1/3/2011 Letter

Kia ora,

I say that because I'm magically transferred back to the place I spent 8 months of my mission. Gold Coast. Man, it's good to be home. They let me up for air for a couple of months, and now I'm right back. It's sad to leave my friend Storme, who is getting baptized in two weeks, and to leave my sweet as ward mission leader and his 13 children, but I'm happy.

This was definitely the best Christmas of my entire life. A feeling came over me on Christmas Eve, and I couldn't stop crying for a couple of hours because I felt so happy that the Savior was born on the earth. He is the Redeemer of the world! He has felt every pain, affliction, physical illness, rejection, humiliation, and of course, every consequence of sin, out of love for us and for His Father. I am so far from being like Him, because I am so imperfect, but I know that His Atonement gives me hope.

I magically have 18 bug bites on my legs, and my companion thinks it's because of my chocolate eating affecting the blood and making it more appealing. I don't know what it is, but it's so painful! It's hard to kneel! If anyone has any idea why they eat me, just tell me.

Happy New Year!

11/14/10 Letter

Kia Ora cuz,

Me and Sister Feomaia just set Brisbane Mission history: from first contact to baptized in 13 days. Last Sunday, we had an appointment with our friend Joe, whose wife of 50+ years died last week, and we made him toast and jam, which is his favorite, and he wasn't there.
And we thought, "Oh man, Joe! Stinker." Then we prayed and we tracted.
The first door we knocked on was Matthew! And Matthew listened to the Restoration, and then he came to church with us that day. And the Spirit wrought upon Matthew and that was that. He's getting baptized on Friday, and his program is going to be so nice, including a musical number by Matthew's new friends, an 80-year old Samoan couple. We love Matthew so much! He's the catering manager for the university, and surprise, he's feeding all the EFY kids in January.

My first Australian baptism in Australia. What a treat! And can I just say that Matthew is a qualified chef, and that he made us the best lambchops this week.

And about our friend Joe. We later found out that Joe committed suicide that morning we went over. The ultimate appointment dodge. No but really, we miss him so much. He hated not having his wife with him.

And here's other things too:

- On Friday, we taught a man named Vicky.
- I have my first aboriginal investigator, Veronica. It's a dream come true!
- I had my first Reese's in 9 months, that a sister brought back from the States, and it was so nice.
- We tracted into a new friend, a Reformed Latter-day Saint who grew up in that church. What?

Mission is best! Fa.

Talofa,

The greeting has changed because I'm serving in Samoa parts now. My
first non-New Zealand baptism in two weeks. I'm so excited! His name
is Fa'asaigatai. I know right. But it's okay, I call him Tai. He is
18, and he knows that Joseph Smith is a prophet. He's coming to play
sports with us today for P-Day. It will be so fun!

Some things that have happened...

- Door knocking this week:
Me: We're here to share a message from God!
Him: I'm sorry, I am an atheist.
My wonderful Samoan companion: Oh that's okay. Did you grow up in that church?
Him: *Boggled*
Her: ...So, are your parents brought up in it too?
Bahaha.

- We've started doing spelling tests to help Sister Feomaia during
language study. And we always end with a round of hangman. In Samoan.
Because I'm learning it. O Le Tusi a Mamona!

- I have mastered islander foods. I can slay anything now --- taro and
coconut cream, chop suey, pork crackle, prawns. I will eat it. The
best is cocoa alisa, which looks like a bowl of mud. It's white rice
covered in chocolate. Hahahaha. Samoans are geniuses.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is the truth. John 7:17, if any man will do
his will, he will know the doctrine. If any person has just a sliver
of faith enough to live a commandment, any commandment, he will know
of the truthfulness and divine origins of that commandment through his
own experience. I know that is true.

Faaa! Fa soifua!

10/12/10 Letter

Hi,

I can't believe it. Today, I got transferred out of the Gold Coast.
What! To a place called Park Ridge! With a flash flat with three bedrooms, and a full-time car, and my own bathroom. What! I can't believe I won't be biking every other day.

My new companion is Sister Feomaia from Western Samoa. I get to do English language study with her in the morning! Yes! The work is wonderful, and the gospel of Jesus Christ is true. We got to see General Conference this weekend, and I just thought it was phenomenal.
Saturday morning's always the best. Here are some things I think:

- We're cherished and prayed for by the presiding authorities of the Church. What!
- "The world will teach our children if we do not." Sister Wixon, what a lady.
- "...Reject him and suffer." Bold. Back to basics: follow the prophet.
- Time and agency, our two most precious gifts. Whenever we disobey God, we become captive to our choices. "God will force no man to heaven."
- "Honest toil gives rest its sweetness."
- Life on earth will be long enough for each person, no matter how long or short it is.
- "We are responsible for our own faith." It is not a free gift. Choose faith.
- Whenever we reach out to a child of God, we reach out to all their ancestors, and also to all their posterity after them.
- Character is made up of countless correct decisions.
- Acts of wickedness will never result in a feeling of peace. John 14: 27.

9/27/10 Letter

Kia Ora,

I still haven't managed to baptize an Australian in Australia yet. I may as well be serving in New Zealand. This past week, I learned to bike with no hands. And it was my birthday. And we went to a restaurant called Sushi Train (all aboard?) which means there's sushi that comes to you on a conveyor belt. And then, I played rugby all day long. That night, me and Sister Le'au'anae set a baptismal date with Erana --- best gift. Thanks Heavenly Father!

Kimberly, I got your letter, and your pictures, and man, that dress makes me happy. I'm going to write a proper letter back.

9/14/10 Letter

Kia Ora,

I've been getting fed twice at night most of these past couple of weeks. Serving in Coomera is a real killer, but it's worth it. Go ahead, give me the steak, taro, potatoes, and white bread. It's on.
And it's finally happened, my accent is getting Poly-fied--- most people we meet just ask me what part of New Zealand I'm from. Awhi got baptized, I couldn't control my crying for the whole service, and we got her baby blessed, and then she moved to an obscure town in New South Wales to shear sheep. I miss her so much.

Hey! Serve a mission! Okay? It's the best life decision you could ever make.