Summer No More

This week flew by.  It might have been because the heat is gone and the weather is getting cooler!  Haha.  We've been visiting Piero and really trying to focus on daily scripture study in helping him come back to church.  He has such strong faith, but it's tough for him because he works on Sundays.  We have also been preparing the son of our less active/part member family for baptism, which is pretty awesome.  He went to church last week and learned so much in Primary, it was way cool.  He said he wants to learn more about God, so we're planning a special lesson for him.  

On Thursday we had a really good Zone Conference.  President Checketts started off by talking about Living on the Lord's Side of the Line (President George A. Smith). He drew a diagram that described the line not being straight, but being a circle and how the standards for members and missionaries draw closer to the inner circle which he labeled as "Eternal Salvation".  It really helped to explain the importance of being obedient to mission rules.  The rest of the conference we got to role play different teaching opportunities which really helped to improve our teaching skills. We look forward to continually applying those things in our work.  

Saturday we followed up with a family we met out tracting a few weeks ago.  Last week, the mom told us to come in, but her husband wasn't home so we went back this week.  We taught them the Restoration and the wife was the most interested.  She mentioned really admiring people with strong faith and you could tell she wanted that in her life as well.  We're excited to go back this weekend to continue teaching them.  

I really enjoyed the Sabbath yesterday.  There were some good talks, good lessons, and you could definitely feel the Spirit.  Another good week up ahead! 

Love you heaps,

Elder Muh 

Ponderize 

- Hebrews 2:18

"For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted."

In the simple words of Elder Holland: he walked the lonely path by himself, so that we didn't have to make that same journey.  Oh how sweet the joy this sentence gives, I know that my Redeemer lives. #Hallelujah (FollowHim.mormon.org) 

We bought a coconut last week, just for fun.  Tried eating it like they do in Survivor, but it didn't taste as good as it looks on the show.  We might have been missing an ingredient  :)

How to teach the Restoration to children

2 foot lizard just chillin outside Mary's home

Object Lessons

This week was pretty sweet.  The less active/part member family we're working with has an eight year old son who is preparing for baptism.  They asked us to teach some simple principles in order to fully prepare him for next month.  Elder Flake and I have had some fun preparing lessons.  We taught prayer using sandwiches, which was pretty fun.  The bread (Heavenly Father - Jesus Christ) is always the same, but the middle (Express gratitude, ask questions, ask for help, etc.) can change according to what you feel.  We also taught the Restoration using plastic cups.  The kids really understood the concept of the church "breaking down" and then getting "rebuilt".  

We also got to teach our investigator Mary again! She had read up to Alma 22 since we last taught her a lesson (we've done some service since then) which is heaps awesome! She felt the Plan of Salvation just made sense and really enjoyed it.  It was such a good lesson.  

We had a super great Sabbath day yesterday with a lot of families coming to church.  With the Sisters in the ward now too, we've been able to work with a lot of less active families and a whole bunch came to church yesterday.  

Looking forward to another exciting week, especially with Zone Conference this week! 

Love you heaps,

Elder Muh 

Ponderize 

- 2 Timothy 3:15

"And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus."

President Harold B. Lee once said that greatest of the Lord's work you will ever do is within the walls of your own home.  I am so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who blessed me with a family that was strong in the Gospel.  Since I've been out, I've realized how privileged I was to attend church every Sunday, learn about the basic principles of the Gospel, and be able to attend church activities.  Many youth these days don't want to go near religion, and that is why it's so crucial that we start now, because the home is the place where it will all happen.  

Words of the Week

- Letterbox, Mailbox 

- Lever is pronounced "lee-ver" here 

- Vase is pronounced "vozz"

General Authority Mission Tour

So this week was nothing but legendary.  Elder Nielsen of the Seventy and his wife visited our mission and throughout the week held special conferences with each of the zones.  Basically awesome.  

President and Sister Checkett's both spoke about the Liahona and how we need to find our Liahona and use to it see success and become more obedient. Sister Nielsen taught us about the wheel and how it always needs to be in balance in order to move forward.  She spoke about the five spokes on the wheel which are physical, spiritual, emotional, social, and mental, and then encouraged us to set goals in each of those categories and promised that we will see improvement.  

The rest of the day was training given by Elder S. Gifford Nielsen and so basically we had a Seventy teach us all day about the Gospel, missionary work, things that we can do to improve as disciples, etc.  There were so many awesome things that we got to discuss and learn from.  He started off by having us share our favorite scriptures and taught that favorite scriptures bind us together.  He then asked us why we were there, explained that we are our first and number one convert, and told us that we must never forget that.  

