Week 43

Hello :D

THIS PLACE STINKS (quite literally)

kill my news why don't you hahaha....... yeah I got transferred to Rotorua and guess who I saw at transfers..... Sister Inia!!!! told you I'd see her. and guess who else..... Sister Snow!! I'm seeing everyone from home. AND I even saw Elder Baker (Luke from Doonside) so some more photos to stick on the board. (Sister Inia and Snow)

The trampoline place was awesome, I learnt how to do a backflip, the whole district went so about 14 of us... 

It was kinda hard to leave, a few others moved; Elder Fili, Elder Selma, Sister Moore, that's all I think. They told me Wednesday morning so it was like 'well that's kinda late' usually you know tuesday night so you pack Tuesday before bed.

I'm in Fairy springs ward, first time I heard that I thought of Zelda and the places where you get fairies which bring you back to life (just ask Taylor, he should know) My companion is Elder Niu'unga from Tonga and guess who trained him.... Elder Taylor!!! He's great. He's pretty close to my age too, he's 19 turning 20 in June. as I said, it stinks here esp at night, but the steam looks pretty cool I must say. Hobbiton is in the other Zone I'm pretty sure... I'll have to check. Yes I've met Pres Brons. (Relative of a friend of ours!)

Yeah so I guess i've just been getting to know the area this week, there aren't too many people in the teaching pool so we're hoping to find some this week :) the ward is good.

 

A member owns a gym so that's morning exercise haha. Our flat is a garage that's been converted, one room that goes into a kitchen and then a bathroom, We live behind the P family they have 3 kids of their own and 2 teenage boys staying with them (the two teenage boys aren't me and Elder Niu'unga btw hahahaha :P). kinda like the Orro flat haha they had missionaries in there too for a little while. Elder Gilmore is in my district we keep following each other around, and Elder Glass is in the district as well. 

There should be a Because He lives video for easter that you need to watch and yep chocolate is gone hahaha 

I really don't like using the chapel computers they're really slow.... and for some reason everyone emails all in one week hahaha so this might be a little short

strange food I've eaten this week- I had Pigs brain at the T's and chicken heart at the M's 

Scriptures:

 Alma 36:24 Here.

1 Nephi 8:12 Here.

Love You ALL 

Elder Cox

Doing a backflip at the trampoline park.

Catching up with Sister Inia at transfers.

(Reilly and Aroha went to Seminary together!)

Meeting Sister Snow.

(Her family moved into our ward 

a couple of months back, 

She was already on her mission)

Their flat.

More of the flat.

And again.

View from their flat.

Another view from somewhere else.

Elder Niu'unga.

Elder Niu'unga and Reilly at the Thermals.

Thermals in Rotorua.

Week 42

Hey everyone!

VOTING IS A PAIN!!!! (Terri here: If you read last week's email, you would know he had to vote online!!) There are some ridiculous parties to vote for, "socialist alliance" that sounds like something from Starwars!! I didn't enroll to vote so why did I have to vote??? President got a 1 line this week "I'm still here, I have to go vote ask Sis Saunders" hahahahaha there's too much stuff to read and I don't even know who I'm voting for, kinda silly tbh. So everyone gets a short email this week.

 N was sick so we missed Friday again -__- but we had stopped by on Tuesday and Zi wasn't home so it was just a hello. Lynlee is busy, we saw Colin again he gave us some anti-mormon stuff (which we burnt) after we had told him at the door "we know you didn't read the Book of Mormon" and he admitted that he hadn't. That alien dude isn't interested he told us, and he's just confused by the sounds. We found a LA couple (grandparents) last night and gave them a Book of Mormon, A wasn't at church this week, perhaps her children were sick again :/ we'll have to check up.

S came to the sister's baptism on Saturday which was good, she met bishop there and a few others

We did lots of service this week (photos) cutting a tree down and then at camp Tuhikaramera with the ward

Yes that was my fancy suit with Elder Pinono and now I have more orange ties to wear :D (yes I got your parcel THANKS!!!) 

Elder Gish and Griffins think I look exactly like Link in the photo "your Mum is awesome at making costumes!" Elder Smith hasn't seen it yet.... haven't really seen them this week. oh and I have those photos from children's day now....

We found a preying mantis in our flat eating a fly so we took a photo of that too

Transfers this week, I doubt I'll move but I'll tell you what happened next week

today we're going to a trampoline park for P'day so lots of fun

Scriptures:

Mosiah 27:14 Here. pray with faith

Mosiah 27:25-26 Here. repentance makes us new creatures

Running out of time bc I had to vote so see you next week

LOVE YOU

Elder Cox :)

(P.S. Terri here: - For those that follow the links to the scriptures, sorry last week I forgot to add them, they are there now!!)

Photo from Children's Day Carnival. (see Week 40)

Another photo from the Carnival 

with the Storm Troopers.

