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