Week 104......or part thereof.

Hi Everyone!!!!!! 

G came to church. we gave him some church clothes (not like I need them haha :P) and got him a ride but he walked in the rain to church!!!!! S and R came too and so did L. T was sick so couldn't make it. 

The ward loved my talk on celestial marriage hahaha

We had a good week. A came out with us, so did T. for a little bit

Wednesday we had exchange with the MTC. Kinda felt sorry for them when they asked how long I had been out. Elder Saurey was with Elder Chiong from Cebu. He was coming to our mission so I gave him all my thermal stuff because he already thought it was cold. I was with Elder Powell who is going to the Johannesburg South Africa mission so I told him to look out for Ethan when he gets there.

Fireside went well. not too long only 45 mins 

Assistants stayed the night last night good catch up with Elder Tibbitts

not really sure why I'm emailing because....

 I'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

love you 

Elder Cox

Week 103

Hi Everyone! :D

Yep was wet last week, looks like it will be the same this week too

Investigators are doing good. 

I went on exchange with Elder Touhuni this week to the Tongan program on Tuesday. That was pretty funny I just greeted everyone because that's about all I know in Tongan haha 

We had dinner with Brother L on Friday so I asked if he wanted me to bless the food in Tongan he said 'yeah I wanna hear this fob" haha after the prayer his daughter said I was more fob than her hahaha  

M came out with us on Friday. We taught M the Plan of Salvation it was really good. esp since she just had a baby. 

The "Carnival" was Friday night. So how this worked was we gave out "spiritual cards" that couldn't buy anything at the prize table. We had like reading scriptures and that "boring" stuff and everyone else had games that gave you tickets that could get prizes and someone was 'satan' going around trying to steal their spiritual cards in exchange for tickets or other stuff. then you "died" and your bag of goodies was taken and all that you had left was the spiritual cards. So it was a fun night to represent life and what happens. the youth had fun and even better the message seemed to make it across too. I even met someone from Sydney who was with their cousins in our ward. She's in Harbour stake I think.

T brought his friend L to church again and they stayed for Gospel Principles. 

S brought his brother R  along with him to church. That's the first time they've come since I've been in the area, we had kinda put S on the back burner but his interest has picked up recently. 

We taught P and B the Restoration again (after the fish) (See Photo below) they remember quite a lot.

The flat inspection was all good, she couldn't believe that 2 boys could keep a place that clean she even asked if we got someone to clean it haha

Love you, have a good week

Elder Cox

"Carnival" photo.

Missionaries table.

Another "Carnival" photo.

The fish cooking.

B eating the fish 

they had for dinner.

What is left after Reilly 

ate the rest of the eye.

Week 102

Hi Everyone :D

We have a flat inspection tmrw from the real estate agent. hopefully all goes well.

The week was good. yeah we're still working hard. you can't slack off when you're the ZL, the whole zone would stop working then. We had 2 exchanges this week. 1 full exchange with Elder Van Hauwaert and Tunep; I went to Mountfort area with Elder Van Hauwaert. then just a day exchange with Elder Pierce and Latu;  Elder Latu was with me in Weymouth.

Friday we did splits with T and L. I went with L, N was busy. but we did see T which was good, he's gotten back into the swing of things. 

The M family is doing well, we talked about the Book of Mormon this week and they decided they will read the Book of Mormon as well as the Bible! 

P is doing well, they were having family counsel when we went to see them so we thought it was better to let them do that than to interrupt. 

P and B are still iffy about marriage. they still want to be baptised though. 

The Chinese couple wasn't there... maybe we'll see if we can visit them again this week.

F and F are good, we saw them Saturday, their neighbours T and E stopped us and talked to us after our visit and said to come see them! Neither of them are members but they have family who are serving missions.

T came to church this week.... only 1 hr early! He brought his friend L with him too. good thing we were there at a meeting when he showed up so we could let him know. 

We'll be having a musical fireside the end of this month which they want me to play the piano for... yay... looks like I'll have to practice.. 

Yep it's short.... hahaha

Love you all

Elder Cox

What happens when you take a timed photo 

and the timer is too long.

Zone photo.

Funny Street.

Week 101

Kia Ora Everyone!

Nah, not really that cold. as you could see last night. Still wearing short sleeves.

