Pictures!

LOVE YOU!!!! Thank you for writing when you were sooo sleepy. And I am soooooo sorry, you are going to not be happy with me, but we don't have time to email really at all today.  I am sending a letter THIS VERY WEEK though.  Because I love you so much.  Thanks for your email!

And can you please give Adam the biggest hug for me and tell him HAPPY BIRTHDAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

I love you Bud!  You are such an amazing and smart and funny boy (don't get a big head though haha).

I'm doing really well!  We had an amazing week with lots of miracles that I promise I will share next week.  We are just going to miss a train to meet our district. I know, you can shoot me when I get home ha. 

Here are some pictures she sent last week:  The Branch

And More: 

Skaerp dig (sounds like huwerp day--weird hey?)

Hallo all! 

Sister Formica has always loved to take pictures of nature.  This picture touched my heart (mom).  

So much has happened this week!  I've been out of Northam all week--dropped Sister Tukuafu off on Tuesday and stayed with the sister training leaders until Thursday when I picked up Sister Ahlstrom.  She is from Sweden and she is so funny.  She has an American accent a lot of the time, but some words she says with a really cute accent. She wants to be a speech pathologist too! Crazy hey? Also she loves to exercise and eat healthy. 

I'm really excited because she is so hard working and excited about the work. It's going to be a good couple of transfers.  Also I might not have to drive all of the time (It's funny--when I can't drive I want to and when I can, I don't want to...never satisfied ha.)

Funny story, apparently she found my blog before she came out and was wondering if she would meet me. And apparently the people who showed her my blog said that I talked about the food I was eating a lot hahaha...is it that obvious?  Nah, but I would feel bad for how these emails are, but I don't because no one actually has to read them. 

We had a cool experience where we went to see a potential investigator to invite them to general conference (which was AMAZING) and their boarder was there instead and he was watching...Exodus. Never seen it, but it's clearly about a prophet. And he has Mormon friends in the Philippines.  We talked to him about it and prophets and invited him to conference. He didn't come, but there's always next year ;) Nah, but he was really cool and we are definitely going back to meet with him and the family who lives there!

Um I almost ran over like a 2 foot long lizard, that was a bit creepy.  It's getting really hot, except it wouldn't even seem that hot at home. I think I'm just being a wimp because my companion isn't used to it at all ha.

Oh really quickly, Dad I wanted my ponderizing scripture to be D&C 100:2-8 and 15-17 (well actually the whole section) but I figured that 9 verses might be a bit too much ha.  So vs 3-5, 7-8.  It's all good, I'm just too indecisive to pick one verse.  Or maybe I'll do one verse each week haha just kidding.  Here's a link to her scripture for the week:  https://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/100?lang=eng

Anyway, I gotta go, but I am so grateful for all of you and for your love and support.  I love being a missionary. I loved hearing from President Monson and other apostles and leaders this weekend--it was spiritually uplifting (though physically tiring ha) and many questions I had and questions of those that we are teaching were answered.  I am so grateful for a living prophet. I know that he truly is called of God. The church is true. I'm so grateful for my Saviour.  Love you all!

Have a great week!!

Love,

Sister Formica

Oh Ps Sister Jardine cut all of my hair off(ok maybe not all). Idk if it'll work to send a picture this week. Maybe next week :) 

This picture came this week.  Sister Jardine giving Sister Formica a haircut -- not sure if it's a happy smile or a shocked smile ...   Next week hopefully we'll get a picture with Sister Ahlstrom.  :)

Trueshi

I haven't been taking a ton of pictures, but we were weeding in someone's yard and they have 5 pet kangaroos...we were trying to get them to stand up with the camera ha.  

Trushi is our district leaders favourite word ha.  Couldn't think of any aussie words for the week...

