Cars and Meet the Mormon's....and a sore butt!

This week was interesting. Lots of run around.

So to start off Monday was fun! We went to the beach and were doing the BBQ and then it started to rain  and so we went to the Chapel and ate and played games. 

So now the interesting things. We started the week and we found out Tuesday night that our headlights were out. So we had to use the Fog lights to drive around. So we called the guy in charge of cars in the mission and he didn't answer. So then we waited tell the next day and we were just about to go see a potential that we had named Courtney and we got a call from the Sisters in Avondale and they asked if we knew how to change a tire. We had to go and change their tire. We got there and jacked it up and then we found out that they didn't have a tire wrench so we called the Tongan sisters who have the same car as them. They said they would be like 10 minutes, but then there was an old guy that drove into his drive way. So we asked him if he had a wrench and he did... so we went to get it,  then Sister Slade said she wanted to take the bolts off and she started to twist it and the car rolled off the jack..... right after I spent 10 minutes jacking it up... Yeah. So THEN they put the parking brake on and I jacked it up again and we took the tire off and changed it. 

Right after we left we called the car guy again and he said that we would have to take it to the dealership to get the lights fixed. He also said we should change the tires too and get new ones. So we made appointments to change the tires and fix the lights for the next day (Thursday). That meant that we had to walk that night because we can't drive in the dark without lights. So after studies on Thursday we went to the car dealership which is like 20 minutes away on the motorway. So we took it in and they said it would be like 2-3 hours. So we called the Zone Leaders and they said that they could come get us in 1 hour so we went to McDonald's and got lunch and waited there and we went back to the dealership and they had finished it. Both headlights had burned out.

After that we went to the tire place and as we pulled in we got a call from the Zone Leaders and they needed help because they were on the side of the road out of gas... So we had to drive to the hardware store to get a gas can and fill it up and take it to them. So that took another hour. Then we got the tires changed and we got back to normal things at 4. So useless day.

We have had to bike. We are low on K's (miles) and so because of that we have had to bike. So the last 2 days we borrowed Elder Longs bike and we are biking around our area during the day and then get the car out at night. I don't think i have been on a bike for like 6 months. My butt hurts so bad. 

We have still been trying to work on finding this week but yesterday we had a lesson with an investigator Anthony. He's African. He is like 22 and does painting/lawns/construction during the day. He has a daughter that he has on the weekends and the mom has her during the week. So that makes him really hard to catch and he is terrible at texting back. But we got an appointment yesterday and we got there about 6:40 and he was playing an online game, so we waited tell 7:15 for him to be done with that and then we went into the living room and watched Meet The Mormons with him. The whole thing. He cried!!! It was so cool! I didn't even cry! Which was good! But he loved it. So we are hoping that will lead to some progress that hasn't really been happening. Its amazing how powerful testimony can be. Even simple easy testimony's can invite the spirit and really touch the hearts of everyone. 

Overall I'm good. Transfers are coming up and so I'm torn. I really want to stay because there are people we have started working with that I know I could work towards baptism if I stayed but I would also like to go because I just feel like this area is so slow and  there is so much more I could be doing. But I guess where I go is where I am suppose to be. Transfers are next week.

Mom- Smile and be myself is great advice. Thank you. Like I said this was a hard week and I need to remember to smile and just go for it no matter what.  And don't worry about me needing more money for food. We wont starve! If it came to us having no food we have lots of members that would feed us every day if we really needed it. We have a less active that every time we go to his house we leave with food. He is an RM that served in Salt Lake which is cool. But he knows how we feel so he always either gives us food or gives us cash and tells us to get McDonald's on the way home. So we will be fed fine!

Love you guys all so much! Thanks for the Emails! I have letters I'm sending this week! Sorry I'm super behind!

