7/11

My Dearest Family and Friends,

The weeks get better and better.

Australian updates: So to explain the caption, this week was 7/11 in Australia because they put the day before the month. So what does that mean?? FREE SLURPEES AT 7/11 the petrol station! Unfortunately, I did not realize until after planning. Our flatmates showed us their 7/11 cups haha. A couple updates about the Australian culture: Christmas decorations went up at the beginning of October. Like full on decorations in the malls. It is so fun. Halloween and Thanksgiving don't even exist. Also, the entire front yard of someone's home is a parking spot. Everyone just pulls onto each others front gardens (lawns) It is really fun. I do it myself. Also everyone has the letter P on their cars because it takes them like 3 years to get their full license and they have to wear a P on their car until they get their full license. By the way, I drive better in Australia than in America. JOKES. Also, I read the Book of Mormon with my buddy Joey the kangaroo this week and Kyle the Koala bear listened too. I've learned heaps of slang here. The food really is different, mostly because the flavors are different. Also, it's summer here and HOT but the weather has so many mood swings. It rained a ton this week and there was lighting and thunder and then the next day it will be burning hot!

Smile Moment: I will just pick one! Sister Allen came to church this week! Finally! She is less-active! But she brought her a glass bottle that said "BEER" on it with her and drank it throughout church! It was ginger beer so no dramas. (they say no dramas here rather than no worries)

Companion is great!  I am now learning some French and Tahitian.

Languages learned:

Gangsta: CHECK

THAI: CHECK

SAMOAN: CHECK

TONGAN: CHECK

FRENCH: Still in progress

TAHITION: Still in progress

Ok and now onto my favorite part.

Update on Liverpool 1st area: The pool is great and transfers are next week which really scares me because my work here isn't done! I know these investigators and these people so well and this week i found out so many of their concerns and i know how to help them! Ok lets start with Emma! She went to the Relief Society camp this week and she is so well fellowshipped. We don't even have to worry about people saying hi to her or welcoming her. She texted us after and told us how much she enjoyed camp! Church activities are such great missionary opportunities. Then she rocked up to church with her entire family! She now regularly plans on coming to church. She really likes the feeling at church AKA THE SPIRIT! Her EX-Partner even came. Emma is a sincere investigator. She progresses every time we meet with her. It is small progression, but progression in deed. Everyone knows she will be baptized, it's just a matter of when. She is currently praying about a day. She struggles with prayer so we are trying to help[ her overcome some of the obstacles Satan tempts her with. But she is doing really well. We get to see her 3 times a week! Also, Emma stated off with no belief in God. Now her daughter Ebony is baptized and her twins know what prayer is. She is the one that makes Ebony come to church now. This is what the gospel is all about. It changes lives. It has changes this families life.

Ok update with the Sureskumar family. So they are here! They've torn my heart in a million different directions but i still love them beyond what words can describe. We finally received some answers. They were at the airport and all ready to go and to move but the immigration department called and told them that they weren't supposed to leave. Chitra was very frustrated and she feels she doesn't have any control over the situation. They are still moving but just waiting to hear when. They meet with the immigration department on a regular basis trying to figure things out, but Chitra now thinks they will be staying for a few more months. But then we asked why they hadn't told us earlier before their baptism and that's where the answers really came. Chitra bore her testimony. She knows the Book of Mormon is True and she loves God so much. She said that she knows Baptism is a big deal and that she is scared. She wants her whole family to be baptized as well. She knows that God wants her to be baptized. They are currently praying about a specific day to be baptized, and we are working to get the entire family baptized. All 6 of them! So things are good. Salvation never comes cheap.

Nicholas came to church as well! We have two African investigators right now and they are legit. They ask so many questions! Nicholas is well fellowshipped as well. We've had a couple of lessons in members homes which is THE BEST! He is praying about a date as well. He is still struggling with the whole "I was already baptized, why do i need to be baptized again?" concern. But don't worry we will tackle it!

Other than that we are working with some part member families! Our less-actives brought some of our Investigators to church this week! This Sunday was one of my favorites on the mission! It was the primary presentation. Imagine cute little Children singing in Australian accents. I've become so use to the accents that i don't really notice them anymore, but at church i realized that these little kids were singing in Aussie accents and how precious they were! Almost all of the less-actives we've been working with came to church this week! THANK YOU PRIMARY PRESENTATION! My heart was just so full. We also had a musical fireside. Sister Atkinson sang! This week on trade-offs she came with us to our lessons. It was a really good day and we taught 7 lessons and we made her sing in every single one of them! Ok i have to go! But those are the mains! Pray that i won't get transferred and that i will keep swimming in the pool! The Game is on and the work is great.

Also, one thing i learned this week. "You cannot expect an investigator to progress if you aren't progressing yourself." We can apply this to any relationship. Look at yourself first. Once we see the divinity in ourselves, we can see it in others. Also a couple great scriptures on prayer. Mattew 7:P7-8 and 3 Nephi 18:20. I challenge you to say a vocal personal prayer this week. There is power to vocal prayers.

LOVE,

SIS JAKE