Kirribus

I'm really quite happy right now. And my companion is, too. In fact, you might say we're really excited. Guess why?

Remember that family that we met, from Kirribus? (near Fiji)

They're getting baptised.

on August 25th.

Woohoo! We've had a very busy week with them, going over to teach them about the gospel. The mum, Tagate, wants to quit smoking, so we're going to help her start quitting tonight. They all came to Stake conference yesterday, and really enjoyed themselves. They got to meet the bishop, and President Lindsay, even! (Or I guess you could say that President Lindsay got to meet her.)

All sorts of small miracles have been happening with this family, helping them out. We've all been blessed by them. Thank you all for your prayers! They help so much you don't even know :)

Yep, so Stake Conference was this weekend. We were privileged to have our mission president come and speak to everyone, along with his wife. They were awesome.

Grandpa Roberts, in answer to your question, YES. It is Indeed Rainy Season. Perth is not getting hardly Any of the rain that it needs this year. But it's bucketing down often, so I don't know what they're talking about XD Sunday was pretty funny, though. It was pouring Sunday morning, but stopped during conference. Then one of the speakers said that she was really grateful for the rain they'd gotten, and it began pouring again immediately after.

So, yes. It's raining here.

This month, the entire mission is kneeling down at 10 Pm, every night, in prayer, to have the opportunities and faith to find new investigators to teach. It's pretty cool, all 117 of us missionaries at the same time, praying.

So that's my week. It's been busy. and hectic. And fun as! Boo yah.

Until next week!

love,

Elder Reeder

Once there was a snowball

Hi, all!

So apparently in parts of Perth, it actually frosted over last week! Some other missionaries managed to make a single snowball out of the frost on their car.

How cool is this? We have 4 new investigators. Yes. 4! Sister Hembrow is an awesome missionary. Remember that lady from Fiji I mentioned last week? Her name is Tagate, (pronounced "tahng-ah-tay"), and she is from Kirribus. She has 3 children, Daniel, Leon, and Alisha. They are all Totally eager to learn about the gospel, and come to church, and everything! Elder Iumalo and I will be going over tonight to teach them again :D Tagate is so funny, she has pretty much adopted sister hembrow as her daughter. And she'll threaten to "get the stick" when someone doesn't do something right. She loves being with the missionaries, she says that she doesn't feel worried or as stressed when she's around us. The spirit is a wonderful thing.

So, interesting experience. Elder Iumalo, the armadale elders, Daniel Luland, and I went to do some service for a lady on Saturday. We were cleaning up her yard, clearing away the weeds, debris, etc. Did you know that Palm Trees have really spiky bits at the base of the leaves? They do. So we had to be careful. One of the leaves I picked up slipped, and jammed right into my finger. And broke off. Today is Monday, I still have that thing stuck in my finger. Last night sister Hembrow (who is a nurse) tried to get it out. After an incredibly painful 20 minutes, she put some stuff on it that would help work it out, bandaged it up, and told me it would be out tomorrow. Oww... It's in really Deep.

So how's the Olympics going? All I know is that the Queen jumped out of a helicopter with James Bond, and that Australia has 1 gold. :D We might be organizing a sports night, and inviting people to come and play rugby. Members could invite their friends, and get to know the missionaries, ask questions, etc. And play rugby (which everyone likes. Or AFL.)

Happy Birthday, Dad! And Happy Birthday to mom, on the 9th! Did you do a nice barbecue? In the summer evening? Was it good weather? Did it rain? I wish I could've been there for that Pie you made, it sounds delicious. If it didn't rain, I think it came here instead. We got DRENCHED. Again. We had to wring out our socks every so often, it was that wet. I loved it.

So that's pretty much my week! We had a Lot of biking involved. Lucky for us, it's a flat area ;) Hope you're all having a great week as well!

Love, Elder Reeder

Woohoo!

Good evening!

I don't think transfers had anything to do with it, but this week has been pretty slow. a LOT of people we visit and teach weren't around. Or cancelled appointments. So we did a lot of tracting. We met some interesting people though.

Elder Iumalo is awesome. He came out at the same time as me. We've had a lot of fun teaching lessons together so far, and I'm looking forward to the rest of the transfer. He is originally from Samoa, but grew up in New Zealand. He joined the church about a year and a half ago, in Sydney, and gave up playing Rugby there to come on a mission. He has an amazing testimony of the gospel, that we've shared with some of the people we teach. He's one of the overall happiest people I've met here. Part of our studies in the morning includes language study, so he can improve his English. It's pretty fun, and I now have sympathy for my English teachers :D

Tatiana was baptised! It was such a great evening. Elder Iumalo and I biked up the hill to the chapel (this was a Serious hill) to start the font. I turned on the water, and suddenly there was a BANG! and a spark. I called the ward mission leader, he didn't know what it could've been. Turns out the water heater gave up. Whee! It was a very spiritual experience, though. We even had a couple of nonmembers show up! I got to baptise her. She was really happy. Afterwards, they went to dinner at Sizzlers.

And then the whole family showed up for church on sunday, for the confirmation. Even better :)

I'm so excited! I had my first baptism!

