Week 81

Hi everyone

Temple lights were good, got to catch up with Elder Morley and Hixon (they were 'on duty' that night) and Sis Perry was in the VC. We went up with B G and he took his friend M (she's not a member) she liked the VC (Visitors Centre) and the choirs they had at the temple. 

M has to go back to court on the 19 Jan. so still up in the air. We haven't seen S all week and he didn't came up to the temple lights with S, so that was a bummer the week was kinda slow people away for holidays. 

We have a new investigator I (have I already mentioned this?) she is really interested, she read the PoS (Plan of Salvation) pamphlet we left and asked some questions about it she wants to learn more so we gave her with a Book of Mormon to read.

We only had sacrament this week bc everyone was tired from the drive back, we only had about 20 people.

We helped one of Bro P's friends move some fire wood into the back of a truck I think they're moving, such a shame hahaha

Both of us have horrible hayfever, so we can't stop sneezing 

We drive up Wednesday for Christmas conference, and drive back. no idea about the time, ZL said they didn't know last night so have to wait and see.

I suppose this doesn't really need to be too long anyway seeing as we talk on Fri....

Love you

Elder Cox

Nice Sunset.

At the Temple lights.

And some more.

The Reason for The Season.

Merry Christmas.

Week 80

Hi Everyone :D

That was one long week...... Driving 1 hr 30mins to Te Awamutu for Zone meeting on Thursday and then back hahaha Sprouses taking a nap in the back, we had an exchange with the travelling APs Elder Wark (the scottish one) and Lybbert. that went well. N, a partner to a LA was keen to learn about the Book of Mormon, hopefully we can bring that family into the Gospel. Me and Elder Lybbert met A and invited her to games night. Elder Johnson met I and W with Elder Wark. And on Saturday we met I and A and they said hello and asked about how fri went (games night) I seems interested bc when we went around on Sun she told the other kids to go inside and stop making noise so she could hear what we were saying (we were teaching the Plan of Salvation a little bit). it's kind of a shame that we aren't finding any men who could become good priesthood holders for the branch bc in reality that's what they need.

 Then 2 hrs to Cambridge on Fri for DLC Guess who I got to see at DLC! Sis Inia!!! good to catch up with her a bit (she's not in the zone but she's the STL for all of Hamilton) we both were saying how hot it is and that we're going to die back in Syd bc it's nothing compared to back home. She's companions with Sister Kendall from Perth (the one Ma and Poppy know) and Sister Ye from Taiwan. 

Not to mention with all this driving we have a crack in our windscreen now. (photo) (yes we've reported it to Elder Marsden, btw Dad he said it was good working with you)

Saturday was S's baptism, all went well. S was there he probably will get baptised soon enough, he likes coming to activities like games night. he just finds church boring.

M is still struggling, we gave him a blessing yesterday, he's written up some goals. It's a little frustrating when you know what will help them but they just won't do it. I can see a little of how Heavenly Father feels with us. "Why aren't you getting this?!?"

We did service, cut L's lawn a bit.... haha push lawn mowers aren't nearly as fast as a 'motor mower' and we helped Sis P with her Garden 

Sis P kindly donated us a tree (see photo) and we put it up on the first Monday of Dec as always.

Love You

Elder Cox

Baptism.

Elder Sprouse, Reilly, S, Sister Sprouse, Elder Johnson.

Their Christmas tree.

His zone.

Mowing with a "Push" mower.

Note...No "Motor".

The cracked Windscreen!

Week 79

Hey Everyone

if you haven't already check out christmas.mormon.org

This week was exciting. So guess what it's not Temple view Zone anymore it's "Intake 11 zone!" that's right, everyone from my MTC intake who came to NZHM is in the zone! Elder Sialoa and Gilmore are the ZLs, Elder Misi is in my district, and Elder Ale is out at Kawhia. (Sister Kinouchi is already finished....) Alma 17:2 Here.

S wants to be baptised and it's this Saturday!!! what a miracle! so hopefully all goes well. now all who's left in the family to baptise is S, hope he'll come along.  we've been trying to teach him but he doesn't seem to interested so he'll go do something else (we'll teach H his sister, she's a RC)

M has been meeting with us more, he's realised that he'll need God's help if he's going to get thru this and I think he's starting to recognise the spirit bc he told us that whenever we come around he feels good and happier and he likes feeling that. 

