Success!! 26/3/2012

Kia Ora koutau,

     So the results from transfers is......................I stayed.  And Elder Fox got shifted down to Hamilton, Glenview stake.  Remember Dinsdale was my first area?  Well that was in Glenview Stake (I think) so I gave him a list of people to say hi to if he covers Dinsdale.  My new companion is Elder Lee.  He was born in Provo, but when he was about 3 or something they moved to Virginia.  He's a bit taller than me, blond hair, blue eyes, and a stick like Jake ;-).  He's pretty funny, can quote heaps of movies and we get along like a Tongan in a Taro patch (Afu would get that).   So we're set for this transfer.  My guesses is that I'll stay for this transfer, probably the next transfer, and then shift to a new area for my last 2.

     This week was so busy running around trying to get everything sussed for the baptisms.  But they went through and Makenna and Desirae loved it!!  We talked to them after the confermation and they said that they felt "lighter," and their grandfather said he's never seen them this happy before.  So it was a very rewarding baptism!  They are set to come to church and stay active too!  We're now hoping and working that this will be the thing that will help their parents come back to church.  The mum has a goal to get her patriarchal blessing  

     Sad that Elder Fox got transferred, we were making some real progress.   But I'm really happy that I have a companion like Elder Lee.  He is such a hard worker and we got working the moment we got back.  He's not scared to talk to people!  Its such a relief.  He's a great teacher, loves to talk to people and has no worries when I give him assignments to organize something.  This is going to be another great transfer, and full of miracles.  We're going to just work hard and smart and see a lot of success.  We're pretty excited!

     Sister Funaki and Sister Vailea are doing a great job.  They're really focusing on working with the ward more.  In fact, thats our focus for this week, and I really want to carry it through the transfer.  Our actionable item for this week is to get solid fellowship for our sets and progressing investigators by 1st April, and report them.  At the end of the week the Sisters went on trade offs with the ward and had some good success, and they're also receiving a lot more referrals from the ward.  We're looking at a few good referrals as well.  We know we just need to stay humble and do what we're supposed to do and we'll see the success come.  

"And I saw the heavens open"

 S. Funaki, S. Vailea, Tiare (member fellowship)

E. Lee, Richie, Maaraanau Teao, Desirae, Makenna, Richard Teao, Me

Arohanui! 

Sincerely,

Elder Sorensen

Kia Orana

Kia Ora, Kia Orana, Talofa Lava, Malo Lelei,  (There are so many languages to learn here, its fun to learn the greetings, 'how are you', and salutations in all the different languages)  

     Wow, I feel so much better about this week. We hit the standard of excellence for PBTW!!  It felt so good!  It was close, but we found 200 people this week.  Sadley it took us to getting 50 every day for the last 3 days, but we did it!  What was even better is that Elder Fox did quite a bit.  I didn't have to tell him to run and talk to every person.  I just hope and pray that it lasts over to this week and onwards.  

     It was also amazing to set two more people.  So for the weekend of the 24th we have set for baptism Makenna (10) and his sister Desirae (15).  Then we had a miracle.  We went to contact a referral we had from our friendshares.  She let us in to have a lesson with her.  She explained that she's finally done with a 4 yr course and has time to listen to our message.  So we taught her the restoration.  We found out in the lesson that she's had a rough past, and that she's starting to make changes for her children.  We also found out that she's been to church heaps in the past.  So we stretched and set her for the 31st.  Then when we reported her to the zone leaders, they committed us to bring it forward to this weekend.  So tonight we're going to re-set her for this friday.  Then yesterday we found out that her twin girls are 8 years old!  So they'd count for convert baptisms too!  So that's why our goal for baptized and confirmed is 5 and 5.  We've definitely got our work cut out for us this week, and we're really excited.  We also set Pange for baptism for next month.  He still has some big concerns to work out.  But we know that with the Lord he can definitely be ready for the 13th of next month!

     Like I was saying about Elder Fox, he's really doing a lot better.  I still have to tell him to focus a lot, and tell him things to do.  But having him be excited about PBTW was a huge relief.  We also have some direction for improvement in teaching together in unity.  So things are looking up.

     Sister Funaki and Sister Vailea had a rough week.  Sister Vailea was feeling sick this week, and they've had a couple of flat tires to go along with it.  But I was super excited to see that they reached 200 PBTW as well.  They've also got a choice investigator that wants them to come over every day and help him learn.  I can't wait to hear when they set him.  I love this district President, we have our challenges, but we working hard together and enjoying the work 

Arohanui! 

