Week 14 Zion Mildura

Zion Mildura:)

Hi Family and friends

I'm now serving in the ZION MILDURA SOUTH Area which is in VICTORIA! haha its closest to Melbourne. This place reminds me of home lol, its FULL of polynesians AND ive met some cook-islanders! 

The Koia family are absolutley amazing and also the Ariki family. They are 2 young couples both of 2 kids and just THIRST to do missionary work.

But ill start off from when i arrived. im teamed up with  the new district leader here in Mildura. We had to go to some outline areas in our zone, so i was on trade offs with one of my boys from the NZ MTC, who also is serving here in mildura which is great. 

We had a great time in Mildura North and South for 2 days. On my 3rd day back with Elder Callahan who is this big canadian boy, very very  humble guy though, we went to visit this samoan family. As we rocked up the husband yells out something to his wife in samoan and next minute she leaves and comes back with cornbeef, chicken, coconut cream, taro and fish and whips up a big feed for us and makes us finish it :L >.< Then we biked home that night and found a dinner box of maccas on our front door step!? then when we walked into our flat we get a call from Brother Koia saying he is dropping off some pizza for us! :L haha 3 dinners in one night but we didnt eat it all. Its still in the fridge. Im happy that im still full-time biker otherwise all that weight is going to come back. But its great in our flat we have some great weights, bench and boxing bag given by the members so im exercising every morning from 6.00am-7.30am. 

I love it here in Mildura everyone is sooooo nice! It suprised me but whether they are members or not they have a friendly nature about them. Its weird not being in the city but then again the Lord needs me here for a reason so im seeking it out. We have a pretty good teaching pool here at the moment and the work is just hastening.

. So brother Koia is from the Cook-Islands and so is his brother in law brother Ariki. Brother Ariki just got off a mission from Perth 2years ago and Brother Koia actually served here in the ZAAM! When he lived in melbourne he served here in Mildura and now he lives here lol. He is the current young mens president but does all that he can for missionary work. Its different from the city, in the city, here they WANT to do the work. This is like the most ACTIVE cook-island family, that i have ever seen :L It was so funny so we did a service for some non members by helping them move. And sister Koia was talking to the guy and they had a good conversation, then she invited him to come to church, and committed him to be baptised :O Im just like wow... i said to my companion "Elder, the members are doing our job" and then we both started laughing. But honestly mum thats what Mildura is like. All the missionaries have told me that Mildura is the place to serve, it truly is ZION! 

I can truly testify of what you said mum, The Savior Jesus Christ came to this Earth, he bled from every pore and suffered for us. He did this so that HE could UNDERSTAND how we felt in our darkest times, and that is why we always turn to him for help. Mosiah 7:33. The savior is always there. He wants to forgive,

but we need to act and ask.

Mildura:)

I love you all family and i seal this testimony in the name of Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Elder Makai

ZAAM

Week 13 Transferred!!

Humble thy self

Hey mum,

So we had a conference call this morning and i found out that im getting transferred! So ill be leaving downtown tmoro and in to my next area which i will find out tmoro.

But this week was a tough yet good week. We have found 2 of our brothers who are now preparing for baptism and the blessings keep rolling on. I love who the lord has turned me into, he has changed who i am and made me more humble. Repentance has been a hard thing for everyone, but i have learned that as we forgive those who have done wrong to us, the Lord also forgives us. As my parents, you have both shown that love for me. No matter how hard things work or how wrong the things i did, you loved me. And i will always forgive the ones that i love as our father in heaven forgives us.

I have a powerful testimony about being an example of the believers, as we strive to align our will with gods will then the spirit will radiate itself and touch the hearts of those around us. As we focus more on progressing towards eternal salvation but not just for ourselves but also for others then we show true humility, charity and love. These attributes are among the most powerful of Christs attributes, Humility opens the door to the attributes of Christ and as we gain these few things we can show a brighter light within ourselves. Be dignified where ever you are because people are always watching.... God is always watching. I love you family so much ill try send some letters home. But this small message i testify to be true in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

Luv you all

Elder Makai

ZAAM

Week 11 keeping the Faith

Keeping the Faith

Hi Family 

Sorry I couldn't email yesterday due to it being a public holiday here in South Australia (Adelaide Cup) so all the libraries and shops were closed.

