Sunday, November 29, 2015

Pride... it ends up costing $400

Well ladies and gentlemen, beware of pride! haha I shouldn’t have told you guys how cool I thought I was for being able to drive here, because I got a ticket for running a red light! hahaha they have speed cameras, and red light cameras here that take a picture of your license plate if you speed or run a red light! So i guess I ran a red light a couple weeks ago! haha I split it 70/30 with Elder Boden though so that helps a little! I still get to drive here luckily and the office Elder wasn’t mad at me :) They will just deduct 50 bucks every month from my monthly budget until it is paid off so it isn’t too bad :) Well now that we have all had a good laugh, here is my week! (The ticket for running a red light is approx $400.00 and thats the 70% Cam owes... haha poor Elder Boden has to pay for Cam's mistakes....literally.)

Monday- Had a glorious P day as usual! Played basketball with the whole zone at the end of the P day which is always a great time! Then to end the night off we went to an investigator family’s home for dinner and a lesson! They are a little hard to teach because there son just runs around the whole time, but they are so awesome and they are way nice to us and they have great questions! We just watched the end of the Prophet of the Restoration movie because we watched the first part the last time we met with them! Exited to see their progress as we keep teaching them!

Tuesday- We did some service in the morning for an elderly couple that aren’t members but the missionaries have done service for them in the past so we continued the tradition! The guy that we did the service for is way easy for me to talk to because he is just a sarcastic old guy like my Grandpa back at home so needless to say we hit it off pretty well! After that we did some finding on the train like usual and didn’t have too much success! Then we had dinner at the Cashman’s home like usual on Tuesday nights! After that we went and played football with the young men in our dress clothes! there are only like 3 active young men in the ward and then the leaders were there but it was still way fun! My main man Blake was there and he is a riot when we play sports haha he always plays shirtless and says “i’m fired up mate!” haha then Angus Liehr threw a touchdown pass to me and I threw one to Luke Kendrick! Needless to say, our team won! haha good night! 

Wednesday- Started off the day with more service! We helped do yard work for a member family in our ward! After that they fed us lunch and we went home and showered! Then we went and visited two less active members in the ward! We shared a message about Ether 12:27 “When ye are in the service of your fellow man ye are only in the service of your God” The guy we shared it with said that it was exactly what he needed to hear! So hats off to Elder Boden because he chose the scripture! I just bore testimony, to what he had already taught! Then we went and taught Rolf about temples and Family History! We are going to get him in the temple to be baptised for his Father and other Family members! He is excited to do that! Then we went home and I made some Alfredo for us! I got a recipe that was a copy cat one for Olive Garden’s Alfredo sauce! I think it tasted exactly like it so I was way happy with the final product and I ate heaps mate!! haha then we got a call from a member in our flat complex that needed help taking a couch down to the curb to be thrown away, so we went and helped out and said good night to them! We get to our door to our flat and it is locked, where are the keys you ask? In the flat! hahaha so we had to call the AP’s to bring us a spare key and let us in! haha so it took them like 30 minutes to get to us! While we were waiting I was chilling on the boot (trunk) of the car and a possum ran by me on the fence! I freaked out thinking it was gonna attack me! Once it passed me I ran from the car freaking out! Haha I lived so all is well :) 

Thursday- woke up at 5:15 so we could go play some Turkey B Ball at the Mortdale chapel with the zone! My team tore it up! It was fun to play some sport just like we did back at home for Thanksgiving! Then we did some finding, weekly planned, and did more finding! Then Kendrick Family had us over for Thanksgiving dinner and a game of kickball as usual! We had Turkey, green beans, corn, potatoes, sweet potato casserole, and a caramel banana pie for dessert! It was so good and so awesome of Sister Kendrick to make that for us :) 

Friday- We had DTM, then an MCM with our ward mission leader! After that we were planing on having 3 lessons through out the day but sadly they all cancelled on us haha but hey thats the life of a missionary right?? So we ended up updating our area book heaps and we did some finding on the train! After that we met with Tom Lennon at Macca’s and had dinner and a message with him! After that we did more finding on the train and then we went home for the night! 

