The Extra Miler

I'll tell you another amazing miracle this week!

We had our Special Training from President and Sister Howes this past Tuesday.. Afterwards Elder K and I were organizing some things for the Zone and then the time was 5:10... we then had a meeting with Bishop at 5:15... so we wanted to set an example for the Zone so we went out and used that 5mins finding... we easily could've spent those 5 minutes being "busy"... but it comes down to the questions Dieter F. Uchtdorf asked.. "Are the things that are keeping you busy, getting you where you want to go?" We then went a little overtime getting carried away talking with people and were a bit late.. Bishop calls us- "Where are you??"... Sorry Bishop we're coming back now!.. He replies-"No.. you don't come back until you find 1 person to teach!".. (hangs up).... Hahaha. He is the man. So we took on his task and had the sufficient faith to do what the Lords anointed asked of us... Find 1 person to teach before we came back... As my companion was talking with a person.. I was following him... and then stood at this corner just scoping out the people... One girl stood out, and she appeared to be from Brasil... so I went up to her and went "Oii Tudo bem!"... (Luckily enough she was from Brasil.. that would've been awkward otherwise)... We got talking and the next thing you know... We were giving her a chapel tour and teaching her about baptism!... We then set a return appointment and added her as an investigator!... It was just so amazing to me that we were able to achieve it!... And it is because... We know who we rely on... our Master Jesus the Christ.. He will then recognize our acknowledgement to Him and then bless us. It's as simple as that!... I'm grateful for these small tender mercies... The attribute of the 'Extra Miler' conveyed itself to me as so important these past weeks... My first run in the City at the beginning of my mission.. we had days where we would just go finding for 5 hours straight... I would RARELY pull people off the street to give them chapel tours... I did it maybe 8 times in the 8 months I was there.... all the miracles I've been experiencing... I have pulled off maybe 12 people in the past 4 weeks!!... And they were all at times where we used our time wisely... It was the times where we easily could've done something to fill the 10-30mins we had... but instead we went out and worked... A thought that came to me was from my football days.. 'champions are distinguished in the little things' .. The football players that stay in the locker room studying game film while his other friends are off hanging out... That player who stays to work on technique while his friends are watching tv... We have now made that as a focus for our Zone and the results are paying off... It's super exciting to see how much influence we can have and raise the vision of all the missionaries here! And I know you can do likewise whatever situation you may be in... whether it be encouraging our less active family to do family scriptures, prayers and FHE... or even eating dinner at the table together.

#missionarylife

So we had a baptism this past weekend.. we were all going to leave together at 4:30pm to catch the train.. so we left the Teaching Center at 4 to go change at our flat... but we were trying to get in some finding time because we didn't have much this week... So we were talking to people on the way... And I saw this one guy walking in the opposite direction.. So I quickly turned around and started talking to him... Nek minut... He was legit as! We pulled him off the street and gave him a chapel tour, taught him and added him as a new investigator... So we were pumped as... by this time it was 4:15.. So we were like.. alright, gotta hurry back to the flat... But once again I saw this other guy that I felt impressed to talk to... And so I ran up and talked to him really quick... NEK MINUT... We pulled him off the street as well and gave him a chapel tour, taught him and added him as an investigator!... ALL IN THE SPACE OF 30MINS!... Luckily every one else was late and they decided the catch the later train at 4:50 and so we were able to make it.. The scripture that came to my mind as we were walking to the train with every one was.. "..I know that the Lord giveth no commandments into the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them." 1Ne 3:7 .. A prompting from the Spirit of God is His commandment to us to do something.. We obeyed. He blessed us. As simple as that.

A funny side story though... I was talking to the second guy for a bit.. and I asked him simply.. "You ever thought about what happens when you die?".. He was tryin to be cheeky and was like.. "No I haven't... I don't care about it."... So I just said to him.. "Well think about it just for a second... what do you think happens?"... Then he looked down all puzzled after some silence and was like... "What does happen?".... #checkmate.

