Harbour City Happenings 3

Wow, time certainly does fly here! I can't believe another week's already passed by. I am really loving it here in the city- my feet ache and my back is sore, and it's never felt better. The missionary work is a constant rush, and there's always something to do. It's a missionary's haven!!

This week we finally got to meet a referral from Brisbane, Robb. He's an Aussie man, probably in his 40's or 50's, and is studying art here in Sydney. He was a really nice bloke and seems pretty interested in the gospel. He even came to church yesterday, what a miracle!! We may have to give him over to the family ward, however, because he technically doesn't fall under the YSA ward category... but we'll see! Haha.

One fun experience happened while street contacting this week. I was talking to this Korean lady who seemed pretty unsure about me, until I told her I was a missionary- her eyes lit up and she told me it was a very good thing I was doing. She said she was Buddhist, and not interested, but was grateful for what we did- then she reached into her bags and gave me a whole heaps of bananas. It was pretty funny- I've never had anyone thank me on the street before! Certainly a boost to the day.

I learned a valuable lesson this week about being clear in our message. I was talking to a chinese student who seemed pretty disinterested about what I was sharing- I told him I taught about God and I help people find out if God is real, and what it could mean for them. I asked for his number and he declined, saying he wasn't really interested- and just as he was walking away, he turned to me and said, "Wait, do you teach about Jesus?" I responded positively, and he explained that he went to a Christmas Mass last year and has actually been really intrigued about learning more of Jesus. I told him that it was exactly what I did- and so he happily gave me his number and set a return appointment. It never occurred to me that people might not associate God and Jesus Christ together- and therefore how important it is that they know the message we share IS centered on the Saviour! I was thankful that student was inspired to ask me about Jesus, and that it's taught me to be very specific in all that I say.

I met another Chinese student this week and had one of the best conversations ever on the street. We began talking about families and I asked him where he thinks our families go after we die. He said simply that he believes we cease to exist. As he asked me what I thought, I told him that we teach families continue on after the grave and that the reason we're on earth is to prepare us to live together. He was confused at the thought, and curious to know more. It was just the best feeling ever when you're able to have a conversation that goes just how you want it- I swear, it never happens! And yet this week it did. Ah, what miracles! 

As for our two baptismal dates, they continue to be awesome. We met them bothSunday morning and so we went on splits; Elder Marshall taught Ricky, the one from China, and I taught Ethan, the one from Iran. The lesson with Ethan was awesome- he is just so so prepared. He told us that he has school Monday-Saturday, 9am-2pm. He then walks each day from school to work, which goes from 3pm-8pm. The only day he has free is Sunday, and he chooses to even come early for a lesson, because he knows that there's something about this church, and he feels something different when he does come. Talk about faith!

And those were just a few of the highlights for the week. Honestly, the work here is exhausting, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I love being around all the missionaries each day, being able to meet so many Koreans!, and most of all to really give my all to the people here. Missionary work is the best!

Much love,

Elder Easton

Oh P.S. as for an Aussieism- we had a Zone Dinner Last night and we cooked up heaps of sausages. I learned 2 of the slang words for sausages here- "Bangas" and "Snags". Usually you call them "Bangas" when you have them on a sandwich or with mashed potatoes, and "Snags" when it's with a barbeque. Haha I have absolutely no idea how those two names came to be.

It's all Happenin' in Harbour City!

        What a hectic week!

Almost my whole week was spent roaming the streets, talking to anyone that would listen. I loved it, although my legs felt like jelly after the first day. I really enjoyed going to Victoria Park, it's actually the same park I used to go to all the time back in Summerhill, so it brought back a lot of good memories! Overall a fun, and certainly tiring, week.

On Tuesday we were on our way to the Sydney Opera House when a girl passed me by with her headphones on. I had the slight inclination to talk to her, but we were going in the opposite direction and I was already walking away from her. I really felt like I needed to speak to her though, and I turned around to see where she was- already pretty far away.I decided not to bother, that it was already a lost cause, and then the strangest experience came- I felt like someone was yelling in my head "GO TALK TO HER". It shook me up and so I turned around and ran all the way to catch up to her. I bet I looked pretty funny to everyone driving by, but I didn't care! Haha. I ended up talking to her for awhile and found out she had just come from China, and had been talking to her Christian roommates about God recently and was curious to learn more. Coincidence? Certainly not. We're seeing her this week, and I couldn't be more grateful for that yelling voice in my head!