Sincerely,

Elder Sorensen

Kia Orana March 12th

 This week was pretty eventful.  Started off on Monday during emails the Tongan Elders walked in and asked us if we rode here on one wheel.  Tongans are usually cheeky and I wasn't going to take any of it so I said yeah right.  But when we left someone had stolen Elder Fox's front wheel off his bike.  We finally got a replacement from another missionary but had a hard time trying to fix the holes in the tube.  Finally fixed it, and rode on it for about half a day then it exploded on my companion.  Then Elder Fox got pretty sick for a night and a day with diahrea and vomitting.  I felt bad for him.  He got up probably 4 or 5 times through the night.  Probably something he ate.  I don't know what it could have been because I only had a slight difference nothing like him.  But we carried on working the next day.  Then yesterday and today I've had a fever and a massive headache.  I just hope it goes away soon.  
     Aside from that we were so excited about a massive miracle this week.  We went to dinner with a member,shared a spiritual thought, and asked if they knew anybody we could teach.  After a bit of thinking they realized that their grandson and granddaughter haven't been baptized.  So we were able to have a lesson and set them for the 24th of March.  It was because I'm not sure what they'd been taught or how many times they'd been to church.  Elder Walker then committed us this week to reset them for this weekend.  So we're hopefully going to have 2 baptisms this Saturday!
     Sister Funaki and Sister Vailea had 3 Baptisms this weekend!!  They said it was really spiritual and all three bore their testimonies after they were baptized.  They have 2 or 3 more that qualify for this month, but they just need parent permission.  I've told them to pray about it.  And our goal for this week is to have a very spiritual friend share every day this week at least.  
     I'm struggling a bit with Elder Fox, that I have to ask him to do pretty much anything.  I have to tell him when to get out of the shower, I have to tell him to shave so we can be on time, I have to tell him everyone to talk to.  And its weighing on me more and more.  I'm trying to be patient and encouraging, but its getting really hard.  I'll keep pushing forward as best I can and hope for the best. 

Arohanui! 

Sincerely,

Elder Sorensen

kia ora march 5th

     We had a low week again this week.  Mostly Preach by the Way.  I realize especially by President's training that that is one of the 3 pillars holding up our investigators, along with obedience with exactness and becoming a preach my gospel missionary.  I really want to repent this week and change for good.  But I realize what its going to take is both of us in our companionship.  We've subdivided the goal of talking to 300 people on the street and found that we each need to talk to 25 people a day this whole week.  Thats the biggest goal I've ever even thought about.  Its going to take all my faith and effort to reach it.  

     We finally were able to sit down with Robyn and her partner Tone this week.  It started off really ruff.  She texted before the lesson wanting to cancel because they were fighting again.  I had the thought that only the gospel will help them through it, so I asked if we could still come.  When we got there they were still arguing.  It was hard to get a lesson going, but after a lot of talking they were both able to calm down.  And eventually Tone said that he wanted to change.  So we told them that prayer, scriptures and church attendance would help them get into a routine, which would help them change the most.  They agreed.  So we're making big progress with them now.  

     Our other progressing investigator which we're hoping to baptize this week is a 13 year old named Fa'apoi whose record was lost.  They're not having much luck recreating his record, but they're going to have one more try with a certificate or the old bishop.  If not he'll be re-baptized.  

     We also have an investigator named Pange.  He lives in our ward, but he's been attending the other stake with a friend.  But we found out that one of our recent converts is a relative and she finally got him to come to our ward, and the best part is that he's going to keep coming.  He's pretty much ready for baptism, and we would have set him last week, but he had to cancel the appointment.  This week will be good though.  

     The sisters are doing really good this week.  They have the family of 3 set to be baptized this Friday!  They've resolved all the families concerns, from what I can understand, and they're scheduled to be interviewed on Thursday.  And they've got 2 more that were set, but lost their baptismal date because of family concerns.  They're planning on re-setting them this week.  I was really happy to see their numbers steady or increasing. 

     Our goals for the district this week are:

     Sacrament - get every investigator fellowship and have them invite the investigator to church.

     Member Present - Have a member at every lesson possible

     Preach by the Way - Reach 300 each.

Arohanui! 

Sincerely,

Elder Sorensen

Kia ora Feb 27th

Kia ora kotau kotoa!

          This week was a hard, frustrating week for me.  There seemed to be a lot more persecution and harsh rejection.  Elder Walker, my Zone Leader has talked to me and given me some things to reflect on.  Thinking about in preach my gospel under my purpose and a successful missionary, and I'm going to create some goals myself, to see what I can do better at.  

     Our pipeline is really dry, (very few investigators) but we sat down during weekly planning and came up with as many names as we could to visit.  Potentials, referrals, formers, members, less-actives, part members, etc.  I'm hoping that will give us more productive things to do and preaching by the way between, rather than just tracting.  I just hope that between my own goals and doing more productive things will help the work progress.  Our most progressing investigator is Matauraura (she goes by Robyn).  She's so close.  She just needs to quit smoking and get married, and then she's ready.  She has a testimony and a desire to be baptized, but she looks at these problems as too big.  She's too busy and so we haven't had time to teach her much or uplift her.  But finally we sat down for about 20 minutes Last night before we had to turn in for the night, but that wasn't enough time to resolve any concerns.  

     The sisters are doing great.  They've got 5 people set!  And they all sound pretty solid.  Their goal is 4 for the month, but we're going to talk and see if we can re-evaluate, especially because in order to reach the zone goal, each companionship needs to baptize 6 people.  From what I can tell, Sister Funaki and Sister Vailea are both happy and working.  

