Good Bye Elder Anitema

This week has been pretty Hectic.

Elder Anitema has left me. He flew to Tonga on Sunday. Hope that somewhere along the lines I will visit him and his people or he will visit us back in the states. He is a gem and I have basically known the guy my whole mission. He will be missed.

My new Companion is Elder Tartaglia from San Giovanni in Marignano, Italy. He speaks Italian, French, German, Spanish, and a tiny bit of English ha-ha. It makes it fun. I am finishing his last 3 weeks of Golden training. They refer to missionaries who just came out as Goldens because they have a spirit and fire about them like none other in the mission. Hopefully we can coast that through into some blessings this transfer.

I am still in Kelmscott. I am no longer a district leader. My district has dissolved into another because of lack of missionaries coming in this most recent transfer. I am a little bummed, the zone is pretty new in terms of people. It just means new people to see and new places to go to. While in between sending Elder Anitema off and getting Elder Tartaglia, I was with the Zone Leaders for 4 days. That has made me appreciate just being a normal missionary. The Zone Leaders are always off helping the ward and other missionaries. I enjoyed it though, it was fast paced and plus I got to mooch off of their food for a while.

This past Saturday I was able to set our investigator John on baptismal date for the 6th of January which is very exciting. I am a little envious of the Christmas sweater weather at the moment because it is boiling lava hot and will only get worse as the season progresses.

I really enjoy reading the Ensign, I never thought that I would but I do on the mission ha-ha.

Committment

That is good that the boys are keeping busy. I feel like I got into the most trouble when I had the least to do. So keep pushing them to do something. There is a talk given some time ago that our mission president gave to us it is called “The Word is Commitment”. I have really enjoyed it. It talks about becoming and a quote that I like from it is “be something” from Abraham Lincolns mother ha-ha.

I have been reading in 3rd Nephi were Jesus is teaching the people. I would say something that has helped me the most in the mission and when I have done it back home has been losing myself in study. It helps me to humble me a bit. This week we had interviews and exchanges. Today we are going to the temple.

I enjoy week five of the transfer it is this week because it is a big spiritual smash and it brings a lot back into perspective for me. Anitema leaves for the mission office next Friday it is interesting to see what it is like at the beginning of a mission and how people develop in the end of one. I guess that is me for now.

I have been getting weird tan and burn lines. I will keep you updated on new companion stuff and all that jazz when it comes. We have Zone p-day next Monday at the skews a missionary couples and we are having a big sausage sizzle or barbie ha-ha.

Elders P-Day

It has been a long week. We are pretty beat. Our investigator John has come to church twice now which is really cool. We have been doing lots of service. Today we helped one of the ward members move. Today is Elders p-day so we are going to North Coogee Beach this week to play sport and some BBQ . We will see. Next week I will be emailing on Thursday because we are going to temple.

  

Sorry I don't have a lot of time to email these days.

  

Love you

Fire and Damnation

This week has been awesome. I got to meet the new elder from Austria. I could not tell you his name or how to spell it but he is pretty cool. He is being trained by the Zone Leaders. This week we had two exchanges. So that means it went by crazy fast. Exchanges are the best because when you get a group of missionaries together they are not distracted and put the nose to the grindstone and get to work.

The highlight of the week, we had our Investigator John come to church. He rode his goffer all the way from the train station and he enjoyed it. Hopefully with the members help we can make a difference and change that man’s life.

The Zone conference was this week. President Fife is the type of mission president that likes to spit damnation and hell fire at you from the pulpit. It is a good thing a lot of us missionaries need it. The goal for us at the moment is to take this semi-dead area of Kelmscott and turn it into a model missionary area that others can look up to. That was the council that was given to us as missionary leaders.

I personally am trying to refocus myself a little. Ground myself to the good things and forsake the bad. We as a Zone have a goal of saving 40 souls which either means back to activity or baptism. We are on our way there. I would say if any aspect of my life has changed since coming on the mission it would be that the love I have for myself, others, and God has increased. I love it when the Brethren say that we have divine potential it gives me some hope.

Sorry to cut it short this week but I will try to get better at it. Make sure to check the pictures we had some fun times.