Saturday- We went to the ward priesthood golf event at the par 3 course near our flat! We weren’t able to play because it is a mission rule but it was a good time for us to interact with the members and get to know them better! We got to keep score for them haha I wanted to play so bad though!! So one of the members there works for the salvation army and he brought all these clubs that were donated and at the end he just gave them to us to take to our flat because he has heaps of sets at his house and he gets new ones all the time! So we are going to get some missionaries together next P day and go play 9 holes at a different golf course near us and I am stoked for that! :) then we came home and did our personal study and contacted some less actives! Then that night we were helping out at the relief society Christmas party and we helped serve food and clear the tables for them! In return, we got to eat all the left overs which was a ton!! So many good salads, and desserts it was un real!! Sister Liehr was the one in charge and she was the one who invited us! She always takes good care of us and makes sure we are doing good! Her and sister Kendrick are sisters so it explains why they are so awesome and why their families are both awesome! Then after that we went home for the night! It was a good day getting to know members better and interact with them :)

Sunday- Had ward council, then normal church meetings. Came home and did personal study and had lunch! Then we visited a Less active member of the ward and then we had a stake general priesthood session at Mortdale chapel which went really well! Pretty basic Sunday haha not too much to report on it!

So during one of my studies this week I had the Spirit touch my heart when I was reading about the Millennium and the Second Coming! I got such a happy feeling and excitement in my chest when I thought of the day when I get to see Christ again and dwell with him on Earth! I look forward to that day! So what I was thinking about was if the second coming was tomorrow would I be ready to meet my Savior and Redeemer? I know I can be better and thinking about that makes me want to be better! So think about that through out your days and see if your actions would make you proud to report to the Lord or if you would be ashamed and guilty? I know that as long as we try our best and constantly work at being better followers of Jesus Christ, that the Lord will bless us in our efforts and that we will be happier in this life! I know that is true with all my heart! Love you all and hope you have a great week!!

-Elder Jenson
hmm.... The only thing that comes to mind is dirty... so I will keep it to myself.

like, the cutest sunglasses, EVERRRRR. $230 ain't nothin'. 

HE COOKS?!!? 

Such a fatty.

Turkey Ball, baby. It's a Thanksgiving tradition.

My mom sent Cam a christmas package, looks like he got the package!

Twinning....

And this is a picture he took of himself whilst writing this weekly update. 
Cam sent us this little story this week.... I thought I would share it for those of you who have not heard it before.

The following event took place in a ward in Salt Lake City in 1974. It occurred during Sacrament Meeting and was told to me by a Regional Representative of the twelve, who was in the meeting. A young man, just before leaving on his mission, stood in Sacrament Meeting and bore, in essence, the following testimony. "My Brothers and Sisters, as you know, during the past few weeks I have been awaiting my mission call. During the time I was waiting I had a dream I was in the pre-existence and was awaiting my call to come to earth. I was filled the same excitement and anticipation that I had before I received my mission call. In my dream, I was talking to a friend. He was a very dear friend, and I felt a special closeness to him, even though I've never met him in this life. As we talked, a messenger came and gave me a letter. I knew it was my call to go to earth. In great excitement my friend and I opened the letter I gave it to him and asked him to read it aloud. The letter said: You have been called to earth in a special time and to a special land. You will be born into the true church, and you will have the priesthood of God in you home. You will be raised with many advantages and many blessings. You will be born in a land of plenty-a land of freedom. You will go to earth in the United States of America. "My friend and I rejoiced as we read my call. And while we rejoiced, the messenger returned. This time he had a letter for my friend. We knew it was his call to earth. My friend gave me the letter to read aloud. The letter said: You have been called to go to earth in circumstances of poverty and strife. You will not be raised in the true church. Many hardships will attend your life. Your land will be fraught with political and social difficulties which will hinder the word of the Lord. You will be born in Costa Rica. We wept, my friend and I as we read his call. And my friend looked at me with tears in his eyes and said, "when we are down on earth, you in your choice land and me in Costa Rica, my friend, come and find me." Then this young missionary, with tears in his own eyes, said, "Brothers and Sisters, I have received my mission call. I am going to Costa Rica. There is a special sequel to this story. About a year after this Sacrament Meeting, the Bishop to this Ward received a letter form the Missionary in Costa Rica. The letter had one sheet of paper in it, and on the sheet was written in inch-high letter four word: I FOUND MY FRIEND.

