Lots to say this week, here we go:
Drum roll for transfers...oh wait, still at the VC, but I love it, and I've come to love this area.
Our theme for the transfer is Sharing is Caring...because we now have to share a car. I'm still in the same area (for those who don't remember...I'm still in the heavily populated LDS area where we cover 7 wards), still with Sister Somma from Italy. When the Zone Leaders called us about transfers and told us they were taking our car away, I didn't believe them and was just in shock. I figured they would have to keep me here because I'm one of the few sisters with a driver's license and we need a car in our area. First off: freaking out because we have an investigator who lives 15 km's away. Second off: I was thinking, "How am I supposed to look good for the VC when I'm on a bike?" ...kind of kidding, but not really. Besides the fact that I don't want to bike the scary highway stretch from Temple View to the other side of our area where there are actually nonmembers, I was then just frustrated with how ineffective walking is. lakjfvnjd, Anywho, worked my magic and now we're sharing with the other sisters because that's how they used to do it in the past (but there are still times we don't have the car). When our Zone Leaders found out we're sharing, he said , "I'm Sister Mullen, and I get what I want." Haha, I do what I can.
-So last District Meeting (that consists of only 3 companionships) we had a testimony meeting and it was so good. Like the elder in charge said, it's one thing sharing your testimony with your investigators and completely different with other missionaries. I loved it. I realized I love bearing my testimony. I feel like I'm going to be one of those people that races up to the pulpit every fast Sunday with the Barrons and Brother Pena.
-Rode my bike for the 3rd time on my mission, but it was only from our flat to the VC which is 1 km. I hate bikes. When we called one member to give us a ride to the other part of our area, she said was busy, but told us to go to the shop in the area and look desperate because there are always people going into town. Are you kidding me??
-My testimony of "I Am A Child of God" has definitely grown as a missionary of how powerful it is. We started teaching a girl with 5 kids 7 and under, single mum. Oh boy. Anywho, we had a lesson on Friday and we sang "I Am A Child of God" with her and her kids, and at primary on Sunday, the 4 year old kept requesting that we sing "I Am A Child of God." I was just amazed since she had only sung it once. Another investigator we had a while ago, she had 3 little girls, 5, 3, and 1 year old. and We often sang "I Am A Child of God" and the mum said her girls were always singing it. Love it. And we have this fun music video type thing to "I Am A Child of God" at the VC that we show to almost everyone.
-Most people just don't know what to say to the missionaries, and it's really funny sometimes. We called one girl to come to a lesson with us, but turns out she's going to Aussie for a week, and so I told her to have a fun week in Aussie and she said, "Have fun with your lesson...and with being a missionary for the next week!" Haha, I'll try to.
-Tried contacting a former investigator this week who's name was Rosie...reminded me of the good ol' days of wanting to be Allyson Rosey Mullen. I'll never forget that horse.
Things are picking up like craziness in our area, it's so exciting. We're finding out about all sorts of people from members and people who have been coming to church with their friends, ah, the wards are just too big it's hard to know what's going on, but we're finding out the secret nonmembers that have been coming to church.
This is the highlight of the week though, for sure: A week ago we tried to go see a less-active male (haven't really tried to see LA males like at all on my mission because we would need a female to go inside anyway) and we saw one, and he wasn't the least bit interested ,but I decided to knock on some of the neighbor's doors, and we met Bruce and he was willing to let us come back to his house to meet his family on Saturday. So on Friday, I called to confirm the appointment, and a girl answered and when she found out it was the missionaries, she said we didn't need to come by because they were already affiliated with a church. And I asked if it would be okay if we still came by to see Bruce sometime, and she said we didn't need to..but then she asked, "But did Bruce say he wanted you back?" And I said that we scheduled a time to come back, and she was willing to let us come by. I felt like the appointment wasn't going to go through because Bruce wasn't too keen when we first talked to him, but he was there, waiting for us, and let us in. We sat down with him, and eventually his partner came over too, Emily. And she wanted to know why there were so many churches, so we taught about the Restoration. And then at the end, she said that she has been wondering how to get Bruce to come to church with her. Turns out I had talked to Emily on the phone about the appointment, and she said she realized in the middle of our converstation that maybe this is how Bruce would come to church with her. She wondered if we were an answer to her prayers...uhh, yes, yes we are. Wow. I've never had that experience before and it felt so good. They agreed to prepare for baptism on the 6th of October, but she works on Sundays, so we have some work to do. Oh, did I mention they have 5 kids. Anyway, love it. Feels good knowing we were in the right place at the right time.
