This week was the BEST WEEK OF MY MISSION so far for one
reason!! I got to see and talk with all of you! It was so rejuvenating! As
for the week, as a missionary it was okay. Unfortunately, around the Holidays, people
really don’t want to take the time to hear a message about Jesus Christ. It’s
sad people are to busy with other commitments they forget the true reason for
the season. But I’m sure the coming weeks will be good!
Tuesday (12.23.14):
We went to the branch at 9 AM this morning. With travel time that means we had to
leave our flat at 8, and that meant missing out on personal study!! I HATE
MISSING THAT TIME to read, ponder, and study the scriptures. We had to go early
because we had a lesson with an investigator named F.. Unfortunately, he didn’t
even show up. So it was really
frustrating and sad. Luckily the day got better. Like I always say, “you just
need to keep a positive out look and you will always feel happy.”
Later in the day we taught G, from India. His dilemma with religion is basically
that he thinks all religions are good and there is no true religion. Our lesson
went really well and he is really sincere so I feel once he starts exercising
some faith and begins living the commandments God has given us, he will be home
free and down into the waters of baptism. We taught N (the girl we baptized
last week) a new member lesson. She is doing awesome but she is going to Perth
for the Holidays. Then we taught K (the juicy burger and NY pizza guy). He
LOVES deep doctrine. Which isn’t bad, but sometimes it is hard to testify of
the simple truths of the gospel with him.
Wednesday
(12.24.14):
It is really weird celebrating Christmas Eve in the
mission field… honestly, I just missed being home with my family and our
Christmas traditions. But I know it is just the sacrifice I have to make for
these two years.
We taught C another lesson about the Plan of Salvation.
It was awesome! She was a little unsure about the concept of a premortal
existence, but we gave her some scriptures so she can read and study up on it!
She is KEEN, but she works HEAPS and can only meet 1 time per week! That is a
real BUMMER.
On the way home a tender mercy miracle of Christmas
happened.. We didn’t have anywhere to go for Christmas Eve dinner because as
missionaries in the city the only family we know are the G’s (part member
family with the car museum). But as we were walking home from the train station,
a member from out of town, who just happened to be in the city, saw us and took
us out for a Christmas Eve dinner at a Malaysian restaurant! The Lord really
does look after his missionaries! It was an incredible testimony builder!
Thursday (12.25.14):
BEST DAY EVER! I got to Skype my family and it was
magical! That is all I could even think about the whole day! Afterwards I
opened up all the amazing Christmas gifts and the letters! Thanks to everyone
who made my first Christmas as a missionary a wonderful experience.
I never thought a stocking could be bigger than a Christmas Tree.
Joy to the World!
It really
turned out to be a great day. The G’s invited us over for a KANGAROO dinner. Complete with potato wedges, and a traditional Christmas pudding. You
really can’t get much more Australian than that on Christmas Day!...
The G family made Christmas dinner extra special.
I can't wait for you guys to meet them.
Friday (12.26.14):
In Australia, the day after Christmas is Boxing day,
and EVERYONE was out shopping and hitting up all the sales! NO ONE, and I mean
NO ONE, wanted to talk with us! They were all determined to just mob the city
and be on the look out for good sales. You know how much I love shopping for a
deal, and truthfuIly, I kinda wished I could have been shopping right there
with them :)
However, I did get to have a really solid GQ with a
kid traveling from Indonesia! He was so interested in the Book of Mormon and
said he had been wondering the other night if there was anything he could do to
get closer to Jesus Christ. It was interesting, at the time I GQed him we were
on Burke St. This is shopping capital of Melbourne so there were thousands of
people rushing around; and as I walked past him I had this urge to stop and
talk to him. At first I didn’t stop, but then I felt strongly that I needed to
turn back! So I pretty much stalked him until I caught up with him. I invited
him to sit down on a bench with me and taught him about our Savior, Jesus
Christ! Even though he is going back home to Indonesia, I know he will contact
the missionaries.
Saturday (12.27.14):
It seems as though everybody we have been teaching
has decided to leave the city for one last trip before school starts again. For
some reason the only people left in the city today were a bunch of cold hearted
Aussies. haha There must have been
some convention going on or something, like the “Bah Humbug… Christmas is Over
Society.” Oh well, as a missionary you just have to keep doing the Lord’s work.
Even the public restrooms smelled of Bah Humbug!... don't light a match!
We did teach one lesson to a guy from China named J.
He had heaps of good questions and I really enjoyed discussing with him the
facts and truths of the gospel. We also received TRANSFER NEWS tonight.....Drum
Roll.... Elder N and Elder O will both be leaving! I will be getting a new
companion and staying in the city.
Sunday (12.28.14):
I guess the Lord and President Maxwell really do
know what they are doing. During personal studies this morning I received a
call from President Maxwell. He said, " Elder Steele, you have done such
an amazing job training your Golden, Elder O these past 6 weeks. Thank you so
much for all that you did for him with training in a Trio. However, I was
wondering if you would be willing to train another Golden who is coming in this
transfer." I WAS SO SHOCKED! So that is the exciting news. I will be
having another Son (remember missionary genealogy). I hope he is as awesome as
Elder O, my first Son, because we had a BLAST together! More details will come
next week!
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