Seetai got baptised!

Elder Grow me first Zone Leader leaving for Gisbourne
This kids ball skills is next level hopefully see him play for the NBA in the future.

Wassup yo.

Man what a weekend and a busy flat out week so much PLANNING and back and forth with the Samoan ward mission leader which was ahh, kind of a headache, but every thing all worked out in the end. The week was long with appointments and visits, Eferton who is 9 (another investigator we are teaching in the Manurewa 2nd ward) is having a hard time understanding the lesson we are currently teaching him. He had leukemia he takes a lot longer to take in and understand information and is not really able to understand much English, so its pretty much up to me to get my Samoan better than what it is cause right now he's not understanding my Samoan/English lessons, straight feel bad for him cause of me he's progressing slow or not at all, and he tells us he wants to be baptised but I want him to understand. So I've been spending more time studying Samoan and praying for help while teaching him, in the end I know it will work out.

My trainer Elder Lewis leaving for Hamilton.
Sad day it was but life goes on.

Elder Goodman, Se'eta'i and myself. yeah the baptism.

On Saturday we had the Baptism of Seetai. Man what a week of organising the program and making sure everything was good for the day, and what a day it was! Honestly, it was straight gangs, the spirit that was felt no lies was legit strong. One of the speakers who spoke was his wife's little brother. Man the best primary speaker I've heard,  brought tears to half the room - the talk was about faith and repentance. Seetai felt the spirit that day and we were hopeful he would, after we baptised him he told me how grateful he was for the work of missionaries and knew 100% that this is the right thing to do. Man brought tears to my eyes honestly that day was just too many emotions lol good ones though. Cool thing, we did the baptism in Samoan hehe proud of myself lol any who but the light refreshment they reckon after the baptism. Walk into the hall and there's 2 massive pigs and 4 Styrofoam boxes of BBQ with talo and luau with other sides, man what a feast! The family gave boxes of corned beef to the Stake Presidency and the Bishopric for coming to the baptism along with boxes of chicken. Stake President's wife, bless her soul lol comes to us as we were leaving and puts the box of corned beef in our car bruh corned beef for days I tell ya. Eshayy!!

yeah the boys

Yeah last week was hectic juggling between both wards has gotten a bit harder as the work and our teaching pool with both are continuing to grow but man you wouldn't want it any other way, these challenges are what makes us grow and need them like a fat boy needs exercise (which is me also) lol ahh but yea such is life, a beautiful thing but the mission life man nothing beats it. I'm grateful for the opportunity that has been given to my companion and I to teach the people that Heavenly Father has prepared for us, love this Gospel so much and just want to wish you guys a blessed week. Yoza.

Well y'all have good one!

 

Elder Purcell

 

TRANSFER 3

Yoza!

Mate what a busy week it has been. Actually that's a lie, somewhat busy but just a really long week that dragged on. So it's that start of my 3rd transfer and I've finished my training and so my trainer/companion Elder Lewis has been transferred out to Morrensville in Hamilton and I'm still here in Alfriston Ward which is gangs cause I didn't want to get transferred just yet, but yea it sucks not only that our fearless leader lol Elder Grow has left as well as a great ZL and past AP. Oh well, Such is Life. My new Companion is Elder Goodman, he's also from Idaho and honestly I've been blessed with really good companions so far, it's all about that balance lol. Yea besides transfer week being transfer week also known as the "trunky week", we went and did some good but not as much as we could of, oh well there is this week to make amends.

Saturday was the most tiring day of me mission life so far, so every Friday and Saturday early morning a member who is a PT has invited us to train and take his classes (for free of course) cause us Elders are letting go of ourselves he says LOL but its true. So we do a cross fit circuit training which kills honestly but hopefully worth it. Straight after we did visits with our investigator and some less active members, and we did a service which took about 4 hours of hard labor. We landscaped one of our members yard removing massive rocks from his front yard and shoveling and cutting down trees. Afterwards we were just exhausted and crashed at the flat lol but we had Stake Conference so we got ready and headed over.

