Week 9. Miracle Week

Amazing Miracles

Today was our Pday than back to Monday from next week.

We had such an eventful week full of miracles, blessings as we went to the Temple this week.

First of all thank you Mum for your 100 page letter hahaha. It has been an eye opener and I was able to share some of the things you said in it with some investigators which helped a lot!

This week My companion and I were asked by the district leader to give a training to the district on accountability. I asked my trainer if missionaries usually get assigned for this and he said no that's actually rare. So we were both grateful to give the training. Through the training I honestly was lost, I didn't know what I said neither can I remember. But it must have been good because I got really great comments and feedback..lol.

We have been teaching this Vietnamese man in his home. Its funny how we found him, we were about 100m away and we saw him turn into his complex ,We caught up with him before he got to his apartment, he then invited us to come into his home. We taught him the restoration and invited him to pray. After his prayer he stood up with a big smile on his face. he said " I received something" we asked what it was that he received. he said "I felt something in my heart.  My companion and I were blown away, expressed our love and confirmed it to be the holy ghost testifying the truth to him. He attends church now:)

 Our recent convert Mark has informed us that he is teaching his mother the gospel. He skypes her because she lives in China and has been teaching her to pray. It is so great to see the example of young new converts to the Gospel already doing missionary work!

We had... an amazing miracle this week. So we visited a less active member of our ward and shared a great lesson, he told us he wants us to visit his friend who lives around the corner. So after that we went straight there. But to our surprise the house was empty and no one home, we made the decision to knock on the neighbors door and see if they knew where he moved to. A young lady answered the door and freaked out. She poured out in tears and told us she cannot believe we are here! We didn't know who she was and as she stepped outside in tears and sat on the ground crying we calmed her down and asked if we could be of any service. She said that she had JUST finished saying a prayer to God to help her because she had so many problems. As soon as she said Amen, WE KNOCKED AT THE DOOR. She was explaining about how when she answered the door it absolutely tripped her out. But after the visit she felt the presence of the savior and she wanted to learn more. We invited her to church and she actually came. It was such a blessing to see the Lord preparing people for us to teach. We love this work we do for we see it blessing the lives of others. I can testify that through obedience and diligence in the work that we do that the Lord will show unto us the people that HE has been preparing to receive his Gospel. It made me love this gospel more and strengthened my testimony immensely.

Love you family so much, but I know your all fine, I keep you in my prayers day and night and have trusted in the Lord to keep you safe, he has answered by keeping you safe from those cyclones. It really has been an eventful week mother, for the both of us. Give my love to all the family, friends and our ward. I love you all! Forever will!

Love always,

Elder Makai

week 8 Blessings from being patient!!

Great blessings come from being Patient.

Hi everyone

I must say that something that has really stood out to me here on the mission is Christlike Attributes. One in particular which is Patience. President Thomas S. Monson quotes that " Patience is a heavenly virtue that is frequently forgotten" Back on the 11th of January we had contact with this Asian young man on the street and he was reluctant at first, he told us he is hardout studying and said maybe call him on the 13th of February to organize something. We didn't take it as much but we just put his name down on the 13th. So Friday was the 13th of Feb right and we looked at our calendar and saw his name, we both discussed who this "Peter" was for we could not remember him, and we looked for his number and found it in our phone. Still confused in our minds we called the number... he answered, we introduced ourselves as the missionaries. he replied "Yes I remember you, ive finished my exams and im free to meet you both tomorrow." It surprised us both but we still just set a time to see him. So it came to that day and when we saw him we remembered him lol. We taught him the Godhead, and through the influence of the Spirit, which I sort of doubted whether it was the spirit or not, but I felt to invite him to be baptized. To lead to it I spoke about Jesus Christ and his example here on Earth. After teaching a little bit about him I asked that question. "Will you Peter follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized by someone holding the priesthood authority of God?" With a smile on his face he said "I will". Patience is a heavenly virtue... if we had not written that mans name on our calendar we would never have called him. For that whole month the Lord prepared him to be taught by us and to make that sacred covenant with our heavenly Father. This is 1 of the great experiences I had this week.

My second experience came in what you have maybe seen in my letter if you have received it yet Mum. But it goes along the lines of how we had to stay in our flat for the whole of our day off. Though I was upset I pondered on Laman and Lemeul. They saw an angel and still murmured. I have seen the work of the Lord and his hand in our lives yet I murmured over LITTLE things. I was disappointed in that state of mind that I had and decided to turn to the scriptures. I studied the scriptures for 5hours straight. Reading... actually studying the book of enos helped me a lot. After I read Enos I myself dropped to my knees, and offered a mighty prayer unto the Lord asking for his forgiveness in my transgressions and short comings. It was then that I lifted my head and saw the picture of Jesus Christ with his hand out to a child lifting her from her bed, and I asked my self "What more can I do" through that question I continued my study of the scriptures on our day off. Just before I finished studying the scriptures we received a random text message from a number we had never before seen. It read " Hi elders, my name is Lisa, my friend introduced me to God and gave me this number to organize a time. I want to learn more. Thank you." Me and my companion looked at each other with amazement. Has the Lord answered our prayers? In all honesty we thought it was one of the missionaries playing a prank for that was transfer week and we don't have EVERYONES number. So we decided to call that number. To our surprise a Asian woman by the name of Lisa picked up the phone, we asked how she came in contact with the Mormon church and she said no her friend was Christian but gave this number because she was interested in learning more. We have no idea who this Malaysian friend is that she spoke of but we organized a time. So we taught her the next day the Godhead because she knew nothing! She loved the lesson and wanted to learn more. The next lesson we followed up on what she learned, we asked "Who is God to you" and she said "God is my loving heavenly father and he loves me and knows me individually" That surprised us immensely... She was prepared and ready. Lisa is now attending church and has committed to baptism. Can you see the Hand of God in this work!