(Since when were Storm Troopers RED???)

His District.

Elder Semu chopping the tree.

Elder Semu up the tree cutting more branches off.

The Praying Mantis eating the Fly!

Doing service at Camp Tuhikaramera.

And again.

And some more.

Week 41

Hey Everyone :D

I feel abit like Dad; where has the week gone. 

I bought 2 pair of shoes (2 pairs of the same make of shoe), it wasn't really planned either it was oh, they have a sale and I'll need some new shoes soon (my old ones already have some holes in the bottom) so I thought while my area was in the city I should get some... yes... they're slip on (shoelaces are annoying to tie/untie esp when its wet) and I figured that crystal sole would be good so they don't wear out bc I remembered Dad looking at a pair like that before I left. 

That cyclone didn't even get us.. I think Hamilton is too far inland for anything, it's not even that windy. Yes I got that photo with Elder Pinono (my legs look really long and my body short for some reason....) Yeah, the weeks been fast we didn't get to teach Z and N this week either they were good to go for our appt but then they had a house inspection (inspections can be whenever) so we'll try again this week. We've had some interesting people this week; 

Billy Bob, yes that's his name, doesn't want to ask God if what we're teaching him is true; he wants to ask his Pastor..... Well he wouldn't tell you that what we're sharing is true would he now!! hahaha

Colin, we invited him to read and pray about the Book of Mormon. so we follow up and he says he read "most of it" but he wants to talk about the "research" he did on the Book of Mormon. I coluld tell he didn't read or pray about it. I was almost going to be cheeky and ask something like "oh so you read the bit with Ammon slaying the elephant?" (or something else that never happened hahaha) bc he'd probably say "yeah yeah i read that bit" but i didn't....

A good exp this week; A a LA we went to visit her, She has 2 kids. Anyway, after talking she says "are you going to share a message" so I shared the first scripture that came into my mind; Alma 37:36-37 and afterwards she said "yknow, that's exactly what I needed to hear right now" and I knew it wasn't me thinking that but the spirit telling me to share that scripture with her

I shared with the kids from the park, (last week) about how Jesus was telling the Pharisees they would watch for signs of the weather and be able to tell what tmrw was going to be like but He had performed all the great miracles and healings and yet they still disbelieved that He was the Son of God even though they had seen these signs. (that's just what I had opened to...)

Well if i have to vote, they'll let me know. (Terri here - He has to vote. There is a new thing called iVote, so even if you are overseas they make you vote now)

Zone conference was good. Sister Nielsen (and Sis Rudd... it was more a discussion setting again) talked about having our "wheels" in balance and each of the 5 spokes; physical, emotional, social, mental and spiritual; need to be ok as well so staying healthy and that sorta thing. Elder Nielsen taught us about why we're here (as in on our missions and in this specific mission) how we are called to a place by a prophet, seer and revelator and how that process works. 
He talked about how perfect Days are when we follow and are taught by the Spirit D&C 50:24. Here.
2 Nephi 31:20,Here.  hope is a light 'perfect brightness of hope' 
Ether 12:4. Here. having hope -  
How miracles are wrought by our faith and their faith 2 Nephi 27:23 Here.12:12 

and a whole bunch of other stuff which I could go on about but I don't have the time to type it all out.
Words of Mormon 1:5 Here. :P

Haven't been site seeing on P-day's just mucking around in the park.

Love you 

Elder Cox

Elder Pinono (from our ward here) 

serving in NZ Auckland Mission, and Reilly. 

They were excited to be able to see each other.

The snazzy new shoes!

Fire - dancers practicing in the park near where he lives.

And some more.

Nice clouds.

Week 40

HEY EVERYONE!

This week was alright, yeah... as good as an apostle visit, that's hard to match.
Elder Pinono is doing good, I'll ask again for the photo. It was only a quick Hi, what's happening / how's things photo ok see yah! bc yeah, we sat on different sides of the chapel and we were kinda meant to hurry once we were out of the chapel so quick catch-up in the carpark. 

So we had a Zone service this week on Saturday; Children's Day Carnival, we helped out setting up and running some things, I was at a Crossfit station Elder Gish, we did a yoke walk (like 4 steps of it) with the 250kg one, suffice it to say I couldn't even lift that haha. there was heaps of stuff. and guess who I bumped into while we were there. Carl and Meredith! AGAIN! And guess what Taylor! there were STORMTROOPERS there!! I have to get the photo off Elder Smith's camera. 

Elder Smith is also a gamer and a huge Zelda fan too so could you send some of the photos of me as Link to show him please

Monday was the strangest exp. I got my scriptures out to show a YSA a something at the park and like 5 kids surround me and ask "what's that" so I tell them they are scriptures and so they tell me to share something from them so I did hahaha it reminded me of the picture where the Saviour is surrounded by the children.