The Pretious' had to go to Auckland over this weekend, it was originally for a baptism, but then it turned out to be a funeral (same guy) he was pretty old and sickly apparently so no real surprise. 

Saturday there was the town's Christmas parade we caught up with a few people there 

E, he's a kind of on/off investigator. J and T were there, we were going to go over later that day but it took them too long to mow their lawns and they were at T's sisters that night eating lambs tails or something.

Yep everyone seemed pretty happy we're both staying yep I'm the DL

No they called me Tuesday to say I'm the new district leader down here; Elder Tibbits called to let me know (he's AP) and he asked if I had any of those milk straws (Sippah Straws!) so if you could kindly send some with the Christmas box if you haven't already, that would be great:). 

photo 

Marokopa falls

 and the parade

Love you all

Elder Cox

Marokopa Falls.

The parade.

More of the parade.

Week 78

Hi Everyone :D

so I don't forget, say happy birthday to Dad for Saturday.

Yes Elder Johnson is staying. so am I this will be his 3rd transfer and apparently I'm the DL - transfers is weird this time so it's on the missionary portal instead of phone calls and I have an option to change stuff that Elder Johnson doesn't have so I assume its DL bc I had it in Rotorua and Elder Pukepuke says DL's have that....  well see haha

It's been a up and down week. S is waiting to be baptised not right now. so that's kind of a bummer. we met 2 girls on the street they remembered Elder Gerrado and had lessons at J's - A is cousins to J (someone we already know) they were all happy to have lessons again now, we just have to get a time off her (J) We had Thanksgiving at the Sprouse's on Thursday (3 Americans in the area...) didn't mean much to me apart from getting a feed. We helped Sis G paint her house and patch a few holes (nifty thing I learnt doing work exp at church offices see did serve me well going there haha) 

M has taken a few steps back sadly with the Word of Wisdom and it hasn't helped him too much as he has a DUI and it's not his first, could present some problems for us seeing he is going to court next month :L 

On Wednesday we met someone nice. C she was part of a charity in collecting stuff in town and she called out to us so we went over to talk and she asked us all these questions about our beliefs she already knew missionaries. sadly she doesn't live in town but it was a nice conversation, if only more people were like that. 

We had a choir of 6 for Sunday. we saw G again just finished a bike race on the Saturday around lake Taupo and Sunday he'd gone for a long hike they just got home he said to try next weekend when they weren't so tired.

Photos: 

nice waterfall, 

small bridge we crossed to get there, 

Elder Pukepuke.

Love you 

Elder Cox

Waterfall

What a good looking boy!

Oh..and that's the bridge they crossed behind him! 

Reilly and Elder Pukepuke.

Week 77

Hey Everyone

haha it's probably going to be short this week too. (I told him his emals were getting short!)

We had a miracle this week at church 46! The W Family came (PM) they haven't been in a long time says bro Pretious so we're going to keep working with them, there's a potential 2 baptisms. 

We got a new stove this week the old one didn't work and we had been using the Pretious' gas cooker (like a 72 hr kit one) We've been teaching H the RC lessons and S and S are joining in more which is good. we're hoping to set her with a baptismal date in dec this week. 

M has been busy with his projects painting and fixing up his house so we only got to meet him once other than games night he's been doing well with his goals he has to still give up coffee and tea. 

L is a LA we've visited and so we asked what she liked doing as a hobby and she said drinking..... so we're not too sure how we're going to work with that for now.

J got a job at the meat works don't know if I told you already. he starts Tuesday. So we've been teaching T a little bit (one of the W children) getting him to remember stuff can be hard at times but he's a good kid when he wants to be, been getting up to a little mischief as of late so he was grounded. 

And we have a mission Haka that we will be doing at Christmas conference so we all got told to learn it (Christmas conference is on the 23rd)

Yeah Pres C and Brother Pretious are doing well now. Pres is still looking a little tired tho. 

Bro J knows the Tupaea's  from church college apparently

We just ended up eating the spinach. yeah you wouldn't believe someone gave us capsicums to take home and guess what I ate them. surprising dad? fried them up and put them with a spaghetti sauce. yeah food is it really, and haircuts if you can't find someone to cut it haha. (He didn't like capsicums when he was at home.)

