Week 49

This week was the busiest I have been for the last two transfers. Monday of course was transfers, and Tuesday was Pday. Wednesday we dug out a tree stump and dug some holes for some shrubs, then we helped Debbie out with a burn pile.

Thursday we helped prep a boat for storage and also kept working on the weight room that we had started for the Shoobridges. While working on the shed I smashed my finger with the hammer so it’s a little hard to type today but all goods.

Friday was DTM and service at Mandeni park, and we baked cookies (they were delicious). Haha, I am now a baker. We gave some of the cookies to a potential named Tom. He is a funny guy. He gives everyone a nickname. Then Saturday we did the 5k run and helped cut firewood and then cleaned the chapel.

Sunday was pretty normal. Daniel showed up again [to church], and we had a great lesson with him and he accepted the invitation to be baptized. We got talking to him after the lesson, and what it sounded like was he was planning on being baptized after our first lesson with him. He wants to be baptized on October 1st, the same day that Wendy gets back from her trip in England, so we are going to be inviting her to that as well.

I am still getting along great with Elder Stott. He is the man. He is awesome at teaching the gospel simply and clearly so that anyone can understand. He is awesome. He has been a blessing to this area, and he is a great example for me as a missionary.

That is all for this week. I love you all.

Love, Elder Newman

 

 
Kangaroo tracks on the beach.

This is my finger before it started bleeding after I hit it with a hammer.

DT Meeting.. because we are so far from the others, we listen in on a conference call from the church.

Sister Shoobridge taught us to make these cookies, and they are delicious!

Week 48

This week was transfers, and I found out that I am going to be in Merimbula with my new companion, Elder Stott. He is from Smithfield, Utah, so not too far. He is an amazing missionary. He is such a great example to me. He has already helped me grow heaps and continues to be that example for me and makes me want to be a better missionary, and I have only spent 2 days with him so far.

Our first night back we taught a ILMH (Investigator Lesson in Member Home), my first in the mission. Elder Stott is a great listener and even better at teaching the gospel. I am excited to see how this transfer will play out.

We got a new investigator Sunday as well (it’s been a good week). Our new investigator’s name is Daniel. He is friends with Josh Shoobridge, and he just showed up at church on Sunday out of the blue and wanted to learn more. We then set a follow up appointment with him and the Shoobridges, and the lesson went great, thanks to Elder Stott. We now have another appointment with him next Monday and we are looking forward to seeing him at church this week.

I am looking forward to this transfer with Elder Stott. It has already begun with a great start. I hope you all had a great week. I love you all, talk to you next week.

Love, Elder Newman

Doing some service for a member with Elder Plata...

My new companion, Elder Stott...

Week 47

Well this week we didn't get to see Wendy. But we did teach a stellar lesson to our members. We got great feedback. It was interactive, and the little kids even enjoyed it. We were able to grab their attention and keep it through the whole lesson.

We went up to Canberra for stake conference, which was great. Our branch president was one of the speakers. He did a fantastic job. Also Merimbula Branch had 100% attendance in conference (Merimbula Branch Represents).

It has been a great week! I’m excited for this upcoming week. We are going to be able to meet up with the recent converts that are coming back from vacation, and we should be able to meet up with Wendy as well.

Sorry for the short letter, but not a whole lot to report on this week.

I love you all! Have a great week.

Love Elder Newman

Last week's Pday hike...

This week on the beach...

Week 46

This week was pretty good, not very busy, but a lot of service helping the Parkers and Shoobridges get ready for the week.

After I emailed on Tuesday we went and did a little go-carting. That was fun. And then we finished our P day with going to the capital building in Canberra. Then we drove home, and the next morning we were helping with the family history. I have indexed 700 names so far, which I think is an accomplishment for me because I never did any indexing before my mission. Then we went and did some service for Debbie Parker helping her dig up some ginger plants. By the end of it I did not like the smell of ginger.

Then Thursday was Josh Shoobridge’s birthday. We dropped by his house to say happy birthday and for elder Plata to drop off a gift for him. We also helped him with his yard work as well because he just had a newborn and they needed help catching back up with the chores around the house.

Friday we were at Debbie's house again and finished up the job that we started and then went out to eat Chinese because Debbie and Mark wanted to celebrate.

Saturday was pretty normal we started with the park run. I ran it in 23 minutes, and I finished 1st in my age group and 12th overall. Then we had Missionary coordination meeting at Sam’s. Then we timed the bike race and cooked them lunch. We got to know a lot of people that day.

Wendy came to church Sunday. It was fast and testimony meeting, [and] she loved it! We then taught her about the Plan of Salvation. She understood it all, and she again loved everything about it. She loved the idea that she would be able to see her daughter again. She even said "Why haven't I heard about this religion before?"

That was my week. Sunday was a great way to end it. I love that I decided to serve a mission. I have never been happier!

Elder Newman

The capital building in Canberra.

  

Pictures with the queen of I don’t know, but she is in the picture.

BBQ Chicken, mashed potatoes and onion rings.

Week 45

We had a busy week this week. Monday's appointment with Wendy got cancelled. Then the week was pretty normal with our regular visits up until Saturday, when after the 5K run we went and helped Josh cut firewood except all we got was some vague directions to where he was cutting wood. I had to take the Toyota Corolla through some pretty sketchy places. Needless to say, I need to buff a couple scratches out where we had to rub up against some trees. The car will be fine though. I will get it taken care of.

Then Sunday, Wendy came to Church! Which was great! Everyone loved talking to her, and it helped that she wasn't shy at all. She loves talking, and she is very spiritual, and she loved the lesson of the Restoration and the part of the priesthood power she understood. I don’t think she thought about that before. She couldn't stop talking about Temple Square. She loved it there, and she is so happy about how it has influenced her life.

Then the reason why we didn't email yesterday was because we had to drive up to Canberra to do trade-offs and to get interviewed by President so that he knows how all the missionaries are doing. It went pretty well. I miss Merimbula though. I have only been back in the city for like 2 days.

I miss you all, and I hope you all had as good of a week as I did. Not a whole lot happened by the sound of this letter, but we were pretty busy trying to get everything taken care of before we came up here to Canberra.

Have a great week everyone!
Love, Elder Newman

We are making a prayer card for the members so that they can be reminded to pray always.