Mission Journal 2 January 1992 - August 1992

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 3rd of February Elder Donal Wineera, Tokoroa
17th of March Elder Frederick Luchycky, Tokoroa
30th of April Elder Robert Kimmel, Otahuhu
22nd of June Elder Byran Tavai, Mangere
27th of July Elder Falouhula Alatini, Mangere
Special People and Summary

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Please remember that I was 19 when I wrote most of this so don’t be too hard on my grammar or lack of writing style. (I barely passed school certificate English)

I have left the Journal largely unedited only adding in clarifying information, and although I wrote it to be read it could be quite hard to read because I refer to so many people without giving a full background on my relationship to them. Hopefully there will be enough themes and consistency of major players that it will be both enjoyable and uplifting to read.

Email me to let me know what you think.

Introduction

This history of my life now in its ninth volume is appropriately punctuated with a new year. 1992 is destined to be an exciting and fulfilling time. Especially being in the service of God, where many special and wonderful things happen. I have learnt so much already and am very eager to learn and grow even more. I hope this journal will inspire you to better desires, thoughts and deeds. I desire to improve myself and with a new year determine to increase that which I already have.

As always achieving is a major focus of this year, I have chosen a few inspiring thoughts from successful leading individuals which I include here:

So with this year comes an even greater determination to serve, learn and love within the full capacity of my calling as a missionary.

Wednesday, 1^st January

Because of our late night we were quite tired this morning. However, incentive to get up and go was there because we had planned an appointment.

It was Elders Foote and Dunlop turn for the car but we couldn’t find them so we instead took it.

Our morning appointment was with Auriole. We were all quite tired. However, we talked for about 2 hours before we even got into a discussion. The fifth discussion went well. Had trouble teaching the principal on Tithing. It didn’t seem to flow at all. She did commit though even though I think it was more for my sake.

After we had finished we went around to the Poa’s. Surprise, Tahei was there. She had stopped in for her flatmate Chris after spending New Year’s up at Pahia. It was really good to see her. We shared some good laughs and found out what each other were doing. She left with a mission from the Poa’s to change Anna’s mind about marrying this RM in Hawaii. Although I could see the converter being converted (Anna is pretty strong willed). After having lunch we visited the Paul family but only got to see John. Saw Lucy also. She was well and we talked and ate with her a while.

Visited Maree and Orion again. They are really cool. Orion is doing well with her smoking. No one else we wanted to visit was home so we decided to try and find the Elders but ended up at Antony Poutu’s place where we watched ‘three men and a little lady’ and I did a bit of research for my fore-fathers presentation.

Aileen even made us dinner, which was good because we didn’t have anything to eat.

Had a good talk to Maree. She is so sweet; she’s having a few problems at the moment. Satan is certainly working hard. Also Julian is becoming a bit of a hindrance rather than a help in a few things. I am not sure what to do. I love and care about her so much she’s like my sister.

Her enthusiasm is inspiring. I known she really wants to do the right thing for the right reasons. It is hard to change. I can really relate. With God however, nothing is impossible.

Thursday, 2^nd January

We had planned to spend our preparation day at the beach with Antz. But it looked rather muggy this morning and Antony didn’t come so we spent the morning in the flat doing little things here and there. I even baked some chocolate chip cookies since we had some ingredients left over from Christmas.

In the afternoon we got bored of staying here so we took the rackets and went looking for a court to play tennis. After hitting around the ball at Girls High, we found some nets at Boys High and so played a few games there.

Elder Price won the first set 6-4 and I won the second set 6-4 so tensions were quite mounted. We had found a game we quite evenly matched at.

In the third set I trailed 2-1 and we were on deuce in the fourth game when a tricky ball was played and while attempting to hit it I whacked myself in the head with the side of the racket. It was quite a nasty blow, several seconds later blood gushed down my face.

We couldn’t find any water close by so ended up going to Sister Johnson’s place down the road. She cleaned me up and we went to Prime Care who stitched and dressed my cut. It required three stitches and the big bandage on top made it look really ugly.

After all that was done we returned to the flat. Got changed and went to Maree and Orion’s. I cooked dinner and we all had a good munch out. Unfortunately Orien went out and Maree got stuck on the phone to Julian for a while so we didn’t get to teach but we did end up having a great talk with her.

I also realised tonight that I don’t express my feelings properly. People often tell me but I don’t take much notice but tonight I felt the real need to ‘communicate’ with Elder Price. Back at the flat we had a good talk and cleared up a lot of things. I felt like I was working with these people alone competing against him rather than working with him. He has felt that his mission was basically over since he came back from the Cook Islands. He is really just waiting to go home. He also felt that he was a little left out mostly because I had been in the area so long he was always my ‘new’ companion. All in all, we cleared the air and determined to be more obedient and really work.

Friday, 3^rd January

Went and visited Ian and Wendy Hamilton today. We had a wonderful lunch with them and a great talk. They are such fine people. Found they had some more anti material we didn’t know about like the God makers. They are full of surprises. The greatest one was that Ian wants to come to church this Sunday. Now that should be very interesting.

In the afternoon we went and watched a couple of Ian’s Christian videos about dinosaurs and the flood at the Johnsons house (Ian and Wendy don’t own a TV or video). They were both really good and informational. We had dinner with the Johnsons.

Afterwards we went to go see Raewyn and Mike but they weren’t home so we went into town to get some money. There we met up with Kellie and went with her on a ride out to Onerahi to the family home. It was good. We spent a little time with them. Sister Watson and I talked and did some primary things.

Louanna Whittaker and Kellie dropped us back. Louanna knew Geri and Kara and told me a little of what they had been up to.

Saturday, 4^th January

Had an appointment with Tip in the morning but we didn’t get to teach him so we set an appointment for tomorrow.

We came back to the flat for lunch and my head was playing up a little so we went for a sleep in the early afternoon.

Later on we went to visit people but could find no one home. So we went and spent the afternoon with Orion which was cool. We had a good talk and went over a few things with her.

We had dinner with Kellie and Evelyn. They feed us heaps. It was good. I really out did myself however because I nearly couldn’t hold it down. I had eaten far too much.

We finished off the evening with Maree and Orion. Maree was really tired tonight. Too many late nights are dragging her down quite a bit. She wants to go up to her mums batch to get away and get some sleep. But they were coming to church tomorrow which is good.

Sunday, 5^th January

This morning I definitely wasn’t with it. My slack mornings were getting me down also. We had church out at Hikurangi in the morning and it was okay but not fantastic.

However church in town was wonderful. Maree came and she looked wonderful. Ces came again and Ian even came. Sacrament must have been a shock for him as it was testimonies. He wrote down a lot of what people said. The others went to gospel principles class. Ian wanted to go to gospel doctrine. It was good. We began our study of the Book of Mormon. Priesthood must have been another shock because we bore testimonies there also. Rod Tronell gave a wonderful testimony about how he had found many of the teachings of the Latter Day Saints very hard - so he would spend time after church praying to know and he found that it was true and that’s why he kept coming. Maree really fitted in well. The Relief Society ladies really liked her. She set her date for next week for her baptism. She looked so comfortable and glowing at church today. It made my day and I certainly had a spring in my step because of it.

After church we went and visited Auriole because Jacob had an asthma attack but she wasn’t there. We saw the Carpenters back from their holiday and also the Windust who we made an appointment with for tomorrow.

We had a lovely dinner with Sister Keating. We had a fun evening with her.

Our last appointment for the day was with Tip. We had a neat discussion with him, it was the last and he didn’t commit to being baptised but he expressed his thanks at us sharing these things because he had learnt so much. Especially where Erica was coming from. It was a thoroughly enjoyable uplifting day. Church certainly gives me a great burst and especially 6 hours of it. Our fasting was really good too. God certainly heard and answered my prayers today.

Monday, 6^th January

Today was an interesting day. Visited Elder Dunlop his sister Kirsty and her new husband Warrick were visiting. So I had a very good talk with them especially Warrick. They still have that glow of newly weds and that spring in their step. It was neat. We visited Maree for a little while and had a good talk to her. Dropped off some stuff to Ian and found him reading the Book of Mormon. He wants to attend gospel doctrine. We spent a nice afternoon with Sister Windust. We went over a lot of things and straightened out some queries. She didn’t understand that people had lived on the earth before Jesus Christ; such was her limited memory of her Sunday School days.

After that we saw the Poa’s and arranged to come back. We also spent a little time with Sister Calton. Visited the Napias and had dinner with the Barkers. Found out Auriole was in hospital with Jacob so we changed our evening and went there. He was quite alright, although not very keen on a blessing. We got back a little early to the flat tonight.

Tuesday, 7^th January

Today was quite cool. We drove up to Maramaku with Elders Brewers and Unutoa. Our meeting was great; Elder McKay gave a few thoughts from their zone leader meeting in Auckland in which Elder Craven had been in attendance ie:

‘A friendshipped non-member is not going to receive salvation’

‘If we qualify for the spirit we will be great’

‘In doing we get the power’.

Elder McKay also went over planned things for the mission this year plus a lot of the rules.

We had a good talk afterwards and then came back to Whangarei with Elders Dunlop and Foote.

Had lunch at the Bollebooms and then got dropped off in Oneahi. Visited the Crawshaws, and Pam took out my stitches. Saw the Watsons for a little while and we then had dinner with the Whites.

We spent the latter part of the evening with Marie. She was so fantastic. We talked about and organised her baptism, went over the six discussions, it was cool. She had prayed and got an answer that the church was true. It certainly made my day to see her so happy. She asked me to confirm her and I was very delighted.

This is going to be a very special baptism. I hope that Orion will be just as ready and not doing it just because Marie is.

I wrote a letter to Chris [Broczek] tonight . He has his call to the Auckland mission and goes in the MTC on the 23^rd of February. I am so excited he is going to be one great missionary. I hope that I get to serve with him, maybe even get to train him. Wouldn’t that be fantastic?

Wednesday, 8^th January

Had some errands this morning so when the Elders came to give us the car we dropped them off in town while we visited Tip and Erica for a while.

We dropped off the Elders and visited Lucy for a while, as we heard that she was sick. We also stopped in at the Poa’s to confirm our appointment with them before shooting out to Hikurangi.

It was a very very hot day, we had takeaways for lunch and we roasted. We visited Cori who was home alone and ended up sleeping it was so hot. Their bathtub was filled with mysterious ‘pot’ plants, it was interesting to see we now know Malcolm’s big hang-up and why he won’t go to church. The latter part of the afternoon we visited Sister Marvin and Sidena before returning to the Pughs.

We didn’t have a dinner appointment but rushed back to give the car to the other Elders.

In the evening we spent time over at Marie’s place talking and organising her baptism. We went over the flip chart and made sure she knew all about what we had taught her. She is most excellent, very ready to be baptised.

Thursday, 9^th January

Today was our p-day. Elder Price was still quite sick but wanted to get this flu out of his system. So we took a walk down town. I got quite a few things as we hadn’t been shopping for ages.

On top of our shopping we also went and had a game of ten pin bowling which wasn’t exactly great but it was fun.

We went up to Maree’s, went and did some shopping for food, grabbed a video ‘home alone’ and went and watched it at Maree’s.

Julian came over also and so we got to talk to him. Orion came back from the beach too so we got to help her be prepared too.

Our dinner appointment was with the Napia’s so we started walking up the hill to Tikipunga, luckily Adrian gave us a lift up which saved us heaps of time and heaps of feet. We had a good time at the Napias and then went over to the Poa family. They were kind of busy so we spent most of the time with Anthony who dropped us back afterwards.

Friday, 10^th January

This morning Sister Windust picked us up and together we all went to Auriole’s place. Watene was there also so we got them excited and then game them the stop smoking program. The lesson went excellent. Sister Windust was very excited as especially she saw the opportunity to be worthy to take the sacrament. Max excited too. Watene was not so excited but did listen throughout and committed to stop smoking also.

Sister Windust dropped us back and we went to Maree and Orion’s with some church videos and things to go through with them. We had a neat discussion. I was unsure of Orion’s real desire or reason for baptism but my concerns were dispelled as we talked and I am now very confident she is ready for baptism.

After spending most of the afternoon with them we started on our walk to Onerahi Luella picked us up on the way, which we were very thankful of.

We spent the evening with the Watsons talking, and eating K-Fries. It was neat. Elder Price was still feeling quite sick so we tried to stay indoors a lot.

Saturday, 11^th January

Elder Price was still quite sick and so instead of aggravating it by going out we spent most of the day in the flat. I got a chance to catch up on a few things. Especially going over this stop smoking workshop. After lunch we went around the corner to Sister Johnson’s place and made up the programme for Marie and Orion’s baptism tomorrow.

We returned back to the flat and Ian came over. Elder Price went for a sleep and I spent time just talking with Ian. We went over quite a few points especially differences in doctrine.

After that was all over Elders Foote and Dunlop came over and together we went to Maree and Orion’s place. Elder Foote gave them their baptism interviews, which went really well. They are more greatly enthused especially since they know that they are ready.

They left and we stayed around and talked a while. Sister Johnson had brought some clothes and so they tried them on. Fashion hit them and they decided on their own gear after all. It was good to see them so confident and ready. Tomorrow will be a special day.

Sunday, 12^th January

We zoomed off to Hikurangi first thing when the Elders came to get us. We had the opportunity to do a little baptism preparation we would have done the photocopying of the programme but there was no paper. All the classes went well and I even got to see one of my old chemistry mates Rachel with her husband and baby.

Elder Price spoke for sacrament on repentance and then we quickly zoomed back to Whangarei, after having first done some tricky manuvering to get into our locked car. We were fretting for a moment.

Church was good back in our ward. I got to speak on the Book of Mormon, a tool for conversion in which I gave a few of my special experiences, which my investigators had had with the Book of Mormon. Sister Semenoff and Sam Napia also followed, so it was a very good meeting.

Orion and Marie came to all the classes and enjoyed themselves immensely so it helped them feel comfortable for the evening.

We spent time after church organising the baptism programme and filling the font, we managed to get it filled with hot water.

We had dinner with the Cannons and then went up to chapel.

Everything went real smoothly leading up to the baptism. The girls were very nervous but looked fantastic in their white clothes. They truly looked radiant. Julian didn’t turn up on time and so Maree got quite worried. We delayed until he came so it didn’t start right on time. Lots of people were there it was great to see the support.

The programme started and Taylor and Nicky their toddlers decided to play on the chairs up front. I could tell Marie and Orion were a bit worried so I tried to get to them eventually Joanne took them out.

The baptism progressed very well, it was a very spiritual thing. Julian baptised Maree and Elder Price baptised Orion, I confirmed Marie and Elder Price confirmed Orion. The spirit hit them really strong. Afterwards at the light supper they expressed their joy, love and warmth.

It really touched my heart heaps also they are so special and I love them so much. It made my year to see them truly happy and progressing back to our Heavenly Father.

WE visited them after it all and they were on a definite spiritual buzz. We encouraged them to write down their feelings so they could recall them later.

Monday, 13^th January

Got some binding and laminating done this morning for some kits that I am working on. After lunch we spent some time with Marie and Orion at Carol’s place with her. Their enthusiasm is still wonderful. I think they inspired Carol a lot to develop more in a lot of areas. We had an appointment with Sister Windust, which went really well - we had our discussion on living a Christlike life and also discussed a few questions she had with regard to a few things.

Our dinner appointment was way across town with the Crawshaws. We had a lovely dinner and a good talk. They might be going through the temple this month. Since it is not open next month.

We spent the rest of the evening with the Watsons. We committed Eric and Jason to hear the discussions. Eric seemed really keen which was a surprise to me. We set up an appointment for next Saturday when we came for dinner.

Tuesday, 14^th January

Our district meeting was really neat. Elder Brewer gave an excellent talk on testimony he gave the definition as ‘sure knowledge received by revelation’. He also gave a formula to developing a testimony - 1: desire, 2: study, 3: practice, 4: prayer. Elder Unutoa went over some discussion skills and Elder Dunlop went over some missionary skills. After which we ended with testimonies of our own.

We went off to Hikurangi and visited with the Pughs then the Pearce’s and got to see Pohi and his bride. Sidena wasn’t home so we saw some less actives. We also visited Eddie and Tina who looked really happy, which was very comforting. We had dinner with the Semenoffs where I also had a few games of chess with Elder Price and Ripi.

We were to have a new member discussion with Marie and Orion but conditions were impossible and we ended up talking and also just relating a story to them. We set an appointment for Thursday a little earlier in the day and also planned to view Fantasia, which we had gotten from the Crawshaws last night.

Wednesday, 15^th January

Visited Lucy this morning with Elders Foote and Dunlop. It was her birthday the other day so it was good to spend more time with her. I think she really appreciated it. However I think we spent a little too long. We had lunch at the flat and then took a ride to the Avenues. We first visited the Malcolms and had a good time with all of them. Mary was all critical of her daughter Maree’s baptism but yet again it was only a front, she told us she would be there on Sunday.

We visited Carol. She still hasn’t had her baby. After all the hassles they may end up inducing her. She’s now overdue. We saw Grace for a little while as she popped in. We taught Carol a new member discussion, which she was really enthusiastic about. We will have to help her with her commitments to read, pray and come to church. We had dinner at Sister Cooing’s new apartment before spending time with Ian and Wendy. We spent the night just talking about general subjects not really getting anywhere at all. It is very hard to know what to do with them.

Elder Harmon rang tonight also had a good talk.

Thursday, 16^th January

Today was our p-day. After a bit of breakfast I got a phone call from Jamie a less active friend of Sister Hayden’s I had once met. She had rung to tell me of her devotion to me. It was a pretty tricky situation. I thought I had done well by not having this happen to me till now.

We went down the youth centre and played basketball and did weights. We did some work back at the flat with letter sand stuff. Jamie rang again and it was hard but I managed to avoid bad subjects.

Later in the afternoon we went to Orion and Maree’s. We helped them prepare dinner and with Julian we ate the most beautiful taco’s I have ever tasted. It was beautiful. To top it off we had a new member discussion, which went well.

In the evening we had Fantasia and Joyce Wilson etc turned up and we ended up talking heaps. I let Julian, Maree and Orion look at my last journal to help them start their own. However Julian just used it to mock. He is very good at that.

I think we need to be more better in our discussing skills also Maree told us that we were asking real stupid questions and she is right, he sounds corny as.

Friday, 17^th January

Jamie rang up again and I had to tell her straight about my responsibilities and that she was not allowed to do. She didn’t take it the best but I did it as empathetically as I could.

Sister Windust picked us up; it is her 7^th day today so she is now a non-smoker. I talked to Auriole also and she is too. We visited Donna and discussed a concern that I knew both of them had. I got it out of the October 1991 ensign ‘teaching youth to be morally pure’. We had a good talk and I think they came along with some good ideas.

We visited Sister Windust hard case aunty and then saw Antz.

We saw the Carpenters and also had a good talk with the Galders. Dot made an appointment with us for dinner next Tuesday so we were thrilled.

Had our dinner with the Napias and Sister Napia took us back to Sister Windusts so we could present her achievement certificate with her family present.

We spent some time with the Poa’s getting them enthused at this stop smoking program, went over the lesson in the Gospel Principals Manual with them.

We arrived home a little earlier and did a lot of study from the missionary guide.

Saturday, 18^th January

Had our sixth discussion with Mike this morning, which was cool. Visited Orion who was a little ill so we gave her a blessing. Brother MacKinnon picked us up and we had lunch with him and his family in Onerahi.

Then we walked around Onerahi visiting but no one was home. We ended up at Carol and Grace’s parents. We had a good talk to them and shared a story that touched Brother Hodgon.

We also got to see in passing, Dion, Shirley, Albert and Bishops family.

We had dinner with the Watsons and spent some time with them in the evening. We had hoped to teach Eric and Jason but Eric got into some trouble during the week and was sent home so we didn’t do anything with them tonight.

Sunday, 19^th January

Our morning in Hikurangi was great. Church went very well. We did quite a bit of photocopying and so got our records up to date for a change. We arranged a family home evening with the Pugh’s to teach the new member discussion and the stop smoking program.

Whangarei’s service was cool too. Had a good time there, lots of our investigators came.

I sat next to Cecil in church and he told me that he wants to get baptised soon so it looks like we could be teaching him shortly and also baptising him. Sister Windust had her interview with Bishop and is now worthy to take a full active role in the church. We were so happy for her.

We had a quick meeting to organise our team of stake missionaries with Julian, the Crawshaws and Robert Carpenter involved.

Went to Marie and Orion’s place and spent some time with them. Because Orion is going to Auckland tomorrow, we taught her the second new member discussion tonight, it went great. Our dinner was with the Crawshaws who we had a great talk to. They may be going to the temple this month. We visited Dion and Shirley. It was good to see Shirley reading her Book of Mormon and Relief Society Manual even though she didn’t come to church today.

We then drove out to the Whaikawa’s farm in Parua Bay to see them and spent some time with them and also the night.

Monday, 20^th January

Spent a bit of time with the Whaikawa’s before making our way into town. We got changed and showered at the flat. Foote and Dunlop came around and we needed up talking for a while. We dropped them off and continued up to Hikurangi. We visited Mike for a while on the farm and went over all the six discussions since it had been a long time since we had taught him all the discussions so we did it briefly again.

Saw Sharlene Hepi at the Pearce’s, which was good. She is still really anxious to get baptised. Saw some other less active members in Hikurangi and had a good time with them.

Then we had our family home evening with the Pugh’s, Te Moananui’s and Molly. While Elder Price taught Cori’s new member discussion I went over the stop smoking program with Brenda and Malcolm. They were quite excited to stop smoking. So we definitely gave them the method if they would only provide the will, desire and determination and with Father in heaven’s help all things are possible.

Tuesday, 21^st January

Started the morning for Tip Williams. He wasn’t at home though so we assumed he wasn’t back yet. We then went and got some quotes for fixing the car. The cheapest was just under $200, just for that little ding, amazing.

We visited Lucy for a while and spent a little time with her. Also visited the Poa’s and saw Karl, Carol and Aunty.

Our appointment was with Maureen Windust. We had lunch and then had a cool discussion. She made some big progress. She even had her stop smoking achievement certificate framed on the wall. She finds it a good opportunity to tell her friends and family about the gospel.

We saw the Carpenters and visited the Sadlers. They have a great collection of theological books.

Dinner was at the Napias and we spent a little time there before going to the Poa’s. We had a good discussion with Cecil who is really enthusiastic about quitting smoking, drinking and coffee. He was really excited about the programme. I think he will do really well, if he has the right support.

Wednesday, 22^nd January

Our morning was a bit slow. After getting the car to the other elders and mucking around we ventured down town first. I got a haircut and then we visited Molly at her stall in the market. She is selling her old clothes for Edwin’s mission. She told us Brenda had had a smoke after we left and Malcolm had one the next day. I told her she needed to be firm with them and really give them a push when they need it.

We had a good visit with Joanne and a good visit with Carol we ended up talking heaps and Dalsey came and we talked to her also.

We visited the hospital and did a bit of blessings for some of the members who were up there. Had dinner back at the flat as Sister Johnson dropped it off.

