Target Acquired

Okay this week was so much better than last.  I think the amount of pictures can sometimes tell how a week went.  There are the odd weeks where you have no pictures because you're absolutely killing it, but usually more pictures means better weeks.  Enjoy below.  So.  We started tracting in Emu Plains rather than Emu Heights and the people were generally much nicer, even the ones that rejected.  Lots of positives this week, so enjoy that as well.  

• Placed two Books of Mormon (or Book of Mormons, who ever you are from The Best two Years) so that's great.  Always a good feeling to do that.  
• Met some cool as people this week.  One dude answered with the biggest smile on his face and said "sorry boys, my wife is going into labor".  We had a lady come to the door brushing her teeth, that's a first.  And.  We met a Cameron.  First and last time on the mission I'll introduce myself with my first name hahaha.  
• Australians have crack up signs on their doorsteps.  I have a picture of one, but another one said "welcome fishermen... and all other liars".  
• At the train station and this notice pops up on the screen: "delays are currently being experienced due to a person on the tracks".  Yup, that doesn't happen every day.  
• We collected all the Christmas and Easter pass-a-long cards in the flat and have been leaving them at every house that doesn't answer.  Giving tracting much more purpose and makes it way more fun.  
• Walked up to a door yesterday and I nearly filled the doorway.  Haha felt like a giant.  It was hilarious, the house must've been built really out of proportion.  

Chur chur.  Elder Dransfield and I are staying, so we got another 6 to FIND some people.  Enjoy them pics yo.  

Love you's heaps!

Elder Muh 

One of many doorway signs

Most important thing in the glove box: spam musubi. 

In the last 6 weeks, nearly all the leaves have fallen off this tree at the chapel.  I love it. 

Comp study at Krispy's.  

Hard to tell on camera, but the drive to the chapel was foggy as this morning.  Happens like once a year (if that) in Hawai'i, so fog combined with the seeing of breath excites me LOL.  

Picking up the Penrith Elders (flat mate homies) last night because trains die at night 

Opposite Connor ties with Elder Tahere (DL / flat mate)

Where is the Light?

Sooo uhhh lots of door knocking... And that's about it.  Been a bit of a rough one.  The days seemed really long, but the week kinda went by fast because of Temple P-Day.  There were a few moments this week though.  

• Finally contacted a less-active who is now "spiritual" (I don't know if they have people like them in America, but basically they believe in spirits and energies, but not so much religion).  Thought there might've been an opportunity, but she straight up said she'd never come back.  She's got no idea what she's missing out on! 
• Got told by a guy that we're the biggest foist in Christianity.  He obviously doesn't know a huge part of our message is agency. :)
• Attended a baptism in Minchinbury for a dude named Junior.  Kid's golden as, already prepping for temple and mission.  The turn-out was incredible.  Also really good to know that there are people out there who are keen and ready to accept the Gospel.  

Well.  Week 6, so we'll see what's happ'nin next week.  Hopefully we can find some new 'gators before transfers though.  

Love you heaps!

Elder Muh

When you realized the same swaggin' dudes made the Ensign two years in a row #squuuad

Maui sighting 

The Revelation Room

Cheeeheee.  This week's been pretty packed.  Three trade-offs, Special Training, and Temple P-Day this morning.  We'll try to capture some moments.  

• Taught Rebecca and her son Kevin (recent converts) at Bishop’s house.  Focused on the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the importance of repeating it’s principles throughout our lives.  Kevin (9 years old) just started cooking bacon and eggs, so we likened it unto that.  Real fun.  
• Combined Special Training was good.  Talked about things we can do to help ourselves obedience wise, and also things we can do to help our investigators progress.  The Special Trainings go off of three zone regions: Harbour North/South, Penrith/Baulkham Hills/Hebersham, and Central Coast/Newcastle North and I realized that I’ve been all three, so that’s cool.  
• Went on trade-offs with this Assistants in Macquarie Uni, this time with Elder Bush.  He’s from LA, loves the Lakers and the Dodgers, and is very familiar with Monrovia.  We had a lot of fun working together, and had a cool revelation during our exchange evaluation, which included a door approach pattern, and also including “we help people to change” when speaking to people.
• Got to work with Elder Flake again in Minchinbury (Elder Dransfield became the designated driver this week - no particular reason, so it worked out).  They have some cool people they’re working with rn.  
• A few weeks ago with Elder Usua, we met this lady up in Springwood and got to follow up with her this weekend.  Unfortunately, she said she hasn’t convinced her husband yet…  But.  I feel like she’ll receive the Gospel one day.  
• Worked with Elder Alonzo, one of the Leura Elders yesterday.  He’s from the Phillipines and trained at Pacquiao’s gym for a bit.  Mean conversion story and fun to see how he works.  
• AND the temple.  I now know why it’s good to get their early.  Our bus arrived 30 minutes after it was scheduled to, so it was a bit rushed.  But it’s been a year and a few months since I’ve been to the temple and it felt great.  Had a few things stick out to me this time, and it just felt really peaceful all morning.