Met a sister who served at the LA Visitors' Centre came in on Saturday and it was fun talking to her and hearing about how different the LA VC is. Primarily how much more busy it is. Made me feel like a bum at our VC that is quite slow except on Saturdays. Made me want to serve at a busy VC, but I love it here and wouldn't trade the experiences I've had for ANYthing.
Heaps of miracles and tender mercies this week...but that would just turn my email into a novel.
Love,
Sister Allyson Rosey Mullen
Scripture of the week: Mosiah 4:6-7, " I say unto you, if ye have come to a knowledge of the goodness of God, and his matchless power, and his wisdom, and his patience, and his long-suffering towards the children of men; and also, the atonement which has been prepared from the foundation of the world, that thereby salvation might come to him that should put his trust in the Lord, and should be diligent in keeping his commandments, and continue in the faith even unto the end of his life, I mean the life of the mortal body—I say, that this is the man who receiveth salvation, through the atonement which was prepared from the foundation of the world for all mankind, which ever were since the fall of Adam, or who are, or who ever shall be, even unto the end of the world." Ponder it on your own, I just fell in love with it. I love finding scriptures that I've read a million times, but this time it hits me different and I love it and wonder how I've never caught it before. Yay for the blessings that come the Atonement and putting our trust in the Lord!
Monday, September 24, 2012
Monday, September 3, 2012
Just a Random As Letter
Hi. It's me again.
Not the most amazing week, but still good. I'm still happy...as (that's for you Danny). I feel like I just have random thoughts/stories from the week, so here we go:
-Sister Somma was sick, so Sister Chan (the sister I trained) came with me to a lesson and that experience was definitely a tender mercy. It was cool to see how much she's grown even in the last 5 weeks since we broke up. It was fun having her back me up in the car again, haha, and it just felt like we were companions again. Love that girl so much. She's training this upcoming transfer and I just feel like a proud parent, my little Sister Chan is growing up. Oh, I still feel so blessed to have had her as a companion.
-Kelly, our main investigator: he's preparing to be baptized on September 22. He has short term memory loss, so it makes things interesting. His sister is a member and he's just fun to be around. It's been fun teaching him.
-When a member found out I'm from Texas, he told me, "When we're all forced to move to the states to build Zion, I want to live in Texas." Unfortunately Zion won't be in Texas, but I'm glad he knows which is the best state.
-Our Visitors' Centre directors from Canada have FINALLY gotten here. They are a lovely couple and I'm excited to serve with them. (Well, hopefully I stay here and serve with them.) They feel quite overwhelmed with their responsibilities and just being in a new country too. I just remembered how lost I felt being here too and told them they're not alone. I constantly had to ask Sister Perry what people were saying because I just didn't understand...especially the kiwi lingo.
-Our stake had a glee fest this week. It was so fun. Our stake needs to jump on that ship. It just made me think of how fun it was when I would make "music videos" with Mel and Carolyn...except they were singing too and had better costumes than us pulling things out of our closets. Oh my, I am just DYING to watch some of those videos right now.
-A funny story from a couple weeks ago that I forgot to share:
So we were on chats, but having some technical difficulties. Sister Somma couldn't type, so I had to say everything in the conversation, but we found out half way through that I wasn't getting everything that person was saying on my screen, so it made for some pretty funny comments. What I did NOT see is in green, so I would say one thing, but it turns out she had said something else in the mean time, so it made my comment out of place. I hope you understand...we were dying laughing when we found out what had happened.
(she was asking about Santa Clause...)
Lucy: I thought there was a Christian Santa, a Jewish Santa and a Hindu Santa.
...
Not the most amazing week, but still good. I'm still happy...as (that's for you Danny). I feel like I just have random thoughts/stories from the week, so here we go:
-Sister Somma was sick, so Sister Chan (the sister I trained) came with me to a lesson and that experience was definitely a tender mercy. It was cool to see how much she's grown even in the last 5 weeks since we broke up. It was fun having her back me up in the car again, haha, and it just felt like we were companions again. Love that girl so much. She's training this upcoming transfer and I just feel like a proud parent, my little Sister Chan is growing up. Oh, I still feel so blessed to have had her as a companion.
-Kelly, our main investigator: he's preparing to be baptized on September 22. He has short term memory loss, so it makes things interesting. His sister is a member and he's just fun to be around. It's been fun teaching him.
-When a member found out I'm from Texas, he told me, "When we're all forced to move to the states to build Zion, I want to live in Texas." Unfortunately Zion won't be in Texas, but I'm glad he knows which is the best state.