Went to go see Raewyn but she wasn’t home so we went down the road to Maron’s place (my sister’s friend). We found out her mum was not a member. We had a neat evening with them, topped off by them giving us a free trip to go to the Tu-Tu bus tour in Kaitaia. Visited Maree for a moment then came back to the flat. Aaron, Elder Price’s cousin came to stay the night. Talked to Chris, he goes in the MTC tomorrow, he is so cool.

Thursday, 23^rd January

Went to play basketball and do weights this morning at the youth centre down the road. Had a really strong workout but I don’t think my body enjoyed it because I came back to the flat, had a splitting headache and also vomited.

In the afternoon I was a little better and so we took a walk Our landlord wanted to inspect the flat so we did a very massive clean up operation and made it almost spotless. However it took up the remainder of the afternoon. We had a lovely dinner with Sister Going yet again. She is so good to us, she baked us some biscuits again. We caught a ride up to Tikipunga with her and got to see Gloria Hepi for the last time before her return to Canada.

We went and visited Ces in the afternoon and he is doing great with his non-smoking, which was really neat to see. It made up for the disappointment of Brenda and Malcolm who aren’t doing so well. After staying there a while we found Aunty wasn’t coming back for the night so we were stuck so we stayed in Antz bed.

Friday, 24^th January

After getting driven back to town by Cecil, we showered and waited for the McPherson’s. Our zone conference was at Maramara. It was a long meeting but very informational and helpful with regards to our work.

Elder Price gave a good talk on repentance and also bore a powerful and beautiful testimony. He surely is a great man. Elder McKay gave some good thoughts on personal righteousness. Are we in control? Train minds to focus on righteous desires. Continually praying and thinking clean thoughts. Strive for self-mastery, couple that with serving others and have that Christlike attitude. Don’t let circumstances control; draw upon the powers of heaven. In doing becomes the power. Thought personal righteousness we have that doing 1 Nephi 17:35 Alma 17:3.

The rest of the day went pretty quick. My interview with president was interesting. He told me I would be shifting on the next shift but I told him how hard double shifts are. So he is going to reconsider.

Had a second new member discussion with Maree and Orion. We taught the first few. Pam and Ray ended up with the last two principles during Elder Price alerted me to the fact my fly was down and I just rolled into fits of laughter. Later on we left with Julian and Maree and sung some blues and sat outside our flat talking to Ripi and Gordon.

Saturday, 25^th January

Ray picked us up around 10am and together with Brother White we drove to Maramaku. Our first meeting was with President Lloyd in the stake missionary training meeting. It was good and went rather well. I sure learned quite a bit.

Our second meeting was stake priesthood leadership training that was also very informational and inspiring. Elder Domini spoke first. He spoke on the fact that church growth depends on the priesthood. If the priesthood doesn’t move neither does the church. Improved training brings about more effective performance through offices and quorums.

The bishoprics primary responsibility is the youth. Adults and families are the responsibility of the Elders quorum and High Priest presidencies. An emphasis was on more personal priesthood interviews with heart felt concern putting time and effort into developing brotherhood.

Elder Martin went on to speak about many more things and gave a greater practical training. He looked a lot at our responsibilities with current elders, prospective Elders and Aaronic priesthood. Back in Whangarei we visited Raewyn and Mike and on request gave quite a few blessings, it was really choice. Had our Elders quorum activity up at the Semenoffs.

Sunday, 26^th January

We were a bit late when Brother Calton came but managed to make it up to Kiakohe in just over an hour.

I got to see many people I hadn’t seen for quite a while. It was neat to catch up. President Going started off the conference with a fire address on responsibility in the home. He gave some good thoughts which I will include here.

Eternal marriage requires a lot of work; trouble marriages need a happy union.

Prevention is better than a cure.

D&C 42:22 love thy wife with all thy heart - entire heart, not looking after marriage must be total allegiance.

Don’t take for granted put interests of partners before your own.

Is he or she your best friend? Do I have respect and dignity for my partner?

Don’t quarrel over money - be satisfied with what we’ve got.

Children become bored because they have become dependent on someone or something to entertain them.

Build marriages on spirituality - keep the commandments!

Go back to the temple again and again, have that protection against Satan.

Don’t be selfish.

Be faithful to our covenants! Our faithfulness measures the depth of our testimony and what we are willing to sacrifice.

We can never reach eternity on false pretences.

President Tipene spoke on the great dispensation we were in and also great pressures. He also talked about how the love of money is the root of all evil.

Matthew Pearce talked on the spirit and related ‘it is not what you hear or see but what you feel that has the greatest impact’.

Brother McKai talked on his newly sealed family and stated ‘our families aren’t ours, this is a testing period to see if we are worthy to receive them for eternity’.

Sister Martin talked about being an example of the believers and wear the armour of God. She said for the youth to follow the pamphlet ‘for the strength of youth’ and later swap it for a temple recommend.

Elder Martin spoke on renewing our covenants of baptism. He especially talked about having a mighty change of heart. Alma 5 11-14 to give us a determination to follow the Saviour.

Some other thoughts from the second session are:

The spirit of the Saviour changes lives.

We bless the lives of prospective elders through home teaching.

Simple little things touch peoples hearts and turn them to Christ.

Give quality teaching relate to each home like we relate to our own children and wives.

Polish our aging and put them on a pedistool. We treasure our antiques but often not those people who made our lives rich full and possible.

Nothing can compare to a loving wife.

Nothing can separate that fully bonded love that knows no bounds.

After conference had finished and we had seen some of our friends all around we took a drive back with Elder Foote and Dunlop and detoured through Paihia and Waitangi which neither Elder Price or I had seen before. It was all right, the sun however wasn’t shining and so it didn’t look very glamorous to me.

We stopped in Hikurangi and visited with Steve and Peggy who had just got back last night from their holiday in the States. They were looking a little tired but nevertheless enthusiastic to talk about their experiences.

After dropping off the other elders in Kamo we went to Tikipunga to see if anyone was home. No one was so we went to Lucy’s. She made us a big feed since we didn’t have a dinner appointment and sent us away to Maree’s.

We spent the remainder of the evening with her. I shared my notes from conference and it was wonderful to see how quickly she picked up on the spirit of the meeting.

Monday, 27^th January

Drove out to Whakapara first thing this morning and spent a bit of time with the Pearces. Molly came with us to the Potters farm. We first presented the stop smoking program to Betty and Karl which was quite fun.

Also spent a bit of time with Tom and we taught him the fourth discussion - plan of salvation. He was quite interested. He had an interesting belief of reincarnation. He wanted to hear more so I guess he was touched. We visited Darlene and Eddie in town, it was a neat visit. We also saw Peggy for a moment and the Pughs. The Pughs hadn’t succeeded on their programme but oh what great intentions. Our dinner was with the Windusts - we had a nice talk to them and excellent dinner. We left with a story and a prayer. I hope that Terry becomes interested in the church.

Our last port of call was the Poa’s which we were delighted to find Ces with this great determination and truly a committed non-smoker.

Tuesday, 28^th January

Today was supposed to be our district activity. We planned to go to the beach however the rain in the morning put us off and so we turned it into a district service project.

We spent all the day at Maron’s places her mother Vicki is a non-member and so we went and helped her strip the wallpaper in the bedroom and lounge and hallway. It was a really good service project and we had a lot of fun together doing it. Vickie gave us a big feed and so we were well rewarded physically. Elder Brewer was really funny. He was flirting quite a bit with the two young girls. Actually it got me a little angry because Vicki was not a member and this was not a thing that would bring her closer to the gospel.

Because of the workload we stayed till the evening doing the house. I know they were very appreciative. It made up for all the service hours we had missed in the last few weeks. Now all we have to do is bring up our companionship studies.

Wednesday, 29^th January

Our first call this morning was to Orion who was back from her holiday up North.

We also visited Tip. I told them about the shift and they hoped I would go to Taupo. We took this IQ test and found out Elder Price and I are geniuses (but obviously not in spelling!).

Our afternoon appointment was with Carol so we went to see her. We all went around to Grace’s place and we ended up teaching her the sixth discussion. She is really fantastic. She takes notes and everything. However she is never gong to progress any more if she doesn’t come to church.

We took our walk up Tikipunga hill. No one picked us up so we went all the way. We are getting better though it only took us 45 minutes. It was good to see Auriole again. She was so enthusiastic about not smoking and getting baptised straight after her wedding, it is good.

We had a great time at the Poa’s, presented him with his stop smoking achievement certificate. He wants to get baptised but wants another sign so I put him onto D&C 6: 20-24. He is so ready it isn’t funny.

Thursday, 30^th January

Some interesting things happened last night. Jamie who was hitting on me has been apparently doing more with Elder Brewer and with this tendances he has lead her a bit. So Elder Foote asked my advice and rang President Lloyd. Everything got all sorted out but my name came up through my trouble with her so it is definite that I am shifting this shift.

Our day started very early this morning when Ken, Elder Foote and Dunlop came and got us. The trip up to Kaitaia was quite fast and we were up there within two hours. The country is beautiful up there. We visited an old junk shop at Awanui, Elder Foote had seen some valuable antiques and so wanted to get some cheap however the owner was a bit more clued up than that.

At 10am we all crowded on the ‘Tutu’ six wheel drive bus and took off down the road to the bottom of 90-mile beach. We saw some spectacular views. At some points you could see the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean at the same time. We went to an old kauri gum field and did some digging. We found some good pieces and I had some of the tourists on. We rode up to the top of the sand dunes and had a play around on the banks. Then on the bus we cascaded over the dunes, it was neat and quite breath-taking. On the beach we drove through the breakers and attempted a few sand hills. Our stop for lunch was by quite a steep sand bank and so we had a good time coming down the sand on sleds.

Lunch was nice and before we knew it we were back in Kaitaia. We left about 3.50 and raced down to catch the car ferry which left at 5pm. We must have been really taken care of because we just managed to get there on time and there was just one space left.

We travelled through the town of Opononi which was very tiny. Then through to Dargaville which took ages on the metal roads. Along the way we were able to see the largest Kauri tree in New Zealand. We finally got back to Whangarei quite late after four hours of driving back.

Our dinner appointment was with Marie and Orion, which was neat, they made us a great meal.

Friday, 31^st January

Today was our district activity out at Matapouri beach.

It was a beautiful day and the beach was sparkling. We had a choice barbeque with a lot of food.

Elder Dunlop, Foote and I went for a neat walk around to Whale Bay another scenic beach. We played a combination of grid iron and frisbee throwing. It got a bit rough when we converted to tackling. In fact the tackling went over into the water and so I got a bit wet. Elder MacPherson tactfully reminded us that playing in the water probably wasn’t in keeping with the mission rules.

After getting burnt quite a bit we travelled to another beach before returning back to town. We went with the MacPhersons and had a wonderful time - it is probably the last time we shall see them.

We spent our evening at the flat packing. We got most of our stuff all ready packed so it was quite a head start.

We had our last meal at McDonalds. It tasted as bad as ever but we didn’t have much other choice. I don’t think I’ll ever be living close to McDonalds than we are right now.

Saturday, 1^st February

Spent the day visiting people around town. We went to see Maron and her family but some people were rewiring the house. So went and saw the Malcolms and Joanne invited us to Saavik birthday. We helped her with some decorations. We had a good appointment with Carol. We watched the culture groups presentation for the Polynesian festival next week. We also had a go on Niira’s dad’s professional Kareoke machine, we sung a few songs. The finale was Carol singing ‘nobody’, which we were back up singers and grovers.

The party was quite good, a real laugh especially with Maree’s face painted. We went up to McDonalds for an ice cream Sunday and cake with the kids. After which we visited Mike and Raewyn for the last time. I hope Mike progresses to baptism, he needs to get baptised.

We spent the remainder of the evening with Maree and Orion. We had dinner with them. We had brought our cold dinner that the Wharemate’s had dropped off to us.

Sunday, 2^nd February

I woke to the voice of Elder McKay on the phone telling us that we have to drive down to Auckland and be at the Elders flat at 6pm.

We had already done a bit of packing and just finished off. We gathered all our stuff that are owed to people and took off first to Hikurangi. We had a neat time with them had a class lesson beginning the gospel principles class with Steve and Brenda. During priesthood we visited Sister Marvin. Luckily we caught her going to church. Had an excellent fast and testimony meeting. Elder Price and I both got to bear our testimonies, it was very emotional. It is sad to be leaving. Saying goodbye at Whangarei Ward wasn’t quite as tear jerking but still good. I taught the gospel principles class on the atonement before we said our goodbyes to Cecil and others and cruised off in the car.

Picked up our gear, visited Maree and Orion for a moment and also Elder Unitoa and Brewer. We left Whangarei at 4.01. Our travel down was fairly fast and if we hadn’t got lost we would have been right on time.

I spent the night with Elder Knapp and we visited a few people in this ward also saw Kara’s parents at their house. Didn’t get to see Kara because she was at Choir practice. Found out I am moving to Tokoroa - choice.

Monday, 3^rd February

Pam told us something special before we left yesterday. She had been holding back from me how she managed to give up smoking but since we were leaving she thought she would tell us. Several months ago she was still smoking and was very frustrated at her efforts in giving up. One Friday night she poured out her soul in prayer pleading for Gods help. The next day I rang up with the measles and we stayed for the next two weeks at her house - she was then able to give up. We never knew but Heavenly Father sure used us in a way that was so special, yet we could not comprehend at that time. Yes God works in mysterious ways. What a miracle!

Another highlight of yesterday was Maureen Windust’s testimony punctuated by tears she is now fully converted to the gospel and my joy is full.

This morning we left Auckland at 5.30am and travelled, picking up and dropping off various missionaries till I finally arrived at Rotorua. It was a bit of a wait till my companion came but I was very pleased to met Elder Donal Wineera from Porirua. He is a great missionary with a wonderful desire to do the right things. Tokoroa is going to be a wonderful place. Our flat is nice; it’s attached to a member family’s home, the VanderPutten’s, 6 Toroa Place.

We did some service for our landlord on his drive after I had planted all my gear in its various deposits.

Being tired from last night we visited some helpful members up the road, the Mateara’s. They did the little laundry I had and we had a small sleep. Our dinner appointment was with the Middletons, which was quite far away so we had a good bike ride. I was quite lost with the streets but followed Elder Wineera along.

We visited a new member Elizabeth MacKey who was baptised yesterday. She was good and had a great desire to learn more. We scheduled an appointment for the new member discussion to be taught.

After that we visited the Cowleys - Ollie and Joseph whom I went to High School with both there plus the rest of Ollie’s family. It was good to see them all. They went out and got us a big feed of Chinese and fish’n’chips. It was a good treat and welcome. Ollie's dad is not a member so I think we may be able to do some work there.

We got back to the flat a little late and planned. We set some goals to be more diligent in keeping the missionary rules so it is 6.30am start tomorrow.

Tuesday, 4^th February

Since we had planned our companion study it was motivation enough to get me up and working.

Our day went cool. Visited a few people and set up appointments. Saw Maranda Snell off the Costa Rica. Had an awesome lunch with the Manu’s and got to see Noora back home from his mission. Visited a Bonnie Kea who we shared a very special message with and helped her commit to come back to church and read and pray.

Had a quick visit with Vince who is a Seventh Day Adventist we are teaching. Our dinner was with the Cripps where I got to see Mariana, an old friend from college. She is inactive however I hope there is something I can help with there.

Our evening was roller coaster ride. First a first new member discussion with Sister Mackey then a second discussion with Harry Nichols whom we committed to baptism next week then a visit with Devorms who we shared a spiritual story and invited them to come to church - a very intense but wonderful day. I have never been so rushed. We did accomplish a lot because of it though.

Wednesday, 5^th February

Today was a little slower than yesterday but still good. We even did a little tracting which I hadn’t done in many a month. It was all right but the short little street didn’t have many people at home. We visited a few people but not very many people were home. Saw Reece my old high school roommate for a little time. He is really good and got to meet his girlfriend that he is living with plus her mother Diane, an inactive member who I met up at the Marae in Whakapara. She was really shocked to see me but I told them several months ago I’d be down, they didn’t believe me and at the time I didn’t believe me either. It’s funny how things work, especially with the Lord.

We went out to Mangakino (a small township about 40km away from Tokoroa which we cover) in the evening. We had a few appointments firstly with Ngaire, Tania and Donna however Donna couldn’t come and Ngaire had to shoot off halfway through so it didn’t end up being a very productive teaching appointment. Our other appointment with Brent Reti didn’t go either because he was in town. So together with the Tueu’s who brought us out we got some ice creams at the shop.

Thursday, 6^th February

Waitangi Day. I had planned to be in Waitangi today but obviously there were more important things I needed to do.

We spent most of the morning cleaning the flat. Elder Waterson our Zone Leader is coming tomorrow and wants to inspect our flat, so we did some work.

We had lunch up at John and Rita’s, they have given us a key to get in so we could use their place anytime - so we did.

In the afternoon we did some tracting. The first house we went to we talked for a while then shared the plan of salvation with Barry John. It was a neat experience there was a strong spirit there.

We visited several other houses and got some callbacks. It got a little late so we didn’t finish the street but did spend about half an hour playing games with all the neighbourhood children. Great fun we got to know them by name too.

We had dinner with Richard MacFarlane who got us chips and KFC, had a choice meal then went up to the chapel and played basketball with the local members. It was very intense and great. Had a small missionary training meeting with the Tueu’s to get them prepared to teach Sister Mackay on Saturday.

Friday, 7^th February

Elder Waterson came in the morning with stake missionary as planned. The stake missionary happened to be Roshan Nandu who I went to school with.

We first tracted Balmoral Street. I went with Roshan. We had a fun time yet again we got in the first door. It was a few young men. We didn’t stay long as the situation didn’t seem too good but did share a story.

The rest of our tracting wasn’t very eventful but all in good fun.

We had a massive lunch provided at the Manu’s followed by our district meeting conducted by me. Had a good talk, discussed goals, work and activities.

They left soon afterwards and we visited Harry Neho and taught him his third discussion. It went well.

Had dinner with Mike and Kim, these people here feed us heaps. They had two chickens for us and when we didn’t eat them they gave us one for tomorrow.

Had a neat evening with Ollie and Wilson. We had a missionary evening ie watched the video ‘Called to Service’ and shared experiences. It was very very special and a strong sweet spirit was present. Afterwards watched volleyball at the chapel and visited Brother Whare.

Saturday, 8^th February

Our correlation meeting was at 8am so we were ready early. However on our attempt to leave the flat Elder Wineera came off his bike down the road. We returned to the flat and Sister Van der Putten fixed him up. We ended up going with the Tueu’s to the meeting.

I met our ward mission leader John James who is good, very organised and systematic. Afterwards he taught Sister Mackey with the Tueu’s. It went well. We returned to the flat, did some other study.

In the afternoon we went to finish tracting Maple Street. Yet again we got in the first house and stayed there for a few hours chatting with the family - we arranged an appointment with Rose Nahu for lunch next Saturday.

In the evening we went to the Tuaeu’s for dinner, which was good. After which we had a training meeting with them, we went over some skills and got them ready to teach the third new member discussion.

In the latter evening we went to visit the Devorms but they weren’t home so we listened for a while at the Apostolic Church concert.

We saw Brother Jones and came back to the flat for planning and stats.

Sunday, 9^th February

My first experience of Tokoroa ward started in executive meeting at 7.30 in the morning because of the rain we got a ride with John.

Church was good. It was pretty small compared to what it usually is. Elder Wineera told me it was a nice ward and I felt very at home there.

After the meetings we went down the road and taught Harry the fourth discussion. It was good also because we taught a few other people as well. We had an appointment with Vince’s dad but he wasn’t available so we went home. Then over to the Tuaeu’s to get Elder Wineera’s hands dressed. Since it was raining we decided to stay and we had a sleep.

Our dinner was with the Jacobs after which we visited Matt and Lynn. Matt is a Bible studier who prescribes mostly to the beliefs of the Jehovah witnesses. He was concerned at our doctrine of a spirit world. We shared the plan of salvation and identified areas to work on.

I find it amazing that people believe that when you die you become unconscious when so many testimonies of those who have died show the complete opposite.

Monday, 10^th February

We were up super early this morning and up at the chapel for basketball. We had some good games challenging but good. We played a couple of hours then returned to the flat.

We went and watched the all-stars game on Richard Coopers sky channel.

Sister Van der Putten gave us breakfast and also did our laundry, which was very kind of her. We had lunch with John and Rita followed by shots with the basketball and letters to friends. I wrote to Chantelle and Ronette. Again we went to Richard’s place and together with some of the young married couples we played touch rugby.

We went and taught Harry at 4pm and gave him the fifth discussion, which went well. Our dinner was with the Cowleys, which was beautiful. We had a lovely dinner and I had a good talk to Onele Ike.

Later in the evening we visited the Skiipps family and taught them the fourth discussion also. There was a very strong spirit there yet they did not accept an invitation to hear more nevertheless I think Kirsty who is a new member really enjoyed it.

Tuesday, 11th February

Most of today ended up being organisation day. We did some things for Harry’s programme. Andilla typed it up for us and we spent some time in town organising it. We also did some shopping and even got some groceries that were badly needed. Saw Sister Devorm at the checkout and she was embarrassed that she didn’t fulfil her commitment.

We got a haircut from Corin our very inactive friend. It was good she did it good and best of all it was free. We spent the latter part of the afternoon visiting people who weren’t home. We stopped in at the Wells place and spent some time with them.

Our dinner was with the Nortons, which was neat. After returning back to the flat we went with Brother Tuaeu out to Mangakino. We got settled in at Gillies house in his little batch. Met Brent Reti for the first time. He is a wonderful guy with some amazing talents and a great spirit. We visited some people we were teaching but they weren’t home. Visited Donna and met her boyfriend Jerry. We had an excellent night with him talking and arranged to come back in the morning.

Wednesday, 12^th February

Brent cooked us a big feed for breakfast which was a very good start to the day.

We talked with him about his commitment to be baptised, he really has a very genuine desire to be ready and prepared. He was still having a bit of problem with smoking so I put him on a stop smoking program. He was really enthusiastic, more so than anyone I have ever seen. I am confident he will succeed despite our lack of contact with him.

Visited Jerry and Donna in the latter morning. We had an excellent time with them again. We taught a fourth discussion which Tania also joined in. It was good.

In the afternoon we went to check on contacts, met some good people and arranged some appointments.

We returned back to Ngaire and Tania’s and spent a little time with them. Saw the Smiths our stake missionaries John came and took us back to town.

We had Mama Benioni for dinner which was very nice. She is Sister Tuaeu’s mum, Anne and Tina’s grandma.

We quickly saw Bonnie before she moved down to Wellington for polytech. Then we saw Vince, Sam and their dad. We had a hard case second discussion with them. Their dad went off the subject a lot but we had a good time. Our beliefs on the gospel of Jesus Christ are the same.

Thursday, 13^th February

In the morning we spent time finalising and photocopying Harry’s program. We had lunch at the Coopers place way over the other side of town. Then spent the earlier part of the afternoon visiting contacts that Elder Wineera knew of.

