Monday, October 13, 2014

Hey guys! Sooo I didn't keep a list of things to tell you this week because this week FLEW by. Seriously I have no clue what happened, but here I am emailing you again, without a list, which means my brain is empty.

I can definitely testify to the importance of planning. Daily, weekly, whenever it is, it's important ha.

We had zone conference which was really good. A lot of emphasis on planning and on prayer.

Holy cow, I LOVED general conference. I used to kinda laugh whenever missionaries got all worked up about conference...ha. Oops. Has it always been this good??  I mean I always loved conference, but I LOVED conference.  It is amazing. And it went by so quickly. I was bummed that it was over already... just 6 more months.

There was so much about supporting the prophet and our leaders. It's true. In church the other week our bishop (who's a biker--dad!) gave an analogy about wards and working together. No time--I'll send it next week ha.

So I loved all of it, but can I just say that D. Todd Christofferson is brilliant? They all are, but his talk especially stuck out to me. "we can have faith in God because He is perfectly just and trustworthy."   And Lynn Robbins or whatever about which way we are facing. 

(Lynn Robbins talk:  https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/10/which-way-do-you-face?lang=eng&query=which+way+are+you+facing%3f)

(To read D. Todd Christofferson's talk, click here).  

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/10/free-forever-to-act-for-themselves?lang=eng

Heavenly Father is so merciful to us. He is the most patient person ever.

Mom, tell Katherine that I wish! But I was told that it was too late to start planning something like that. Even if it's small. Bummer right? I'll still celebrate Halloween in my heart, and if I hear of another ward doing it, I'll let her know.

One minute! Gotta go! this is the weirdest email ever. SOrry. But just remember, I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!! Church is true. Have a wonderful week!

Rebecca has lost her camera, so it will be a while until we get pictures ... Luckily it was very old and falling apart.  :)  

I've been out for 2 months. Is that not unreal? Feels like nothing but also foreverrr

Hahaha I just love our family. So much.  Reading your emails definitely helps me get through the week, seriously.

It's crazy because everything is different here, but the differences are slight, so you're slightly thrown off because you feel like it should be the same since it's not ridiculously different. I think if things were completely different (like I imagine they would be in Africa) then it would be fine because it's expected, but because everything is just slightly different it throws me off a bit more, because I'm not expecting it. 

I feel kind of out of it here. I was studying yesterday though and I realized I just need to love the people and pray for and serve them and everything else will take care of itself.  It doesn't matter if I fit in really, or if they love me back, because the missionary doesn't convert people, the message does, and really the spirit does. So if I have the spirit with me we are told that we will be recognized as servants of the Lord. (obviously if they like me it'll be easier to get in to teach them, but they don't have to love and adore me ha).

Last thing, I just am a quiet person I decided.  We are pretty quiet when it's just two of us. I like to listen to people I guess. And it was the same with Sis G. I never thought I was a quiet person, but I just don't have much to say?   I don't know. It's all good.   Just funny.

I love Australia and I love the people, I just need to work a bit harder to connect with them. 

........

The general women's broadcast was AMAZING. Have talks always been this good and I just didn't pay much attention or are they getting better? Ha. I need to live the gospel joyfully. And doing so, everything else will take care of itself.

Fun things about Australia:

The ice cream truck plays the song "What Child is This?"

The mailmen ride around on motorcycles dressed all in neon yellow. I think that sounds like a fun job.

One of the elders in our ward had had a really hard day, so we took them ice cream and were eating it outside. The next day I went to eat some and there was something really weird looking in it, so I'm poking at it, and it was a frozen slug....so sick.

We went to this older lady's house to help her get ready for an inspection, and I got to get rid of all the spiders and cobwebs. It made me paranoid of spiders. So many. Everywhere. And then the next morning in our flat there was a big one appeared out of no where on my arm. But I killed a black widow or two, and some other really gross looking ones. Just call me the spider slayer.

There's this couple with the cutest family who is in our ward.  They have 4 little kids who are soooo cute. The dad is really kind and respectful of us.   His mom is also in our ward.   He plays the didgeridoo so well. It's really cool. He's going to teach us how so I'll be a pro when I come home!  (Oh Good!  We've had one for about 10 years.  We need a pro!)