-Our Visitors' Centre directors from Canada have FINALLY gotten here. They are a lovely couple and I'm excited to serve with them. (Well, hopefully I stay here and serve with them.) They feel quite overwhelmed with their responsibilities and just being in a new country too. I just remembered how lost I felt being here too and told them they're not alone. I constantly had to ask Sister Perry what people were saying because I just didn't understand...especially the kiwi lingo.
-Our stake had a glee fest this week. It was so fun. Our stake needs to jump on that ship. It just made me think of how fun it was when I would make "music videos" with Mel and Carolyn...except they were singing too and had better costumes than us pulling things out of our closets. Oh my, I am just DYING to watch some of those videos right now.
-A funny story from a couple weeks ago that I forgot to share:
So we were on chats, but having some technical difficulties. Sister Somma couldn't type, so I had to say everything in the conversation, but we found out half way through that I wasn't getting everything that person was saying on my screen, so it made for some pretty funny comments. What I did NOT see is in green, so I would say one thing, but it turns out she had said something else in the mean time, so it made my comment out of place. I hope you understand...we were dying laughing when we found out what had happened.
(she was asking about Santa Clause...)
Lucy: I thought there was a Christian Santa, a Jewish Santa and a Hindu Santa.
Lucy: And they all deliver
presents to children of their faith.
Lucy: Do Mormon Children
not get presents then?
Allyson: Not that I personally know of, but I can't speak for other churches.
Allyson: Do you have a belief in Jesus Christ Lucy?
Lucy: I don't really know
much about him.
Lucy: I'm just kind of
looking into religions now.
Lucy: To find out what they
are about. I've seen some pictures of him before though and I must say he has
superb facial hair.
Allyson: That's cool, well how have you heard of our Church before?
...but
now that I've typed this up, it doesn't seem funny. Hope you get a
laugh out of it. Some stories just don't translate well into an email.
We
had a cool experience going to see a less active family. We knocked on
the door, and she said that she had requested no visits, but let us in
and gave us a hot drink. So we were able to talk for a bit, and I'll be
honest, sometimes I had NO idea what to say, but I knew that Heavenly
Father would not open my mouth to speak, and that I just had to start
talking and it would come. We were both praying hard out to know what to
say, and thankfully we were on the same page and bringing it back to
the Atonement. She said we had lovely spirits about us and invited us
back! That definitely was an inspired visit and was a reminder that I am
here doing the Lord's work. It feels good to help people. I was
thinking of the pre-mish days and feeling like I was doing nothing to
grow and progress, especially in the gospel...and the thought that came
to my mind was, "How was playing kickball helping anyone progress??"
Haha, I'm sure I'll go home and keep on playing intramural
kickball...but for now, it seems like there are better things to do.
Had
a good study today looking up scriptures in under "Trust in the Lord"
in the topical guide. The scriptures I came across talked about the
blessings that come from trusting in the Lord: deliverance from our
enemies, mercy, love, and most importantly: eternal life. So let's just
do it. It really is so much better when you know that you're doing what
the Lord wants you to do. So let's all care more about what the Lord
thinks instead of what other people think. It'll make us happy. Easier
said than done, right?
Love y'all (people love it on the rare occasion I say 'y'all' I need to say it more.) Love the gospel. Love New Zealand.
Ofa atu!
Sister Mullen
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Spring Has Sprung
...well I think it's sprung. We had beautiful weather this week. I feel like I'm giddy like it's Christmas time. It's weird though, I feel like the weather hasn't changed that much in the past year which is why I think it's so hard to realize how long I've been out.
This week was pretty good. We've been able to find people to teach and it's felt SO good. Like I was talking to my District Leader, I don't feel like I did anything different, I just felt like it was the Lord's timing...and I definitely have learned somethings in the process.
Highlights of the week:
-At dinner with a family last week, it came up that I'm studying ME, so then the jokes went on and on (what's new) and I had it re-confirmed to me how much of I nerd I am. He was showing me the calculator on his iPhone and how when you turn it sideways, it becomes a scientific calculator, and I just realized how long it's been since I've held/used a calculator...and I kind of miss it. I admitted that I know that it is one of the most socially awkward majors out there.
-Things went so well this week that we actually went on splits so that we could be at 2 wards that met at the same time (woot woot!). Anyway, we had just pulled up to the chapel and one ward was coming out, and I hear my temporary companion say, "Oh my gosh, the little boy is peeing." And I look up and see a 2 or 3 year old with his pants down peeing on the flower bed. It was actually the stake president's son. I DIED laughing. Seriously.
