Transfer Time!

Kia Ora!

 

     It's already transfers again, craziness!! Found out last week that I'm actually training---even more craziness! Who decided I'm old enough and mature enough to train? I'm kind of freaking out because you never ever forget your trainer, good or bad, and I just hope we get along, haha. Unfortunately I didn't get to find out who and were I'm going yes (I know sisters in the past have) so I have to wait til Wednesday to find out. Definitely have mixed feelings, but I'm excited and hope it'll be good! I keep telling Sister Tovale, "I can't do this when I'm training" whenever I do...umm, well just all sorts of the weird things I do that make me me...but then I remember how that's how I make missionary work fun, so yeah, I'll still do those things, like singing in the car or making all sorts of weird noises.

 

We had 2 sisters finish their missions today and it was just weird. Saturday, I was tearing up a little bit, but today it just didn't feel real. It just made me realize how sad it'll be when it's all over, but at the same time, I'm no where near going home, so of course I don't feel ready to be done. But it's crazy how fast time flies!

 

Our exciting news for the week is that we had a baptism! Finally! This girl wa set for 14 April, but got moved back b/c that's when they were showing General Conference, and then got moved back again because the baptizer wasn't available that weekend. Anywho, her mum is a less active and is coming back to church since her daughter wanted to be baptized. Her name is Chilo, she's 10 years old and so cute. Love the girl. We had probably 50 people at the baptism, it was so fun. Unfortunately only like 2 families from the ward were there. They didn't announce it and not many people know their family, it was all friends and family at the baptism and both her dad and step-dad were there, both non-members, and it seemed like they have a really good experience. We talked to the dad and he said he's never been to a baptism before and was really glad he came. Hopefully they'll soften up soon.

 

Other than that, not a whole lot is happening right now. We have this 15 year old boy who changes his mind every day about getting baptized or not. One day he's so pumped and excited, next day, "I don't know..." Last week he didn't come to church because he didn't have any shoes, he only had his running shoes that he din't want to wear, so we had an elder in our district who wore his size and had an extra pair of shoes, so we took em to our investigator and he was complaining because they don't go with the skinny pants he would wear to church, oh my goodness. I was getting quite frustrated with him and his 15 year oldness.

 

Umm...I love New Zealand, I love being a missionary even though it's quite hard sometimes, but there really is nothing like it. Just funny to think about the concerns I had about coming on a mission and now I'm thinking, "Duh, of course I needed to do this and be here." Love you! Hope you have a fabulous week!

 

Love,

     Sister Mullen

Happy Anzac Day!

It's me again! Where to start...it was an interesting week, heaps of random, intersting stories, so I'll share just a few:

 

-met a 2 year old named "Third Nephi"

-Got introduced to the wonderful world of taro leaves! I don't know what it's really called, luaou or something like that. It's a samoan thing, it's just taro leaves and coconut cream or something, anyways, so good. Sister Tovale was so excited to eat with this Samoan family because she knew they'd make it.

-Back track to last week: I have felt so bad since I sent my email saying "ew" about all the sister missionaries wearing button-up shirts, I love sister missionaries that wear button-up shirts, I even have several...I'm just glad we don't have to wear them all the time anymore. We have PMG videos to watch during comp study, one district is obviously quite old b/c the sisters are always wearing button-up shirts and the other district they're way more trendy, ha.

-Referring to the picture: we went shopping last week, it was a dept store. I heard them announce Justin Bieber's new fragrance and that they have a lifesize cut out upstairs, & obviously I really wanted to go see it, but hadn't decided yet to go or not. Anywho, lost track of the other sisters ,so we went upstairs to look and look who was right by the escalator! How could I NOT get a picture? The only thing is, I'm pretty sure it's larger than life size--I dont' think he's taller than me. Sister Tovale even wanted a picture with him too.

-Long story short: we stopped by one house because we knew a former investigator lives there, there was a 7 year old boy out front and had a very entertaining conversation with him. He knew we were associated w/ temple lights, so he asked if it was Christmas, but he didn't know what month Christmas was in, so when I tried to explain that it's only April and Christmas is in December, he asked, "Is that 10 years away? 9 years? 7?" So then he was telling us where he lives and how to get there (30 min away) I was telling him that sounded like it was 2 years away. Then as we were getting to leave, he kind of screamed, "Can you just pray!!" He had asked us a couple times earlier to come in and pray, and apparently he really wanted it. We were in tears laughing at that point.