The gospel brings so much joy and so many blessings. I love it. It just makes sense that God has a plan for us and that He would tell us about it. That He would tell us the way to return to Him.

I love you so much!!! Gotta go because we are going on a hike and having a picnic and then playing SPORTS! So excited!!

Oh dad, last question, sometimes when people investigate the church, they look through the internet and find all these things that people say weren't possible with the Book of Mormon, like something about horses and what not, I don't remember too well. But things that people who are reading anti-mormon lit talk about with the Book of Mormon.  Sometimes this keeps them from embracing the gospel.  Sometimes they overcome the doubt.  What changes them?  Do they just start really reading it with an open heart?  Because answering those specific concerns about the logistics or whatever it is that people are concerned with isn't going to change anything, you know?  

I love you!!! I can't believe Rach is coming home! That is so unreal! And seems so far away haha. I'm so sad that I won't be there. But she doesn't need me anyway ha.  Not True!!  Rachel's last email talking about the airport:  "I am sure you already know this, but nothing big please and thanks. just our little family, no posters no nothing. stinks that becca won't be there. but that's okay.... I can't believe I am actually emailing about this. mum it doesn't seem real! like at all. so strange."  They really do need each other -- time together will come.  So grateful for that.  :)   

Have the most wonderful week. You are the best.

Love,

Me

PS I would send a letter, but I pretty much tell you everything in my emails.

koa ora bub

koa ora bub (samoan--it's like aww, cool, or aww cute. But everyone says it all the time)

Ok, so I'm in Australia and it is crazy here! I absolutely love it!

We didn't email yesterday because it was public holiday.

President and Sister Lindsay are just about the cutest/best people in the entire world. This mission is so much smaller than AZ, well...less missionaries, huge area. But it's super personal. President Lindsay wants us to call him whenever we need to, or whenever we have a miracle to report and when we get our first new investigator and whenever anyone sets a baptismal date. But yeah, I think there's like 130 missionaries, and like 5 zones.  

My companion is Sister Iosua-Fiu. You say it like Yo so few, but say it fast. She's from Melbourne, but she was born in New Zealand and she's Samoan.  She is the best! I love her!! She's a really good missionary and she is so kind and super patient and really funny.  (Just found out Leslie Schelly's niece was Sister Iosua-Fiu's companion earlier!  Small world).  

We live in this flat that's actually huge. It's a house with 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, and it's just the 2 of us. Crazy right?? It's fun though.

There are multiple sets of missionaries in each ward, we are with the zone leaders, but some wards have like 4 companionships. It's so fun.

Oh, so the craziest thing is that I'm driving already!! It's not too bad, I haven't killed us yet. But a lot of the Australians don't have drivers licenses, they all just drive illegally because it takes like 4 years to get a license here. So when someone can drive, they start right away. Not gonna lie, I was terrified. And the morning I was supposed to drive for the first time it was pouring rain. Perfect. But it isn't that bad. Oh, there are a bajillion and one roundabouts though.  And for those of you who aren't aware, I HATE roundabouts even when driving on the right side of the road! It's all good though, we pray a lot that we will get places safely. And driving on the left isn't too bad, there are just some weird things to get used to.

Um, I haven't seen any poisonous things yet (shouldn't have said that, now I'm going to jinx myself). But I thought I hadn't seen any spiders really either, but then one morning I guess I was just looking around more in our flat and I saw 6 in one corner. Shouldn't have looked around more. I vacuumed them all up, no worries.

Accents aren't too hard to understand so far. But there are tons of Mauris (I don't know how to spell it, but native new zealanders...everyone says to say it like moldys like moldy bread haha). And people speak Samoan a lot, so then I'm kinda lost, but Sis Iosua-Fiu is teaching me. By the time I come home, I'll speak Samoan!  Every once in a while I am completely lost, but I just nod and smile.

The ward is great! Super involved, really good ward mission leader.