Oh! Last monday we went to a Dairy farm! and got to milk cows. Really! We got to milk cows. And drive a quad (four-wheeler.) and drink REALLY FRESH MILK. In Australia. It was awesome. A couple of ward members work there, and invited us over.

Hmm. Yeah, so that's pretty much this week. The Flu has hit Perth, officially. 3 of our investigators, and a lot of ward members caught the bug. Really slowed us down. But we're pushing for a great week this week! We have a Family Home Evening lesson tonight, with Sister Hembrow, her children, and a friend she just met, from Fiji! Sister Hembrow is totally into missionary work now :)

All right! Hope you all have a great week as well! Love yous :)

Elder Reeder

Good Morning Australia

G'Day, all! it's a beautiful sunny morning in Armadale! Mixed with the usual transfer's week activities!

Yes, that's right! This morning we got our Transfer calls! Elder Naruo is being transferred to Bunbury, to be a Zone leader! And I'm still here in Armadale. My new companion will be Elder Iamalo, who actually came into the mission at the same time as me.

Elder Naruo is sad to be leaving the area, he loves it here.

So this week we had a lot of things going on! Elder Naruo spent two days down in Albany, doing baptismal interviews with the zone leaders. 6 baptisms happening in the next couple weeks, in our zone! Woohoo!

Tautiana's baptism: It's actually happening THIS Friday. She was Not feeling well last friday morning. ITS SO CLOSE THOUGH.

We've been having some pretty cool experiences out on the streets! We ran into a guy named Sean, walking around. He loves God, and wants to share that love with everybody he meets. We are certain that meeting him, and giving him a book of mormon, was meant to be. He asked us to come by to share more with him later. He seems totally for real! I can't wait.

We also found some former investigators! Their names are Brendan and Catherine. Brendan was being taught by the missionaries last year, but stopped investigating. He invited us over for dinner last monday, and told us that he wanted to quit smoking, and hear the lessons again.

This weekend was the Ward Conference. Saturday, we had an awesome ward activity at the chapel- Minute to Win it, and Fear Factor games, by the different groups/quoroms, and a barbeque! The turnout was great, and everyone had a blast. My favorite game was an egg roll: place an egg on the ground, and blow on it until it reaches the finish line. Some of the contestants got a bit dizzy :D

Also, apparently I am on tv! Daniel Luland told me that a friend of his had asked him "Hey, when's your friend that looks like he's from arrow computers coming by?" Daniel thought immediately of me. There is a commercial with some guy with red hair getting all excited for computer deals- he showed it to me, and seriously, if I had red hair, that would be me. Hahaha!

There is a single mom in the ward, who was a bit less-active for a while. We started visiting her, and teaching her, every day. Sharing our testimonies with her, singing hymns together, and helping her to develop a habit of prayer. She has really opened up and she's set a goal to go to the temple, and to read the book of mormon. She wants to be able to be a good example for her children. We've felt the spirit every time we go over there, and we can tell that she has as well.

Awesome.

And that is my week. I hope you're enjoying summer over there. :)

Love you all!

Elder Reeder

A 10-minute dissertation on the Lamentations of Jeremiah

Hahaha, not really, but President Smibert would ask missionaries to do that (he was joking too)

Part 2 of the mini-missions: I really enjoyed it! My mini and I had a great time teaching Tautiana, and tracting, and contacting, and all that missionary stuff. We even found a new potential investigator, that He contacted! His name is Aiden. He likes boxing. He told us that he was nervous about death, because he doesn't want to be in a bad spot. He was totally keen to talk with us. We're trying to get ahold of him and set up an appointment this week.

The Flu has been going All Over the place here; Apparently it's the worst epedemic in 10 years in Perth. Elder Naruo had it for a few days, he's just now getting over it. Several investigators caught it. Not fun.

We met with the Bishop yesterday, to discuss some of the families we're teaching- Tautiana will be baptised this Friday! Woohoo! We just need to get everything sorted with interviews, etc.

We had to postpone Zach's baptism. We're having difficulties in contacting the family, and after discussion with Bishop, we need to hold off on it. :(

David is so close to baptism! We've been meeting with him, and he's ALMOST quit smoking! We're still helping him along with the word of wisdom, and we're reading with him from the book of mormon when we go over. I can't wait to get him there!

Also, we're experiencing the fun delights of false addresses! We had 2 this week, including Basilio. They were totally into us coming over and teaching their families, and sent us to someone else's house. Darn.

Mini-adventure: I got a package this past week! Thanks, family! By the way, just because I didn't know this either, apparently pop-its are Illegal Fireworks in Australia! Hahaha! And I have some! No one knows how they got through customs. So... yeah... The zone leaders snagged a box. I got a call from them about an hour later, asking how to use them. "Uh, you Throw them on the Ground." "Ohhh! We were trying to burn them! There's that bit on the top that you're supposed to light?" Hi five for aussies :D

So it's been a bit of a rollercoaster week. Not sure where it's going. \

But.

I still have a testimony of this gospel.

I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior, and that by following his example, through faith, repentance, baptism, receiving the holy ghost, and enduring to the end, we can live with him again someday.

