Thanks
heaps for the fantastic e-mail this
week! I loved reading it as always and am glad that you're seeing a lot
of blessings lately. This last week of the transfer was really good and
we saw a lot of miracles and blessings as we worked. However, I'll save
that for a moment as you're probably wanting to know about the transfer
news. Well it seems that it's back to my usual routine of the mission
thus far as Elder Matu'u and I will both be staying in Geelong for this
next transfer as well! I'm excited to keep working here now that the
area is really starting to grow and we're seeing a lot of success as
well as to continue to work hard with Elder Matu'u. I am pretty
drained physically, and mentally from the past 2 transfers here though
so hopefully it turns out to be a really good transfer. Too add to the
stress a bit there will be no more car in Geelong either. We obviously
haven't had a car but the other area of Geelong did have one but they're
moving it to another area in the Zone.
So now the 10th biggest city in Australia is now exclusively a biking
area for missionaries. We're considering after this transfer to try our
luck getting into the 'Tour de France' since we've become quite
accustomed to riding the bikes. So that's the transfer news for me, I've
asked the other Geelong companionship to see where all my past
companions are going to (they'll be at the transfer meeting because
Elder Hasson is moving) so I'll let you know about that next week. So
with hearing that news I'm quite amazed that in my 1st year of the
mission (it still feels so weird that after this transfer I'll be able
to say I'll have been out that long!) I've served in just 2 areas. Also,
another fun stat is that my mission is split in half with time on bikes
and time in the car, the 1st 6 months in a car and these 2nd 6 months
on bikes. Looking back I think I the bikes have been better for
missionary work purposes (being able to talk to everyone as we go to
appointments or from place to place, keeps us fit and healthy, and I've
been able to get a nice tan on my arms haha). So anyway, not too much
change in transfers but that's something I'm fairly used to by now. Now
back to this past week. We were able to see Noah quite a bit this past
week and he's still going really well and understanding everything
great. He's very excited for his baptism this coming weekend, which will
be on Sunday the 14th now so some of the family will be able to come
that wouldn't have been able to on the Saturday. We've almost finished
everything lessons-wise so all he needs now is just his baptismal
interview this week and then he'll be ready to enter into the his first
covenant in his path through the Gospel. Also, Joel and Camilla are
going excellently as well! We were able to teach them this past week for
the first time in a few weeks and it went so well. Joel is very
prepared and has one of the strongest desires to learn and
grow that I've seen thus far on the mission. He's now preparing to be
baptized on the 4th of May
so we'll pray fervently for him to continue to feel the spirit and
receive his answer about the truthfulness of the Gospel. We're excited
for General Conference this weekend especially because we know that
could play a big part in Joel (as well as Camilla) receiving an answer
and learning more from the Prophet and general authorities. So we're
excited to continue to see their progress. We've also found some really
keen new investigators this past week, a couple have come off referrals
from Neil. Neil I think I mentioned a few weeks ago, one of the ones we
found off the ward list who really wants to come back to church. He's
been a huge blessing to us so far because he loves to help us and also
has helped us find some really great people to teach. So finding both
him and Candice and Walle has been a great blessing not only in helping
them return to the Gospel
but also in having others come into the Gospel as well. Jaryn is still
going pretty well, his university has kept him from having as much time
to receiving the lessons more frequently though. He still enjoys church
each week though and hopefully will continue to work towards and be
ready for his April 20th baptism. This past week we've also had to do
some more cleaning on the side because we have another flat inspection
this Wednesday (this time by the actual owners) so hopefully everything
will go well with that. So at the moment it looks like this coming
transfer will be a really good one with hopefully continued blessings
and success. I've already learned so much and grown so much since I've
served here in Geelong and I know that will continue to happen as Elder
Matu'u and I continue to work hard and improve our level of commitment
and obedience each day despite whatever trials and challenges we may
face. This mission as a whole is growing as well as
there will now be about 220 missionaries in the Melbourne mission after
the new missionaries come in this transfer. The mission also has set a
new goal for this 2nd quarter of the year (April, May, June) that we'll
get 151 baptisms which would be great to see happen as President and
Sister Lifferth only have these 3 months left of their service and it'd
be a great send off to see the mission reach new heights by hitting that
goal. Well again I'm grateful for the e-mail this week and for all of
your continued love and support that helps me each day feel comfort and
courage as we work. I hope that you have a wonderful week this week as
well and that you continue to see a lot of blessings and miracles. I
love you heaps and I'll talk to you again soon!
Love,
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