Skin Disease....Again!

We didn’t get a weekly email from Chance, but below are some of the excerpts from our Google Hangouts conversation.  Enjoy the pictures.

Chance: I have the skin disease again! lol

Dad: What do you mean. Again?

Chance: Just from wrestling, it felt like I was getting it all the time.

Chance: Apparently, this one may be bacterial or caused by an insect so we shall see.

Dad: Have you been to the doctor yet? How are you feeling?

Chance: It has drained me a bit that is for sure?

Chance: I don't feel too bad though it just looks ugly.

Chance: I go to the doctor tomorrow.

Dad: Are you having to stay inside a lot now?

Chance: Nah, not yet we will see though. I went to church with it. Ha-ha.

Dad: Nice. But you are thinking insect.

Chance: Yeah.

Dad: How hot is it there now.

Dad: You surviving

Chance: It is cooking with humidity right now.

Dad: The pictures look awesome. The colors are so amazing. Sad you can’t get there.

Chance: Yeah. Ha-ha, but it is all good

Dad: How is the work going?

Chance: It is good we are working with girl named Rachel and Jahari and they both are keeping commitments and are keen.

Dad: Very cool. Is the branch still treating you ok?

Dad: How is your comp? Is it good to be back in the area?

Dad: Just saw the photo of your skin. What have you done for it?

Dad: Did you put any antibiotics on it?

Chance: I have put some lotions like anti-fungal and an antibiotic but nothing else.

Chance: Yeah the branch is the best.

Dad: Makes me nervous with it that close to the eye.

Chance: Yeah it hasn't grown since Saturday.

Dad: How long have you had it?

Chance: Since Saturday morning.

Dad: Just woke up with it?

Chance: Yeah, I have no idea where it came from.

Dad: Wild. Keep an eye on it. Sounds like you are doing some cyclone dodging. What is that?

Chance: Well the cyclones smash the upper coast of Western Australia during the summer or wet season due to currents. So it floods with rain every once in a while and the winds are insane. Broome has gotten a lot of them lately so hopefully we get to be a part of one.

Dad: Where are the beach pictures from?

Dad: What is the UFC picture from?

Chance: UFC fit is our workout program we are doing to get in shape. Ha-ha.

Chance: The beaches were in the Cossack

Dad: Nice. How is the UFC thing going for you?

Chance: Oh it is kicking our butts to be honest. Ha-ha.

Dad: That is a good thing.

Dad: How are you guys getting to Broone? Aren’t there other elders there? Going on exchanges?

Chance: Exchanges.

Dad: We are having root beer floats.  What types of things can’t you get there food wise?

Chance: Oh solid. They don't have root beer here it is sarsaparilla

Chance: American cereal is also a no go here.

Dad: What kinds would you like? We can send for a good time. Wild on sarsaparilla. Home made root beer.

Chance: Anything really, I just am fed up with wheat bix.

Dad: What was your favorites?

Chance: Fruity Pebbles, Frosted Flakes, Frosted Mini Wheats.

Dad: We are on it.

Dad: Sounds like the people you are teaching are pretty sweet.

Dad: Are you guys finding many people?

Chance: Yeah the tracting here has gone a lot better than either of us have thought.

Dad: Are there mainly Aussies or islanders?

Chance: Lots of NZ people. The people in the area come for work because the mines pay heaps so they work hard for a couple years and then have an easy retirement. Really multi-cultural. Hard people though.

Dad: The mines must pay a tone but it is dangerous work I bet. Any mines to tour?

Chance: Not really they are ages away all of the workers bus in. It is a bummer not having a car

Dad: Here is Cale.

Cale: Hey loser

Chance: Hey man what up

Cale: The sky

Chance: Why don't you or Gaje use hangouts on your phone?

Cale: It’s boring 😜

Chance: I bet the kids here could whoop you and Gaje in Fortnite.

Cale: No way we are so good.

Chance: Oh, ok then!

Chance: How is the life?

Chance: Middle school all right?

Cale: Good. What about you?

Cale: Yeah

Chance: Life is good here just some hot weather and some short shorts.

Chance: Ha-ha

Chance: Any good songs come out lately?

Cale: Nope it sucks.

Chance: Ok ha-ha. You should watch Cozmo the Cougar and the Cougarettes do a dance to Rolex.

Chance: They listen to some funny stuff like a band called the Wombats.

Cale: What sport do you play with a wombat?

Chance: No sport, a band like music, called the Wombats.

Cale: Wom

Chance: Rugby, cricket, AFL are big here you guys need to watch an AFL game.

