New companion in Nerang

G'day everybody!

 

Thank you so much for the wonderful birthday package! I'm afraid I didn't wait for my birthday before I opened it. I really enjoy the homemade granola, that is until we ran out of milk. 

 

I remember all the times as a priest I got to visit the Barnards and bring them the sacrament. I remember how crazy their little dog always was and how hard it was to try to speak with Old Brother Barnard since he had lost his hearing. They are such great people. Sister Barnard always wanted to give us some pie or something when we came over.

 

How is Spencer Teuscher doing? I haven't spoken to him in ages.  

 

 I can't believe we're in the last week of October already either. It feels like we just started the month. Next Monday I will be twenty years old mate! This week marks the halfway point in the transfer. I still feel so new! I am getting to know the area well. I've learned my way around faster than I thought I would, but it took getting lost on the bikes more than once. We are still working on getting to know the members better. A few of the last mission policies have sort of distanced the missionaries from the members. Everyone has felt it. I am hoping for some changes soon. We need to be more involved with the members than we are now. Like Elder Nielson said in General Conference (the exclamation point guy), this work will not move forward in the way the Lord intends it to unless we work together! Exclamation point! I loved the ensign article about member missionary work. It is really so simple.

 

We had a bit of a disappointing week this week. We thought we had some really promising potential investigators, but they all turned out to be pretty useless. It's hard to stay positive when things keep falling through. An article the ensign was about measuring success as a missionary. Because everyone has their agency, we can't measure our success by how many people accept our invitations. Success is in the loving invitation. Learning this principle has helped me to avoid becoming discouraged when things don't seem to be going my way. Jacob chapter 5 also helps me to understand my role in helping the Lord accomplish his work and how he feels about it, and therefore, how I should feel about it. It's such a great missionary chapter. 

 

So we aren't having great success with investigators yet, but we will! We are seeing great progress with a less active member that we have started teaching. He is a long lost sheep who has found that the world brings only superficial joy and no lasting happiness. He is a great guy who has simply strayed from the path. It is so great to see someone who is ready to make changes in their life. It brings me joy because I know how much joy and protection he can have as he decides to come back to the fold. This is what the rescue is all about. All it took was a simple visit at the right time. We'll have to go slow with him, since he has been away from church for over a decade, but he is starting to develop stronger faith.  

 

The other Nerang elders, Elder Tilley and Elder Bird had a double baptism this Saturday. My companion and I were the witnesses. They were two teenage girls who had been fellowshipped, loved, and invited by members. The first girl to be baptised was a big Maori girl, and Elder Bird, who is about the same size as me, with a little more weight on him, had a little trouble dunking her. He had to repeat it three times before full immersion was acheived. 

 

Also, last week we were asked to sing with the YSA in sacrament to help fill their lack of male voices. We practiced with them once Saturday night before the performance yesterday. It was a bit rough. I enjoyed it though. I love to sing and I miss singing in a fair dinkum choir. That's so cool that J is in madrigals already as a sophomore. 

 

I look forward to hearing about how Middleton won the state championship! Leave it all out there! Bryson and Kenzie, you'll have to scream a little extra for me! 

I love you all and miss you! Have a great week!

Elder Thieme

Feeling fine!

G'day everybody!

No worries this week. I am actually the only one in our flat who hasn't been suffering from the cold that's going around. I have been feeling pretty good.

We've been doing a lot of biking, and we have some pretty nice hills here. They stink to bike up but it's heaps fun to bike down on the way home. This week flew by so quick. It was gone before I even realised we were halfway through October! I also just realised the lack of Halloween things. I remember at Wal mart they would have heaps of candy and costumes right out front. They have a little bit of it in the shops, but nowhere near what it's like at home. Apparently no one really does trick or treating over here either. Not that I'm really going to miss that anyways.

Man, I miss good mexican food! I haven't found anything real authentic yet. I did find out I can buy Sriracha here though. That was exciting.

So Bryson went to a Mexican restaraunt and got a hamburger? That reminds me of someone...

Wow 48. You're beginning to be stricken in years. I thought I was starting to feel old when I realised I was almost 20.

Hopefully our team does well and beats BK. It always feels good to beat that school.

