The End of the World

On the 21st. Or so I've heard. I've also heard the 12th, 22nd, January 5th, and 2036. People are funny.

So, another week up here in Karratha. Elder Pasina and I are still trying to find some new investigators. We've actually had really great success from tracting these past two weeks! However, all of those that we found are going out of town for Christmas. Luckily, they come back soon :)

We go with our ward mission leader a couple of times a week and do a "bread run." A local bakery has a lot of extra bread from the day, and we take it around the community and give it to people. It really helps people to recognise us, and develop a good relationship with them. At the same time, we invite them to come to church. We've met some nice people, members, etc. Also, several members have been going around and befriending people, bringing them along as well! Yesterday, Kelvin, a recent convert, brought his father to Sacrament Meeting. He really enjoyed the service, and he's very supportive of his son. Also, we found a part-member family in the branch. We invited them, and the whole family came to church! We're going to start teaching the two younger kids this week. They're pretty cool.

It's getting to be pretty hard to stay busy all day, every day. We've just about finished tracting the entire reachable portion of this area. Things will pick up after Christmas, when all of our investigators return, but for now it's slow.

Oh yeah, on Saturday I discovered why we keep getting told to wear sunscreen up here. I was out for 30 minutes without it, and my arms Roasted.

I can't believe the year's just about over! And I've almost been out for 10 months! It's crazy.

I love you all, and I hope you're all enjoying the snow, and the 32F degree weather, back there! We get dust storms, and 32C degree weather! (I'm dreaming of a red Christmas?) We've been sharing a Christmas message with people, the past little while. What a wonderful time to reflect on our Savior's birth, and all that came with it.

Love,

Elder Reeder

Christmas Time is Here!

Hi, Family! Today is December 10th!

We've had a pretty cool week up here in Karratha, (relatively speaking...) I think the highest temperature this week was about 44C. (107F)

Elder Pasina and I spent a majority of it tracting, trying still to find new people to teach. It's pretty funny, actually, just about everyone in town is going Out of town for Christmas. WHERE DO THEY ALL GO? (Karratha is in the true outback) Anyway, we had some pretty cool things happen!

We were finishing up a street, and knocked on a particular door. A man answered, and we introduced ourselves. Then the cool part: He invited us in, right there, to talk to him and his family! It was the coolest thing; his wife and daughter joined in, and sat down. We talked to them about their beliefs. Elder Pasina was impressed, they had very strong testimonies of Jesus Christ. We taught them about the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and introduced them to the Book of Mormon. The man, whose name is Joseph, said that he and his family would read it, and said that we could come back again sometime and continue to teach them.

I'm really loving this area. The branch is very much involved in missionary work. Something they're trying to make sure of is that every new convert has the support that they need, and that they are able to have their questions answered. One newer sister has been going through a rough time, and it's so great to see the whole branch trying to reach out and help her. The Christmas party for Karratha Branch was on Friday, and we had many nonmembers, investigators, and recent converts attend! There was a barbecue on, (we helped cook it), games for the kids, and then everyone went inside to sing carols and watch a nativity by the primary. That was one of the cutest nativities I'd ever seen a primary do, by the way.

Sunday, we got to see the First Presidency Christmas Devotional! Now that brought the Christmas spirit :)

(By the way, I saw Aunt Danny in the Choir! Also, in the November Ensign, Uncle Scott is in a picture of the choir singing)

Sunday was pretty cool in other ways, too. We had a Lightning storm! Usually, clouds build up in the mountain range near us, but don't actually come to Karratha. Sunday, they came all the way over, and it drizzled a bit, and started a couple fires out in nowhere from all the lightning. I couldn't believe how much there was.

We got news from the Assistants about after Christmas; we're going to be Flying again! Down to Perth, for a mission-wide training meeting, and to attend the temple! Cool!

So that's been my week. Merry Christmas, everybody! I love you all!

Love,

Elder Reeder

On the 3rd Day of Christmas

I got sent to the Pilbara :)

It's been really intense up here, so far! Karratha is the northernmost area a missionary here can go to. And the hottest. I got off the plane, and was physically slapped by it. Yes, we're wearing hats and lots of sunscreen up here. Elder Pasina is pretty cool, he's from Tonga. My first night here, we went over and met President Pilkington. Karratha is a branch, but a growing branch! Let me tell you, it was a very packed meetinghouse yesterday. (Plans are in the works to build an extension.) President Pilkington is ON IT when it comes to missionary work. Also, he has a 5 year old son who everyone, (myself included) thinks he looks like me. Haha.

