#1 favourite moment: a while ago Sister E suggested Jeff Ward, a member here, as fellowship for when Garren came to church. Garren hasn't come yet, but we talked to him last week and he was talking about a project he's working on. We recognized it as a project that Jeff Ward is working on. Turns out they're collaborating in a self-help builders' group to build their new houses--they're building the same plan in the same neighborhood. They already know each other and will for years to come. Another miracle! We told Jeff last night and he's so excited. It was a divine assurance to me that though little may happen with Garren while I'm here, still he'll be under the radar of Church members and he will make progress.
Another favourite moment this week was when we met a family from Mauritius while walking to an appointment. The grandchildren spoke English just fine, but the grandmother didn't at all, so I commenced a short conversation with her in French. It was nearly all the French I could produce at that moment, but Sister Erickson didn't know I even knew any, and in the middle of the conversation I looked at my companion to see her astonished. It was so fun.
Sunday morning we had an interim zone meeting at 7:45 am before stake conference. I thought we were going to be scolded, but it was actually a fun meeting. We were discussing how best to work with members. President Lindley brought up the talk from the last General Conference called "Facts, Faith, Family, Fruits" (or something) and I mentioned that I'd been wanting to use that talk to help families prepare that card with quick facts on it so they can share when asked just "a little" about the Church. President Lindley asked if members would be more likely to listen if Elder Ballard was actually there (of course he would) so I was led to figure out how to bring Elder Ballard to members' houses. I said...hmm... I would watch the conference DVD with them. President asked where I would get it. I replied from the bishop or library. He and the zone leaders acted sceptical. I said, okay I guess I'll have to buy my own copy? Right then Elder Levin pulled out a DVD of four highlighted talks from Oct 2007 General Conference and handed it to me. Long story, but yet another of my favourite moments this week.
We met a guy from Zimbabwe while visiting Rachel and John from Congo (Kinshasa) called Shepherd who already seems like a member and says he's searching for truth. If he's searching, he'll find it.
I want to write about the funeral but I have no time! It was so powerful and inspired me to be a dedicated Church servant, loving and dedicated, throughout my life. I've resolved to have these last 3 months be the most selfless of my mission/ life so far. It'll be hard!
Gotta go!
Love you!
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
photos
a "sign" that i'm in the right area
our young sudanese muslim friends
kaila's baptism: sister erickson, brother phillips, michelle, kaila in white, ebony, me--perhaps not in that order
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Staying in Berwick
Hi--Sister Erickson and I are going to Tecoma to see the elders there because they're moving and they're our current favourite friends and we'll probably never see them again. So not much writing time.
We found out about President Hinckley's death a few hours after it happened from some members here, right after returning from our Australia Day picnic. We had a few moments of holy mourning. I'd looked at his picture that morning in a conference Ensign and wondered whether he'd be around for the next one. He's the prophet I've grown up with, and the only one most of us missionaries can remember. Poor Kaila, the 9-year-old who was baptised on Sunday. We told her the news last night and she looked as if she would cry--she had, after all, only just learned his name. I told her "remember Henry Gordon Lee Bankley...?" (Last week when we were teaching her, we taught her the living prophet's name--Gordon B. Hinckley--and asked her the name and she confidently stated "Henry Gordon Lee Bankley.") But then we told her a new one would be called in a few days and she was relieved.
We'd had a couple of events I was really looking forward to that are now canceled in consequence: a mission conference combined with the Melbourne West Mission, meaning we'd get to leave our mission boundaries for the first time and go to a chapel by Melbourne City, as well as see the 100 missionaries. Sister Erickson and I were going to sing Praise to the Man in a small group. Plus we have stake conference this weekend, where Elder Tingey and Elder Sybrowsky were supposed to speak, as well as host a dinner for all of 2007's converts. Elder Tingey had to go home with Elder Cook, who was in New Zealand, but I think President Sybrowsky is coming still (he's the area president).
Another funny thing Kaila said: we taught her about obedience and she said "I thought obedience was when something was wrong with your liver...no, that's obious! no, that's obese!"
We took that new family we're teaching to LDS Social Services Addiction Recovery. It was a great class. We learned how to meditate. I don't think the method was so effective for me but Sister Erickson loved it. Especially the lady of the pair is such a lovely person. I have a lot of hope for her and what we can do for them.
On Australia day Sister Erickson and I had our first try at playing cricket. I wasn't that fabulous. They had me "bowl" which means pitch, which is a really awkward movement because you throw the ball but it's more like launching it because you can't bend your arm. My arm's not so good at being a catapult.
We received a call from a member the other day who'd been shopping at Smiggle (a trendy stationery shop owned by a member in the Moorabbin ward) and pointed out to the manager at the cash register that the models in the advertisements go to our church. The lady, Naomi, had been searching for a church to attend with her husband, but the member didn't think to invite her to come to ours. So she told us about her and we went to Smiggle on Saturday. We weren't sure what to do because there were lots of customers but we waited for the activity to die down and we finally got to talk to her. It went lots better than we'd expected. They really have been searching for churches to attend, and I think they'd kind of disqualified ours and wouldn't have thought of it unless someone talked to them. So I told her about the Book of Mormon and why it's necessary and doesn't compete with the Bible and about its historical context. She has a Pentecostal/kind of born-again background so she had some hard questions, but was actually interested in the answers and was sincere about wanting to check it out. When I was talking to her I felt a little like I was looking at myself because she was only a little taller than me, a 21-year-old university student with long blond hair, and we were both wearing headbands. She lives in Frankston, though, so we won't get to teach her. I think Sister Kumar, who's now in Frankston, will be great for her.
Well, that's all I have for today. A few of our investigators have broken up with us recently, so we'll be doing a lot of finding in the upcoming weeks. I'm okay with that!
Keep filling me in on the results of the primaries!
Was President Hinckley's death on the front page of any national newspapers? We found a small article on page 26 of the Victorian paper. It was next to an unsavoury advertisement. Hmph.
Bye!
Savanna
We found out about President Hinckley's death a few hours after it happened from some members here, right after returning from our Australia Day picnic. We had a few moments of holy mourning. I'd looked at his picture that morning in a conference Ensign and wondered whether he'd be around for the next one. He's the prophet I've grown up with, and the only one most of us missionaries can remember. Poor Kaila, the 9-year-old who was baptised on Sunday. We told her the news last night and she looked as if she would cry--she had, after all, only just learned his name. I told her "remember Henry Gordon Lee Bankley...?" (Last week when we were teaching her, we taught her the living prophet's name--Gordon B. Hinckley--and asked her the name and she confidently stated "Henry Gordon Lee Bankley.") But then we told her a new one would be called in a few days and she was relieved.