He closed by saying that there is no failure in missionary work when you put forth effort and follow the scriptural mandate of your calling.  If you do all that you can do and they choose to exercise their agency and reject the message, you have not failed.  You did your job.  

I think this helped me to see my calling as a missionary a little bit differently.  It made me think of Lehi's Dream in the Book of Mormon.  When you have partaken of the fruit and you know how incredible it tastes and how many blessings it brings, you want to share it with everybody!  However, in many instances, the people you are trying to share that joy with reject it.  It is in this instance that we must not be discouraged and continually press forward! 

This past week I was really able to look back and set goals as to how I want to improve.  It's crazy that 6 months ago today, I was set apart as a missionary.  Looking back and also forward has helped me to see the missionary, disciple, and person I want to become in the future and I realize there is much that needs to change in order to reach that point.  Every single day I can take a step forward to becoming even better, and that is the best part about personal conversion.  

Love you heaps!
Elder Muh

Word of the Week
- Frangipani, Plumeria 

Ponderize 
- 1 Thessalonians 2:4
"But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts."

Heavenly Father has entrusted us with His Work and that is the greatness of our calling.  Everyday, we need to choose if we want to live up to that calling and truly serve with all our heart, might, mind, and strength, or not.  Sister Nielsen put it very simply. There's only two options in a choice, and we all know that we want to choose to serve.

Christmas Mission Picture

Elder Flake, Elder Nielson, and I

Bought a 9 Kilo (almost 20 pounds) Watermelon and Holy Wow it was Good!

Found this 1970's Edition Book of Mormon in our Flat from when David O. Mckay was Prophet

Spiritual Offense

This week went by pretty fast.  We taught Lynn and committed her to start reading from 3 Nephi 11, when Christ visits the Americas.  That's gotta be the most powerful account in the Book of Mormon, and if that doesn't hit you, read it again.  

Elder Flake and I have really been trying to build up the teaching pool through all different types of finding.  We decided to go tracting on Alma Street, with hopes for a #MiracleOnAlmaStreet.  There were a few potentials, including a Polish man who had met with the missionaries in Poland.  Unfortunately, we didn't get his number, so I keep praying we'll have a Best Two Years experience where he'll call during our companionship prayer.  

It's really interesting talking to all the different people you meet, and I've learned that yes, you do need to have faith to believe that God exists. However, you can exercise your faith, by saying a simple prayer (Alma 22:18) to know that God exists.  Often times, people will tell us that we can't actually know that God exists or that the Plan of Salvation is true, but I do testify that we can know, and there are people all around the world who also know that God exists and that His Church has been restored to the earth today.  

Yesterday, we had our Stake Conference Broadcast for the Australia - New Zealand Area, which was awesome.  I really enjoyed Brother Tad R. Callister's talk because he used a basketball analogy to teach about our spirituality. 

He said that often times we are simply playing defense against the adversary.  However, if all we ever do is play defense, the best outcome of the game will be a 0-0 tie.  We need to be active on offense as well.  We can do this by doing the simple things: daily scripture study, daily prayer, partaking of the sacrament and renewing our baptismal covenants.  By getting buckets (spiritual food) on offense, we can get ahead against the adversary as well as protecting the paint (home) so the opposition never will score.  Brother Callister focused on studying the Book of Mormon daily.  He shared something interesting: "You don't have to read the Book of Mormon every day.  You just have to read the Book of Mormon every day you eat".  

Elder Craig C. Christensen talked about the importance of the sacrament and how unique it is.  The sacrament is the only ordinance that occurs weekly and can be repeated for ourselves.  How incredible is that? 

The General Authorities and going back to the basics.  If we don't learn to dribble, how to shoot, and perfect our footwork, we will never be able to score.  In order to return to live with our Father in Heaven, the same principles apply.  And that is why they are stressing these small and simple things, because they are so important.  I testify that as we keep the Sabbath day holy, study the scriptures daily, and pray multiple times throughout the day, we will feel a difference in our lives. The Church is true.  There is a living Prophet today.  And He speaks exactly what Christ would say if He were here today.  

Ofa Lahi Atu,
Elder Muh 

Ponderize 
- Philippians 1:23 
"For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:"

Paul teaches an interesting principle in Philippians chapter 1.  This life is great.  We are here to prepare for the next one and learn as much as we can in preparation.  However, there is so much more in store.  "He lives my mansion to prepare". 

Hoping for a miracle on Alma Street!

Alma 26 is a super solid chapter!

Auntie Lisa sent this birthday card with a legit definition of a missionary