Elder Pasina and I are on Bikes! And no one really knows why. Our area, if you look on Google Earth, covers a chunk of WA visible from space. And we're on bikes. But we're making the most of it. The members in the branch are very nice, and help us out when we need a lift somewhere far. It's going to be really fun here :)

We're spending a lot of time tracting right now, trying to find some new investigators. There were a lot of baptisms happening here recently, and so the area is definitely "ripe for the harvest." We've just got to find them :) The majority of the people here are workers, out on the mines, industrial area, or building homes for those working in the mines. There are a Lot of company trucks driving around.

Christmas is coming! We're preparing and inviting people to come to a branch Christmas party at the chapel this Friday. This is definitely going to be the most interesting Christmas I have ever seen in my life.

Well, that's been my week. I love you all! And Happy Birthday to Scott! 18!

Love,

Elder Reeder

I'm Leavin' on a Jet Plane!

So, you'll never guess what's happened. This week is Transfers! But before I tell you that, I'll say other stuff first.

We had a really great week :) Elder Segi and I got to see Jady baptised! It was really cool. His whole family turned up for it, and several families in the ward as well :) Everyone loves him.

Hahaha, it was a really bizarre morning, though. We got to the chapel to get the font ready, and guess what was inside? The Rockingham Clogger's Association, with their annual get-together in full swing. Who approves stuff like this? Our jaws just about hit the floor. Same with the bishop :D Luckily, they weren't using more than the cultural hall, so we went to the other end of the chapel for the program. It was all good.

There were 7 baptisms in the mission this weekend!

We also were able to get in contact with Jules again! He's been really busy with job training, and forgot his phone. We brought him to church this last Sunday. That guy is Amazing. He was singing the hymns, he took notes during class, asked questions, Seriously got into it :) He loved being there, made some new friends, and wants to come back next week. We're going to set a new date for him next time we see him.

Guess how far we biked in one day? 72 k's. (That's 45 miles.) We found out there are some families living way out in the country, and we decided to go visit them. And then we had to bike all the way to the other end of our area for an appointment. What a day. Allie, I saw a statue of a pink elephant, and thought of you ;)

So, back to transfers. *Drum-Roll*

I got a call yesterday from the Assistants. I have a Plane Ticket to Karratha! I'm leaving today sometime, and taking a plane tomorrow, up to the near-northernmost part of WA. IT'S HOT UP THERE! But exciting :D I'm packing my one bag, and leaving everything else (bike, etc.) at the mission office for storage. It'll be cool. And kind of sad. It was becoming really fun here in Kwinana! My new companion will be Elder Pasina, and he will be the District Leader. Elder Segi is going to Train now :) There are 12 new missionaries coming into the mission tomorrow!

(Oh yeah, fun fact: The mission HQ in Salt Lake City usually gets around 500 requests a week, average. The week after General Conference, they got 7,000. Is missionary work increasing? I THINK SO.)

Yup, that's what's going on this week, down in Oz.

Random event of the week: One of our recent converts, named Kevin, was driving up to Kalgoorlie last week. He hit a kangaroo. Apparently that's a pretty common thing to happen.

Hey! It's the Christmas Season! I hope? Happy Holidays :) go ski!

Love,

Elder Reeder

Nearly There!

Good morning, good morning! Today is Monday, and I am still alive and well :) Why do I say this, you ask?

Elder Segi and I had the privelege of experiencing an early summer heat wave! It was 34C on Friday (93F).

Anyway. The week. We've found out that there are a few members and potential investigators in a suburb called "Casaurina." Casaurina is about 10 kilometers from Anything, except the highway. But we biked it, and found a guy named Richard. He's pretty cool, from South Africa. He's studying Theology at the university. He had a lot of questions. We gave him a book of mormon before we left. Cool.

JD is doing awesome. We set up a time for him to be interviewed this week, and he'll be baptised this Saturday, by Elder Segi. Still excited as ever :) Unfortunately, with Jules, we've run into some difficulties. We haven't been able to get in contact with him for about 2 weeks now. We've no idea what's happened. Hopefully he's all right.

We've had some really odd things happen this week. One: We were biking down the street, when we were stopped by a very drunk man, who asked us if we had some money. He then started asking us why we were "terrorizing people on our fancy bikes, where did we get them bikes anyway," etc. etc. And then, a guy comes riding past him, on a UNICYCLE. Wow, that was pretty random.

We also ran into a former investigator, at a less-active member's home. Her name is Tamara. The family was really nice, and said we could come back again sometime :) Apparently, she's visited the US before, specifically Utah. And she couldn't get over the fact of how many different kinds of jello salad people can make. She went to a family for a lunch, and there was a whole table dedicated to the stuff :D Marshmallows, carrot, pineapple, and on and on and on. She's amazed it's a "salad." (here, it's a dessert only.)