Photos

I thought parramatta was home of the eels....

Love you all

Elder Cox

Obviously they have Eels clubs everywhere!

Week 76

Hi Everyone :D

This week has been full of service! 3 lawns!!! and digging a garden. So Pres C was in hospital so we took care of his lawn and then Bro Pretious went to hospital with pneumonia so we did his lawn as well and we helped Sister N with her lawn. I went on Exchange this week with Elder Baker that was interesting catching up about Doonside and that. 

The ZL came to district meeting. Bro J from stake came down on Sunday and guess how he remembers the Tupaea's ???? the same as me circumference ( 2πr ) hahaha he must be in his 60s and Elder Johnson told me after he was looking at us 2 like a pair of nerds "no one else has any idea what you two were on about"

We also met a fella named G who was taught many many moons ago at the O'Niel St chapel (the one in Claudelands) and said for us to stop in. he remembers 'Moroni', 'hill Cummorah'  and 'Joseph smith' he said he almost got baptised up there but for some reason or another didn't. hoping he'll decide to down here.

we have FHE with S tonight at Sis G's. she's planning on being baptised but she's more the Sprouse's investigator now (we gave it to them seeing no male in the house most of the time)

ummm... still 2 min noodles sometimes hahaha I just crack an egg into the noodles while it's still warm and mix it. how do you cook spinach??? as in the big leaves S gave us some and I was wondering if it was like the baby spinach that you don't need to cook. we don't really buy meat... it's very exp here maybe it's just exp everywhere but anyway we just buy sausages bc they're the cheapest actually do you have the spinach lasagne or does that take too long to make. (Asked him what's they have been cooking for themselves!!)

love you all

Elder Cox

Week 75

Hi Everyone :D

So we went to the snow last P-day!!!! not the we could really get up to it but we went to it and got some nice photos :D (perhaps that's why it's cold :P)

We stopped by B again this week and he was so grateful for our help he treats us like angels almost. we noticed a copy of The Book of Mormon on his shelf as we left, so hopefully we can ask about it in our next visit.

We followed up on some names in our area book this week, and this one house we went to we go thru the gate, can't see any dogs or anything, and we hear this growling so we stop and look. can't see anything take another few steps, growling starts again so we stop look, we think its the neighbours dog or something and then we see it; a nose sticking out of the bush! and then it comes for us barking it's head off and we leg it!!! (I'm following the golden rule at this point - run faster than your companion :P) I jump straight over the gate (good thing I did some parkour for exercise back in Glenview :P) then Elder Johnson jumps (kinda haha) the gate and we hope the dog doesn't do the same. thankfully it didn't.... I don't think we'll be going back to that house any time soon.

another funny story haha so Thursday was Sis Pretious Birthday so we got a card and we were going to do a knock and run with the card, only one problem, there was a guy across the street who saw us running so he decides to come over and ask us why we're running (as well as swear at us, he was probably drunk) by this stage Bro Pretious is out his door and the guy says "they're over here!!!" cut a long story short, bro Pretious invites us in so nothing happens hahaha.

Thursday was also Guy Fawkes haha so we went to L's and J's, taught the kids a lesson (bc they're RC) and then they did a fireworks display hahahaha (shame I can't send videos)

We've had an interesting week so we had zone meeting on Fri (instead of Thurs like normal) and did weekly planning on thurs (instead of fri like normal) so we were out of wack those 2 days but I got to see Elder Sialoa (from my intake) he's my ZL (I don't remember if I told you or not...) and Elder Smith (my ZL from Glenview, he's the other ZL here) and Elder Ale too (also from my intake)

The Sprouse's car pooled to Zone meeting they're nice they feed us Monday nights. Elder Sprouse just got called as 2nd counselor branch presidency and branch clerk this Sunday. we we're pumping this week too - 38 at sacrament. Helped it was the primary presentation 

there's about 8 families (including investigators) that we get to see. we haven't been able to catch M this whole week but he's got some holidays so should be good now he said he wants to catch up with us. 

No ideas for my box. I don't really need p'day clothes or shoes. oh btw I plan on making some of my long sleeves in short sleeves seeing as I don't really have winter again and I only have 3 short sleeves. 

scripture

D&C 103:36 Here.