Elder Gunter.

Unusual Size and Persistence

I'd say the biggest take away of this week has been that bugs are the worst thing ever created. They are of unusual size and persistence here. The flies, man I will invent something to irradicate them. The heat has been fun. It is getting so stinking hot and it is a dry-as heat. We are just trying to keep hydrated and motivated to keep biking. 
The Area has been lovely though, we meet people everyday that have good contact with the missionaries but are not interested. We are able to have good chats with everyone. I think it is funny the 20 somethings here play pranks on the missionaries but because of it we are able to hand out Books of Mormon and give them a little bit of the spirit as they giggle for actually talking to us. 
There is a big stigma that religion is bad. The Aussies and the aboriginals stay away from us for the most part but there is a big connection we are able to make with all the other cultures. I think that going into this Christmas season we will have more success. A lot of people here believe in a Heavenly Father and being saved so that is a plus. 
I have loved hearing from everyone. I think for the moment the mission is trying to humble me. If my mission resident had some words that could be said out to everyone is that we are all prideful little potlickers ha-ha. 
I am excited for Zone conference this week and exchanges this week. I'll keep you posted on the watch tan line ha-ha.

Skeletons

This week just flew by and it is really sad. I feel like every time I say this. I may end up jinxing myself ha-ha. But I made it through another transfer. So hopefully I stay in this Kelmscott area for a little while longer ha-ha.

This week I have uploaded some pictures of the heat setting in. The fact is, I am melting but hopefully the sweat will keep my weight down ha-ha.

This week was hype week and Zone p-day which was super fun. We had the Narrigon Elders up with us to have a Halloween trunk or treat with the missionaries. We were skeletons ha-ha. The hype week was full of challenges such as who could hand out the most pass along cards, knock on primary color doors and so forth. Oh my that was weird the google just auto corrected my color to colour ha-ha. But all in all it has been a good week to be a missionary. We were able to participate in two ward events, a cake auction/ sausage sizzle (i.e BBQ) and a YSA fast breaker. So for us that means we got all the leftovers ha-ha; the best.

I have been doing well drinking heaps and jump roping.

We were able to pick up a couple of new investigators this week which was really exciting for us. One of the things that we have been stressing as a Zone is studying the New Testament and Christ’s life in Jesus the Christ by Talmage. In doing so, we are also trying to help the members with their missionary work. Our goal for the end of the year as a Zone is to bring 40 people to conversion which means a baptism or a progression of ordinances which is pretty cool. We are trying our best and the Light the World campaign is a big thing here so that is really exciting to see everyone getting involved. 

Sorry, I can't stay on too long, but just keep swimming.

Stolen Bikes!

The week has been really a blur so this will be a little short.

I would say the most fascinating thing that would peak some interest would be that Elder Anitema and I got our bikes stolen on Saturday. So today, we are going to the police station to try and figure it out ha-ha. I have been given a Sisters bike I believe based on the seat and the style of bike ha-ha.

Today the Narrogin Elders, my old companion Elder Richins and Elder Nelson, are with us for Zone p-day. We are having a trunk or treat with prizes so that should be fun ha-ha. The Halloween craze hasn't caught on here at all so that is kind of funny. It is just an excuse to buy cheap lollies.

We have been pretty booked for the last week or so of the transfer; it has been busy. We are trying our best to keep it that way because a lot of the missionary efforts kind of die down when transfers are approaching. We are working hard and doing are best. But man does it make you tired. This missionary thing makes for some long days. It is always enjoyable.

Since I don't have a lot to talk about, I will talk about the little things. Poly's generally are the most sincere people you will meet. They always are serving. So when we make meals Tema tries to make everything and to wash all of the dishes. I don't let him and that is why we get along. When we say our prayers even though it is probably taboo we include stuff in there about each other’s future wife to lift our spirits ha-ha. Tema laughs all the time and it is a crack up. I will have to get a recording of it sometime ha-ha. The thing that we are prepping for at the moment is the Light the World campaign by the church they have in a lot of money to personalize it to WA and SA so that the people can get involved. It should be fun to see how everything unfolds.

Love,

Chance