Since we didn’t see Sister Mackey yesterday we dropped in today and gave her the forefathers presentation. How the Maori people were related to the Book of Mormon people.

After that went to the Solomons and because of time we quickly went through the sixth discussion. We then rushed off to fill the font and get ourselves ready for the evening.

The baptism went excellent, beforehand we had a prayer meeting, which was good, but it made us a little late starting. The program was excellent and everything seemed to flow.

We had a little supper afterwards where we enjoyed each other’s company. Harry’s mother, aunty and a couple of cousins were there also. They enjoyed the baptism, which was good. It could open many doors to the gospel.

We ended off the night at John and Rita’s and had dinner with them. Kura and Apii were also there singing.

Friday, 14^th February

John and Rita picked us up in the morning and drove us to town first where I got some food to send with the Cowleys to Maria.

We then drove out to Putaruru to visit people out there. We tried doing some tracting, it proved unrewarding so visited some contacts in the area. Visited the Cooper family and taught her mum and daughter, Lorraine, the fourth discussion, it went really well.

We then saw Sister Ellis who lives next door. She was really cool, still searching for the things that are right. We had a small study with her and her friend Linda.

After all of this we went down to the Solomons place again to see if they were home. Lucky Louane was home. I remembered her from school back in 1988. It was cool to spend some time with her. Since we hadn’t had any lunch she cooked us up some neat things. Saw her dad Ray and Raewyn her sister again and had a brief talk with them before cruising off with John and Rita back to Tokoroa.

Our evening was not so productive. Dinner with Pat was good but it was pouring down and no one was home.

Saturday, 15^th February

Our correlation was again early in the morning. It was excellent both the Relief Society president and Elders Quorum president came. We had a good meeting and worked out some things for the forthcoming week.

Had a fourth new member discussion with Sister Mackey - learnt not to be too early. We got there 15 minutes early and accidentally caught Sister Mackey out of the shower in just a towel.

Had breakfast with the Tuaeu’s and then went to see Katarina Thompson for lunch. We had a really good discussion; she expressed her feelings about her recently deceased husband. We taught her a little about the Book of Mormon and she committed herself to reading it. She also committed herself to church in the morning.

Visited Sister Herini and her family and sung a few hymns with them.

It was very heavy raining so we went to the local Seventh Day Adventist church where we have a lot of friends. We sat in with one of their afternoon sessions which was quite good and also to their Bible study which was neat just discussing the importance of the scriptures. It was a very satisfying scripture discussion.

Rita picked us up and took us to the Materara’s place for dinner. I had a little bit of a headache from the afternoon so wasn’t very into it although the meal was great.

We got a ride back to our flat and decided to do our stats for the evening. So we did our planning for the week and got all little queries out of the way.

I got some mail tonight. One from the advertising complaints committee who I had complained to about an advert on TV I had seen. They were going to bring it to the board’s attention at the next meeting.

We had a bit of time before we had to be in so went down to the Seventh Day Adventist church and played badminton and table tennis with them. Their Sabbath ends at sunset so they have games and so we joined in.

We got back a little late but in enough time to catch Elder Waterson when he called for us. He was pleased that we had achieved so many discussions and reached the mission goal with twenty.

We then did a bit of study and retired to bed.

Sunday, 16^th February

Our ward mission leader went to the executive meeting this morning so we studied before going to church.

Church was good except for our gospel principles class that was rather deep about the three degrees of glory.

Brent came and it was good to have him there, he is doing really well on his stop smoking program, he said he wasn’t even using the program. Katerina also came.

Our lunch was with the Roto family, which was neat, followed by a good sleep, which I needed.

We had an appointment with Vince Tara and Nani where we taught the third discussion. I think it made them think really deeply about their religion. They also came to understand what the Book of Mormon was all about and how it fitted in.

We had a missionary fireside with Nooroa, Cori, Mii, Lucky, Ollie and Wilson, had a good discussion and arranged trade-offs for this week with Ollie and Wilson.

After everything was finished we ended off the night with dinner at the Manus place before returning back to the flat.

Monday, 17^th February

Started off the morning with intense basketball, which got a sweat up very quickly.

We got all our gear and spent the morning up at the Matera’s, writing letters, washing and studying the Old Testament. Managed to do quite a bit of stuff.

In the early afternoon we went to help the Emersons move in from Auckland. They were a family that I had known in my first area. It was quite funny that they moved here as I have been thinking of them. Especially since I got this stop smoking programme. I remember that Brother Emerson had a real struggle with smoking; the situation may have changed but if it hasn’t this may help.

Had lunch again with the Matearas, played basketball with Kura and wrote more letters.

Our dinner was with Ollie and his family. It went well and we had a nice time.

The family home evening planned with Sister Mackey, the Tuaeu’s and us went great; we really had a great time together. We learnt about the importance of scriptures and also played a few games together.

On the way back to the flat we dropped in on the Materara’s just to get some washing.

Tuesday, 17^th March

After being so diligent in my journal, keeping and getting up to date, I soon fell into my old ways and stopped writing. So it’s been about a month since I last wrote.

Things have changed a lot. Elder Wineera and I were having a great time, we disagreed sometimes but were really good friends. Last Friday we got a call that he was to shift to Hamilton and I was to get a brand new companion. So Elder Luchysky ‘Loo-chess-ski’ came Saturday morning. For the past few days we have been exploring the area so that Elder Luchesky can get acquainted with all.

He is very smart and is picking up things quickly. I think the greatest thing he needs to learn is how to really love these people and this country. It is so easy to compare and to miss home but if you fall in love with the people here you will always be an effective missionary no matter where you are and whom you are with.

The nightmare week from hell - March 28 - April 5

Had the most ugliest week ever so I thought I’d share it with you.

On Friday March 28 in the evening I rang Matt Bramall to give him a report on some scriptures. We ended up having a bash on the telephone for a few hours. The comforting thing was he couldn’t see me pull faces and go to sleep while he was talking. Sunday went all right with the exception of a long non-directional discussion with the Jones while tracting. Elder Masima rang to tell me I was replacing Elder Marble as district leader in Kawerau. I broke the news to him that I would need a helicopter to fulfil that assignment.

Monday we played golf and I played a terrible 79. I thought I had done better but I’m getting worse. None of our appointments came through in the evening.

Tuesday morning Elder Masima rang to get us to go to Auckland so Elder Luchysky could have lunch with president and Sister Lloyd. We had to rearrange our schedule and go to Mangakino. We taught a very spiritual second discussion to Brent but no matter how hard we tried he would not get a date for baptism.

Got a ride to Hamilton with John James only to find the zone leaders had no waited for us and left us there to do nothing all night.

On Wednesday I drove to Auckland our schedule was so tight while Elder Lucheysky had lunch we had a meeting then drove the long drive home starving. The cars starter motor conked out in Auckland, we managed to get it going but could not turn the car off. I got all the way to Hamilton before stalling the car at a major intersection in peak hour traffic. It wouldn’t start up again. We had fish’n’chips for dinner before the zone leaders rescued us.

They drove us back to Tokoroa to have a terrible basketball evening where I smashed my little finger again. On the way back to Hamilton Elder Evans crashed the car with another and totalled both.

The Emersons took us to Rotorua on Thursday where we had a great zone meeting and activity following. However because we were delayed in town we missed our ride by 15 minutes. The zone leader Elder Palferman dropped us off and said he would be back to check if we had got a ride. However he never came back. We waited for three hours then walked from the chapel into town. It was freezing but after we got some money we went to have dinner at a Mexican restaurant.

We went to the Elders motel at 8.30 but they were not home so to kill time we went for a walk in the cold. Upon returning we observed their car and shot up quickly to their room however there was no response to our knocking.

We thought they must be still out and so waited in the lobby of the motel. When the motel owner began to close up at 10pm we got worried and used their phone to call the elders room, still no answer. We waited still, we were trapped in the motel (because if we went out the door would lock) without a phone, transport or a bed.

At 11pm I started making arrangements for bed. The only place I could find to sleep was on the artificial grass next to the thermal hot pools in the motel. We bedded for the night there but before I went to sleep I had a soak naked in the pool and all I had to dry myself with was a 15cm x 20cm hand towel I got from the toilet next door. Getting to sleep was a bit harder. The banging on the tin roof of some loose steel in the strong wind kept me awake most of the night.

At 6.30am I checked on the Elders flat to find them awake and showering ready for seminary. They had come home early the night before and had gone to sleep straight away. I was too tired to be upset.

We caught a ride to Putaruru with their seminary teacher, had an excellent morning with the Dugans but we were so tired we had the worst fourth discussion ever with Tracey and Lanie. I’ll be surprised if they let us back. Such was the nightmare week from hell!!

Thursday, 9^th April

Today was very interesting. It started out with a discussion with Chris Macfarlane, a born again Christian we had met tracting. It was a discussion that didn’t go too well. He pulled out his anti mormon literature fairly quickly. It was good that we had people to see.

Henry Takiri wasn’t home down the other end of town so we visited Maru and Albert. We also saw Deborah for a while before going over to see Lawrence at the Hills.

We biked back to our flat and went and had dinner with our next door neighbour Kathy. Afterward we had a first discussion with both her and our other neighbour Peggy. It was a neat discussion. The spirit was really strong and the commitments were strong also.

Peggy shared some very special experiences including a time when she had died and come back to life. It seems there is a lot of personal evidence to support an immediate life after death which only a few people don’t believe in.

Sunday, 12^th April

The past few days have been good planned some interesting activities.

On Friday we went and designed business cards at Brother Morgan’s. We visited a family that has been excommunicated that want to come back to church.

Had our last discussion with Lanie and Tracey, they are not very willing to make commitments.

I cooked dinner at the Solomons. In the evening we had an interesting discussion on our Heavenly Father’s plan and the Law of Chastity plus the Word of Wisdom. It was a very long drawn out discussion with lots of input from Raewyn’s parents.

We even stayed the night there. In the evening of Saturday we visited the Cripps and my old friend Mariana Matthew. Ended up coming to church the next day also.

Church was good today but my companion felt ill so we came back and spent the remainder of the day at the flat. I read the book Black Mormon by a black member of the tabernacle choir. It was very good plus I got to do a few other things while we boiled up Kumara hoe leaves for Elder to drink (old Maori medicine).

Saturday, 25^th April

Today is my one-year mark. I have now been on my mission exactly a year. So how did we celebrate this momentous occasion? We went to the dawn parade at 8.30am this morning then just before lunch we biked a staggering 40km in just less than two hours to Mangakino. We desired to teach Missy Te Maari only to be greatly disappointed by the family’s reluctance to hear anymore because they were not prepared to make the commitments necessary to the gospel. Therefore we decided to bike back. The ride was very hard especially the third quarter of the expedition, the hills punctuated by exhaustion caused great suffering. It certainly was a lesson in endurance especially as a partnership. At times I could have zoomed off ahead or quit but there was no point in finishing alone or not finishing at all so we encouraged each other even in the midst of pain.

We showered and then went to dinner with Bishop Mateara who took us out to a restaurant. It was excellent, we certainly feasted quite well.

Then home for stats and sleep which is most needed. Today was also Kara’s birthday. I posted the card I had made up for her yesterday.

Thursday, 30^th April

Well wouldn’t ya know it. I was the one that got shifted. I kind of knew I was going but it was still a shock to find out after church. We did all the necessaries, goodbyes, packing etc and I was put on the bus the next day at noon. I met Jewel Meha at Hamilton and she was my companion for the next two hours up to Auckland. We had a great talk, it was good to catch up on all the news and nice to know that a lot of our old friends were still strong and active.

I was picked up in Otahuhu where I am to stay with Elder Kimmel. He made me feel real welcome straight away. Because he is the zone leader we have been doing quite a bit of business with the missionaries (doing lots of running around in the car). We have taught a few really nice discussions, we have some excellent investigators.

I found out from Elder Karaitiana that Sharlene Hepi from Whangarei is to get baptised this Saturday, is she is also pregnant. She has such a sweet spirit.

My area is neat and my companion is fantastic. I pray that we will have great success here.

Tuesday, 26^th May

A month has passed by already and much has happened it has been one of the most interesting month of my mission. Elder Kimmel has been administering to the zones business which has been everything from shifting flats, missionary girlfriends, mission gossip, broken hearts, emergency interviews with President Lloyd, super spiritual discussions, betrayal, slander, fantastic tracting, loving people and best friends. My companion has gone through a lot of stressful times to drive him to the end of his mission but has also displayed outstanding courage, conviction and strength despite the trials.

I have been my usual casual self not worrying so much about anything but my companion and his welfare.

I’ve learnt a lot as I have read the lost tribes, Day of Defence, video conference ensign and am still trying to finish Articles of Faith. Here are some thoughts from general conference.

I never told you I was perfect but there is no error in revelation. - Joseph Smith

Each day we decide the degree of our discipleship. - Neil A Maxwell

Time is on truth’s side. - A Conan Doyle

Greatness is not in you but through you.

Sacrifices of righteousness places of prayer purity brings heaven closer to your family.

1. Learn what we should learn
2. Do what we should do
3. Be what we should be

Tuesday, 2^nd June

The last couple of days have been interesting. Sunday was a mixture of running around and church punuated by great tales on repentance and a thoroughly enjoyable time at the Neilsons home with their family and Elders Cartner and Karaitiana.

Monday started off at zone leaders meeting. Elder Kimmel said I didn’t need to go but I had nothing much better to do without him so I went. I couldn’t help but think all the way through that because I hadn’t been called on to come that I didn’t really have any business being there, that I didn’t have any authority. It struck me as a lesson in what ‘having proper authority’ means. We played a bit of ball with Elder Van der Beck and Feingg and watched rugby and basketball that afternoon. We had a neat family home evening with the Kiwikiwis. Pene gave the lesson on compassion and what it consists of ie understanding, sympathy, empathy and love.

We visited the Stockmans for a little while also so I could drop my parcel for home with them. I got to see and talk to Shannon for a little while. It was good to visit with her. I’m sure everyone else has an idea that we are a couple, despite the fact I have never gone out with her.

Today we had an interesting day. I got a few studying things done in the morning. We arranged with the Larkins to fumigate the flat as I had got bitten quite a bit last night. We did some shopping for cardboard and other stuff. I got my haircut which was badly needed and we made up a calendar for the zone. We cleaned up our flat for the fumigating which was quite potent. We are not allowed to sleep on our mattress the night.

In the latter part of the afternoon we went to the Davies. She hadn’t got dinner ready but it was okay because we had another dinner appointment with some of the girls which flat in our area. We had a delicious dinner then went to trade-offs. Elder Cartner, Brother Selu and I went to the Nooroa’s to teach and commit to baptism Michael. The discussion was very spiritual and although he had a lot of concerns, we were able to set a date for next Sunday. Its going to be a struggle but it will be done. I felt so neat afterward. I just sat in the car and bawled, the love of God overcame me.

We had a party for Elder Van der Becks 21^st. it was excellent, he really was touched and expressed a special heart warming testimony with all us in mind. I couldn’t hold back the tears there also and was again filled with a very special spirit. I love my mission, my companion, the missionaries, my investigators, and most of all God and Jesus Christ.

Wednesday, 3^rd June

Not a lot happened today. We did a lot of running around. I still had a sore throat so I slept in the latter part of the afternoon. We went and helped coach the Papatoetoe High School basketball team on request from their coach Kahu. Then we had dinner with the Retis which was really neat before visiting the Dorswamy’s to check on a service project for tomorrow.

Thursday, 4^th June

We went with the other elders in our ward and helped clean up the yard we have been working with. Sister Dorswamy gave us a nice feed to thank us yet again.

We worked on a few zone things in the afternoon and practically wasted heaps of time, to add to the problem a person came to weld our spouting and spent an hour doing it. Elder Kimmel and I had an excellent companionship inventory where we identified some major concerns we needed to clear up.

We took a quick tour around the zone before our dinner at the Pomare’s. Had our teaching appointment with Michael which went well and returned to the flat.

Friday, 5^th June

Both of the AP’s visited us this morning on route to their zone conference to drop off some white hard books.

We had an interesting zone development meeting. We went over a lot of rules so everybody knew what was happening, what they could do, and what they needed to do.

I got to give an impromptu talk in which I talked about in giving a tithing of our time as we serve as missionaries. I related John 16:33 my favourite NT scripture and also Malachi 3: 8-11 had a lot of interesting thoughts and promises as we related it to missionary work. I challenged them to give an honest tithe. You know its interesting that the lord desires that we covenant and commit ourselves till our free agency is pledged to him, we will do anything he asks whenever he asks. Just like physical tithing brings us to the law of consecration, spiritual tithing (our missions etc) brings us to a consecration of our lives, talents, possessions to him.. I also realised that as the Book of Mormon was able to help us know the commandment, that we might be closer to the Saviour and be more blessed, so our white handbooks can lead us to greater success as we follow the admonition of our leaders. Elder Kimmel gave some concluding special thoughts followed by some testimonies from our new elders. I got to sing a song. ‘I wonder when he comes again’ before we closed and started on our main resource basketball.

Saturday, 6^th June

Today started with a good baptismal interview for Elder Van der Beck. After Elder Kimmel had found out that Elder Smith was planning on lying to do some unauthorised activities, we went on a man hunt. However were slowed at a couple of people’s homes where we were graced with coconut buns, milo and current buns. Sister Ta’ala wants badly for her daughter to join the church. So we will probably teach her again.

We finally caught up with Elder Smith, Elder Kimmel handled the situation well and so tension eased off.

We went to the baptism which was neat. I couldn’t understand Samoan very well but luckily the spirit is the same in every language.

We helped Brother Dorswamy with his lesson and went to the other baptism afterwards. Elder Bush had come from Manukau to attend. Our dinner went well and then Elders Feinga, Kivalu and us sped out to Howick for our basketball evening. I played a bit of successful ball with some really good shots - only marred by my fantastic blunders. I got friendly with a few non-members that were there and explained a little of what we do.

Sunday, 7^th June

We had a good fast today and a most excellent testimony bearing meeting. Nephi’s was funny. He got up and praised the people for not using any mind blowing doctrinal statements that would confuse investigators, then ended with the witness that the priesthood was the power to create universes.

Sister Kiwikiwi was a bit strong in gospel principles she used the spirit of contention to teach at one point. However she is still learning. We didn’t go to priesthood. I don’t think my companion likes it too much.

We went to the Neilsons for dinner which was really neat. We even played a bit of pictionary. Although the guys won again we didn’t have our usual powers.

On the way back to the flat we saw the Stockmans loading stuff into their office so we stopped to see them. Jeff needed a little help with the heavier items so we gave him a hand. I was a little hesitant because it was Sabbath but relying on the teachings of Jesus and the spirit I went ahead. I think they really appreciated it. Elder Kimmel was quite upset about it though.

Monday, 8^th June

We played quite a while down at the Otahuhu rec. we even surprised ourselves by running there and not using the car. Basketball was really good after everybody came. I managed to play a couple of good games and get a good workout.

In the latter part of the afternoon we played a bit of pool where I just managed to win 3-2, the table was a bit funny.

We had dinner at the Kiwikiwi’s before having a neat first discussion with the family. We began to teach at the Selu’s place. I wasn’t very with it but the discussion went well anyway. I was treated afterward to pumpkin puki. Elder Kimmel has been plagued by his back all afternoon, really badly. We were at a loss to what to do but managed to get Cherie to come over and administer the laying on of hands. Who said that women can’t hold the priesthood? She was holding Elder Kimmel pretty hard tonight. Lets hope she doesn’t start exercising unrighteous dominion. Elder Kimmel felt heaps better after his rub down. I think it did heaps to relax the ripped muscles in his back.

Tuesday, 9^th June

Our first part of call was the Smith Elders flat. I managed to get a hold of Elder Dunlop and get the 15 steps needed for the stop smoking program which I had lost. I showed these to Elder Smith so he could share it with his investigators this evening.

We did a little grocery shopping and visited almost all our investigators. The Samy’s weren’t home but I got to meet Walter who was cast in plaster because of his drinking disaster last week. Bobita was good and we had a good visit with her. The Nooroa family informed us that their parents wouldn’t allow Michael to baptised. We were disappointed but told them we would continue to teach and help them.

We looked for some flats for the other elders before seeking some advice for Elder Kimmel’s back which was playing up heaps.

After dinner we visited the Taalas and was delighted to hear that Linda was desiring to be baptised. Another plus was our discussion with our family over at the Selu’s. The spirit was strong and all three committed to baptism next Saturday. The spirit really taught me a lot tonight as he guided me through the discussion. We had a little sing song afterward.

The evening ended with me giving Elder Kimmel a rub down - our flat smells of liniment.

Wednesday, 10^th June

We had a district meeting this morning which was really nice. Elder Feinga is excellent as a district leader. We discussed a few things and played a game. Afterward we practised for our talent show next week. We sung "I am a child of God’ to the music of ‘Easy like Sunday morning’, it is fantastic.

In the afternoon we did a service project just down the road cleaning up the lawn for a paraplegic man. His 94 year old neighbour was even more impressed.

We got changed quickly and sped the Tongan elders to their baptism. Our dinner with the Wihongi’s was good. We talked a lot about the terrible moral environment in New Zealand encouraged by a lot of pornographic media, the TV shows, music videos, magazines and newspapers are littered by soft-porn and sex related subjects. Our moral environment is far worse than our physical one. Yet political leaders continue to attack the problem from the wrong end and speak out against such blatant attacks on our society.

After that we visited Bobita and Selin and also the family we were teaching at the Selu’s.

We visited the other elders and got some things done with them before returning to the flat.

Thursday, 11^th June

Elder Kimmel’s back still isn’t too good so I mowed and raked the Sisters lawn by myself.

I was really consistent and paced myself. It was quite a decent work out. I think I did it faster than the last time.

We went over to Cherie’s place afterwards to get our letters typed up on their computer. I was able to see her sister Michelle who I hadn’t seen in a few years. She’s got that ‘new mother’ glow. I was surprised that she remembered me so well especially since we had only met once. I finished typing up the letter Cherie had written out and copied it out about 20 times. Then I spent the rest of the afternoon playing on the computer games with Michelle while Kimmel did his letters.

I only had a couple of minutes to change before rushing to our feed appointment, after which we rushed to our teaching appointment.

Yet again the Rabangaki family were neat. The third discussion I find it usually not such a spiritually impact after the second discussion so it was more casual.

We returned home afterwards and I got a few of my letters ready for posting. We also did a little midnight run as one of the Elders was on the phone and we needed to get in contact with him.

Friday, 12^th June

We had one fantastic zone conference. It seems they are getting better and better.

After waking up at 6 and getting everything organised at the chapel, things started rolling. My interview with president was very good and everything seemed to flow after that.

Elder Unutoa gave a talk on faith and used Genesis 18:14, Moroni 7:33 and Luke 1:37. Elder Kimmel gave the talk on missionary work. He likened the gospel to a heart with three valves, missionary work, member work and temple work. Proclaiming the gospel is the main valve that keeps the heart pumping. He also related the thought ‘you can count the seeds in an apple but you can’t count the apples from the seeds. Everything has its repercussions. He went on to say that we never rise higher than our missionary labours and quoted Mosiah 18:9. we went on to get into some real meat of the gospel when president started his discourse on spirits and the different terminology.