Conference yesterday was good talking about pre-mission to mission life to post mission life then temple marriage and what not lol but good talks. This transfer is about to get busy and well that's what I'm looking for. Another 6 weeks in Rewa hard to hard.
This Saturday is going to be great and can't wait.

Well that's me for this week sorry it's not much just one of those weeks.

Elder Purcell

"I love exercising the Priesthood!"

Yoza!

How was everyones last couple of weeks?

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY TO ALL THE MOTHERS OUT THERE!

Didn't write last week cause I didn't feel like it to be honest and nothing happened at all, but I do this week  lol, but last week though was lit, last District Meeting of the transfer so you know we posted up and posed for days  on the real though District Meeting is always good. We went out and visited a few of our less active families with our Ward Mission Leader and had the best response from our visits we could ever get. First family we visited we were able to set up a F.H.E with her and her brother for the purpose of teaching her brothers partner the Gospel and get comfortable with missionaries, so hopefully activating 2 families and possibly convert one straight gangs opportunity. Second was a family we put on "pause" lol President doesn't like us using the word drop but yea we visited them, well tried to visit them so many times last transfer and this transfer and either they won't answer (even though we know they're home) or they would just open the door a little bit  and wouldn't talk to us lol yep good times, But when we went this time they just full on swung the door open for us and told us to come in which was surprising but we went and talked with their family and they were going through a lot of trials just recently. We did a prayer with them and then placed a blessing on them as well on their request, 4th time giving a blessing so eshay exercising the Priesthood hehehe. Then we found out that they wanted their son who is 9 to be baptised so now we have a return appointment with their family and are able to see them more often.



Elder Sayer from Straya

Elder Weber (front middle)

My District #1

On Wednesday we had MTC exchanges so went out with the new missionaries for 5 hrs doing visits with our less active members a bit of tracking and a good feed for lunch. I got Paired up with Elder Sayer from Straya lol born and raised in Toowomba just outside of Brisvegas, the guys kickback and on to it and also Elder Weber from Bolivia this guys just dripping in swagoo lol and they're coming to the Apex mission, NZ Hamilton. We got more referrals for the Samoan Ward which we went and visited and now we're teaching them, so our teaching pool is expanding by the week which is going to keep us really busy which is good and tiring lol. Getting fed so much it's not even funny anymore lol the members double booking us for dinner so yep almost 2 dinner appointments every other night and 2 kilos gained every week lol , but I gotta have faith in losing, keeping fit for the work. It's hard saying no to Island food.

Any who it was good skyping home yesterday seeing family and friends good talk yea.

Elders: Borders, Su'a and Purcell

That's it for me enjoy your week later bo.

 

Alofa atu,

 

Elder Purcell


 



My District #2

Prayer and a Positive attitude!

G'DAY EVERYONE!

 

Happy ANZAC Day (that past last week).

 

Our Zone leaders E.Grow and E. Su'a making sure we get our flu shots lol

Mate what a week, slow but fast week. Tuesday our zone went to get a our flu shots which took ages, and it was my first time getting a flu shot and what do you know I get sick from it luckily it was just a cold but still headaches for days. Then on Wednesday there were exchanges I went with our fearless District Leader lol (inside joke) had a good time meeting his investigators and their families as well as having a gangster as feed with one of the members in his ward. The down side was I missed out on Brother Matthews mean as breakfast he does for us as we teach him temple prep class and other lessons at his home, I'm talking a big English breakfast with poached eggs, toast, tomatoes, sausages, bacon and a big as piece of steak. If not then waffles, pancake and bacon. Brother Matthews is literally the man and on top of that he buys us groceries even when we tell him not too, honestly straight gangster. He just loves having the missionaries over.

District Meeting happs, our District just dripping swagoo 



Work is great in South Auckland so much to be done in the Manurewa Stake its straight gangs. So much success happening within our district It's putting everyone on a high which is great because then we can feed off each others positive vibe and the attitude to push ourselves and work hard, because even though we are missionaries at the end of the day we're human also and honestly it's hard to stay motivated every day and push ourselves so we can always use that little bit of push no matter where the source is from.