Church was really good this week. One thing that stood out to me in sacrament meeting was in a sister's talk about covenants and the power that comes from keeping them. She said, "we are blessed when we obey, we are loved when we serve." God desires to bless us for obeying what He asks, but He is more happy when we obey willingly. When we obey willingly, we will serve God and the people around us because we love Him and them. Those with a broken heart and a contrite spirit will willingly obey the commandments because of their love for God, rather than for fear of punishment or hope of reward, or even a sense of duty. And it is those with a broken heart and contrite spirit that inherit Eternal Life. Another insight came in elders quorum in priesthood. The teacher was talking about learning and knowledge, and what I got out of it was this: Knowledge comes by learning doctrine, understanding comes by living it, and wisdom comes by loving it. I hope that I can learn all that God desires for me to learn here on the mission. I know there's a lot.

One thing I have come to see more and more is how neccessary this work is. I see people and famillies everyday who are struggling. People's lives are destroyed as they are enveloped by the world. There is a scripture that speaks of Christ as a light that shines forth in darkness, but the darkness comprehended it not. The world is in darkness and it is in desperate need of the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The hard part is getting people to recognise it. We are still struggling to find new investigators. I know that we can never give up. There is too much at stake. A thought comes to mind about the Nephites just before the appearance of the Saviour. None of them recognised or understood his voice until the third time he spoke. I know if we keep trying, continue to open our mouth, we'll get there.

I hope everyone is doing well and knows how much I love you. Hope Jackson gets back to normal so you can smash BK. Evan, run fast, but try to stop breaking all my records... and feel free to stop getting taller.  Bryson and Kenzie, I miss you heaps. When you see Miranda again give her a hug for me. Mum and Dad, thanks for everything

Sorry I don't have any new pictures today! This week went by and I realised I didn't take any pictures at all (other than a video of Elder Miller doing the chubby bunny challenge). I will definitely take some today and have some pictures for next week's email. I don't even have any pictures of my new companion yet! Shame! Time just goes by so quick and I never remember to pull my camera out during the day.

It's nearly Christmas time and I hope to send you all a little something. I'll try to get it into the mail before it's too late.

I love you all so much! have a great week!

Elder Thieme

Hello mum! Hello Everybody!

 

     It feels like It's been forever since I emailed last! It's been a crazy week.

     I have been doing pretty well. I was pretty miserable again Tuesday night, and I went to the doctor to get my second scan reviewed. Apparently everything there was normal. Go figure. He said that it was likely mysyntery something-itis (something wrong with a gland in the stomach) and that it should just go away. Wednesday night I was feeling a little better than Tuesday. But since Wednesday I haven't been bothered by pain much at all. I really haven't had time lately to be sick, with so much on my plate now. My feeling is that the Lord has helped and strengthened me to be able do what he wants me to do. I don't know what was wrong with me. All I know is that the pain is gone. Thanks for your prayers.

     The new area is not far from the Gold Coast, although how far I do not know. I haven't even seen a map to figure out where I am yet! I am definitely somewhere in Australia! The area is pretty nice (at least what I've seen so far). It is a small ward. The bishop told us maybe a hundred and fifty or so will be there on an average Sunday. They have apparently had two sets of missionaries in this ward before, but not for a long time. We share a flat with just enough room for all of us. My companion is Elder Higham from Clearfield, UT (somewhere near Ogden). He lived on a farm and he only just graduated high school this May. He served in Iowa for about a transfer waiting for a visa. He's a pretty good guy. He's a hard worker and he knows he is where he needs to be. We also live with Elder Bird from Washington, another visa waiter who came in at the same time as my last companion, and Elder Tilley from Fiji, who's been out for eighteen months. We have a pretty fun flat.

     We've been fed pretty well since I've been here. In our mission the rule is that members can feed us dinner Friday, Saturday, and Sunday only, unless they have a non-member present. Then they can have us over any night of the week. So we usually get fed on the weekends and pretty much never during the week. We had a sister come by and drop off a bunch of regular food (cereal, milk, eggs, fruit, etc.) because when we got to the flat we didn't have anything to eat. In areas where there are a lot of polynesians (fob areas, fob meaning fresh of the boat) the members always buy you KFC and other takeaway and will drop it off at your flat all the time. I was in Bundamba for one night waiting for Elder Higham to get here and someone came and dropped us off heaps of KFC.

     That's sad to hear about Sister Rydalch. I think when President Monson spoke of his wife on Saturday was the first time I saw him get emotional while speaking. If it is such a hard thing to say goodbye, knowing that we will see our loved ones again, I can't imagine what it must be like to say goodbye without a knowledge of the Plan of Happiness.

     I am looking forward to working in this area. Once again, it feels like I am starting the area from the ground up, now more than ever. I know the Lord will bless us as we give our best efforts to be diligent and obedient. I love and miss you all! I look forward to getting your letters! I promise to write a real handwritten one soon! Thank you for your prayers and you loving support!

