Dear Friends and
Family,
This week was a good week, but one of the hardest ones so far on my mission. As
most of you know, last week I was transferred, so I am now in a new area. I am
in the area of Yarra Valley, but the city that we live in is Lilly Dale. It is
city compared to my last area. It is not in the straight city
of Melbourne, where all of the tall buildings are, but it is about a half
hour away. So compared to the bush of Wangaratta, it is CITY!!! My new
companion is Elder Theurer, who is from Salt Lake City. I am glad that I am
once again, reunited with a Utah missionary!!! I am still trying to adjust
to my new surroundings, but it is really hard. But I will make it and it
will all work out. On Wednesday afternoon, I got a call from one of the
office senior Sister missionaries, informing me that my Uncle Mark passed away.
He had been battling brain cancer for a really long time, and all though it
wasn't unexpected for him to pass, it didn't help my week at all. So this week
was really hard for me, but I am trying to stay positive about everything and
trying to loose myself in the work. But it is hard.
Elder Theurer and I get along great. We both love the same kind of
"worldly" music, we both love to golf, we have been out on the
mission for about the same amount of time, (Him-5 months. Me- 6 months, which I
hit 3 days ago!!) and we both have a girlfriend waiting for
us!!!...wait...never mind...only he has a girlfriend waiting for him. But all
goods, doesn't matter! So it is great to be serving with someone who is so
alike and with someone who I really get along with!!
This area is great!! It is a ward, but a small one. We have about 50 active
members who attend each week. But still a lot compared to Wangaratta! We have
an awesome bishopric and an even more awesome ward mission leader. Brother
Bryers is his name and he truly is amazing!! He is from New Zealand and loves
to golf! So I can continue practicing and learning Maori!! Oh and, we can
continue to practice our golf game, cause he takes us golfing on P days!!! He
doesn't take us every P day, but he takes us every 3 weeks! So this morning, we
woke up at 5 o'clock to make a 6:10 tee time! hah. It was amazing and it felt so
great to swing a golf club again! The last time I went golfing was about 6
months ago, so it was really nice to play a round of 18 holes and especially to
do it in Australia!! My score was no were near as bad as I thought it would be,
for not playing for that long, but it was still not good. But being honest, I
didn't care! I just soaked it all in cause it was my first time golfing in
Australia and my first time golfing while wearing my nametag!! Defiantly a
moment that I won't forget!
So because we are so close to the city, we go down to the mission office a lot.
On Friday, we found ourselves down there for a leadership meeting that I attend
each week. We got talking to some missionaries after the meeting and the topic
was about the new policy for the MTC and English-speaking missionaries. The new
policy is that all English-speaking missionaries will now be in the MTC for 3
weeks, instead of 2. Because of this change, it has thrown off all of the
transfers in our mission. Next transfer will be an 8-week transfer, instead of
the normal 6. But then after that, we will go back to 6 weeks. But the news
doesn't stop there. My visa expires July 15, 2017, exactly two years
from the day that I started my mission. I was assuming that I would be going home
the Wednesday before the 15th, which would be the 14th of July 2017.
But with this new policy and change for English speaking missionaries, all
departure dates have changed. I found out on Friday that my new departure
date is June 14th, 2017. That is the day
that I will be coming home. I am a little upset about this, but more shocked
about it. But everything will work out! hah.
I hope you all have a great week and keep your heads held high and your
testimonies bright!! I just want to share my testimony about the Plan of
Salvation. This week, my testimony on it has been strengthened
immensely. I know that I will see my Uncle and all of my loved ones, who have
passed away, again. I know that our Father in Heaven has a plan for
each and every one of us and that it is for our best. We may not know why
things happen to us in this life, but we can take comfort in knowing that
His will is what's best for us. I know that my Uncle lives on and that he
is building the kingdom up in the Spirit world. I love you all and you are
always in my prayers. May the Lord bless every one of you and may you all take
comfort in the wonderful Plan of Salvation.
"Families
can be together forever, through Heavenly Father's plan,
I always want to
be with my own family, and the Lord has shown me how I can,
the Lord, has
shown me how I can."
-Elder Wheeler
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| Elder Theurer made us a meal. How good of a cook is he! I did cut the veggies up though...so I guess you could say I am a master assistant chef;) We are really healthy eaters, cause we don't want to get fat!! |
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| Had this 5 foot tap in for birdie this morning! Not too bad for not golfing in 6 months;) |
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| Yes folks, this is a bug. It is a leaf bug here in Australia! Totally harmless but looks dangerous!! One of the less actives in our ward has heaps of these!!! |
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