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!