I met Elder Renner. (who was waiting for his visa in Grandma Formica's ward).  He's in my zone, and he said that Gmas cooking is the best, and that he misses Hemet and the smell of citrus. He also said that that area is on fire. What? I haven't heard of anything. Man I was awful when I was at home. Oh hey, familia, look up the missionary next door--it's like a lesson/John Bytheway type thing by this lady--and listen to it and then set goals as a family of how to share the gospel, yeah? I can't remember if I already told you to do that, but if I did and you haven't, do it!

General Conference is broadcast the week after here, so I'll see it the next weekend. Same with the relief society broadcast...so I'll see it Saturday. Everything is a week later here. But I'm so excited! Like Rach said, watch it with a question in mind, and really prepare yourself to receive revelation--think and pray about it ahead of time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8Vxspr1dag

 (How to watch Conference) 

There are these really loud, obnoxious birds here that seriously sound awful. I don't even know how to describe their sound, but you just want to shoot them.

So Halloween isn't a thing here. I knew Thanksgiving wasn't, obviously ha, but Halloween? I was hopeful. It's killing me. I'm starting it. Get a ward trunk or treat going...it'll take WA by storm ha. Just wait, you'll hear about it I'm sure.

Oh, so I say I am from CA, and everyone asks, oh do you know this person?? Everyone thinks I should know everyone from CA.

So we haven't been able to go grocery shopping yet, but everything is ridiculously expensive here. Ridiculously. Dominos is cheap though--5$ pizza. Since we haven't been able to go grocery shopping, we have had so much pizza I'm never going to eat it again. Don't worry Mom, we get money tomorrow and we will get food soon.

Members don't really feed you here--2 recent converts who we are with a ton have fed us actually, but those are the only meals we've had. It's a little weird going from Ahwatukee, where you get fed like really well every single night, to fending for yourself, but it's not a problem, it's good!

Want to know something that'll break your heart? There are 5 people we are teaching who want to be baptized but they can't be because their parents won't allow them to be. Isn't that so sad??

There are so many things that are different that I just didn't think about. It's definitely an adjustment, I feel like teaching here is different too. I think people from different cultures think in different ways...I have to figure that out a little more. Ok, I don't actually know how to explain what I mean, so never mind.

I am just so grateful for the gospel. It's real. There is only one way to be completely happy, and that is by following Christ's example. Every single person needs to have faith in Jesus Christ, to repent, be baptized and receive the Holy Ghost and then to keep going throughout this life-- throughout whatever trial is thrown our way. We each need this, because through Christ and His atonement is the only way we can be saved. Nothing is more important--not school, work, or anything else, because this is the reason we are here. To learn and grow from our trials and to become like Heavenly Father.

Scripture of the week 2 Nephi 31,  all of it. (but if you want a smaller one, verse 20-21).

20 Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.

 21 And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of theFather, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end. Amen.  https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/31?lang=eng

Ok, I'll get off my high horse and stop being all preachy, but I love this gospel. It brings me so much joy and comfort and purpose.

I miss and love you all! Hope you have a wonderful week!!!   

G'day Mate

Ok, sorry for the super cliche subject, I just had to because...I'm in AUSTRALIA!!!! Made it safe and sound. 32 hours later ha. Seriously the longest 2 days ever. Or 3 days? But I made it. And I love it!! It's beautiful and cool, like temperature wise and just cool in general. I am really happy to be here. 

There are a lot less missionaries and it's a lot bigger. I love President and Sister Lindsey soo much already.

We need to buy bikes and bedding, I know we had that all figured out before Tempe, so I should still be good, right? Just figured I'd check. Ok, well I'll send a real email later. LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!

The mission office sent us these pictures two days after Rebecca emailed us.  It almost looks like they matched up companions by height, at least in Rebecca's case.  :)  

Sister Formica & her trainer Sister Iosua-Fiu

New Missionaries (first row), Trainers (2nd row)

We'll update her address as soon as we know it.  She'll be serving in Ellenbrook, which is 13 miles from Perth. It's a self-sustaining community created about 15 years ago with 30,000 people so far. Looks like there is a ward between Perth and Ellenbrook.  We'll know more when she emails us Tuesday.     http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellenbrook,_Western_Australia

Holy cow I'm going to Australia tonight!!!

Hey!!

We are leaving in like an hour to go to the mission home then airport.  This is insane. It doesn't seem real at all!