Lots has happened this last week, pretty much normal missionary stuff.  This last week we were able to find and teach a lot  more people!  I don't have a ton to share, but it's been so good :)  

We were out running in the morning, and we met this woman from Zimbabwe who invited us to pop by her house sometime.  We did last night and learned that her niece has a lot of questions and confusion about all the different religions and wonders if she's in the right place.  We had to go to an apt, but we are going back tonight to see them :) Such a beautiful family.

We saw the other family where the husband is from North Carolina, and they were just talking about all of these American food places and American things and it made me miss In and Out and Café Rio!  They have a stash of candy and root beer and what not.  He always says, "We don't smoke, we don't drink, but we eat well."   They are just ready for the gospel!  Just ready and eager to serve.  Earnest (the husband) came to church on Sunday, and really enjoyed the talks and felt a lot of peace there.  Rebekah has a bad back and wasn't feeling well, but hopefully she can come next week with the kids! 

I feel like especially in Northam we meet so many people who have turned to alcohol and drugs and all that junk to deal with pain or loss.  It's so sad to see what they have chosen and how it just makes everything worse.  But there are a few people we've met recently who really want to change.  The Savior Wants to Forgive, 5 minute video

One of them, a young man who has been on drugs and everything for ages came to church on Sunday.  He had to walk there and it took him about 40 minutes.  I know in some places that is nothing, but I haven't ever had an investigator who walked 40 minutes to get to church.  We didn't know he was coming, ... oops, but we got him a ride home.  He really enjoyed it and he said it opened up his mind to a lot of things.  He doesn't know exactly what he believes in right now.

Among the Aboriginal families we've met a lot of grandmas who have partners and kids who aren't religious and want their grandkids to know about Jesus Christ.  A lot of the grandmas have asked us to come teach their grandkids.  And one lady was telling us that most of the Aboriginal people in Northam came from one set of grandparents (I don't know if I explained that well ha but hopefully you know what I mean). So we are getting to know them just from seeing them around town.  The problem is that we see the same people at like 3 different houses and on the street a couple times, and then you have to remember their names and who they are directly related to (there's also a family feud going on).  It's really fun though.  They are a really spiritual people and have a lot of faith.

Oh and I lost my scriptures!!  So sad :( I think I left them when we stopped at the ATM, and someone came up to us and said they saw them and took them into the bank, and there are 4 banks on the main street, and they all said they don't have them.  But I still think they'll come back.  It's too small a town for them not to. And people know us and see us biking around everywhere and it has my name on them.

It's been really good biking everywhere ha--I'm getting a bit of a tan!  Just the opposite of Rach in England ;)

Sister Tukuafu leaves on Tuesday.  I am really not ok with it, I wish she was staying for at least one more.  It's been the best serving with her, she is so calm and funny and hardworking.  I've loved it and I'm not done learning from her. 

As usual I said I didn't have much to write, but then wrote a bit...Just nothing too crazy or exciting I guess.  Oh well. I love you all and I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to serve a mission!  Have a wonderful week!!  Talk to you soon :)

Love,

Sister Formica

I really can't be bothered thinking of anything to put here

I am so sorry, we don't really have time to email today...the computers in Northam were booked so we have a couple minutes at the other sisters' library.

This was an incredible week!!  We were blessed to meet so many people who are open to the gospel and so ready.  Heavenly Father really wants things to happen here in Northam.  More info next week ha. Also pictures next week (sorry Mum).  Oh and pday will be Wed or Thur because we get to go to the Temple on Monday!!!

We had a mission conference and Elder Pearson came to see us.  He and his wife are amazing and rebuked us so lovingly haha.  I'll tell you mmore about it next week ha. 

Sister Tukuafu has only two more weeks so I'm trying to learn as much as I can before then.  It's getting hotter and there are tons of fliesssss in Northam.

Have a wonderful week!!  Be safe, be smart, Love you all!!

Love,

Sister Formica

ab;skjdhf;o

This last week felt like it was soo long.  I think of things that happened last Monday and it seems like it was at least 3 weeks ago.  But now that I'm sitting here, it feels like it was the blink of an eye and I can't remember what happened...maybe by the end of my mission I'll learn to write things down haha.