Highlight of the week was definitely mission conference. It just feels so good to be around so many missionaries, even though I hardly know anyone. You live in a bubble when you serve at the VC, and all the other missionaries I have served with have gone home. Anyway, we had Elder Christiansen (Seventy...presidency of the seventy...somesing like that) and Elder Pearson (in the area presidency) and they're wives for 4 whole hours and it was the best! I couldn't write fast enough. They talked a lot about becoming a true disciple of Christ (3 Nephi 5:13) and letting these experiences becoming you and a part of you, or just going through the motions. I feel like I was really able to reflect on how much I've needed these experiences as a missionary. I had no idea what I was getting myself into, but I also had no idea how much I needed this. I don't know how I would have been able to face the rest of my life without being here. They also talked about how you find yourself when you lose yourself in the service of others, and it's so true. And the hardest times are when I'm thinking too much about myself. I guess I just realized how much my mission means to me, and I just can't put it into words. I'll be honest, I feel like an email home once a week is just not doing justice of the experiences I've had...but at the same time, you just wouldn't understand unless you were here.
It was a great week and we've got some great potential investigators coming our way. Like a boy we met who has been coming to church every other week with his friends, but the member dad didn't know how to introduce the missionaries to them (beat them to it!), but I just feel like I can't put into words what happened this week and I feel like I don't know what to share. Learning heaps ever week. Trying to take it all in because it's going by so fast. I feel like I'm just speechless at this point. The end.
Love y'all heaps!
Sister Mullen
This week was pretty good. We've been able to find people to teach and it's felt SO good. Like I was talking to my District Leader, I don't feel like I did anything different, I just felt like it was the Lord's timing...and I definitely have learned somethings in the process.
Highlights of the week:
-At dinner with a family last week, it came up that I'm studying ME, so then the jokes went on and on (what's new) and I had it re-confirmed to me how much of I nerd I am. He was showing me the calculator on his iPhone and how when you turn it sideways, it becomes a scientific calculator, and I just realized how long it's been since I've held/used a calculator...and I kind of miss it. I admitted that I know that it is one of the most socially awkward majors out there.
-Things went so well this week that we actually went on splits so that we could be at 2 wards that met at the same time (woot woot!). Anyway, we had just pulled up to the chapel and one ward was coming out, and I hear my temporary companion say, "Oh my gosh, the little boy is peeing." And I look up and see a 2 or 3 year old with his pants down peeing on the flower bed. It was actually the stake president's son. I DIED laughing. Seriously.
Highlight of the week was definitely mission conference. It just feels so good to be around so many missionaries, even though I hardly know anyone. You live in a bubble when you serve at the VC, and all the other missionaries I have served with have gone home. Anyway, we had Elder Christiansen (Seventy...presidency of the seventy...somesing like that) and Elder Pearson (in the area presidency) and they're wives for 4 whole hours and it was the best! I couldn't write fast enough. They talked a lot about becoming a true disciple of Christ (3 Nephi 5:13) and letting these experiences becoming you and a part of you, or just going through the motions. I feel like I was really able to reflect on how much I've needed these experiences as a missionary. I had no idea what I was getting myself into, but I also had no idea how much I needed this. I don't know how I would have been able to face the rest of my life without being here. They also talked about how you find yourself when you lose yourself in the service of others, and it's so true. And the hardest times are when I'm thinking too much about myself. I guess I just realized how much my mission means to me, and I just can't put it into words. I'll be honest, I feel like an email home once a week is just not doing justice of the experiences I've had...but at the same time, you just wouldn't understand unless you were here.
It was a great week and we've got some great potential investigators coming our way. Like a boy we met who has been coming to church every other week with his friends, but the member dad didn't know how to introduce the missionaries to them (beat them to it!), but I just feel like I can't put into words what happened this week and I feel like I don't know what to share. Learning heaps ever week. Trying to take it all in because it's going by so fast. I feel like I'm just speechless at this point. The end.
Love y'all heaps!
Sister Mullen
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Wet, wet, wet...as
Hey, did you know it rains a lot in New Zealand? Let's be honest, I feel like I just type to a computer screen and it gets sent to a black hole. And then I freak out sometimes thinking of the things I said in a letter when I think of people actually reading it. Like how I felt like my letters at the beginning were all about food...it's obviously called the 40 kg mission for a reason....
Hmm...it was a long week. Obviously Heavenly Father has lots for me to learn right now. I thought I was doing a good job at staying happy even though things aren't so great, but then we had a companion study with some elders and they said they could feel the load we have as we started telling them how we hardly have anyone to teach. Dang it. I hate how I feel like some people can read me like a book. Still more to learn little Sister Mullen.