P-day at the beach

Me and my sweet ride

A Baptism and a Rat

 Hello to all,

So I guess I will start off with the biggest thing of the week, the Baptism! So we had planned to have the Danielle and Alex baptized together but on Wednesday we were contacted by a member who Elder Dunn knows from another area who is good friends with Danielle (the mom). She said that Danielle wasn't being honest with us and that she has been drinking and smoking. So we went to talk to her and she told us about the drinking and we said we would have to look at the baptism and maybe change it. So we prayed about it and we decided to change it. But she decided that she still wanted Alex (the son) to be baptized on Saturday. So we talked to the ZL's and to our ward mission leader and our bishop. Everyone thought it was a good idea but our bishop. He wanted to wait so that it would make Danielle want to be baptized faster. So we talked to Danielle again, she said she wanted it to be on Saturday so that's what we decided. We prayed about it and we all felt good about it. So Alex's baptism was on Saturday. He asked me to Baptize him so I was super excited to do that! He is such a fun kid! He is 8 years old, just like my last baptism! Haha. It made it a lot less stressful knowing he was young! Every time we come over to their house all the kids, Stephen 9, Alex 8, Tristan 6, and Tony 3, are all running around and playing and throwing stuff and jumping all over us and they really are so much fun! We love going to their house. So Danielle is a single mother. Her partner left about 2 months ago and they have a restraining order against him because he is violent. He tried to come back, it didn't go well and he is in jail right now. So she is really strong, She’s upbeat, usually, and does a great job trying to corral the crazy kids! 

    So the next thing will make mom freak out. We were studying on Tuesday and we kept hearing this weird noise outside. It was like a scratching metal sound. So we went out into the "Backyard" All it is, is a cement pad that we keep our Rubbish Bin on. We looked out the window and there was a Rat. Not like a little mouse, Like a huge rat. (See picture below) We started putting our Rubbish bags in the recycling bin cuz we don't have a real Rubbish bin to put it in. We put them in the recycling bin cuz something kept chewing holes in them. So back to the story. The rat is jumping from the ground against the metal sheet fence and into the rubbish bin and then it will get food and then jump out go into a hole under the fence and then come back and do it over again. It did that for a few hours. Then we left and we haven't seen it again but we think it’s still doing it. We were going to trap it and then take it somewhere else and let it go, but we looked at the traps at the hardware store and they were like $35 so we didn't want to kill it so we are just going to let it be. 

    So the other good thing that happened this week is we started to play Touch Rugby in the morning with the other Elders in the Zone. So we have usually 8 of us playing so 4 a team. But we start at 6ish so we have to wake up at 5:45. So 45 minutes early to go. It is so fun and totally worth it but it was nice to have a break yesterday and not have to go and get to sleep in. Haha. I am loving Rugby. I got some cleats, they were left in the flat by other missionaries so I got sweet, basically new, Rugby cleats. 

     So other than that we haven't been doing anything too exciting. We are trying to get more people to teach so we are visiting all the potential Investigators, and trying Former Investigators now. We really need a miracle when it comes to finding. We try to knock doors and meet people but no one really is interested, especially when you knock on their doors. So pray that we will be able to find new people.

    Do you remember Feagi? Well we have been trying to meet up with him again and he hasn't answered his texts and we can’t really go over cuz his family is hard out Catholic. So we don’t know how his family would take it. His Fiancé is still in Samoa and so she hasn't texted back. So we figured we would wait tell she got back. So I texted him on Saturday night at like 10pm and HE ANSWERED!!!!! He texted back at about 10:30 as we were going to bed! He said he has been busy getting ready for the wedding in December and said that he wants to meet up and will let us know! It was awesome! I tried something different this time, all the other times we texted him is was basically how are you can we meet up sometime and this time I just talked to him. He loves cars and so I just asked about the cars and just ended with we wanna see you again sometime and he actually answered! I was so happy! So pray that he really does text us to meet up again! It really made me realize how important that relationship is. Not only with us and our investigators but with us and Christ. He wants to help us but until we have that relationship with him it will be really hard to want to learn and want to become better!

I haven’t had a chance to use the Family History book that you made for me, mostly cuz we really aren't teaching that much. But I actually have been studying how to use family history better in my work and so I will hopefully get to use it soon! I do love reading it though. Even if that’s all that it gets used for it was worth it. I really brings me a lot of comfort and it makes me remember where I come from and how important one person is. I think about how if grandma and grandpa hadn't become active again I probably wouldn't be on a mission right now. It makes me realize that Less Active work is just as important as teaching new people. So thank you for the time that you did put into it!

Yep that's my week! I love you all!

I’m really jealous that you are all in St. George. I realized that I miss it there as much as I miss home. That really is my Heaven on Earth. It’s a time to spend with the family with no other distractions to keep us apart. (Unless you’re Haley with Heaps of Homework! Haha.) But I hope you have a fun time! I love that Hike (Kanara Falls) and actually have pics of it still on my camera. It’s nice to have those to look at! I'm jealous about the Grand Canyon though! I tell people I’m from Utah and they all say they have been to the Grand Canyon and I tell them I have never been there even though it’s so close! haha. I hope you all have fun!