I know that the gospel blesses families, and helps to build them up stronger, and closer together, in love.

I am grateful for the book of mormon, and I know that it contains the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I know that I have a loving Father in Heaven, and that I can ask him for help and comfort, whenever I need it, and that he will give it to me.

This has kept me happy throughout my life, and I am grateful for the opportunity I have to share this with others.

I say all this in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Elder Daniel Reeder

March of the Minis

Wow, it's hectic right now!

This week, we have been driving all over with the other elders. First of all, President Lindsay is here! On Friday, we drove down to Rockingham and had another zone conference, in which we were able to meet him and receive training and instruction from him. Also his wife, and his son, Robbie. Totally just like on tv. We've all caught his vision for the mission :D

Saturday, we went over to Thornlie, where the stake center is, and began mini-missions! Pretty much every missionary in our zone has a mini-missionary, sisters included. My companion is "elder" Williams. He's 16, and totally excited to go on a mission when he's 19. We've had some great fun tracting, contacting, and teaching lessons so far. Tonight we're going over to Tautiana and her family and teaching them. He'll be with me until Wednesday, when we drive back down to Rockingham. Again. Whee!

Since every missionary has a mini-missionary with them, transportation is tricky. (It's a bit hard to fit 8 people in a 5-person car... With luggage...) After a short MTC experience at the stake center, we took the train back to our area. Somehow elder Williams and I managed to take a train back up to the stake center, instead of transferring to another train. Oops.

We found some really cool people this week! We ran into a man named Basilio, from the Dominican Republic. He absolutely loves families, thinks they're one of the most important things in the world. We taught him a little about how families can be together forever, and he was really interested. Elder Naruo and his mini are going over tonight. He is awesome.

On a sadder note, we lost Nathaniel. His mom called us, yelled, swore, and told us she never wants us to come back, because she got offended at the church several years ago and does not want anything to do with it anymore. We were really making progress with Nathaniel. We're praying he'll be able to decide for himself.

So, I've been having fun times with my bike this week. And several other bikes. You all know what "goatheads" are, right? (sharp, pointy plant things.) They're called "double-G's" here. Anyway, I found 5 in my rear tire. Greeeaaat. So. I bought a new tire tube. And then my front tire gave up and exploded. I'm out of patches now. Fun times. I'm so grateful for people we know around here, though! The front one died while we were in a member's home, and they gave me a new tube! And I got another one from an investigator :D

We've been doing a lot of contacting on the streets, and I'm really trying to get better at walking up and starting a conversation with people. Slowly but surely :)

So I've heard there's a lot of fires going on in Colorado and Utah! Everyone ok? Nothing bad here yet, besides a storm that took out a few sheds and roofs.

Well, have another great week! I am :)

Take it easy, Elder Reeder

July the Fourth

Happy 4th of July! When it does happen, I mean. There's no celebration here! And I'm not too sure about fireworks, either...

We had a great week! On Thursday, we had a YSA Activity at the chapel. We invited Nathaniel to it. Nathaniel is Really quiet, but he was willing to come along. The YSA here is small but enthusiastic. They played Volleyball and he got way into it. The Oldfields, (ysa leaders) told us afterwards that he absolutely loved it. Boo yah. Also, elder Beck hit elder Evans in the face with the volleyball.

Our two baptismal dates are going pretty well. Tautiana came to church with her family this last sunday, which was great progress. We're going over tonight with another ward member to teach the family about the Plan of Salvation. We finalized the date for July 20th (yes, it's a Friday, we've had to explain it several times.) when Sister King won't have to work.

Zach Jenner's baptism is coming up, but we're having problems with contacting the family lately. They haven't been to church the past couple of weeks. Gotta keep trying, keep praying.

Also, we have some new investigators again! One's name is Samantha. She is an aboriginal lady, with a small child. We met her in front of her house, and we ended up teaching her a bit about the gospel and how it can bless families. She was really into it, and thanked us for bringing it back into her life. Woohoo! There's a lot of potential in this area, we just have to look really hard for it :) On another note, we tracted into a man a couple of days ago, who was adamant that mormons are not Christian. It was a really interesting meeting with him, a very polite, calm discussion.

By the way, apparently there are mountains or something in Melbourne? Brother Nields, the ward mission leader, is going skiing this week! So awesome.

President Lindsay has arrived in Perth! We are writing to him this morning, and we'll have another zone conference in Rockingham this Friday, where we get to meet him and hear from him for the first time! I can't wait to see what he does.

Oh, I just remembered: The Chapmans, (their son Ben is in the MTC right now, heading to Washington DC) have relatives in Utah! Sister Chapman's grandmother, lives in Farmington, or Bountiful, or thereabouts. Does anyone know the Oviats? (Oviates/Ohveeits/something) Anyway, it's her grandmother. Just thought I'd let you know.

Speaking of mission stuff, Mini missions are about to start! This saturday, a lot of the young men/women in the ward are going to be spending a few days with missionaries! I have no idea if they'll be with us or not, but it sounds pretty cool!

That's my week, I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. :D

Take it easy,

Elder Reeder