And as we were walking back I was talking with this missionary I was on trade offs with.. Of how promptings come in unexpected ways sometimes... And I look at these leaves blowing on the ground and they started drifting towards this blind corner... And I go.. "It's a prompting... Whoever those leaves go towards... is your next investigator...".... Hahahaha. This guy tatted up like none other and wearing all black and carrying this huge black case which looked like a bomb walks around the corner.... I was like "AHAAHHAHA... YOU HAVE TO TALK TO HIM NOW!"... And he went and he turned out to be pretty nice!... #missionarylife.

Another funny story.. and a reason why I love my companion. We were in MCM with our Ward Mission Leader just discussing how we can help the Zone and Ward... and we finished up so I was giving the closing prayer and in the middle of it.. My companions stomach hard core rumbled and then I had to say amen quickly before I started laughing... then our Ward Mission Leader was like... 'Have you had dinner?"... We hadn't.... SO WE GOT A FREE DINNER! Hahaha. That doesn't happen in the City often so that's why I'm excited to share it.

But wanna know something crazy... ELDER RUSSELL M NELSON IS COMING TO OUR MISSION! February 19th.. And it's an Australia Sydney North/South combined Mission Conference!...It's gonna be 2 legit 2 quit... finally we get our first apostle!!

The Miracle Always Comes After The Trial

We had the exciting experience to have a mini-missionary with us for the weekend.. He got his mission call to Japan and leaves in 1 month.. but he was with us Friday-Sunday.. and my goodness... The Lord blessed us so that he could have a good experience.. because if you think about it.. that could make or break someones excitement to serve a mission.. if he comes and we have a bad day... thats the only experience he's going to remember as he goes to the MTC... so we were praying that he would have a good experience.. and as we were waiting for him to come... We had about 5-10 mins so we went out finding... Then his mum came and talked to us and said he's waiting in the Chapel for us!.. So we go up and meet him.. every thing was sweet as.. We were just about to take his stuff to our flat to get him settled in.. When this Brazilian lady just saw the church from the street and walked in and wanted to learn!... We were like.. o.O ... (Mental WOOOOOOO)... So we gave her a chapel tour and taught her a lesson and she said she was going to come to church every week now! And she did come!!!... What a way to start off someones mission experience! The Lord was definitely listening to our prayers! 

We even had a random text referral from mission headquarters... No information but a name: C and his number... so we gave him a call and he's from Taiwan.. he agreed to meet with us.. So we meet up with him and we come to find out... HE'S BEEN TAUGHT BY THE MISSIONARIES FOR 2 YEARS IN TAIWAN!...So we asked him straight up.. "So why haven't you been baptized?".. He replied simply by saying... 'Because they couldn't answer my question.. Why do we have to pray in the name of Jesus Christ?.."... I first looked at my companion like... what the... is there a hidden camera in here?.. Like for real... why would that keep someone from baptism haha. So we then answered it and he goes... "Oh.. okay"... Then we invited him to be baptized and he readily agreed!... But here's the punchline... "Alright... we're holding a baptismal service next weekend.. will you prepare yourself to be baptized on that day?"... He then says... "I go home this Friday... I've been here for a year"... I just paused and was like... (Mental NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO) hahaha. But it was such a great experience to be apart of... so we got his contact details and commited him to be baptized in Taiwan and he accepted.. But it was miracle as that his last week in Australia... he got referred to us and it was just the perfect time for him to accept this commitment before returning home... The Lord know His sheep. 

Here's the last 2 miracles I'll share this week... So the first one... S!! The investigator I've talked about a few times in Coffs! HE GOT BAPTIZED!!!! That's the 2nd baptism they've had in a billion years!!! WOOO!!! So I was super excited when I heard he went through with his date.. He actually got baptized a week after I left -_- hahah. But it's good nonetheless!

Okay... brace yourself for the craziest of crazies... So there's this Japanese guy K who's a Part Member family.. his parents were baptized but they went Less Active before he was baptized at the age of 8... But he recently started learning with the missionaries! He goes home in a couple weeks so we had his baptismal service scheduled for January 18th.. And his interview didn't go through until the morning of his baptism for various reasons... but he was scheduled to be interviewed at 11am... times passes... 11:30..11:50... 12....2... he wasn't answering... so every one was like dodgyyy as!! So meanwhile.. every one was calling me off the hook "Is the baptism happening? Is the baptism happening? Is the baptism happening?"... And each time.. I was like.. 'It's happening, don't worry".. But really inside I was thinking.. OhhmygoodnesssHebettercomeee! Hahah. 