Love Elder Thieme

Feeling Better - no kidney stones!

G'day everybody!

Another transfer! Kind of a scary one. I was told I would be leaving somerset and Elder Christensen would stay. So today I found out I am going to re-open a closed area in Nerang. I will also be a new district leader AND training! Ahhh! I'm pretty nervous for all of that. Especially since leaving such a slow paced area and now I have so much to do. But I reckon President trusts me, or he wouldn't call me. More importantly, I also know that President Hendersen is inspired by the Lord and that the Lord trusts me with this new responsibility. But I can't help the apprehensiveness and the feelings of inadequacy. I'm freaking out, but I'm looking forward to the learning experience. 

I am going to miss Elder Christensen. He's been my favorite companion so far. He's also the one I've stayed with the longest (and that was only three months). He's the man, and he'll do well. His new companion is Elder Hensley, one of my former companions. 

We get to hear General Conference this weekend. I am stoked! I love General Conference. I just need to finish reading my custom Ensign: Conference Issue. I only have a couple talks left to read. 

So this week I got to have a couple ultrasounds and a visit to the doctors in Laidley. The GP told me that the scan of the urinary system showed it was all normal. So he ruled out kidney stones. Then he sent me back to the radiologists to get another scan of the rest of the abdomen. I will visit the doctor sometime this week. I don't know the official report of the latest scan, but the GP said it could be problems with the gallbladder, and we don't actually know for sure what's going on. Do you know what causes gall stones? The pain has been mostly quiet, except for a few severe spikes Wednesday morning around 4am, Thursday night around 11, and this morning around 5. I'll let you know the results of the next doctors visit. As for my diet, I make sure to eat a fruit or a veggie with every meal (or almost every meal), but I'm sure I'm taking in a bit more sugar, salt, and protein than is needed. Australians love their barbecues! We actually haven't had KFC hardly at all this last two transfers. Probably Macca's more often. When we do eat out I have gotten Subway most of the time. Elder Christensen and I were good at trying to help each other be healthy. 

Our investigator came to church this week! Thornly came and brought her three kids along as well. The kids were a bit noisy (mostly just the two year old) during sacrament meeting, and it's tough for her since she's on her own (she is divorced) but the ward did a great job of making her feel welcome and part of the family. Somerset is really an excellent ward. The members there are the best. She seems to really be enjoying the things she is learning and I think I told you last week, we set a baptismal date with her for November 2nd. 

Wow, is it nearly Christmas already! It's unbelievable how fast the time's gone, but I guess that's only because I am working hard and having fun. I don't think there's anything I really need. I could maybe use some more medium size garments. The smalls are getting just a bit snug. I love new ties as well. You can never have too many as a missionary. I think I would also love a bag of dill pickle spitz. And can you mail American chocolates? If you can, it would be awesome to have some Reese's peanut butter cups. Just send me a little package of surprises and I will be happy to have anything to open on Christmas. Another one of those family picture Calendars would be cool. 

Anyways I love you all and miss you! I will talk to you again on Monday. Take Luck!

Elder Thieme

Say Eight! Elder Thieme gets to try morphine...

G'day everybody!

Yup, there are really only two seasons here. Winter and summer: cold and HOT. It has been warming up lots all of a sudden. One day this week it got up to 37 or 38  degrees Celsius (98 to 100F). Every time we tract someone tells us to go get hats.

It has been a pretty fruitful week. We got a new investigator and another potential investigator came to church and a recent convert gave us a referral as well. We are excited for the progress the area is making. We also set a new baptismal date with a lady named Thornly. We tracted into her an she was " looking for a church." May as well join the true one! She seems pretty keen, but unfortunately she didn't come to church this week. She had family in town from far away. We set the date for November 2nd, and set it with her as a goal to work towards. In her accepting it it shows us that she is willing to commit as she gains her own testimony. And as long as she reads and prays sincerely about the Book of Mormon she will find out. So it was a pretty good week for us. We have finally got a few people to teach and we also plan to teach the members more, both to build our own teaching skills and to encourage referrals.

We really have a great ward here. But the youth seem to be struggling. Yesterday's combined priesthood and relief society was all about how parents and youth leaders can work together to help the youth conquer the storms of Satan that are raging harder than ever, especially on young people. As I sat there I realised how grateful I am for the great examples I had as a youth, both from my parents and youth leaders. I didn't always adhere to their counsel but their influences have made a lasting impression on me and have impacted my life significantly. They spoke about how it all starts in the home, how the church programs and the leaders are their to support the teaching that should be happening in the home, and can nowhere near replace that essential learning environment. I am so glad for Mum and Dad's constant examples of commandment and covenant keeping.