Sunday, November 22, 2015

106 degrees in NOVEMBER... gag.

Hello Family and friends! It has been a good week for us here in Sutherland! Here is the rundown!

Monday- It was transfers so we didn’t have P day on this day! It was a super slow and basic day. We did finding pretty much the whole day! Then at night we visited a less active member who is about our age and he is the man! We have met with him before and he really is like a guy that I would be friends with back at home so it is easy to talk to him and teach him! It was a good lesson and he is really taking big steps in coming back to church!

Tuesday- We had P day and it was a really awesome and basic day hahaha! We emailed then we went and walked around the mall and all the shops in Cronulla which is like the beach area! Then we went to the Cashman’s home for dinner and we had meat pies! They are a big aussie thing here! Twas a good P day!

Wednesday- Really basic day as well. We did finding on the train like usual for the whole day mostly! Then we went to a member’s home for a lesson with one of his friends who is investigating the church but she wasn’t able to make it so we just had some pizza with him and shared a message! After that we went and did more finding haha and we just didn’t have all that much success. Gets hard to want to talk to people when all they do is reject you and some days you are on fire and talk to everyone but other days you just can’t build up the courage, so I am trying to be good at talking to people every day! Finding got better as the week progressed though!

Thursday-We did finding to start the day, then we went and visited some less actives in the ward! We were able to meet with two of them before we had a meeting with the ward mission leader and the sister missionaries of the ward! After our meeting with them we met with Rolf at the chapel and just talked with him about how life has been going since his baptism! He has been struggling with his wife because she is really close minded about our church and she isn’t really supportive of him and his decisions which is tough on him. So we just let him vent to us and we were able to just give him counsel and comfort :) Then we went to dinner at the mall and I had some fish n chips that were really good and they were only 5 dollars!! That is a good deal for a meal here in Aussie land!! I liked it a lot and anyone who know’s me I am a huge bargain hunter haha! 

Friday- Fun fact about this day was it was 106 degrees…. in November!!! hahaha being from Utah that is super weird to me! Needless to say it was super hot!! The wind burned our eyes as we walked in the streets! Fetch it was so freaking hot hahahaha it was easy one of the hottest days of my life! It is only spring too so I can expect more of that weather once it is summer time! We had DTM and then we went and taught Gavin! We read 2 Nephi 31 with him and his wife and just helped to break it down for him so that he can understand it better! He had to go to work so it was a quicker lesson but we got through the whole chapter which was good! We wanted to discuss them getting married more but we have to wait until our next lesson but we will get them there :) then we went and did some finding at the train station and we were able to talk to heaps of peeps and we got like 3 potential investigators which is the best we have had in awhile! A potential investigator is just anyone who gives us there phone number or address and says that they are interested but it was a huge blessing from the Lord!

Saturday-We went to a member’s baseball game for a little to see him and his family! While we were there we got called by a member asking for a blessing! She lived right by the field and the member we got to come with us lived really close by as well so that was a cool blessing for us! We went and gave her a blessing and gave her counsel as she is preparing to quit smoking! Then we went and did some less active/Member visits and we were able to meet with a member family who we had never visited before and we were able to share a good message with them and help them to move a table! Then we had Maccas for dinner mmmm :) 

