seen but I can't do that if I sleep through it all.

I'm grateful to be here at this time and will do my best to watch the Miracles unfold before me. I'm grateful you've been able to see Miracles at home as well! Angels are round about each of you, I know it!

Love you heaps and have a great week!!! 

5 Star dinner

Before fun run

during fun run

After fun run

I'm a cat person now

Not messing with dogs anymore

Ray's hand made sweater

Sister Storrer drawing

Tired Companion

Zone conference

The symbolism with the tree of life

Email #100
Area: Alice Springs
Companion: Elder Richard

Excerpts from Mom's email:

I have gained a fascination with the symbolism with the tree of life! Lehi's dream and Nephi's vision relate to all principles in the gospel it seems like, especially the Atonement. It has become a huge topic of study for me and is something that has resonated in my thoughts because the true of life is on the front of my scripture, the background on my phone, and even have a painting now of it here. The constant reminder of the Atonement has been a major blessing to me lately! The tree of life is a symbol of God’s love and Christ’s Atonement: “The tree of life … is the love of God" (1 Nephi 11:25). The love of God for us is most expressed in His gift of Jesus as our Savior: "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son" (John 3:16).

We have had a lot of great experiences this week as well! A few funny ones to start! So we went by to go see M.... and her family because she is working on something for me:). While we were there, this guy was backing out of a driveway and backed into our car that was parked outside. Thankfully this guy was a really honest guy! He came and knocked on the door and told us that he hit our car! We have heard about a couple hit and runs in the mission, so I am grateful this man was an honest man! We got to talking to him and turns out that he is a Christian and he said that he admires what we do. We got his phone number and everything for insurance purposes, but he also said we can meet up and talk sometime!!! He thought we were nice guys😎 lol. Would be a funny story if he pans out for sure!

The other funny story was when we were finding and I see across this street two kangaroos chillin in someone's yard. I honestly thought they were fake at first because the big one was leaning on the small one, kind of look like statues at first. When they moved I said "Hey look, kangaroos..." and my companion got super excited! They were the first kangaroos he has ever seen! It was pretty funny because he has been here 4 months and never has seen a kangaroo. I've seen them so many times now that it's more common to see one then I would see a deer back home. Loved his reaction though to it and made seeing them pretty cool.

We had a couple really spiritual experiences this week as well! We received this referral from the other elders of this women they met in town. We went over Saturday afternoon when her husband was home. They are both from south Africa and just moved here to have a better life for their 8 week old baby!! They are the nicest couple ever and they are perfect because they are Christians who have sort of bounced around different faiths, but never really found one they want to stay at long. Well we taught them about the restoration and as we re-accounted the first vision, S.. (the mother) began to cry. They were just amazed to learn about this experience and to then learn that God has called another prophet!

I'm so grateful that I still have this chance to teach what I love the most! For S.. and J....., I felt that they have such promise. Just like everyone else, they have agency and I pray they will use that agency to find the truth. These experiences have got me thinking about who I can reach out to when I get home to share the gospel with at home. It will be a little different, but at least now I somewhat know what I am doing haha.

Love you mom and have another good week!!


Excerpts from Dad's email:

Hey Dad!

My time here is ticking away! Sometimes I wish time could slow down a bit.. especially pday hahaha! We have some fun plans for today! It's my last district pday! We are doing a game of Chopped. Do you remember that cooking show? I'll tell more about it next week probably, but should be fun. Going to the Clark's to do it!

We also have zone conference this week on Friday, again another last for me... So weird! I know he is going to have me talk haha they always do that with leavers and the same in my last sacrament meeting. Hopeful I've gotten better at public speaking by now. Is it weird that I am nervous already for my Homecoming talk?? How do you summarize two years worth of experiences in one talk? How do you know which story is the best? Haha I'm not going to prepare for it yet except just focusing on studies. (Doctrine and Covenants 84:85)

It's still super hot here as usual! All week has been above 40° and all this week will be above that as well! I'm not sure if you ever get used to it to be honest. It becomes bearable, but man it's so hot haha! I think it will be funny when President comes here and feels how hot it really is here right now! We heard that currently this is the hottest place in the world! 😎

Members have been really good to us helping us to stay health and eat the right foods. Did you know that eating spicy foods can cool your body temperature down? I love spicy foods, so this was good to hear for me! I recon ice cream does a good job too haha.

I'm having a few ties made, but was wondering if you want me to being home straight cloth to make some at home as well. Any other things you'd want? Ask the family. I quite honestly haven't spent much because so many things have been given to me as gifts. I've bought a few things here and there, but I need ideas of what you would want and would like cause y'all are hard to shop for haha.

Love you and have a good week

We were hit by someone backing up