After conference we got a few things done before an early dinner with Sister Johnson. We visited the Rabangaki family again and had a prayer wit them and participated with some cultural dancing before shooting off.

Our appointment with Linda Ta'ala went okay. She didn’t seem very enthused by the discussion. She had heard it before so I tried to go in more detail so she could pick up more. I think the rest of the family got more out of it.

We visited a while with them before returning back to the flat on time to catch all those blessed phone calls.

By the way Elder Van der Beck gave a very touching last testimony, he is a fantastic missionary.

Saturday, 13^th June

After cleaning out a few things this morning I came across some of my old notes from talks and conferences I didn’t record in here. So as not to lose some of these priceless gems I’ll record them here.

Seek after all the truths of the gospel so conversion may be endured.

New name references D&C 130:11, 18.24-25, Mosiah 5:11,12 Revelation 2:17 and Isaiah 62.2.

Follow Christ ‘make peace’ beginning in the home, that internal and personal peace that comes from reading. The solution to the problems is always the same come unto Christ - peace be unto you.

Miracles are the pattern, patterns are meant to be duplicated, righteousness should be duplicated.

The teacher is no better than the learner - righteousness is reproduced horizontally not vertically.

Have great patterns of prayer. Scripture study and serviced.

The lord seldom does that which we can do for ourselves.

Instead of searching after what the lord is going to do for us, let us inquire what we can do for ourselves.

Nothing destroys the individuality of a man, a woman or a child as much as the failure to be self-reliant.

Scriptures are a firm foundation to acquire a successful mortality. It is also our guide to raise our families.

A happy home is an earlier heaven.

You never get enough of what you don’t need because what you don’t need won’t satisfy you.

Lead with purpose - anger is a poor substitute.

People who tell white lies become colour blind.

Parents everywhere realise that the most powerful combination of emotions in the world is not called out by any grand cosmic event, nor is it found in novels or history books but merely by a parent gazing down upon a sleeping child.

I love these little people and it is not a slight thing when they who are so fresh from God, love us.

Life isn’t always fair, but we can still expect excellence from ourselves.

The art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook.

Tact is rubbing out another’s mistakes instead of rubbing them in. Ephesians 4:31-32.

Joy is the ultimate sensation of well-being. It comes from being complete and in harmony with our creator and his eternal laws.

Earnest prayers are answered when we conform to the will of God.

Happiness comes from what you are not what you have.

Going on a mission is not an option it is a commandment.

A ship in the dock is safe but that wasn’t what ships were built for.

Success depends on preparation.

Commitment transfers promise to reality, it is what character is made of.

You cannot do wrong and feel right.

Testimony is convincing knowledge given by revelation ie when spirit speaks to spirit.

Accomplishes are only important if they accomplish the purpose of God.

Real strength if found in his testimony and how he lives it, conduct confirms testimony.

Without charity re cannot be like him we cannot dwell with him.

Chose to be humble or we will be compelled to be humble.

Pray to get the gift to eradicate imperfection. It is not our ‘nature’ we can all change our actions.

Gesemene - Calvery - Tomb

Suffering - Death - Resurrection

Be working not just filling time, serve and when you serve, serve well.

Look to yourself if you are unhappy. Happy are those who are trying to be obedient. Unhappy are those who try to get out of things.

Work       - Spirit      - Teach      - Baptise

Approaches that work best:

1. Families
2. Jesus Christ
3. Purpose of life
4. Receiving help (service)
5. Book of mormon, restoration

• How did we help them feel the spirit?
• Did we invite them to make a commitment?
• What are we doing to follow up?
• What concerns did we resolve?

We are at fault when there is no spirit.

Is it sacrifice when you get something better in return?

Pause to pray, think to thank, and be still to listen.

We are not here to teach but change lives.

1. 1. Service is essential to salvation
   2. Service adds to our character
   3. God helps others through others
   4. Serve temporally and spiritually
   5. Pray to develop love
   6. Plan specific acts to develop love
   7. Give of yourself through service.

After doing all that we went off to get a haircut for Elder Kimmel, he wants to be sharp for president Craven’s tour next week.

We checked on flats for Elders Cartener and Karaitiana before heading to McDonalds to meet up with Elder Tehira who is the zone leader for Manurewa. However he didn’t show so we waited for a while before going to have lunch at the Otara McDonalds. We visited the Dorswamies, they are preparing some people for the discussions.

We came back to the flat for a while and I had a snooze, I was really really tired.

We then went to the Rabangaki’s but Peter wasn’t home so we didn’t have a discussion but just visited them for a while.

Our dinner from the Jacksons was good. They were going out so gave us the food and the other elders and us ate it at the flat.

In the evening was our basketball. However there was one great plus. I saw my old friend TK Tarawa; he is looking good and its active in his ward. It was fantastic to know of his desires to go on a mission.

Sunday, 14^th June

I got up fairly early and did quite a bit of study. After going through my journal and reading through an ensign article on the ‘Happiness of your partner’ in the January Ensign, I decided I needed to give more love to my companion. I am really frustrated at our missionary efforts as they are in my opinion, very poor. Late night phone calls aggravate the problem and are a great hindrance to our performance in the morning. After trying to find answers, God in His wisdom tested me again as Cherie came over and talked to Kimmel about her problems for over an hour.

Church was fantastic. The talks were good and the chapel packed. I taught an interesting lesson to the youth class on the ‘Holy Ghost a moral pollution gigercounter’. Elder Kimmel frustrated me by not going to priesthood as he had promised last week and I was aggravated greatly by the fact that our investigators and new member boys observed our very poor example. I was very disappointed in myself, yet the alternative was to leave my companion and attend by myself.

Our dinner was nice but we waited so long for our dessert we were about an hour late for our appointment, with the other Elders and one of their families. We had a nice evening watching three home videos of Utah while Elder Van der Beck found he was closely related to the family.

Monday, 15^th June

Our p-day was interesting, after 10am we went up to play basketball at the Otahuhu Rec. We had some really good games. I was playing particularly poorly at the beginning but as I tried to extend myself I got a little better. I even did a bit of weights with some of the other elders. After a tiring run back to the flat I had a little sleep, a big lunch and wrote a few letters to some people who needed some, eg to my sister and mum who I hadn’t written to in a while. I even wrote to Shelly who I owed quite a few letters.

We had an appointment with the Rapangaki family so we went to our feed appointment really early. However they were not ready for us and were highly offended for us to leave early so we had to stay a while. We cancelled our appointment with Brother Selu. We visited at the Kiwikiwi’s for a while and I joined in on their family home evening. It was about prayer and I was especially grateful for the experiences I had had with prayers. Just knowing that Heavenly Father is there is very satisfying. We journeyed to the Rapangaki’s for the end of the evening. They were sad we had not come for our lesson so we scheduled one for tomorrow.

Tuesday, 16^th June

We had our general authority conference today with Elder Craven. It was at Parr Road chapel so we departed quite early.

The conference was fantastic. I had an amazing time, the spirit was so strong.

It started out with Elder Mower’s talk on sustaining church leaders. We had some inspiring thoughts eg, we should ask as people of old did to the apostles and prophets - what shall we do?

1. Have faith in our leaders, study with an applied system D&C 11:21
2. Obedience, D&C 130: 20-21
3. Support and sustain them, Exodus 17:11-12.

We are false prophets to ourselves, when we choose not to follow what the prophet says.

Sister Lloyd related a story about a theory only piano school, which graduated music scholars to perform in orchestras. How that knowledge without any practice would be meaningless. Christlike attributes can’t be learnt out of a book, in some things you learn by doing.

We must follow the pattern which has been established for us. The non-member discussions. Centre our role plays, plans, scripture study, obedience around them so we can be effective teachers, Alma 32:20.

We spend a lot of energy trying to get out of things and murmuring, channel that area into practice and preparation.

‘To serve is love made visible.’

Radiate Christlike attributes.

President Lloyd went on to talk about ‘member is king’ and keeping relationships with them effective by living the laws to the fullest. He gave a presentation to Elder Craven by asking us all questions and getting us to respond by raising our hands or standing.

Sister Craven counselled us to do what is necessary not just our best. We must be as the son our mum thinks we are. Write home give them your feelings.

We should also show an attitude of reverence, through our appearance as well as in our actions.

President Craven was a warm special individual with a great spirit. We were all nervous, especially just after having done role-plays in front of everyone and so he quickly made us feel very comfortable.

He told us that we were ‘spirit children of our heavenly father’ some of the most noblest of all. We have come to learn what kind of an individual we are, and develop self-mastery over our bodies. We are to be special instruments of heavenly father. Obedience will allow you to develop into all that we can be.

Because we have flesh and bones, we must have desires, appetites, passions etc. We must develop self-mastery over those feelings, if we are to be like him. The spirit must influence the flesh not flesh influence the spirit. For this purpose we have been put in a terrestrial world and given celestial laws to obey. Lots of opposition is given to create the greatest growth. So that we can develop a celestial body coupled with our celestial spirit. Ordinances bring us to that.

We are here because we have been receptive to the promptings of the spirit. We have been spoken to by heavenly father (Alma 13:1-4) and called to those foreordained positions. (The spirit guides us to those positions.)

There are three spirits that influence men. The spirit of God, the spirit of man, and the spirit of the devil. We are the decider; we all have power to resist the devil. This is man’s principle of agency D&C 29:30, 2 Nephi 2:11.

Character comes from self-mastery; struggle and challenges develop the power of godliness. The mind of man is our spiritual position (mind and heart). It is the steering wheel of our being. Learn to control our minds.

1. Thinking behaviour leads to doing behaviour.
2. Don’t think things you don’t want to happen.
3. Substitute new thoughts and acts for bad thoughts and behaviour.
4. Don’t focus on overcoming the act, focus on overcoming the thoughts that lead to the act.
5. Doing the easy makes people weak. Change by dwelling on and following the positive, be spiritually aware, recognise blessings, follow patriarchal blessing, remember the gospel of Jesus Christ is administered by testimony. Listen to your conscience; you contaminate it by over submission.

Control physical senses, eyes, ears, hands and especially mouths. Don’t develop telestial habits, habits leads to behaviour, overcome them. Without vision everyone will perish. What kind of nature will you be. Telestial-terestial or celestial? Take responsibility for your own selves and your own behaviour.

After the conference I was on a spiritual high and could have just sat there for a while. I talked to a few missionaries. Elder Fazakerky and Stoddard. Sister Schwalger gave a beautiful testimony. About 18 months ago one of the sisters from her MTC group died in a car crash on route to her first area. She had struggled with that for a while. Now she is teaching that girls family and her mum has committed for baptism. Oh what a loving Heavenly Father we have; I am glad that we are limited in understanding of his ways; for if we weren’t I don’t think we would be quite as appreciative. The testimony through experience is very sweet.

In the latter part of the afternoon we did some letters up at Cherie’s house. I played a few games as Kimmel typed.

Our discussion with the Rapagaki’s was great. They loved it. Linda’s discussion went well too. She committed for baptism on the 4^th of July. We grabbed a bit of our meal from the Wihongi’s, as we weren’t able to go for dinner and came back to the flat where I ate.

Another thing that was really special was that Phenis, Linda and Peta (youth whom I had taught last week in Sunday School) had all kept their commitment from our last lesson. It really put me on top of the world. I am in a very special spiritual mood today. I have been blessed so much. My father in heaven, despite my faults, loves me.

I am grateful for special days like this. It makes all the hard ones, boring ones, and indifferent ones all worthwhile. I treasure the opportunity to cry because I am happy. This is one of those times.

President Craven is right, we must have a spiritual awareness and realise our blessings, realise that we are special. That there is hope we can achieve. I really love my companion. He is not perfect but he does have some special traits. He is probably the companion I have had the most trouble with so far (it seems that my companions seem to increase in difficulty) but he is talented, concerned and authorative with an excellent attitude of love towards our investigators and families. I know I have a lot of faults. I hope I have not added to his grey hairs with my concerns and aspirations.

All in all we have a lot to be thankful for, if we would stop to have a look and learn.

Wednesday, 17^th June

Today was pale in comparison to yesterday. After finding out that Cherie was off to Australia tomorrow we went over to her house to organise the program for the Rapangaki’s baptism. I did it up and after an hour we had a beautiful program ready for Saturday.

In the early part of the afternoon we had a meeting with the other missionaries in our district to practice for Saturday’s talent show. I lead the boys in a few hakas, that Sisters Kingi and Hamon had gratefully written up on the board. We practiced our song ‘I am a child of God’ to the tune of ‘Easy like Sunday morning’ before departing. We tried to visit a few people in the latter part of the afternoon but no one was home.

We picked up $20 from Sister Heta for dinner and decided to have Indian Tandoori Chicken only to find that the Hot Indian Takeaways down the street only served vegetarian dishes. So we went to Kentucky Fried Chicken and had a big feed there instead.

We saw the Rapongaki’s again and they were pleased with the program. Visited the Dorswankies, who were rather upset because everything had gone wrong today. Sister Dorswany was especially sad about her purse that was stolen.

We gave a really neat blessing to Brother Wade before returning home to the flat.

Thursday, 18^th June

Today we did an office run. It was really good to go for a bit of a drive out of the zone. It took us a while to get the stuff there was so much of it. Got to talk to Elder Paulfreman who wasn’t so happy about being in the office and also Sister Bird who was excited about the baptisms they had just had in the wards.

Elder Kimmel found out shifts and I’m leaving to be district leader probably in Mangere - as there has been some problems there. Elder Dunlop and some others are in serious trouble, they might be going home. We might have to clean up a mess. I’m not too happy about leaving as things are going well in this area but as a missionary you don’t have much choice.

On return from Takapuna I got a loving letter from Kara. She even including a poem she wrote for me, plus some others that had won her the New Era Poetry competition a couple of years back.

Thank you for your friendship and the letter that you wrote
I’m sorry that it’s been a while since I last sent you a note
Studies have been going okay and term 2 has begun
Assignments tests and all those joys that make my life such fun
Here will end my little ode, I’d really like to say
That I hope you’re well and doing fine and have a happy day

Institute is going well the lessons are a buzz
It helps me keep my sanity the gospel always does
It’s cold and wet in Palmy North and with the power cuts
We all dress up like Eskimos this weather drives me nuts

FOR MY FRIEND

It wasn’t like a flash of light
Bright and dazzling in my eyes
But a soft, warm glow growing…
Flowing over my emotions
Like the first rays of a sunrise after the night

WHITE

The temple stands
Safely and serene
On holy land I watch
Thrilled by the sight
And breathing a prayer as paths of light
Reach from the spine
To jewelled night sky
Far up above
I love
To see the temple at night
And feel the warmth grow
From within
Now I know the colour of white

FRUSTRATION

I am
Not a poet
I am a person
In a cage of words

Elder Kimmel was sick so he slept while I organised some things.

At 5.30 we went and taught at the Raponaki’s. Our discussion was all over the place but we managed to get through it. Everybody was all over the place and little baby Robert and big baby Robert seemed to be the biggest disruption. It’s a good thing they are golden.

We travelled down to the other Elder’s flat, had a bit of dinner which Sister Christenson had dropped off and then Elder Cartner and myself went to Bobita and Selin’s to teach. They were having a family crisis at the time so it was awkward to teach. We did go over some neat things though, we had a good time being there.

Elder Kimmel and Karaitiana were late picking us up because they had gone gallivanting to Cherie’s place to pick up some stuff and got distracted playing around.

We went to our appointment with the Ta’alas late had supper with them and presented them with their Bibles and triples. They were very pleased. We dropped the other Elders off home before returning back to our flat to take care of business here and also to get some much needed sleep after a long day.

Friday, 19^th June

This morning we had another practice for out talent show. We picked up the sisters and Cherie from Howick and brought them to the chapel. We had a good practice then went over the haka a few times and a few other action songs. On returning the sisters and I gave Cherie some photocopying to do. When we got home she rang and needed some help. I was concerned by the amount of time we had spent over at her home this week and especially concerned about her family and what they must think. However I relented and we went over for most of the afternoon.

I got my photocopying done and read some of the inspiring and touching literature that I had gained. I couldn’t help thinking of Huia Matanga’s ultimately death last week as I read of a man’s experience in the spirit world.

Our dinner cancelled. We grabbed a bite to eat before teaching a sixth discussion to the Rabangaki’s. They were fantastic as ever. We left for an hour to find the other missionaries and get something to eat. Then returned with Elder Feinga and Kivalu. Elder Feinga did their interviews and we spent the night relaxing with them watching a bit of sport and talking. Their baptism tomorrow should be very special, they are so ready.

Saturday, 20^th June

Elder Kimmel got a call from President Lloyd in the morning so we quickly did an errand for him by visiting the Lemafa’s. Elder Kimmel did a baptismal interview while I filled up the font at the chapel and helped the Tongan Elders with the haka. I also learnt theirs too.

The baptism was fantastic. It was only a small humble gathering but the spirit was strong especially during the talks and testimonies of the parents. The water was cold due to power cuts but as I put Fiamalu under the water there was a warm feeling. Elder Kimmel baptised Rosary and Brother Selu did Peter. Afterwards we each confirmed. It was probably the most enjoyable baptisms I’ve done in a while. I usually get very nervous that things will go wrong but I was very calm this time.

In the afternoon we visited Linda and the rest of the Ta'alas. There was some conflict there so we didn’t teach but just visited with them.

Our dinner at the Taumoli’s was great. Lucy and I had a very in depth discussion on repentance, overcoming temptation etc. It will be interesting to hear her talk tomorrow.

Our missionary talent show went fantastic. Lots of people turned up and we had a good time. I lead the haka, which was a real thrill, and we all sung the missionary melody. Reminded me exactly of church college.

Sunday, 21^st June

We started our morning really early as we went to the stake correlation missionary meeting. It went very well. Cherie prepared as well thought out presentation that was really good.

We came back to the flat and I found out the news that confirmed our earlier knowledge. I was shifting to Manukau zone to be the district leader in Mangere. I spent most of the morning just preparing stuff while my companion slept.

We had a good discussion before heading off to church. It cleared up a lot of my concerns and helped me to focus on what I needed to be concentrating on.

Church was good. I learnt a lot as usual. Sister Taumoli’s talk was good, as were the rest.

Elder Karatiana who is also shifting told me that It was the plan that I was suppose to be zone leader in Henderson this shift but that Elder Kimmel had recommended to President that I shouldn’t. I wasn’t even worried and in fact was quite pleased at how everything worked out. Mangere is a place I want to go, although I would prefer not shifting.

Our dinner with the Heta’s was excellent. Ziggy was a hard case as usual. In the evening we visited the Kiwikiwi’s, Stockmans, Rabangaki/Selu’s and the Pomare’s to say my goodbyes. It was all very nice, I was sad to leave the Rabangaki family so soon after their baptism. I love them so much.

Monday, 22^nd June

This morning started off with a bit of last minute packing. We went also to the stake centre to meet with President To’o and get our mini-missionary to be with Tousounga. We then went to the Otahuhu Rec and played basketball with the rest of the missionaries. We played some real hard games. My shooting was off again but I did get some nice baskets too.

At 12 we went to get ready before renting a trailer and going to pick up Elders Unutoa and Uili. However they weren’t there! We waited but no one came so we shot off to meet with some of the other elders. We picked up Van der Beck who cried as he left his companion and area. His two years were up, he will be back home tomorrow. At Pah Road, all the missionaries exchanged and I found myself in a car with Elders Niu, Belcher, Alatini.

Met up with Elder Dunlop with him was Elder Tavai who was going to be my companion. We went back to our flat No.1 Park Avenue to unpack.

Our dinner was with the Peihopa’s (my friend Dawsons uncle) and we talked a lot to Barry an RM from Wellington who knew a lot of my friends.

Found out Elder Lockyer (who is companions with Chris) totalled the car in Maramaku last night. Also Elder Fazakeley who was in the MTC with me is now zone leader in the Templeview Zone.

Tuesday, 23^rd June

Today went well. We did our companionship study which lasted most of our morning, had breakfast then Elder Niu and Bush and their companions came, we traded off and went to Manukau with them. Elder Bush sat his driving test and passed with flying colours then we went and brought some things. I got a bike helmet and ankle weights from the Warehouse. We were really looking for shoes but they only had steel capped boots. We stopped at the mall and I found a decent pair at Farmers for $40. While walking through the mall I saw Mosiah Cooper and talked to him a little. We returned back to the flat Elder Tavai and I cooked up a meal for lunch.

In the afternoon we went to check on a few of the members and see a bit of our area. It was quite small.

Our dinner was wayward so we went to our stake missionaries house to have dinner. Met Becky and her mum and brother Simon plus Tweeta (Teresa). We spent the evening with them, it was really nice to get to know them.

On riding home we stopped to see the Tongan Elders Niu and Alatini where Elder Alatini remembered an experience from over a year ago that I had with him.

Wednesday, 24^th June

Today in the morning Elder Bush (the zone leader) picked us up and we went over to Elder Niu’s place (the other district leader). There we did a lot of planning and organising so that we could be united for the next month. I helped Elder Bush do up a chart for his stake presidents correlation this evening.

When that was all over and we had breakfast we went up to the Mangere town centre. My companion put in his film, I did a bit of photocopying and we sent some letters off. We had lunch at McDonalds, grabbed the film and had a tour around the markets where we brought a couple of hats, gloves and a pair of shorts.

We went down to Cathy’s house and visited with her awhile. Ephraim Cooper was there when we got there so we had a chat to him too. After that we visited Elders Tavai’s old ward mission leader from Manurewa who lives just up the road before returning to the flat.

I packed up and sent away my journal for Kara before we headed off to dinner with the McKays. We visited Alvina at 6pm, she’s going on a mission next month. Duayne Waihi came over too and we chatted for a couple of minutes. Then we went to our ward mission leader’s house. They were finishing up a new member discussion when we got there but after a while we had our correlation meeting. There wasn’t much to report so it didn’t take very long.

Thursday, 25^th June

After getting everything organised we biked down to Yates Road chapel. On the way we got some lollies for our game.

Our zone meeting went well. I conducted for Elder Bush using the assignments I had planned for district meeting. Sister Wasden lead us in a neat discussion about the priesthood after which we had a quiz on priesthood questions.

Elder Dunlop told us about his stop smoking program and Elder To’o took us through our skills practice. After the meeting we played a bit of basketball, I didn’t impress anyone today!

Afterwards we went to Teresa’s place. She wasn’t there when we got there but left a message for us to stay and so we played on the computer till she came. We did her lawn and drank her milo before we left.

We picked up our money for dinner from the Waha’s and then biked over to the other side of Mangere to Elders Dunlop and Belchers place. We got fish’n’chips for dinner. My companion and Elder Belcher went off for an appointment. Elder Dunlop and I went to another one. However she was not home so we spent most of the evening walking around and talking about a lot of things. It was good to catch up after being so long apart.

Friday, 26^th June

We had an excellent companionship study this morning as we went over the priesthood. Alma 13 and Hebrews 7 particularly impressed me.