Sunday- Had a good day at church then we went to the Liehr’s home for a lunch with them and the Kendrick family because they are related! He had some burgers and fries! It was fun getting to play baseball with the kids and stuff like that too! Really love both of those families a ton!! They make me feel like I am at home! Then we went to Chris Lee’s house and had dinner with him and his wife Nicole! She made some delicious Chicken Risotto! Then we watched the "John Tanner Story” video with them which is really good and I encourage you all to YouTube it! After which we just discussed following the promptings of the Spirit and we talked about Temples! Then we got home at 8:50 and we are trying to me more obedient and I got a prompting on the way home not to go into the flat until 9 like we are supposed to. So I told Boden that we will go walk around the block real quick and come back by 9! We ended up running into a member of our ward at his car by our flat and while talking to him a guy named John came up and talked to us and told us about his life story! He has a lot of issues and is homeless.. really sad situation! We gave him the address to the church and told him to come check it out on Sunday! Then after that we were able to help the member of our ward carry up some stuff from his car into his flat! So just by not going home 10 minutes early the Lord blessed us and put us in the paths of these two people and it really just showed me how important obedience is and how much the Lord has a hand in everything we do! One of the coolest things to happen so far for me on my mission! :)

My spiritual message for the week is very short and simple! Follow the promptings of the Spirit! Don’t question in your mind when you get a thought or a prompting, “Is this me thinking this, or is this a prompting from God?” If we are living worthy and being a good person then we don’t need to worry! We just need to act on the prompting and I know the Lord will bless us and something will come of it!! I know it is true! I just witnessed it in my life yesterday!! I know things don’t happen by just sheer chance, they happen because they are supposed to happen!! I also know that the Lord answers prayers! I have been needing Him a lot lately and He has been with me every step and I am so grateful for that! I love this Gospel and I love being on a mission! The church is true!! I know it and I can never deny it!! Love you all! Have a good week :) 

Oh and p.s. I am driving here which is pretty cool.. Not gonna lie I feel cool saying I know how to drive on the right side of the car, on the left side of the road.. I don’t know I think it is pretty legit hahaha well love ya’ll!!

-Elder Jenson
DA true church baby!

Onward Christian soldiers....marching as to war!

Cut his own hair.... not too bad if you ask me... 

Cam's mini-me, Blake. He told his mom he was coming to live with our family when Cam goes home. His mom said, "I'll miss you, Blake." to which he replied, "I'll come visit." Looks like we will have a new addition to the family in a couple years haha

Elder Lee, not to be confused with Elder Li from the picture last week... 

Monday, November 16, 2015

NO GRASS IN Australia.

Man what an awesome week it was! Been pretty busy and it was a really fun week that is for sure! So transfers were yesterday and I am staying in Sutherland with Elder Boden for another 6 weeks and I will continue to train him for this transfer! I am really excited to stay in this area for Christmas and for another transfer because the members here are so awesome!! Before I start my weekly update I just wanted to tell you some random things about Australia that I may have not mentioned before. Guns are really hard to get here so I always feel safe knowing that the gun laws here are really enforced strongly! There is no such thing as real grass here… it is all just thorny and sucky! haha so real grass is not a thing here. They don’t eat real bacon here, their “bacon” is basically just ham/canadian bacon so that is a bummer! Food portions are really small here but that hasn’t stopped me from gaining like 10 pounds already! I started running in the mornings today haha I don’t want to get fat!!! Health care is like free here or something like that and there is welfare that people live on and there are like government housing for the poor people but it gets abused. You can just be unemployed and still get paid from welfare which is weird to me. A cost for a decent place to live is like 500,000 dollars!!! It’s freaking nuts! Living here would be a joke!! hahaha people in our ward have houses/property worth like 1.2 million and it is a junk house! So yeah weird stuff here man! I’ll think of other random stuff and write them down for next weeks email! Here is what my week was like!

Monday- So I left the keys in the ignition of the car all night from Sunday to Monday morning so our battery was dead. We got a jump from someone in our complex we live in thankfully or P day would have been the worst! We shopped, cleaned the car, and emailed, you know the usual! Then we went to zone p day where we had a huge water balloon fight, played kickball (my team won), and then we went back to the chapel to play some free for all dodgeball!! Super fun P day, I really enjoyed myself haha :) Then we went to the Liehr’s house for dinner and a message! We shared a mormon message with them about daring to stand alone! Really solid dinner and lesson with them! 

