Week 38

I had a full week this week. Monday was normal, and Tuesday we traveled all day so that we could get to the mission conference in Blair Athol where Gifford Nielson was going to give us a training. On the way there we stopped in Canberra, and I got a parking ticket because I parked in a paid parking spot and I didn’t realize it. So I am going to pay that today. Then we eventually made it up to Blair Athol. We stayed with the missionaries that night, and then went to the training in the morning.

The training was great. Our Mission President trained on repentance just like he always does and his wife trained on “faking it until you make it”. So if you don't love missionary work, pretend to, and eventually you will love it. Then Elder Nielson's wife trained on repentance and talked about how the Lord loves broken things. Elder Nielson trained on how everything we do is a choice, and it kinda just went from there. He kinda combined everyone else's training and made it all come together. He talked about how Satan does not have power until we chose to give him power.

My favorite comment that I heard that day was, "The Lord loves broken things. It takes broken clouds to make rain, and it takes rain to fall onto broken ground to grow grain. It takes broken grain to make bread, and it takes broken bread to remember the atonement of Jesus Christ." It takes a broken heart to be humble enough to ask for the Savior’s help. How can he fix something that isnt broken? That is what we do as missionaries. We teach people how the Lord can fix the broken things in their life. I loved the training. I learned a lot.

After the training we had to travel back to Merimbula, but only made it to Canberra. So we stayed with the Elders there and left again in the morning, and went straight to the Shoobridge family to help them put in their air conditioning and air duct system. We got pretty itchy with all of the fiberglass insulation that we were going through, but we were alright. We were able to take a shower when we got home.
Then Friday we did some more service for a potential. And then Saturday we went on a hike with the Shoobridge family and then went and played squash, which is basically Racquetball. I played against Mrs. Shoobridge who is 7 months pregnant, and I lost. But it’s alright; I beat my companions in that game.

Then Sunday was Church and then taking the Sacrament to the ones who were too old or sick to make it to church, and that was our day. Then Monday was the Queen’s Birthday so that's why our p day was today.

Yesterday the Shoobridges asked us to go on another hike with them, and it was fun. Then we went to their home after and had family home evening, and that was my week.

I love you all. Have a great week. How did everyone do with the inviting someone to church?

Love,
Elder Newman

Backpacking getting ready for when I come home and go hunting.

On our way to Blair Athol.

War memorial.

Canberra.

I got beat by a pregnant lady.

Week 37

How was your week? Mine was great. True it has been raining all week, but that's all good. It hasn't been too bad. A lot of roads are flooded, and I am the only one that can drive here so I am stuck in the driver’s seat. But we are blessed, we have the hand of the Lord watching over us.

This week I found out how important it is to work with members as missionaries. We have been trying to find all week, but no success.. same with my last area. And then this Sunday we get there, and one of the kids in the Walker family brought one of his friends to church. His name is Jovan, and I guess that was his second time to church. He bore his testimony in fast and testimony meeting, and he has been reading the Book of Mormon and he loves it. He talks about it at school. He wants to be baptized, but we have to get permission from his parents in order for us to teach him. So please pray for him and his parents that we can begin teaching him so that this kid can accomplish his goal of being baptized.

It just goes to show how important it is to be member missionaries and how much easier it is to introduce the gospel to your friends than it is for the missionaries to do so.

My invitation to you all is to invite someone to church this week, and then pray for that person to feel the Holy Ghost and to see the light of Christ that is in us all.

That boy was a miracle this week. He is just what this companionship needed to keep us going. This is a tough area, but it’s good to see that you can find potential in this area. The branch is great! They are few in number, but they are strong in the faith. It is really inspiring to see.

That was my week. I hope you all have a great one. I can’t wait to hear from you all next week!

Elder Newman

Me and Elder John from Guyana, north of Brazil (not West Indies like I said last week ;)

Elder Plata from the Phillippines

Week 36

I got transferred to Merimbula. My new comps are Elder Plata and Elder John. Elder Plata is from the Philippines, and Elder John is from the West Indies.

Merimbula is a branch of 15 people, mostly made up of primary kids. In fact they outnumber the adults. It’s a small town kind of like Bothwell. It’s kind of a retirement village, so they get mad when you knock on doors after dark. President has us end the day at dark. So we usually plan member visits after dark and extra studies.