We went to check on a few call backs first before we did a few hours of tracting. Not many people were home but we did meet a couple who we scheduled an appointment with on Monday night.

We had a few other good experiences before returning to the flat for lunch and a sleep. We went back to visit some kids and taught them a first discussion. Elder Tavai had fun trying to be fair while distributing lollies to the scheming kids.

We got to Bishops house late they prepared a meal and we ate a beautiful curry. We had a neat time talking with them before returning out into the cold with our thick caps, scarves and woollen trench coats. It was still freezing. We didn’t have anyone to visit after dinner and since another family we went to wasn’t home, we also went home. We listened to a few talk tapes one by Floyd Weston called ‘17 points of the true church’ and a New Testament tape about Acts.

We had a really good day today adding four people to our teaching pool and finding a family to teach next week also.

Saturday, 27^th June

Today was a real investing day after our morning studies (including our Samoan studies). We went out to grace the community with our presence by tracting. We had quite a bit of success as we went door to door we got at least six call backs including quite a few couples to teach, this next week.

We came back to the flat after which Elders Belcher and Dunlop came. Belcher and I headed off with Brother Wihongi to his daughter’s baptism in Pukekohe, while Elder Dunlop and my companion stayed to go to Brother Bagman’s engagement party for him and Marinoa Witehira. Pukekohe was a beautiful place, I have never been there before but what I saw I liked. The baptism was real nice. Belcher baptised little Rebecca Wihongi and I got to do a talk on the Holy Ghost. The feed afterwards had me blotted and after a ride back to my companion I suffered through a great meal from the Jefferson’s. Brother Jefferson’s long lost brother was visiting from Australia, he was a really hard case and so we had a great time talking to him.

In the evening we did a good planning session, such as I haven’t had in a few months because of being with Elder Kimmel. I also collected stats from the other missionaries, as I am the District Leader now.

Sunday, 28^th June

After we had showered and changed we walked up to the stake missionaries correlation meeting. We underestimated the time it would take so we were a few minutes late. Elder Bush gave us a ride to church and I met most of the ward for the first time. The little chapel was very packed; they had to open the back to accommodate for seating. The young men spoke and it was really excellent.

Our gospel principles class was really excellent too. Daniel Begman took the lesson on sacrament; it really helped me to understand it better. Adrianne who was a visitor especially enjoyed it.

Our priesthood lesson was on avoiding contention that was quite good as well.

After church we went with Ephraim Cooper to give a blessing to Cathy then we got the sacrament and administered it to Brother Westerlund the Stake Patriarch who has terminal cancer The doctors sent him home because there was nothing they could do for him.

The Tipenes provided for dinner and we had an excellent time with them. They had all these puzzles, which we tried to do.

We had a baptism at 5pm, Niki Burndred’s mum wanted us to help so Elder Tavai baptised in the freezing water, and I confirmed. It was really neat; her grandparents that weren’t members really enjoyed it.

The rest of the evening we didn’t have any appointments so we spent most of our time at the flat.

Monday, 29^th June

When we woke up this morning we weren’t too keen on going to basketball so early so we slept for a while and then went up. After a little while of playing Elder Bush, Tavai and I took off, got changed, picked up Elder Niu, dropped Elder Tavai at Elder Dunlops flat and then sped to the mission home.

Our zone leader meeting was really good. It wasn’t so much of sit down and listen at one time we all did little skids on leadership skills.

President rebuked ‘girlfriends’ as it had seemed to become popular for missionaries to have relationships with some of the girls here. Some girls were flying to the States to meet them after their missions, and some missionaries were coming back to claim their wahine’s. I could see quite a few ears burning just among the missionaries that were present. President is quite correct.

After getting supplies from the office we sped home stopping at my old flat on the way to pick up my shoes and some mail. I found out my great uncle Bijoy is in town so I rang him and set up a time to see him. Bush and I cruised around the afternoon, as we couldn’t find his companion. We had cake at Elder Dunlops flat for Belcher’s 21^st and also got our hair cut.

In the evening our appointment with Rex was cancelled as he went to a funeral so we went down the road and got a feed from KFC before returning home for the night.

Tuesday, 30^th June

We went to visit Mona this morning but he had a job interview so he asked us to come back tomorrow. So we went down to the shopping centre and did our shopping, it came up to heaps - $83, luckily the Lord was helping us. Some members seeing us in the store gave us $20 to help.

After lunch we went to tract but we didn’t feel right about tracting so we visited the Begmans, and some other families. We ended up being with Frank and Anne Rice, a really nice older couple. We had a neat time with them talking and sharing experiences. Our dinner was with our stake missionaries Teresa Bohm and Rebecca. They got us fish’n’chips, which we gratefully ate.

While we were there we had the occasion to watch the Princess Bride while waiting and eating. It is a priceless treasure of great values and good fun. One thing that particularly stands out is the statement ‘as you wish’ which you find out merely means ‘I love you’ service is truly the purest expression of love.

We visited a couple more people in the evening none of whom were home so we grabbed an ice cream at McDonalds and stopped to visit Brigham on our way home. I hope that we can encourage him into going on a mission.

Wednesday, 1^st July

We went out to see Mona this morning as he had said to go over today. But he wasn’t there again so we went down to Ephraim’s to check on our service project with him. That had changed also so we visited with him a while as he showed us his varsity architecture stuff. He informed us that Alex Parsons lived just around the corner so we went and visited him. Andilla and Joe were also there so we spent a bit of time catching up from the few months we hadn’t been in contact. After lunch we tracted a little street not too far from our house, we strolled back down to Alex’s house. He then took us to the airport and dropped us off there. Unfotunately my Uncle Bijoy had taken an earlier flight to Wellington. I was quite disappointed, I was quite looking forward to seeing my family and being able to do some missionary work with them. Daniel picked us up and we went back to his place.

We also had dinner at the Gibbs before returning back to the Begmans for our correlation meeting. It went well, we had a good time learning and we looked at things that we could do this next week. After that was all over we ate caramel popcorn and listened to Marinoa and Daniel’s engagement story, which was very entertaining.

Thursday, 2^nd July

This morning we studied over tithing and our missionary gospel study program encouraged us to share our testimony in our journal.

I know that paying my tithing has brought me a lot of very special temporal and spiritual blessings. Tithing is one principle that I adopted very early in my life, paying 50c from the $5 pocket money I got each week. As I was blessed with a job and more money it was something I continued. Money was pretty scarce after my parents split but with my job I was able to support my own ‘wants’ and took the burden off my mum. Later I was blessed enough to go to church college and was able to provide for everything above my school fees and clothes. And always I had a job to come back to during the holidays, which kept me both out of trouble and ‘rich’. My uncle shouted my sister and I to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates and I even visited Sydney. When time to go on a mission, people were willing to support and I had saved quite a bit myself so finance was not a hard thing for me. In fact in my lifetime I’ve had very little financial struggles, I’ve had heaps of money but I’ve always had just more than enough.

The spiritual blessings are harder to record but none the less real. I know that tithing is a correct principle.

We first went to Terry’s place but she wasn’t home so we went over to the Jeffersons to see Adrianne before he took off to Australia. We found out that he wasn’t leaving until tomorrow so they invited us to come over in the evening for a hangi.

We went to drop off a book of mormon the person was still not there so we visited the Mackai’s, they were having lunch so they made us up a couple of waffles and sandwiches. Brother Mackai was going to do a bit of wallpaper stripping, so my companion and I took time to help, but wetting the paper and peeling it off. Their neighbours had come to their daughter’s baptism and enjoyed it so much that they wanted to know more so we will be teaching them soon.

We visited a couple of call backs after that but no one was home so we rode around before going to our dinner appointment with the Peihopa’s, it was good, we were in and out pretty quickly. After dinner we went to the Jefferson’s as they prepared the hangi. We also taught a fourth discussion to Adriane and another friend Avis as they asked quite a few questions. The dinner was late coming from the ground so we went to Ephraim’s to help him with his home teaching and visited a few families before returning to the Jefferson’s to pay our tributes and farewell and also have a good feed.

Our message that we shared with the families tonight in home teaching was ‘see thou tell no man’. A very touching account of being anonymous in our good deeds, as was Christ.

Some very touching thoughts impressed me with a desire to strive for better ie ‘rings and other jewels are not gift but apologies for gifts. The only gift is a portion of thyself’.

Thomas S Monson went on to recount some valuable experiences and also a character from a book ‘The Mansion’ by Henry Van Dyke. Apparently John Weightmen, a man of means had the philosophy ‘of course you have to be careful how you give, in order to secure the best results - no indiscriminate giving, no pennies in beggers’ hates!… try to put your gifts where they can be identified and do good all around.’ After reading descriptions of the fine building he had financed for the public service, indented with his name, he dreamt of his heavenly mansion that would reward his good deeds.

The keeper of the gate lead him to a small hut, desperately he questioned his injustice as he had done so much. Rebuked by the guide he was told that he was rewarded by them already ‘you have had your reward for them, would you be paid twice’.

The sadder but wiser John Weightman spoke more slowly ‘what is it that counts here?’ Came the reply, ‘only that which is truly given. Only that which is done for the love of doing it. Only those plans in which the welfare of others is the master thought. Only those labours in which the sacrifice is greater than the reward. Only those gifts in which the giver forgets himself.’

Friday, 3^rd July

Today was our zone conference at Yates Road with Manurewa zone also. It was really good.

First we had a round table discussion on morale in the mission, how we could we build it and how also it is destroyed. Some thought that came up were responsibility breeds responsibility, murmuring destroys moral but obedience and compliments increase it.

Sister Lloyd gave a powerful lock your hearts presentation and despite the fact I thought I had been through that pamphlet enough. I still learnt a lot.

Elder Niu took us through service ‘there is an eternal principle that states: service is essential to salvation’. Bruce R McConkie. ‘God does love us and he watches over us but it is usually through another person that he meets our needs. Therefore it is vital that we serve each other in the kingdom.’ Spencer W Kimball.

We went over building relationships of trust and a new approach to use at the door while tracting.

Elder Bush took Elder Dunlop and I to get some cough lollies as we had been badly struck all morning.

Testimony bearing was excellent, a few of the missionaries are going home soon so this was their last zone conference. It was very emotional. Elder Evans spoke on plugging into that great power source of Jesus Christ and rely on Him for strength, through obedience.

My interview was quite good, straight forward and quick. I am a very happy missionary at the moment so I didn’t have much to say.

President and Sister Lloyd were supposed to come to inspect our flat, we cleaned it really nice for them but they never came. Instead we biked over to Dunlops and Belchers to visit with Dunny’s family who were on route to the airport. Saw Warrick and his wife Kirsty plus met the Elder Dunlops family who had so diligently remembered me in their prayers when Lynn stayed with them.

We searched out a suit as mine had totally worn out in the seat. Elder Belcher ended up giving me one of his, which was very nice of him.

We rode back to our area and had a wonderful dinner with the Fitisemanu’s. Jay is the Elders quorum, president and his wife Kim is Brigham Waha’s sister.

We went to visit Dion and Veronica in the evening as he had planned. Dion wasn’t there but Veronica had her little sister and cousins over. We taught a very spiritual fourth discussion to the four of them. They were really fun to teach, they had some excellent questions about life, families and death. We planned to visit our landlady tonight when we finished but she was already off to bed so we just came in and had an early night and planned trade offs for tomorrow.

Saturday, 4^th July

This morning Elder Dunlop and Belcher came over for trade offs, Elder Belcher went with Elder Tavai and I went with Elder Dunlop. We went to tract a street nearby, it was really good, we only got to go to five houses. The first one we got a call back, the third one we taught a first discussion to a Baptist. And the fifth house had heard the discussions before from Elder Hall and Lund but we got a return appointment to come and see them.

We biked to our lunch appointment on Rosecommon Road but missed the house and ended up in Manurewa. Elder Bush and To’o Kindly brought us back. We had a good lunch then returned to an appointment we made with Johnny and Mena. We just got to know them as they were quite busy they invited us to their daughter’s birthday next week.

We went and taught those youth we had found last night the first discussion, it was excellent.

Visited a Presbyterian couple who really made us feel welcome even though we had got the wrong house.

We tried to visit Jodi, Cathy and Craig but none were home. So we got a feed at the local Uncles Burger Bar and went down to the sisters to eat it. However they were not home so we ate and came home to do our stats for the district. We taught 14 discussions this week.

Sunday, 5^th July

Church was excellent again. Testimonies were powerful; Elder Tavai was moved to bear his so I accompanied him. Sister Jefferson was especially thankful that we had taught in her home and that her brother was so anxious to learn about the gospel yet she didn’t even ask.

Classes were all good. Mike brought a friend Nofoa later in the afternoon while teaching his new member wife the fourth new member discussion. They desired for us to come and teach them (ie Nofoa) the discussions. So we set an appointment for Tuesday.

We had dinner with the Jefferson’s and boy was I hungry. I eagerly gulped down the mince potatoes and peas.

We went to visit the Tipenes and ended up staying there all evening. They have lots of puzzles so I was trying to do them.

We returned in the evening and did a lot of reading.

By the way the Broczeks dropped off some things from home. An old suit that I had to undo so I could fit (I’ve grown heaps) a church calendar and a lemon meringue pie, which was superb. So we each had quite a few large pieces of that, which was a great compliment to our fasting. We have planned basketball and golf for tomorrow. Hopefully our investigators will come also.

Monday, 6^th July

This morning Mike and Nofo picked us up and we went to the chapel. Hardly anyone was there when we got there but after a while lots of people came. We had a few good games. Nofo really enjoyed himself. Afterwards we came back to the flat and organised some things for the afternoon. Elder Bush picked us up in the car and we dropped To’o off before heading over to the sisters. When we got there Elders Belcher and Dunlop were there also.

We got a van taxi and got a ride to the NZ Pavillian down by the airport.

We went and watched the sheep shearing and several of the missionaries had a go so it was a good laugh. The Pavillion was excellent too, a lot of little movies, expressing beautiful achievements, children and Maoritanga of our country. I understood why it was so popular at the expo in Brisbane in 1988.

Afterwards we ate venison burgers and Kumara chips while some went fishing in the rain.

In the evening we went with Ephraim to Craig and Cathy’s. While climbing into their car I ripped the pants Elder Belcher gave me on Friday right up the seem. It was good that mum had sent up a suit yesterday. I must be getting too fat. Our family home evening was really good. We learnt about family unity and faith and how we need to build bridges and set goals.

Tuesday, 7^th July

At 9am we went and taught Nofo the first discussion at Mike and Tanya’s. It went really well. He enjoyed the lesson, especially learning about the Book of Mormon. The spirit was there and he committed to hear the remaining five discussions.

Afterwards we came back to the flat, did a few things then went out to visit those kids we have been teaching. No one was home however so we ended up back at the flat for a late breakfast.

In the early part of the afternoon we went around to Tweeta’s place where Daniel and her were dubbing videos. We spent a bit of time there talking.

We tried to visit more people in the afternoon but found no one home. We ended up going to our dinner appointment with the Begmans early. We had a very enjoyable feed with them. Rebecca and Teresa were there also and we had a great talk.

In the evening we visited some more people and yet again no one was home. We obviously weren’t listening to the spirit.

We did meet one of the sisters’ investigators from Manurewa at the petrol station and talked to her for a while.

We finished off our evening by visiting the Waha’s. I’m trying to encourage Brigham to go on a mission. We returned home early to do some washing.

Wednesday, 8^th July

This morning again we taught Nofo the second discussion. It went well he was not whole-heartedly committed but we did set a goal for the 19^th of July.

Elder Bush picked us up at 10.15 and we went to the chapel of Thomas Road. I sent the sisters tracting this morning and they came a little late at 11am. Our meeting went really well, we talked about goals and what makes us happy. We found the things which made us happy were things which most made us feel like missionaries ie baptising, teaching etc and tracting. We focussed on putting the Lord first through cleanliness and our companions before us through having our combined studies first in the morning.

Elder Belcher gave a good talk on tithing and we followed up with kits that helped us teach discussions, principals or concepts. It was a good learning experience for everyone.

We finished off by doing some resolve concerns and role plays. Elder Tavai, Belcher and I did some skits from some popular missionary videos to emphasise discovering the concern, discussing the concern, and helping resolve the concern. It was a lot of fun.

We had lunch at McDonalds and Elder Bush took us home. We had our trade off and Elder To’o came with me to do a bit of tracting to finish the street I had started with Dunlop. We went to visit someone we had met last time and ended up teaching him and his older brother the plan of salvation! It was really excellent, the spirit was strong and they committed to hear more.

We had run out of time when we finished there so we came back to the flat to wait for the others. I think To’o enjoyed his experience.

Our dinner was with Sister Josephs who made us very welcome and gave us a wonderful feed. Our correlation meeting was at 7pm but we had some time so we went to call back on a tracting experience. We met Naomi and her husband James and had a great time getting to know them. We shared why we were there and told them of the discussions. The spirit was really strong but they would not commit to hearing them. However we had a really special time with them and maybe it will help them later on.

Went to the Begmans but Daniel was sick so there was no meeting instead we went to the chapel for the memorial service for Joseph Walter who was lost at sea a few weeks ago. It was really touching, a great missionary opportunity as he had just been sealed to his family but all his own family were non-members.

We came home afterwards and I was feeling down so I grabbed the guitar and started strumming away, so sweet spiritual songs. Becky rang and I talked to her, she was feeling low and so we talked about ways in which we could gain the spirit. She told me a very heart-warming story that a less active told her about his concept of prayer. There was a solo dad who had a young daughter and one day the daughter came home from school, went to her room and just cried. The father could hear her and knocked on her door. They had an argument that her room was her own and that no one was allowed in without permission. She was upset and would not let her father in so he stood outside listening, he could understand her pain but it tore him up that he couldn’t go in and help. Heavenly father hurts too especially when we don’t share it when we are hurting.

I had a silent cry to myself and we agreed that we needed to talk to our father. So I got off the phone and onto my knees and poured my fears and desires. I asked him if he would hug me and he did. After crying for a long time my companion and I shares some special feelings for such loving eternal parents and for each other.

How grateful I am for the knowledge that I do have, that I am a child of God. The veil is only there for those who choose to let it separate us. God live sand loves us very much. In a very sweet moment when you go to Him with humility, acknowledging your weakness he is very near and will touch you and embrace you. You will not be able to contain the tears for you will know of the love he has for you and how long he has waited for you to come home.

Thursday, 9^th July

Today was rather slow, and we were probably the greatest cause.

After many delays in the morning we finally motivated ourselves towards the door. Then we remembered Elder Tavai’s flat tyre as we went to take off. It was a nice day so we decided to walk.

None of the people we designed to see were home, dull days are usually this way! We ended up round at the Coopers to recover my pants. While we were there Ephraims mum’s dad, brother and sister who I knew from Tokoroa turned up.

We had lunch from them and returned to the flat where we spent another couple of hours sleeping. I got a letter from grandma telling me where her cousins live.

After fixing the bike we set out again but disappointment after disappointment no one was home, not even our dinner so we came back to the flat and Elder Tavai cooked.

Mike rang and cancelled our teaching appointment. His dad had died this morning plus Nofo said he is really not committed to the gospel. Rebecca rang; she was also down and invited us to Tweeta’s house for a book of Mormon reading. As it turned out the sisters were also there and Beck invited Tweeta’s brother (Chris) to participate, which he did. We had a great time mining the treasures of the book of Mormon together. The spirit was strong and Chris was definitely touched by the spirit.

Saturday, 11^th July

After an exhilarating bike ride in the prime of the morning we ended up at the elders flat at Mangere Bridge. Once we had had a much needed breakfast we set out, Elder Belcher and I went seeking my family among the Bridge people. We met Hugh Harold and his wife, a couple of my grandma’s cousins. They welcomed us in and our time was quickly spent catching up. Although I had brought photos, it took them a while to realise that mum and Maria had visited them a couple of years ago. They are fairly elderly.

After the trade off Elder Tavai and I rode back to the town centre where we visited the chapel and the sisters open house. It was really fantastic, a very excellent job of presenting the church. Unfortunately not many had come to it. At 3pm we went to Johnny and Mena’s who were having a party for their one-year-old daughter. We had a fantastic time with them and their families. I ate heaps. They want us to come again next weekend. Our culture show was next on the agenda, although it started off slow, lots of people came and enjoyed themselves immensely. We learnt dancing from Holland, New Zealand, Samoa and Niue and got to perform it on stage. The sisters even came and brought their investigator. We had our last meal at Tweeta’s before returning for stats.

Sunday, 12^th July

Because of the death in the Mataafa’s home, we were chosen to replace them as speakers for today’s sacrament. Sister Tipene was first and gave an excellent spiritual talk, really inspiring. She said that we should take just an hour a day to focus on our spirit and on our mental and physical minds that we might better utilise the other 23 hours in the day. She challenged us to do this by doing some form of physical exercise, planning and meditating accompanied by prayer and scripture reading. She took up most of the time, which cut what we had planned in half.

I talked on finding happiness through having the spirit in your life. It went well. I told of a story I had heard several years ago about a general authority who was taking a drive in his spacious car with his dear wife. As she sat far over in the passenger’s seat she reminisced of the many drives she had taken with this man who had stolen her heart in ages past. As she pondered she realised some changes that had happened over the years. Turning to her husband she complained that when they were first married, they snuggled up so closely together that it appeared to passing motorists that there was only one person in the car. It seemed that she was distressed by the gap that had developed. With his deep voice and long southern draw spoke quietly as he replied ‘well you know dear, I haven’t moved.’

It is funny how we can be so far from our heavenly father and complain, even when it is us that moved.

I talked about where our happiness comes from keeping the commandments D&C 82:8-9 and service Mosiah 2:16-17 I quoted a thought I had got in conference years ago ie ‘we can be happy through adversity if we love God and feel our own self worth. Time was short and while Brother Armitage prompted me with taps to my heal I shared Moses experience (in Moses 1) with God how he learnt he was a child of God and what a difference it made to overcoming Satan.

Elder Tavai gave some sound counsel with regard to inviting the spirit, which was also very inspiring. He was cut short of time also. The spirit was very strong and I think everyone really enjoyed themselves.

Class was really good also. Daniel taught a wonderful lesson on fasting made us all think a lot.

After church we had our correlation meeting, which went really well. We had our other stake missionaries, which I didn’t know about. Sister Fitisemanu and Hunt as well. We came back to the flat fixed a feed and had a planning session. Visited the Jeffersons and the Tipenes for dinner then went t the memorial service for Michael’s dad at the stake centre. It was all very nice but mostly in Samoan so I couldn’t understand very much. Elder Bush and I talked a bit and he gave us a ride over to Dunlop and Belchers for the evening.

Monday, 13^th July

We had planned to make a movie today. However we couldn’t get a video camera instead so we just recorded songs on top of Mangere Mountain with Dunlops stereo and our little guitar.

We walked into town for lunch and ate at McDonalds then spent the rest of the afternoon looking around at shops in the Mangere centre. We had a go at the local game machine where you tried to use your skills to pick up a soft toy. Between the four of us we managed to get two toys from the six tries we had.