Tuesday- We had a really normal day! Just found people on the train all day! That night we went to the Mortdale chapel where Rolf was being interviewed for his baptism by President Back! The interview lasted like 2 hours because Rolf LOVES to talk! He passed with flying colors and was ready for baptism! Haha he really loves to talk though, like our lessons lasted ages with him because he talks a lot! He just loves talking about the scriptures and all the things he learns! Then we went to dinner at the Cashman’s home and had a meal and a lesson with them! Members are good here, we get fed like every night pretty much, probably why I am gaining weight!

Wednesday- Did some yard work in the morning at the Cashman’s home where we mowed and edged the lawn! Good thing I had practice with an edger on my grandparents yard or I totally would have butchered it! The lawn looked good though! Then they fed us lunch and we were on our way! We then went and found on the train until our appointment with Rolf! We taught Rolf about more of the Commandments in preparation for his baptism! The lesson was solid and he understood it all! Then we went to Mcdonalds for dinner with a member! I ate a Big Mac, Two Cheeseburgers, Large Fry, Large strawberry shake, and an Ice Cream Cone…. Fetch I know why I am getting fat!!! hahaha but it was good :)

Thursday- Really normal and basic day! We just did finding on the train and then we went to another appointment with Rolf! We met with him all week just to help get him ready and to help him stay away from smoking! He said that he had lost the urge to smoke and that the smell made him sick now!! How cool is that? We promised him awhile back that all of this would happen and it is so cool to see that once he put in his effort, the Lord provided the rest! The Lord always comes through for us when we do what he asks us to do! The lesson went good with Rolf and he loved it! Then we went to the Kendrick’s home for dinner and a game of kickball as usual! They are so awesome! I will send pics of all the kids from this week! 

Friday- We were T minus 1 day from Rolfy boy’s baptism! We had DTM in the morning, then we went and taught Gavin about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and invited him to be baptised! He said yes! We just need to get him married to his partner and he will be all good to go! But they said that they have been wanting to get married for awhile now so hopefully we can put that all into action for them! Really good lesson with him! Then we met with Rolf for our final visit before his baptism! The Lier family gave us an old suit they had, two white shirts, and heaps of ties to give Rolf on Monday and we waited until the day before to give it to him! We gave it to him after we taught him a lesson on the Priesthood and explained how he would get it after he was baptised! We showed him all the stuff and he loved it! He was so stoked to have all that stuff! Then we had to run from there to a dinner appointment with the Baker family! They are a young couple who has one little son named Sam! They fed us dinner, we played Settlers of Catan, Shared a message and then we went home! Oh and Elder Smith and his new comps stayed at our flat that night for Rolf’s baptism the next day! Elder Smith and I were so stoked to be together again that we stayed up till 2:30 talking that night! Super bad idea and I will never do that again!! Hahaha but yeah it was still fun!

Saturday- Rolf’s baptism baby! Elder Smith did the honors of baptising him! When Rolf stepped into the water I got so teary eyed it was nuts! The Spirit was so strong in the room and it was so surreal seeing someone that you’ve taught from the beginning, being baptised! I loved it so much! Rolf was so emotional after he came out of the water! He was clean! It was a good service and there was a good turnout of members there! Then we went to lunch in Cronulla and we took Elder Smith’s Comps back to their area! Smith stayed with us until Sunday for Rolf’s confirmation as well! Then we went and did Service for the Bakers and then we had dinner and played Catan again! Then We went home and went to bed haha I have never been so tired!!

Sunday- We had the confirmation of Rolf and I was the one who got to do that! I was really nervous because I have never done it before, but I did pretty good I think haha not that you can really judge a blessing! It was so cool to use my priesthood power to confer the gift of the Holy Ghost on someone and to confirm them a member of the church! Rolf is now the newest member of the Sutherland Ward! After church we had to take Smith back to Mortdale to be with his comps! Smith isn’t getting transferred either, he is staying in Mortdale, which is like a 15 minute drive from where I am, so we will still get to see each other a lot on P days and District/Zone meetings on Fridays! Anyways then later that night we went to Chris Lee’s house and had dinner with his wife and him! For our lesson we watched the full Restoration movie! Chris loved it! He has never seen it before and it was really eye opening to him and he thought it was really cool! During and after the movie I could feel the Spirit! We discussed the movie after and I just felt the burning inside me of the Sprit telling me it was all so true! I know this church is true!! Without a doubt in my mind I know it is and I could never deny it! I am grateful for this Gospel!