(Funny thing about flying to Australia ... She leaves on September 22 in the evening, lands in Melbourne on September 24 in the morning, but never actually sees September 23 at all.  I told her it was her chance to have a day without any mistakes!  And on the way home, she gets a "Do-over" day.  How cool is that?  Except she will be traveling - either flying or in airports for 29 hours.  That doesn't seem quite as cool.)

I love Arizona. The people, the sunsets, and the cactuses...cacti? are growing on me. They're still pretty ugly but it's kind of fun to see them now. They're normal.




Ok I'm not going to lie, I'm getting kind of really nervous. Of course I'm excited, but I'm just starting over completely. The unknown is what scares me, but I know it'll be fine and I will love it. I just have to remind myself of that every once in a while. This plane ride is going to be killer.

This weekend was a spiritual overload! Friday we got to go to the Gilbert temple with the departing missionaries, which was amazing! I think I have a new favorite temple. I'm so glad I got to go with them because while we were sitting there I was thinking about the next time I'd be in that situation. I'd be going home in a few days, and it gave me a really good opportunity to think about how I wanted to feel when it was my turn to leave. I just want to do my absolute best and give everything I can for the next 16ish months. But I just love the temple.

And then we had a meeting with the entire mission which was great. Then on Saturday D. Todd Christofferson came and spoke to our mission!! Elder Corbridge of the quorum of the 70 and Bishop Davies of the presiding bishopric both came and spoke to us as well! It was such a powerful meeting. We met them all and they asked everyone where they were from.  Oh and then Sunday evening we went to the mission president's fireside. President and sister Toone both spoke and they had 3 recent converts share their story.

Um sweetest moment of the week, we were visiting this less active lady and her four grand kids were over. Before we left when we asked if we could say a prayer, the lady said sure who wants to say it, asking us, but her little granddaughter (whose parents are both inactive too) raised her hand and said she wanted to but that she didn't know how. So we taught them all how to pray and she did and then she helped her brother and cousin both say prayers. It was hands down my favorite
part of the week. Little kids seriously are so pure and so humble and loving.

Sis G is staying in Ahwatukee for another transfer. She's been here for 7 months already...her entire mission. But she'll be able to keep working with our investigators, friends and everyone else that I love.

Holy cow I'm going to Australia. It doesn't seem real. I'm going back and forth between extreme nervousness and extreme excitement.

Basically 3/4 of our zone got transferred. Not that you really care about that haha.
I'm slightly bummed to go from one summer to another summer, I just want a tiny bit of fall. Which  is good because a hint of fall is all that Arizona, California and Australia get.

Um I love you all! You're the best! Have an absolutely wonderful week!

Sister Formica

(Her mission president told her to call us before she left.  I guess he said he doesn't want anyone missing a flight because of talking with loved ones at the airport - makes sense.  So ... last night about 9:45 pm we got a surprise phone call!  It was so fun to hear her voice.  I think hearing it made me miss her even more, but it was totally worth it!  She sounds happy.  Sounds like she's had a few battles with mosquitos.  They've always found her to be sweet).    

I hate trying to think of a subject...hola

I absolutely love emailing and hate it at the same time. I love reading all of your emails and hate replying haha.

We were at a members house last night for dinner--one of my absolute favorite families, but I do have a lot of favorite families ha. Anyways, they asked for a cool story of something that's happened so far on my mission...and I drew a blank. I couldn't think of any stories to share with them. There are a lot of little things, and there are miracles that we see every day, but they don't make for good stories. Most of the time they are small and simple things. Maybe I just need to be more aware. Oops. Anyways, it was really bad because I just sat there and took forever trying to think of a good story. I ended up sharing one of the daily miracles we had that was a witness to me that Heavenly Father truly loves each one of us and is aware of our needs.

