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

Week 69

Hi Everyone :D

Yep warming up... fun

GUESS WHAT!!!! We gave T a Blessing and GUESS WHAT!!!!!! SHE CAME TO CHURCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :DDDDDDDD Sis T was cracking up at me bc I was doing a little dance when I saw T at church and then in my DL call when I asked if there was anything I could do for them she said "keep being crazy" hahaha

She has been to church before.... but yes, I don't feel like she should be baptised unless she's coming, so no she didn't get baptised, still smoking. but what a miracle it was for T this week and she even said she wants to bring her sister next week! Our other investigators are more just floating around. busy, not home all the rest. Haven't seen J in a while. S said to come over but then cancelled. But his kids came to church!  and H (N's moko) wants to learn piano so hopefully we can work to getting a date with her. Now that everyone knows I play, they're asking me all the time , and one for L and Bro R's moko's would like to learn piano too but that will be good bc they are LA so might help them come back to church. 

Conference will be big, 3 new apostles with Richard G. Scott passing. N. B was saying how on His mission, the same thing happened heaps of the apostles died.

We have to catch up with J, see what he's up to. floating around like the others.

Temple was great. I'll have to get photos from everyone. so I can send you stuff of what's happening. 

The camera is shock proof... apparently, but I don't go throwing it around or anything I'll have to try finding a cable for it or looking for a camera shop. (Still not working!)

Thoughts from study

If Ammon never went on his mission to the Lamanites, the Nephites probably would've lost the war when Captain Moroni led the army bc they would not have received provisions from them nor would the stripling warriors ever have existed. I wonder if Ammon ever thought about that.

D&C 15:6 Here. and 16:6 Here. this must have been important for it to recorded twice, right after each other. I don't know many other verses of scripture that are repeated (Isaiah by Nephi, Sermon on the mount and Malachi) 

Love you

Elder Cox

Week 68

Hi Everyone :D

Yep the camera doesn't work. even when I plug it into the computer it doesn't work now. idk what's wrong with it. (So no photos until it's fixed or he gets another one)

The weeks been alright. DL stuff - weekly calls to all the companionships in the district on sundays, I do the training at district meetings, keep track of all the sets in the district, do exchanges with the elders. doing all the baptism interviews for the district (including the ZL investigators) Taylor should know wasn't he a DL?? yep I've been sharing no one likes musk sticks in this zone either :P hahaha 

J asked something very interesting. "how can i tell if it's the spirit and not my own thoughts" we tried answering as best we could and pretty much did the Gordon B Hinckley from PMG "If it persuades you to do good, it is from God"  he seems to be searching like Joseph Smith bc he's been doing a lot of research into different churches. he seemed to like the video but we weren't able to set up another appt with him bc he was unsure of his schedule.

T is doing ok. We've been able to get quite a few member present lessons with her recently and I feel that helps so much. she still won't come to church and i don't know why. She still reading the Book of Mormon consistently.

We had some service for Sis M- an elderly lady in the ward. she get's around on a walker. so we cleared up a place where she wants a garden. 

We went knocking in the week and met B who just let us in so we sat down did some HTBT and a bit of L1 and asked if we could come back. he said he was busy but on the 8 Oct he should be free but he will be in the ZL area at that time. So nice referral to pass to them. then when we got out I found I only had 1 shoe and that a dog had taken my other one hahaha. So after walking around and finally finding it we went to Bro R to have dinner and then go do some Rescue visits. 

We have the Temple tmrw YAY!!! we have to leave at 6 from here. fun hahaha. so Murupara will be sleeping the night so they can drive us up I hope my white pants still fit :/ hahaha 

I played piano in Tarawera ward again hahaha the best thing about playing the piano is you can get them to sing faster instead of them singing as tho they're all about to die.  

My fingers got crushed in a door this morning bc we were cleaning and had all the windows open. and the gust of wind blew the door while i was leaning on the frame. OUCH.. they're turning purple now. hopefully it's not broken.

Love You ALL!!!