Obviously the best thing about the week was Zone Conference. Started off with a musical number...performed by yours truly. Ugh. I rememberd I'm not a performer. Anywho, that was painfully over soon enough. President Lekias was pretty cheeky at this conference and was making jokes all over the place, it was pretty funny. A cool experience he helped us to have was that he was talking about the Atonement and then towards the end of it, he asked us all to notice the Spirit that was there, and obviously it was pretty nice and he just mentioned the Spirit that comes as we talk about the Atonement. And I, once again, had the reminder of how important it is to not lose sight of the Atonement and how we should never leave a situation without mentioning Jesus Christ. I feel like I learned how the Atonement can really turn our weaknesses into strengths and how thinking of Christ and trying to be like Him really is the answer for everything. I had some questions of how to handle situations differently or other things I'm working on, I just feel like Christ was the answer for everything. He also talked about how if we are motivated by Christ, then our leaders won't have to be on us to do certain things and to talk to more people during the week...we'll just do it. Which is so important to remember because sometimes I just get too caught up thinking about having to talk to my district leader at night and tell him what we did or didn't do, but just as we keep our thoughts focused on the Savior, it really will help so much.
Oh, good news, our new VC director's will FINALLY be coming in two weeks. They were supposed to be here in January after the old ones left, but they've had serious visa problems. Perfect timing because the fulltime couple, the Hardys, that was asked to step up to the job (they were just called to be a fulltime VC couple), they're finishing in about 3 weeks. I'm going to miss the Hardy's so ridiculously much. I definitely needed them here to help me through some times. They live in Clinton, so thankfully I know I'll see them again. Funny to think of the people I had to come meet in New Zealand.
I watched a video about Matthew Cowley and it is amazing to hear stories of when he was hear as a missionary and as a mission president. One time he just got in a car and started driving, not knowing where he was going, and he met two ladies at a shop and when he got there, one of them said, "See, I told you he'd come if we waited here." And it was a couple hour drive to get to were those ladies were. Craziness.
Well that's it folks. I can't believe it's the end of August. I can't believe I've been out this long. Where is my life going?!
Love,
Sister Mullen
Hmm...it was a long week. Obviously Heavenly Father has lots for me to learn right now. I thought I was doing a good job at staying happy even though things aren't so great, but then we had a companion study with some elders and they said they could feel the load we have as we started telling them how we hardly have anyone to teach. Dang it. I hate how I feel like some people can read me like a book. Still more to learn little Sister Mullen.
Obviously the best thing about the week was Zone Conference. Started off with a musical number...performed by yours truly. Ugh. I rememberd I'm not a performer. Anywho, that was painfully over soon enough. President Lekias was pretty cheeky at this conference and was making jokes all over the place, it was pretty funny. A cool experience he helped us to have was that he was talking about the Atonement and then towards the end of it, he asked us all to notice the Spirit that was there, and obviously it was pretty nice and he just mentioned the Spirit that comes as we talk about the Atonement. And I, once again, had the reminder of how important it is to not lose sight of the Atonement and how we should never leave a situation without mentioning Jesus Christ. I feel like I learned how the Atonement can really turn our weaknesses into strengths and how thinking of Christ and trying to be like Him really is the answer for everything. I had some questions of how to handle situations differently or other things I'm working on, I just feel like Christ was the answer for everything. He also talked about how if we are motivated by Christ, then our leaders won't have to be on us to do certain things and to talk to more people during the week...we'll just do it. Which is so important to remember because sometimes I just get too caught up thinking about having to talk to my district leader at night and tell him what we did or didn't do, but just as we keep our thoughts focused on the Savior, it really will help so much.
Oh, good news, our new VC director's will FINALLY be coming in two weeks. They were supposed to be here in January after the old ones left, but they've had serious visa problems. Perfect timing because the fulltime couple, the Hardys, that was asked to step up to the job (they were just called to be a fulltime VC couple), they're finishing in about 3 weeks. I'm going to miss the Hardy's so ridiculously much. I definitely needed them here to help me through some times. They live in Clinton, so thankfully I know I'll see them again. Funny to think of the people I had to come meet in New Zealand.
I watched a video about Matthew Cowley and it is amazing to hear stories of when he was hear as a missionary and as a mission president. One time he just got in a car and started driving, not knowing where he was going, and he met two ladies at a shop and when he got there, one of them said, "See, I told you he'd come if we waited here." And it was a couple hour drive to get to were those ladies were. Craziness.
Well that's it folks. I can't believe it's the end of August. I can't believe I've been out this long. Where is my life going?!
Love,
Sister Mullen
Just a Crazy, But Entertaining Week
Talofa Lava!