We also went to the library and hussled and bussled around there. Dunny and I ended up with the photography magazines and in the photography books. After we had finished up we went to KFC and then walked the long way home. We were so stuffed and soaked that we just went to sleep for a while.

We had our dinner with the Beazleys which was fantastic we even had waffles for desert which I love. Its strange that I have never had waffles on my mission till I got to this ward and we have heaps. Both the Josephs and the Mackais gives them to us.

We read an article in the Listerner about ‘baptisms for the dead’. It was quite funny and I think quite positive. We came home in the evening as FHE with Cathy and Craig was cancelled.

Tuesday, 14^th July

We didn’t have any set appointments at all for the day. It was raining this morning. It took a lot of effort to motivate ourselves out into the cold. After putting on our galoshes and wet pants we ventured to go tracting.

Heavenly father was very mindful of us as we stepped out it only drizzled slightly as we tracted; we had no problems with the weather. At one house it poured down but the family invited us in and we talked for a while, while it persisted outside. When we went to leave it cleared and we left without a drop on us. The rest of the street we had no problems.

We had lunch and went around in the later afternoon to the Begmans from which we gained a fantastic sandwich.

Our dinner was with Sister Harrison and we got to watch the saviour’s ministry, which she had on video.

Later on we visited the Savages to confirm our dinner for tomorrow. After that went to Elder Niu and Alatini’s to drop off a letter that had been posted to our address by mistake.

Organised my district meeting for tomorrow and I gave them the assignments when I got home.

Wednesday, 15^th July

Today was an excellent day. Bush was supposed to pick us up in the morning but was delayed because of companionship conflict so we rode to Thomas Road chapel.

Our district meeting was excellent. We started by going over some goals and achievements. I am very pleased with the work they are doing.

Elders Dunlop and Belcher did a role play skit on the purpose of missionary work. We came up with the knowledge that missionary work was to bring others to Christ but the greatest person changed would be ourselves as we work towards those eternal goals. Another point we hit upon was that we are only teaching them things that they knew in the pre-existence, and the spirit is the only one that can bring those things to their remembrance. I went over an article about the spirit world and the sisters took us through a game relating to prophets. We went back to the sisters’ place where they kindly reheated KFC, McDonalds and Chinese (which people had given them for their lunch).

We cancelled our previous district activity and all went to console Elder Bush who was having some major problems with his companion.

We dropped off the keys to the Begmans and got starry eyed at pictures of Tahiti where Daniel plans to take Marinoa on their honeymoon.

We then visited the Mataafa’s before our dinner at the Savages.

Elder Bush picked us up at the flat and took us to the tri-stake missionary training meeting at Papatoetoe chapel. It was good to catch up with my friends and to hear of their good experiences. The sisters from Howick, Kingi and Hamon were anxious to tell me of an experience I had helped with.

While on trade off with Elder Uili at the Howick ward harvest. We tracted out a less active lady who was overcome by the spirit as we told her of the discussions and how the sisters could teach her. She was enthusiastic so we gave the referral to the sisters. However when they returned they were turned away by the man of the house. Our referral seemed hopeless. Later they got a ring from that lady Kim who wanted to know why they hadn’t contacted her. The sisters told her their experience as it happened that man was not her husband but their boarder. She had prepared her non-member husband and the sisters are going to teach them next week.

I was also gladdened by the great response from our ward in attending even when we hadn’t invited them. Plus to see all the missionaries really made my day. Elder Jeremy Hall my friend from college had great news that he had got his queen scout award last night and able to teach the panel interviewing him a lot about the gospel. Elder Kimmel looked very happy also. Although he always looked very happy, it was what was going on behind the scenes that was unknown.

Thursday, 16^th July

Our first adventure today was over at Teresa’s place. We went to mow the lawn. Her mother asked us about some biblical things in the newspaper and we were able to answer her questions.

After mowing the lawn we quickly raced over to the town centre and met up with Elder Bush and Heather for lunch at KFC. We had a really neat time. Bush looked a lot happier than before. They took us back to the flat, I grabbed the helmet and weights I brought at the Warehouse last month and we rushed to Manukau. Bush got money to pay his driving bill and I exchanged my helmet for a smaller one that would fit my head. I had taken the weights back because they weren’t the same brand. We couldn’t find any more so they gave my money back.

We went home changed and visited Brigham Waha and saw his aunty Marlene who was in my last ward in Papatoetoe. Had dinner with the Mileaeres before shooting off to check on a call-back. We visited the Kerekere family as I had gone to school with their son. Mr Kerekere was not a member and was not really favourable towards the church. We had a neat time talking to him. Sister Kerekere is a Witihira and is Marinoa’s aunty and also Maron’s aunty from up North.

Friday, 17^th July

Our morning was quite slow. We visited a few people not very many were home. Visited patriarch Westerlund place but he wasn’t home so we just had a laugh with a few other members of the family. Had lunch at the Mackai’s. they are now determined to get that neighbour family prepared for us to teach. He gave us a referral for a friend who was offended by Elder Hill a year ago and has been wanting missionaries to visit. As a moth to a flame we rushed to find him. I was so starved of people to teach my anxiety was very high. As it happened he didn’t welcome us with open arms but he did invite us back. We will have to restore his trust in the missionaries again.

Visited Mike Mataafa to check on Nofo. He hadn’t seen him either. He won’t be getting baptised this weekend. We had our dinner dropped off to us and so quickly rode to the other side of Mangere to join in the other Elders family home evening. We couldn’t find it right away so went to a nearby house to enquire. I knew Jason Keung had stayed at No.19 so we went there and met his non member aunty and another guy who was boarding there. They invited us in and we taught them a fourth discussion. They really enjoyed it. We committed them to prepare for baptism and arranged a return appointment. Found the Elders and told them the good news.

Saturday, 18^th July

Today was really interesting. We were very slothful in the morning and it took us a long time to get organised. Then we had a visitor. A young man who was a market research surveyor who came in and asked lots of questions about what I buy and what I thought about certain subjects. This lasted about an hour. When he left we told him he was welcome anytime. A short time later he returned to use our toilet and we invited him to lunch. He asked a few questions about what was the difference between our church and others. We told him of Joseph Smith and the book of mormon plus the plan of our heavenly father. It was really good. After that we went up to the Jeffersons where I was pleased to see Avis who we taught a couple of weeks ago. I was excited to hear that she was receiving the discussions from the sisters over in her area. She really loves it.

Went to Johnny and Mena’s, they were pleased to see us. They call us their sons. We watched the video from the party last Saturday. It went so long we didn’t get to teach but told them about the discussion and committed them to hear them.

Sister Hunt misplaced our feed appointment so we had dinner at the McKenzie Road chapel after the Niuean wards Johnny Lingo night. Got back in the evening to do the district statistics.

Sunday, 19^th July

The Hunts picked us up for church this morning, which was great because Sister Harrison had some other business to attend to.

Church was really cool, very uplifting. Llya took our gospel principles class on sacrifice which proved very funny and informational. In priesthood they organised us into committees working on the various missions of the church.

Our correlation meeting was really short. No one had very much to report. The Hunts gave us a ride to the Sanders where we had a fantastic feed, roast dinner followed by ice cream and later Samoan Puki. Alvina was there and we had fun psyching her up for her mission. She dropped us at the Begmans and we had some fun with all the crowd there. There was a young mother and her little boy who was such a fantastic example of a Christlike child. We made caramel popcorn which was a great delight to us to eat. We went over to Alvinas and she gave us a ride over to the elders area. We had dinner at Kem Keungs with her and Tony. It was good. They cooked us a fantastic Chinese meal.

Elder Belcher and Dunlop came and so Elder Dunlop and I traded off and taught the first discussion which went extremely well. To top it off Elder Bush came to take us home.

Monday, 20^th July

After waking to a bright beautiful day we biked over to To’o and Patene’s and then to the chapel for basketball. We had a lot of good games. My shooting was heaps better today and I made some great baskets. I also spent time during breaks writing and playing the piano. We continued playing till 12 before going over to Bush’s place to help him clean his car and have a water fight. We did all that, it was quite fun everyone got drenched including Elder Belcher who was trying to keep out of it all. My companion came out the best and so now everybody is trying to get him back.

We came home afterwards I did some financial work that has been needing doing before we showered and shot down the road for dinner. The Peihopa’s cooked us a great meal. We checked on some names the Relief Society president gave us but they were not home so we visited Alex Parsons who we caught having dinner.

We returned to the flat so Sister Hunt could come around. She dropped us off $20 each for food because of the mistake on Saturday night. I had a massive headache so planned to go to bed early but not before we talked to Mrs Gilbert, our landlord and explained the discussions to her. Went to bed early and was only interrupted by a phonecall during our companionship prayer.

Tuesday, 21^st July

This morning was cold and drizzling. I wrote a few letters before we ventured out. Our plan was to go tracting on the way to the street we stopped to see Dion and Veronica. After talking with them a while Veronica wanted her last discussion. So we gave it to her. It was really neat. She enjoyed it heaps and set her goals for the celestrial kingdom. She has such a sweet spirit and a strong desire. She needs to change a lot of things in her life but she is determined to do it. After we taught we said goodbye to Dion who was sniffing glue in one of the back rooms.

Our morning had gone fast so we went to the Parsons for lunch. Joe and Andilla were there and they cooked us up a healthy feed. They asked us if we could help activities with some of the patients of the rest home, like family home evening on Monday nights. We visited a few people in the latter afternoon before going to the Mangere East shops to look for a present for Rebecca’s birthday tomorrow. We brought her a card and some writing paper and envelopes. We picked ourselves up some pens and a little Mermaid colouring in book.

Had dinner with the Begmans. It was raining so hard we stayed at Alvina’s home with Duayne till he gave us a ride later.

Wednesday, 22^nd July

Bush came over this morning and we did up a chart for his meeting with President Lloyd, Keung and the stake mission president. He dropped us off by our bikes and we came back to the flat.

The weather was off and on this morning so we decided to find some people that we needed to check back on. We wondered around and didn’t find the street we were looking for but we did see a massive puddle where Lavina Crescent was flooded which gave us some ideas for tomorrow’s district activity.

We were fasting today for the district and also patriarch Westland who is very sick so we didn’t have lunch. Instead we grudgingly went tracting. However it started raining on us so we caught a ride with a member who we had found tracting and went home. By the way Jenny and Eldon Paki came by this morning and brought us a cake and some shirts from mum. All the temptations while fasting. We rode over to Teresa’s to help her with preparation for tonight. She was too prepared and we didn’t get to help much. but we did give me a beautiful hand painted picture of Ariel from the Little Mermaid.

After dinner we returned to Teresa’s, and with Daniel, Marinoa, Becky, Simon, Chris and the sisters celebrated Rebecca’s 20^th birthday. It was fantastic we had a lot of fun. Especially jamming to little mermaid songs.

Thursday, 23^rd July

Today was neat! We had our district meeting and so assembled at the Thomas Road chapel at 10am then began our exciting program. Sister Neilson conducted our hymn raise ‘Praise to the man’ Elder Belcher gave the prayer and Elder Heather gave the spiritual thought. I welcomed everybody, went over a few business things and passed some time over to Elder Bush. He gave a fantastic presentation relating missionary work to grid iron football. With such players as bad family, peer pressure, temptations of the world, word of wisdom, problems and girlfriends playing for defence and missionaries, ward mission leader, bishop, stake missionaries, fellowshipping family on offence. We need to get the gospel (the ball) into his hands block the opposition, and get him through so he could make the yards, baptism, priesthood, callings, mission and temple marriage.

After that Elder Tavai gave an awesome presentation on the temple relating our temple ordinances to the path of life. He also pointed out Genesis 32: 24-32 and the spirit was able to teach us all individually and open our eyes of understanding. It was great. Sister Wasden gave us a neat presentation on the commitment pattern. I had her do it because she is the junior of the group. She did an excellent job, she will be a wonderful sister missionary.

Elder Dunlop got us all involved in teaching discussion 2:3-4 by having us all take turns teaching it to him.

I took them through the game jeopardy on categories of personal missionary guide, the proselyting missionary and recent zone conferences.

Elder Belcher gave a heroic exist analysis of his mission he listed seven things that he had learnt and challenged us to do the same when we finish so that we can apply it to our future lives.

After we had reflected upon some of the things we had learnt and asking ourselves whether we were on the right track, he proceeded to give five points of advice he would like to leave.

After a song and prayer we changed and departed for our district activity playing against Niu’s district at the rugby field near our house. By the time everyone arrived we didn’t get much time to play and as the rain pelted down we slid through the mud scoring tries. It was really fun, all of us were covered in mud from head to toe. Even the sisters got their beans.

We were really close to our flat but as for Elder Belcher and Dunlop they had to walk all the way home on the other side of the stake, it’s a good thing the stakes the smallest.

Had a shower and we managed to get ready pretty quickly. Had our dinner at the Paniora’s which was really cool. Brother Paniora use to be the ward mission leader so he had some really helpful advice.

We went to visit the Kerekere’s but they weren’t home so we visited the Barndreds family. Connie wasn’t home but her husband invited us in, fed us and was really nice to us. We had a great evening with him.

Friday, 24^th July

Today we decided to do our service, as we hadn’t really got much this week. So we went over to the Begmans, talked for a while and then mowed their lawns. Although it was cold I managed to get very hot so Daniel made us up a big jug of yoghurt, jam, ice cream shake.

We had our dinner at the Armitages place, it was fantastic. We had a neat talk. They also gave us a ride over to Elder Dunlop’s place.

We traded off and Elder Belcher and I went to the Taumoli family to interview them for baptism. This was my first experience with interviewing and I got to do three at once, Melissa 15, Joshua 13 and Devonne 4. They were all excellent. I had a very special experience with each one. Melissa showed such powerful love for the Saviour, which brought near tears to my eyes. Their baptism is tomorrow.

After spending some more time with the family they dropped us off back at the flat. We talked together and read some stories before retiring for the night.

Saturday, 25^th July

Today I have been out 15 months. It is amazing how fast time goes. Elder Dunlop and I biked to the chapel at 7am this morning and began to fill up the font at Thomas Road. When all we could do was done we went to the Sisters place and they cooked us breakfast, French toast.

The baptism went well. I got to conduct it, which was very interesting. Sister Pu’a gave the most beautiful prayer to open and the spirit continued right through. The whole district was present so it was also a great motivational experience.

Afterwards we fixed my flat front tyre I got this morning over at the sisters. Elder Tavai and I went and had an early lunch at KFC where we met Elder Niu and Alatini plus a member of the family who were on their way to Niue and popped in to get some chicken to take home. We visited Craig who was cool but very busy, Jodi wasn’t home so we went over to Rebecca’s house. She wasn’t home but her family invited us in. we spent a bit of time with them and they also gave us lunch. It was really neat. Becky came home and she wanted to go teaching with us so she got ready, dressed up fully even with her brothers even with her brother’s bike helmet and 18 speed mountain bike. Our appointment was with Johnny and Meta. It went great. They really loved Becky and they enjoyed the discussion we presented to them. They are a very special family indeed.

They even had a big feed for us organised so after we finished we ate together all that Meta had cooked. It was a good thing that our feed for tonight had forgotten.

Then we all rode back to our flat, we hadn’t been back in the last 24 hours. Our porch light was still on. Unfortunately we didn’t get any mail either but we did have an exciting night planned. Then we rode over to Thomas Road dropping Beck off on the way. At Alatini’s sisters home we first had another big feed where Bush forced me to eat more, then burned To’o’s suit.

Then we had an enjoyable testimony meeting. I was privileged to start it off with ‘greater than us all’. Everyone bore powerful witness and also love for Elder Belcher and To’o set to go home on Tuesday. It was really good.

We finished right on 9.30pm and because we needed to get back to the flat right away gave our bikes to Elder Dunlop and Belcher to use. Brother Armitage was waiting for us as we got back. He needed the keys, which we had from opening the chapel this morning.

Sunday, 26^th July

My companion awoke really early this morning. I was not so keen so it was a while later before I grabbed a book to read.

Sister Harrison gave us a ride to church again. Church was good. Brother Paki talked in sacrament, he talked on his eternal companion, it was really sweet, something definitely worth working towards.

Class was good; it was on work and personal responsibilities. I found some really nice thoughts.

‘Doing nothing is the hardest work of all, because one can never stop to rest’.

‘The happiest man is he who has toiled hard and successfully in his life work’.

‘Let us realise that the privilege to work is a gift, that the power to work is a blessing, that the love of work is success’.

David O’Mackay

In priesthood our missionary committee worked really well and we have some plans for next week. Our late lunch/dinner was at the Tipene’s there we found out the dreaded news Elder Tavai is shifting to Kawerau tomorrow. On the way home we visited the Schwalgers to say goodbye.

Rebecca, Tweeda, Mike, Iou and Trudy came to pay their respects also. Elder Bush and Heather came over for a bit of dinner.

Elder Tavai packed most of the night and we watched some Olympics on Mrs Gilbert’s TV.

Monday, 27^th July

It’s a good thing Mrs Gilbert woke up at 5am and got us up. Bush picked us up and before I knew it goodbyes were said and I was in bed at Elder Shaws.

When I woke up we went for a walk to KFC for brunch then back to my flat. We cleaned it all up so that Alatini could feel welcome.

I wanted to fix the bed I was sleeping on so ordered a whole sheet of particleboard and got it cut so it could be the baseboard. Later on in the afternoon Mr Burndred came and helped us collect it from the Puketi Island in Mangere. After I got my companion etc the Peihopa’s came and got us. They brought chinese and we had a fantastic feed at their house.

Afterwards Barry took us and we went over to the Whytes for Alvina’s farewell - it turned out to be another feed more than a fireside. There was heaps of mockery between us but we managed to survive. At the end we said a few words and the spirit was able to join in. Barry helped us get some more stuff from Alatini’s last flat and we organised it.

Tuesday, 28^th July

Our first part of call today was at Daniel’s. We discussed the area and reminded him of the meeting tonight. Elder Alatini really liked him.

We visited the Mackays for lunch and also saw Marlene on the way. Some of Papatoetoe wards stake missionaries live over this side.

We came back to the flat to get the mail and send off some mail also. We got a warning from the office for toll calls to Whangarei. Amazingly both calls had happened on recent trade-off with Elder To’o.

We went to visit Frank and Anne. They had just come back from Whangarei for the weekend and were quite busy, so we went.

Visited mark and Sara, we had a neat visit with them. They asked about why there were so many churches. We presented them the third discussion which they really enjoyed. We got a commitment to teach them the six discussions.

We just missed the Sisters who were going to give us a ride so we had to walk to Yates Road. The meeting was quite boring but it brought out some good pints at the end. We couldn’t find Sister Harrison so we had dinner at Beckys then walked home. Daniel passed us on the way and took us home.

Wednesday, 29^th July

We went to watch basketball in the Olympics at Daniel’s place this morning however it wasn’t on we ended up watching the Womens team gymnastics, which was fantastic.

Then all three of us went to Mark and Sara’s place. We started talking, and then helped them clean up their back garden, scrap metal and get rid of trash.

After it was all finished Sara made us a most beautiful lunch. Daniel saw his obsession ‘puzzles’ and so we stayed to help with the jigsaw puzzle. We even went back to the flat picked up our easy to make crazy cakes and cooked them around at Mark and Sarah’s. It took us a little while but we managed to get them done. Daniel helped us drop them off to Elder Fuimaono and Sister Bowen our two brand new missionaries in the district. we got back to the flat got changed quickly and managed to hitch ourselves a ride to our dinner with the Gibbs. It was good my companion spoke the whole time in Tongan. After that we went to get Rebecca and walked to Mena and Johnny ’s. Johnny wasn’t there so we just talked to Mena and answered some of her questions. Then we walked Beck home and walked home ourselves.

Thursday, 30^th July

This morning was our zone meeting so we walked up to the chapel and with the other missionaries had a most enjoyable morning. Sister Neilson went over the commitment pattern, which went really well. Elder Bush went over baptism and we looked at ways in which to make it more spiritual and uplifting. Elder Alatini and I with Elder Whytes help went over discussion 2 principles 5-6, which was excellent. Elder Alatini is excellent at teaching. I was impressed.

We played basketball after which was a lot of fun. I was more the hinderance of the team this week.

Elder Bush dropped us off home to a couple of letters. One from Kara with some music for me and Elder Tavai with some money for the dryer. I was really pleased.

Then we visited the Jeffersons and Parsons inviting them to the show tomorrow and getting their friends involved. We then had the Coopers for dinner.

We also went to the Burndreds and Kerekere’s but neither were home so we visited the Tipenes and spent a bit of time with them watching the dream team triumph over Germany. Came home, watched the rest of the game with Mrs Gilbert and Rebecca came around with a parcel for me of the Little Mermaid tape, comic and biscuits.

Friday, 31^st July

Elder Bush came over here for breakfast this morning as he had been out doing our zone calendar.

We went and did some work for Mrs Gilbert in the garden pulling out some weeds. We cleaned up quite a bit.

We took a walk to the chapel to see if the tech crew for church college’s performance was here yet. They weren’t coming till 4.30pm. We spent the rest of the day visiting our investigators and inviting them to the performance. Sister Whyte spotted us walking home and so grabbed us to go help her husband set up chairs in the hall, which we did. After we helped set up the tech crew arrived and I got to see Maria. She was really pleased to see me and I was likewise.

We came back later on with Sister Joseph’s and Mrs Gilbert. The show was really good, it wasn’t as flash as previous performances but I’m a fan of any live theatre.

I saw Maria quite a bit because she was on the sound. The Acts were just talents of the students including quartets, trios, ballet and Maori culture. The act that impressed me was the quartet led by little Jay Elkington who isn’t so little anymore. Got to see Aunty Maria, Brother Arden and the principal who rebuked me for not using my blue planner.

Saturday, 1^st August

After getting organised we headed off to Veronica’s but they weren’t home. So we went to the MacKay’s for lunch. They were doing their car up for painting so we helped them with the masking around the windows. We also had plenty of waffles. We managed to do about 8 hours service this week. At least we are making up for all the times we get low hours.

In the afternoon Elder Bush came to get us and after picking up a few things we went over to the Hunts place. They had a family and a guy for us to teach. Elder Bush and Fuimaono taught the mum in Samoan and we taught the boys Nik, Sam and Brenton in English. It went excellent. Elder Alatini knows how to bring in the spirit and get them involved. The Hunts also gave us dinner there which was good cause we didn’t have an appointment tonight.

We did a little shopping at 3 Guys and snoozed at Elder Bush’s flat then they took us to their members place. I interviewed Mary Sane for baptism. It was really cool. She is born on the same day only one year younger. We got back home did our planning and statistics for the week.

Sunday, 2^nd August

Church was really nice. The testimonies were very inspiring especially the words of an inactive couple who had come back to church.

Class was good. We went over service. One of the thoughts I like about service is from Marvin J Ashton. ‘What we serve we learn to love, what we love takes our time, and what takes our time is what we love’.

In priesthood we organised trade offs with some of the Elders Quorum which will be very helpful for missionary work.

We had our correlation meeting just between Daniel and us. He needed some of the records we had. It was good to get everything organised.

