Halloween

G'day, everybody :) Elder Reeder here, with another report from the outback.

So I'm in Rockingham again! I have officially been in every area in this district, now. Kwinana, Rockingham East, and Rockingham West. (I think I know the ward pretty well now :) ) Elder Tipene is a cool guy. He's Kiwi, living in NSW. He's a chef back home, so he knows his food.

We've already gotten off to a good start this week, with a baptism! Elder Iumalo and his companion were actually the missionaries who first began teaching him, and Elder Tipene and I were the missionaries that got to be there for the baptism. His name is Jackson Enua. He is from the Cook Islands. His family are all members in the ward, so it was really great to see him make the decision for himself as well.

I'm really hoping that I remain here for the remainder of my mission. Rockingham is an amazing place to be in. Hahaha, everyone remembers me, too! Several people came up and said, "Welcome back!" So it's been pretty easy this time to get to know the new area :D

The only difference about Rockingham East now, is that it's been split. We used to cover Rockingham, Cooloongup, Hillman, and Waikiki suburbs. Now, sister missionaries have been brought into the ward and they've taken Waikiki. Which is great, they've got some great investigators there. But they've gotten All of our investigators. Our teaching pool has suddenly been emptied of everything. Bummer. Fortunately for us, the ward's been great with referrals lately. So we'll still be working hard finding and teaching.

So, halloween is this weekend! I was here last year for the ward activity, a trunk or treat. It's amazing every year :) Lots of nonmembers show up to it too, so it's a good chance to chat with them.

Well, I love you all! Hope everything is going well back home.

Love,

Elder Reeder

Rocking the boat again!

Hi there, everybody! Have I got news for you!

This week has been great! I've been really getting to love this area- Us and the sister missionaries have been working together, as well as the zone leaders, and suddenly we've got more people to teach coming out of the woodwork! I think there are serious miracles beginning to happen here. Let me give you a few things that have happened:

1. We have A BAPTISMAL DATE! David Tanenui, Ella's husband, is going to be baptised on November 2nd! We met with him and his wife, and told him that we really felt that he was ready for this. He's got a strong testimony, and he is SOLID on keeping commitments. He's been taking his book of mormon to work to read every day, etc. Coming to church each week. We also told him that once Edward and Vitania were ready, he would have the priesthood by then and would be able to perform their baptisms. He asked us, "Well, can we set a date then?" He told us that this had been on his mind for quite a while now, and he was really eager to go through with this.

I'm so excited!

2. We've been able to get in touch with Teresa again! We've got an appointment with her this Wednesday. Solid, this time.

3. We've got two new investigators! Almost. A lady named Suzy, who has been taught by the sisters for 2 years, is finally being baptised! She and her husband have a marriage date for the 7th of December. Here's the cool bit- one of her good friends, named Elizabeth, is a nonmember, and the mother of a less-active member in the ward. Since Suzy has been coming to church more often now, and is progressing, suddenly Elizabeth has started showing up as well, with her children! The sisters went and talked with her, and she wants to be taught! Referral!

4. A girl named Mica, (pronounced Meesha) is good friends with a member in the ward. A couple of weeks ago, she talked to the bishop and told him that she really wanted to be baptised! She hasn't been taught by missionaries much yet, but she already has a really strong testimony that the Book of Mormon is true.

And all this, happening in our areas! Woohoo!

Now, a bit of sad news;

Today is Transfer calls! And guess what? I'm being shifted out! Elder Iumalo is going to be the new district leader, and training. I am going down to Rockingham East! Where Iumalo was before! (I swear, I've spent so much time in that district. Kwinana, Rockingham West, and now the other half! Woot.) Rockingham is awesome, though, so that's all good. I'll be with Elder Tipene.

So yes, that's an update about what's happening with me. Hope everyone's doing well back home! Love you all! Stay safe, stay happy! I know the gospel is true :)

Love,

Elder Daniel Reeder

Exclamation Point!

Wasn't Conference just awesome?

I think some of my favorite speakers were Elder Bednar, on Tithing, and Elder Scott, on the Atonement. Then again, all of the things that were spoken on were very powerful. I liked what President Monson mentioned at the end, that he'd never been in a more inspired conference.

I took lots of notes, and I hope you all did too! Exclamation Point!

This week, we've been working with the members! We've got a new thing the mission's trying this month, called an MLX, or Member Lesson Xtreme! Exclamation Point! Basically, a lesson at a member's home, but in and out within 20 minutes, having shared a gospel principle, two scriptures with it, left a commitment, and asking who they know that could benefit from the message that we've shared. They're pretty cool. We've gotten a referral this week, too! His name is Tony. He's the husband of a member in the ward. Nice guy, loves to laugh. He hasn't been religious for a very long time, and has been having a bit of a hard life. But in recent months, he told us, he's been thinking that he should be paying more attention to God. So we've begun teaching him :)

Me and Elder Iumalo are still working hard with the Turners and with Teresa as well. The Turners came to Conference Sunday Morning, and really enjoyed it! We went over that evening and taught Vitania the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She is really interested in learning, and has had some really good insights into what we've taught. We hope that the spirit will touch her and Edward and they will take the steps neccessary to be baptised.

We're a bit baffled with Teresa. We haven't been able to see her in a month. Appointments keep falling through, etc. Hopefully we can get in touch with her soon.

Well, seeing as how our Zone has achieved the standard of excellence for last month for baptisms, and beat it, President Lindsay is taking us all to a place called Nando's. Nando's is like Maddox Chicken, but Australian. It is AMAZING. Exclamation point! But we have to be there very soon, so I will be signing off for this week. I love you all! My prayers are with you :)

Love,

Elder Reeder

Exclamation Point!

The temple and other things

Hello, all :) Elder Reeder here again, reporting fresh from the bush.

Sorry for the lack of newsletter last week. The queen had another birthday, and our P-Day got moved. And then it got moved again! So we ran out of much time to email. But I'm still alive :)

Last Thursday we had the opportunity as a mission to go to the temple! It was the first time I've been able to see the new temple film. It was wonderful, and I really felt the spirit throughout it. Some of the recent converts in the ward, Tom and Myles, are really wanting to go to the temple to do baptisms. they are such solid members, I'm happy for them!

Our investigator, Teresa, as well, wants to go to the temple. She just needs to be baptised first :) Which we're working on. We haven't been able to meet with her in a long time, which is sad. We keep seeing her at church, though. I'm also excited for conference this week! General conference is always something to look forward to. I love listening to the Prophet and Apostles, and their counsel.

This week, Elder Iumalo and I have an addition to our companionship! Rockingham Stake is doing Mini-missions again! We've been joined by Sam Peihopa, who is actually waiting for his own call! It was pretty cool, Sam's been with Elder Iumalo on a previous mini-mission, and since we both served in Rockingham recently, we already knew him really well. Whee! so we've been having a good time serving with him. He's a great teacher already.

Well, we're running short on time again this week. I love you all, and pray that all is ok. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers as well, they do help.

Love,

Elder Daniel Reeder