Dad: Sorry. Cale gone now. I am back. What are your plans for later today?

Chance: Basketball and then making a book of Mormon cheat sheet?

Dad: Nice. What is going into your Book of Mormon cheat sheet?

Chance: Just a good index card so that we can study up good!

Zone Conference on USB?

I am enjoying my time in Karratha. The red dirt gets into everything even when you are no where near it. We had the amazing opportunity to fly down to Perth to go to a mission conference. As country Elders, they generally send us the zone conferences on a USB. We low-key missed our flight down. We had our e-ticket printed but apparently that can't be used for boarding who knew. Any way we spent the majority of the week with the Midland Elders, Elder Cooper from Brisbane and Elder Wilsher from Calgary Canada. We had a good time exploring the city and for Elder Mortenson to meet new missionaries for once.

We are pretty isolated up here. We are going to a little town called Cossak today so we will see what is there and let you know how that is. The members might take us fishing for p-day which would be exciting.

Here in Karratha, the mission leader Named Brother Otto does something called the Bread Run.

So for the majority of Sunday after church, we go around handing out fresh bread from the local bakery and deliver it to branch members and investigators or if we have extra just random people.

We had an awesome game night with the Clarke family last night. We got to meet people and do a hakka at Whyatongi day which was fun. (New Zealand day)

I only have a short time. I have enjoyed reading the Peace Giver. We watched an area conference message for church on Sunday which was cool it talked about President Nelson’s life.

I will fill you in on more exciting stuff this week.

Love

Chance

Met or Seen a Kangaroo? Met and Eaten One!

Chance was unable to send a weekly email this week, but I was able to talk to him over Hangouts.  Here are some snippets of our conversation.

Dad: Hey but how is the city by the shore? What have you been up to?

Chance: The city is alright it has a lot of upsides

Dad: How is the work going? How is the comp?

Chance: Everything is going well. It seems like we are always full on booked but we aren't going to be able to get a lot done because of the mission conference in Perth this week.

Dad: That is tough but it keeps things exciting to be busy.

Dad: How is your comp?

Chance: He is good still but adjusting to missionary life but it’s all good. He is pretty funny. He rides dirt bikes and loves to ski. We get along well. His name is Jackson Mortenson

Dad: Seems like this is an easier companionship though than the last one.

Chance: Yeah

Dad: What do you guys have going for today? Any play?

Chance: We are getting haircuts, a flat inspection, and we have to print flight stuff for Perth.

Dad: Fun times.

Teagan: Are you biking or driving.

Chance: Biking so I have some fat legs ha-hah.

Teagan: Have you eaten anything different?

Chance: I have eaten. some octopus and some oysters.

Teagan: Oh gross. Have you met or seen a kangaroo?

Chance: Yeah and I have eaten it ha-ha!

Teagan: You’ve eaten kangaroo? You monster.

Teagan: What’s your favorite thing about Aussie?

Chance: Favorite thing about Aussie is the people and the beaches.

Teagan: I thought you couldn’t go to the beaches.

Chance: We can't but from a distance the water looks beautiful 😉

Chance: I have got to go. I love you.

City of Karratha at night.

Karratha; Back in the Bush

The ups and the downs. It has been a while since I took the time to send a group email. Honestly these things are kinda useless in my opinion. Quick updates. I am out in the bush again. I am in a town called Karratha. It is a mining town that focuses on iron, salt, and natural gas. Everyone here works hard. It is a hard place to tract that is for sure. People don't mind chatting but religion is a very big turn off for most here. The town is a little worn down. Our flat included, we just found a mouse behind one of our electrical outlets.

There is a rock solid branch here though. The majority of them are return missionaries. And the majority flew up from New Zealand to work. The area is hard with just the bikes but then again if we had a car we would probably get into a tad bit of mischief ha-ha.

I enjoy it here in the land of red dirt. I don't know if I could live here, but it's not so bad for the moment. President Fife and Sister Fife are the head of the branches in Broome, Port Hedland, and Karratha. We were able to have a visit and study with them which is always a good experience.

I flew up here on this past Friday. Before that I just spent packing one bag to bring up here from Perth. I finished my time in Armadale doing some services and exchanges with our favorite District Leader Elder Lamosetellie.

I miss you all.

I was able to chat with him over Google Hangouts.  Here are some notes of our conversation that might interest everyone.