We went to see Johnny and Mena but they weren’t home so we stopped off at Niu’s flat to ring some people. We managed to fall asleep before our dinner. Teresa cooked us a good feed and then the four of us walked down to Yates Road chapel to the baptism. It was a fantastic baptism the spirit was really sweet even the non-member dad was crying.

I think Becky shed the most tears though remembering back to the time when she was baptised. We went to spend the night at Bush’s place. I talked to Chris Broczek for ages, who is now serving in Henderson.

Monday, 3^rd August

Today was our preparation day so after we got ourselves organised we went to the chapel for basketball. We had some really cool games; it was a lot of fun.

Afterwards Sisters Neilson and Bowen and Elders Adling, Dunlop, Tini and me rode over to the pavilion over by the airport. We had a neat afternoon over there just playing mini golf and also doing some fishing. One of the tourists a little boy had caught a fish so we were inspired to try even though nothing had happened last time. As it happened nothing happened this time either. We played around a little and met some temple missionaries up for the day.

When we finally got home we did all our washing etc and got ready for our appointment with the Beazleys for dinner. In the latter part of the evening we went to visit Johnny and Mena and help them with their Book of Mormon reading. Mena fell asleep with the baby so we ended up talking with Johnny.

Tuesday, 4^th August

We finally managed to get Elder Alatini’s bike back. Elder Tekira had mistakenly taken it to Manurewa. We went and visited some old contacts, none of whom were home. We had a big lunch and talked for ages then went around to the Coopers to check on this Tongan family next door. We met them but now wasn’t the best of times.

We had dinner with the Begmans, which was really good. Visited Bishop’s house on the way home and did some dishes.

We then walked right down to the bottom of our area to visit a couple of families none of who were home either so after walking back, went straight home.

Wednesday, 5^th August

Today was our district meeting. It was really cool. Elder Adling went over the discussion presentation and we looked at new ways of committing. Sister Neilson took our doctrine discussion on faith, which really lead us to ponder some deep things. She has a 50/50 chance of inheriting a very horrific disease [Huntington’s] from her mother and asked if ‘thy will be done’ is showing a lack of faith? [Sister Lyndi Neilson became Lyndi Cherian (my wife) some four years later, we had 3 little boys before we had the courage to take the test that would reveal if she would develop Huntington’s. Fortunately the test was negative, Lyndi and the boys were safe] Elder Alatini went through presenting the message and got Elder Dunlop and Elder Bush to present some personal experiences. Elder Bush had us in tears with his experience of being dared to run around the school naked. Apparently a group of three were daring each other to run through the school naked. The distances got further and further till Elder Bush did the whole thing right around the school. As he was running no one was around as it was quite late then all of a sudden he passed the window of a classroom, a thousand eyes were on him night school had started! He managed to get back to his friends and assured them it was all clear there was nothing to worry about. So they both headed around and by the time they got back totally embarrassed he was changed. They were in the principal’s office the next day.

Elder Alatini told an interesting story also about a great boy who was loved by his dad. For his graduation the father wanted to please his son and so took him to the car yards to pick his own car. The son picked a car that was a little more than his father would have liked, ie $10,000 but he promised the car for after graduation. The build up to that day was terrific as the time approached all the boy could think, speak and dream about were the keys to be delivered into his hands. During the ceremony he waited eagerly and rushed into his father’s arms afterwards to receive his prize. With tears in his eyes the father presented his son with a larger box than he was expecting inside was a new set of scriptures. The sons glistening face turned to disappointment, where were the keys? He searched the box frantically, nothing. With rage he threw the scriptures down, tears ran down his face as he stormed out in the background was his father’s pleading ‘son stop! You don’t understand’.

So bitter was his disappointment he took his possessions and moved out of home refusing both to see and talk to his father.

The loving father missed his boy terribly but no amount of pleading from his mum would bring him home. Even when his dad became sick, bitter memories cut deep and he didn’t even go to his father’s deathbed. He didn’t care; he wished his father were dead. After all how could he do that? How could he turn his greatest moment into misery, embarrass him so much in front of his friends? He missed the funeral but was compelled to come back home. He reflected over the events of the past few months in his dad’s study and his eyes rested upon that Bible. After staring at it for ages he picked it off the shelf and thumbed through the brand new pages. The inscription in the front read with all my love your father. Also imbedded in the front cover was a plaint envelope inside was a pay cheque made out to him for $20,000. Elder Alatini told us that our heavenly father doesn’t often give us the blessings as we want them but nevertheless the blessings are there.

We finished our district meeting with a theatrical display from the district of ‘Nephi and brass plates’ on the stage in the hall of the chapel.

It was a thoroughly enjoyable time. The rest of the day went well also.

Thursday, 6^th August

Today we had our service it was at the flat helping out around the gardens for Mrs Gilbert. Elder Bush also came and helped out a while. We managed to get ourselves KFC for dinner. We finished off most of the day here then went to our dinner appointment with the Mackeys. In the latter part of the evening we met with the Pooks and along with her was an interesting inactive member who debated about how Moses tablets of stone managed to get to Los Angela’s?? I don’t’ think he was playing with a full deck.

We visited the Gibbs and Elder Alatini excited that Tongan missionary spirit. We also went and visited with Teresa and Becky to finish the night.

Friday, 7^th August

After study this morning we went and did some tracting spirit again. Elder Bush picked us up after lunch and we went to help him shift flats and clean.

Sister Joseph’s daughter dropped us off a fantastic chicken casserole plus a big heart shaped sponge cake. Then we rode all the way over to Mangere Mountain to go on tradeoffs. Kem Keung wasn’t available so we visited the Lawrence’s, which was neat. I found out what Jason was doing in Perth.

Saturday, 8^th August

Joe Schwagler picked us up for our Elders Quorum activity and we had a neat time at the chapel playing table tennis, badminton and eating waffles. Elder Bush picked us up and we went to the Hunts home. We taught a second discussion to Nik, Sam and Brenton, it was fantastic. The spirit was really strong and the commitment was perfect. They made a very strong commitment to be baptised on the 22^nd of August.

We visited Rebecca’s family in the afternoon and showed her and her sister Mercia the video ‘Labour of Love’ which she really enjoyed.

Our dinner was at the Kenneck’s so we rode all the way down to the other end of our area to go see them. They were so lovely; it was very special to see that they had come back into full activity and fellowship. They were really thrilled also. We went and picked up Rebecca and the three of us went around to Johnny and Mena’s. We caught them home but they were going out so we set up an appointment for dinner and a discussion on Thursday night. Back at home we did our planning for the week and collected the statistics from the Elders and Sisters in the district, they are all doing fantastically. I am really pleased with them.

Sunday, 9^th August

After walking to Sister Harrison’s we noticed that she had already left. So we went up to the Beazleys home to get a ride. Arthur and Spencer were home watching the final of the basketball on the Olympics. Painfully we had to watch it also.

We got to church late and so felt bad about going in. The good news was the Parsons family were there and they really loved our ward. Class was good Mike Mataafa took the lesson the word of wisdom and we learnt quite a bit. Just when you think you know it all the Lord surprises you!

Our correlation meeting was good and afterwards we retired to the Begman home. We also checked a callback around the corner before the rain forced us back to the Begmans to rest. Our dinner with the Tipenes was excellent and they took us to the chapel. One of Elder Alatini’s old investigators got baptised into the Tongan ward and so we went to see.

Saw Aunty Anne and she gave us a ride home.

In the evening Brother Himiona came around and we taught him all six discussions in two hours. He is to be baptised on Saturday and reinstated back into the church, it is a great privilege for us to help out in it.

Monday, 10^th August

We were so tired this morning, we didn’t go to basketball. Elder Bush picked Elder Niu and I up and we went to the mission home.

Our meeting was quite good. We went over what’s going to happen in the mission. President went over leadership skills such as praising in public, reproving in private as well as attacking the problem not the person.

Sister Lloyd went over manners and things we were not to do such as chew gum, spit and also manners like standing up, being polite and being thankful.

We found out that the re-baptism of Brother Himiona is not a convert baptism because it is handled under the direction of the Bishop and Stake.

After getting supplies we hurried home we couldn’t find the others at first so we took Elder Niu to the doctors.

Got back to the flat and slept as long as I could till we had to go to Bishops for dinner. Had a great dinner and taught a discussion to a family that came. The husband was a non-member and really enjoyed, still he didn’t really commit either. It was my companion’s first experience of Maoritanga.

Tuesday, 11^th August

We were really good this morning. Made the flat spotless as we cleaned up. Elder Green is coming tomorrow so we kept that in mind. Went over to Teresa’s place and gave her badges and talked. I ended up playing on her computer for ages and wasted most of the afternoon. We rode over to the sisters to pick up a video and then we sped back to our dinner appointment with Sister Harrison. Unfortunately Elder Alatini got a flat tyre on the way.

Had a great feed and returned to the flat. Barry came over and we went over the program for Brother Himiona’s baptism.

Wednesday, 12^th August

Elder Green came over and 'model missionaried' me today. I had to know the 240 scriptures and their references that are in the discussions. With all the help my companion gave me last night it wasn’t too difficult, although I struggled at times.

We spent almost all the day getting things prepared for Niu’s birthday party tonight. It was a rather big hassle.

Our dinner with Tania and Mike was good and our discussion with Brenton was fantastic.

We went over to one of the Tongan members houses and there had a big feed with all the missionaries, it was really nice.

Thursday, 13^th August

Today was our district meeting. Elder Bush picked us up and we went to the chapel, we were a bit late.

Elders Dunlop and Adling weren’t there so we proceeded without them. The sisters took us through a great presentation on the apostasy and I realised the need to overcome my personal apostasies of prayer and scripture study.

Elder Bush went through thoughts from our meeting and I went through district business.

We then had testimonies and Elder Dunlop and Adling showed up they had come earlier and had gone to Mangere Mountain, as we hadn’t turned up on time. Still everything was fine and we enjoyed sharing our feelings it did a lot for unity.

Afterwards we practised the Haka in the hall and then played some table tennis with the tables at the chapel and the bats and ball Daniel lent.

Then we all went to McDonalds for lunch. In the afternoon, Elder Bush took Alatini for teaching and I went with Elder Fuimaono to Daniel’s place to do up the program.

At 5.30 we went to the Parsons for dinner, they really enjoyed the ward and are really activity involved.

At 7.30 went to Johnny and Mena’s place and had a great time with them. They fed us also and we watched ‘What is real’. They enjoyed it heaps.

Friday, 14^th August

Today was our trade off with Elder White and Richards the travelling missionaries. They came and held training with us in the morning. It was real good. Elder Richards was sick so Elder Bush traded off with him. Elder Bush and Alatini went to do street contacting in the mall and we went to work on the bus stops and travel. Elder White and I met a lot of people and had a good time. We got most of our referrals through in the Mangere Town centre.

Street contacting was quite fun and interesting. I enjoyed meeting people that way. We had an appointment with Dion and Veronica but they weren’t really with it so we didn’t do anything with them.

We got KFC at our dinner appointment and went to Jay Fitesimanu’s with Barry.

Patriarch Westerland died last night so we went along with the ward to participate in a little service with the family. It was really lovely, a lot of his children and friends were there. Bishop conducted and we had a few touching testimonies. Bishop really helped me with Alma 5.12 and the need for my own self to have a might change of heart.

There was s big feed afterwards and then Brother Schwagler ran us home.

Saturday, 15^th August

Together with Elder Bush we went over to the Hunts. That family wasn’t there but Elder Alatini and I taught Brenton. It was fantastic, we had an excellent fourth discussion, he is really smart and had a great desire to be baptised.

The Hunts gave us a feed afterwards. We checked on Emma at 1pm but she wasn’t home and at 2pm Johnny and Mena weren’t home either, it was saddening.

So we went to Teresa’s and spent a bit of the afternoon there. I was really desirous that Johnny and Mena would come to the baptism tonight.

Barry picked us up and took us to the chapel. We got everything ready except the photocopier wasn’t working.

The baptism went really well. I baptised Heta Himiona (Warren), and Elder Alatini confirmed him. Brother Beazley and Elder Bush also spoke.

After it was all over we went with Daniel and Barry to the hospital to see Sister Begman. We had a good time visiting with her. Barry and I went and got a feed later and ate it. After which I did the district calling.

Sunday, 16^th August

Today we got a ride to church just before it hailed. The weather was really bad this morning. Our talks in sacrament were on family history. I have a great desire to do my family history on my dad’s side. I want to go to India next year after my mission and research.

I taught the lesson in class on charity - something I really need to develop more of; after all it is the qualification for the celestial kingdom. Priesthood was good. We went over our civil responsibilities.

After church we had a new member discussion with Daniel. It was fantastic; he really made us think about our goals. John 17:2 really hit hard today. I need to ‘know’ the saviour. I really need to be dedicated not just on a holiday as I seem to treat this mission a lot of times. If I’m going to be dedicated with my family history I need to be dedicated to my brothers and sisters future now! I need to have a mighty change of heart. Only problem is I’m not so sure now, or how to sustain it. I don’t want to be on and off like I usually am. I shall be really pondering over this question the next week.

After Daniel dropped us home. We walked over to the Sander’s place for lunch. We had the most magnificent meal. We even got to meet Mr Sanders.

After that Sister Sanders dropped us off at the chapel, there were quite a few baptisms going on. We went to the Tongan one. It was really nice, the spirit was strong and I was tired so I slept through most of it, just sitting in the choir with my arms folded.

At 6pm we seated ourselves for the Westerlands funeral. It was really lovely. It lasted about 3 hours. But the talks and testimonies were excellent and I think a lot of people came away with a special feeling as hey were touched by the spirit.

I saw Brother and Sister Quirke from Wellington West Ward plus a few other old friends.

After getting a little bite to eat Allen dropped us home in Barry’s RX7 which left us the night to get a few important assignments done. Nic Dunlop and I had a good talk this evening about the changes and time that has expired since we met in Whangarei over 10 months ago. We are very similar in how we think about things.

Monday, 17^th August

After waiting for ages for a ride from the Tongan elders we walked over to their flat and waited some more. After writing a letter we got sick of waiting and walked to the Mangere town centre.

We went to the Rec centre and had fun playing basketball, table tennis, volleyball and weights it was heaps better than the chapel.

After that we all dubbed rides to one of the Tongan members homes. There we waited for the pig for Niu’s after birthday party. They brought a live little pig and so we killed it and cleaned it up outside. Then Elder Alatini and I left and went to do a bit of laundry at the flat.

We had our dinner at Peihopa’s which was really good then went over to Bishops for a family home evening. It was apparent they weren’t ready and the family they invited turned up the Bryers. Bishop quickly made a meal and we had a good time preparing that and watching church videos.

After another great dinner we did our heavenly father’s plan for a lesson. It went fantastic and the spirit was really strong. The family loved it. They were all members except their daughter. At the end the spirit was prompting us to ask her and so we did, she committed for baptism, it was a great experience.

Tuesday, 18^th August

Tody started badly. After getting everything done we turned our attention to Elder Alatini’s flat tyre. After fixing a hole we took it to the garage to pump it up. Only trouble was we found there was still another hole. After fixing that one we found two more. By this time we were fed up so took the bike home and walked. We picked up a tube on the way. We went to Teresa’s place to see all of Rocky’s pups, all 11, one died this morning. It was great, even got to talk to Mr and Mrs Bohm a little also.

On the way back we visited pane and met him. They were anxious to have us back and so we made plans to teach for Thursday. Our dinner with Begmans was neat. Barry took us to do home teaching with him. We visited the Tipene family and also found a really neat family we could teach at another home.

We visited Millie Aubrey a referral from the sisters, she was anxious to see us and eager to come back to church. So we invited her this Sunday.

Barry took us on a ride to see Allen; we had to cross-zones though to see him. The unrepentant Barry brought us a thick shake when we came back.

Wednesday, 19^th August

I slept in terribly this morning. My body must have needed it because it took without much consent from my brain.

We still didn’t have any tools to be able to insert the bike tube we got so it was walking for us today. We went to the Waha’s who weren’t home then Frank and Anne’s who weren’t home. The Parsons who were busy, the Coopers who weren’t home then to see Brenton who also wasn’t home. We did get a lift from Brother Hunt in the drizzling rain and managed to fix up the tyre.

So we spent the latter part of the afternoon in the flat writing letters and arranging appointments. Our dinner with the Savages was all right, the two youngest daughters were really getting on my nerves though, and I was about to kill them.

Brenton still wasn’t home but Brother Hunt made us a feed again. Went to the Burndreds who also fed us. Things aren’t going very well with them either. The clash between her church and his worldly ways is becoming a stumbling block.

We saw the Kerekere’s for a while also they were okay. On the good side the district is well, just the drizzly weather all day was depressing. Even the patchy days are better.

Thursday, 20^th August

Today was our district meeting. We started off with a mock of the talkback show ‘Donahue’ on the gathering of Israel. Sister Bowen gave us a presentation on discussion 3 principles 3 and 4 on the priesthood and used a unique technique to get us to do the role-plays. Elder Dunlop and Adling went over follow up skills and made a resolve to do better in that area.

We had a bit of food because of Elder Adling’s 21^st birthday. Sister Neilson took us through a hymn game ‘face the music’. Then we practised our Maori hymn in the chapel. Afterwards we went down the road and went with Elder Dunlop and Adling to an old members place. There we had a birthday lunch that had me busting because of it.

We quickly rode to see Brenton but he wasn’t home so we went back to the flat for a sleep. We didn’t have dinner, we were still too full.

Went over to Kim and Pane’s at 6pm and Rebecca came. Pane went out to a home making so we had the first discussion with Kim. It went really well. She was baptised when she was 8 but hasn’t been active ever since and has tried many different things. So she’s searching. I hope she makes the effort to find out.

Our second discussion with Johnny and Mena was interesting, it went well except for the invitation to be baptised. Mena was real keen, Johnny was good too but apprehensive because his dad is a minister in the Hindu Religion. We got home really late tonight.

Friday, 21^st August

We first dropped off a dish at Sister Joseph’s then went to catch Brenton at his home. He was going out so we arranged an appointment with him for later. We then tried to see Dion and Veronica but they weren’t home either. I was trying to find my cake tin for the Bryers to take with them to Wellington but I couldn’t find it. We went over to Teresa’s place and spent quite a bit of time with her. Then we quickly rode to see Brenton. Finally we were able to sit down with him, discuss his goal and teach a discussion. It was a big weight off my mind as we had been trying to see him the last few days.

Had dinner at the Fitesimanus, which was really good except we got caught in a hailstorm biking over. For that reason we called up Daniel and he came to take us to Mangere Mountain. We picked up the other elders and went to their investigators home.

I gave Chris a baptismal interview. It was great, he was really special and sincere, and the spirit was really strong.

Daniel took us back to his house and we did up Brenton’s baptismal program on his computer plus watch the End of Batman.

We even got home early to make up for last night but no one called this time.

Saturday, 22^nd August

Today was very busy. We went to teach Brenton at 10.30 but he didn’t get out of bed till about 11.30. We had a great sixth discussion and finalised the programme for tomorrow. Elder Bush gave him his baptismal interview and so everything was set. We just have to make sure he comes to church tomorrow.

After that we checked on a few people and went to do the baptismal programme again over at Teresa’s. Chris, her brother was a big help and we got it done very fast.

We went over to the chapel at about 4 and filled and heated the font. The Kennechs came and brought dinner so we had a very enjoyable meal all seated in the kitchen. It was such a big feed though, I was bloated.

The baptism went okay. Chris looked fantastic in white, only problem was his mum and aunty came late and missed on the first speaker.

After it was over Bishop was upset with Elder Dunlop, as none of their Bishopric had turned up.

On the way home we saw Johnny and Mena. She had forgotten about her commitment to come to church tomorrow and had made other plans.

Millie Aubrey on the other hand was excited to come to church and appreciative of the ride we had got for her. We did stats and Barry and Allen came over to talk.

Sunday, 23^rd August

I was so happy to have Brenton at church with us. The sacrament talks weren’t that great but he really had a good time at his classes.

Millie Aubrey and her granddaughter came also. We had a fantastic discussion on eternal marriage during our gospel principles class. What was most heartening was Alex and Leesa Parson’s desire to be sealed together. When I first met them in Tokoroa I had a real attraction to them because of their humility and I didn’t understand why. That is very unusual for me to feel that way. When I found out they were here I had a real desire to help them activate in our ward. Now it is a real priority for them. I am overjoyed. Daniel also asked all the singles what they were doing to prepare for marriage. I told them my mission is really helping me to live with a companion 24 hours and work together. Plus I’m trying to get better with my communication and expressing my feelings, which is something, which has always been difficult for me. Plus learning to accept my partner and not try so much to change them, just love them. It was definitely my inspiring lesson. Priesthood was good, we talked a bit about tithing and what it meant to us.

After church we got all the programmes photocopied and had our correlation meeting. It was excellent, Bishop came and we were very organised to get things really moving. We even had a training period and practised making situations into gospel discussions. Daniel took us to Yates Road chapel to get some baptismal pants and then dropped us over at Brenton’s place. He was asleep but we arranged things with Brother and Sister Hunt.

We then had our lunch/dinner with the Tipenes.

After walking back home we managed to catch a ride to get to the baptism. It was really good when we got there everyone was ready and waiting and we still had half an hour. So we managed to get quite a few things sorted out. Then Sister Schwagler and her daughter offered to sing a prelude so we began with them. It was a very special baptism. Elder Alatini spoke on faith, repentance and baptism. I baptised, then we sung an interlude Marinoa, Rebecca and I ‘Learn of me’. Elder Bush spoke on the gift of the Holy Ghost and Brother Hunt confirmed Brenton a member of the church and gave him the Holy Ghost. Everybody really made him feel welcome and special.

After it all Elder Bush dropped us home stayed for a while with us and then left. We talked on the telephone heaps tonight as news about shifts went through. Elder Alatini and I sat on the steps outside and talked for ages. We are really happy and very very good friends. I love him very much.

Monday, 24^th August

We woke up fairly early today so we could have as much p-day as possible. Some people rang so our morning was fuller than expected. We then biked over to the Mangere Rec centre. We had a brilliant time playing basketball; volleyball and we even did some weights again. Although the attendant came and told us we needed to join if we wanted to use the equipment.

After that we went shopping in the town centre I got a pair of shorts for Elder Tavai, some stamps and organised my finances. We rode down to the shops at Mangere East and did our shopping at 3 Guys. When we got home I was feeling tired and so I had a sleep after which I wrote a couple of letters and had a feed.

Our dinner was with the Peihopa’s so we got changed and went over there, they weren’t ready for us so went and got Chinese for dinner. By the end of that I was bloated.

We went over to Bishops home Johnny and Meta didn’t come over but we had a neat time with Bishop at his family home evening. Later he dropped us off home and we had an earlier night back at the flat. We had a good talk to Bishop; he is pleased with the way things are going.

Tuesday, 25^th August

Today I have been on my mission 16 months. It has been a long time but not nearly long enough. I hope that I can extend.