We had a great week this week! We had an Exchange with the MTC as well as the Assistants. We were with Elder Tai from the MTC, he's from Hong Kong, speaks perfectly fine English and serve for 2 months in Hong Kong while he waited for his visa. We had a cool experience with him just talking to people on a street. we had gone to contact some formers, and we decided just to talk to anyone on the street who was outside, and it just so happened that at the end of the street, there was a Chinese couple outside in the garden which he could speak to. so we drew them a map of how to get to the chapel. they asked if there was a Chinese ward they could go to. but I think there's only one up in Auckland, we'll see if we can get some info on that. But it was just cool that he could speak to them because usually whenever we see some one Chinese they just say "No Engrish" 

Then our exchanges with the Assistants was cool. I was with Elder Tibbitts and Elder Holmes was with Elder Saurey. We went to see someone and took a wrong street (we were meant to turn left at the next street) but seeing we were walking, we talked with heaps of people. Found a new investigator who likes reading, and has a member in our ward as a good friend. Then that night we set P for baptism in June, he's not a member but his wife and children are. he's been taught by quite a few missionaries too, he was at stake conference as well! Elder Saurey  and Holmes set P and B (for September) so we need to work with them.

Elder Saurey has been going to Physio for his back so we've been talking to them. 

We found F and F this week (Samoan) they are pretty interested by the looks. F has Mormon friends at school and was wondering what all the fuss about Joseph Smith was which was an easy lead into the first lesson :)

Elder Saurey thought it was hilarious the contrast between his family and us. He said when he skypes it's as though he's on a hospital bed dying and everyone is glued there, unlike you where Dad and Taylor are wandering around getting snacks and all. hahaha seems pretty normal to me though :P

Conference was good, it was focused on missionary work. hopefully we get some extra momentum and all the members jump on board.

photos

Elder Tai MTC exchange

Elder Holmes cooking up a brew of koko Samoa

Elder Pierce and Latu sharing their lunch with us (Pig head)

Love you, good to speak to you yesterday as well. hope you have a great week!!!

Elder Cox

Elder Tai, MTC exchange.

Elder Holmes making koko Samoa.

Elder Pierce and Latu

sharing their lunch

of pig head.

Week 100

Hi Everyone! :D

The week was busy, we had a zone conference on Tuesday with Elder Haleck where they talked about working with the members, helping them be more confident in sharing the gospel. Using Family history in finding, teaching repentance more positively, and in giving commitments. 

Then MLC on Thursday with Elder Haleck again. haha at the end they got me to share my testimony seeing I was the "oldest" missionary there. We got to take Elder Butler down with us to the MLC, had a good catch up in the car. 

Friday we found a new family. lucky we had T (one of the YSA) with us because the Dad wasn't home. Turns out their cousin is going to Paris France for her mission, T knows her too. so we'll be teaching them again on Friday. 

DLC was on Saturday. that was all goods.

We went to see B. Had a good lesson with her, invited her to be baptised and...... she told us she is moving up north to kaikue (sp??) it's close to Whangare. So there goes another one..... 

P is doing well. slowly progressing. 

Sunday was good we had a meeting with stake Pres before church about the work across the stake. and the N's were there, M and S were there, P P was there. 

Bro L came with us to the O's but he was working so we talked to him at his work (the Security at the shops near his house)

We're hoping to set T again.

The M's are doing well. hopefully we can set something up with Bishop to do a FHE or something. 

Well turns out not only did I have tonsillitis but strep throat too,the doctor called and said I'll have to go back in this week to take another swab of my throat and make sure it's cleared up.

T is going to the Cavite Phillipines mission, reports 24 June.

love you, talk to you Sunday (well hopefully haha) 

Elder Cox

Week 99

Hi everyone!

Anzac day so everything is closed. And our ward is at the chapel having an activity, Thankfully bishop is letting me email from his phone. And yes in case anyone is wondering we have permission.

This week was good. I got tonsilitis the day before transfers and couldn't get to the doctors I until after transferring everyone on the buses I felt like rubbish Thursday night but  now I'm all good got my antibiotics and all. Transfers went well. Had to sit around all day up at Manukau because we didn't have any drivers to take us back until Elder Saurey got there at 5.

