TEACH MORE... TOUCH MORE...

Dinner at the Carters - see Mum - eating my greens :D

 So good to read this awesome email :) Love it!! Good to hear about all the missionary work going on in our ward. I can't believe how big our chapel and ward is compared to here hahah. 

This week was good and bad hahah. Up until saturday the most lessons we taught a day was 4. Which sucks. So we were seriously behind. But after praying hard for a miracle on Saturday we taught 8 member presents. Such a blessing. Teach more, touch more. We had 0 investigators at sacrament. Vorwinna is staying in topside now so she's technically not our investigator anymore even though she's being baptised this Saturday. 

:) But I have NEVER ever met so many different types of people than on Palau. I have met the weirdest most AWESOME and amazing people. I'm very blessed haha. Me and Elder Murdoch always talk about how our investigators don't open up much and they talk but not too much. MY goodness. This week we had SO many investigators just open up and SOOOOO many tears that it was ridiculous. hahah. Amazing how the holy ghost can work with people. This week I've felt the real feeling of charity. Loving these people genuinely and wanting

them to have the best chance at salvation. I feel so much love for these people. But yeah so many tears lol. awesome. But it was a really FAST week. 

Transfers are soon and apparently there will be a big 'shake up'. woo. haha. Fritz is set for next week. His parents are on board and everything :D Today we're going up to Airai and gunna go to a beach and do manly stuff. :)

Yeah gave blood and it was heaps haha. The hospital is kinda dodgy but oh well I feel fine now.

In the photos with all the Grafitti it is the College - PCC haha and yes we have taught a lesson in the back of our truck once :D

I have almost finished my language mastery!!!!!!!! I can teach the first three lessons in Palauan and we taught full Palauan yesterday!!!! Gift of Tongues seriously. hahha.  I will be finished this week! Before I'm done training :) 

Some of my white shirts are just waaaaaay to big now. haha So I'll let you know when I'll need some more. :) Can you send my backpack sometime?  It has RAINED this week. We were soaking wet from head to toe almost everyday. And the backpack would be good for that. haha. 

Thank you so much for everything -  I really am grateful.  You're are the best!!!!!   Don't worry we are

all safe and healthy lol. and clean.   

Charades - trying to work it out

VERY WET AND WINDY IN PALAU

 

Really good to hear all about home and that you're all doing really good :) My week here in Palau was very WET! hahah It's been raining and windy like CRAZY! But it was a good week. President and Sister Zarbock came and we had Zone Conference. They're So lovely and inspired. 

We caught a crab and cooked it last night. But we didn't eat it lol. 

We may have 2 investigators being baptised this week. But not concrete yet. It was a really long week but it was really good.  we taught a lot and found a lot of new people. I'm still learning LOTS of stuff. haha. 

Oh one kinda big change is now President Zarbock said we are only to listen to hymns. hahah.  I won't be able to listen to that Nashville Tribute Band CD when it comes out. Hahaha. But it's okay. 

This next transfer Elder Dopp is leaving so One of us will be training but I don't think it'll be me.  Maybe. Either I train, Elder Murdoch trains and I go with elder Malais or Elder Malais trains and we stay together for 2 more. :) 

Do you think you could you send me my red Nike runners? Coz I gave my new ones to a member called Omgar.

haha.  he was saying how nice mine were and he needs them WAY more than I do :)

My favourite local food so far is this stuff like a sweet dumpling soup with pumpkin.  I like that.  And also tapioca.  

We had four investigators at Church yesterday.  Waaaaaaaaaaay more should have been there.

I love you and I appreciate everything you do for me :) Is there anything I can do for you? :) 

I'm so so grateful for how much you care and love me :) You have no idea the impact it makes! :) 

This church is true. I love it and I'm so glad you and dad love it too. :) Have an amazing week and read every single day. I love you both with all my heart.

Love you!

Elder Striplin

Ungil Sechal

With some Palau Branch Primary kids

Palau Zone with the new President Zarbook and his wife

Singing 'Jesus Lover of my Soul' at start of Zone Meeting

RAYNALDO IS BAPTISED!

Soooo good to hear about everything that's going on at home. It's so funny how life just goes on haha. But good!!! Keep telling me all about what's been going on. :) HAHAH Aunt Ruth. She sent me a birthday card which was really nice.

SO this week was VERY awesome!!!! The highlight was Raynaldo's Baptism!!!! :D He was baptised on the 12th of July! And confirmed by me on the 13th :) There was three baptisms in our branch on Saturday night :) I wasn't ready for the Joy I felt for Raynaldo. The look on his face was PRICELESS. sheer joy. I'm so happy for him!!!! He's Filipino and doesn't speak much English! But after he came out of the water he shook my hand and said "thank you, thank you so much.  Thank you so much for your sacrifice." And he was just so happy.

Smiling like there was no tomorrow. So happy for him!!!!!

Also we had the AP's come and visit and train and we learnt a buttload! :)

Funny Story! We taught these 2 investigators (Mailie & Aner) with two members ( Pauline and Ruthana) at the college. And after we finished an awesome plan of salvation lesson then asked me to sing. And i said no but then I said.. I will put my faith in all of you. I will sing if you promise me you'll come to church tomorrow. They agreed and I sang I'm trying to be like Jesus. The next day at church we had 8 Investigators at church 4 from the college!!! :) It was kinda funny but really awesome to see those kids all supporting eachother and loving the gospel together. They should be getting baptised in the next 3 weeks :)

Thanks for your testimony Dad! You're are an awesome ward mission leader and you always magnify your callings and have always been an awesome example for me. I always tell people your convert story and use it with investigators to show them that anyone can change :P haha.