So this week Heavenly Father has strengthened my testimony on prayer. I have been praying a lot for strength to overcome my anxiety and home sickness and in return I am loving my mission and I am so excited to move forward in the mission! I still get glimpses of homesickness but who doesn’t? haha I definitely feel His presence in my life and I know He is helping me! Along with those prayers, he answered my prayers and fasting about Rolf! We prayed and fast for him so much and everything that we prayed for came to be! Rolf quit smoking and his urges went away! We promised Rolf all sorts of blessings as he strived to quit smoking and Heavenly Father poured out his blessings on Rolf and He truly did get Rolf where he is today! Really awesome to see and something I will never forget is Rolf’s progress to baptism! I really do love it out here! The mission is so hard but so fun at the same time! I love all of you and I know that if any of you are struggling with anything, just get on your knees and pray, then get up and work at overcoming or fixing whatever it is and Heavenly Father will provide the rest for you! You are never alone just remember that! I am so glad I made the decision to come on a mission and to stay out here! This is the most rewarding thing I have done and I have only been out 3 months! I can’t wait for the rest of my mission and what it has to offer to my life and those that I come in contact with along the way! All is well here and I hope all is well in your neck of the woods as well! Shoot your boy some emails of pics of what is going on in your life, I love hearing from everyone :) Have a good week!!

-Elder Jenson
hundeds, hundeds, hundeds

The Kendrick Family

Cam's mini-me... Blake  
DISTRICT. Cuuuuute

Elder Li "he's the man" his English is coming along.

Rolf's baptism

Cam and Rolf on his baptism day.... 

Monday, November 9, 2015

BAPTISM COMIN' UUUUP

No pics this week... Feel free to write Cam a letter or send him a birthday card, it would mean the world to him! Birthday is December 9th. Address is in the side column --------->> over there.. 

So a lot has happened in one week! Been a really challenging and rewarding week! So to start off Elder Smith got transferred out of Sutherland! He got assigned two new companions from the US that are assigned Mandarin Speaking! They are both from Utah! That left me with Elder Boden and I am his new trainer now instead of 
Smith! So I am now a senior companion/trainer and I am running the Sutherland area! I had some trouble adjusting to Smith leaving so fast because he was like one of my best friends honestly! I have been relying on the Lord a whole lot for help to be able to train and be in charge of an area and just to be able to adjust to the new change! The Lord has not left me alone! He has been here with me every step of the way :) The actual transfer doesn't happen until next Monday but the new Mandarin speakers came in a week and a half early! So next Monday is Transfers and we will find out if we are leaving the area, getting a new comp, or training, etc! I hope I stay in Sutherland because I really like it here! So my P day will be on Tuesday next week just so you all know :) Oh and GREAT NEWS!! Rolf our investigator is getting baptised this Saturday! Keep him in your prayers! Here is my weekly run down for you's!

Monday- We had a basic P day, Emailed, shopped, then went and played some Basketball with some other elders at the Chapel! Then we went to Bishop's house for FHE and dinner! Rolf was able to come too and be apart of it which was really good for him!

Tuesday- Elder Smith had a zone leader, training meeting so Elder Boden and I were on trade offs with Elder Brown the other Zone leader's Companion! We went around his area in Hurtsville and did some finding on the train and taught one of their investigators about the Book Of Mormon and it was a really powerful lesson! Then we went and got Smith at the end of the night and we got the bad news that he was being transferred so that put a damper on the mood for the night haha but luckily we were able to go over to Chris and Nicole Lee's house for dinner and we made homemade pizza's! It was really freaking good haha and they are awesome! Then we shared a message with them about the power of the Book of Mormon! The Spirit was so strong that night!