We were doing finding--my favorite thing ha. But the night before we were looking through the list of less active members and decided on a few to go meet and visit. We got to this one apartment and knocked on the door and it was this brother in our ward who bore his testimony like the week before. I don't know why we didn't connect the names, because as we were driving to this apt I was telling sister G "We should have this one member who was interested in missionary work come with us to a lesson sometime.  I think his name is [so AND so], but I'm probably just mixing it up, because that's this less active guy's name we're headed to see".  So we walk up to the door and he answers and we were just really surprised for a second, we just said "oh.  Hi! We've met you before."  Super awkward I know.  But we shared a message with him in the doorway and the whole thing was awkward but he told us afterwards that he had finalized his divorce that same day. Gets even better, because our ward mission leader called us and said that this guy was coming with us to a lesson the next day. And he didn't mention it to us at all. And yeah, I don't know if I explained any if that well, and in hindsight and probably reading it, it's like duh, obviously they are the same person but at the time it was really confusing, take my word for it.

After reading rachs emails and how we basically said all of the same stuff, I thought well sis g has been sick a lot but at least we haven't had to go to the hospital. Guess where we were 2 days later? Yeah...don't worry, she's fine. She was just in pain but she's all good now. We just spent the day at the hospital.

So you know our investigator who's been learning about the church for years and years?  Well we had a lesson with her this last week, and we also had dinner with her 2 times and almost 3 ha. 3 different members invited her over for dinner when we were there. And she's feeding us next week before I leave and we are having another lesson next week. Haha it was just really funny.  She told us last night that she was like a bad penny that we can't get rid of. Other way around really. She's really the main reason I want more time here--she is soo wonderful! But I know HF has a plan for her and for me and I have to trust in it.

I LOVE the sisters we live with. Sis J makes smoothies for me every single night haha. And one night when we were all really stressed we made smoothies and popcorn and watched the short version of Johnny lingo on gospel library and slept in the living room. That's why I suck at writing letters. There's no time.

Oh so this area had a crazy storm that flooded everything. Someone told us it was the most rainfall since the early 1800s. Dad you're probably going to look into that right?  Want to let me know if it's
true?  Everything was flooded, it was crazy. So we had to email from our iPads and it is actually really difficult.

Just so you know.

Sorry I didn't respond to individual emails, I'm really slow on the iPad. But I will soon, I love you all!!!  Have a wonderful week!! Good luck with school and life and everything!

Love,

Me

Subject lines are over-rated (or under-read)

Ok so 3/4 of the way through Mom's email I realized that a) I don't ever actually read the subject lines, which is weird...how can you miss them?  and b) I should read the subject lines haha.  Oops.

I absolutely love reading your emails but I never know what to say ha...Not too much happened that I think you would be interested in.

Oh wait, just kidding.  I got my visa!  President Toone called when we were in a lesson and so we couldn't answer but we just knew that's what it was.  We're not really important enough for him to call us for anything else haha.  I was actually really sad when I first got the news, but I've been praying really hard to be ready when I needed to leave, and I know I will be. I'm here for the rest of the transfer, we fly out on Monday the 22nd at like 5 pm I think.  President said you'd get some emails about it.  Sister Vea and Sis Jardine and I are all going at the same time, thank goodness!!!  I love them so much, and I would not want to fly all the way to Australia by myself.  We fly to LA then to Melbourne and then PERTH!!  It still doesn't feel real though.  I'm pretty sure I said this last week-but then I never remember what I already told you or what I just thought I told you and so all of my emails are probably exactly the same!  (Pretty sure I did say that last week though...oh well)--but I LOVE the people here.  And I don't like the idea of leaving them, but I know I better get used to it, because it'll happen a lot.  Leaving the area just seems a little different to me than leaving the country...you know?  But I'm getting more excited to go, I know that it will be great. But yeah, I'll get more details to you guys when we learn them.

Other than that, it was a pretty slow week, I don't have any crazy stories or anything really funny to share (I have NO clue how Addison's emails were always so entertaining and how the craziest stuff happened to her.)  Sorry I didn't have to do any nasty cleaning projects or get bit by a racoon...Oh, I did almost pass out, but it wasn't a big deal haha.  I'm fine, I probably just didn't drink enough water that day or something.  It kind of reminded me of when I was giving a talk and almost passed out.  We were on exchanges again and Sister Jensen and I were teaching this man in his doorway and I was testifying of something--no clue what ha, but I just couldn't see or hear anything but I think I kept talking and just leaned on Sister Jensen for a second.  When I stopped they both got concerned because I was so white. we ended and everything and I went and just sat down in his front yard haha. It was really weird, but I was fine after a minute.  