Chance has been transferred to Karratha in Western Australia.  It is about is about 15 hours by car North of Perth.  He flew.  It was a 2.5 hour flight.  His new companion is Elder Mortensen.  He is a nationally ranked motocross rider from Sacramento.  So far, they seem to be getting a long good. Chance says that he is a solid missionary who just finished up his initial training.  Chance is excited to start working in this new area.  Chance calls this place the best area in the mission.  It is right on the coast.  He says he has been to see the ocean but the mission rules will not allow them to be on the beach. Chance said the water reminds him of Hawaii.

His District Leader is stationed in Broome which is 8 hours by car further up the coast.  They do their District Meeting using Skype.  There are also more missionaries in Port Hedland.  The Zone Leader is actually South of Perth in Brunbury which makes them about 17 hours away by car from Chance.  Neither of us have figured out how that makes any logistical sense, but I am sure there is a reason for that.

He said the branch in Karratha is mostly made up of islanders.  Chance is getting fed by the members more as the islanders are not afraid to invite people over for food. He said the member have a good focus on missionary work so he was excited for that.

Chance said that his area includes some of the smaller towns outside of Karratha, but because they have only bikes it doesn’t make sense for them to go to the outlying areas.  Somewhere along the line, Chance got some really nasty blisters on his feet while playing sports with no shoes.  He says that they are all healed now, but they really looked nasty.

Chance got to go to the temple prior to leaving Perth.  However, he will get to go again as they will be traveling down to a regional conference this coming Wednesday.  Lots of flying.

He will be getting a new mission president in July.  It is a man from Australia.

It is pretty hot there now.  Chance says that the temperatures are in the mid 40’s C and only drops to the mid 30’s at night.  They have air conditioning in their apartment so at least they can get some sleep.  It is hot though as you can tell by the hats and the sunburns in the pictures.

Chance said that Karratha is way bigger than Narrogin the area that they cover but the town is about the size as Narrogin.

Chance has only really been in the area for a couple of days.  He has started to meet the members and has started tracting.  He says that they have a couple of people that they are working with so he is excited to teach them.

Chance said that there are a few good hiking or other places to see; Kimberlies and the Pilburah ranges are cool but they are just yonks away.

Chance indicated that most of the people there work in the mines and they make bank man like 80-120 an hour.  However, part of the reason that they get paid so much is that all of the mines are about 45 minutes away where there are a lot of things that can kill them.  Additionally, the cost of living is really high there.  He is not sure why.

That’s all from our conversation.

Elder Mortensen and I 

Gotta love the faces. 

Elder Tartaglia and I with the District Leaders 

Good memories of Elder Anitema and I. 

 Good memories of Elder Anitema and I.

Good memories of Elder Anitema and I. 

My blisters.  They are healed now. FYI 

Elder Tartaglia and I at the temple. 

Elder Tartaglia and I at the temple.

Elder Tartaglia and I at the temple with the District Leaders. 

Elder Tartaglia and I at the temple with the District Leaders.

Lows and Highs

Not a lot of time to email this week sorry. This week has been good we are just coming off of the hype of Christmas and New Years. It was fun and exciting. I would say the lows of the week were that we had to take John off of baptismal date which was sad. He has some issues with his legs and his doctors said that he can't be dunked until they are healed. One of my favorite missionaries got sent home for medical reasons which is sad. I hope that he is able to come out and finish up.

We have been trying to clean up all of the people that we do not know on the ward list and let me tell you it has been hard ha-ha. Elder T, my companion is very stressed and so as his trainer it makes it a little difficult to handle. I have enjoyed the challenge of reading the four gospels so Mathew, Mark, Luke and John which has helped me to include the Savior more into my life.

Gastro and the flu are going around pretty heavy right now so fingers crossed that Elder T and I don't get it.

We are headed to an area called Serpentine this p-day so that should be fun. The only really good news is that the work is hard and I am loving it. We are supposedly getting a car so that should be a blessing in getting around a bit ha-ha.

 Goodbye Elder Anitema; You Will Be Missed.

 Doing Some Service!

 Our Bathroom is Clean!

 Sorry It is Blurry; This is John

 A Few Last Photos with Elder Anitema.

 A Few Last Photos with Elder Anitema.

Elder Anitema's Artwork 

Gotta Love Nap Time, Getting Ready to Leave for Home 

A Few Last Photos with Elder Anitema. 

A Few Last Photos with Elder Anitema. 

Breakfast of Champions and Missionaries 

Elder Tartaglia's Welcome to Being My Companion Meal 

Elder Tartaglia and I 

Elder Tartaglia and I 

Still loving my socks.

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.