The only thing I wrote down to tell you is that our Branch President looks EXACTLY like an older Tyler Rasmussen (everyone from the elms).  

Belinda and Nick are doing really well!  So totally humble.  

Ok, more is coming back to me ha.   This was a really good week!!  

We had dinner with a family who hasn't been to church in years.  He is a butcher by trade (score), and they are soo sweet!!  And really funny.  The dad's ancestors were some of the first members here in WA and donated the land for the first chapel to be built.  They have just had some trials and challenges in the last couple of years.  We were in the middle of dessert when she got a call from her son saying that he got pulled over for speeding and it had just happened recently and he doesn't have a license and all this jazz, and they were really upset and worried.  There wasn't anything we could do to help,so we left so they could get it sorted out, but first we said a prayer with them.  She called us later that night saying that he had been released without anything at all, and that they were coming to church on Sunday!  On Saturday they were still set on it. They didn't quite make it there Sunday morning, but they will be there next week!  

It was just a reminder to me that the spirit prompts us to choose the right.  No matter what we say, it's what  the spirit says that really matters.  And sometimes it takes lots of promptings before we act, but as we are persistent and loving in extending invitations, the spirit will have an opportunity to work with them.

We also had zone conference this week, which was amazing!!  I LOVE President and Sister Fife.  They are inspired and so loving.  President Fife has a really strong vision of what the Lord wants to accomplish here.  

Church all the youth from Ellenbrook came up 

There were a lot of miracles.  This week, a man we had met on the street texted us out of the blue asking if we could meet him the next day.  His brother was murdered last year, and he is really lost.  He feels like he has wasted 15 years of his life and doesn't know what to do or where to go.  He is involved in drugs and alcohol and that whole scene, and is struggling.  The gospel of Jesus Christ truly is the answer to all of his questions and problems.  I know that God has a plan for him and for each of us and we can put our trust in him, we don't have to feel lost.  

We also met a man from North Carolina named Ernest and his wife Rebecca who love missionaries.  They used to feed them all the time and study with them. They have such great faith in Christ.  And they live 3 minutes from the chapel!  Perfect hey?  I'll keep you updated.

Anyways, I have to go, but I am doing really really well and am so happy here.  The church is true, that is confirmed to me everyday when I study the scriptures and when I see the impact the gospel has on people's lives, including my own.  I love you all! Have a wonderful week!!

Love,

Sister Formica

Second week down!!

Coma esta?

The secret to starting a conversation with anyone from a different country is saying hello in their language.  We were biking and this Filipino boy rode past and Sister Tukuafu just said "como esta?"  And he almost fell over looking back at us haha.

Oh also HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!!!  Yesterday was Father's Day over here.

This week was CRAZY.  But really really good at the same time.  We have been so blessed already here in Northam.  

A couple of the crazy things that happened this week:

One of our former investigators, this elderly lady called us Tuesday morning and accused us of stealing her cds...she went off about how she was so upset and she was going to make things really hard for us and put it in the newspapers and on tv, etc. We went straight there to talk to her and help her find them because she is old and most likely misplaced them (I'm 20 and I misplace things all the time, usually the car keys).  Her brother was there and is supposedly a police man, but she met us at the door and wouldn't listen to anything we had to say--wouldn't let us help her look for them or talk to her brother or anything, and after we told her we didn't take them, she just said, "if you find them bring them back."  A bit hard when you don't have them...but we just keep praying that she will find them and know we didn't steal them.

Also church was a bit crazy yesterday.  Our stake president and his family went to be with his mum on father's day, so that's 7 gone.  Our ward clerk was at home and didn't have transport to church, and neither did another sister who usually comes with the Penstones.  So we had a couple who comes from about an hour away and Nick and Belinda, and a less active woman and her two daughters that we invited.  That was it...and so we didn't have enough priesthood holders to bless and pass the sacrament :( So no sacrament, just testimony meeting.  And only 6 people to bear testimonies.  Luckily the piano plays the hymns on it's own, all I had to do was press the key to start it.  It was the strangest Sunday ever.  Sunday school and sacrament was all done in 1 1/2 hours and that's just because we started a bit late.  