We'd had a couple of events I was really looking forward to that are now canceled in consequence: a mission conference combined with the Melbourne West Mission, meaning we'd get to leave our mission boundaries for the first time and go to a chapel by Melbourne City, as well as see the 100 missionaries. Sister Erickson and I were going to sing Praise to the Man in a small group. Plus we have stake conference this weekend, where Elder Tingey and Elder Sybrowsky were supposed to speak, as well as host a dinner for all of 2007's converts. Elder Tingey had to go home with Elder Cook, who was in New Zealand, but I think President Sybrowsky is coming still (he's the area president).
Another funny thing Kaila said: we taught her about obedience and she said "I thought obedience was when something was wrong with your liver...no, that's obious! no, that's obese!"
We took that new family we're teaching to LDS Social Services Addiction Recovery. It was a great class. We learned how to meditate. I don't think the method was so effective for me but Sister Erickson loved it. Especially the lady of the pair is such a lovely person. I have a lot of hope for her and what we can do for them.
On Australia day Sister Erickson and I had our first try at playing cricket. I wasn't that fabulous. They had me "bowl" which means pitch, which is a really awkward movement because you throw the ball but it's more like launching it because you can't bend your arm. My arm's not so good at being a catapult.
We received a call from a member the other day who'd been shopping at Smiggle (a trendy stationery shop owned by a member in the Moorabbin ward) and pointed out to the manager at the cash register that the models in the advertisements go to our church. The lady, Naomi, had been searching for a church to attend with her husband, but the member didn't think to invite her to come to ours. So she told us about her and we went to Smiggle on Saturday. We weren't sure what to do because there were lots of customers but we waited for the activity to die down and we finally got to talk to her. It went lots better than we'd expected. They really have been searching for churches to attend, and I think they'd kind of disqualified ours and wouldn't have thought of it unless someone talked to them. So I told her about the Book of Mormon and why it's necessary and doesn't compete with the Bible and about its historical context. She has a Pentecostal/kind of born-again background so she had some hard questions, but was actually interested in the answers and was sincere about wanting to check it out. When I was talking to her I felt a little like I was looking at myself because she was only a little taller than me, a 21-year-old university student with long blond hair, and we were both wearing headbands. She lives in Frankston, though, so we won't get to teach her. I think Sister Kumar, who's now in Frankston, will be great for her.
Well, that's all I have for today. A few of our investigators have broken up with us recently, so we'll be doing a lot of finding in the upcoming weeks. I'm okay with that!
Keep filling me in on the results of the primaries!
Was President Hinckley's death on the front page of any national newspapers? We found a small article on page 26 of the Victorian paper. It was next to an unsavoury advertisement. Hmph.
Bye!
Savanna
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
I have a nice life.
Missionary life is really nice. I'm happy.
It will be worth your time to read the entire email this week. :)
Interviews with President Lindley were last week. I'm feeling embarrassed about it. It was basically him asking me about my plans are for when I get home (I'm still very vague on what to do for the first year) and then saying "you know what your next great important work is, right?" If you haven't guessed, the important work I have to do next was marriage. The conversation was uncomfortable. Ha. Besides that, we made some goals for the end of my mission and he promised that I'd have wonderful experiences if I do these three things consistently: exercise in the morning for 30 minutes, search for the promises in Preach My Gospel, and outline at least one lesson every day with my companion during companion study. To Sister Erickson he gave specific study plans, including to memorize The Living Christ, so we pretty much had it memorized by the end of the next day. I love having projects to accomplish. We're still working on refining it, but we have it done.
We had a good day yesterday. It was for no specific reason, but we rode bikes (it hurt; it was hot) and talked to everyone we ran into, and found some potential investigators. Some guy was walking eating a sandwich from KFC and I really felt like scolding him because he thinks everything he has he got himself, and that he doesn't need anyone. I asked him where he got his sandwich, and how he got to work, and how he breathes, and how he was born. He does need people. He does need God. We also visited the mother of a less-active family (she told us some updates on the Australian Open. By the way, I'm pretty sure I saw Roger Federer play in Athens 2004. He was on one of the small courts. I was a few feet away from him. :) ) Anyway, we visited her and she hadn't had missionaries over for a few years. It's a really sad story--some of her children made some bad choices and some people reacted in a way that really disappointed them, so they chose not to come back for a while, but she still has such a pure testimony and the family lives all of the commandments that they can. I think we can help them, if they don't want to come to a church building yet, to reestablish gospel habits so they can be a stronger family and feel the influence of the Spirit.
We also saw Garren yesterday. (The one Sister Wakeley and I were teaching last year in Moorabbin, and he recognized us when we found him tracting here in Berwick...don't deny that that's a miracle!) I feel like he's MY investigator. He doesn't keep commitments too often, so it would be easy to just give up on him, but he loves our visits and I'm starting to see that what we're teaching him is becoming more a part of his life. We read the Living Christ with him because we suspected that next we need to find out if he has faith in Christ and we needed to help him get some. Tomorrow we're going to bring him a book, like a journal, where he can write about instances he has that help him understand that God really is there and really does help him, something as simple as seeing something beautiful or having an easy drive to work, or someone being helpful to him. Garren really responds to principles that help him understand his potential, both where he came from before he was born and what he can expect to become after. He said it's changing his perspective. It's just so nice to see him retain and ponder what we've taught. I love listening to him talk and hearing his ideas on life.
Oh yeah! News on Kaila! On Saturday we took her to a child-of-record baptism and afterwards our ward mission leader invited her to be baptised, that he'd love to baptise her because he'd baptised her mum, and Kaila accepted. She seems so happy now. She made invitations for her friends and family (including me--it was so cute). It's happening Sunday after church.
Kyle and Jenn--THANK YOU... that was the most amazing gift. I didn't have any idea that such footage even existed. I have shown my baptism DVD to Kaila and Jessica, two of my investigators, as well as the elders at district meeting. You were right--it is helping with the Lord's work. I was such an awkward kid (according to my perspective), but I knew what I was doing.
Sister Wakeley and I got to work together again on Monday. I went to her area for exchanges. I've always loved working in Dandenong. It's got to be the most multicultural area in the mission. We taught several families from Sudan, one guy from China who'd been in Australia for three days, some Croatians, a few Aussies, some Cambodians, the inevitable Indian. We found one new investigator, an old German man named Bill who really wanted to come to church. As we were about to leave, he said "you made my day" and I felt really humble and guilty for not always loving tracting. Selfish!