Elder Saurey is good , he's from Idaho. He used to farm potatoes he is the oldest. He has 4 sisters and 1 brother. He's about the same size as me. I'll send the photos later. Really keen to get out there and smash the work! 

Miracles yeah I had tonsillitis and I didn't see the doctor for 2 days and the next day after my antibiotics I felt alright hahaha. B has been going to church up north and comes back today so hopefully we'll get a miracle tonight and she'll be ready to be baptised 

I met Siale's uncle as in Langi.

We're having a mission tour tomorrow Elder Haleck is coming we don't know what he will be talking about but it should be good. MLC is on thursday . 

Transfer news 

Elder Latu, Sis Fifita, Elder Fesolai, Elder Tunee (new), Elder Tuiona (new), Sis Meas (new) all came to us. Sis Meas said she is the first Cambodian Missionary so that's new. Elder Tunee is from Kiribati and Tuiona from Tonga. 

We go on exchange usually once a transfer with the ESL this was the first time we had one with English speaking, might be to do with the 3 weeks in MTC now.

Hope you're all well

Love you heaps

Elder Cox

Elder Saurey and Reilly.

Week 98

Hi Everyone :D

Pres called this morning, asked if I "have enough gas in the tank for 1 more transfer" haha I'll be staying in Manurewa, I am getting Elder Saurey (who killed Elder Joseph haha and now he's going to kill me too :P)  He's coming up from Rotokauri. 

Elder Gutke is going down to Rotokauri with Elder Hamilton so they just switched places. 

We should get the bus report with everyone's move this week sometime. Thursday will be busy haha. 

Yes Bro Burgess thought it was good, asked if she was a good missionary haha He was glad that she was.
He told me on Sunday that she should be here in 2 weeks (they meet at the same chapel now.) 

T's parents are against him being baptised, so we have to wait till he's 18 even tho he doesn't stay with his parents, he still has some questions that need answering that we're trying to work out of him. M J is moving to Papakura too. So we're just going to pass her onto Elder Butler even tho she still wants us to visit her, but not our area so we can't. P hasn't really been doing much towards getting baptised so she doesn't have a set date anymore either. We need some miracles this week.

We had to bless 2 flats this week, we fasted and took the Tongan elders with us; Elder Touhuni, Lavulavu and Tausala. Now I know evil spirits are real for sure! There was some pretty weird stuff that happened.

The exchange with the MTC missionaries was good. I was with Elder Alovili and Iese (pronounce jese but with a 'y' instead of a 'j' ) They had a good time. Most of the people we went to weren't home but we knocked on the Black power President's house (the Pres for Rewa, it's a gang over here in case you don't know. Bro Tini would probably know all about the gangs; black power, mongrel mob, tribesmen, head hunters etc haha) anyway and his sister was talking to us. She was interested in learning more so we left our number with her. She told us he doesn't usually let people come in the gate he'll tell them to go away but he was alright with us for some reason. 

I (Bishop's daughter) who is 8 came up to us yesterday with one of those chatter boxes and from her little game I had to write 10 things I was grateful for in my journal, so I thought I'd share them with you...

1. The Spirit to remind me of things and guide me

2. Repentance and the Atonement to allow me to change and become better

3. My family who raised me in the truth of the gospel and who i can be with forever

4. The Book of Mormon for what it teaches me and the comfort I feel as I read

5. Good friends who support and encourage me

6. Good sense of humor which lets me laugh (sometimes at myself haha)

7. Good music

8. The Priesthood which God has trusted me with to help and be of service to others

9. Children (like I haha) who teach us without even meaning to.

10. A loving Heavenly Father who knows my name and my needs, and will never give up on me.

have a great week everyone!! 

Love you

Elder Cox

MTC missionaries.

All of us in the car.

Took them for splits.