So, this week is the last week of the transfer. Holy Cow, it's really flown by! I can't believe it. And we've gotten some rumors from the zone leaders that we might be training this next transfer... D:

The district is ON FIRE! During correlation last night, I figured out that between our district (4 companionships), we have 8 baptismal dates! That's got to be some sort of record. And 4 of them were set this week! Everyone's pretty happy right now. The Rockingham elders had a cool experience with the family that they're teaching.

Of random note: I got a haircut.

Sorry if there's not much here this week, I can't really think this morning :P

Love you all! And Happy Thanksgiving!

Love,

Elder Reeder

Sunshine!

Another week in Australia!

Elder Segi and I have probably ridden 200 k's this week, all over our area. A lot of people have suddenly come down with illness (again?). Elder Segi caught it, too, and conked out Monday evening. He's determined not to let it get the better of him, though. He bought some tablets and we were out and about again. (This was Monday. He's feeling better now.)

Also, apparently the nearest bike shop, to buy tube replacements from, is about an hours walk away. Yup, we found this out the hard way. Very long story short, We're borrowing another missionary's bike for a while. :P

We've been working a lot with our two investigators with baptismal dates. I'm so excited! Our whole district is on fire, actually. There are 4 dates right now :) The gospel is really reaching the people in Western Australia!

JD is really excited. Every time we go over, the tv goes right off, he gets his scriptures, pen, and notebook and sits right down with us. He's determined to remember everything. His younger siblings as well, are starting to get into it! What an example he's setting for the rest of his family.

Jules (We found out it's spelled that way, not 'jeas'). is getting there as well! We reset his date to the 1st of December. He agreed with it, and wants to make sure that he's ready when he's baptised. We had a wonderful lesson with him on the book of mormon. We gave him a copy in his language. He got really emotional, and told us that he would give it to his wife. He and his wife had been going to different churches for 26 years, but he is certain that this would bring them together at last. We love meeting with Jules, and he loves us as well. We just need to get him to church, something's keeping him from coming right now.

We spent Friday out in Rockingham, on the Foreshore, contacting people with the other elders. THE BEACH IS SO BEAUTIFUL. I seriously wanted to go down to the water. But we can't. Darn. Elder Segi and I found some pretty cool people that day, including a man from Egypt! We also got very sunburned. Not so cool.

Yesterday was Remembrance Day. At 11AM there was a moment of silence to reflect on those who died in WWI, and for the signing of the Armistice, which ended it.

Well, that's my week. It's been pretty spiritual for us all. We went tracting and were actually invited inside a house, and able to share a lot of our beliefs about after this life with an older man. We helped him to see that he Did have a faith. It was really cool.

Love,

Elder Reeder

Mo-vember

So, sounds like people were having a blast at Halloween? :D I like the idea of donuts.

We actually had a Halloween activity down here! It was a trunk-or-treat as well. We all had some investigators attend, which was cool. I shook hands with a little kid, not realizing it was covered in toffee. Cute.

Friday and Saturday were pretty hectic. We spent much of it in the sister's area, helping to get the work going there. It was actually pretty fun, and we did get a few potentials for them to work with :) They were grateful. Then Elder Segi and I went with the Zone Leaders to our Ward Mission Leader's home, to meet with him for the first time. He's a good leader. Right afterwards, he came out with us and we visited some people we'd been working with.

Saturday was cool, though! Guess what? We have a baptismal date! We met with Jeas in the morning. I was so impressed with his faith. He wants to do all that he can to be with God again. We invited him to be baptised, and he accepted! We set a date for November 17th. He told us that this week, so many people had been calling him and inviting him to things, all on the 17th. But he knew what was most important, and he'd be there for that date. :) He didn't make it to church yesterday, though, so it's going to be set back a couple of weeks so we can help him be prepared.

The other date that we set was for a kid named JD. He's 10, and his grandfather is a recent convert. We went by last Saturday and taught him for the first time, and this time, we went by and talked about baptism with him. He's all set to do it, and his mother is supportive of him. JD will be baptised on the 24th of November! He's an awesome kid.

We've been really blessed, lately. We went tracting, and met a guy at someone else's house, named Jamie. He invited us over to his house. We taught him the Restoration, and about the Book of Mormon. He told us "Yeah, I will read this, and I'm definitely going to pray about it." Hahaha, he was thinking of getting his bike and riding with us over to some friends of his that he thought would be interested as well! Holy awesome. We're going to go back over tomorrow and follow up with him :)

So November is actually Mo-vember. I'm not exactly sure what it's all about, but there's a big emphasis on facial hair this month...? In any case, thank you mom for the halloween costume! I got it the day After Halloween, but we got together with the zone leaders and had some fun wearing them. Perfect timing :D

Thanks for the package! I loved it. And the pictures were awesome ;)

It's been raining for the past two days. Whee!

I love you all!

Elder Reeder