I really loved church on Sunday. I just sat in sacrament meeting and thought about how I appreciated all the members there. They're such strong examples. I called the Bishop that evening to find some information on the ward mission plan and was unprepared for all the jokes he made... on the list of plans is to help four families join the church, which he said was anywhere from 8 to 100,000 people. He wants us to find a family of 400 with 4 generations living under one roof. I said we'd have to find a Japanese family. So now he says he's expecting us to find the 4 Japanese families with 400 members each, hiding somewhere in the rural suburbs of Pakenham. He's a German guy whose parents live in my first area. They were the first members I met in Australia. The grandmother told me that evening I look like a stranger, then about a month later she said "you look no more stranger." I still felt a little stranger.
Here's Savanna's favourite missionary joke of the week:
(I'm sorry; not everyone will get it.)
I'll present it as a dialogue. The characters are me and my new zone leader, Elder Levin. He's from Provo. We were talking about patriarchal blessings.
Elder Levin: "I'm from the tribe of Judah."
Me, pointing, urgently: "Gather him!"
Elder Levin: "But I'm already gathered!"
And my favourite Australian joke of the week:
Sister Erickson and I, for some reason, were reading the dictionary.
"Be careful not to confuse FLOOR with FLAW"
In America the pronunciation isn't even close but I guess in Australia you have to be careful not to tell someone to wash the FLAW.
The end! Transfer news come in a week. I suspect Sister Erickson will be moved, but she thinks she's staying.
I'll be home in precisely three months from today.
Love you!
Savanna
It will be worth your time to read the entire email this week. :)
Interviews with President Lindley were last week. I'm feeling embarrassed about it. It was basically him asking me about my plans are for when I get home (I'm still very vague on what to do for the first year) and then saying "you know what your next great important work is, right?" If you haven't guessed, the important work I have to do next was marriage. The conversation was uncomfortable. Ha. Besides that, we made some goals for the end of my mission and he promised that I'd have wonderful experiences if I do these three things consistently: exercise in the morning for 30 minutes, search for the promises in Preach My Gospel, and outline at least one lesson every day with my companion during companion study. To Sister Erickson he gave specific study plans, including to memorize The Living Christ, so we pretty much had it memorized by the end of the next day. I love having projects to accomplish. We're still working on refining it, but we have it done.
We had a good day yesterday. It was for no specific reason, but we rode bikes (it hurt; it was hot) and talked to everyone we ran into, and found some potential investigators. Some guy was walking eating a sandwich from KFC and I really felt like scolding him because he thinks everything he has he got himself, and that he doesn't need anyone. I asked him where he got his sandwich, and how he got to work, and how he breathes, and how he was born. He does need people. He does need God. We also visited the mother of a less-active family (she told us some updates on the Australian Open. By the way, I'm pretty sure I saw Roger Federer play in Athens 2004. He was on one of the small courts. I was a few feet away from him. :) ) Anyway, we visited her and she hadn't had missionaries over for a few years. It's a really sad story--some of her children made some bad choices and some people reacted in a way that really disappointed them, so they chose not to come back for a while, but she still has such a pure testimony and the family lives all of the commandments that they can. I think we can help them, if they don't want to come to a church building yet, to reestablish gospel habits so they can be a stronger family and feel the influence of the Spirit.
We also saw Garren yesterday. (The one Sister Wakeley and I were teaching last year in Moorabbin, and he recognized us when we found him tracting here in Berwick...don't deny that that's a miracle!) I feel like he's MY investigator. He doesn't keep commitments too often, so it would be easy to just give up on him, but he loves our visits and I'm starting to see that what we're teaching him is becoming more a part of his life. We read the Living Christ with him because we suspected that next we need to find out if he has faith in Christ and we needed to help him get some. Tomorrow we're going to bring him a book, like a journal, where he can write about instances he has that help him understand that God really is there and really does help him, something as simple as seeing something beautiful or having an easy drive to work, or someone being helpful to him. Garren really responds to principles that help him understand his potential, both where he came from before he was born and what he can expect to become after. He said it's changing his perspective. It's just so nice to see him retain and ponder what we've taught. I love listening to him talk and hearing his ideas on life.
Oh yeah! News on Kaila! On Saturday we took her to a child-of-record baptism and afterwards our ward mission leader invited her to be baptised, that he'd love to baptise her because he'd baptised her mum, and Kaila accepted. She seems so happy now. She made invitations for her friends and family (including me--it was so cute). It's happening Sunday after church.
Kyle and Jenn--THANK YOU... that was the most amazing gift. I didn't have any idea that such footage even existed. I have shown my baptism DVD to Kaila and Jessica, two of my investigators, as well as the elders at district meeting. You were right--it is helping with the Lord's work. I was such an awkward kid (according to my perspective), but I knew what I was doing.
Sister Wakeley and I got to work together again on Monday. I went to her area for exchanges. I've always loved working in Dandenong. It's got to be the most multicultural area in the mission. We taught several families from Sudan, one guy from China who'd been in Australia for three days, some Croatians, a few Aussies, some Cambodians, the inevitable Indian. We found one new investigator, an old German man named Bill who really wanted to come to church. As we were about to leave, he said "you made my day" and I felt really humble and guilty for not always loving tracting. Selfish!
I really loved church on Sunday. I just sat in sacrament meeting and thought about how I appreciated all the members there. They're such strong examples. I called the Bishop that evening to find some information on the ward mission plan and was unprepared for all the jokes he made... on the list of plans is to help four families join the church, which he said was anywhere from 8 to 100,000 people. He wants us to find a family of 400 with 4 generations living under one roof. I said we'd have to find a Japanese family. So now he says he's expecting us to find the 4 Japanese families with 400 members each, hiding somewhere in the rural suburbs of Pakenham. He's a German guy whose parents live in my first area. They were the first members I met in Australia. The grandmother told me that evening I look like a stranger, then about a month later she said "you look no more stranger." I still felt a little stranger.
Here's Savanna's favourite missionary joke of the week:
(I'm sorry; not everyone will get it.)
I'll present it as a dialogue. The characters are me and my new zone leader, Elder Levin. He's from Provo. We were talking about patriarchal blessings.
Elder Levin: "I'm from the tribe of Judah."
Me, pointing, urgently: "Gather him!"
Elder Levin: "But I'm already gathered!"
And my favourite Australian joke of the week:
Sister Erickson and I, for some reason, were reading the dictionary.
"Be careful not to confuse FLOOR with FLAW"
In America the pronunciation isn't even close but I guess in Australia you have to be careful not to tell someone to wash the FLAW.
The end! Transfer news come in a week. I suspect Sister Erickson will be moved, but she thinks she's staying.
