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.

Week 91

Hi Everyone!! :D

You sent me the weather for everywhere except where I'm at!!! hahaha So like I said I'm back in Manurewa I'm the ZL in Weymouth ward and Elder Gutke is my companion!! It is mean as up here! We're having so much fun. there are 25 missionaries in our zone; 12 companionships  (the Tongan elders are in a triple) Apparently Bro Pretious knew last Saturday because he heard from President when they called to ask about the Sprouses haha

Elder Gilmore went to Gisborne ZL, Elder Morley stayed his comp is E. Landis. Kawhia got closed Elder Ale is in Redoubt oh and btw we had to go to the bustop in Auckland mission hahaha out of mission boundaries for a little bit. Elder Christensen got Elder Bokai, he seems to just be following me around :P replaced me in Rotorua too haha.  

The investigators are good, I haven't met too many; we didn't get to start proselyting till 7.30 Friday night because we were running around errands all of Thurs and Fri. They just opened another flat and put some Tongan sisters in so we had that to worry about. but we still managed to get some lessons in on Sat and Sun. We blessed T's house (Investigator) because she said everytime she prayed or read the scriptures she felt like something was there. we felt really good afterwards.

P and B are really cool keen to learn we're hoping to set them this week

B is awesome Elder Gutke told me about her, they left her with a Law of Chastity pamphlet to read and  when they came back the next visit she told them she had dumped her boyfriend bc she felt it was important to follow what the pamphlet said. How cool is that!! 

L a recent convert got baptised last week we went to her house to introduce me and she was saying how she used to live in Blacktown so naturally I said "I used to live in Doonside ward boundaries." obviously she would never have known anything. haha She just looks like she's been a member for ages tho.

In our ward is Sister Kaufisi (yes Kaufisi NOT kaufusi) she served in Fairfield stake says she knows some people back home, her brother Jimmy is the Elders Quorum Pres.

We live so close to the airport it's not funny you can hear them all the time. and we have a nice view of the beach I'll have to send a photo next week  If you walk out on the beach you can see the runway. No wonder Pres Rudd told me at the bus stop "now no getting trunky up there Elder Cox, alright."

Yeah I really liked the broadcast as well talked a lot about reading our scriptures and praying. having active faith. i liked the bit "I was sharpening my ax" 

Love you all 

Elder Cox

His companion Elder Gutke

Elder Gutke had a photo of the beach

that he shared with Reilly.