 

As for our spiritual experience of the week: we had an appointment with Sofele, but turns out he wasn't home, but his cousin, Viliami, who is a former investigator was, he's been to church a couple times, but not for the past several weeks. Anywho, we were talking with him on the doorstep, and then he randomly said, "Can you all come over next week so we can have bible study?" And then told us how he's been reading the Book of Mormon and praying. Then we invited him to come to church, and he said he would get a ride (which means he probably wouldn't come) and then we invited him to be baptized this Saturday, and he didn't say yes immediately, but he agreed to work towards that point, and then he was all of a sudden way keen to come to church and said, "Yeah, can yous find me a ride? And can you come stop by in the morning to make sure I'm awake? If I'm not, make one of my cousins wake me up!" And it was just really cool to see him soften up in the 30 minutes we were talking to him. Then we went over the baptismal interview questions and it turns out that he's been repenting and that he's ready. Unfortunately, when we showed up Sunday morning, he left a note for us saying he couldn't come b/c he didn't have any shoes, but we're gonna keep working with him and hope things go well!

 

We've been struggling to find new investigators and to have investigators keep their appointments, and working on getting the members to warm up to us! But something I feel I've been noticing in the past couple of weeks in my scripture study is to just keep working hard, stay positive, be patient, and the blessings will come. I felt that's a message I got out of General Conference, also from reading my patriarchal blessing in the temple a couple weeks ago, and we also had interviews with our Mission President last week and he reminded me of that...and I think the message has finally stuck. It obviously takes a couple times to stick in my head, and it also helps coming from my mission president.

 

This morning I studied about mercy and justice and I was just overwhelmed realizing how much mercy the Lord has shown me in my life because it's even mercy when He hears and answers our prayers, and I know that he has done so much more for me in my life, and I am just overwhelmed with gratitude for the Atonement and how much my undrestanding has grown as a missionary. My feelings this morning were "How can you not want to keep the commandments and share the gospel when you undrestand how much the Savior has done for us and how much mercy we receive from the Lord." I love the gospel!

 

As always, my letters are long and random. Hope you all have a good week! Love you!

 

Love,

     Sister Mullen

 

PS FINALLY got my VC name tag. I'm finally legit. Only took 3 orders and almost 4 months to get it.

Yay For General Conference!

Kia Ora!

 

Ahh, we FINALLY got to watch General Conference! Loved it. It's always over too fast. I remember thinking how Conference used to go on for.ev.ver. Especially Saturday, I remember thinking who in their right mind wants to watch it on Saturdays? Moms do. That's who. Haha. Glad things have changed. Some of my favorites were Pres. Eyring's. It was so humbling to hear about him and Pres Kimball ASKING for trials, and here I am, things are not going too great at all. LOTS to improve on. Our investigators are dropping like flies and not happy about it, but during that talk I was really able to feel Heavenly Father's love for me and this is a growing experiece and I have something I need to learn, but I just want to learn it already! Oh, I have a long way to go with patience. I also loved Elder Scott's becuase he said INAPPROPRIATE loud laughter offends the Spirit, haha, it just made me feel SO much better. More than once on my mission I have gotten comments about my loud laughter and was really struggling for a while because that's just me and felt like I couldn't be me, but it's just inappropriate laughter. I'm not laughing during Sacrament Meeting or any thing like that. Haha, I also loved the rest of his talk, but I definitely need to go back to hear it again. Some funny things I noticed: President Uchtdorf had a different tie every session. I promise I was listening to Conference and not just noticing everyone's ties, but his were quite noticeable because they seemed extra colorful for a member of the first presidency or quorum of the twelve. Also seeing the MTC choir: so many button up shirts. Ew. hahaha, I'm awful. But it was funny to see some girls I knew from BYU in the choir.