We are really short on time today, so I am sorry that I can't e-mail everybody back this week. Thank you so much for the letters they mean so much to me. I'll try and write everyone back next week.

Love you Guys!

Elder Seelos

I got to baptize Alex (we are still working with his Mom) The sulu I am wearing was a gift
from Elder Dunn. Definitely a highlight of my mission so far.

 

In the apartment with the Zone Leaders, Yes, I am the only Howlie in group...

We must have some really good food in our rubbish bin because that is ONE BIG RAT!!!

Mission President, Mothers and Monkey's

So this week was a weird one. But it was good! Lots of crazy stuff going on!

So first off we had Interviews this week. That was on Wednesday, with President Bali. We have them every 3 months! it was really good just to be able to talk to him and just get to know him better because I'm still pretty new in the mission and don't know anyone super well. We talked a lot about just keeping myself going with the confidence that I have as a greenie. He talked about how I need to be the missionaries God wants me to be. And lots of times that isn't always about the outward Success or Numbers. So that was a really good thing that I needed to hear. Mostly cuz our numbers are always down and I feel bad cuz we try all day and our Numbers just don't show exactly what we do. 

Right after Interviews we had a trade off with The Elders in Mt. Albert. They are the only Elders in the Zone that are on bikes. That is the Elder that broke his arm! So Elder Dunn went there and i stayed in my area with Elder Leung (broken arm Elder). We didn't really do too much but it was funny cuz he came out with me so we are both still pretty new in the mission and we just had to figure things out ourselves. Me and Elder Leung stayed in my area, which was good. He made me realize that all my companions have been super chill which is really good! He’s just kind of uptight and doesn't fully understand the purpose I guess. It’s kind of hard to put it into words. I’m just glad that my companions are easy and chill and I love it! It was like he was in bed at exactly 10:30 and was almost like annoyed that I was brushing my teeth and came in 5 minutes later. Idk. I’m just grateful for good companions!

We went and talked to Danielle and Alex Brown that are getting baptized on Saturday and they asked ME to baptize them! Im sooo excited! It will be so cool! My first baptism on the mission! 

We had conference Saturday and Sunday so we got to hear all the amazing talks. One of my favorites was Elder Holland's and I don't think I need to explain why. Conference was soooo good! Lots about Faith and about the Holy Ghost. It made me realize how important the spirit really is in our work. We have to or else we really become worthless. It’s all about sharing the Spirit, It’s not us that teaches. It’s the spirit that teaches. When we really rely on the spirit we will do so much better then when we think we can do it on our own. The spirit is the real converter, not us. When we realize that we will really give ourselves to God and let him mold us like clay we will be made into something amazing that we wouldn't be able to make ourselves.

Elder Hollands talk really hit me hard. It’s amazing how much a mother can mean. Really you have been such a great example to me and have always been there even when I have been a little turd. Haha. You really mean so much to me and I know for a fact that without you I wouldn’t be here in New Zealand Serving a mission. One quote I took from the talk was “Mothers don't just bare you, they bear with you." You really are the most amazing example of a perfect mother. I hope i can find someone that will be as good of a mother to my kids as you have been to me. Sorry for all the times that i have bugged or annoyed you. I just want you to know how much you really mean to me. I love you lots. Now stop crying. I Love you.

So then after Priesthood session we decided to Blitz the city and 3 companionship's of elders went into the city and were just talking to people!  We talked to 20 people in 1 hour. It was awesome! I really do love the city! Elder Dunn had never been to the City before and so it was fun to walk around and watch him in awe of it all. I'm sure I looked the same on my first time in!

After that we then had a Zone Sleep over with all the Elders in the Zone Leaders Flat. We actually got to bed on time which was surprising! When we woke up everyone was telling me that I talked all night in my sleep so that was weird. We are really trying to get zone unity within our zone so we are just trying to do a lot of things together so that we are good and comfortable with each other. So it was good to get to know the Elders better. All the Elders do this thing called "Stacks On!" It’s where one Elder will usually tackle another onto the bed then everyone else will jump on top and then person on the bottom gets squished by everyone's weight. Yes I have had it done to me, yes it does hurt. Yes I have jumped on others, yes it is totally worth it. Ha ha ha.

