Week 101 - SEE YOUS NEXT WEEK!

Well this is weird. Next week I will be Brother Newman. But until that day I am still Elder Newman, so here is what happened this week.

We did finding as usual and visited some members and set up visits for this week. It’s going to be a full run around week, probably the first one where I will have to make time for finding, haha. What a big change from the norm.

We did not get to see our investigator this week. She had car trouble. But we will be a shoo-in to teach her next week!

That’s all I have for this week. Today for PDay I am going to break my high score at bowling. That’s all we are doing, I think. I don’t know, nothing set for today yet. Have a great week. I will see yous when I get home.

Elder Newman

Taught primary this week!

Week 100

Well this week almost took a step back in the wrong direction, but because of Sunday we finished off the week with a win! The less actives that we were working with dropped off, but we were able to make contact with an investigator that had been on vacation for the past 6 weeks. And then on Sunday there was a missionary’s homecoming, and he smashed his testimony. (He was from the North Mission)

Then after church we had an awesome lesson with our investigator. She just keeps gaining more and more confidence to pray. This week she said the closing prayer. She wants change in her life, and she wants a good path for her son to follow. She knows the answer in her heart. We are now just waiting on her to decide when she wants to make the change in her life.

Other than that this week was alright. Nothing else to report on.

I love you all. Have a great week!
Elder Newman

Human Foosball at the local park...

Costco for lunch with Elder Olsen and his companion...

 A day of service... helping a ward member move...

Week 99

This week was a little rough. We weren’t able to go inside and meet with this less active that we were trying to work with. But he did promise us that he would have someone for us to teach next time we came, so that was a good thing that happened.

Well this week I guess was pretty good. We did get back in contact with an old investigator, and we are meeting with her this Thursday night.

We also had a great lesson last night with our other investigator. I think that she is starting to understand. She still won’t accept a baptismal date, but she said yes to baptism so that is great. She had an experience with prayer that really helped her in her progression. Things are looking up!

That was our week, talk to you next time.

Love you all!

Elder Newman

My comp fell asleep waiting at the bus stop.

Week 98

Not really a whole lot to report on this week. We weren’t able to meet up with our investigator this week, but we did pick up a new less-active that we can work with.

The work is going slow here, but the YSA are great at wanting to come out and work with us. It’s good knowing that if you call them, they will drop what they are doing to help the missionary work progress. It really lifts the load, even if it’s just for an hour.

Most of the week we were GQ'ing [general questioning] around the Station, and we realized that we need to find a new spot to find people because everyone there had talked to missionaries before and weren’t interested. So we might try next to the river in the park this week.

But that’s all from this side. I love you all. Have a great week!
Elder Newman

Bowling and Laser Tag with the Zone last week...

 Elder Crowton (Utah), Elder Hideshima (Japan), Elder Newman, and Elder Hau (Netherlands)

Week 97 – What a Week!

Man I feel like I am finally figuring things out in this ward and starting to build a great relationship with all the members.

This week my companion gave a great talk in Sacrament meeting, and he couldn't even make it 5 feet before someone else wanted to talk to him because he was Japanese, haha. It was funny to watch because he just came out of a branch that has maybe 20 adult members max, and then he gets swarmed by everyone because they all know someone who either served in Japan or is learning Japanese. He loves the ward and city and is adjusting well to his new area, and he is helping me stay sane by helping me stay busy.

We have been working a lot with our less actives, and have been really starting to get super busy, like hardly any time to travel in between. That was basically our week. Today is Elder Hideshima's birthday, so we will be going around with what he wants to do today. But as far as the work, it’s been progressing... new people and new progress. It’s great!

Elder Newman

Week 96 - Transfers!

This last week we didn't focus too much on finding because we realized that our member connection wasn't there. So we focused on building relationships with the ward, and guess what! We finally got a new investigator. Haha! All those doors and nothing.. and working with members for one week we already have an investigator with a great support system. That shows us how important members are to the work of salvation.

Elder Ferris got transferred to Canberra Zone and was replaced by Elder Hideshima. I don’t know too much about him, but he is my same age and he is from Japan, just like Elder Iino. I am looking forward to this transfer. Hopefully it will be good, and we can see success!

Love you all!
Elder Newman

[Pictures from last week's Pday BBQ.]

 

Week 95

It was a good week. We still are finding heaps and got like 2 potentials this week, but no investigators. But the zone is doing great this transfer. We have had 2 baptisms this transfer, and we are leading the mission with 8 on date. So even though it’s hard for us, there are still blessings, and the work is still progressing.

This week there was a funeral of a dad of one of the missionaries in the mission. That was pretty tough because last transfer his grandma had passed away as well.

Then my companion had a birthday, his first on the mission, and we had a good time making an ice cream cake for him and had a good day. That was all for this week besides finding everyone.

Have a great week!
Elder Newman

[Elder Newman made these cinnamon rolls from scratch last week for FHE.]

 
Elder Tiatia, Elder Crowton (front), Elder Ferris (birthday boy), and Elder Newman