I'm learning more and more on my mission that some people are just prepared. On Sunday morning before church we met with Ricky, an investigator from China. He met Elder Marshall his 4th day in Australia, and had really been pondering the existence of God. It seemed to him that Elder Marshall just shown up at the right time. I have never seen anyone, Chinese or Aussie, who was so engaged and interested in the message we were sharing- it was almost as if he had anxiety because he wanted to learn more so badly. When we committed him to baptism, his answer was immediate and resounding- yes! He really is desiring an answer from God, a sureness in his heart, and he was firm in committing that the moment he feels his answer, he will be baptized. When we sat down for the sacrament later that day, I saw out of the corner of my eye Ricky praying so earnestly to himself. It deeply humbled my heart, to see someone so sincerely desiring to know the existence of God. Isn't Ricky just awesome?!

Another investigator, Ethan, came to church yesterday. He's from Iran, and he's been a bit skeptical about Jesus and Christianity and what not. Well it was so cool- after sacrament meeting I asked him what he thought, and he said, "I felt something there that I haven't felt before. And I really liked it." After explaining that it was the Holy Ghost he felt, he responded, "I think I know now that Jesus is the way". He committed to be baptized in October. 

Another experience finding was Emmy. She is a Chinese girl studying her masters in Education at the University of Sydney. I got talking to her and she thought it was really strange I just walked up to her and started a conversation, but she thought it was fun, too. Haha. As we got talking she explained that she found God about a year ago and has been going to church and bible studies every week since. I shared with her a little bit about the Book of Mormon and the importance of Authority, and she agreed to meet up again. At the end of our conversation, she said "I think God really did put you in my path today. Thank you". I am really looking forward to teaching her more!

One last happening I'd like to share is about a member in the ward. He actually grew up in Sandy, and graduated the same year I did, just from Alta. We actually have the same circle of friends, and I think we've met a few times before! Anyways, he was very inactive, and through a course of events came to Sydney for some work. Before he left his friend's mom made him promise to go to church just once in Australia. He promised, and wanted to get it out of the way so he went his first Sunday. And since then he's been coming every week! The very best part is that when I met him yesterday, he had just gotten out of an interview with Bishop and had submitted his mission papers. What a miracle. Whoever that mom was that made him promise to go to church, I am sure that there are lot of people now and in the future who will be very, very grateful for her influence on him. 

As for an Aussieism, I thought I'd tell you about the 2 main grocery stores here. Well first off they don't actually call them grocery stores, but just 'the shops'. Basically every store they just call 'the shops'. If you're going out for clothes, food, or anything, you just say 'I'm going to the shops'. Anyways the 2 stores are Coles and Woolworths, though everyone calls Woolworths 'Woolys'. These two stores run Australia, and have shops, petrol stations, magazines, everything. The interesting thing is that both these stores are owned by the same parent company- Sears from the U.S. Now I forget if I've already told you this but I don't think so! So hopefully not, haha.

Well, love you all heaps and hope you enjoy your week!

Elder Easton

Photo: Snow, a Korean member, took Elder Ko and I out for lunch (Elder Ko is the other Korean speaking Elder in the Zone). She took us to this hole-in-the-wall Korean restaurant and ordered HEAPS of food- so delicious! There was this one that was so spicy, Elder Ko and I were crying and sweating out of every pore in our face. Gotta love that hangook food!

Times in Tamworth 23

G'day from Down Under!

This has been a "going-back-to-basics" sort of week. Unfortunately we've been having quite a number of investigators drop off, or give us the "too busy" card, so we spent some time building our teaching pool back up via tracting. It hasn't yeilded a lot of success yet, but we have faith to just keep trying! As for Chris, Jacob and Adam they are all doing well and are still coming to church, always a bonus. Adam's gearing up for the Melchizedek Priesthood come Stake Conference in September, which is really exciting!

This past week we had a trade-off up in Armidale. I really enjoy those trade-offs, especially since my old companion from Summer Hill, Elder Bettridge, is up there, so we get to catch up and always enjoy the time together :) 

One lesson that really impacted me this week was with Greg and Kathy. We decided to just rock up and ended up having a great afternoon with each other. From start to finish, the conversation was based on gospel principles and other church-related topics, and the spirit was just so strong. It basically turned into a sort of makeshift-testimony meeting, and we all were able to just sit back and enjoy the company of not only each other, but the Holy Ghost as well. It just felt good.

