Sunday, July 27, 2014

July 6, 2014

Hello! It's great to hear form you guys once again. I'd have to say
that this week once again has been fantastic!

Well I think that I will start off with those that we have set for baptism.

Kylee is still going good. However it has been a bit of a struggle to
meet with her and teach her again, She is continuing to read the
scriptures that we give her to read it's just that her Sister Patricia
often dumps the kids on her and then leaves with her partner to do
things. That bit of unpredictability can make it a bit tough. This
providing the reason as to why Kylee was unable to make it to church
this week. So we have talked with her a bit and we are going to
arrange to have someone form the ward come to pick her up next Sunday.
But we are going to be having a lesson with her this coming Tuesday.

Fa is also going good. We had another really awesome lesson with him
on the Gospel of Christ. We had it at the Tuaho Family's home once
again. He is very willing to learn and loves what we teach him. Elder
Rogers and I also tagged in the Word of Wisdom with the lesson, which
is a bit of a concern. We talked about why, and of course the
blessings that come form it. We committed him to stop coffee, which I
felt wasn't really a strong enough commitment for him. My only real
concern though with Fa was that he is just doing it for his Girl
Friend, however we often pop by the Tuaho Family's home to see how
things are going with Fa. We spoke with there daughter who is in the
relationship and she told us that he has all ready cut the coffee
completely, also his alcohol, and his smoking has dropped quite a bit.
I think that fixes the concern as to whether he is being sincere, but
still though there is always to consider is motive in what he is
doing, and that motive,(and this should be everyone's in the church)
should be for the love that we have for our Savior and what he has
done for us. Still though I think Fa will be great. The Tuaho family
are fantastic fellowships for him and really encourage him to do all
he can. While we where talking she as explained to us that he is
making arrangements to get out of work on Sunday so he can come to
Church. We where elated to hear about that. People here in New Zealand
have some pretty rigorous work schedules. They often have very little
time off and have little to themselves. That is why it is often
difficult to meet up with people despite missionaries having some of
the most flexible schedules out of anyone in New Zealand. Having Fa
come to church will rally help him in his progress.

We had few miracles happen this week as well. We caught up with one of
our former investigators Denny. I was backing up Elder Rogers into a
parking space when I looked up at the apartments and saw him standing
there outside. I had to of course say hello, he didn't quite recognize
us because we had the car, and was use to us being on bikes. He was
very happy to see us. His father was involved in the church, however
when Denny was young his father was not active. It was almost
considered Taboo to talk about it as well. So now he is really looking
into the Book of Mormon as to what is and what his Father was involved
with. When we explained to him as why Christ was baptized. He asked us
why, and we smiled and said, "It's in 2 Nephi 31" and then invited him
to read it and find out. He was more than happy to. He has already
read a bit of first Nephi so he is real keen on learning more.

So despite not having any of our investigators coming to church we did
have one. It was certainly a miracle. His name is Howard. Half Moari,
half Samoan. We met him back on the 23 of June after we had had our
P-day. We didn't really have anyone to see that evening, however Elder
Rogers and I where walking back to the car when I heard some dishes
being taken care of in a near by house. It was a bit strange, But here
in the mission field missionaries are always looking for doors that
are left open. The saying goes"An open door means an open heart"
That's what kind of ran through my head. I turned and looked at the
house and just felt like we needed to go knock. I asked Elder Rogers
if we should go see and he said that he was all good with it. We then
knocked and met Howard and Lomz. We got chatting with them a bit,
and invited them to a tour of the local chapel. They said they would
come and have a look. From that point on we never had any contact with
them. Called, knocked, just couldn't see them. Yesterday on Sunday
morning we where driving by there house and we saw a Lady sitting on
there door step having a cigarette. We decided that we go have a chat
with her and see if we can get to know how Howard was doing. She was
actually Howard's partner, and went and got him from inside of the
house. He came out was happy to see us and asked us how we where
doing. We explained to him that we where going to church in just a
bit. We then invited him to come, and he decided that he would because
he had never been and didn't really have anything else to do. His
partner was actually less active (just like everyone else here in New
Zealand), and Howard actually wanted her to come with him to go check
it out. So we then went to the chapel about an hour later for church,
and sure enough Howard came! We where able to see all 3 hours. He
really enjoyed it, and wants to come back, so we got a new
investigator there! Unfortunately lessons in the middle of the week
are a bit tough because he works 16 hour shifts.... so we may teach
him on Sundays. But he actually had lots of friends at the church,
lots of people welcomed him and he had one of his good buds from
school stick with him throughout church.

Veronica, I think I mentioned her before we are meeting with today.
Hopefully all goes well, it should be awesome, hopefully she is still
keen, as she was when we first met her. Our ward mission leader
Brother Martin our Ward Mission Leader should be coming to with us to
the lesson as well.

We have also with having some miracles with finding some new Potential
investigators on the streets as well, hopefully we can get them to
become progressing investigators. Elder Rogers and I have been working
hard in our studies with teaching simpler and catered towards what the
people need in there lives at that moment.

So all the missionaries here in The New Zealand Auckland Mission now
have cell phones. It has been real nice being able to call people
while we are on the fly. Texting as well makes it easy to communicate.
I believe we didn't have phones with President Lekias was due
Missionaries abusing them, but there are some things that are going to
be changing form what we hear. Not to sure what though. WE have
interviews with President this Friday so that's when I will get to
meet him. From what hear form the Chinese Elders, he is awesome.

P-days have been pretty fun lately. Often times they are a bit busier
than normal days. We have been playing Basket Ball. I have to say I
have gotten a bit better even with only playing for and hour and a
half once a week. E-mails usually take us about 2 hours, and then we
go shopping for groceries, then we clean the flat a bit and go to
sports. We return to the flat by 5 eat food, get dressed and then go
out to proselyte. Very busy.

I don't got any pictures this week... unfortunately the e-mail shop is
having some bugs in the computers and handling files and what not is a
bit of a pain now. not only that I think that it has messed with my
camera memory. there still their its just it's a bit inconvenient now.
Maybe they'll get it fixed.

It's great to hear form you guys, Stuarts e-mail was pretty funny with
the messed up z and y key board. The composite material merit badge...
I think I would have enjoyed doing that one for sure. Hope Eric feels
a bit better that must have been a nasty fall but yet must have been a
really great trip. And the trains on the boat must have been really
cool. 

OH! I got a letter from you guys. it was dated like the 26th I think.
It was sent just after mom had left for the funeral. But I really
enjoyed even though it took half a year to get here. I was touched
quite a bit. I don't know where the system broke down, (probably at
the mission office) but half a year isn't looking to good for mail...
However the package did come. Then again the one I sent took forever
as well. Soooooo yup that was an awesome surprise. I do like letters
though, they are just a bit different than e-mailing. A bit more
sincere I guess you could say? Anyways thanks for the letter I really
loved in Dad. I didn't have one from you Mom and I was a bit puzzled,
but then I remembered the time it was sent and, when what was going
on.

Anyways love you all hope everything goes all good in the coming weeks.

Take Care -Love Elder Ward

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