I'll be home in precisely three months from today.
Love you!
Savanna
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
only 6 more weeks of summer left
Hi! This email will have to be written super fast.
We went tracting on Savanna Court last week and got a new investigator. We'd just had training on talking to everyone about their lives, not just about our message (that sounds funny) so it was a particularly enjoyable time. Christine Court was right next to it, and that's Sister Erickson's middle name. A strange coincidence?
On Sunday Sister Erickson and I went to a barbecue a Sudanese family invited us to. We're teaching them English, but not the gospel. Sister Erickson teaches the mother, Zahra, English while the kids teach me about the Qu'ran. It's been interesting. We got to the barbecue and they were ALL from Sudan (tall, really dark Africans), wearing colorful religious/cultural clothes, about 15-20 women and the same number of men, plus a couple of children for each couple. The men were outside and the women inside. The children came up to us and lined up in a row and asked us questions, and the young ones (6 years old) came and asked if we're Christians. We were quite the spectacle.
We had an amazing but sad experience last night. A member who hadn't been to church for 15 years came on Sunday with his sister. He and his fiancee are struggling to overcome drug addiction. They're such lovely people and have had such hard lives. I wanted to write more about this but the person who brought us just now told us we have to leave right now so I don't have time, but I've never felt more powerfully the strength and value that comes from bringing up a family in righteousness. I feel so safe. I guess I can write more about them later.
Please write!
Savanna
We went tracting on Savanna Court last week and got a new investigator. We'd just had training on talking to everyone about their lives, not just about our message (that sounds funny) so it was a particularly enjoyable time. Christine Court was right next to it, and that's Sister Erickson's middle name. A strange coincidence?
On Sunday Sister Erickson and I went to a barbecue a Sudanese family invited us to. We're teaching them English, but not the gospel. Sister Erickson teaches the mother, Zahra, English while the kids teach me about the Qu'ran. It's been interesting. We got to the barbecue and they were ALL from Sudan (tall, really dark Africans), wearing colorful religious/cultural clothes, about 15-20 women and the same number of men, plus a couple of children for each couple. The men were outside and the women inside. The children came up to us and lined up in a row and asked us questions, and the young ones (6 years old) came and asked if we're Christians. We were quite the spectacle.
We had an amazing but sad experience last night. A member who hadn't been to church for 15 years came on Sunday with his sister. He and his fiancee are struggling to overcome drug addiction. They're such lovely people and have had such hard lives. I wanted to write more about this but the person who brought us just now told us we have to leave right now so I don't have time, but I've never felt more powerfully the strength and value that comes from bringing up a family in righteousness. I feel so safe. I guess I can write more about them later.
Please write!
Savanna
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
I'm melting!
I discovered that I get sunburned if I am in the sun for 10 minutes without sunscreen. We just got permission to wear full-brimmed hats, and I'm going to buy one today. It was definitely NOT this hot last summer. It's like Las Vegas in August hot. Except today it's cooler and there's a breeze.
Sister Erickson is my new favorite superstar. I should have written favourite. We had a chapel tour lined up with Garren because he was nervous to go to church on Sunday. He had just run off to help a friend when we got to his house, so we went in search of someone else to go to the tour. We had acquired a key and a member to come from a nearby town, so we thought it important to make it worth everyone's effort. We tried Grant. He wasn't home. Sister Erickson thought of Candice, who'd said she wouldn't be available for a few weeks and who'd had a small operation that day, and we asked if she wanted to come. She said "sure, I'll help you out!" and just came. That was a medium-sized miracle, I think.
We taught Kaila a lot last week. Her newest concern about baptism is "but it's just regular water." Who is this kid? She's so different from her mother in that way. It was fast Sunday and Michelle, Sister Erickson, and I fasted together to help Kaila. I REALLY hope something happens, because it would be a great foundation for Michelle's testimony of this new principle she's been asked to live.
Sister Erickson and I are having so much fun together. We had so many great experiences this week--some of them hilarious, some of them very spiritual. Usually I make a list throughout the week of everything I want to write about in my email, but I didn't this week, so I can't remember all of them.
Tomorrow is zone conference. We're going with Michelle on Thursday to the temple to do baptisms. It should be a nice relief, because Thursday is going to be 41 degrees Celsius, or 106 degrees Fahrenheit, and Friday is going to be 42 degrees Celsius. It's kind of useless doing finding on those hot days because people open the door and say, "you're crazy! go home!" then some of them offer us water before shutting the door and sending us on our way. There's absolutely no one on the street. I'm SO thankful for the car on those days. We determined to use bicycles whenever the heat is at all bearable. We were on bikes all day yesterday going up and down hills and my legs were aching by the time we went to bed half an hour early. Ha, I'm so weak. I thought we went about five times the distance we actually did.
On Sunday the elders from another ward at our building told us a lady showed up to church and gave us her number and address. She'd heard that some "Mormons" had been to the house when she was out and felt bad that she'd missed whoever it actually was that went, so she looked up the address in the phone book and stopped in on Sunday morning. We went over and taught her the Restoration last night. It was a really well organized, well articulated, passionate enough lesson. The member we brought was just perfect for her. We were a little disappointed after the lesson because she seemed to understand it but by some things she said after, we realized she didn't. I tried to help her understand that this is about absolute, eternal truth, but she said that truth is in your heart. I feel like people think they can define God according to what they believe. Does this mean if they vascillate between believing and not believing, then he vascillates in and out of existence? Anyway, about Kerry, I really appreciate that she's willing to learn, whether it's academic to her; any reason to begin investigating is valid. We'll just see what God does with this one.
I just want to reiterate for anyone who knew I really wanted to be called to a foreign-speaking mission that I am REALLY REALLY REALLY thankful to be doing this in English. It's difficult enough speaking clearly of these things that are so personal and so deep in my native language, and difficult enough trying to make connections with people all the time. I hope the day comes when most missionaries serving in each country are natives of that land. The gift of another language is really precious too, though...
That's it for today!
Please write!
Love
Savanna
Sister Erickson is my new favorite superstar. I should have written favourite. We had a chapel tour lined up with Garren because he was nervous to go to church on Sunday. He had just run off to help a friend when we got to his house, so we went in search of someone else to go to the tour. We had acquired a key and a member to come from a nearby town, so we thought it important to make it worth everyone's effort. We tried Grant. He wasn't home. Sister Erickson thought of Candice, who'd said she wouldn't be available for a few weeks and who'd had a small operation that day, and we asked if she wanted to come. She said "sure, I'll help you out!" and just came. That was a medium-sized miracle, I think.