My Brother from another mother Elder Borders a MMA champion in Germany

Downer about yesterday was a lot of our appointments and dinner appointments lol got canceled. We tried to catch up with Se'eta'i our investigator from the Samoan Ward Manurewa 2nd on 3 occasions during the week and weren't able to catch him, even calling him we had no luck. Kinda worried about him but then we saw him on Sunday. Best news that just made up the week, As we were talking he told us that he finally prayed and got a date, man we were just excited and can tell he was too. It was hard for him to pray because he wanted to let his parents know first before he even prayed for a date but it was hard for him to tell his parents. Power of prayer aye? As we prayed for him to help him find the strength and courage to tell his parents that they get answered. Honestly best news this transfer so we have him set for the 26th of May which is a week after next transfer lol hopefully I stay aye 

Well besides that the week was actually good so much driving it's not even funny lol but I hope you guys have an awesome week ahead.

Yea the Boyz

talk to you lads next week yoza.

Alofa atu,

 

Elder Purcell 

We should see everyone as a child of God.

Yosh!

Hows everyone's week? Cause this week for me was MEH!! Lol it was busy but not busy in a way. Had Zone Conference on Wednesday which was the highlight of the week. Elder and Sister Ardern were present and did a training with us even though the conference went for 5 hrs  lol it was good learning with their training and knowledge. One of the things they talked about that stood out to me was to see everyone as a child of God, I see a lot of this happen but often as missionaries we might judge first with our own judgement with things like "oh he or she is not going to be interest because of......'so and so reasons'", or similar thoughts like that but if we see them through our Savior's eyes and see them as children of God and let Heavenly Father judge then we will find the people who have been prepared by the Lord, who are seeking the Gospel or even someone who just needs a friend and is going through some rough times. This not only applies to us full time missionaries but also to you members of the church. Look at people through the eyes of our Savior and the opportunity to share the Gospel will come to you more. Aside from the talks and training at Zone Conference it's always good to see everyone else in the other parts of the mission and catching up with the other missionaries in my MTC intake, can't forget the social aspect. The drive to Hamilton and back is always great with the boys and just chills out the week.

Other then Zone Conference it was busy as usual although i think it could of been better this week with the work that was done, but we can only look forward and try to do our best each coming day. Best thing that happened so far was getting a new Ward Mission Leader who was our old Bishop who we got close with Brother Samuel's, we had MCM last night and this guy is onto it definitely something we need to help push the work in Alfriston Ward and also coming up with new ideas and plans it was just straight gangs the meeting we had last night. We left renewed and more hyped for what this transfer can be and the potential we all have. Excited for the times ahead.

Then it was Monday again well I know its not much but 'Such is Life'

Until next week lads.

 

Love,

 

Elder Purcell 

BAPTISM OF VITORIA AND DAYTON

Yoza!!

Mate this week a couple of first timers for me which made this week a very learned experience, but overall it was a great week, a really long one though just one of them weeks. We spent a lot of time preparing and organizing the Baptism of Vitoria and her grandson as well as trying to do our visit that Bishop told us to do along with our lessons with our investigators and then teaching temple prep class, so busy week but a great week and it was all worth it in the end.

On Saturday Vitoria and her grandson had their Baptism and although we thought she wasn't going to turn up because she was almost an hour late lol we knew no matter what this was her day and if we had to wait 2 hrs then so be it. We all waited as she and her family arrived and the turn out from the ward was great showing their support for Vitoria and Dayton. It was an awesome feeling to Baptise Vitora and her grandson after having lessons with her and just getting to know her and her family and then seeing her take this journey is straight gangster. Vitoria wanted her and Dayton to be confirmed on Sunday so we waited until Sunday to confirm both. Saturday a memorable day.