Photos

Snow

L, B and Sis Sprouse (guy fawkes)

Zone meeting

Love you all

Elder Cox

SNOW!!!!

(This is NOVEMBER in NZ!! Crazy!!)

More snow!

"Elder Cox"

Checking out the mountain view.

"Chill-axing!!"

Companion - Elder Johnson...

who is from Utah where it snows is

wearing a jumper, 

where as the Aussie boy isn't!!

L, B, and Sister Sprouse

on Guy Fawkes night.

His zone.

Week 74

Hi Everyone

M's good. needs to give up coffee and tea he's been busy at the meat works but should have a week or so off coming up. no date for baptism. yep we found some knew investigators Barry is an old fella we did service for. we dug up his yard so he can plant veggies. he's about 85 not sure if he's all that keen but slowly we'll get there. E is a youth who is related to a RC who has gone LA. oh and there's this guy who's kinda fafa not sure yet just acts a little different and he looks like Jack Sparrow and we forgot his name so we just call him Jack when we talk about him haha. yes it's a pretty big area it does take in some other towns but usually Branch Pres takes care of the people out there when he comes in to town (He lives in Te Awamutu and comes down on assingment to run the branch so he comes on Thursday and leaves back on Sunday arvo) 

Yep prety much like Finley, one shop. yep we email in the clerks office and there is only 1 computer so it takes a while sometimes. I was telling Elder Johnson about Fred the other day hahahaha maybe we should get the Sprouse's to do that :P

Yes the couple arrived on Friday. They're from California, no they aren't replacing anyone first time there is a couple down here. we're going there for dinner tonight so I might be able to tell you more about them next week. speaking of dinner can I have some more easy recipes bc we cook for ourselves on a regular basis down here and I am so sick of 2 min noodles. Yes it is my month to play 

Elder Johnson comes from a family of 6 children he is no 5 he has a younger sister and his older twin brother Taylor is serving in Adelaide. 

No idea about Christmas conf but rumour has it it will be on the 23rd of Dec probably same place. 

Love you heaps 

Elder Cox

"I'm on an adventure!"

Hobbit reference!

Just the country-side.

Beautiful and green.

And some more.

And some more.....

looks like it was/is a volcano.

Week 73

Hi Everyone :D  

 I'm in Taumarunui which is a little branch a 2 and a bit hour drive from Hamilton. even tho it is still Temple view zone. we are way out. We started sacrament with 12 people. we had 27 by the end. Guess who was at church!!! Bro T, yes his brother is in Parramatta and he recognised my name haha. Can be out the back of nowhere and people still know home!! Oh yeah and Pres C said he had a son who worked in church offices maybe 5 years back before the area office moved to NZ. know any C's by any chance Dad??

I am an experienced rider! there was a car and I was coming down a gravel driveway so I stopped so the car wouldn't hit me. i just happened to stop by skidding sideways and sliding on the driveway :) no stitches it's fine (We asked how come he fell off his bike last week!!)

As I said Taumarunui. My comp is Elder Johnson from Brigham City Utah (first American) and yes we have a car (yes Dad I back up elder Johnson even tho there's a camera).... we're 2 hrs from Hamilton, no I don't drive my license doesn't work here anymore and Sis Marsden says there's not point me getting a NZ one bc it will cost to much to convert it apparently. Yes I took sister park's bike. Elder Carr is with Elder Bauki from Kiribati he's a good Elder so they'll be fine Guess who the other Elders in the district there are tho!? Elder Pukepuke and Elder Baker from doonside.

Yep 2 dollar shop got a card reader as I said in the first paragraph people know home.... I should probably read the whole thing first before answering each paragraph individually hahaha 

Well it is a branch but it's a good area says President. like I said not too many people. M is a solid investigator came to our service project bc guess what!!! it's such a good area Pres is sending us a senior couple on Friday so we had to clean up the yard of their house. Elder and Sister Sprouse probably from America, and the other people we see are kids, so now we're working with their parents hopefully they'll like church too! 