 

I realized I didn't explain why they broke up our trio: because Sister Joost got a companion. She's from Italy and it's been fun getting to know her, she seems way fun. I don't doubt I'll be companions with her sometime in the future. I think I'll be here at the VC for quite sometime since we're losing VC sisters every transfer and not getting much more in because of visa problems. So glad I got here before the visa problems :)

 

Funny story of the week: One night last week a girl walks in to the VC asking, "Is there a guy named Moe here?" & I had no idea but told her we could go look together (not that the VC is that big) but turns out he was in the Christus room talking to my comp, hahaha, after they met up, we went to the front room and I found out they were there for a blind date! Oh my goodness, they're both in their 30s. She was here from Palmerston North with her stake for the week, he's from Hamilton. We DIED laughing. Oh, too funny. I think I was the first to write a non-spiritual memorable experience in the book of "Memorable Experiences at the Visitors' Centre" haha.

 

A YSA kid from one of my old wards in Hamilton comes to the VC every Thursday night after he goes to the temple, and two weeks ago, he saw us when we were in the trio and said in a trio you have the organized one, you have the partier, and then you have the middle man that brings the two from opposite ends together in the middle. We were kinda saying that I'm the partier (probably b/c I initiated the dance parties to Joseph and the AMazing Technicolor Dreamcoat), Sister Tovale was the middle man, and Sister Joost was the organized one, haha, but really, we all agreed that we all have a little bit of everything. Then when he came again last week and only saw Sister Tovale and I hes said he was sad that they had broken us because he said we were a lot of fun together...haha, we might have had too much fun together. It's too easy to get off topic when you've got three minds going! Especially me. Whoops!

 

Well I loved Conference, like I told mom, I felt like some of the themes were families, our relationships with others and our relationship with Heavenly Father and being diligent in keeping the commandments because the Lord is anxious to help us and so willing to! But maybe the latter is something I really need to hear. Not that I'm being disobedient over here, but I guess just learning to trust the Lord more. My district leader asked me last night if I over think things...I know that's a problem I had before coming out, but I haven't thought of it as a problem since I've gotten out here. Ugh. I just dont' know how to think less about things! My ward mission leader, who is my age, told me yesterday that I stress too much. And I'll be honest, I feel like the biggest message I got from Conference is that I need an attitude adjustment, just to be better about looking for the good in everything and not stressing too much. Ahh, it's just hard when nothing is going as well as it should be! Obviously I still have heaps to learn. Love you all! Have a fantabulous week!

 

Alofa atu,

    Sister Mullen

Happy Easters!

Kia Ora!

 

Definitely an interesting week, lots of random stories...tried feijoas for the first time this week, don't even ask me how to describe a feijoa, my comp described it as a mix between a kiwi and a cucumber...but way better that what that sounds. We even had feijoa and apple cake at dinner last night, yum. But it seems like everyone has a feijoa tree and the feijoas are just raining down on us from members!

 

One night, Sister Tovale decided she was going to chop her hair off. I got it on video, haha. She just pulled her hair over her head, and started chopping with the scissors. I helped even it up in the end, I think she cut off about 7 inches or so, haha.

 

Crizazy story: last minute things changed, I was supposed to go out with Sister Joost that evening with her area, but I ended up staying at the VC. I started talking to this guy at a kiosk, we just introduced ourselves real quick, then he asked me if I had any brothers and sisters, and I said yes, then he asked if I had an older brother, and then I was getting really confused because it seemed like he knew one of my brothers, and I said I had 3 older brothers, and then he blew it and said that he served in Ryan's ward and that they said he was supposed to give me a hard time, but couldn't do it, haha. But yeah, small world! It was his stake's temple week, but he was only able to come down that day because he had work off. I feel I've definitely had some tender mercies being able to be at the visitor's centre at the right night to meet certain people. But I got talking to him about how many we baptized last year in our mission (PS it was 1845) and he said that they had about 400 in their mission and it just made me even more thankful to be serving here where the people are so prepared!