We taught Kaila a lot last week. Her newest concern about baptism is "but it's just regular water." Who is this kid? She's so different from her mother in that way. It was fast Sunday and Michelle, Sister Erickson, and I fasted together to help Kaila. I REALLY hope something happens, because it would be a great foundation for Michelle's testimony of this new principle she's been asked to live.
Sister Erickson and I are having so much fun together. We had so many great experiences this week--some of them hilarious, some of them very spiritual. Usually I make a list throughout the week of everything I want to write about in my email, but I didn't this week, so I can't remember all of them.
Tomorrow is zone conference. We're going with Michelle on Thursday to the temple to do baptisms. It should be a nice relief, because Thursday is going to be 41 degrees Celsius, or 106 degrees Fahrenheit, and Friday is going to be 42 degrees Celsius. It's kind of useless doing finding on those hot days because people open the door and say, "you're crazy! go home!" then some of them offer us water before shutting the door and sending us on our way. There's absolutely no one on the street. I'm SO thankful for the car on those days. We determined to use bicycles whenever the heat is at all bearable. We were on bikes all day yesterday going up and down hills and my legs were aching by the time we went to bed half an hour early. Ha, I'm so weak. I thought we went about five times the distance we actually did.
On Sunday the elders from another ward at our building told us a lady showed up to church and gave us her number and address. She'd heard that some "Mormons" had been to the house when she was out and felt bad that she'd missed whoever it actually was that went, so she looked up the address in the phone book and stopped in on Sunday morning. We went over and taught her the Restoration last night. It was a really well organized, well articulated, passionate enough lesson. The member we brought was just perfect for her. We were a little disappointed after the lesson because she seemed to understand it but by some things she said after, we realized she didn't. I tried to help her understand that this is about absolute, eternal truth, but she said that truth is in your heart. I feel like people think they can define God according to what they believe. Does this mean if they vascillate between believing and not believing, then he vascillates in and out of existence? Anyway, about Kerry, I really appreciate that she's willing to learn, whether it's academic to her; any reason to begin investigating is valid. We'll just see what God does with this one.
I just want to reiterate for anyone who knew I really wanted to be called to a foreign-speaking mission that I am REALLY REALLY REALLY thankful to be doing this in English. It's difficult enough speaking clearly of these things that are so personal and so deep in my native language, and difficult enough trying to make connections with people all the time. I hope the day comes when most missionaries serving in each country are natives of that land. The gift of another language is really precious too, though...
That's it for today!
Please write!
Love
Savanna
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
even Berwick is fun too.
I was wondering whether it would be. It's a lot more civilised and wealthy here. There definitely won't be any spontaneous fights at the train station. Frankston was like my missionary playground. I'm now working on figuring out just what it is that Berwick needs (besides me, of course!).
It turns out that Michelle did get baptised, and her mother-in-law came along with her daughter. I got a blessing after by my mission president and it was just wonderful. My mind has been clear, as was promised, and I know these last few remaining months will be happy ones! (Does it feel that I've been gone for nearly 14 months?)
Yesterday for district meeting we discussed the quote by President Hinckley that says "So many of us look at missionary work as simply tracting. Everyone who is familiar with the work knows there is a better way." I know that it has its place, but I also know it's not appropriate that it is the primary source of investigators and use of our time. It's always more effective to spend time with people and not with closed doors. Anyway Sister Erickson and I decided to take a risk and drive up to this remote-ish country "town" and visit some former investigators. We actually found them at home, this enormous welcoming mountainy thing, and found them friendly and curious and a little philosophical. We left with an invitation to come back for dinner and a lesson on Saturday evening, and they promised to come to church on Sunday. Church time is moving to 1:30 pm (we have four ward that meet in our building) so lots of investigators are finding it easier to decide to come to church. The lady of the house, Portia, had been going to this other church that is really nervous about the influence of Jezebel and everyone was paranoid about...anyway I don't want to write about that. We'll teach her some doctrine. They will be really enjoyable to teach.
Also. We've taught Michelle's daughter Kaila a few times and she got permission from her dad to be baptised, so now she just has to decide if she wants to. I think it's so funny that the parents are okay with it and the 9-year-old isn't. Usually it's the other way around. We taught her the plan of salvation on Monday night for family home evening and Kaila had so many complicated, mature questions like how do we know that the prophet is telling the truth and what happens when we die to the people who believe in Buddha? Won't they go to their god? So we plan to teach her next time about Jesus Christ so she can understand why his influence on the world was necessary for us to be forgiven and return to live with God someday. Well if her baptism happens, and it probably will, that will probably happen January 12.
There really is so much happening right now, and I wish I could write all the great things that we've experienced, like teaching Cindy the Thai lady, and Zahra and her Muslim family from Sudan, and Denise and Carolay from Peru, and the Indian family we taught. But there's not time for that. OH YEAH! Tarun got baptised! That Indian guy who wanted a Christian wife--me or Sister Mesake, doesn't matter which--because it would be practical.
Um, it's time to go, and the elders are teasing me about reading my email, so I think it's a sign. :)
I'm happy!
Bye!
Sister Nilsen
It turns out that Michelle did get baptised, and her mother-in-law came along with her daughter. I got a blessing after by my mission president and it was just wonderful. My mind has been clear, as was promised, and I know these last few remaining months will be happy ones! (Does it feel that I've been gone for nearly 14 months?)
Yesterday for district meeting we discussed the quote by President Hinckley that says "So many of us look at missionary work as simply tracting. Everyone who is familiar with the work knows there is a better way." I know that it has its place, but I also know it's not appropriate that it is the primary source of investigators and use of our time. It's always more effective to spend time with people and not with closed doors. Anyway Sister Erickson and I decided to take a risk and drive up to this remote-ish country "town" and visit some former investigators. We actually found them at home, this enormous welcoming mountainy thing, and found them friendly and curious and a little philosophical. We left with an invitation to come back for dinner and a lesson on Saturday evening, and they promised to come to church on Sunday. Church time is moving to 1:30 pm (we have four ward that meet in our building) so lots of investigators are finding it easier to decide to come to church. The lady of the house, Portia, had been going to this other church that is really nervous about the influence of Jezebel and everyone was paranoid about...anyway I don't want to write about that. We'll teach her some doctrine. They will be really enjoyable to teach.