Wednesday- We took Smith to the mission office to get his new companions and we got to meet them and all the new missionaries that came in! They all seem like studs! Then we went and taught Rolf at he Chapel and we taught him about the Plan of Salvation! We then committed him to November 14th for his Baptism! He has such a strong testimony and he is so faithful in all that he does! He is the fetching man! Then we had dinner at the Baker's home and they made us a baked chicken with all sorts of veggies! It was super good! Then we played Settlers of Catan with them and shared a message after!

Thursday- There was an orientation for all the new missionaries that just came in this transfer and so we went to that. It was a good reminder of all the things we should be doing as missionaries and all the rules we need to follow! It is a whole new level of discipleship as a missionary! SO many rules and guidelines haha it can be tough but it is worth it! The main thing the Spirit whispered to me that night was that its not about my wants or my will, but it is about the Lord's will and I need to have faith in his plan for me and submit myself to His will which can be tough at times but it is totally worth it when you do it! Then we had dinner at the Kendrick's home and played kickball with all the little kids! The second youngest Blake just loves me and totally plays favorites with me and the mom and dad always call him out about it and just laugh at him! He reminds me of myself honestly just super awesome and handsome ;) hahaha jokes! But that family is awesome I love em!

Friday- We had Zone training meeting and that went really good! Our investigator Gavin cancelled our appointment for that day which sucked but he did re schedule for the next week and he was super nice about it haha! Then we went and taught Rolf and we finalized more of his baptism! He chose Elder Smith to baptise him and me to confirm him the next day at church! I am so excited for him!! Then we had dinner at the Liehr's house and they are actually related to the Kendricks which explains why they are both so awesome!! Then we went home for the night after that :)

Saturday- We went and played bball in Mortdale with the AP's and Elder smith and his Comps. After we just got ready at the AP's flat and we went to the stake president's daughters baptism! It was really awesome to see the love and support she had and to see her enter into such a sacred Covenant with our Father in heaven! Then we went home and had lunch and then went to do some service after that! The service was just some easy yard work haha so then we went and found on the train and I talked to a really nice old lady who just was so kind to me and she made my whole day honestly! She was just a fun lady to have a conversation with and she has a strong faith in Christ! But she is already a member of the Uniting church haha but she said she would love to talk anytime about religion! Then we went to dinner at the best place ever!! It was called the Great Southern Burger Company in Cronulla! They have the best chips (fries) and I had a really nice Crispy Chicken sand-which!! Then we went home for the night!

Sunday- We had a good Sacrament and Gospel principles class! After church we taught Rolf and got everything filled out for his baptism program! Then we went and visited a less active member and taught him about feasting on the Words of Christ! He is a really nice guy and is just grateful for when ever we come over because he gets pretty lonely! Then we went to Bishop's house to borrow some milk for dinner and they just ended up keeping us for dinner when we got there which was super nice of them!! We played Taboo with them and then we shared a message on the Book of Mormon again and it was such a strong spirit in the room again!! 

I have learned a lot about submitting myself to the Lord's will this week. I am not great at doing it yet and it is a constant battle but I am trying my best to do so! I know that everything happens for a reason and it will all be for my benefit! I truly know the Lord answers prayers! I have already seen it time and time again on my mission! I love being out here, it honestly is the HARDEST thing I have ever done I can't lie to you. Not every day is the best and it can be a drag! Sometimes I hate it here and want to quit, but then I remember that it is not about me!! It is about doing what the Lord has asked! I am doing my best to forget myself and just do the Lord's will! The mission may be hard and it can suck at times but all the great experiences and good times out weigh the bad times! All the blessings and good experiences make it all worth it!! I love you all have a good week! Don't be afraid to shoot your boy an email or two or even a letter would be sweet, it's only 2.75 to send one.... :) Have a good week!! 

