November 24, 2013

So, President always says that planning is revelation. And my companion is a master planner :) She  was conducting our weekly planning session, and came up with the idea to get one of our investigators to Greymouth for a baptism less than 24 hours away. We started calling around, seeing who could drive or if anyone was already heading down there. Even inviting other investigators and then after they accept the invitation to view a baptism, we'd say, "Um.. so could you maybe drive? And there's four of us that want to come." Awkwwwward!! 

Eventually we just called the i-site, which is like a tourist "how to" center that is in every town. Turns out there was a bus going to Greymouth (1.5 hour drive) that was leaving in 15 minutes, and cost $25 a head. We called our investigator, and she immediately said she was keen. We (literally) ran into town and met her there, bought tickets, and got on the bus. The bus even took a pit-stop at the pancake rocks, so we got to see a beautiful view!! After the pit-stop we got back on the bus, and 2 women ahead of us who had been asleep before pulled out a cup and poured some mate (spelling? it's a Argentine herbal tea). I started listening to them - they were speaking SPANISH!!!! I moved next to them, and started talking to them - they were on vacation and accepted a Book of Mormon and a mormon.org card. Can i express how excited and happy and elated I was? I think not :) 

We got to the baptism late, but they held it up just for us. After it was over, the senior couple drove us all back to Westport. And miracle of miracles, I didn't get car sick on either of the drives! Yayy! I think this is the first time in the history of the last two transfers.

Our investigator loved the trip, loved the baptism, and is getting excited for her own. Can't wait to go see her tonight!! :D 

Oh yes -- this investigator who paid $26 to see a baptism, right? We met her when we first got here, just on the street. We had a hard time meeting up with her, and finally caught her at home recently. For a long time she didn't believe in God at all. She told us that just a week or 2 before, she knelt down and prayed and said, "God, i believe in you now. I want to learn more about you, but I don't know how." Then the sister missionaries showed up :) wow, so cool!!! 

We met with one of our Zambian families and had to tell them that they need to get baptized in Zambia instead of here - SO SAD!! I was the one elected to tell them, I managed not to cry. But this will be good for them - a missionary opportunity for them and their family back home. They leave for Zambia in like a week and aren't sure when they're coming back - best to just let them take care of the baptism there so they don't wind up getting lost in the move. 

Also, church was AMAZING on sunday!!! (sorry, i think my emails may be too long. if you're bored, no worries, stop reading when you've had enough haha). The Elders got 13 investigators to church!! Our branch was literally doubled!!!!! WOW!!! We are so proud of those elders!! Probably the most sacred, joyful, amazing feeling was to see the little recent convert deacon return the the sacrament table for one of the Elders to refill the water tray with more cups and water. I don't know if anyone can fathom the pure joy that we felt, seeing that happen. Also, the talks were perfectly designed to fit our investigator's needs. Wow, another awesome sacrament meeting. 

i love you all heaps!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The church is true! I love being a missionary!!

love,

Sister Rose

this is Sister Haacke, who was with us this weekend, from up in Nelson :) The short adorable one is our investigator

November 17, 2013

So, although it may be getting cold in America... we are beginning to experience SUMMER here!! Finally!! It feels like I have winter non-stop for the last year. What does that mean? It means our clothes dry on the line quite quickly, instead of getting an extra "rinse" or two when the rain inevitably comes (electricity is very expensive here - so we line dry 97.2% of the time). The towels dried in an hour today - whaaaah?! Yay!

Remember that group of teens I mentioned last week? Turns out they all live in this one house together and now we are teaching them and all their friends. Whenever we go over to visit or teach, there is always someone new there that is excited to learn more. At our lesson Tuesday night, we invited all of them to our youth night on Thursday. This may or may not have been the first youth night EVER in Westport. The Elders came and Elder Danner came up with the most awesome activity - human battleship using water balloons!! We divided into two teams, and layed down on either side of a volleyball net on the ground. Each team had a thrower and they blindly tried to hit people on the other team. SO FUN!!! It also may or may not have turned into a massive water balloon fight. The girls are now coming up with ideas for upcoming youth nights! This week they want to do a barbeque. We said, "We can only do that if you help recruit people." They said, "Of course!! We'll get everyone to come and bring some food. So just do whatever you had planned at the beginning and we'll end with a barbeque." Um, could this get any better?! I think not!!! Can't wait for Thursday night :D

Also, church was amazing on Sunday. There were 6 active members there, 2 investigators, and 4 missionaries. Such a tiny room, but the spirit was particularly strong that sunday morning. I just felt so incredibly lucky to be with people so devoted to their God that they would come to church when barely anyone else was there. I felt so humbled to be among the chosen few to worship with those amazing souls. And for some reason watching the Elders prepare the sacrament on Sunday was just so powerful. I wish I could describe the way I felt, but I don't think I can. I am just so grateful for what Jesus Christ did for us, that we never have to feel "stuck." We never have to feel like there is nowhere else to turn, or that we are out of options because God is there. I am so grateful that we can repent and change course. I can't express this with words, Hopefully God understands the way I feel at least.

I love you all heaps :) 

Sister Rose

PS here's a picture of where we went during last p-day. Tuaranga bay :) So pretty!!

November 10, 2013

Have I mentioned lately that I love being a missionary? Like when I say love, i mean LOOOOOOVE. :D

As a companionship we have been focusing on testifying. Missionary work is simple, really - tell people what you know, and invite them to find out for themselves. And can i tell you, this has transformed everything!! This week we were walking down the street to a teaching appointment. All this other stuff fell through and we were like 30 minutes early to the appointment. But we just decided to head over there anyways. We saw this woman reading a book on the bench off the main street in town. We walked up to her, Book of Mormon in hand. We asked what she was reading and she said, "Oh, i wanted to read up about Jesus Christ from a book other than the Bible. I just checked out this book from the library." My jaw probably audibly dropped to the floor. We sat down on the bench with her and began to talk to her about the Book of Mormon, and testify of our Savior, our Redeemer Jesus Christ. She lives about 2 hours away, but we had a trip planned up there for later this week. Can't wait to see her!!!!!!!!! How cow, isn't missionary work amazing!?

We were riding our bikes down the street on Saturday and saw about 6 teens sitting on the lawn outside a house. They yelled to us, making fun of us or something. The "every day" me would just ignore it. But my companion suggested that we turn around. So we went back and talked to them. A few of them were drinking and others were smoking. We talked to them, and among them was a girl we had shared a message with before, and could never get ahold of her again. We asked if we could come back and share something with them, and this girl said, "Just share something now." I kept thinking, "This is not a good situation for us to be in, we are missionaries.." and then my copmanion's voice came into my head, how she always talks about how Jesus Chris spent his time with the "publicans and sinners" because that's who needed him. I repented haha :) We began to teach, and found out that one of the people there was actually baptized up north, and never came to church here. They all wanted Books of Mormon and 3 of them came to church the next day. So cool :) what a miracle, ae? 

i love the Lord, I love the spirit, and I am so thankful for the doctrine of Christ. This church is true, and I am so lucky to be a missionary.

Love you all!!!!!!!!!

Sister Rose