The other thing that has been going on this week is a weird game that Elder Dunn has started. He will point somewhere or say something that will make me look somewhere then he pulls his eyelid down and when I look back at him it means I fell for it. Its soo strange. But He gets me a lot more times then I get him! haha.  Elder Dunn is awesome! He is just super Chill! When it’s time to work we work when it’s our time we play. But when we are working he is always joking around and we are always laughing! It’s so great. 

I forgot a story!!! This is a stuffed monkey. (Pictured below) He was stolen by me from the Samoan Elders in the Zone. We had him from Monday until Thursday. We told them they could have it back if they bought us a cheese cake. But they never bought us a cheese cake. 

Then on Thursday morning the Zone Leaders came to the flat and we let them in.We are on trade off so it was just me and Elder Leung at the flat. As the Zone Leaders came in the Samoan Elders Burst through the door screaming and yelling. They grabbed the car keys because that’s where the monkey was. As they grabbed the keys I jumped on Elder Nielson to get the keys back. He passed them off and they ran out the door to the car. So I ran after them, in my socks, on the wet ground. And they unlocked the car and me and Elder Nielson jumped in the back seat to get the monkey. I got to it first so I tucked it under my body and slid out of the car. Then I ran inside. The others drove away and we had the monkey. But then we realized they had the car keys.

So we ended up trading the monkey back for the car keys cuz it was a wet rainy day and our jackets were in the locked car. So they got the monkey back and we got no cheese cake. But we will get it back. Don’t you worry. 

Love you Lots!!!

               -Elder Seelos

Our Hostage, the Monkey. 

 

Me sharing the gospel and a Book of Mormon with Auckland,
at least with a statue of Lord Auckland....

Just Chillin' with Elder Dunn at the waterfront.
That is my Rugby ball, it is the 2015 World Cup ball for New Zealand. 

Just so you don't forget just how good looking I am.... 

We started the Book Of Mormon 90 Day Feast
This is part one of the reading guide, its not too late to join in.

Part 2 of the Book of Mormon 90 Day Feast
reading guide

Burritos and Baptisms

 Hey Everyone! How’s life?!  I was really surprised by the response to my Book Of Mormon Challenge! I love hearing about what everyone thought about it! 

    So this week was good! I really really really like Elder Dunn. He is just a good guy. I get along a lot better with him. He is a whole lot better for me. Elder Pennington did more pushing to get me to do things where Elder Dunn motivates me to do things. He doesn't force me to do anything. He just lets me do what I do. Then shows me how I can do better or how to do things. I really like him. He’s really set in the work. He is making me realize how trunky Elder Pennington really was. ha ha. 

   

     We got taken out to dinner!!!! It was so great! We have become really close to the LA ( less active ) family I talked about last time and they called us at like 4:30 and said "Hey do you have dinner plans tonight?" "No" "Then can we take you out to dinner?" It was so cool. This was right after we had a Chapel cleaning and the dad, Alvin, came. So we went at about 6:20 and we went to Lone Star!!! It was so good! Like real American food! Ha ha. I had a burrito, I miss Mexican food! On that note we have another LA family that we visited yesterday and we were talking and we told her that we went out to dinner the night before and we talked about how the food was and I said how much I miss Mexican food and she said how much she loved it! She lived in Hawaii for a while and has Family in the states so she loves Mexican food so she said that they will feed us sometime this week and will make Mexican for me and the partner will make his "Amazing" Buffalo Ribs. So we will have a good American food! 

     We took Elder Leung to get his cast this week and he now has a big blue cast on his arm. The Lady said that he could just do a Velcro cast but he can’t take it off. Which worried her because most teenage boys our age wouldn't be able to do that. So he got the hard cast! haha. 

     Last Monday we went out to a pier and just played around over there and it was fun.

     And guess what!?!?! WE SET 3 PEOPLE FOR BAPTISM!!!!!! Ha ha. We set our 3 Progressing Investigators for baptism. One is a Mother and her 8 year old son, they will be baptized on the 17th of October. Then the other one is a 9 year old son of a Less Active guy in our ward. But he should be baptized on the 24th of October, but we don't know if it will really happen because the dad won’t bring him to church. So we don't want to baptize him just to baptize him. So that one will probably be moved back. But It’s really exciting! 

      I can't wait for conference next week. One of our investigators wants to come. He really wants to hear President Monson. What sessions did he speak in?

Well I love you all lots! I love hearing about everything that's going on! Love you all!

-Elder Seelos

Is that Steering Wheel on the wrong side of the Car?

Hanging at the Warf

Some awesome tidal pools in Waterview