Sunday, November 1, 2015

HALLOWEEEEENY

Man it was a quick week here in Sydney Australia!! Been a lot of fun and it has been a busy busy week! Here is the recap for youse :)

Monday- Played basketball at the church with all the missionaries in the zone and it was so fun! Elder Smith is a really good basketball player haha he played for Tville until his senior year then he played for Westlake! Look him up on youtube hahaha he makes me look worse than I already am haha! But i'm taller than him so heck yeah! Then we went to the Liehr family's home for FHE and carved pumpkins! That was after we had a bomb meal and had a spiritual lesson :)

Tuesday- Just wasn't the best day haha we were feeling really lazy and just not very motivated! We didn't feel like talking to anyone while we were out on the train and stuff. Felt pretty useless haha but we got over the discouraged feeling and bounced back through out the week! I don't like being lazy haha you just feel like crap at the end of the day and you know you wasted a day! 

Wednesday- We did 7 hours of service! haha We helped out on a group service project at a guys house who is a hoarder! He had so much stuff all in his front yard! There were so many huge spiders while we were de junking the yard haha all the Aussies were making fun of us yanks for being scared of spiders! They were pretty freaking huge though haha I will send pics of the pile of junk, it was huge!! Then we helped some lady across the street unpackage bubble guns and assemble them! She bought us lunch and gave us some nice sun glasses for our help! She had a ton of exotic animals that she let us hold and see too! I actually let a bird on my shoulder shockingly! I hate birds haha but it was sweet! Then we taught Rolf again and discussed Faith and quitting smoking! as of Sunday November 1st he hasn't smoked in two days!! So he is making progress and we are getting close to having him ready for baptism! Really awesome guy i love him! 

Thursday- We taught Gavin our other investigator and we taught him about Christ and why having faith in him is important! We watched a bible video of Christ suffering for us and dying for us then when he is resurrected! He liked the lesson and it went really well! The spirit was definitely there no denying that! Then we had dinner at the Kendrick's home and we played kickball before dinner with the Dad and all the kids! They made some delicious mexican food! We gave Brother Kendrick the Hot salsa that we had last week and it didn't even phase him!! All the kids died when they had it though! hahaha :)

Friday- We had district training meeting as usual then we went an found people all day around the little shops in Cronulla! We ran into our boy Jeremy (the guy who bought us steaks last transfer) He is doing good but still struggling with life! He was really nice to us and he respects us a ton! He is a good guy!

Saturday- Halloween isn't really a thing here haha very few people celebrate it! We went door knocking and when people weren't interested we just told them we were dressed up as missionaries as a joke and they bought it! hahahaha so then we would just talk to them and at the end of the conversation we would just tell them we really were missionaries and it was just hilarious! I said trick or treat a couple times to break the ice at a couple of doors haha i love door knocking it's fun :) Then we got our faces painted for free before the Ward trunk or treat party at the church! I looked like the Joker! Pics will be coming! The trunk or treat was awesome! A lot of people from the neighborhood who weren't even members so that was way sweet! 

Sunday- Great fast and testimony meeting! Rolf came to church as usual and Gavin is going to come next week! We went out and talked to people in Cronulla again by all the shops and planted a lot of seeds in peoples hearts! Felt good to put in effort and talk to heaps of people! The Lord will always provide for us as long as we keep trying our best and do what he has asked us to do! 

Man I love the mission! So excited for all my friends who are getting ready to go on their missions! It is so worth it!! Just want you all to know that the Lord is aware of you and knows you personally! He knows what you are going through, have been through, and will go through! He is always there for you and he understands perfectly everything you go through! The Lord loves you all as do I! Have a good week!! :)
PUMPKIN CARVING

He's the cutest that we know

I don't think I trust him with that knife.

#trademarkface

asian pumpkins are always better

family portrait.

Pumpkin faces

Liehr Family

When Cam was younger he was TERRIFIED of birds... I guess he's facing his fear

Isn't that cute.

bird

I think they went to an aviary? he didn't tell us where he was in the email.

This is the house they helped clean... no thanks, man. 

I'm scared, they call trunks "boots" in the land down UNDAAAA

why so serious?

two of the kendrick kids

Chris Lee and his wife