     The thing I need to work on with Elder Fox is having him not wait for me to do something for him to work.  I just need to come up with some actionable items for him to work on for this week.  Other than that, he did a great job during one lesson in particular.  An investigator named Jesse was struggling accepting Joseph Smith, and without turning the lesson to him, Elder Fox jumped in with his experience coming to know that the church is true.  It was amazing to see.  I just need to get him to do it on his own volition now.  

as american as it gets (still not the same)

finally someone who understands

Arohanui! 

Sincerely,

Elder Sorensen

Zone Conference 2/26 From the President

Dear Elders and Sisters of the great NZAM,

Sister Lekias and I want to express our love for each of you and all you are doing in this great mission.  We are grateful for the time we had last week to meet with each of you for zone conferences.

We felt the spirit as we met with you and felt of your desire to do what the Lord wants you to do.  We discussed many things, including commitments, lesson plans, consecration and conversion.  As we thought more about this conversion, our hearts are turned to the experience in 4th Nephi...see the verses below:

2 And it came to pass in NZAM, the ELDERS AND SISTERS were all CONVERTED unto the Lord, upon all the face of the land--NZ, both ELDERS and SISTERS, and there were no contentions and disputations among them, and every MISSIONARY did deal justly one with another.

3 And they had all things common among them; therefore there were not rich and poor, bond and free, but they were all made free, and partakers of the heavenly gift---TO SAVE SOULS.

5 And there were great and marvellous works wrought by the disciples of Jesus, ……..and all manner of miracles did they work among the children of men IN NZ; and in nothing did they work miracles save it were in the name of Jesus.

13 And it came to pass that there was no contention among all the people, in THE NZAM; butthere were mighty miracles wrought among the disciples of Jesus IN THE NZAM.

15 And it came to pass that there was no contention in the MISSION, because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the MISSIONARIES.

16 And there were no LAZINESS, nor DISOBEDIENCE, nor DISHONESTY, nor COMPLAINING, nor LACK OF URGENCY, nor PRIDE, nor any manner of WASTING TIMEness; and surely there could not be a happier MISSIONARY among all the MISSIONARIES who had been created by the hand of God AND SENT TO THE NZAM…..

These verses (with a few changes here and there) ought to harrow up in our mind what we need toBECOME as individuals as companions and as a Mission to accomplish our task of saving at least 167 souls a month.

We are excited about our goal to be CONSECRATED...which will help us become more cantered on Christ and His Atonement...and ultimately become PMG missionaries.  As a Mission...we have agreed to:

1.  As at 1 March 2012---Eat dinner between the hours of 5pm and 6pm every day.  This applies across the Mission and there are no exceptions.  We can confirm that each Stake President has been advised and will be advising the Bishops....who in turn will advise the members.  You can be confident, that by this time next week, each member in the mission (aside from those not attending church) will be aware of our new consecration goal.  It's now up to us to have the right ATTITUDE and turn this goal into a wonderful blessing for the NZAM;

2.  Mission Wide Book Of Mormon reading in 90 days.  This also commences 1 March 2012.  We look forward to hearing great experiences as you read at least 6 pages from the Book of Mormon daily;

3.  Mission Wide Fast...Sunday, 4 March.  Please prepare for the fast and pray for the NZAM so we can achieve our righteous desires.

We appreciate all you do Elders and Sisters.  May the Lord continue to bless and prosper you as you Seek to be Obedient with exactness, become a PMG missionary and PBTW in all that you do..is our prayer.

Ofa Atu

President and Sister Lekias

Photo of Tamaki, Manurewa/Papakura, Panmure/Waterview 

Malo Lele Feb 20th

Kia ora whanau!

     This past week was an improvement, but still a bit low for what we want here in this area.  I feel we're doing well on teaching, and alright on finding.  But we need to do heaps more member work.  In fact I've just had the thought for that to be our major focus for next week.  Elder Losalu our Zone Leader committed us to work with the members more this week, for friend shares and asking for more referrals.  And then for companion study this morning we had an idea to look through the white handbook to look for all the things we're supposed to help members to do.  Then we had the idea to go through Preach My Gospel to find more.  Then we're going to look for things we can do to improve.   Then he also committed us to talk to 250 people this week.  

     We do have one investigator set for this weekend which we're pretty excited about, but she has 2 concerns to overcome.  She has to finish off the smoking, and getting married.  She's going to talk to her partner today about it.  Other than that she has no concerns and she's solid.  

     Elder Fox is doing pretty good this week.  When I ask him he'll take the lead to where we're going and doesn't complain about it.  So what I'm going to work on next with him is making sure he knows to step up even if I don't.  That way it will be more even and the work will push forward even faster.  

     We're also trying a couple of ideas with the district so that we can live the mission vision better.  We're using the stats as links in a bike chain, and we need to use them all to go.  And then we need to deserve our pillow.  Every night we ask ourselves, "do we deserve our pillow?"  (have we done all we could).  If not then we evaluate and fix it for the next day.  It looks like things are moving up, now we just need to do more, and faster.

     This week on Friday we also have a zone conference.  Those are always good.  For those that served missions, is it normal for zone conferences to be for 2 or 3 zones?  I'm pretty excited for it.  

Arohanui! 

Sincerely,

Elder Sorensen