Um Sister G was sick most of the week, poor thing.  It was really sad.  So we were inside most of the time, but we did go on exchanges one day, and again it was so much fun!  I love biking and being around people and being able to stop and talk to them whenever.  We met the coolest people, and had some really fun conversations.  One guy who was probably in his 20s and he actually has several friends who are on missions right now.  He was just about the happiest person I've met here.  

Oh last week I almost killed my companion!  Just kidding, it wouldn't have been that bad.  But we were at weekly planning meeting and she was feeling dizzy so I said she might need to eat something, so I offered part of my granola bar (because of course I had food.)  Idk if I told you, but she's allergic to almonds and pork.  Clearly no pork in the granola bar, but she asked if it had almonds and I said I didn't think so but I'd check.  Well she didn't wait for me to check but thought it would be fine and popped it in.  I'm looking at the back of the wrapper and it says in big bold letters that it contains almonds haha.  So I start yelling "Spit it out!  Spit it out!"  And yeah our zone maybe was staring at us just a little bit.  If I told you that story already, sorry!  

Thank you Sister G for taking and posting pictures!!!
Checking the mail in the rain!  :)

We had a crazy storm here as well!  It was one of the days that Sister G was sick, so we were at home, but she is from Washington and LOVES the rain, so we went and checked the mail in it.  It was so much fun!  And last night we kept getting flash flood warnings which was exciting. The rain stopped when we got outside this morning, but there are a few trees down and the streets are a little flooded.  Mom, I totally agree, I love thunder and lightning!  It's so exciting!  They have dust storms here that are pretty weird looking but I haven't been here for a really bad one, and I don't think I will be.  I've got 2 weeks left.  Holy cow, I have no idea where my first transfer went. 

I leave the Saturday after a big mission conference and after our investigator gets baptized!!!  He isn't doing so well physically, so keep him in your prayers.  You know how he told us which day he wanted to be baptized?  Well he gets treatments on Fridays and it really wipes him out for the whole weekend.  So we'll see how he's feeling. Also we have a lot of the lessons to get through and he is super busy with work and he's sick the rest of the time, so this will be an interesting week. 

We are teaching another lady who has a hard time with the Book of Mormon, but she comes to everything and calls herself a dry Mormon.  She is one of my favorite people ever.  She's reading the Book of Mormon highlighting everytime it talks about Christ or the atonement, and she's really excited about it.  She's read Jesus the Christ and she loved it, but she just has a hard time getting into the Book of Mormon.  Which is maybe just slightly important ha.  But she's making a lot of progress.  

Mom I loved reading some of rachel's old emails!  I was thinking that I wished I could read her old emails all week actually ha.  Can you send me the one about the bridge and the sunset?  If it's too hard to find don't worry about it.  (I was reflecting on how Rebecca's emails were a LOT like Rachel's at the beginning of her mission ... so I sent her some.  My questions must be the same too, since Rachel's answers fit what I'm asking Rebecca.  So much so that Rebecca chose just to copy Rachel's responses .... as you can read below).  

But I just copied and pasted these because it's seriously exactly what I would say - ha.  

"what picture are you using for the plaque?? and ya just pick one [a scripture] for me I really don't care. there are too many good ones to choose !! D&C 11:21?? and "ya just make up stories there aren't too many good ones [for the blog] ha and they all blend together in my mind!"

"I had some pics I wanted to send but I forgot my camera so I will send them next week."

"So much has happened but then at the same time nothing at all.... The days blend together. and I can't remember what I have already told you guys and what I haven't. "

But really I'll try to send you a picture next week for the plaque and a scripture.  Love you all sooo much!!!!  

I was just htinking this morning why do we expect great things to come immediately without any work?  With everything, we have to do our part first and show Heavenly Father that it's important to us, we can't just expect things right away.  That's a huge problem these days, we can get so many things instantly, that we forget that we need to work for things.  Patience truly is a Christlike attribute.  Have a wonderful week!

this week flew by soo quickly but felt so long at the same time...that makes absolutely no sense but I don't know how else to describe it.