It comes 3:30... and HE CALLS!!!... He said he just woke up and was on his way... so he gets to the chapel at 4pm.. his baptism is at 6pm... so my companion conducted the interview... and meanwhile I was teaching on trade-offs and we just invited our investigator to the baptismal service and he really wanted to come!.. so we finished and we go upstairs and then my companion comes out of the interview and says to me.. "I cannot authorize him to be baptized...".. So the sisters taught him in English.. and there was a little language barrier.. so when they taught him tithing and the law of chastity... he didn't fully understand.. so my companion taught it in Japanese and asked him to live it.. and he wasn't willing to live them!... So every one was devastated as!.. It was 4:50pm and every one was preparing to leave and we now don't have a baptism... so we called President and asked him what we should do... and he said to the Japanese Elders... you take him back in the room and teach him.. and invite him to live it again!... 

So when I first heard that.. I will be honest.. I was thinking like.. What on earth is going to change?... But I knew that thought wasn't coming from Heavenly Father so I quickly changed my mindset and said.. 'This can happen.'... So as they went to teach him... I gathered the Zone and some members to kneel in prayer... and when I offered the prayer.. it was simple... nothing extremely eloquent... but the faith and desire we all had... is what made that one of the most powerful experiences... when I said 'Amen'... We all looked at each other... and knew... the baptism wasn't cancelled... 

We waited another 30mins.. and I had members calling me saying they were leaving... 3 minutes after one member said they were all going home... the  Elders  said K wanted to be baptized! SO I quickly called them back and told them to stay there and we then hurried to catch the train and every thing... and 1 hour later... K was baptized!... It brought me the utmost assurance that the Spirit can soften ANY ONE'S heart... my companion said he went into that lesson feeling discouraged from the previous encounter he had with him of just 10 mins ago... yet when he sat down with him.. he said immediately he felt a change in K's countenance... and he was understanding more clearly and accepted to live them! This is a testimony that God lives and answers our prayers. He wants the best for all of His children. We just need faith to follow that inkling of knowing that every thing will be okay... For then... The miracle comes... The miracle always comes after the trial.. When we learn the art of surrender... to put our trust in Him.. Such spiritual experiences will happen... And that is how we maintain excitement within our gospel lives... by having spiritual experiences continually.

Excitement and Charity

So I'll fill you in a bit of what's been happeninnnn.... So when I got transferred back to the City 2 weeks ago.. President and the AP's told me they're sending me there to help bring back the member unity with missionaries and to spark the work back into the legendary city status.... NO PRESSURE.... Haha. So we've been contemplating on how to exactly accomplish this task... And it was indeed heaven sent that we got to speak with an RM that served in the City about 2 years ago when it was in it's legendary status.. He gave us some advice.. One in which taught me a huge lesson.. It's to be the example of excitement and charity... So the first time I had the chance to use this advice came when I was on Trade-Offs with our District Leader.. My goal for that exchange was to merely pump him up so he could convey that excitement to his district.. So I was praying so hard so that we could see miracles that morning.. and the first miracle started off in my personal study... I was reading 3 Nephi 28:1.. and Jesus asked this penetrating question to His disciples... "What is it that ye desire of me, after that I am gone to the Father?" I pondered that morning and asked myself... What do I desire from God today?.... and the thought came to me... I want to build excitement in the Zone.. well... how do I do that?.... Then I thought... 'I want to pull 2 people off the street... give them a chapel tour and add them as investigators!'... So we finished our studies and started out 10am on the streets in the City to go GQ'ing... Within the first 5 minutes I started talking to this Chinese guy named W.. He was heading in the direction of the Chapel.. so we were just walking and chatting about what I do as a missionary.. and then he stops EXACTLY AT THE CORNER of the Chapel and says.. "I need to go now to a job appointment actually... bye!"... then I thought... "My desire is to pull 2 people off... so I'm doing just that!".. I went and stopped him and just said.. "Awh just before you go.. this is actually our chapel!.. Come and check it out.."And I started motioning towards the door... AND HE FOLLOWED!... Then I waved down my companion down the street and he ran over and we gave him a chapel tour and taught him... and ADDED HIM AS AN INVESTIGATOR!... And he said during our lesson "I haven't learned about God before.. but I think if I did I would believe!"... And he accepted to come to church and continue learning! Sooo legit!... 