There are a lot of things to do here on P day. We live 5 minutes from the beach. There is a guy that owns an archery range and lets us do that for free. Two of the members own a gym, so they gave us gym memberships. It’s going to be a lot easier to do morning workouts.

This branch may be small, but from what I can tell they love missionary work and are ready to help. The only downside to this area is we are 4 hours away from any other missionaries so we have to call in for District Training Meeting and listen to that on the phone.

Elder Plata is leading the area. He says we mostly do service. I guess that’s how it works in a branch. I’m really excited about this area. We will see what it holds in store and why I am here.

One miracle that happened this week, in fact yesterday, was when I was driving the 6-hour drive over here we didn't die! It was dark when we got here, and while I was driving, there were heaps of kangaroos on the road. We got really close to hitting a couple of them, but we were able to make it home safe. So the miracle we were blessed with was safety. That’s what happened this week.

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

These pictures are from the Hurstville area last P day.

Week 35

Hello everyone! I hope you all had a great week. Mine was pretty good.

So this week we got a referral, and he is so ready and wanting to learn. His name is Simon, and he has heaps of questions; but he really wants to know the answers. He is normal as well! How cool is that?!

We first started teaching and he asked a couple questions that dealt with the gospel of Jesus Christ and the Restoration. He wanted to learn about the Book of Mormon. So we taught him about the Book of Mormon first and gave him some parts of it to read. And then we taught him the Restoration because he had a question about why there are so many Christian religions but they all teach something a little bit different, and that was great. This guy is amazing! After the lesson, we invited him to be baptized, and he said yes. But he doesn't know his work schedule, so we will just have to work with him more, and when his schedule opens up a bit more then we can plan his baptism. He wants to follow Christ the best he can. He felt the spirit, and he knows what we are teaching is true. This guy is the man!

That is a miracle that happened this week, and other than that we’re just trying to find people to teach.

That’s all. I hope you all have a great week.
Elder Newman


Bundena.. It’s a cool island.

The Mcgull.. It is just hanging around the McDonald’s parking lot and we can’t get it to fly away, so it’s no longer a seagull.

A video from the wildlife park. [I love Elder Newman's laugh in this video. Angie]

Week 34

This week turned out pretty good. Sorry about last week. All I had time to do was Skype my mom on Mother’s Day.

This week was good because we were finally able to start working with the members. We were able to get Bram inside a member home, eat, teach a lesson, and set a baptismal date with him for June 4th.

We then got a referral from a member, and we were able to set up an appointment with him for Thursday. He wanted a Book of Mormon, and he sounds keen to learn more, so I will let you all know more about that.

Last p day we were able to go to the beach since they took the beach ban off, and that was fun, but we didn't get to go swimming. I got some cool pictures.

Anyway, that’s basically all that happened. I will report more next week. I love you all, have a great week!

Love, Elder Newman

A sleeping Elder...

 Brother Litchfield, a member...

My new haircut...

 Brighten le Sands Beach...

Me and Elder Beriong...

Making a cake...

Driving down the left side of the street...

Week 33

Thanks for the Skype. I don’t have a lot of time to email, just Happy Mother’s Day! I love you! Have a great week!

Elder Newman

Week 32

How was all of you’s week? Mine was pretty good. We met with our investigator (Bram) and invited him to be baptized, and he said yes! So we are now working closely with him to prepare him for baptism.

We did a lot of finding this week and still heaps of service. Our methods of finding are usually getting on trains and sitting down next to people and talking with them when they can’t walk away. So we are kinda forcing them to talk with us. We haven’t found anyone really solid yet, but all we need to do is keep opening our mouths and talking to everyone and the lord will do the rest as long as we do our part.

Also one of my flat mates was studying to be a civil engineer as well, so I find it really cool that I get to talk with him and get some advice. There are a lot of civil engineers over here, so I kind of use my knowledge with that to help find people because it’s a lot easier to talk to people when you have common ground. Also the Polynesians and the Asians, if you greet them in their native tongue, they love talking with you. That’s just something I have learned.

I have had a great week this week. I hope you all did as well. My invitation to you all is to be a missionary and to share the gospel with at least one person this week. They don’t have to accept it, because everyone has their agency, but we need to do our part as members to hasten the work of Salvation and help this gospel move forward. I know that as you do so that you will see the blessings in your lives and it will bring you joy.

I love you all!
Love, Elder Newman

study time...