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.