 

Saturday night we found out that our trio is getting broken up!! Definitely mixed feelings, it'll obviously be good because our schedule has been crazy lately and our proselyting time has been cut shorter, but really really sad because we have a ton of fun when we're together. Maybe a little bit too much fun! haha, I was just thinking how I wish we could all be together for more than one transfer, and here our adventures are over in 2 weeks! It'll be quiet going back to just 2 of us, but it'll be good. I am so thankful I got to serve with Sister Joost for even at least 2 weeks, we've found out we are quite similiar, as in maybe we both love all things cheesy, she might have a Hannah Montana blanket and socks. Don't tell her I told you! haha

 

Had a very intersting MCM last week in one of our wards. The ward mission leader has been back from his mission for like 6 months, and MCM started off a little rough, our personalities were not quite getting a long, mostly because I got sick of hearing his mission stories and I felt everytime we meet with him, he tries to correct me on something, but it ended up turning into an amazing learning experience, just things I need to chill out about and how to show my charity better. Anywho, it came out that sisters were brought into this area like 3 years ago because of naughty elders, and that members still have that barrier up. Good to know because some of the members are quite cold! I was quite flattered when our WML said that the first time he met me, he could tell that I was someone who could get along with members (when I've just been thinking how I don't feel like I clicked with any of the members in my past area) and he said that I was talking to him and his mom (we had dinner when i first met him) and he could tell that I wanted to talk to them because I loved them as children of God (and I've also been thinking of how I need to develop more charity and to be able to show more love for our investigators and members and everyone I work with!) That was probably the best compliment I've ever gotten because neither one of those attributes sound like how I would describe myself, and I just took that as a sign that the Lord trusts us to turn things around in these wards! It's gonna be hard, but bring it!

 

In one ward, they asked me to introduce myself and share my testimony about the Savior and I just realized how thankful I am for every opportunity I have to share my testimony about Christ because my love for Him and the Atonement has grown so much since I've been on my mission and it grows every time I share it! One of my new favorite scriptures is Mosiah 3:17, "And moreover I say unto you that there shall be no other name given, nor any other way, nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent." I know that Christ lives and that only through Christ we can return to live with Heavenly Father! I am so thankful to be a part of the Lord's work and to be able to help others come closer to Christ! Happy Easter! Sorry for the long email, Love you all, hope you have a fabulous week!

 

-Sister Mullen

Happy Birthweek to Me!

Definitely not the most exciting birthDAY, but it was probably my most eventful birthWEEK! Not a very exciting p-day, cleaned things up, got pizza and ate by the lake by our original flat, got a deep fried moro bar, heart attack in a bag, but it was so good! ha, Tuesday: I got to see Sister Perry when her area came down for their temple trip, oh my goodness, miss her so much! My birthday: I made banana bread muffins, without a muffin tin, I was half thinking when I was putting the muffins on there, but they were still edible. Sister Tovale and I were out proselyting in the morning, so Sis. Joost was at the VC, and when we came back, they had decorated the kitchen downstairs at the VC, oh and they had made brownies that morning...that I tried not to notice too much, you can only surprise so much when you have to be with someone 24/7. A member from the last ward I was in brought me 3 bags of cadbury & whittakers chocolate, dangerous! And then our meal that night was in Sis. Joost's area, so she made sure she knew it was my birthday, we had dessert there, but then she had also bought a chocolate cake and a bag of lollies for me too, I've never even met her before! But so sweet. Thrusday: We got to go to the temple! Ahh! It was so good to finally be able to go in and over all too fast! Oh, but before we went in, we had a little devotional at the VC, and then we went outside and my mission president had everyone sing happy birthday to me and one of the elders here on a senior mission, always a little awkward in those situations, ha. We had a really good conference after the temple and our mission president's wife talked about how showing gratitude is showing our faith and how we need to be sure to offer gratitude for all the blessings we have! And then in D&C, I think 59:21 or something, can't realy remember, it says how we offend God when we don't thank Him in all things, so it was definitely a good reminder to show more gratitude. Oh, and I got my second birthday package :). Friday: nothing too exciting, and not the most effective time with our appointments, I was a little frustrated. But then Saturday, one of the senior sisters brought me an apple for a birthday present. So yeah, pretty good birthweek!

