Weekly Update July 23, 2014

Elder Bly, Ofa, Br. Arthur, Elder Rosier

G'day Friends and Family,

Today is the last preparation day of my mission, so this will be the last email I send updating you all on what's been going on here.  To be honest, it was a pretty typical week.  We were able to see Zeth again.  It's kinda hard to teach him.  He has the shortest attention span of anyone I've ever taught.  But we had a good lesson with him on how studying the Book of Mormon will help him achieve the goals he has to better his life.  We saw the Turners as well.  One of the families in the ward invited them to come to their home for a big dinner.  It was a really good night.  The Turners are being welcomed by ward members with open arms.  We were blessed to see them at church again this Sunday.  That's been 3 weeks in a row for them, and this time they stayed for the whole block.  They all seem really happy to be here.  It was initially a big step for them to attend, but they seem more and more comfortable each week they come.

On Friday we went around to Ofa's to try and catch up with him.  Unfortunately, he wasn't home when we came around.  We were able to give his mum a Book of Mormon in Tongan, and she said she'd start reading it that night.

We're now about half-way through my last week as a missionary.  It's a very strange feeling.  I keep thinking that I'll find myself waking up in one of my previous areas, looking at my companion and saying, "I had the strangest dream that I was about to go home."  But it's not a dream.  It's reality.

I started going around and saying goodbyes yesterday.  I went around Capalaba ward to see different people I miss from over there.  I still have a few more to go and see.  Yesterday we dropped in on Paul.  We had a good chat with him.  He's doing well.  His faith is still very strong that he'll have the opportunity to come to the Church one day.  I sure miss teaching him.

I would really like to thank everyone for their love and support.  I know I couldn't have made it through this experience if it wasn't for my family and friends back home.  I love you all.  Thank you for your prayers, love, letters, sacrifice, and encouragement.  To be honest, this has been the best experience of my life.  I almost don't want to come home.  But I will, because if I don't, my mother will kill me.

I love you all,
Elder Ross Rosier

Weekly Update July 14, 2014

Hello everybody!

Sorry to have left you all with such a cliff hanger last week.  I was barely able to hit "send" before the computer shut off.

This week was a really long week.  I'm really not sure why it felt that way since Elder Bly and I were able to get a lot done.  I guess time's just slowing down before I leave.  No complaints on that!  Time has been going by way too quickly over the last few months.

We were able to see Zeth again this week.  Since I didn't get to say much about him,  I'll fill you in on the details.  We met Zeth last Saturday while we were tracting in a neighborhood nearby the chapel.  He's a really friendly, very talkative Maori who's from South Auckland.  He's from Otara, the same suburb that Elder 'Iongi is from.  He pretty much grew up in the gangs there, and ran with the Bloods for a long time. Needless to say, he's got a lot of stories he likes to tell.  He came to Australia about 11 years ago to get out of the gang life and try to start over.  Though he left the gang, the gang has never really left him.  When we go to visit him, he's always wearing something red, and his house is completely decked out with red.  Zeth has a few really close friends who are the nephews of one of the members in our ward:  Brother Otene.  A couple years ago, Zeth was doing some work for brother Otene, and Brother Otene talked with him a bit about the church.  He even brought Zeth one time to sacrament meeting.  He also gave Zeth a Book of Mormon.  Zeth had just found the Book of Mormon Brother Otene gave him a couple days before we knocked on his door.  He is really looking for better things in his life, and when we came around, invited us back right away.  We met with him again this week and challenged him to read his Book of Mormon.  It will be interesting to see what happens with him because it is really hard to get him to sit still and stay on topic!

Yesterday after sacrament meeting, Ofa was ordained to be a priest.  He's doing really well, and is very excited about the gospel.  We're still trying to get in and teach his mum.  She's still keen to get baptized, but she knows she cannot be baptized unless she and her partner get married or separate.  I think she's waiting to work that out before she has the discussions.

Well, I hope everyone has a great week.  I love you all!

Elder Rosier

Weekly Update July 7, 2014

G'day everyone!

It was a long week for Elder Bly and I.  We were both battling bad colds.  I just about completely lost my voice one day this week.  Fortunately, we were able to see a few miracles as we did our best to push through.

I hope everyone had a great 4th of July.  I really miss that celebration.

Our biggest miracles this week came on Saturday and Sunday.  We were blessed to have the Turners finally attend church with us on Sunday, and they really had a great time.  We were very excited to see them come, as they've been a bit nervous since they don't know anyone in the ward.

On Saturday we found a new guy to teach.  His name is Zeth.  He grew up in South Auckland, and has had a rough past.  He was highly involved in gang activity for most of his life.  He's affiliated with the Bloods.

I wish I had more time to write about it, but I'm down to 30 seconds.

Love you all!
Elder Rosier

This photo was published on the mission blog.  It was taken when President and Sister Henderson came to the Cleveland zone for interviews and flat inspection.