3 September 2012

Hi Mum & Whanau,

Thanks once again for the emails, pictures and the packages you have sent.  So awesome.  This week has been good and this transfer will go well.

On Thursday - as you know - we had transfer day and Elder Heather, Elder Ofahulu and I were assigned to give a musical item at the beginning of the transfer meeting.  It was mean azz.  Good news, we got two new Elders in our apartment - Elder Plenos and Elder Lavandero - both from Cebu.  They are cool and they'll be a huge help to the work this transfer. After transfers were finalized, we went home and helped the two new Elders unpack their bags and then we went out and introduced them to some of the families in their area - keeping in mind that our area has been split and then around 7:30 p.m. we had a mean feed for dinner - adobo, bananaque, barbecued pork chops & chicken, mashed potatoes and rice.  Mean azz.

On Friday we had the Mission Fireside with Elder David A Bednar and that was awesome.  We were told to be there at 12:00 noon for a 1:00 p.m. start.  Elder Bednar had arrived and the first to enter the room was the Callister's and then the Ardern's followed by Elder Bednar and his wife.  Siemprey.  The focus of his talk was, "How 'WE' or in tagalog 'TAYO' as children of God are things to ACT  and not to be acted upon.  This means that we shouldn't have to be told to do things in order to do it.  We shouldn't treat others as objects but help them to use their agency and ACT on things they know they need to do.  He then opened up the floor to a question and answer time.  Lots of things were asked and I even asked a question.  I asked Elder Bednar, "What effect has sacrifice had on your life as a servant of the Lord?  He said for him it was giving of himself and everything to Jesus Christ. Cool! To, "LOSE YOURSELF" in the work.  It was a great time and I learnt heaps and I've been using the skills he taught us to help people act for themselves by using agency. Elder Bednar is awesome!

Saturday was our, "Temple tour" day where  we took some of our recent converts and less actives to the temple so that they could feel the spirit of the temple.  It was good and gave us a chance to meet up with some of the other missionaries.  Our Bishop's son went into the MTC this week and he has been called to serve in the Naga Mission - that is Elder Ben Fuimaono's mission.   Bishop's wife was crying, as you would expect, but the dad was happy to see him off.  After that we went out and worked and we went to an area I hadn't been to before called, "Congressional Ave Extention."  It was a good area and we got to meet some really nice families. We visited to this one home and the family cooked us a huge feed. That was awesome, especially since it would be Fast Sunday tomorrow.  After our awesome feed, we then went back to our apartment, opened our fast and went to sleep.

Sunday we went and picked up some members to attend church. It was sweet and we had a good fast and testimony meeting .  After church we went home and our kabahay, Elder Lavandero cooked us a mean feed - adobo and sinigang.  It was good.  We went out and worked and visited some great families then home for the night.

Today for P-Day we played basketball and had district meeting then went out and ate lunch.  We are going to shop after as I've got to get me some stuff.

Um, I've been having some teeth problems so I've got to go and get my teeth checked out.  I was told that I will have to pay for it. I am going to go and see if I can get them checked today but I just wanted to tell you because I will need a bit of pera so I can pay for it.  Thanks heaps.

Hey Danii, the scripture you shared is one of my favourites here, especially amongst the people here. It is so helpful and the blessings are incredible.  We trust in him and he does the rest.  Keep on being good. Your kids look amazing and I can't wait until I can give them each a big hug at the airport. (Ohh… ahh…  trunky… hehe).  I am grateful for you for sharing that scripture with me. 

Mum and Dad, our family is blessed because of the examples you set for us.  You should be proud in the way you taught us and raised us up.  I hear stories of things some Elders did before their missions and I'm proud to say that I did none of that stuff. THANK YOU. 

I love you all heaps.  Keep me in your prayers. Mahal ko kayo. 

Elder Chadderton