Also. We've taught Michelle's daughter Kaila a few times and she got permission from her dad to be baptised, so now she just has to decide if she wants to. I think it's so funny that the parents are okay with it and the 9-year-old isn't. Usually it's the other way around. We taught her the plan of salvation on Monday night for family home evening and Kaila had so many complicated, mature questions like how do we know that the prophet is telling the truth and what happens when we die to the people who believe in Buddha? Won't they go to their god? So we plan to teach her next time about Jesus Christ so she can understand why his influence on the world was necessary for us to be forgiven and return to live with God someday. Well if her baptism happens, and it probably will, that will probably happen January 12.
There really is so much happening right now, and I wish I could write all the great things that we've experienced, like teaching Cindy the Thai lady, and Zahra and her Muslim family from Sudan, and Denise and Carolay from Peru, and the Indian family we taught. But there's not time for that. OH YEAH! Tarun got baptised! That Indian guy who wanted a Christian wife--me or Sister Mesake, doesn't matter which--because it would be practical.
Um, it's time to go, and the elders are teasing me about reading my email, so I think it's a sign. :)
I'm happy!
Bye!
Sister Nilsen
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Christmas wasn't hot!
Hi... just a quick note, since we spoke at Christmas. I'm in Berwick, which is pronounced something like Barrack. We live in a crescent called Bemersyde, but they pronounce it Bermesyde. Which leads us to joke often about which letter we will choose to make silent. Usually in Australia it's the r, so shouldn't they say Bewwick? How about Erwick, or Brwick, or Berwic? Autralia? Um, anyway.
I'm with Sister Erickson again! How nice! I have been talking her face off, poor lady. We have a lot to reminisce about and catch up on. I was really hoping for a senior companion again, and she's the only one that's older than me. We're going home at the same time. Everyone is confused about why Sister Kumar and I swapped areas and companions, but little things happen every day that help me understand that I'm meant to be here. For one thing, we were tracting the other day, a huge test of endurance--two hours--(haha, joking) and we ran into one of my former investigators from the Moorabbin area. Of all the places in the world we could have both been at that time, Garren a) was at home b) lives in my new area c) in the back room but came out after his friend answered the door d) recognized me e) remembered how powerful the feeling of peace was when he met us. He's the one that said it was better than drugs. It's just incredible to me that we found him. It's nearly impossible.
So, we're preparing a lady called Michelle for baptism. Sister Kumar and Sister Erickson found her tracting. Sister Kumar was sad to leave her, but she walked into two of the baptisms I found, so I think she got the better deal :) We were nervous about Michelle telling her parents and like 8 brothers and sisters about her decision, but she told them and didn't meet opposition, just a little apathy. Michelle came with us to our Christmas Eve dinners (one of them was with an American family. The mom made pumpkin pie, a relief since I didn't get any last Thanksgiving because they ran out in the MTC!). We got a few little gifts from the members. Sisters just got moved into the ward here after a couple years' absence. That's always a good time to be in an area because the members appreciate the change.
So, time to go. I can't believe 2008 starts next week! Bye!
Savanna
I'm with Sister Erickson again! How nice! I have been talking her face off, poor lady. We have a lot to reminisce about and catch up on. I was really hoping for a senior companion again, and she's the only one that's older than me. We're going home at the same time. Everyone is confused about why Sister Kumar and I swapped areas and companions, but little things happen every day that help me understand that I'm meant to be here. For one thing, we were tracting the other day, a huge test of endurance--two hours--(haha, joking) and we ran into one of my former investigators from the Moorabbin area. Of all the places in the world we could have both been at that time, Garren a) was at home b) lives in my new area c) in the back room but came out after his friend answered the door d) recognized me e) remembered how powerful the feeling of peace was when he met us. He's the one that said it was better than drugs. It's just incredible to me that we found him. It's nearly impossible.
So, we're preparing a lady called Michelle for baptism. Sister Kumar and Sister Erickson found her tracting. Sister Kumar was sad to leave her, but she walked into two of the baptisms I found, so I think she got the better deal :) We were nervous about Michelle telling her parents and like 8 brothers and sisters about her decision, but she told them and didn't meet opposition, just a little apathy. Michelle came with us to our Christmas Eve dinners (one of them was with an American family. The mom made pumpkin pie, a relief since I didn't get any last Thanksgiving because they ran out in the MTC!). We got a few little gifts from the members. Sisters just got moved into the ward here after a couple years' absence. That's always a good time to be in an area because the members appreciate the change.
So, time to go. I can't believe 2008 starts next week! Bye!
Savanna
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
in the beauty of the lillies, Christ was born across the sea
I've had a powerful week.
And that's NOT because I'm getting transferred. They did it right this time: for the first time, I don't know where I'm going. :) I was planning to stay in Frankston North until the end of my mission so, if I didn't know and trust that President Lindley made the decisions by pure inspiration, I would be a little devastated. I've invested so much in building relationships with people, with my companion, with my district leader and the other elders, with the ward members, with my investigators. I guess I need more practice because it's time to start over again.
Yesterday morning we taught Jenna, the Buddhist lady from Thailand who is anxious to become a Christian. The Spirit was strong. I wish people could experience this; there's NO WAY all this is not real. I thought she would have Word of Wisdom concerns, but she doesn't. It was too easy. When they are prepared, they have no problems accepting the commandments we teach them, even if it means change. I wish it were that easy for me to change. We brought a member along, and while I was explaining the Word of Wisdom and the gift of the Holy Ghost, I felt to promise her specific blessings of protection if she would obey this law. I now understand that commandment at a deeper level. We also taught Ken, the husband of a lady who was baptised a couple of years ago. Both Ken and Jenna told me about very specific, frightening experiences they had and it made me think all day about the immense, encompassing protection we are granted if we will just keep a few simple commandments. People are suffering needlessly all around the world, not having access to this protection. It is real. I realized that a mission is such a blessed experience partly because we are protected so much to the point that we don't ever have to truly suffer if we do what we're here to do. It's so humbling for me to see all these blessings I receive, none of which I have earned.
In the beauty of the lillies, Christ was born across the sea
with a glory in his bosom that transfigures you and me
as He died to make men holy, LET US LIVE TO MAKE MEN FREE
our God is marching on.
That's what I'm doing now, living to make men free, and right now that means free from suffering that comes of spiritual darkness. The only thing I know how to say is that I know it's real. "O, be swift my soul to answer him, be jubilant my feet..."
I'm trying to get to the end of the Book of Mormon by the new year. This means 10 or more pages a day. I'm in the beginning of 3rd Nephi now, and what impressed me most was the phrases saying that all the prophecies the prophets had ever spoken were being fulfilled. All of them according to the words of the Lord. And now in Australia I love reading the prophecies in the morning and seeing them fulfilled throughout the day. The same exact thing that happened hundreds of years ago is happening now. This is real.