About every 2 or 3 weeks we stop by and visit this less-active man and his family. He is very nice, and usually we chat for awhile and then end up sharing a mormon message or something. Well this week I decided to take a step forward and invite him- and his non member family- to take the lessons. He politely, but firmly, declined. When I asked why he explained that he didn't mind the short videos or little thoughts, but he didn't want to do something that would expect him or his family to do anything. Basically, he didn't want to change. It makes me so sad to think that some people, such as this man, are missing out on so many blessings and opportunities simply because they hold the mentality of "couldn't be bothered".

Come to think of it, quite a number of less-active members I have met over the course of my mission seem to have the same symptoms: laziness. Not wanting to come to church or read or pray not because they don't believe it's true, or have a testimony or not desire the blessings- but simply because they can't seem to find the time, or the energy, to do those very things. I am learning more and more that this church, this gospel is not a passive one, not one that "if you have time" to fit it in, but one that we need to make time to fit in. It reminds me of a FHE we had at the Fordham's once, where Aunt Suzi had sugar, gumballs, and a big jar. When she put all the sugar into the jar first, not all of the gumballs fit. But when she put the gumballs first, then the sugar, it all magically fit inside. How true that is in our lives- if we put other things above God (remember the 1st commandment), then naturally the things of God will fall out of our lives. It's so important to always actively keep the Lord in our everyday experiences.

Well an Aussieism I want to share is to commemorate the closing of Summer break for you all in the states and to celebrate the Spring coming over here in Australia. They all call sunglasses "Sunnies", and as for swimsuits, there are a few names- "Swimmers" or "Cozzies" are the most common. I finally found out how in the world they got "Cozzies" for a swimsuit- "Swimming Costume" was the proper English name for a swimsuit back in the day, so of course all the convicts down here Aussified it by adding the 'ies'.

I love you all heaps and hope you have a great week!

Love Elder Easton

p.s. Shout-out to Sally for her birthday today (I guess tomorrow for all of you) and also for Katie and Irv! Good luck on Saturday!

Photo: Elder Bettridge and I "tearing" it up in Armidale.. haha.

...It's all Happenin' in Harbour City!

G'day everyone,

It's official! I've been transferred!

I've had some hectic events happen this week, of course the biggest being transfers! We went up to Coff's Harbour Thurs-Sat, then I got my transfer call and drove to Newcastle on Sunday, then to Sydney on Monday. And the verdict is.... I'M IN THE CITY! I was pretty surprised to leave Tamworth, actually, and although I was bummed I am really excited to be in Sydney CBD! My companion is Elder Marshall from Maryland, I'm really excited to be working with him. I think the thing I am most looking forward to is all the KOREANS! YESSS! The city is a YSA ward with 14 missionaries, and they go street contacting basically all day every day. It's going to be a whole lot different from the work I did before, but I am really excited about it. I am also pretty happy because a lot of the members in Summer Hill work in the Family History Center in the City-I even ran into some yesterday! It was the strangest feeling riding the train into the city, I couldn't believe how many people there were. After being in Tamworth for so long, I definitely felt like a little fish in a really really big pond. Haha.

As for my last week in Tamworth, we had some fun experiences. Elder Tavalea tracted into a Pentecostal minister, and after a brief discussion on our beliefs he asked for a prayer, then proceeded to "heal us" and even tried to get me to speak in tongues. It was pretty funny, and just a bit too fanatical for us. Great experience, though!

On Wednesday we went to clean Betty the crazy-bird-lady's flat. Holy smokes, I have never seen a messier house. The floors were covered in bird-seed, and you couldn't see the ceiling from the number of spiders covering it. The walls looked like they were moving from the number of cockroaches roaming around, but it wasn't even the best part- every 2 or 3 seconds you'd see the scatter of several mice running around. It was, to say the least, disgusting. I guess Betty had gotten really depressed and just let her house go to dumps, and so she was very thankful for us to show up to help her. It took all day, but we managed to move all of her furniture out to the back lawn and sweep all the floors down. We didn't even touch the walls or ceilings. At the end of the day, she took out all her birds and let them fly around. They were pretty fun, except the Galahs bit me, those nasty birds. I've got quite a number of photos from the event, so I'll have to show you all one day :)

The call to transfer came as a pretty big surprise to me, so after we came home from Coffs Harbour I spent the rest of the time saying goodbye to members and investigators. It was quite difficult to say goodbye to a number of them, especially Matt and his family, Chris, and Adam. I've really come to love them- it's hard to let go and leave someone else in charge of their eternal affairs. Such is the life of missionary work, though! 