Sis Pretious (RS Pres) (yes that is how it is spelt pronounced like precious) reminds me of Helen and Bro Pretious (1st councilor branch presidency) reminds me of uncle Trevor in the things he does.

oh and they want me to play every other week to give Sis Pretious a break seeing she has been playing for years and years (i think 7 or so) 

Have some photos 

see we really are far far away "forgotten world highway" hahahaha

Love you

Elder Cox

Brother and Sister Pretious.

Their meeting house.

Beautiful rolling hills.

He says he's far, far away.... 

see the "Forgotten World Highway".

His companion, Elder Johnson.

Week 72

Hi Everyone

I fell off my bike. see photo

J came to church Bro E hadn't been to church, Sis E would come occasionally. B's are doing well. we saw Opa this week. he says he doesn't come bc he's too old and it's hard for him to get around but A B's says that can't be it because he still goes to town.

T has been in hospital, we've given her a blessing but being in hospital, she hasn't smoked for 7 days she should be out today so lets hope she can keep it up while she's home. We did service with Bro C helped him get some wood. Elder Carr said I look like Link bc of how I was throwing the sections of log that had been cut. (ask Taylor) J came to church and asked in sacrament if his son could take it if he wasn't baptised I said yes, bc it's not renewing any covenant; he hasn't made one yet, and he said so I can take it too. that was the first week he's taken sacrament. 

It is a canon but it has no connector to the computer so i'll need a card reader i'll probably get one next week.

Love you

Have a good week

Elder Cox

(Very short this week!!)

His district.

Bike injuries. OUCH!!!

Getting the wood.

Week 71

Hi Everyone

I thought Conference was great! I got out of it not to worry how inadequate I feel as a DL the apostles feel the same, God will magnify my efforts, he will take me where I am and work with me. "the Lord will qualify those whom He calls" something other things I noticed were sabbath observance and dating (obv after mission for that one) but Elder Hales talk was good i thought, haha so did most of the other elders :P (and he was looking healthier) Elder Durrant and "ponderise" was a good talk too I thought. 

Training is exhausting. I assume parenting is even more so but they say that's what a mission is for - to prepare us to be husbands fathers. We met J who was a referral, she is a little lost but willing to learn. and G whose partner's sister is a mormon in Aus met her on the street yesterday and are going back tuesday. The E Family came to Conference!! T was at conference and she said to say she likes your son - he's nice. hahaha when we went to go see D we saw him on the street on the way to his house and it seems he was just being polite because we were trying to do HTBT but he seemed so disinterested. 

haha I was going to say for you to get one there but I may as well get it here now bc I wasn't sure how expensive cameras are meant to be but now you told me that's how much that one cost that's ok I looked at a few last week but i thought they were quite dear... apparently not. (Talking about getting a new camera)

Photo:

from temple day. the Fairy spring missionaries  

Love you, have a good week

Elder Cox

The missionaries in Fairy Springs ward.

Week 70

Hello Everyone :D

T came again this Sunday to church, she had even managed 2 days without smoking. On Wednesday, and when we saw her on Saturday she said "I've only had 5 since wednesday", which is good considering she could have done that in 1 morning before. Her sister F didn't come. 

 

Speaking of piano. you'd think no one else knows how to play it in the whole of Rotorua, I played for the M's Baptism- their son T (he's 8 and going to make a great missionary) and for a ward baptism for Tarawera as well. Maybe you should call me as the pianist when I get home, I might know all the hymns by then haha.

Well we went to go visit a referral from Elder Nikau and Gates and the guy at the house goes "nah he lives in Ford Block (which is back in their area) why's he saying he lives here", so we told he we were missionaries, shared a 2 min lesson on the restoration at the door and asked to come back, so we're going on Wednesday to see D. I hope he is more interested than polite. 

Yes, went to a camera shop, he said it was the camera, something electronic probably to do with the lens and it would cost probably around $150-$200 to fix so may as well get a new one. so yep a new one would probably be good. I was thinking of just getting one here. probably easier hey and then I don't have to wait to take any photos. if I can't find one I'll let you know. 

Went on an exchange to Murupara (branch out there) it seems like the whole town knows who the elders are. We were helping someone move some stuff to a trailer and one kid goes to the other "Who's that fella" and the other kid (both non members) says "it's the new elder, Elder Cox!" hahahaha 

Love you. Have a good week

Elder Cox