In other news, Corey's baptism is going ahead. The family is SO excited. They're seeing it as their Christmas present to themselves. I'm going to miss the Ngaira family so much. I thought they were "my family," meaning the family I've been praying to work with throughout my whole mission. Last night the older Sister Ngaira, the grandmother, who lives pretty much next door, came over around 9:30 pm and kinda just walked in. We're not supposed to have visitors, but I couldn't bear to ask an old lady bearing gifts to leave. She gave me something I've been hoping for since forever: a Maori bone carving pendant. She told me it stands for faith, hope, and charity, and all good things in life. Sister Mesake got one too. These are special because they can't be bought, only received from a Maori person that thinks highly of you. And she said they've been blessed, but I'm not sure what to think about that :) It was beautiful.
Oh, and we taught TJ, Kris, and Kirsty, and finally brought up baptism, and I thought they'd be weird, but they thought it was really cool. So we'll work with them toward that. Meaning, the next sister will. Grr. If they were to have any social concerns, they would have come up by now, so they'll be right after a lot of teaching. Um, April called after dodging her ride to church Sunday. She said she "didn't want to be baptised under Joseph Smith" and wouldn't have it explained to her that Joseph Smith received and restored the authority to baptise in the name of Jesus Christ. It was just too hard though, too dramatic, and now it's by her agency that anything will happen. We did our best.
So. I'm really sad that I'm leaving Frankston. I was in the middle of creating a legacy.
Love you
Savanna
And that's NOT because I'm getting transferred. They did it right this time: for the first time, I don't know where I'm going. :) I was planning to stay in Frankston North until the end of my mission so, if I didn't know and trust that President Lindley made the decisions by pure inspiration, I would be a little devastated. I've invested so much in building relationships with people, with my companion, with my district leader and the other elders, with the ward members, with my investigators. I guess I need more practice because it's time to start over again.
Yesterday morning we taught Jenna, the Buddhist lady from Thailand who is anxious to become a Christian. The Spirit was strong. I wish people could experience this; there's NO WAY all this is not real. I thought she would have Word of Wisdom concerns, but she doesn't. It was too easy. When they are prepared, they have no problems accepting the commandments we teach them, even if it means change. I wish it were that easy for me to change. We brought a member along, and while I was explaining the Word of Wisdom and the gift of the Holy Ghost, I felt to promise her specific blessings of protection if she would obey this law. I now understand that commandment at a deeper level. We also taught Ken, the husband of a lady who was baptised a couple of years ago. Both Ken and Jenna told me about very specific, frightening experiences they had and it made me think all day about the immense, encompassing protection we are granted if we will just keep a few simple commandments. People are suffering needlessly all around the world, not having access to this protection. It is real. I realized that a mission is such a blessed experience partly because we are protected so much to the point that we don't ever have to truly suffer if we do what we're here to do. It's so humbling for me to see all these blessings I receive, none of which I have earned.
In the beauty of the lillies, Christ was born across the sea
with a glory in his bosom that transfigures you and me
as He died to make men holy, LET US LIVE TO MAKE MEN FREE
our God is marching on.
That's what I'm doing now, living to make men free, and right now that means free from suffering that comes of spiritual darkness. The only thing I know how to say is that I know it's real. "O, be swift my soul to answer him, be jubilant my feet..."
I'm trying to get to the end of the Book of Mormon by the new year. This means 10 or more pages a day. I'm in the beginning of 3rd Nephi now, and what impressed me most was the phrases saying that all the prophecies the prophets had ever spoken were being fulfilled. All of them according to the words of the Lord. And now in Australia I love reading the prophecies in the morning and seeing them fulfilled throughout the day. The same exact thing that happened hundreds of years ago is happening now. This is real.
In other news, Corey's baptism is going ahead. The family is SO excited. They're seeing it as their Christmas present to themselves. I'm going to miss the Ngaira family so much. I thought they were "my family," meaning the family I've been praying to work with throughout my whole mission. Last night the older Sister Ngaira, the grandmother, who lives pretty much next door, came over around 9:30 pm and kinda just walked in. We're not supposed to have visitors, but I couldn't bear to ask an old lady bearing gifts to leave. She gave me something I've been hoping for since forever: a Maori bone carving pendant. She told me it stands for faith, hope, and charity, and all good things in life. Sister Mesake got one too. These are special because they can't be bought, only received from a Maori person that thinks highly of you. And she said they've been blessed, but I'm not sure what to think about that :) It was beautiful.
Oh, and we taught TJ, Kris, and Kirsty, and finally brought up baptism, and I thought they'd be weird, but they thought it was really cool. So we'll work with them toward that. Meaning, the next sister will. Grr. If they were to have any social concerns, they would have come up by now, so they'll be right after a lot of teaching. Um, April called after dodging her ride to church Sunday. She said she "didn't want to be baptised under Joseph Smith" and wouldn't have it explained to her that Joseph Smith received and restored the authority to baptise in the name of Jesus Christ. It was just too hard though, too dramatic, and now it's by her agency that anything will happen. We did our best.
So. I'm really sad that I'm leaving Frankston. I was in the middle of creating a legacy.
Love you
Savanna
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
i'm spoiled.
Hi. It's been a GREAT week. It's the last week of the transfer, and I'm a LITTLE anxious for transfer news, but we don't even have time to think about it. I'm really proud of Sister Mesake because on Saturday we were a little late biking to an appointment but she was ahead and she stopped to talk to these two ladies. I asked her later why she chose to stop even though we were late and she said she thought "maybe they're waiting for the gospel." Sister Palu and Sister Mesake taught them on Monday when I was in Moorabbin and they set a baptismal date with both of them for next weekend. So we went from a little activity to three baptisms to plan in a week and a half (the other is Corey, the 9-year-old kid).
Monday was dreamlike. I left Moorabbin 6 months ago and I still feel like its queen. I still feel like it's my area, even though I've had two since then. Anyway, I saw my Chinese twins, Richard and Jackie, and read a talk Richard gave in sacrament meeting a few months ago, and it was so beautiful and he has a firm testimony. The stake president approached him on Sunday and asked him to prepare to receive the Melchizedek priesthood. Amazing! Jackie went home a few months back to marry his girlfriend, and the boys are talking about them getting married in the temple...after she moves to Oz from China and joins the church, of course. They'd stayed up until 2 am the night before making 200 dumplings for me and Sister Allred, so we all had lunch together. I just love being with them. I feel like they're my family. Later that evening we had dinner at the Bishop's house (thankfully, he didn't call me Sister Giggles this time) and he gave me a tennis racket...a nice one!