Week 97

Hi Everyone :D 

This week was crazy! Elder Gutierrez finished, his visa ran out so we have his companion Elder Barcinas with us until the transfer. He left on Thursday. We had flu shots that day and we went to the wrong "counties clinic" We went to the one in Takanini but turns out we were meant to be in Papakura but that's ok they didn't really mind too much that we were late.and guess who we saw there... Elder Butler and Zesieger and Elder Ith and Jardine, all the South Auckland ZLs were there haha

Thurs night we had splits with the Priests of Finlayson ward (Elder Barcinas' Area) I went with Tuku (Tukuhati) Elder Gutke went with Vini (Taitivini) and Elder Barcinas was with another one, I forgot his name. So as we were working together we found a family who is related to F A's daughter who was there it was pretty funny "I know you!" I know you too" haha they said we could come back around to talk with them, They are Tongan so I asked if they wanted the Tongan missionaries but they said "nah we'd rather the palangi ones" haha. We had knocked a few other doors too and Tuku asked "Why do you knock on that door, but not the other one? What makes you decide?" It hadn't really occurred to me that I was doing it, I was just going with what I felt I should do and it was really cool to stop and think that we were being led by the Spirit. As we were walking we talked about our families and he mentioned is sister served in Sydney South mission. "that's the mission I"m from," I said "What's your last name?" "Burgess" he replied "I know your sister!!" came my response It was awesome to see once again how small the world really is. When we got back to the chapel I got his twin brother Vini and took a photo with them and then there Dad was there at the chapel too. they said they moved about 2 years ago and Sister Burgess will be visiting the end of the month.

Our investigators are doing ok. The D family disappeared and we are unable to contact them with the phone. E is on parole... :/ M J's partner doesn't want her to go to church anymore. 

No one came to conference so we'll just have to take it to them!

We went to visit a LA tongan Family with bro Lehauli (he siad he should be back in Aus at the end of the year, just doing some ACC stuff with his injury) and we found out there are actually 20 people who stay at that house!!! so we're going to keep trying to bring them all back bc the grandfather (the one we talked to) goes to the Tongan ward but he wants the rest of his LA family to go back to church, good thing Vaka was there to speak to him otherwise we would never have found out.

Sis F leaves this month or next I think. (She is coming to Sydney South Mission)

The ESL missionaries were going all over the pacific.

We're still in the same chapel. The chapel they were building in Alfriston when I was there is finally finished. it's on the other side of our zone to us. 

I heard a few Smutz too and Cummings as well obviously because he is going to be a Mission President. hahaha speaking of which did I tell you about Elder Touhuni's experience with his Tongan members. They asked who was the new mission President going to be and he said "President Cummings" and they said "I know he's coming but what's his name??", "yeah, Pres Cummings", "But what's his name" then he finally realised what they were thinking hahahahaha 

The main themes I picked up from conference were 

- Draw near to the Lord and He will draw near to you

- Forgive

- Eternal Families

- Ignore the world

- Attend the Temple

Elder Holland was a good speaker to end I really liked his message, Pres Monson mustn't be well; we heard less than 10 mins from him the entire conference; the messages he shared were good and inspiring.

@ DAD yes we have a new chapel, We're still in the old chapel. so now some wards from our chapel left to go to the new one but then all the other wards from our stake who used to meet in Redoubt zone have come to our chapel.... so not really less sharing for anyone in our stake just the other stake. 

Love you

Have a good week

Elder Cox

Reilly with brothers of a Sister missionary 

that served in Oatlands ward 

before he left.

Week 96

Kia Ora Everyone!

We caught up with a few of our new investigators, 2 are set for 14 May were going to try get the parents set too. No point baptising children if their parents aren't committed. some aren't interested they were just the typical nice people who think you won't come back. Another 2 were busy but asked us to come back again, they look like a really nice couple, nice clear eyes.

E is set for the 21 May he has a few addictions to over come (WoW) but he told us how he was with a Pentecostal and he felt weird at their church and he wants to keep coming to ours. that's good. 

One fella is always drunk when we keep going over to see him, so I'm not sure how keen he actually is but he lives close to B, J and T so it's easy enough just to swing by as we go. 

G loves to talk to ask and keeps asking questions, he wants to come to church but he has to ask his Nan and I don't think she's too keen on him coming hopefully he'll be able to this week with conference on.

B has been up north all week with her Aunty, I'm pretty sure the Aunty is a member so hopefully that helped. haha 

Wednesday we had exchange/ splits with the missionaries from the MTC who were ESL we had 8 elders and 4 sisters. I was with Elder Hafoka from Tonga. 