Hmm, an interesting week, lots of funny stories, but to be honest, not a whole lot of "spiritual missionary" stories. Ha. One thing I do love about being at the VC is being able to see people from Tauranga. I saw this member, Sister Rudo, I'm sure no one remembers her, but she's the old lady who saved my life as a new missionary. Fed us dinner the first night we got there because we didn't have any food in the new flat that the sisters just moved into and she bought my sheets and blanket, besides the fact that she came out with us several times a week for lessons. She's the best. I actually wrote her a letter last week and was ecstatic to see her at the VC on Saturday, and she was definitely excited to see me, I felt special. She misses the sisters so so much (they put elders in when I left. That's happened in 3 of my areas...is that supposed to mean something?) She said the elders are just so...young! Haha, she's the best. Who knew I had a best friend to come find in NZ who's 60 years older than me?
Saturday, a family of 2 brothers & 2 sisters came in. They live in Rotorua, but they're dad is having surgery at the hospital here and they could see the temple from his hospital room, so they decided to come out here! Yay! I wasn't able to give them a whole tour, but talked to them about the history of the church in New Zealand, building the temple and church college and what goes on in the temple and it was just SO refreshing being able to teach someone who was so accepting and willing to listen. They didn't want to get baptized (even though i just want them to and know that they're ready and want and need this) but they just found it all so interesting and I'm just praying they'll meet missionaries at home. It's such a blessing to be at the VC and have sincerely interested people come to us and to take a break from the rejection.
On to the funny stories:
-Witnessed a proposal at the VC this week. So presh.
-Remember the adopted daughter that got baptized a couple weeks ago? Well the dad still wants us to teach her everything, so I was calling to set up an appointment, and he of course knew it was us right away (it's like I have an accent or something...everyone ALWAYS knows it's the missionaries when I call) & he said, "What do you pesky mormons want? ...I've got to mean to you, it makes you stronger. What's that scripture? 'Blessed are the persecuted...' " & then I asked to talk to his son who's in the YSA ward (because we wanted his help with an investigator) & the dad said , "No, you can't date my son!" I think he said something about permission from the mission president, but I just DIED laughing because it was awkward as a missionary and just awkward for Ally. Doubly awkward. But that's what you do as a missionary. Awkwardness. It took me a while to gain composure to actually be able to talk to him. Thankfully I understand that family's sense of humor.
-Got chased by a dog. Almost felt good actually. Haven't done that since I got to Hamilton.
-A member thought my italian companion sounded like TI & Rihanna and like she's from Atlanta....uh, what?
-Went to the YSA ward we cover for the first time since I've been here in this area. It was weird at first being a missionary and feeling like I was back at BYU. But then I remembered how I definitely prefer YSA over family wards. Let's be honest, RS in family wards is all about being a mom.
-Dinner with this intense, but good member. She loves saying phrases in maori and then saying, "What I said in maori is..." Showed us where she hides the spare key so we can come get some kai (food) if we want.
I've been studying grace a lot lately and as I've been reading scriptures about how Christ came to save us from our sins, not in our sins, it just doesn't make sense to me how people think we don't have to work towards the privilege and honor of being able to live with our Heavenly Father. But also have re-realized that if we don't repent, we won't want to live in God's presence. It won't be enjoyable for us. It really is a choice. So let's make good choices. :)
Like I said...interesting week. Love yous!
Love,
Sister Mullen
Hmm, an interesting week, lots of funny stories, but to be honest, not a whole lot of "spiritual missionary" stories. Ha. One thing I do love about being at the VC is being able to see people from Tauranga. I saw this member, Sister Rudo, I'm sure no one remembers her, but she's the old lady who saved my life as a new missionary. Fed us dinner the first night we got there because we didn't have any food in the new flat that the sisters just moved into and she bought my sheets and blanket, besides the fact that she came out with us several times a week for lessons. She's the best. I actually wrote her a letter last week and was ecstatic to see her at the VC on Saturday, and she was definitely excited to see me, I felt special. She misses the sisters so so much (they put elders in when I left. That's happened in 3 of my areas...is that supposed to mean something?) She said the elders are just so...young! Haha, she's the best. Who knew I had a best friend to come find in NZ who's 60 years older than me?
Saturday, a family of 2 brothers & 2 sisters came in. They live in Rotorua, but they're dad is having surgery at the hospital here and they could see the temple from his hospital room, so they decided to come out here! Yay! I wasn't able to give them a whole tour, but talked to them about the history of the church in New Zealand, building the temple and church college and what goes on in the temple and it was just SO refreshing being able to teach someone who was so accepting and willing to listen. They didn't want to get baptized (even though i just want them to and know that they're ready and want and need this) but they just found it all so interesting and I'm just praying they'll meet missionaries at home. It's such a blessing to be at the VC and have sincerely interested people come to us and to take a break from the rejection.