 

Then came Sunday it was surprisingly packed for some reason which you can't complain, but a great Sabbath day where the Bishopric gave the talks and man great talks. One talked about Standing strong in your belief and don't be afraid to be a member of the true church, don't let people belittle your beliefs and stand up for what you believe, because we are not alone - we have our Heavenly Father, the Savior and the Holy Ghost with us. 

Two new experiences for me on Sunday, 1st one was Blessing the sacrament for the first time. Yep in all my years I've never blessed the sacrament until now lol twas cool. 2nd was giving the confirmation to Dayton, confirming him a member and giving a Priesthood blessing. Man I tell you having the Priesthood is straight gangs a privilege that we must come to understand the blessing and responsibility it comes with.

We brethren of the church, if worthy, have the power to act in the name of God. So my dear Brothers who hold the Priesthood I ask you, can you be worthy so that when the time comes for anything that needs the Priesthood, you will be ready at all times? Honestly its gangster.

Other than that, rest of the week was work work work, one good thing is we getting fed almost everyday now - YOZA! Blessings lol you can tell in the photos but all goods 2020 is a long way away.

Hope you guys have a blessed week!

First Convert Baptism Eshayyy lol
Alofa atu,

 

Elder Purcell

"Mate, what a conference!!"

YO!

How was everyone's week? And mate what conference! First time ever going to every single session lol twas a long weekend indeed. But honestly how gangster is President Nelson, my favourite talk out of the weekend would have to be from Jeffery R. Holland probably because he's my favourite Apostle and speaker. What he talked about with what the effects of Home Teaching can do, creating a relationship and bond from a small act grow into much greater things. For someone to call their Home Teacher first for help above all others shows the respect and love that, not only Brett had for Edwin but vice versa. I pray with the new change of Home and Visiting Teaching now being called Ministering that we as members reach out to our brothers and sisters with real love just as Jeffery R. Holland said about seeing someone with a car bumper sticker reading "If I honk, you’ve been home taught" lol don't be that guy, but what Elder Holland hopes us to be which is to be:

Elder Benson leaving to be an office Elder

"more deeply committed to heartfelt care for one another, motivated only by the pure love of Christ to do so".

 

My mission brother and sister

It was a very learned and spiritual weekend, and it was a good slow weekend from the busy week that was transfers, because prior to conference it was hectic as man so many changes happened in the District. I'm not going anywhere which is great, my comp and I are staying for another transfer but besides us everyone else in the district got new companions. So because 2 missionaries left on Monday we were put in a trio with our Zone Leader until Thursday when all the new missionaries come. We spent the week doing a lot of the Zone Leaders visit with our visits as well as cleaning up and closing one of the flats. It's been a busy and exhausting week and glad to start another transfer and continue on with our work. Then went to pick up the rest of our District on Thursday which is always fun seeing the other Districts in our Zone and kicking back because the bus is always late lol. Our new Zone Leader Elder Su'a a proper Sydney lad from Mount Druitt lol nah he's awesome feels good to have another Samoan Aussie, haha good times ahead.

Sadly our Baptism with Vitoria was postponed until this Saturday because of the conference so that's ok she was pretty guttered as the Bishopric thought it will be best to postpone so the support of the ward will be there which is cool. I know the ward trust us because they're starting to give us referrals to teach and meet which is a great feeling to have the support of the ward to move the work. Se'eta'i is still praying for a date as we're still teaching him as well as teaching temple prep class to some members, but now we have received more solid referrals the work is just starting. Yoza! Lol gonna make this a great and enjoyable transfer cause it might be my last one in this ward.

Other than that, last transfer was pretty gangster and I got many more to look forward to. This transfer looks bright just have to do the work that has been planned.

Hope everyones week was great and this week will be great, and I hope the Warriors lose this week because thats all I hear from members lol since I told them I'm a Parramatta fan through thick and thin.

Much love and take care.
Alofa atu,

 

Elder Purcell

P.S, still sleeping on getting my camera going so these are photos from other missionaries