Valentines day was our favourite, we knew people would be going to the city and we used it as an opportunity to find new investigators. Through it we found 2 new! It really shows that if we are truly diligent in our efforts and seek the Lords help that we can achieve what we have set out to do. 

Today after emails we as a Mission are all going to watch "Meet the Mormons".

Love you mum, love you family and friends. I hope all is well back home! <3

Elder Makai

ZAAM

week 7 Hastening My Work

I will Hasten MY Work

This week's baptism

D&C 88:73 - "I will hasten MY work in its time"

How great the joy to see the blessings of the Lord hastening his work but starting in his fold. To hear the news of 2 new wards back home really shows how the Lords hand is working here with us. I would like to personally thank Bishop Kepu for all the assistance, upliftment, nourishment, care, love and kindness towards myself and my family. Also to his family who have played a major role in helping Bishop through his calling. I would not be on this field if it were not for Bishop Kepu, it strengthened my testimony of how the Lord truly calls these people to look over his children. Bishop Chong-Nee has now been given that authority and responsibility to look after a portion of the Lords Vineyard. Continue to bring forth good fruit out of his vineyard and produce many talented and consecrated missionaries out of the depths of Heritage Park Ward. "For the Field is white already to harvest"

Brothers and Sisters of Heritage Park Ward I want to give my thanks for the support and love you have shown for my family and I, You all bring great joy to us as converts to the church and shown us the Pure Love of Christ. The Light of Christ shines bright in every single one of your souls, I saw it as a stood at the podium for the last time in 2years and as i looked out to all your smiling faces I could not explain the joy that filled my heart. There was a brightness that filled the room and the spirit flowed strongly through the veins of your body. This my family is the hastening of his work, can you see how God is working with you?

I testify that God IS our loving Heavenly Father, that he works closely with us, that Jesus is my saviour and Redeemer, that God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Ghost work in perfect harmony with each other. Im so happy to hear how well the ward is doing. I keep the ward in my prayers always, I wish that you are all doing well especially The Paasi family, Fiu and Saulo family who have their children out there doing the work of our father. My love for you all is eternal and i pray that you will all continue to live in harmony with God and his Gospel. If you are ever in need of help or assistance I invite you to "Move foward with your eyes up" look towards the Lord for his helping hand, and press foward with a steadfastness in Christ, I love you all HP!

Elder Autele from American Samoa

finishes his mission this Thursday.

He's a greatly inspired missionary

Elder Makai
ZAAM!

Week 6 Giving Service to those in need

Our Zone giving service for the bushfires

Last Saturday the victims of the bushfire requested the help of the missionaries again so we sprung to the work and worked from 8am-4pm. It was such an awesome experience we helped 3 houses (Firle Zone). After the service one of the house owners got us together and could not stop thanking us for the service that we had given, they were full of gratitude and could not believe the amount of work we had done in this short time, there is more to do but not at this moment they said they can do the small parts but when the big parts come they will definitely call on us. Our objective was to be missionaries but not to talk about the Gospel. We were there to be EXAMPLES and to lead and allow our light to shine. That happened and through that we planted a seed for others to help grow.

 

I taught an investigator about seeds also. But something that our Mission President said was "We are not here to plant seeds, we are here to help them grow from others in the past that planted them" I related it to an actual seed. What does a seed need to grow? Sunshine, Water, Nourishment?

 

Water - Baptism by Immersion for the Remission of Sins

Sunshine - Attending Sacrament and remembering the Covenants you have made and the Goal you have set in returning to live with God.

Nourishment - Learning more as you progress through life.

 

I can testify that we are all like seeds, but we continue to grow throughout the age. One thing I learned is that people fall inactive or less-active when the stop reading the book of Mormon. I pondered on that for a while and it bought me to the question that's "What is our religion without the Book of Mormon?" There it was... like a light in the darkness, a noise in the silence, a crack on a smooth surface. The Book of Mormon is the Key tool in CONVERSION. It is the keystone of our religion and a basis for our testimony. Without a keystone your arch will fall. Don't ever stop reading the book of Mormon for I PROMISE that as you read it EVERYDAY for atleast 5-10min that you will receive that spiritual light, that true witness of how the book of Mormon IS the word of God. There truly is power behind that book, and I encourage you to read it as much as you can. Humble yourselves before the Lord and Open your hearts to the spirit of God, feel the power of conversion and taste the nature of glory.

Time is of the essence. I love you all family so much, and as much as I want to be at home with you, im here in the Lords Vineyard, he knows that I am needed here and I WILL DO to the best of my ability what I can to work in his vineyard. My missionary goal is to be an INSPIRED missionary at all times, in all things and in all places. Small things that we do as missionaries are noticed, they affect other people, im so happy to be here in ZION! in the ZAAM! For we are going to turn the Adelaide mission into ZION! Who are of One Heart, and One Mind.

 

ZAAM TO NO END.

 

Elder Makai.