Now.. as we were walking out... to continue our finding.. we were pumped!...And at that moment I was pondering the counsel from the RM  to be the example of excitement and charity to your Zone.. so I stopped right there before we went out finding and gave him W's contact details and said... "Here... He's yours to take care of now... take care of him!"... And the Elder looked at me with so much excitement and was like THANK YOUUUU!!!!..... So if we were pumped before... now we were extraX1000 hahah. 

We went out and continued finding... And AGAIN... within the first.. maybe 3 minutes... I talked to a girl not even 5 feet away from where I met W.. and she seemed super interested... And obviously taking note of my desire this morning.. I said.. "Would you like to come and see our Church? It's just right down the road!"... She readily agreed... And once again.. we gave her a tour, lesson and she then said "My grandparents who never believed in God... Became Christian their last few years of life.. and I always wondered why that was... and where they are...I would like to find out.." she agreed to come to church as well... That then ADDING OUR 2ND INVESTIGATOR... within the first 30 minutes of our trade-off hahaha.... I then did the same thing... I gave K's contact details to the Elder and said.. "Take good care of her".... 

We then went to teach heaps of lessons after this great start to our day.. even setting a baptismal date with one of their investigators..

The lesson I learned from this experience is not only that of desire.... but how much excitement and charity can effect others for good.. The word Enthusiasm.. comes from the Greek word.. "Entheos" When the Greeks were asked to describe the way they lived... It was 'Entheos'.. Which meant-Having God be with you.. or Spirit be with you... So we should be Enthusiastic in every sense of the word... 

Led by the Spirit

So I was on trade-offs with a pretty new missionary, Elder W.  He's so good though for how young he is in the mission (plus he's 18).. We set goals that we were going to find 2 New Investigators, give out 5 Books of Mormon all by doing this survey that we're doing in the mission. We were walking the whole day cause neither of us could drive and we were getting shut down the whole morning.. we were talking to every one and not one person listened... We kept on going and talked to this one guy on the way to lunch and he wasn't interested at all.. but we kept persisting and it turned out.. he agreed to take the 2 minute survey... but soon after we realized he loved talking :) .. 30 minutes later haha as we have discussed heaps of gospel topics.. he smiled and then chuckled a bit and said 'Ya know... me and my partner have been searching for a church to go to for about 12 months.. and we just barely moved here and you guys show up... I'll come to your church!"....Sometimes we are led by the spirit... not even knowing that we are being placed in the path of others lives that we can change.. But we earn these such tender mercies by our obedience to previous promptings which we follow, no matter how big or small they are.... And so we taught him a bit and set a return appointment to meet up again... BOOM! 1st New Investigator... 

So after lunch we continued talking with every one and come the time of the end of our trade off... we were walking home.. we had added 1 New Investigator.. gave out 4 Books of Mormon... and we were about 500 meters away from home so we could evaluate the day... when we saw this kid in the distance walking his dog.. We both looked at each other and were like.. We are giving this kid a Book of Mormon no matter what!.. Even if we give it to his dog, we wanted to accomplish our goal!... So he's walking by us and has headphones in.. and we stop and wave him down.. but he keeps walking... so we were like... faiirdinkum... then after he walks past us about 2 feet... he takes out his headphones and says.. "I'm sorry, did you say something to me?".. We were like, Yeah! We're missionaries just going around the area here doing a quick survey... And we asked him the first question.. "Is a close, strong family important to you?"... And he replies- "Yeah it really is! My brother died 2 years ago... so I don't know if I'll ever see him again but my family means every thing!"... And just from that we were able to have the most legit lesson right there on this street... I pulled open the Book of Mormon and taught him where his brother is right now... and testified that he will see him again... and then Elder W bore his testimony as well.. and through it all, this kid in Year 8 started crying and invited us back over to his house next week!.... I know with a surety that God hears our prayers.. and knows our thoughts and innermost desires.. This kid had been asking himself every day 'What's the point of life if we come here to live and then just die.. never to live again?'... And he was walking his dog listening to his music pondering that same question when he met us... the last person we spoke with that day.. was an answer to his prayer and also ours. 