Its good to hear of great blessings the Lord has given you all, mum don't say that because of me you are all receiving blessings. I have been reading through Alma lately in my studies and found that the Lord has said unto the Alma and Ammon and all those great prophets "according to your faith, and the desires of your heart will I grant unto you the things which you ask for. From your recent emails of you saying how your not worried about anything because your relying on the lord for help and the fact that you are acting on that faith by looking for houses and praying of such is showing your faith. So I say unto you, that it is because of your faith and the desires of your heart that our family is prospering in the land. I am on the Lords errand with the trust that he will take care of you all, but imagine if you all had no faith and were relying only on my faith and works? Its not how it works, for in the bible it teaches that the Lord "looketh not upon a mans countenance, but upon a mans heart" and if his or her heart is good, then he will grant unto them the desires of their heart. That is the reason that Joseph Smith was chosen to be the prophet of the Last Dispensation or as explained in Ephesians 1:10-11 the "fullness of times". For the Lord said unto him that "these people draw close to me with their lips, but their heart is far from me" something that I want to share and leave with you to share with our family is a principle concerning Faith. Now Faith is a principle of Action, and in James 2:17 it says that "Faith, having no works is dead, being alone." We will be judged not only from our faith but also the works that we do. We have come across many people that say to us that they are saved because Jesus Christ died on the cross for them. I pondered on that statement and read through Helaman 5. and in Helaman 5:10 it states "He will come and redeem the people IN their sins, but not FROM their sins." Though Jesus Christ died for us to cleanse our sins and loosen the bands of death, he did not eliminate our personal responsibility to do good works. We take the sacrament every sunday to REMEMBER him and to RENEW our Baptisimal and Temple Covenants. I studied a lot about repentance the past few weeks and found that it has been a principle since the time of Adam. Heavenly Father has made it clear that other than Jesus Christ, no man that has walked the earth today is perfect. We are all sinners, and repentance is given to us as a GIFT and it should be used every day. I am so thankful for the gift of repentance to feel godly sorrow when I didn't work to the best of my ability, which I strive to do every day. Yet I re-commit myself every night that I will work stronger, harder and with a stronger desire. I have grown in love for the people that I serve, for the family in my ward and for my fellow elders and sisters here in the ZAAM.

Again I say this mother, that your heart, and your desires have left a beautiful blessing upon our family. That dads hard work to provide for his family (which God sees as the most important social unit in time and eternity) has shown a marvelous love for the lord and for you all. Through the both of you working in unity to provide for the family temporally and spiritually the Lord is pleased and deems you worthy to receive the blessings that he has awaiting. So I thank you, for your hard work, your effort, your desires and your loving heart that has shaped me into the young man that I am today. I am Elder Makai, I know who I am, I am a Son of a loving Father in heaven who has blessed me with a beautiful family. My purpose is to Invite others to come unto Christ, and I am a representative of the Lord Jesus Christ.

I testify that the things that I have shared, the things that ive learned and the things that I will continue to share are true. I have gained an unshakeable amount of love and faith for this Gospel. It is through the divine power of the Holy Ghost that we can achieve all things. Through exercising faith, repenting of our sins, being baptized by someone holding the priesthood authority, receiving the gift of the holy ghost and enduring to the end, I know we will find everlasting joy and happiness. "Remember, Faith, Virtue, Knowledge, Temperance, Patience, Brotherly Kindness, Godliness, Charity, Humility, Diligence. Ask and ye shall receive, knock and it shall be opened unto you." These things I share with you, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Love you all

Elder Makai

ZAAM

our Zone Leader turned up with Pizza lastnight

Week 10. Testimony

Share your testimony

Hi all

Well the bad weather that hit Melbourne didn't come anywhere near us at all. We had nothing but sunshine all week >< Wish there was a storm though its been hot, hope our families and friends are well.

I have been thinking about what to study when i come home. I have a strong desire to study in Uni, not sure what but i know the desire will come from above:)

Well im putting all my heart, might, mind and strength into this work so I can help my family. Help my brothers and sisters that roam the streets of Adelaide and invite them to come unto Christ and experience the tender mercy of the Infinite and Eternal atonement.

I have been thinking of brother and sister vessy, tell her I still use some of those ties that she gave me years ago! They came in handy :D I love her enthusiasm in the church and just the way that her and her husband conduct themselves wherever they are, true examples of Christ-like love for anyone and everyone (:

Yesterday was testimony sundays and we had a feeling that  it we were going to hear great testimonies from the ward members. Every single one talked about the atonement and the sacrifice Christ made for us, we had 3 investigators at church and they all felt the spirit. With smiles on their faces and tears in their eyes, they humbly thanked us for inviting them to take part in this beautiful Sacrament service, we have a few more baptism dates now and are working hard to prepare them for this sacred covenant or promise in baptism. That was my highlight for the week, to see the joy and happiness in the eyes and in the hearts of my brothers and sisters, of our investigators who are feeling the spirit strongly. It is through the joy of others that mine is created (: Something I picked up on interstingly while studying the Book of Mormon I wanted to share. in 2Nephi 9:39 the last 5 words "Spiritually Minded is Life Eternal" take the 1st letter of every word and its SMILE. Keep a smile on your face to be spiritually minded for as the scriptures teach THAT is life eternal. The happiness or that simple smile has the POWER to make someones day. The power to turn a bad day into good. It is a wonderful gift given from God to enlighten the hearts of others. A simple SMILE is Life Eternal that can go a long way (:

Well tell Tiana keep studying hard in seminary, im very proud if her, ill be sending a few letters back (individual ones) for everyone (: Thank you for everything family!
I love you all with a willing heart!

Elder Makai

ZAAM!