Then Elder Taranaki (Keanu) (from the ward they are in) got set apart, he asked if we could be in the circle. but we had a surprise for him after. we went into the cultural hall and did a haka for him to see him off with A, M, Bro T, L, A (our WML) that's all I remember haha, it was really good because none of his family are members and they were all there for the setting apart and the haka. We went to his house after for some refreshments and we shared a little lesson about eternal families and they said we could come back. Also I met Sis Fanga who will be coming to Sydney South mission I don't know which ward she's in over here, but she was at the setting apart. 

Temple was good. as always Yep caught up with Elder Butler, and Sis Inia

Yep we finished daylight savings, the new chapel opened so now we start at 2 and finish at 5. finish and its time for dinner.... but we did get E and M J to come to church. 

Photos

missionaries from MTC

Elder George camouflaging with our car 

Love you

Elder Cox

Missionaries from the MTC

on splits.

Elder George camouflaging 

with their car. 

(Same colour shirt I think!)

Week 95

Hi Everyone :D

Happy Easter too!

Anyway we had a MEAN week. It's probably going to be all point form and all over the place, sorry about that hahaha

The AP's came for an exchange we found 7 new investigators. (half of them I haven't met bc Elder Gutke and Tibbitts found them on their exchange.) M J is set for the 14th. 

T came to church. Been having good lessons with him. He was pushed back to 30 April because he doesn't think he's ready. 

A family that half are LA all came to church and one with their non member partner D. He's pretty cool. 

We get to go to the temple with Papakura on Friday so I'll get to catch up with Elder Butler who's ZL down there. I think Sis Inia is in that zone too. 

B had a dream that she came to church or needed to come to church or something she really wants to be baptised, she remembers all the stuff we teach. Only she was away for Easter so didn't end up coming to church.... 

We went on another exchange with Alfriston this week only this time it was a full 24 hr not just a blitz. Met J D again. went to a family we used to visit when I was there, they moved but the family there said it was ok for them to come back Yay! The P's were happy to see me. got to see C K again haha we always seem to bump into each other. I got to see K as well! me and Elder Joseph had dropped him as an investigator because he was never home and didn't seem interested. He was like "I still have the book you guys gave me!" so Elder To'angutu and Pierce will visit him again.

The Sisters had a baptism it went well.

We have a mean as ward mission plan. All the Ward missionaries have responsibilities to help it make things easier.

T (our investigator) went through some boxing with us when we went around to see him, He's really into his boxing has all the gear and everything then we talked about the Book of Mormon after. He goes to the destiny church.

We met G this week! He's really cool, He was a former investigator, didn't really seem interested at all but then he just asked us all the questions like "is it just heaven and Hell or is there more than 2" and "why do we have to believe in things" so we'll definitely be seeing him again. 

D dropped us in a text.... said he doesn't want to commit to anything. 

Elder Gutke's Birthday was on Sunday the tongan Sisters made a cake for it and someone decorated the outside of our flat haha (see photo)

We had the T's for dinner this week. They go to the temple all the time, old couple. He shared how the Saviour and a missionary are alike; He came to a foreign land to teach the people and when His time was up he went home, and gave all the glory and credit to the Father. a missionary goes to a foreign land and then after their 2 yrs they go home and they don't take any credit for what they did. So true isn't it.

Hope you're all doing well. (that's everyone in Finley too)  have a good week!

Love you all

Elder Cox

Their decorated flat.

Happy Birthday Elder Gutke.

Week 94

Hey Everyone

I got an easter parcel with eggs in it. I thought we already talked about that...

My SD card and usb got a virus so no pictures, I'll have to buy another card for my camera so I can take some.

Our investigators are good, they pray, they read, they remember what we teach them. If only they would come to church!! T got grounded bc he got home late so he wasn't at church otherwise he would've been but B and D and P and B and all the rest, we just have to figure out what their concern is. it's always "do you need a lift" "nah nah we're good I'll get a ride with so and so" and it never happens. 

BUT we met M J this week (well I did Elder Gutke already knew her from before) and she is determined to come to church and be baptised, her partner is a less active so she was there yesterday! 

