Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! Hope everyone's started the year with a bang. 2014 has been great so far down here in Sydney- we've had some scorching days so far, but thankfully today's been overcast and a little cooler.

So some info about my new companion: His name is Elder Bettridge, he's 21 and from Adelaide. He's been out just a few more weeks than I have, so he just barely hit his 6 month mark. Previously he was in the Charlestown area up in Newcastle, but now he's here with me! He did a welding and metal working apprenticeship and then decided to come out on his mission... and here we are! He's really great with the members and we're going to smash it out in Summer Hill! I'm excited for this transfer.

So yeah my New Years was pretty boring... we had to be in the flat by8:00pm, and then lights out by10:30. So no, I didn't get to see the fireworks or anything, but I did have a very nice sleep. You'd be proud of me though (dad especially)- my first dinner for 2014 was a whole fish, and the member that fed it to me made me eat ALL the parts of it- including eyes! So I guess I can finally say I've joined the ranks with Anna F. by eating those nasty little things.

I had my first exchange this week with an Elder from Tonga, Elder Uasila'a. He's incredible- he has 8 brothers and 4 sisters, every single one has served a mission and is married in the temple, and his parents are currently Tongan temple president/matron. Pretty strong background. Anyways we went finding at a park and he told me something I really like- He used to watch American movies for English Practice and remembers watching Batman. At the very beginning he said that Batman's dad tells Batman this little piece of advice: "Don't be afraid". Whenever he goes finding, he says, he just remembers that- "Don't be afraid". That's all it takes. With that in mind, him and I had one of the best finding times yet on my mission! We talked to literally EVERYONE we could find and placed about 6 Book of Mormons, it was awesome. I even ran into a Korean, his name is Sang Hoon. I'm really excited to meet up with him, we're teaching him this week so wish me luck! I need all the prayers I can get to try to teach in Korean without Elder Han... haha.

Speaking of Investigators, right now we still have Romario, Graham and Letitia. Romario was in the hospital last week with some complications, but is out again so we're stopping by this week. Graham is still good, we're seeing him tomorrow which will be nice because he's been a bit dodgy as of late. As for Letitia, she has "been super busy" which makes me worried she's giving us the slip... but we'll keep trying! Thank you all for your concern and prayers for them. I love working with all these wonderful people and I'm so glad I've got your support too :)

Elder Bettridge took me tracting this past week. We were seeing no success, until finally this man started talking to us. He was born again Christian and wasn't interested, but we did have a good conversation on religion with him. I got a prompting halfway through to give him a Book of Mormon- unfortunately all I had was my own set, the scriptures I've had and marked since I was 8. I immediately cancelled the idea in my head to offer that book but then I thought came into my mind. I realized that if giving up my own Book of Mormon- even if it had all my markings, insights, and personal thoughts in them- meant the difference between this man joining the church and not making it to eternal salvation, it would be a pretty easy sacrifice. Still perhaps a bit grudgingly, I offered my own Book of Mormon to him. Suddenly Elder Bettridge said, "don't give him your own, I've got one here" and pulled out a fresh Book of Mormon to give the man instead. I was really grateful in my heart, to be quite honest, and I realized something. Because I put my faith in Heavenly Father and chose to give up my own copy, He really did send me a tender mercy and let me keep my own. I know it doesn't always work out that way but it's still a testimony to me that had I not put my faith into action and been willing to give the man my own Book of Mormon, he may not have gotten one at all.

Aussieism of the week: Okay so since I've moved in with a genuine Aussie, I've picked up on dozens of more Aussie quirks and sayings. Hopefully I'll be able to spread them out over the next few weeks, but here's one that really had me confused for a while- instead of saying "bought" they'll often say "brought". Example: "Hey Elders! I just brought you some biscuits!". That one doesn't sound too strange. But then they also say it in contexts like this- "Yeah he crashed his car, and he had just brought it". The first one I understood but the second I just don't get.. At first I thought it was maybe a lisp or something Elder Bettridge had but then I started hearing heaps of others say it too! very weird.

Well I hope you all have a great week! Don't forget to set your New Years resolutions- mine this year: "Don't get any fatter". 

Love you heaps,

Elder Easton