23 July 2012

Hi Mum & Whanau,

How is everyone?  I am doing fine and thanks for the emails and pictures that you all sent.  Exciting times for Cola.  She is gonna have a blast and she will love the mission.  We have settled down after our first week into the new transfers and its looking to be a beaut.

Man I cannot believe Jared's birthday is coming up. I got him some gifts but I'll give them to him when I get home.  Hehe, just over 9 months.  The time on the mission flies so fast and I still remember clearly my farewell party at the Reid's house, getting set apart on Saturday and being scared to be around females and then everyone seeing me off at the airport and me heading on my way. I look back over the year that I've faced, the experiences I've gained and the growth I've had and think, "What an amazing year of experiences I've had!"  I look forward to more experiences during the remaining months in the mission field and I feel that I am more ready now to face the rest of my life than I would ever have been had I not served. I am going to miss this place heaps when I leave but I know I will be able to look to the future positively. 

My week has been good and things have finally calmed down from the excitement of transfers and Zone conference.  All the new missionaries arrived on Friday and we took them to their new areas.  Bytheway, it was pouring with rain during this time and after dropping off the newbies we had to be at the chapel for a meeting with all the missionaries in San Jose.  After the meeting we went out and worked and it was awesome.

On Saturday most of our appointments cancelled but we got to teach one lesson and after that lesson we had a meeting with our Branch President to discuss ways that we could help him continue to strengthen the Branch.   Since the District conference the leaders are a lot more enthusiastic in their work and they are doing a great job at helping the district to move forward.  The focus on helping the church move forward here is happening and its great.

On Sunday we had church with no meetings after so we went to the Couple missionaries home for lunch where we had hotdogs with all the trimmings - ketchup, mustard, relish, onions etc. and it was yum azz!   After lunch we went out and worked and we had some Branch missionaries work with us and we were able to teach some amazing lessons. 

Today is just the normal P-Day.  We had District meeting and set some Zone goals.   We also had some other meetings with the District and then I got my hair cut, did some grocery shopping and now I'm emailing. Hehe!

It's been a good week and I'm looking forward to the work this week. We have no interruptions to the work this week so it will be an awesome week.

Thanks for the pics and the update on the family. Give everyone my love, especially Cola.  She is going to have the time of her life in the mission.   I love you all and I'm so grateful for the comfort I get when I read the Book of Mormon. 

Mahal ko kayo at laging ingat.

Elder Chadderton