April 2, 2020

Sorry for the prank 2 days ago, it had to be done haha. 

Anyway, This morning we woke up to news announcing that within 24 hours all the US missionaries would be heading home. This has honestly been the most crazy, insane weeks of my life. But I'm so thankful. Thankful that I will still get a chance to go out and finish my mission, after all of this is over. Thankful for this short time I have had in Australia. Thankful for the small sacrifices I have made to make myself more whole. Thankful that we have a Heavenly Father who knows exactly how we feel. Thankful for the experiences I have had with his children, and my brothers and sisters. I would like to share one experience, with one person in particular, the greatest convert of my mission in my opinion. In my first area, me my comp found someone who thought he knew everything yet in reality this was not the case. He was very prideful yet very shy, was very selfish and never thought of others, but still I knew inside he had lots of doubts and fears, and that he knew he was imperfect but too prideful to show it. I knew that through the gospel he had a chance to turn his life around. He had a small belief in Jesus Christ but didn't know a lot. As I spent my time getting to know him in that first area, it seemed like there was no hope for him, and that he would never get converted to the gospel, but then I got transferred. Throughout the mission I kept in touch with him and how he was doing and eventually I started to see changes, as he diligently exercised his faith and tried his hardest to change and turn his life around. He had overcome his doubts, his struggles, and he had become a new person, someone who appreciated everything Heavenly Father had done for him and all the blessings in his life. He eventually became a strong member of the church and wanted to do nothing but help people come unto Christ. He was able to completely turn his whole life around, and like him, I know that through the gospel it is possible for ANYONE. His name was Matthew and he was from Utah.

See you all soon.

Elder Ensign

Week 38: March 31, 2020 我感染了新行冠狀肺炎

what a week where do I even start.

Last week on tuesday we had a mission wide conference call basically telling us we will all be going home... super sweet b-day present lol. So the next day, P-day, I couldn't be bothered. I only told a handful of people that I would be coming home and just told everyone else I would be staying because I was in a crummy mood and wanted to distract myself from the fact I would be leaving. We did really nothing, it was boring. That night however we got a text that said it could be weeks or months until we go home because of how big a task it would be to send everyone home. Funny because EVERYONE thought it would be like 2 days which made all of us very trunky cuz i had already packed half of my stuff up haha.

 However, it took a turn for the worst on monday. My comp was starting to have symptoms for the coronavirus, like the cough and sore throat last week but we really thought nothing of it, but he woke up monday morning with difficulty breathing so we freaked out and called the medical advisor. We went to the hospital later that day and yep, he tested positive. And I did too given I'm with him 24/7, but luckily i was caught earlier on so it will be easy to treat. It has been absolutely wild with us tracing our steps back for the past 1-2 weeks seeing who we have been in contact with just in case, but good thing that we always have really solid daily planning sessions. Luckily not many people have met with us because of how afraid they are of the virus. I guess I will be staying in the country a little longer than expected, as most of the missionaries from the states have left and more are going home this week, but it may be a couple more for me. Who knows, maybe at this rate they will let me stay in Australia lol. Heavenly Father makes blessings out of trials so who knows? It actually is very sad but I'm making a personal goal to find positives out of everything, and especially not to think negatively over something I cant control. 

D&C 122:7

Elder Ensign

Me in the hospital getting tested rip

Visited sunnybank for hopefully not my last time, and ended up meeting my favorite street friend Jimmy. Me and elder hohneke ALWAYS talked with him

Koala crossing

Week 37: March 24, 2020 PLEASE READ THIS!

Thank you everyone for the birthday wishes up to this point, no other way I'd rather spend it than on the Lord's errand. Luckily the work has been the same here compared to other missions that are in isolation, truly feel blessed.

This week I had a lot of really amazing spiritual experiences, but I wanted to focus on something that will benefit us all, especially with all the news going on.

I have been listening to a talk that elder Bednar gave in the MTC a while ago, called the Character of Christ, which is basically just telling us to follow the example of Jesus Christ and turn outwards even when the going gets rough for all of us. He said something that really stood out to me and I think it can apply to all of you. "Perhaps the greatest indicator of character is the capacity to recognize and appropriately respond to other people who are experiencing the very challenge or adversity that is most immediately and forcefully pressing upon us." Everyone, we are all in this together so there is no point in being selfish and turning inwards like the natural man. Turn outwards and serve those around you and you will be blessed through these trials along with the people around you. Please. Also, let me know if you want this talk as it would be a great talk to listen to in your church meetings at home! One of my favorite talks so let me know and I can share it on drive.

Elder Ensign

2 Timothy 1:7-8:

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord"

Won't be running out of toilet paper anymore hehe

Birthday brownies 

Week 36: March 17, 2020

This week has been absolutely crazy, all because of the coronavirus, lots of stuff going on. I won't expound on it cuz that's a waste of time but rip all the missionaries getting trained over video, that would suck lol. Australia is pretty safe though, but we still went out and bought 200$ worth of food just in case, because our Mission President wanted us to. keep your prayers up for those in areas that are more seriously affected by the virus. 

A blessing is like the 2nd week of the transfer I asked elder seve if he wanted to buy toilet paper, but he said no. By the time the next week rolled by everyone had gone crazy and snagged all the toilet paper and we had like 2 rolls left. We lasted another week hoping it would die down but it was even worse that time, it felt like the world was ending with everyone running around the grocery store snagging all the food. Luckily a member in another ward came in clutch and hit us up with 8 rolls, blessings of the Lord. For real though that's what's always hit me on the mission, is that no matter what situation is, we somehow always made it out. Like in sunnybank, with no dinner appointments and no money we somehow got just enough money every single time to have food for the week. And then now with the toilet paper. And so many more times, with trials I've been through and close experiences. It's awesome seeing the Lords hand in our lives and how he can help us get through our trials and afflictions as long as we turn to him.

Elder Ensign

1 Thessalonians 5:25

2 Timothy 1:7-8

Exchanges with the Zone Leaders 

Some of the boys in the district