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
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