G'day everybody!
I think I forgot to tell you our temple trip was this week. We were
supposed to go about four weeks ago but it was closed for cleaning, so
our zone got to go today. We woke up around four thirty this morning and
caught the train into Brisbane.
It has been a bit of a crazy start to the week. Monday, my
companion was sick, so I pretty much studied all day while he layed in
bed. Tuesday we got a call from the housing coordinators telling us our
flat was being sold and we would be moving out in about two weeks. They
said the flat could likely be inspected very soon to be put up for sale,
so they told us to deep clean it as soon as possible. So thats about
all we did on Tuesday. Wednesday we drove all the way into Brisbane to
pick up my companion's bike so he could finally have his very own
treddley. Then temple P-day today. This week has been busy and it has
flown by so quick. We are almost into week six already!
It's been ages since I've emailed some pics so here's a few from this week:
First one is at our flat. That's the day my companion was sick.
Elder Tilley is the big Fijian and Elder Bird from Washington is in the
kitchen.
That's a picture of my birthday cake. Elder Bird made it from a
mix, but when it cooked the edges burnt and the inside was soupy, so he
just scooped out the uncooked middle and we ate it like that.
Third one is a picture from up at Mount Tamborine. It is in our
area but it is about a half hour's drive and 30 k's from our flat. The
vehicle coordinator moved up there so we helped him unload a truck.
Here's a picture of the zone outside the temple today. I was in a
perfect position and then just before they started snapping the photos
the big Polynesian sister moved in front of me.
I can't believe I'm twenty years old! Things are going to start happening to me now!
Man, I wish I could have watched the state cross country meet.
Thanks for the picture of you and Bro Teuscher. I loved the times
in young men's with him. I remember all the campouts where he would try
to keep all us dumb deacons in check. I also remember when he would make
us pounda pounda pounda. That stuff was mean. I think he's made more of
a lasting impression on me than he knows. He was always such a great
leader and teacher, even when I was rebellious and rude. Could you just
let him know I love him and ask him for the pounda pounda pounda recipe?
It's pretty complex. I think it is just egg potato and sausage (or was
it ham? Or cheese?). When I get a calling in the young men's program
someday I am going to make it for them on a camping trip. I know I
wouldn't be the person I have become if not for the influence of amazing
youth leaders like Brother Teuscher and the experiences we shared.
Nah, I don't think they do daylight savings time changes here. The alarm always seems to go off too early though.
We had a bit of a rough week last week. We still haven't had much
luck finding new investigators. There are some less-actives who are
really progressing though. It's really exciting to see. I have seen the
power of the Book of Mormon a lot on my mission. I usually refer to it
as my sword. Preach my Gospel tells us that "the Book of Mormon,
combined with the Spirit is (our) most powerful tool in conversion." I
have seen it re-convert people who have strayed off the path. It really
is an amazing book, and something about it, when read with an open mind,
changes peoples hearts. We are going to start reading it with a part
member family in our area. The husband has been less active for years,
and his wife and some of his kids are not members. He still knows the
gospel very well (he just doesn't live it; he likes his booze), so we
weren't sure what to do with them. One night we visited them and that
was the impression that came: get them reading the Book of Mormon! We
will start with them tonight. The family seemed pretty excited for it.
Even his wife.
We finally got some rain out here. It's been a pretty dry summer
for us so far. That was a fun day. On the way back from zone meeting it
started dumping rain, but it lasted for less than an hour, then it
cleared up, so we went out. My companion and I were on our bikes and we
locked them up to go tracting. When we went back to the bikes someone
had flattened our tires. Sweet as. So we just walked a few minutes down
the road to the petrol station and filled them with the air pump. We
had a pretty long bike ahead of us. We needed to get to the other side
of our area for an appointment with a potential investigator. Just as we
finished filling our tires it started raining again. And when I say
raining, I mean RAINING. I'm used to Idaho rain and this was like a
tropical thunderstorm. We got soaked. It looked as if we had been
swimming. I don't think it was very good for my pants. At least I had my
gore-tex jacket. My poor companion didn't even have an umbrella (not
that he could use one biking anyways). It was so much fun though. It was
funny. I just didn't have a care in the world. I was all dressed up and
soaked from head to toe and on a push bike, and I was loving life.
Something I have learned on my mission is that your attitude determines
everything. Your circumstances do not control your attitude, you do.
It's great to hear from you! I love you all and continue to pray
for you! have a great week! Good job at state cross country boys! Kenzie, I hope
you're all better now! I love you! You're my favorite little sister in
the world! Bryson, that origami bug was super cool, and it was almost as
big as the cockroach we had in our flat the other day! Love you mum and
dad!
Elder Thieme
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