No the P's aren't doing the best. in fact I saw them on Wednesday when we took our car to a service in Papakura zone so as we were walking back to our zone to the Takanini (Alfriston) elders flat they were outside a shop as we walked past so I got to catch up with them. They've had 2 kids since. the Sisters are visiting now, it's still a goal to go to the temple so maybe this year. Then we went on splits in Takanini for a few hours while we waited for the car service to finish. I was with Elder Pierce, who happens to have the same name as me, only spelt different anyway we went around to a few people and some were different in houses I used to visit. I saw Sister W (the slug at service one) she remembered me. and J's daughter (I don't remember her name) recognised me on the street as she was walking her dog. 

J (B's, Sister's partner) has been reading the Book of Mormon secretly - when the others walk off in our visits he tells us what he read and then stops talking about it when they come back haha it's pretty funny. He used to be in the gangs but has stopped and realises he needs to change but he still tries to keep the tough guy image with his family I think. but he's really nice, we think we're there for him not so much B bc she won't come to church! hopefully this week. Oh and idk if I mentioned T (the partner) is the one who did the design for our shirts (which we still don't have and won't have for a little while)

We met R this week she's cool but we gave her to the sisters, she is looking for a church bc she doesn't feel like her one is focused enough on Jesus Christ. she even came to church too. We taught her outside for 1hr and a half she is so willing to learn, she even listens to Mormon Channel for a radio! 

Joseph Parker is a famous boxer. (We didn't know who he was from last week, so asked who he was that someone knew!!)

Yep bro O went... and came back. (Came to Australia, then went back to NZ)

Hope you all had a good week. 

Love you

Elder Cox

Week 93

Hi Everyone :D

This week was good. P is set for the 7 May, B her partner is thinking if he wants to do it on the same date. We had a mean lesson, P was saying she wanted to be baptised in 2018!! and we thought that was ages away. So we read from Mosiah 18 Here. and talked and told them about how we had prayed for a date and invited them for 7 May and she said yes!! B said he will let us know our next visit.

T (B's sister)  had her baby. We've been trying to catch up with B this week. not much success with that. 

Interviews was good. I got my temple recommend bc my old one expires next month. 

We met L going to a house in the area book but the Area book must be wrong bc she has lived in that house for 3 -4 yrs but we aren't complaining.! she is keen to learn but bc there's no males we gave her to the Sisters to teach. She has a friend serving in California and knows Joseph Parker.

D has been in Aus. so we obviously haven't caught him. 

neighbours were ok this week but we aren't looking forward to easter weekend.... 

 And Bro O says hello... again haha

Love you all!

Elder Cox

Funny Photos!

A funny sign he saw.

A funny number plate cover.

Week 92

Hi Everyone :D

not much time this week so it will probably be really short sorry.

Yes it's the same chapel so I bump into people from Alfriston all the time. The week was really busy MLC was good on Tuesday. Pres wants us all to be worknig more with members, explained a few things that we were all wondering about. He has a sense of humour that you don't really see anywhere else. haha 

Zone meeting was good we were up late planning our training for it but it went well. the Saunders came to give us all bedding and stuff to kill fleas bc everyone has a problem up here haha oh and they said bye too bc they're finishing sometime this month. 

B is set for 9 April but we're having trouble getting her to church.

D is doing well he wasn't at church bc his family was coming to stay while they look for a house so he had to clear a space for them to stay. advantage of afternoon church you can go around and remind all your investigators to come to church. 

We were contacting a referral from a while ago, it was on the computer, her name is D, she knows quite a few people who are members she was busy and a little shy so we are going back this week thurs. 

Saturday we were so tired bc our neighbour decided to have an arguement at 1 in the morning till about 2.30 the cops came and sorted it out but we were so tired that day. 

E came to church but only stayed for sacrament bc he was tired. the Member missionary work is really good in this ward easy to get rides for people and the youth who are prep for mission are eager to come out with us. 

Sunday we ran out of petrol so we walked. luckily it ran out at the chapel and there's a BP behind it so we just filled it up after exercise at the chapel this morning. haha

ASK BRO MATAIPULE ABOUT BRO LEHAULI AND PRES SHUM TOO. Bro Lehauli is in my ward and says that Brother Mataipule reactivated him! and he served in the same mission with Pres Shum!! no matter where you go, someone knows home!!!

photos

Zone meeting

empty tank

nice sunset

Love you all

Elder Cox

Zone meeting.

Empty Tank.

Nice Sunset.