Also this weekend they put on the Savior of the World, that musical that runs every year in SLC, and we went with Ken and Judy (Ken has a baptismal date, but he won't tell us when it is. Strange.).
Once again, I'm really excited about our new ward mission leader. He's really into his calling, though he's finding that it's demanding. We do have a lot going on at the moment.
Today Elizabeth Wells, a recent convert since February, took us to Phillip Island, the place I went earlier in the year to feed the kangaroos. They're so darling.
This morning ever since the moment I woke up I felt like I was just being enlightened and taught...inspired, I guess. That hasn't happened for a while. I'm so thankful for my mission! It's a great, miraculous, instructive gift. Instructive especially because I've had to learn humility lately :)
Okay, one more thing. One more email session next week before I call home for Christmas. Does the family have any plans on Christmas Eve or Christmas? I'm thinking of calling around 7 am Christmas morning here, which would be, what, 2 or 3 in the afternoon Christmas Eve there? Let me know if you've got other plans.
I'll send pictures next week! Good ones! Involving beautiful things--me and kangaroos and oceans! bye
Savanna
Monday was dreamlike. I left Moorabbin 6 months ago and I still feel like its queen. I still feel like it's my area, even though I've had two since then. Anyway, I saw my Chinese twins, Richard and Jackie, and read a talk Richard gave in sacrament meeting a few months ago, and it was so beautiful and he has a firm testimony. The stake president approached him on Sunday and asked him to prepare to receive the Melchizedek priesthood. Amazing! Jackie went home a few months back to marry his girlfriend, and the boys are talking about them getting married in the temple...after she moves to Oz from China and joins the church, of course. They'd stayed up until 2 am the night before making 200 dumplings for me and Sister Allred, so we all had lunch together. I just love being with them. I feel like they're my family. Later that evening we had dinner at the Bishop's house (thankfully, he didn't call me Sister Giggles this time) and he gave me a tennis racket...a nice one!
Also this weekend they put on the Savior of the World, that musical that runs every year in SLC, and we went with Ken and Judy (Ken has a baptismal date, but he won't tell us when it is. Strange.).
Once again, I'm really excited about our new ward mission leader. He's really into his calling, though he's finding that it's demanding. We do have a lot going on at the moment.
Today Elizabeth Wells, a recent convert since February, took us to Phillip Island, the place I went earlier in the year to feed the kangaroos. They're so darling.
This morning ever since the moment I woke up I felt like I was just being enlightened and taught...inspired, I guess. That hasn't happened for a while. I'm so thankful for my mission! It's a great, miraculous, instructive gift. Instructive especially because I've had to learn humility lately :)
Okay, one more thing. One more email session next week before I call home for Christmas. Does the family have any plans on Christmas Eve or Christmas? I'm thinking of calling around 7 am Christmas morning here, which would be, what, 2 or 3 in the afternoon Christmas Eve there? Let me know if you've got other plans.
I'll send pictures next week! Good ones! Involving beautiful things--me and kangaroos and oceans! bye
Savanna
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
please send snow...again
Was it this hot last year?
Thanks Crystal for sending photos!
I don't have much time for write, and I didn't make a list as usual.
Sunday was such a good day! Remember Ru and Corey, the mom we set a baptismal date with, and her would-be husband is a member, and her mother-in-law is a member, but they're inactive? Well we went to her netball game, and saw the mother-in-law (she lives next to us), and they all came to church on Sunday! The ward was so welcoming, and Sister Ngaira bore her testimony during the meeting, and announced that she's coming back to church. It was so beautiful to have them there for the first time, especially since we were fasting for them.
Zone conference was on Thursday, and I learned so much, and I hope that what I learned becomes a part of me. The topic was charity. First of all, here's a story. We were all supposed to prepare short talks on charity and then present them at conference. Sister Mesake said, "wouldn't it be funny if everybody prepares their talk on charity and I talk about chastity?" hahaha. It is the next topic in the alphabet, after all. I'm starting to understand how to teach to combat false doctrine without being combattant and without being complacent.
Oh! and guess what! Sister Mesake found my old watch when we were cleaning out the car! So I'm sorry to report I'm not bringing my alarm clock around anymore.
We had ward council last night and I am SO excited to work with our new ward mission leader. We have a similar vision, stuff I've wanted to do my whole mission but haven't gotten much chance to do. I want to help bring the church in Frankston out of obscurity. Is that ambitious? I figure if people just know about it, the Spirit will lead the prepared ones to come to church. The ward is planning to ask the members to read the Book of Mormon over the first four months of 2008 and I think it's a fabulous idea for building ward unity, and it will raise the overall spirituality of the ward as well.
Last of all, we went to the temple again this morning, and President and Sister Lindley came too.
That's all we have time for today. We have to cut p-day short :( because we have 3 teaching appointments. So.
Send more pictures! :)
love
Sister Nilsen
Thanks Crystal for sending photos!
I don't have much time for write, and I didn't make a list as usual.
Sunday was such a good day! Remember Ru and Corey, the mom we set a baptismal date with, and her would-be husband is a member, and her mother-in-law is a member, but they're inactive? Well we went to her netball game, and saw the mother-in-law (she lives next to us), and they all came to church on Sunday! The ward was so welcoming, and Sister Ngaira bore her testimony during the meeting, and announced that she's coming back to church. It was so beautiful to have them there for the first time, especially since we were fasting for them.
Zone conference was on Thursday, and I learned so much, and I hope that what I learned becomes a part of me. The topic was charity. First of all, here's a story. We were all supposed to prepare short talks on charity and then present them at conference. Sister Mesake said, "wouldn't it be funny if everybody prepares their talk on charity and I talk about chastity?" hahaha. It is the next topic in the alphabet, after all. I'm starting to understand how to teach to combat false doctrine without being combattant and without being complacent.
Oh! and guess what! Sister Mesake found my old watch when we were cleaning out the car! So I'm sorry to report I'm not bringing my alarm clock around anymore.
We had ward council last night and I am SO excited to work with our new ward mission leader. We have a similar vision, stuff I've wanted to do my whole mission but haven't gotten much chance to do. I want to help bring the church in Frankston out of obscurity. Is that ambitious? I figure if people just know about it, the Spirit will lead the prepared ones to come to church. The ward is planning to ask the members to read the Book of Mormon over the first four months of 2008 and I think it's a fabulous idea for building ward unity, and it will raise the overall spirituality of the ward as well.
Last of all, we went to the temple again this morning, and President and Sister Lindley came too.
That's all we have time for today. We have to cut p-day short :( because we have 3 teaching appointments. So.
Send more pictures! :)
love
Sister Nilsen
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