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

Pure intelligence can flow into our minds

Email #99
Area: Alice Springs
Companion: Elder Richard

Excerpts from Mom's email:

Hey Mom!

Things are going good here! It's hitting the hottest time of the summer here, but still having a blast.

We had a sick day and a half this week unfortunately and I forgot what it is like to just chill around for a while doing nothing. I don't know how to do that at home now, not sure if I will just hop right into vacation mode or if I won't be able to sit still lol. I bet your excited for that;). You get excited now, but I'm sure two months from now you will be sick of me hahaha.

Unique experiences keep popping up randomly and we just meet the most interesting people sometimes. For example, we met this guy in town this week that brings his bird friend with him everywhere he goes. I bet he gets a lot of attention for it because it is a cool bird. He let me hold him and even told me to give the bird a kiss. I didn't kiss him don't worry haha, but it was cool. This guy I guess has met a lot of missionaries over the years and same with his bird who he has had over 15 years.

Speaking of interesting people, M... is doing okay. So he just got word from his doctor about another surgery to go through soon. He still is in a lot of paint because of an infection in the spine. Adding to that K.... was working at the hospital moving a large patient this week and got hurt. It was her and some other doctors moving this large dude and he fell on top of her. So she got a little hurt and is sore from that. She is still trying to over come her hurdles before she takes the lessons on. M... is always happy to see us though and he still has such powerful faith even through these trials of his!

Riding around in the heat has been fun, so we try to stay out of it as much as possible. President has told us to go no more then an hour in the heat without getting out of it and re-hydrating. This week's forecast it varies from 39-43° C (102°-109° F).

People have been inviting us in a lot which has been awesome, even those that are not interested at all. We met a friend this week who is half aboriginal half white fella and he was just being nice at first when he let us in out of the heat. Then he took some interest in what we were about and got curious why we would do what we do. From there we taught him a few times and now he has interest in learning more and maybe come to church. Funny how things work out like that. Nobody quite yet prepared for baptism... It is difficult to get to that point with some people here because they always have some obstacles from drinking to virtue. A pretty common one is not many people get married over here especially Alice Springs. They consider themselves basically married, but never actually do it, it's different for sure. We have one friend right now that is really good, keeps all commitments. Only thing is him and his partner probably won't get married.

I don't ever give up no matter how hard it is because I know when we find someone good like M..., they are Miracles! All of those that I have baptized here have miracle stories and remain active to this day. One member was talking to me yesterday at church and said "it's not the quantity of Baptisms you have, it is the quality of their conversion." I've met some quality people here in my time and am so grateful to be apart of those true Miracles!!

A lot of members are getting back from vacation which is really nice. I've seen that member work here is pretty good in Alice. Two more Baptisms are around the corner because of a part member family! Have had the chance to teach them a couple of times and they are one of those Miracles. I'll talk about them in dad's email.

LOVE YOU HEAPS!! Have another good week mom!


Excerpts from Dad's email:

Hey Dad!

My week was pretty good, things have been slow for sure, but all good and still having fun! Have fun everyday honestly! I just want more chances to teach this last transfer. It is something I really enjoy doing and I won't really be able to when I get home. I don't think I'd ever be a teacher as a job because it's a bit different. It is more like putting myself in the shoes of the savior and I don't feel that way as much as I do when I am teaching someone the gospel. It is one think I can honestly say I've become good at here. I find it fun to have someone's concern and being able to resolve it through the spirit. It is something that was totally foreign to me at home. Who knew that the spirit is real and can actually put intelligence into your mind. Joseph Smith wrote revelation "by which pure intelligence can flow into our minds and we can know what we need to know without either the drudgery of study or the passage of time, for it is revelation." There are times I am teaching and I feel that very experience. Pretty amazing!

There is a family I've taught off and on with the other elders who are awesome! It is a part member family and for a long time the husband and young daughter never went to church. Well all at once they wanted to learn and along with the whole family, they ask really great questions! They take good care of all of us too! They just ordered online a bunch of American candy for me to try again haha. They said so I don't have this huge adjustment to American food too fast lol. Their baptism is coming up soon, but not sure if I will be here or not. Just depends on how things fall. Too bad they are in the other elders area, because I would love to see them all the time. Because Alice is so small though, we teach together all the time which is nice.

One video I sent you was just us learning how to dot paint by a aboriginal family we know. Was pretty fun! I have a few paintings now that are really cool that I will show you when I get back. Not sure what to bring back yet for all of you. Have a few things here and there, but still looking for something that isn't just some junk thing you get at a souvenir shop. Quality over quantity! Any ideas to look out for though that would be nice? So one is that one lady is giving me a good amount of kangaroo jerky to take home. She said it should be fine on the plane.

Love you heaps! Have a good week!