Mean.  Got work ahead of us!  

Love you's heaps.

Elder Muh

Elder Gualco

Elder Neiufi and I rockin' the same Connor tie (sorry, the one with his eyes open was heaps bright)

Elder Clark (Claremont Elder)

Elder Usua trying on Elder Dransfield's hat hahaha 

Steakhouse dinner with Elder Flake

Warrimoo or Warrimuh?

Trade-off with Elder Alonzo

The comp: Elder Dransfield

Look at our dab 

'Gator Hunt'in

We're on that search for happiness.  And also for people to teach who are looking for that happiness.  If any of you's need it, feel free to hit up the missionaries, cuz they will gladly share it with ya.  Man this week seemed to be much, much, much, more enjoyable than the past two.  We now have a decent amount of people to follow up on, and pray that we can begin teaching them soon.  

1.  Went on a trade off with Elder Usua this week and man it was fun.  I realized that 3 of my previous companions are in the Zone (him, Elder Kumar, and Elder Fake).  Pretty cool stuff.  Reminded as always of Alma 17:2.  Gotta love the brotherhood (and sisterhood) of the gospel.  

2.  Had dinner with the Aperaamo's, Uncle Kevin's cuz.  Mean fried rice and some sausages that low key tasted like Portuguese sausage.  Aloha and mahalo.  

3.  Met this dude tracting who is friends with the Halavaka's son on the mish.  Gave him a BofM.  Great stuff.  

4.  Potential investigators on fleek this week.  Also, met a DNV (do not visit) who wasn't actually a DNV.  

5.  Tracted into a Catholic guy who accepted a BofM, but wanted some time to study it, so our return appointment is July 1st (next transfer but all goods!)

Lots of pics this week, enjoy! 

Also, we got a TEMPLE P-DAY next week, so emails on Tuesday. 

Love you's heaps!

Elder Muh

Tip toe'in' in mah Jaaah'z

Meeean bus stop in Glenbrook 

Dessert at the Aperaamo's.  Used them won ton spoons for a little taste of home 

We found a poinsettia tree.  I guess they exist.  Christmas in May?!

Reppin' tha #808

Little lookout point at the bottom of a street we tracting 

Been wanting to take a picture with this like my whooole mish #mooo

Going

This is probably a very Aussie thing to say because we greet each other by saying "how you going?"  but in response right now, I think I'd say things are going, or it's going.  Very slowly, but we're going.  It's pretty easy to say that this is a hard area.  It's been known to be hard by the missionaries, and the members aren't really shy about that fact either.  They are quite stoked to have "the zonies" in their Ward, but it's put a lot of pressure on us to do well.  I think the stress has gotten to me a bit.

BUT.  There were a lot of positives to pull from this week and that's what I'm trying to focus on.  I think I might try this in future weeks as well to really simplify things.  

1. MLC was pretty mean.  As always, it's great to see the other missionaries.  It's also really exciting to meet with President and see him in a different setting.  You get the feeling that he really trusts us and just wants us to do all we can to help the missionaries we serve.

2. We had dinner with the Gollan family that same night.  They lived in Hawaii for a bit and have some ties there.  One of the dishes she made was sweet and sour meatballs and oh man it was heavenly.

3. There's a single mother recent convert in our Ward named Rebecca.  Her son Kevin was baptized a couple months ago.  Man she is so solid it's incredible.

4. There's only like two Poly fams here but all goods because the other fams are heaps cool as well.  One of the Polynesian fams, the Halavaka's bought us El Jiannah's this week #boizzz.  See picture below.

5. Got to go on trade-offs in Claremont this week.  The new Elders are Elder Ngatuvai and Elder Clark, who is being trained.  Elder Clark is Samoan born in NZ but from the Gold Coast in Queensland.  He is the man.  It was a pleasure to be back and awesome to serve with Elder Clark, who is open to learn and keen to smash the work.  

I think that's about it for this week.  I'll let the picture tell the rest of the story.  Happy Mother's Day to all the great madre's out there.  

Love you heaps!

Elder Muh

Literally like a kilo of chips.  Lebanese chicken with garlic dip, ohhh wow!

Elder Jung.  I came in with this brothah, so it was mean to be flat mates last transfer.  Unfortunately, he had to head home a few months early for ACL surgery, but I heard from him today and we're praying for the best.  Speedy recovery homie!  

Found some kangaroos today in Glenbrook.  And yes, there's a joey in mum's pouch.  Sooo cool.  

'll send this one too because kangaroos are legit

And yeah we hiked in proselyting clothes because #whynot

I really like this shot  #churchistrue

Elder Heu is up in Port Macquarie now, serving as a District Leader.  He sent me this one this week.  We balled up with Brother Jeffree here a few times.