Week 48

Hey everyone :D

We went to Mamaku (the back of nowhere) to tract last week Tuesday hahaha is was pretty fun (and cold :P) this little dog followed us around (just like in the video games bro is it Zelda with the dog that would follow you?)  anyways so after it followed us for a while and made our shoes dirty and annoyed the other dogs at the doors we knocked Elder Niu'unga got sick of it and put it over the fence hahahhaha

On Monday after P'day we went to see one of our LA (I won't say who, you'll see why) and it was around 6 so it was kinda dark and so we knock on they're door and the ask us what we're doing out so late but they invited us in anyways and it was clear they had been drinking anyway so after talking and all we went to leave and they said you better get home and get a few hours sleep before you have to get back to work. hahahaha They thought it was 6.30 in the morning, not night HAHAHA and that we had been out all night too hahahaha

We met S last night, he said come back tonight bc he had visitors coming but he's keen to listen and has cousins who are members.

N is thinking of a date, but we feel it's getting quite close. 

C was just visiting and he was the other elders investigator but I knew him well enough.

Did I mention the K's came last week, J is cousins with the C's in Hamilton.

that's not a feijoa mum :P to small hahaha they almost get to tennis ball size here, i'll have to see if I can get a decent size one and take a picture. (I told him I saw some feijoa at the fruit shop after he told us his story last week, and they were the size of large strawberries)

no... didn't see anyone running or Mee-Eun or Jake how long are they staying?? (We have friends who were running in a marathon in Rotorua, just asked if he'd seen anyone running!)

we were going to do laser tag but it was booked so ah well

sorry if this is rushed, we only paid for an hr today bc of p'day activity (we aren't at the chapel, too many people up for p'day) but hey, we'll talk sunday :) (We get to Skype for Mother's Day!! YAY)

Photos:

chocolate orange thing we used to get - I found it :D

Love you

Elder Cox

The dog that kept following them.

Chocolate Orange bar he loves!

His zone.

A funny sign, that's all I know. 

When he finds funny signs he sends us photos of them.

Week 47

HEY EVERYONE :D

It's warmed up again this week so I'm not freezing anymore:) this flat had a blanket someone left so I'm using that hahaha 

Yeah pretty crazy weather by the looks of those photos. (we sent photos of our crazy Sydney storms)

Well N's (our investigator incase I haven't already said) Auntie came around, she's Pentecostal and tried talking to her about things, it was at the end of one of our lessons just before we left and when she came the spirit was like "don't you move Elder Cox, stay right here" so we did and explained some things when the Auntie would ask us. and then when the auntie left, N was thanking us for staying and telling us how she's going to join our church when she's ready, which was a comfort to me bc when her auntie came I was thinking "oh no....." when it's family some are afraid of offending so they just go with it.

T is good, we met with him and he's keen to learn, he shared with us his experience; he was praying for God to show him a sign of where to go and what he should be doing bc he wants to improve his life, and he says not long after he prayed, we knocked on his door. 

We did a Feijoa delivery bc Pres Chong Nee (EQ pres) has some trees at his work that no one gets the fruit from so he had heaps and we just went around to LA homes and delivered them. it was pretty fun.

AND GUESS WHO I SAW! we had dinner with Pres Jacob (from the stake) and Naomi was at his house too hahahaha she said you had sent her to spy on me :P hahahahaha it was good to catch up. 

And I've been biking for too long haha :P kidding.so my helmet was red when I got it and we were talking to this kid, Rex, in the street, well he talked to us, so we just talked anyways he goes "YOU GOT A GIRLS HELMET! YOU'RE HELMETS PINK!!!" HAHAHAHAHA  too much fading hahahaha

And Elder K, well Brother K now, got back from South Korea and so we had a huge kai (feed) we are working with 2 of his brother in-laws S and J (did I talk about them last week?) we're going to S's today and brother K says he'll come out with us!!!

P'day we got lost - went to a maze hahaha (see photos) it had a funny sign too 

yep I ate Bambi, and Bambi was good hahahaha

Have a great week

LOVE YOU ALL!!!

Elder Cox

The maze.

They got to the centre.

The funny sign.

No peeing in the bushes!!

Week 46

HI EVERYONE :D

This week was COLD, (It must be cold if he's cold.... this is the boy who will go through the whole of winter without a jumper on!) I even wore my overcoat one day. the weekend was alright but it might be good to send some thermals or me to buy some here bc our flat gets freezing and 2 blankets is still cold and its not winter yet so winter will probably be even colder. its warmer if it rains haha the clear nights are the real cold ones .

We found "T" (Tehorua) and he seems really keen just a door knock and he was keen for us to come back. We Had FHE with the P's and we played guess what bro? Grandpa's fruit salad and broom beep HAHAHAHA they thought it was the best. We've been working with 2 PM families the M's and the S and A (forgot their surname) James M goes to the gym in the morning too so we always see him there. we were with a LA and showed a video I thought it was a good video so pls put it on the blog, its "the Hope of God's light" a mormon message. (It's below if you want to watch it!) and I saw C on Sunday at church - He's the investigator from auckland who fed me ox heart, he's baptised now! he was just visiting it was good to catch up with him.