 

I was frustrated with this week and our low amount of lessons, especially with members present and just didn't feel like it was an effective week and I hate not knowing my area and not knowing what members to call, but Sister Joost had a baptism for her area Saturday night, so we all went to that and it was so good to be there. I just really felt peace and had a good reminder that I still have plenty to be happy about because I have the gospel. Yeah, our numbers were nothign to be proud of last week, but I am still ridiculously happy with where I am right now. So thankful to be serving a mission and so thankful to be serving with Sister Joost and Sister Tovale. We have a lot of fun together, but we especially have a lot of fun listening to Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at night. Feels good to get the wiggles out! Ha.

 

I dont' think I've said anything, but US and Candian missionaries aren't able to get their visas right now, so we're like 20 missionaries low. And 7 sisters are going home next transfer and yeah, so many leaving and hardly any coming in. It's definitely hurting us, also our new VC directors haven't come yet. I've heard they've had problems with people posing as senior missionaries, we're getting missionaries from everywhere else, but not the US & Canada. Talking to our mission president at the temple conference about our situation a little bit, I could see how hard things are for him with the whole situation of the mission. Praying that things work out soon! Love you all!

 

Love,

    Sister Mullen

 

PS Our stake is waiting til April 15th to show General Conference, not cool.

One Crazy Transfer!

Talofa Lava!

 

Um, yeah, transfers were kinda crazy. Well I got shifted to another part of Hamilton, still at the VC, and I'm with a Samoan sister, Sister Tovale and I was and am SO excited to serve with her. She is just so excited to do the work and such a hard worker. So yeah, I got with her Thursday morning, and then Friday afternoon, we found out one of the other sisters was going home for medical reasons, so we're actually now in a trio, and my second comp is Sis. Joost (from Magic Mountain, CA) but we still have to cover both of our areas. Sister Joost is covering Temple View Stake and we're covering two wards. And we're still trying to figure out our schedule at the VC. Thankfully our schedules this week dont' over lap at the VC, so when Sister Joost is at the VC, Sis Tovale and I go to our area, and when Sis Tovale and I are at the VC, one of us will go with her to her area. Still trying to figure out what to do after this week with our schedule because we have to have sisters on chat from 12-6, but we can't be on chat by ourselves, and there's another companionship at the VC, so yeah, crazy trying to figure out the schedule, but one day it'll work out. Thankfully we know it won't last past this transfer because Sister Joost is done after this transfer, but it'll be an interesting 6 weeks. I wondered if I would ever be in a trio, but I sure am glad to be with these two, glad we're all hard working and willing to pull our weight in this madness. But I feel like I've also got to be the one to remind everyone that it'll be okay and that we'll get it figured out. Someone's gotta keep the stress level down, and kind of ironic that I feel like that's my job, haha.

 

The only downside is that it doesn't make sense with distance to live in the flat Sister Tovale and I are in (which is quite big), so we're in Sis Joost's flat which is pretty tiny. No room for personal space! Haha, so I've got to go pack up my stuff from the flat I was in for 2 days, unfortunately I was able to unpack quite a bit.

 

Oh, and I am also the driver in our companionship and it was SO weird driving the first couple of days on the right side of the car. Turned the windshield wipers on about 100 times the first two days, I think I've got it figure out now.

 

But yeah, it's gonna be a crazy transfer. Our area needs a lot of help! Hopefully we can give it the attention it deserves. We have a couple we're teaching, they're 19 years old and living with her parents. She is SO ready to be baptized, but they dont' want to separate and her parents think they're too young to get married. Hopefully something works out because she knows it all and has such a strong testimony.

 

It'll definitely be a transfer to grow and learn a lot! It's been cool to see how I've mellowed out about somethings already, like somethings it really really is not worth it to get bothered about.

 

Ahh, I love the gospel and am so glad to be serving a mission! I can't believe how long I've been out, time is flying by! I was quite bothered when we were talking to an Indian guy on the street and he kept saying we need a live master, because I know that Christ lives! I am so incredibly thankful for the Atonement each and everyday! I know I hardly comprehend the Atonement, but I know we have more blessings from it everyday than we realize. The Church is true and I love it!

 

Love you all! Hope you have a good week! Alofa Atu!

 

-Sister Mullen