Z and N couldn't make it this week so no piano lessons. We found some new people this week from tracting, L said she would read the Book of Mormon when she wakes up in the night (which is apparently lots) and we're going to followup this week. There was another guy too, a little strange, believes we come from  aliens or something not too sure about his own beliefs himself I think. 

I'll see if I can get a shovel and dirt otherwise I'll keep doing parkour with the ZL at the park in the morning, I've learnt a 'vault' and a 'kong' (just jumping over tables) 

I don't remember if I told you but I got the FSY letters, I even got one form someone who doesn't know me they just saw my name on the board "You're probably wondering who I am" and yes Taylor we love real mail I think there was 4 letters and all the other missionaries at zone meeting were like "WHAT!?!?! why have you got so much mail?? that's not fair I wish I could get some mail"

I could reply to Siale if these emails weren't so long :P so I'll reply to him and then to this one, sorry if your one gets cut short.

Elder Bednar was the best part of last week, Elder Pinono was just a bonus hahaha and the cherry ripe mudcake was pretty close to the one at home, not as much ganache tho. you would've had one for my birthday, but I'm not there so I guess you missed out :P

Zone Conference tmrw with Elder Nielsen should be good too, but not quite an apostle :P

Love you all 

Elder Cox

At the Children's day Carnival where they helped out.

Week 39

Hey Everyone :D

It's been a good week ELDER BEDNAR IS AWESOME. I never would've thought we would laugh so much with an apostle. HE IS SO FUNNY!!!! XD we didn't get to shake hands, he came a little late and had a mission presidents seminar straight after so he had to leave. He didn't do a talk tho, it was a discussion with 500 missionaries (Hamilton + Auckland missions). OH YEAH!!! GUESS WHO I SAW! ELDER PINONO!!!!!! :D he took a photo, I didn't have my camera so I'll get him to send it to me and then I'll send it to you guys :). (Elder Pinono is actually from our ward at home here, and we've known this family over 20 years. Great family! Elder Pinono was hoping Reilly would get Auckland Mission, but he didn't...close though! So they would have been really happy to see each other!) Elder Bednar was really good. He was saying how we are agents not objects ie 'to act not to be acted upon' so he said with this kind of format where he doesn't have to give a talk/lecture (like General conference or a sacrament meeting) we can be active learners in a discussion and learn form each other and the spirit (D&C 88:122 Here.) He even asked what we wanted to do (emphasising his point I guess) [not exact quote] "So we can do this 2 ways, we can have an open discussion and I can ask questions and volunteers will answer or I could give you a lecture for 2 hrs. All in favour of a discussion *raise hands* anybody want a lecture? (I think someone raised their hand) Overruled." You could feel his spirit as he walked in. It was such an amazing experience we were all so just buzzy afterwards.

(Talking about the Chinese family they are teaching in this paragraph) Yes they are doing good, Taylor I need some help.... they said they wanted to learn piano so I said I play, I could try teach you.... but I have no idea how to teach piano.... I just started with teaching them how to read the treble clef, yknow, FACE and Every Good Boy Deserves Fruit. and any tips teaching kids, their daughter is 6. so we read a bit of the Book of Mormon first and then I teach them some piano. and yes they are expecting a baby in June.

We didn't get to see N and A this week, but N seems to be a little idk shy, not wanting to change kinda feel. we'll see how they are this week.

Service this week!! We helped that Sis again, Sister H and we had Helping Hands (sorry no photos... left my camera at the flat) and it was pretty well like that Youth Service we did, remember Dad? So I was shovelling the mulch into the wheelbarrows, good core workout that, I think I should just get a shovel and a pile of dirt and do that for morning exercise :P S is moving :/ but Ni said she'll pass his records onto the ward where he is moving to so those missionaries can take care of him.

I had an Exchange this week with our DL Elder Gish, he said 'If you need anything just call me'. He also really really liked those Sipah straws haha he had like 4 of them .

Elder Taylor is ZL somewhere yes, don't ask me where tho bc I have no idea.

Never heard of that guy.I'm sure I'll meet him, and there's tonnes of Aussies already here.

That's right. so at mission conference with Elder Bednar when we got back to the cars they had slips of paper on them with the needed repairs and estimated costs and NZ Area office Fleet guy and all I could think about was you, Dad doing that with the missionaries cars over there hahaha lucky I don't have a car hey :P

Photos;

We had dinner with the K's and they made Cherry ripe mudcake and gave us some of the leftovers mmmmm. hahaha

A view from a door we knocked... I thought it was nice

Elder Gish and a sipah straw

LOVE YOU

Elder Cox

Some leftover Cherry Ripe Mudcake from Members.

A nice view

Elder Gish with Sippah straw.

"Long as name for a road".

Elder Semu wishing he could take it for a ride!