And that's been about my week- full of travelling and saying goodbyes! I feel really hopeful about this next phase in my missionary adventure, though- I just feel like it's going to be a really great fresh start for me. I am setting some goals to really push myself, and I am excited for the potential of growth in me this area has to offer. Wish me luck! 

Oh and I cannot forget an Aussieism: The country folk of NSW (New South Wales) had a really funny quirk in their speech. When saying a sentence that begins with "But", they flip it around and say the "But" at the end. example: "I am happy, but I am just really tired" would instead be said "I am happy, I am just really tired but". Or when responding to the question, "She was in hospital?!" a country Aussie would say, "Yeah, she's okay but". Don't ask me why.

Well, I love you all heaps and hope you have a great week!

Cheers,

Elder Easton

 

Photos:

The last moment Elder Tavalea and I had in Tamworth! I'm gonna miss him!

I found a baby mouse at Betty's house! (Hopefully I won't get sick now! ;) Haha)

Times in Tamworth 24

Another week's flown by!

Some really great things have happened this week. Every month we get a certain number of km's we can drive in our area. Being the end of the month, we had quite a bit of km's left over and so this week Elder Tavalea and I decided to do some road-tripping to visit the members that live far away from Tamworth. It was a lot of driving, but we had some great experiences!

The first town we went to is called Werris Creek, and we have a number of less-active members living there. It's a tiny town of maybe 200 people, but we managed to stay busy the whole day! We met some interesting less-actives, including a group of them who apostatized and formed their own church down in Werris. I think the membership of that church is 5.. haha. They were very nice to us, but had some interesting spins on certain doctrines. 

We also went tracting and knocked into an ex-communicated member. At first he didn't let on that he used to be a member, and so we were amazed when he knew all this stuff about the church. He finally introduced himself as the ex-branch president of Tamworth. I was pretty amazed- he had grown up in the church, served a mission, been in just about every leadership position, etc etc, but when his marriage broke up, him, his ex-wife, and all 8 children left the church. It was heart-wrenching for us to think about such a good family becoming so totally lost. Nevertheless it's certainly not every day you run into people like that. He was very nice, though, and even invited us back for a barbeque. Who knows, maybe his time to return is coming!

Another town we went and visited was Manilla, which is a little bit bigger than Werris Creek- maybe 500 or 600 people- and we met up with a less-active American. His accent sure sounded foreign to me, haha. Anyhow when I first saw his name on the record list, I was confused; his priesthood level indicated "Seventy". Only later have I found out that ages and ages ago, they used to have "Seventies" as they called them in every ward and stake. It was sort of like the level above High Priest, but they got rid of them and instituted High Councils or something instead (at least from what a member has told me). Anyhow we met with him and had a nice lesson. It's interesting to me, he says he is still obeying all the commandments, from Word of Wisdom to praying everyday- but had some issues with the church organization and chose just to "do his own thing instead". It blows me away how tricky satan can be in leading the hearts of people away. 

Some brighter news, however, is that we found out Matt's daughter had her baby this weekend! Which was really exciting! Matt was very happy and proud, and he said he'll let us come by this week to see the baby boy. His daughter chose a pretty great name for the boy as well- Matthew. Haha :)

Chris is continuing to do awesome, as she came to church again and even participated in the combined priesthood/relief society lesson. Goodness, it just makes me so happy to see how she is progressing so quickly in the gospel. Patrick, her son, wants to come to church a few times before he is baptized, but slept in again yesterday. I think this week Elder Tavalea and I are going to go hide alarm clocks in his bedroom so he'll have to wake up. Hehe. We'll see how that goes!

One miracle I'd like to share~ on Saturday Elder Tavalea and I were at the chapel cleaning up the English class when we saw some young boys playing footy in the car park. We just walked up and started playing with them, and then at the end got their contact details and scheduled to go visit them this week. I feel really good about them for some reason, they were just good boys- and the best part is they live right across the street from the chapel. Pray that this family is ready for the gospel! 

All-in-all, an unusual and interesting week. I really enjoy being up here in Tamworth, it strays a little bit from ordinary missionary work, which makes it enjoyable. We do have transfers coming up next week, and I honestly have no idea which way it'll go. We are also going up to Coffs Harbour this weekend which will tie it all together quite nicely. I guess next week you'll find out where I'm at! 

As for an Aussieism: "I'm puffed" or "All puffed out" is what all the Aussies say when tired after a full game of sport. I guess it makes sense, it just sounded funny to me at first!

Well, love you all heaps and hope you have a great week. Congrats again to Katie and Irving for tying the knot! What an exciting adventure they're just beginning. 

Cheers!

Elder Easton