So I am emailing toady because we had a bit of an eventful P-day yesterday. I woke up feeling a bit of abdominal pain at around 5:45. It hurt just enough to wake me up early and make it hard to fall asleep again. I thought I could just poop and it would go away but it didn't. The pain was ignorable so we went and played a little basketball with a couple active and less-active members. I didn't hurt too bad after that. Then we went home and showered up. After I ate breakfast my abdominal pain increased a bit, to where it was no longer ignorable. We did our studies and went to the library to email. My pain continued to worsen throughout the morning. Then as I started emails I felt that I was going to throw up. I walked outside the library and threw up on the ground. There were no toilets nearby and I couldn't find a bin either. After vomiting my pain exploded, to where I could hardly stand or breath. I just crouched on the ground for about five minutes till I could get up and go get my companion, who had just started emailing his family. He drove me to the hospital just around the corner. It felt like an elephant with sharp toenails was standing on my lower right abdomen. They got me in and checked me, and eventually hooked me up to an IV and gave me morphine (which I hardly felt the effects of until the third dose). The whole time I was throwing up and dry reaching, which intensified my pain each time. The doctor came after a couple hours of waiting and checked some more things. They took a urine sample and found blood in my urine, indicating kidney stones, which explains the excruciating pain. So anyways, we didn't get much of a P-day since we were at the hospital for about six and a half hours. One of the nurses knew a guy who was LDS and we talked with him for a while about what we do as missionaries and in our church. He had a few questions. So I am on some pain meds at the moment and feeling alright. They even gave me a suppository pain medication. I will be getting an ultrasound on Thursday to find out more and then following up with a GP. Hopefully all goes well. I haven't passed any stones yet and I have no idea when to expect them or anything.

So I think yesterday was my first time in the hospital, or at least on my mission. Have I ever been to the hospital for anything else? Other than that the week was awesome. Here's a few new pictures.

First two are from today after zone meeting

Say eight!

Love, Elder Thieme

Donation for service helps another family

G'day everybody!  I've finally got to read some letters and see some pictures! I love to see all of your faces and see how everyone is growing up.  We had a meeting with the President this last Tuesday. He seems to really be pushing to make us more balanced, effective missionaries. A while ago he started out by training us on how important the morning schedule is, including the half hour of exersize as well as the studies. Then he trained us on studies, and the importance of a study journal. Now he is helping us to learn how to be more effective and use our time and resources well. He is very inspired and very energetic. One of the things I have changed is keeping a study journal. I kind of started one when I first came into the field, but eventually I slacked off.
I have made it a consistent habit now and it has really improved the way I study and learn. I know that as I continue to do it I will be taught more and more through the Holy Ghost. One thing that I have learned from my studies is that to "feast on the word of Christ" doesn't just mean we take in large quantities at a time. It means that we actually take it into ourselves and use it to our benefit. It is the same as likening the scriptures to ourselves. It includes doing as well as learning. As we take in the "the words of Christ" (from the scriptures and modern day prophets) we will be told all things we should do.  Anyways, we had a pretty good week. It felt like we were busy and working hard but it didn't really show in our numbers. We helped a lady move house this weekend. When we first met her we were tracting and we offered her service. She couldn't believe that we would help her out for free and kept asking us, "what's the catch? What's the catch?" Turned out she didn't have much help besides us. There were a couple guys with tiny as trailers (really tiny) and that was it. Because of the small load capacity it took us about all afternoon. She wanted to pay us, but we aren't supposed to accept donations from anyone, even members. But she forced us to take a $50 dollar bill (it's not as much money here because of how expensive everything is but it's still a good amount of money). So my companion and I were discussing what to do with it. I was
thinking, What can I buy for me? Later that night we visited a less active family who wanted to come to
church the next day. They are struggling financially and did not have money for petrol to get there. I was trying to think of how we could help. They couldn't get picked up. Then the Spirit said, "you've got fifty bucks sitting in the car." I had forgotten about it. I felt that was the reason this money came to us. Not for us of course, but so the Lord could bless someone else through us. I know that the Lord works in mysterious ways and  often through other people. I also know that if we will LISTEN, and always seek to do the right thing, we will be guided by the Holy Ghost. The family was so grateful. Their prayers were answered. I love my mission and I love the Lord. He has blessed me with many things, especially the greatest family in the world. I am doing my best to show my  appreciation for my many blessing by serving Him. All I can give him is all of myself.
I love you all and miss you! I hope you all have a great week! I love you all!
Elder Thieme