On Saturday we drove sooo far to visit all these people on the lists.  It was a bit of a wild goose chase with some of the names and addresses...apparently they changed the addresses and lot numbers, and so some of them are different, some of them are lot numbers but only the addresses are listed.  We couldn't find a couple people.  And we didn't have any reception the whole time.  But we drove through beautiful areas--green hills and canola fields! Which are pretty cool but smell a bit weird.

Wow, I spent too long telling you about the crazy stuff, not the miracles...but next week I'll tell you about Danny! 

We met some really cool people yesterday--a man and his partner named Rebecca!  He doesn't believe in Jesus Christ, but he has so much real intent.  He said if he did know that it was all true, he would love and serve the Saviour for the rest of his life.  He met with some people from another religion and read the Bible and lots of things, but never had any personal spiritual experiences.  We are so excited to teach him, but they are only free on Sundays and not for another 2 weeks.  That is AGES in mission life.  But for them it's nothing ha.  It's all good.  In the Lord's timing...

I love you all!  I love Northam!!  Hope you have an incredible week!

Love,

Sister Formica

NORTHAM!!!

Wow....so much to share, and so little time...there are two computers in the library and you can only reserve them for half an hour. 

 

I am literally in love with Northam!!  It is beautiful and it reminds me of small towns "back in the day".  Not sure what "day" that refers to, but oh well ha.

 

Our branch has 14 members when everyone is there.  Everyone.  But there are some single sisters who aren't able to make it every week because of health issues and what not and also some couples who travel a bit.  Our Branch President's family is half of the ward--He has 5 kids, one girl and 4 boys from ages 12 to 5.  They are the cutest and funniest kids I have ever met!!!  And the most hyper.  The littlest, Oscar, always comes up to us when we leave their house or church or anything and says "I miss you..."  Haha.  I'll try to get a picture next week.  The members are so excited to have missionaries here. It's been a long time since they have had any. 

 

We went to a small town about 20 or 30 minutes from Northam last night that doesn't have any house numbers because they don't have a mailing system...and the lights were so dim, we were soo lost.  Don't worry, we finally found the family we were looking for. 

 

We received a referral when we got here for the cutest/funniest couple.  He is less active and she isn't a member, but she wants to be married and baptized.  They have been to church here in Northam twice, and they were attending in Dianella before that.  She has to get divorced from her husband before they can get married, so that's holding them up a bit.  They hope to have it figured out in September.  She has a 3 year old daughter who is adorable too.

The members here are so excited to have missionaries and they are eager to do missionary work.  I love the enthusiasm they have.  It makes me think of Alma 4:4 when they talk about establishing the church more fully.  It is on everyone's mind, and they are excited to share the gospel and build up and strengthen the branch.  We have the cutest meeting house, it is so small, but it's got everything.  Oh, we only have church for two hours though because they don't have enough relief society sisters and priesthood to split up for the third hour.  So the two classes are primary (the Penstone's family) and the adult Sunday School class.   

We have been biking and walking all week and have been able to meet many amazing people!  The people are pretty open, and most of them have a belief in God already.  Many of them have heard about the church and know where it is and possibly have friends who are members.  Most of the rest have never met missionaries at all and are curious about what we do!  We have seen so many miracles in the last 5 days!  Heavenly Father truly has a plan for this area.
We are trying to be out in the community and establish good relationships with the people of Northam--most everyone , even if they aren't interested in the gospel currently, have accepted a card with our phone number and said they would call us if they meet anyone who is interested or who needs help.

There is a hot air balloon festival going on in Northam currently, which is so cool!

 

I gotta go but I love you all!!!  Have a wonderful week!

 

I feel so good about the things that are happening here and that are going to happen here.