Elder Cox

Week 67

Hey Everyone

far too hot - 25 I'd probably melt now.... (I told him our temperature on the 13th was 25c)

I told you :P hahaha. sounds like you just took all the good people form parramatta by how you're going on haha. (We had boundary changes at church last week, so our geographical boundary got bigger - actually doubled in size, so now we have more people in our ward)

Yes Pres gave me the parcel. he said they tried to stop him at customs but he told them "it's candy for Elder Cox" and they just let him thru after that :P haha "Hand delivered with love", "make sure you share". No they changed their mind :P jks. ofc Im training, isn't that what Pres told you. It's Elder Carr from Leeds England. so yup..... first palangi comp. Elder Nikau is still here. In fact why don't I just give you the transfer news

Elder Gilmore went to Coromandle (the peninsula) the back of nowhere far far away from everyone.

Elder Nikau stayed, his comp is Elder Gates from Utah

Elder Tibbitts transferred to Redoubt to be a ZL up there

Elder Meyers comp is Elder Williams from Idaho just called as a ZL this transfer

Sister Perry is training a Tahitian Sister Teihotu

Sis Vailea went to Hamilton somewhere

Elder Fili is in the tongan ward in Hamilton so Pres covered all 4 stakes

and for some strange reason Pres made me the DL

the other district

Elder Phillips and a Maori Elder Hadfield double shifted into Taupo (Elder Phillips is the DL and he is training)

Elder Latu got Elder Griffin

Elder Ale got Elder Roberts 

All the members are like "you're still here" hahaha 

Guess who I met dad. Reuben K he says you taught him in YM back in Doonside he said tell him it was the boy who liked getting smart. still remembers you. still remembers me as a little kid hahaha

Elder Butler is a ZL in Glenview and he wasn't sure if I was coming to transfers so he wrote on the package.

We contacted some referrals this week J he has heaps of questions about all sorts so we're going over this Friday to show him a restoration DVD bc he had lots of questions about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. D we just met in his driveway and he said it was good timing we have come now (he used to be taught before apparently) bc he is living on his own now. 

T still wants to be baptised on the 26 but it's a matter of giving up smoking first. Bro B was really helpful in that lesson. He knows her quite well. 

J we invited to be baptised and he told us when he's ready he will. his real concern by the looks is that he wants his family to be unified in it, he wants his son to come to church as well. and he feels he needs an ironclad testimony of the Book of Mormon before he gets baptised. 

Sacrament was just missionaries almost 2 testimonies (from the new ones) then I spoke bc someone couldn't make it so they got me to fill in. Then we did a musical item - we sung our mission song hahaha and someone visited from Newcastle don't remember their name he said they made a Gosford stake now

email long enough this week???? (We keep telling him he needs to send us longer emails!!)

Love you all,  :D

Elder Cox  

He didn't tell us what he did for P-day so I don't know where these photos are from.

Looks like in some sort of underground place.

Talks about Mud-baths.

Back row: Reilly, Elder Carr, Elder Meyers, Elder Nikau.

Front row: Elder Williams, Elder Gates.

Week 66

Hey Everyone :D

Sis H said she's been talking to you. and that she added Taylor.... and saw his photo of cooking pinoy food. 

I had an exchange with Elder Nikau on Saturday. it's fun to be with another Aussie hopefully he stays in the zone for transfers.  I've been on their side enough times I knew where we were going hahaha We had some cool exp. so we were biking around and someone just says hi missionaries so we stop and chat and they are an inactive but they said to come back around so that will be good. We also contacted a referral from Sis H's daughter, one of her friends. then on Sunday we get shown a text - it has a photo of me and Elder Nikau at the door with "I will come to church if it is something fun. and they won't convert me haha :P" 

We had dinner with Bro B the high priest group leader he helps us with sis D a lot, he really liked the parable of the pencil maker. 

Elder Tibbitts says that D (our WML) is happy that I might be staying haha they (ZLs) had a meeting with the WML and the stake pres I think. hahaha that reminds me, Sis B said to me on Sunday you've been here a while Elder Cox, is it time you leave? I just shrugged and she goes well maybe we need you here. 

I told you Pres and Sis Rudd are nice :D (We met Reilly's Mission President and his wife while they were in Sydney at a Mission President's Seminar, and they took a package back to Reilly for us.)

Yes Bro Raas was at church it was good to see him and catch up a bit he said to say hi to you guys.

I'll let you know if i need a raincoat bc I can't find that macpac one so I just got wet last week 

Love you all!!!

Elder Cox

Pretty short email this week!! And no photos!