On to the funny stories:
-Witnessed a proposal at the VC this week. So presh.
-Remember the adopted daughter that got baptized a couple weeks ago? Well the dad still wants us to teach her everything, so I was calling to set up an appointment, and he of course knew it was us right away (it's like I have an accent or something...everyone ALWAYS knows it's the missionaries when I call) & he said, "What do you pesky mormons want? ...I've got to mean to you, it makes you stronger. What's that scripture? 'Blessed are the persecuted...' " & then I asked to talk to his son who's in the YSA ward (because we wanted his help with an investigator) & the dad said , "No, you can't date my son!" I think he said something about permission from the mission president, but I just DIED laughing because it was awkward as a missionary and just awkward for Ally. Doubly awkward. But that's what you do as a missionary. Awkwardness. It took me a while to gain composure to actually be able to talk to him. Thankfully I understand that family's sense of humor.
-Got chased by a dog. Almost felt good actually. Haven't done that since I got to Hamilton.
-A member thought my italian companion sounded like TI & Rihanna and like she's from Atlanta....uh, what?
-Went to the YSA ward we cover for the first time since I've been here in this area. It was weird at first being a missionary and feeling like I was back at BYU. But then I remembered how I definitely prefer YSA over family wards. Let's be honest, RS in family wards is all about being a mom.
-Dinner with this intense, but good member. She loves saying phrases in maori and then saying, "What I said in maori is..." Showed us where she hides the spare key so we can come get some kai (food) if we want.
I've been studying grace a lot lately and as I've been reading scriptures about how Christ came to save us from our sins, not in our sins, it just doesn't make sense to me how people think we don't have to work towards the privilege and honor of being able to live with our Heavenly Father. But also have re-realized that if we don't repent, we won't want to live in God's presence. It won't be enjoyable for us. It really is a choice. So let's make good choices. :)
Like I said...interesting week. Love yous!
Love,
Sister Mullen
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Wet New Zealand Winter
Kia Ora!
I feel like the beginning of the
transfer was going so slow, but now things are starting to pick up
again. We had a good chat this week, don't know how it all started or
anything, but we go into being saved by grace or by works. I've studied
this so much and still don't have an answer that satisfies anyone, but
at the same time, they have to be willing to receive the answer. So we
got into judgement and all that stuff, and I spent a while trying to
find a scripture in the Bible to satisfy her, but as I was looking
through PMG, realized that almost all the scriptures for the Plan of
Salvation were in the Book of Mormon. Realized how important the Book of
Mormon is to teach us this plan, and I knew the Plan was important to
teach to help the investigators understand why we need to be baptized
and what we're working for, but I felt like it was the least important
of them all because none of the Baptismal Interview Questions come
directly from that lesson, but having this chat I realized why really do
need to teach it...to clear things like being saved purely by grace up.
Also, how important the Book of Mormon is. I finally started using
scriptures from the Book of Mormon because that's what I'm here to do,
to teach her the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon...not so much the
Bible.
Saw the YSA from the Tongan ward and realized how much I
miss them. Especially when they sang at the fireside last night. We
sang a hymng from the Tongan hymnbook today for comp study and I said,
"Why do we ever sing from the english hymnbook? They're so boring!"
haha, I met a YSA from the Tongan ward for the first time last night. I
knew who he was, but never officially met and he was trying to give me
hard time for not knowing his name. Cheeky. And I asked why he goes to
the Tongan ward because I remember him getting up to speak one time and
he said, "I'm Tongan...but my Tongan is not so good." So he gave his
talk in English. He said the Bishop is his Uncle. And then he said he
should probably go to the English ward because he can't understand
anything, but he loves the singing. I completely agree!
So we have this recent convert, Silvana, she's from
Belgium and is the best. She got baptized when I was in the trio in
march, so I was at her baptism. She was a miracle, got baptized 3 weeks
after meeting the missionaries and is a dream come true of an
investigator. She had surgery on her back and for a couple weeks she
couldn't sit down for more than 20 minutes, she missed the first week of
church after her surgery, but she was there the next week even though
she had to stand for almost all of church and she said, "My Sunday just
doesn't feel complete without church!" Oh my, we need her attitude to
rub off onto the members. She was asking if there's anything she can do
to help others without having a calling...I've been asking the ward
mission leader every week to make sure she gets a calling & I'm
frustrated with how nothing has happened yet. She's practically begging
for a calling!!
So I was talking to an investigator and I asked how old
she is, she's 20, and then I realized how old 22 is. That's a legit
adult...which I am far from being. I'm the baby in the family and always
will be...I still think I'm 19 or something sometimes. It was a sad
realization yesterday how old I really am.
