Christmas Bells are Ringing

G'day, everybody! Today is Monday, December 23rd, 2013, and it's a beautiful sunny day here in Rockingham. It might get a bit warm later on in the day, but oh well, it's summer. :D

Apparently, back home, it's exactly the opposite. Lots and lots of snow, cold(ish) temperatures, etc. etc. And it's Christmas! The best time of the year.

This week has seen some blessings happening here in Rockingham! We have four new investigators to work with! On Saturday, we went on exchanges with the zone leaders. I went with Elder Bunda, down to Baldivis, and Elder Patuaka came up to Rockingham with Elder Liehr. During the day, they tried a few former investigators. One of them, named Paige, answered the door. Turned out that she hadn't really been taught in the first place, but had listened in a couple of times when missionaries had taught her sister. They shared about the Restoration with her, and she really wants to know more! She asked for them to come back this weekend, after Christmas.

We've been trying to meet with Darrel, Brother Lolohea's friend, but it's been difficult. We had an appointment with him on Friday. However, Darrel has been looking for a house, and found one the day before, so he wasn't able to meet with us. He's still interested, though. Hopefully the missionaries in his new area can get in touch with him soon.

This upcoming week is going to be interesting. Today is our P-Day. Tomorrow morning, after district meeting, we've been asked not to go tracting, and same with Christmas Day. We'll be spending a lot of time with members, I suppose.

Merry Christmas, everyone! Although I'm out here, and won't be able to talk to you all on Christmas Day, know that I love and miss each one of you! Thanks for your support and your prayers, they really do help out from day to day. This work is amazing.

Love,

Elder Daniel Reeder

On the...16th? day of Christmas

I think I got mixed up somewhere along that line...

Anyway!

How is everyone going? I'm excited for Christmas. Last night, we all were able to watch the first presidency Christmas Devotional. Personally, I think this is one of my favourite parts of Christmas. I love hearing the songs by the choir, as well as the messages from those who spoke. It always helps me feel more like it's really Christmas :) I really liked Elder Rasband's words on remembering the reason for the season: "How will we worship Him this season? Endlessly shopping? Hustling about and adorning our homes? Will that be our tribute to our Savior? Or will we bring peace to troubled hearts, good will to those in need of higher purpose, glory to God in our willingness to do His bidding? Jesus put it simply: “Come, follow me.”

Elder Liehr and I have been working more with the members in the ward, this week. Christmas is coming, of course, and so people are out of town. One of the best ways that we've found to help members share that love and spirit they have, is sharing a Christmas message with them, and inviting them to bring a friend by for Christmas, or to an activity. This week, we also had our ward Christmas party. One of our investigators, Darrel, came along as well! We're meeting him later this week, and we'll be able to start properly teaching him. He really wants to learn, I think.

The weather's been truly heating up. Today it's supposed to be 39C (102F). Woohoo. I'm relieved, however, because one of the young men told us there was a heat wave headed this way, and temperatures were going to be in the 50's! Fortunately, this was a joke, and we will not be melting after all.

This week is looking up. We have a few appointments with investigators, and I'm looking forward to it. I love you all, have a great week and a merry Christmas!

Love,

Elder Daniel Reeder

Ps: By popular demand (mom), here is the other 11 days of an aussie Christmas:

On the First day: An Emu, up a gum tree!
On the 2nd day: 2 Pink Galahs
On the 3rd day: 3 Jabirus
On the 4th day: 4 Kookaburras
On the 5th day: Five Kangaroos!
On the 6th day: 6 Platypuses
On the 7th day: 7 Koalas Climbing
On the 8th day: 8 Dingoes Dancing
On the 9th day: 9 wombats working
On the 10th day: 10 Lizards Leaping
On the 11th day: 11 Numbats Nagging
On the 12th day: 12 Parrots Prattling
Have fun!

On the 9th day of Christmas!

I'm sure you'd all love to read 9 days worth of that song :D

Hi! How's everyone's week been? Here in Rockingham, things have continued to move forward, despite the confusion of transfers. I'm here with my companion, Elder Leihr now. Elder Leihr's from Sydney. He's been out about 4 months, and is a very social guy. He's already gotten to know a lot of the ward here :) Elder Tipene is up in Karratha now. He called us the night he got in, it's already close to 40C up there! He loves the branch, though.

So! Elder Leihr and I have continued work down here. It's been a little tough this week, with Christmas coming near. I think more than a few people have headed out of town to visit their rellies. We decided to start going through the now Updated ward list, and visit members that no one knew about. Awesome experiences: Met a man named Richard at one door. He was incredibly friendly and social towards us. We also had our ward mission leader with us. He's got a son with a disability. Mentioned that he's been looking for activities, sports, or Anything to bring his son to. Coincidentally, our ward Christmas party is this Saturday! As well as a very special sacrament meeting the day after. (not that sacrament meeting isn't special in the first place...) Richard was very keen to come along. And said that we could come by again and visit him and his son sometime!

Sunday night was pretty fun. The Tini family, from the Cook Islands, had an early Christmas dinner. And they invited their whole family along, many of which aren't members yet. They invited us over as well, and we shared a Christmas message from the book of Mormon with them all :) There are some nice people in that family.

(Also, I'm pretty sure I'd like to return to Australia someday, for the islander parties. Kiwis, Tongans, and Cook Islanders have some of the best feeds Ever. :D)

So! I've received some more questions from some people, wondering what's up. Here are the answers to said questions :)

1. What is the thing you get fed the most? Usually something involving steak, here. And rice.

2. What is the WORST thing you've ever been fed, that you had to stuff in your socks rather than eat? Oyster cakes.

3. Do you have to shave every day? Well, yes and now. Yes, because I have to as a missionary, but I'll bet I could still get away with it for a day. ;)

4. You know those flipflops you had to take with you? Have you ever actually used them? Flipflops are referred to as shoes, thongs, or jandals here. I like Jandals, but I haven't actually used my own, due to the fact that a certain companion of mine was in need of a pair, having no shoes. You can get some really good ones here.

5. Does anyone ever get sent into the outback? to teach the Aboriginals? Yes, yest they do. The outback would be considered Karratha and Port Hedland. There are a few aboriginal members here, too.

6. Are you glad you went on a mission? Why? What would you say to someone who isn't sure they want to go? I am SO glad I went on a mission! I have learned so much about who I am, and about the gospel of Jesus Christ. There are so many people out here that I am happy to have met, and been able to help them strengthen their own testimonies. I know that Jesus Christ lives, and that His Plan of Happiness is for each and every one of us, that we can Do it, if we do our best, and rely on Him. If there was someone who wasn't sure, or having doubts, I would say Just go for it! Missions are hard. They can be tough on everyone. But the feelings you receive when you're working hard and you see people begin to make those wonderful changes in their lives, there's not much that can replace it. We've only got these few years to help participate in such a way, and I can Promise that anyone who goes on a mission will never regret having done so.

I love you all!

Love,

Elder Daniel Reeder