What my mission has meant to me thus far:

My mission has meant EVERYTHING to me... From what I've observed and come to a realization of... is the reason why so many people miss their mission so much... is not because they miss the culture, or the people, or wearing proselyting clothes every day, or getting feeds from members. Although they play a significant role for certain missionaries... but no it's not any of that. It's because... they will not experience the huge capacity in which they were able to feel the spirit as much as they felt it when being a full-time missionary. When you have your own Sacred Grove experiences... when you see miracles, when you teach and testify and feel the gospel... I mean really feel the gospel for the first time working in you as if it were your own DNA... when you gain a rock solid testimony.. when you make eternal friendships with the people whom you will dedicate your full-time service to.. when you forget yourself and give every thing you have to God.... when you come to the point where nothing else matters... where you can never go back to being the same.. you answer just as Peter answers when Jesus asks "Will ye also go away?".... "Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life" ... And when you realize that... is when you now understand what God has sent us on this earth for... There is no other way to live... at least not happily... but by serving God and being a Disciple of Christ... forever.... For this is what the mission has made me become... Living every day... by the words of eternal life.. I still remember in the MTC... Elder Pearson of the Seventy... said "The first miracle you will see... will be the miracle of your own conversion"... And I thought to myself... that's rubbish.. Witnessing someone else's conversion is why we're coming on missions..... 

Now I know what he means... This mission... is not 100% intended to convert others... it is to convert the missionary.... the Lord is investing these 18-24 months in you... so that you may be a Kingdom builder.. And that's exactly what it's done for me.... 

A Testimony of Fasting

#1- So my companion and I have been working heaps hard in finding new investigators.. We've really been working with the branch to help them be missionary minded and make it a #1 priority!.. And along with that we've been doing our own work in finding, through formers, unknowns, less actives etc. And so this past Saturday night approaching Fast Sunday.. we started fasting for the sole purpose to find new investigators so we can baptize each month.. And we really wanted to be an example to our zone so we can uplift and motivate them.. So we had this purpose in mind and we just finished our Personal Study on Sunday morning.. when our District President calls up and says "Elders.. There will be 10 women from Vanuatu at church today.. 2 are Returned Missionaries... 8 are non-members.. prepare a lesson and teach them."... WHATTTT?!?!?...  So we get to church and meet them all and they were sweet as! They were so humble.. they all left their families so they can send money back to provide.. So we taught them all a lesson and had dinner with them later and we are now going to be teaching them this Wednesday!.. All of them in one time or another have seen or met missionaries as well!.. So in a way better than we ever could've accomplished.. It was through MEMBER missionaries who helped us add 8 new investigators in one day! Members are essential in this work..This is the prime example, when we combine in effort.. miracles happen... And I already had a testimony of fasting but my goodness.. It just keeps increasing.. the Lord indeed knows all... and responds to our cry when we act out of faith.. And when it is needful.

#2- We were having a lesson with this Less Active member and our investigator S.. And we were teaching about Light and Truth.. When you are obedient.. you receive more light and understand more truth.. And we were trying to commit S to be baptized.. so we were trying to set up a good question.. so we asked.. "What are some things you can do.. to receive more light?".. The Less Active member said.. 'go to church!'... ding ding.. there's one answer.. then S goes.. 'I wanna get baptized man..' #BEAST!!!... Hahaha. So good! So we set a date for him to be baptized Nov.30th.. the spirit not only works through us.. it works through investigators so they can blurt random stuff out like that! haha. And to add onto that gloriousness.. After interviews with our Mission President.. He bought us all Banana Splits! Yeee-yaaa!