Those are my tales of the week. As I was flipping
through our "Miracle Book" that we all got at Christmas (where everyone
wrote in a miracle they've had) & realized how this really is a
mission of miracles. Love it. Especially since it's so hard for
Americans to get here now. What a blessing to be here! Love it. Love you
all!
Ofa atu,
Sister Mullen
I'm On A Mission. I've Been on a Mission for Ages Now and I'm One of the Old Ones. Weird.
Drum roll for transfers...still in Temple View, like I knew I was
going to be. Took the Tongan Ward away. It was so SAD being in only
palagi wards this week...the singing is pathetic! And the Tongan hymns
are just more fun anyway. My companion is Sister Somma, she's from
Italy. She's already been here 2 1/2 transfers, so I know her and it's
been fun. Funny how with some companions you have more awkward/funny
moments than with others. I think we're going to have lots of
awkward/funny moments. We're doing this traning in all of our wards for
the RS & priesthood about helping the members see how they can do
missionary work and to get them excited, and we do a role play with a
couple in the ward and when we were practicing with one couple...I said
we were going to try to make this be natural & he said, "I've never
seen a missionary be natural." I just DIED laughing because I've talking
with these elders a lot about how awkward we are as misisonaries and
how many awkward things you have to do. Speaking off...we were planning
on using this sister who works at the Distribution Centre and we see all
the time, I was planning on using her and her husband (or who I thought
was her husband) because I ALWAYS see her with him. I saw on the ward
roster that it didn't say she had a spouse, but I just thought the
records were messed up, I knew he was a member, anyway, didn't think of
all the options, so we caught her at the Distribution Centre and asked
her if her and her husband could help us out & he said, "I don't
have one of those!" Thankfully she was laughing, and I just said, "Oh
whoops, sorry! Okay....bye! See you later!" There was NOTHING I could
have said...so we just left. Oh my.
So we did that training in 2 wards yesterday, oh
my...RS & priesthood can be a tough crowd! I've never taught any
sort of a lesson before besides seminary & it just reminded me how I
don't want to be a teacher...but I felt more comfortable doing it than I
thought I would.
Interesting week with transfers. I really didn't want
things to change, but once they did, I remembered that everything was
going to be fine and I'll just go on being a missionary.
I had a really good study the other day where I really understood
what it meant that the Book of Mormon really is evidence that we have a
prophet today. It sounds dumb. And I already believed it before, but it
was just made extra clear to me reading D&C 20: 10-12," Which was
given by inspiration, and is confirmed to others by the ministering of
angels, and is declared unto the world by them- Proving to
the world that the holy scriptures are true, and that God does inspire
men and call them to his holy work in this age and generation, as well
as in generations of old; Thereby showing that he is the
same God yesterday, today, and forever. Amen.:" I'm still struggling to
be able to explain what I learned, and what the difference was of what I
thought before and after...but all I know is that I know it without a
doubt. I guess I just understand how important it was that we have the
Book of Mormon as evidence today. Joseph Smith would still be a prophet
without the Book of Mormon, but Heavenly Father knew how much the world
today would need evidence. And how that is one of the main purposes of
the Book of Mormon is to prove the "divinty of the latter-day work," but
thankfully we can learn heaps from reading it too!
Lately I've done a lot of reflecting, maybe because
Sister Perry went home last week, which was one of the saddest days of
my mission, thank goodness she was in Hamilton so the Elders let us pick
her up and take her to the bus stop (to go up to Auckland), and the way
things worked out, we were able to talk for like half an hour. The
mission is just over so fast! I've been thinking about how I came our
here looking for no personal gain, but I am the one who has gained the
most. I've also been able to see my patriarchal blessing take place in
my life as a missionary in more ways than I even thought possible. I've
been able to see how Heavenly Father needed me to come on a mission to
become who I need to be. One kind of lame thing to admit is, as a
missionary I've finally come to love the Ensign. I'll be honest, I don't
think I've opened an Ensign besides for Conference. But now I can't get
enough. July is about overcoming trials, being patient, trusting the
Lord's will, and I just love it all! So much to read, and never enough
time!
Uh-oh, did'nt even mention our baptism yesterday. So
this girl has been living with this family for 4 years, and she is
finally adopted and so she could finally get baptized. And I definitely
felt the spirit there and could tell how long she had been waiting for
this and it was finally possible! It was so fun to see it finally
happen. We had so many people there we had to move it to the chapel.
Loved it.
Ofa atu,
Sister Mullen
PS Welcome to the family Sydney, even if you are a little one. Haha
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