We had Dinner at the K's and Bro K makes burgers like Grill'd (Burger place in Sydney...don't know if they have them Australia wide yet!) - we had a crumbed fish burger and a venison burger so working my way at eating every animal :P hahahaha deer tastes nice haha 

Ben is still working on his schedule. ofc its bigger than Finley, we have 2 wards meet at our chapel. it's probably around the size of Toongabie. idk the population There are some photos of us riding last night to get a look of the area. I

I don't know who some of those people in the ward are (I gave him an update of ward news) (or maybe I don't remember) like Sis McK. Tell Isaac I was thinking about him just the other day when we were in Elder Quorum that first week hahahaha he'll know just say "they both start with 'J' " hahaha Give the Langi's a hug for me too hahaha miss those guys. 

LOVE YOU ALL :D

Elder Cox :)

The Hope of God's Light video. 

Please watch...(Only 1:19...not long)

Funny sign they found.

Elder Niu'unga hopping wood.

Someone else chopping wood.

A lake about 10 - 15 mins from where they live.

More of the lake.

Admiring the lake.

Riding at night.

More riding at night.

Week 45

Hello Everyone :D

What is on Taylor's face and BJ's face and Sam's face...... did they forget to take a razor or something hahaha

Yeah I didn't really know what to write last week (much like this week hahaha) The taco soup didn't have any snowpeas so I put in mushrooms instead and it was when Elder Rasband and Jensen came before the temple, the egg shells are just there hahahaha. We're going to get a list of the LA soon (or so Bro Anderson says). We met a LA couple (elderly couple) They're friendly but it they are always delivering papers.

I met Bro A's brother .. Bro A... haha so Jesse taught me in the MTC and Ben his brother is in our ward and is keen on helping the missionaries out, he's been pretty busy recently but on Saturday he told us he would be happy to help us once he get's his schedule sorted so YAY!!! :D.

As the world gets bigger it's funny how small it's getting too :P (I told him how I met someone who had just arrived in Sydney to serve her mission, whose sister served her mission in Cebu and knows Taylor. And they come from Samoa! Freaky!!)

I patched 2 flat tyres this week, mine and Elder Onatin's and I didn't even make my tyre flat it was another Elder who was using my bike!! but anyway all fixed now as you can see - look at all our bikes HAHA the other elders came for haircuts before we went to the temple.

And the temple was wonderful, WE EVEN GOT TO DO BAPTISMS FOR THE DEAD well some of us did and I was lucky enough to get to do that :) I wish we could go more often than every 6 months... but at least we have a temple in our mission. I'll definitely have to make temple attendance a priority when I go home - so don't move house HAHAHA

We had lunch at the temple too afterwards and guess what!!! the food is PRE BLESSED!!! there's a sign that says "all food has been blessed" haha how cool is that

 

Conference was good and did you hear? Johnny Leaota!! he's been called to the seventy I was like I know that name!!!! I also liked L. Whitney Clayton's talk I thought that was good. They also really focused on the family I noticed. We had the Murapara Elders stay for conference (bc they're a little ways out and guess who it is Elder Glass hahhaha just like EFY again :P

Yes it's getting colder in the mornings and evenings here too but no I'm not wearing a jumper like the rest of you, but Elder Niu'unga is so funny when we go out and he thinks it's cold "Brrrrrr" just the way he says it HAHA I don't think I can relate it across email HAHAHAHA

@ DAD ofc you were at Finley you never go anywhere else!

Love you all, yes I know it's short but I really don't know what else to say

HAVE A GOOD WEEK :D

Elder Cox

All their bikes.

Week 44

Hey EVERYONE :D

HAPPY EASTER!!!!!

The P's gave us a chocolate bunny each haha

Week's been pretty good, did a heap of tracting and there's tonnes of hills hahaha we have a few people who might be interested so we're going back to see them but lots of people just say not interested and close their doors on us.  the 'Because He Lives' is really cool we've been using that heaps. I have to find all the LAs no one seems to know them. so that will be fun for this week :) 

This week we go to the temple :DDD YAAYYYYY! and guess what its on the 9th which is exactly 1 year since I went thru how cool is that!!!

Yep we just finished daylight saving.

I knew you would've gone to Finley (Terri here: We went away for Easter, that's why this is late!!) BTW I MADE TACO SOUP. And we always bless the food Jill hahaha not with the brains but always with soup Pete hahaha (Reilly's jokes with the family we were staying with!!)

We went to the Agrodome for P day last week I'll send the pics

Scriptures: Acts 4:29 Here.

LOVE YOU

Elder Cox

Funny Street Name.

He made Taco Soup! Looks good!

They went to the Agrodome for P-Day.

(I think it tells about the agriculture in NZ....just guessing tho')

The district.

Watch out!! Hungry cow!

(Check out the warning sign in the top left corner)

They have deer there.

Goats and Alpacas.

One of the missionaries getting hungry?? haha

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.