Elder Bush came over and together with him we went to the Hunts home. However no one was there so we did a few chores, even went back to Elder Bush’s flat and mowed the lawn.

We found out that we needed to be at the Hunts place at 2.30 and so we went on trade offs. Elder Alatini went with Fuimaono and Elder Bush came with me. We taught the Lutau family again. Elder Bush taught Lilly in Samoan and I taught her sons Nikoa, Samuel and David. Had to go back over the first and second discussions for David. But the spirit was very strong and so I was commanded to commit him for baptism. They all agreed on this Sunday for their baptism. We went to teach Millie Aubrey but she wasn’t home.

In the evening we went to the stake missionary correlation meeting. It went well, we had to leave early as we had an appointment. Leanne and Joe came and took us to our appointment however Kim wasn’t home so instead we visited Johnny and Meta, the Hunts and finally the Parsons. Then they dropped us off at the Harrison’s where we had a beautiful meal. I was so stuffed though when I got home I went straight to bed.

Wednesday, 26^th August

Elder Bush came around early this morning and we did up the missionary chart for his correlation meeting tonight with the stake president mission president and stake mission president. After we got everything done we got a lift to Kim’s place. She was just going out so we left so we said hello and then ran for shelter at Teresa’s place in the pelting rain. We stayed there for a little while.

When we finally plucked up courage it was fine so we walked down the road, half way down it poured on us again, this time we couldn’t be bothered and walked in it till it stopped.

We visited Mark and Sara and had a good time with them. They are very hard to catch but it was good. We got a chance to see them.

In the later part of the afternoon we taught David, Sam and Nik again they came a little late and we were pressed for time but we taught a third and fourth discussion, it was quite rushed. My companion was upset that he didn’t feel the spirit. Rebecca and Teresa fed us KFC for dinner with the sisters.

We weren’t able to have a discussion with Johnny and Mena but Bishop was able to meet them and he really liked them. We had an early night tonight.

Thursday, 27^th August

We had our zone meeting this morning, it was really good. First off I went through the forefathers presentation. Many of the missionaries hadn’t seen it or used it. People like Ces Poa really got a strong testimony through it.

Elder Bush made us do little skits, which went really well. After the meeting the weather was still hopeless with frequent showers and hail. So we voted to play table tennis. We didn’t have enough balls so Elder Bush and I went and purchased a table tennis set.

In the afternoon we visited Millie Aubrey but again she was not home. I fell asleep at the Begmans and we had dinner with the Coopers. All night we were dodging the rain, plus the night was really freezing. They are having problems with a lot of snow in the South Island and around Ruapehu.

Saw the Tipenes and also the Jefferson’s later in the evening. When we got home Elder Alatini’s aunty and uncle came round and we ended up baking cakes, and playing table tennis, converting the beds base I brought last month into a table.

After they left Elder Tini and I just played and talked. It was a great opportunity to discuss things and grow closer. Communication is such an important part of any relationship. The best news today though was a letter from Ces Poa. He invited me to his baptism on Sunday night. That really made my day.

Friday, 28^th August

We woke up really late this morning because of our adventures last night. We got some clean up done around the flat and set out for the day. I’ve been wanting to visit Neil and Eddie so we went to their home and visited them. Neil was a bit busy so we spent time visiting with Edwin.

We saw the Fitisimanus and also Jay is so funny, although you can tell that he is not happy about not being at work.

We came back to the flat to wait for the opportunity of Brother Jefferson to fix the washing machine but he wasn’t home so we waited till the Elders came for our appointment. The Lutau family didn’t show at the Hunts so we did some other errands with Bush, talked and came back to the flat to break our fast, eat and play table tennis. Brother Jefferson came and checked out the washing machine - he said it was fine. Our dinner with the Paniroas was great after which we got a ride to Willie’s. Willie cut my hair, which was very much needed.

We visited the Burgess family and also the Hunts. I was very glad to see Brenton; we hadn’t seen him since Sunday.

Then we came back home to await Barry and Jay to discuss the missionary program in the ward and of course to play table tennis.

Saturday, 29^th August

Today was a very very busy day especially in the morning. We had planned to go with Elder Bush early to do some baptism interviews however President called a meeting with the Samoan Missionaries so Bush went away to that. The Sisters missionaries took us to a few families. First I visited Brother Ropati, he was excellent, looked like he had been preparing for baptism for ages.

We also saw Mataifono and Valasi Poto Papalii and I interviewed them together then we raced over to the Hunts place. We thought that the family hadn’t arrived yet when in fact they were inside. They came and got us and we taught Lillie, Sam and Nik. David was at his game. The discussions went well. Lillie understood the English excellent. When we finished the other Elders arrived and reviewed with Lillie in Samoan. Then I interviewed her and Elder Bush interviewed Sam and Nik. We got the program ready and Bush dropped us at Daniel’s to do it.

After spending time there Elder Bush came and I did up a program for him, for his baptism tomorrow. He in turn dropped us off at Johnny and Mena’s. When we got there it didn’t look like we were going to have a discussion but both Rebecca and Bishop turned up so they had no option. We had a third discussion. It went all right, not fantastic as we had hoped though. We spent the evening with the family and enjoying Johnny’s birthday and singing karaoke, which was a lot of fun. We didn’t get home till late as we did stats at Niu’s place.

Sunday, 30^th August

Barry and Allen came around last evening and while they were here Barry’s RX7 got hit and the driver split. His back wheel was wasted and the axil bent. We had to get a tow truck to come and get it. We didn’t get to bed till late as a result we were very tired. Plus we got a last minute assignment to speak at sacrament meeting.

Church was okay but very rushed. The Lutau’s weren’t there at the beginning of the meetings. I was praying really hard while I was up at the pulpit. The lord quickly answered too, they walked in just before the sacrament was passed. My companion talked on missionary work, Hugh Savage talked on sacrament which left me just enough time to quote ‘The touch of the Master’s hand’, read John 6.33-35, 47-58, 63 and talk about the sacrament plus expound John 21:15-1 and commit everyone to feed the Lord’s sheep. During Sunday school we taught the other two discussions that David needed. Farran sat in so it was really good.

Afterwards we went to priesthood and arranged a few things there. After church we got the programme photocopied and David interviewed, everything was set up for tonight. I was worried about David, as things have been going very fast for him just five days ago he had the first discussion. He said he felt good about everything though. Elder Bush took us in the car, I helped him do up programmes for his baptisms in Samoan on Chris’ computer at Teresa’s. Then we went to the stake centre and photocopied them.

By this time we were very tired. We had our dinner/lunch at the Gibbs, which we were starving for. When she went to choir practice we caught a ride to the chapel. We filled up the font and started heating it while we had a bit of time we slept.

At 5pm everyone arrived and we went through instructing them on what would happen and what to expect.

Everything went well. Sister Schwagler spoke in Samoan and Farren spoke on baptism, it was nice. I baptised Nik then Sam and then David. Elder Bush baptised Lillie. She is a big woman and took up most of the spa pool sized font; he had to do it twice.

The only bad point was little Martin was crying because he had been separated from his mum.

The confirmation was excellent and Bishop gave a good welcome. Sam bore a very toughing testimony and the others were fantastic also. It was so neat to see this family baptised, the most touching thing for me was to see the tears in Lillie’s eyes as she witnessed her sons being baptised. Families are truly forever.

Monday, 31^st August

Jay came and picked us up really early this morning. We went to the chapel and played badminton, table tennis and basketball. It was really great. We got so tired; it’s so draining to play against our elite athletic members.

I got changed at Bush’s and we sped with Elder Niu up to Takapuna, only problem was I left my wallet in Jay’s van so I had no money.

Our meeting wasn’t very much of a meeting, only the city zone leaders came and we only discussed a few things and then watched a missionary training video from the General Authorities. It was a good video and I learnt a lot, could be a great tool in zone meetings. Thomas S Monson talked as well and he had some very touching things to say. He spoke about our missions and the ‘c’s of success:

Commission - our commission is from the saviour to declare these wonderful truths, Matt 27: 19-20, D&C 15:6, it is a divine commission.

Call: our call comes by inspiration revelation to apostles of the lord. Romans 10: 13-15.

Companion: Are you the companion you would like to have. No one has the right to keep his companion from succeeding. 3 Nephi 11:24.

Courage: get up and get going, courage is needed in every worthwhile pursuit. D&C 58: 5-6

Capacity: our capacity is only limited by our faith. Be yourself, be genuine.

Commitment: be the missionary your mum thinks you are. The missionary your dad hopes you are. The missionary the lord knows you can become. Do your duty that is best leave to the lord the rest.

He also gave some inspiring stories which made me think how I might be able to help convert my friends and reactivate my dad.

After the meeting was over we had some chilli. Elder Donaldson and I talked heaps; he is District Leader in Manurewa. I was disappointed that president wouldn’t let us go to Takanini tonight to teach as I had hoped. After we did some things at the office we went to Manukau City to have the car serviced. While that was being done Elders White and Richards joined us and we all had lunch at Sizzlers. It was fantastic especially with the smorgasbord, salads and desserts. I ate heaps. Since we couldn’t go with Bishop tonight to teach Suskiei, we came back to the flat and ordered pizza. Brenton came and we spent time talking and eating.

Later on Elder Bush and Fuimaono also came to play table tennis on our converted bed base before retiring for the night.

Companions

In the second eight months of my mission I have had six companions counting Elder Price, which is twice as much as I had in the first eight months of my mission. I could write pages on each one, they mean a lot to me but because of space I’ll limit myself to important details.

Elder Brendon Price November 1991 to January 1992.

I was with Brendan for three months till the end of his mission in early February. He is from Hastings. I know his family well. He was a fantastic missionary and a very valued friend. He was anxious to finish his mission so towards the end we had a lot of fun just to fill in time. He is very humble and reserved. He is a big guy and very competitive when it comes to sports. I remember our game of tennis just after New Years very well. Together we were able to help some of our very special investigators through to baptism. He thought he wouldn’t be baptising anyone when he came back from the Cooks so it was a blessing for him to baptise Orion. We double shifted out of Whangarei, I haven’t heard from him since.

Elder Donal Wineera February 1992 to mid-March

Donal and I were together six weeks in Tokoroa. We had an excellent time. He is from my home stake and cousins to the Wineeras in my ward. Elder Wineera was a very hard worker. It took me a while to adjust but we became the best of friends. He taught me a lot about being self-motivated and productive. He also taught me to love tracting and be good at it. He is an extremely charismatic person with an easygoing attitude everyone really loved him. He was excellent at basketball too and helped me to play heaps better. It was a shock when he was shifted in the middle of the month, not to mention a disappointment.

Elder Frederick Luchycky mid-March to April

Elder Luchycky was straight from Colorado. When he came to Tokoroa I introduced New Zealand and New Zealand way to him. Missionary work came very natural to him. I was surprised at his skills and pick up. We had a lot of choice experiences and a few horrible ones also. I found it hard to relate to him and he also found it hard adjusting. I think I was a bit hard on him also. I really enjoyed his enthusiasm and we did end up becoming really good friends. He will be a great missionary. It was unexpected to be shifted out leaving him with little experience and little time in the area. I saw him some time later he looks really happy and content. [Frederick and I still keep in contact, he visited us in New Zealand a few years ago and we also saw him in the States, He finished study at Ricks College and now lives back in Cororado]

Elder Robert Kimmel - May and June

I was put with Elder Kimmel supposedly to train me for leadership. Elder Kimmel is a very bubbling wonderfully friendly guy. We became good friends right away. I was disappointed to find that he wasn’t all that he made out to be. He is one of the nicest guys you could ever meet but also manipulative, fake, proud and vengeful. I didn’t feel he was an effective leader at all, although he had the gift of the gab and could bring forth touching speech anytime he felt the need. However he did have some great talents and I learnt from him how to bring the spirit into the discussions, he could really teach well. We had a lot of problems more so than any of my companions so far. I do love him very much though, we are very good friends, just working together was a problem. Overall I enjoyed my time in Otahuhu.[I have visited with Robert a couple of times on my trips to the States, he is married, has a little boy and was completing his masters at BYU. He seemed really good and settled, and best of all his wife looked happy.]

Elder Bryon Tavai - July

Elder Tavai and I just clicked we had an excellent month together. I told pres he was one of my most obedient companions and he was. We learnt a lot together, we would study a lot and discuss many things he stands as the only companion I have cried with.

He is a very fun loving person and use to joke around a lot sometimes to the extreme. But you know people really loved him, it wasn’t his Samoan, his speaking or his teaching because he wasn’t very good at any of those things. But he was himself, he never changed, never put on a face you knew exactly what to expect. He was genuine. [I have not been able to find Bryon despite looking for him everytime I have gone through California]

Elder Folauhola Alatini - August and September

I was really blessed to be put with Elder Alatini, he is really cool. He is the companion I have had the most success with. He is a fantastic teacher and a very special friend. We have a lot of laughs together and we do a lot of talking. We have a great companionship with an interesting mix of activities. I’ve learnt how to progress people and love them from Elder Tini. He is both humble and also wild depending on his mood, he loves to serve and do what he can plus he is very generous and kind.

I can see how all of companions have been hand picked by father to help me grow in certain areas especially with my last few companions. I have learnt to teach by the spirit, accept my companions not to try and change them so much as to just love them, also to communicate better constantly.

It has made a big difference in my personality and as a missionary. I certainly feel more successful now than I have ever felt on my mission. There is still a lot I need to learn but I’m sure that heavenly father will guide me into situations where I can grow. Having a companion has been a very special experience being a companion has been a growing experience. I hope that I can be as wise in picking my eternal companion as heavenly father has been in choosing my missionary companions.

[I managed to track down Tini on my first visit to the States, he was living in Mesa, Arizona and with his wife had 2 adorable twin girls. I have not been able to talk to him since then]

Investigators

I served in four areas over the past eight months twice as many as in the last journal. These include Whangarei, Tokoroa, Otahuhu and Papatoetoe/Mangere. The people you meet and are able to teach become very close to you on a mission. I’ll list here some of my main investigators.

Maree and Orion

Two very special young ladies. We became very close to them. They were a pleasure to teach. Maree was so eager to be baptised it was really special. They were both baptised 12 January 1992. It was a very touching event for me.

Sharlene Hepi

Sharlene was touched by the spirit but her parents wouldn’t let her join the church. When she moved to Auckland I had the elders visit her and teach her. She had a baptism date set but I hear she ducked out. She is pregnant to Edwin Pearce. She is a fantastic person. I hope that everything turns out well for her.

Maureen Windust

After stopping smoking and clearing things up with Bishop she fully reactivated in the church. We were privileged to see her partaking of the sacrament and bearing her testimony. She was really special.

Ces Poa

My dear friend and ‘father’ just as I was leaving the area wanted to get baptised. But waited till he was totally ready. He was baptised 28 August 1992. Horray!

Harry Nehu

A neat young man whose dad was a very anti less active. He was very spiritual, he was only young but had a big heart and was baptised 13^th February 1992.

Donna and Jerry

Nice young couple. We mostly taught Donna, she was fantastic. The spirit really touched her. They were moving up to Auckland so I forwarded the referral so she could get baptised in her new area. However something happened, they didn’t get there and we lost complete contact.

Brent Reti

A really lovely spirit. He was really touched by the message. He made a lot of changes in his life. However we got him to his baptism interview but he ducked out and never regained his former motivation but slipped backwards - that was a very sad day.

Cathy and Peggy

Two of our neighbours we started teaching, both fantastic. Cathy was the more prepared of the two and never really committed mostly because of Peggy. We had a lovely time teaching them though.

Jeremy Vickers

Raewyn’s boyfriend who became a really special friend. We taught him and he soaked up the spirit, he was committed to league though and couldn’t get baptised yet.

Rabangaki family

Both the parents were members but had been living in Mangere and hadn’t been very active. When they moved into the Selus we began teaching Peter, Fiamalu and Rosary. They were fantastic, I really love that family. All those three were baptised on 20 June 1992.

Michael Nooroa

His parents were members also, quite active. Michael hadn’t been baptised because of his grandparents who were Staunch Catholics, they had brought him up. We set a date with him for baptism but to our disappointment his grandparents intervened again and he was not allowed.

Bobita and Selin

A young Indian couple who we got close to, they had been taught for a long time, very nice but uncommitted though. It was a real shame that they didn’t do more about it.

Linda Ta’ala

We began teaching Linda just before I shifted from the area. The rest of her family had been baptised a couple of months before. Because of pressure from her mum to have the family united she set a baptism date and was baptised 4 July 1992. By the time her baptism came around I think she was really committed.

Nofo

Nofo was a really wild guy, but it was good to teach him. We were a bit hard in his commitment and although we set a date he was not really committed to it. There were lots of things he needed to sort out and so he went to an alcohol rehabilitation course in Wellington.

Heta Himiona

Brother Himiona was excommunicated but desired to be reinstated. We taught him the discussions and arranged his baptism. His testimony was really special. He was baptised on the 15^th of August.

Brenton Hoyte

A fantastic young man with a real golden heart. We taught him really quickly but he always had interesting questions and comments. He accepted the gospel well. He was baptised on 23 August 1992.

Lutau family

Elder Bush taught Lillie in Samoan and we taught her sons David, Sammy and Niko. They were fantastic. We only ever saw them when we got to teach them but they really grasped the gospel. They committed themselves to baptism, the strongest I’ve ever seen. Their father is a minister in the LMS church (Lutherians). They were all baptised on 20 August 1992.

Johnny and Mena

A great couple that we found tracting, we became good friends however they would not commit to the gospel however hard we tried. Mena’s sister is coming back to church though.

Families

Support families become very important on a mission. There are times when you need a break or some love or even a feed. It’s good to have a couple of special families that you can call on your own, whose arms and fridge you are always open and you don’t have to ask. The more time you spend with someone the closer they become. Such it is with these special people. I won’t include Whangarei in this account as it is given on the other plates which have already been written.

The Matearas (Tokoroa)

John John, Rita and children. We became very close to them. They would support us 100% giving us rides, picking us up, they even gave us a key to their place. What a special family I really love them. John’s father Bishop Mateara was killed in a forest accident earlier this year, it was a shock to me he was one of the most humblest persons I’ve ever met. [After his father’s death John John and his family went to live in Rarotonga, where I visited them a couple of times after my mission. We still keep in contact]

Solomons

I went to school with the eldest daughter Lu-Anne. We taught Raewyn’s boyfriend Jeremy. The whole family was less active but we were very close. We had a lot of gospel discussions hoping that they would commit themselves to the most important things.

Manu’s

Noora who had recently come of his mission was one of my friends from school. His family was fantastic, Aunty and Lucky. We spent some neat times over at their home.

Rota’s

Brother Rota was the elders quorum president and gave us a lot of support. His family was really cool. We became close to Apii, Kura and Aunty Apii.

Cowleys

I went to school with Ollie and so we spent time helping him with Wilson prepare for missions. They are currently in the MTC bound for the Wellington mission. Aunty and Uncle were very good to us.[Uncle Ike (Ollies Dad) joined the church just after I finished my mission. I spoke at his baptism and his son came home from the Wellington Mission to Baptise him. It was a huge surprise for Aunty]

Kiwkiwi’s (Otahuhu)

The Kiwikiwis lived just a few doors down from our flat and we were constantly over there when we had only free moments. Sister Kiwkiwi was really lovely. We used to have family home evenings with them and they would bring people for us to teach.

Selus

Brother Selu was our ward mission leader. He was a great support in doing the work. Sister Selu would make a beautiful Rarotongan pumpkin and banana puki, which was always a great attraction for me. They are very sweet giving family. Sister Selu is a sister to Bishop Matearea.

Dorswamy’s

A neat young couple who would always help us out. They were the first Indian family to be sealed in the temple. They were not shy about introducing the gospel to their friends.

Parsons and Coopers

Both families which I had become acquainted with in Tokoroa that now live in this area [Mangere]. Brother Cooper is a fervent missionary who helps us out no end. And the Parsons are close personal friends.

Rebecca and Teresa

Our great stake missionaries and fantastic friends both have been members only a short time and their families aren’t members. They help us in our work. We have been trying to help us with their families.

Begmans

Daniel is our ward mission leader soon to be married to Marinoa. He is really cool and has been a great support to us. His family are really hard case both Sister Begman and Brother Begman. It is good to have them though we use their place a lot to do work on the computer and to correlate.

Beazley’s

Bishop helps us out a lot too with programmes and people to teach. He is really supportive it is awesome to have leaders with some push.

Hunts

The Hunts family are excellent to us also they have heaps of people for us to teach and baptise. Its great plus they feed us a lot also sometimes far too much.

Missionaries

Another group of people become important to you also, these are the missionaries. Usually the longer you spend in an area with the same people the closer you become. Here are some people who I’ve really grown to love.

Elder Nic Dunlop

We served in the same district in Whangarei and together again in Mangere. He is a truly fantastic person and a valued friend. It is amazing it took us so long to meet, we have so much in common. [Nic Dunlop, wife Maria and son now live in Wellington, I don’t get to see him near enough]

Elder Jason Bush

My district leader in Otahuhu and zone leader in Manukau. We spend a lot of time together teaching, baptising and organising the zone. He is a great leader and a neat friend. [Jason Bush now lives with his wife Shelly and 2 boys in Layton Utah and is Bishop, we still keep in touch]

Sister Neilson

One of the other constant missionaries in our district. She is bubbly and very inspired, not to mention a great missionary. It has been great to look up to her as a sister, she’s cool. [Glad I wrote this since I married her 4 years later, my journal is noticeably absent of references to her otherwise]

Elder Chris Broczek

My best friend from Wellington. I have no idea what he’s like as a missionary as I haven’t even seen him since I left home a year and a half ago but we talk on the phone from time to time. I know he will be great. [Married and with a little boy the same age as my second, we live quite close by and see and talk to each other regularly]

Elder Mark Donaldson

Another close friend from Wellington. I have seen him quite a few times now. He is a really good missionary with a great spirit, he is going to go far. [Mark Donaldson is now Bishop in Whangarei]

Well this is the end of this journal 204. More pages covering 8 more months. It has been over 6 years now that I have kept a journal enough time to do 2 university degrees. Yet I believe I have got more out of it and achieved more growth than would be possible any way else. Life truly is a learning experience.

As I have read back over this journal I have thought about that touching story ‘footprints in the sand’. I have walked by the Lord, I have been carried by the Lord even strayed away a little. But I see that my greatest spiritual growth came within my greatest personal struggle. I don’t know if you will be able to pick that up because I often pain a rosy picture even when things are harder than usual. But if you have read it with your heart I’m sure the spirit will confirm it to you.

What Elder Craven taught us is particularly true. Doing hard things makes people strong doing easy things makes people weak. We are placed in this terestial experience and told to live celestial laws. This allows for the greatest opposition and also for the greatest growth.

In closing I would like to let you know that the gospel is important to me because the spirit has touched me to know that God lives, Jesus Christ is our saviour, our redeemer, brother and friend. Joseph Smith is a prophet of God indeed one of the greatest servants of our Heavenly Father. The Book of Mormon is scripture as is the Bible and this is the true church under the direction of Jesus Christ through a prophet of God.

Onto Journal 3

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