But I do appreciate your testimony and love for this gospel. It helped build mine. You and mum were so right to make sure I developed my own testimony and didn't force me into a mission. I'm so glad I'm here for the right reasons.   I'm making the most of all this precious time and I'm working as hard as I can. Thanks for your example Dad. 

So glad you and mum are studying the scriptures. We all take the knowledge we gain in this life to the next and the only knowledge really worth while is that of spiritual value haha.

:) Love you and miss you! :)

Saying goodbye to the APs

The Assistants and our Zone

Elder Petersen giving instructions

Listening to the APs

MY LONG THUMB NAIL IS MY MULTI-TOOL

Palau has been good this week! I spoke only Palauan (within reason) the other day.   Was fun haha.  I have my drivers license and have been driving for like 4 weeks, Betel Nut sucks majorly and I use my long thumb nail as a multi-tool hahaha.  Our daily routine is that we arise at 6.30am, exercise, then study for 3 hours, including language, then lunch, appointments, dinner, then appointments and in apartment by 9, sleep by 10.30pm.

Being on a mission and seeking out to learn things lets you learn sooooo much! I'm going through mind blowing things. haha. I'm lucky enough to be with missionaries on Palau who study right and help me to study right too. I've really seen how important it is to study and to understand deeply the doctrine because it's far easier to teach it simply if you understand it on a deeper level.  I've really strived to know as much as I can about the gospel - that really is one of my main focuses. And I've been given that portion in lessons already and I don't even know much compared to what I can know. I've been reading Jesus, The Christ which is AWESOME! and I also read the lectures on faith. I love learning about the Gospel and I see more and more how perfect it is!

So good to hear about everything going on!!  I can see all those movies when I get home and I'll see a lot of cool concerts in the future haha. I'm giving all my thoughts, wants and desires to the Lord so that I can be an empty vessel to be filled with his inspiration, revelation and spirit for our investigators :) Speaking of which 2 should be getting baptised this week :) Fritz and Raynaldo :) Looking forward to that! So AWESOME!!!! Yesterday at fast and testimony meeting Fritz got up (without being asked) to bear his testimony. He got up and said "I've only been a Mormon for a little bit" and continued his testimony on how he's changed.. He hasn't been baptised yet but he considers himself a Mormon. GOLD! he's so awesome! Then he finished his testimony by saying "Amen to everyone in this church" HAHAH He's is an awesome prepared soul and wants to go to BYU Hawaii now hahaha.  

So many good things happening with the work in Palau.  The APs are coming to visit this week then the mission president next week.  Then in a couple of weeks after that one of the Elders goes home and we get a new missionary.

I love you mum and I’m so grateful for everything you do for me and I am forever in gratitude to you and dad. I miss you guys and thank you for

encouraging me to serve a mission and supporting me no matter what :)

Sister Ale's Birthday

District Meeting

Sports Night at the Branch

I LOVE IT HERE!

Ok so this week was really good :) we did a a lot of teaching and have 3 solid baptisms coming up :) we had 5 investigators at sacrament this week. soooooo good :) I am loving the mission so much!!!!! 

I LOVED MY PACKAGE SO MUCH!!!!!! It was so thoughtful and awesome and I'm so grateful for you and for everything!! And the blanket has made my sleeps better :) Thank you thank you thank you!!! :) Good to hear about everything happening at home. I'm excited to be home one day and share some good time with my family all of you!!! The photo book blaze sent is AWESOME! I love it.

The mission is going really good..  I LOVE IT.  I'm learning soooooooo much!  Like a lot!  We are teaching a lot.  We try to teach as many people as possible.  The language is going reaaaaaaaaaaally good!! I can half teach the restoration in Palauan and the locals say I can speak really well for being here a month. So that's encouraging :)  We invite EVERYONE to be baptised on the first lesson!  it's pretty amazing!  Everyone here already believes in God and Jesus so that's a huge blessing.  Everyone here is always sleeping!  They sleep when its hot and when its raining. And it's ALWAYS hot and raining haha - the islander way.

Hopefully Verwinna will be baptised soon.  She loves the church and knows its true.  I'm so excited for her and her kids to be blessed by her decision.

Fritz is the man!  He really understands what we teach and wants to do all the things he can to be baptised.  So excited for him.  He will fit so well into the branch.  He gets along really well with me.  It's cool because we are friends with our investigators, not just teachers.  I love this work.

It's all going good here.  We strive every day to have the spirit and to help people realise the action needed for their faith so they can receive the fullness of joy.  

I love you guys and miss you.  Tell everyone hi! And i wear crocs everyday btw ;) haha 

BELOW PHOTOS COURTESY OF ELDER AND SISTER CARTER - you can see their blog at www.missionarycarters.blogspot.com

Eating like a 20 year old

Candy bouquet

How old are you?

The Palau Zone

Looking older

I wonder what it will be like being 20

Palau Zone

Prank gone wrong

THE CARTER'S CAMERA WENT MISSING AND WHEN THEY FOUND IT, THEY FOUND THESE AS WELL

Selfies on the Carter's Camera