Glorious gospel! (Nov 23)

G'day all!

What a Glorious day to live! We had a fantastic week of finding, seeing miracles, and being able to use talents and gifts for the purpose of bringing others closer to the truth.

I had to say goodbye to my last companion Elder Cavanaugh as he embarked on his journey to the mainland. My new companion and two other missionaries came down on Wednesday to Glenorchy and we were settled in in a couple hours time.

My companion is 26, stands at 6'5, and loves to play soccer and ping pong. He plays guitar, and is a BEAST at it. He used to teach at a music college in England before he came out. Oh yeah, he's also from Lester England and LOVES the gospel. He strengthens my faith each day. 

We had some miracles happen this week that really made me enjoy the mission even more! We found 2 families!!! 2 and they are keen for learning more. One family we found is obsessed with Michael Jackson, so we pretended to sing and dance to Thriller. It was crack up. My falsetto voice is to be bragged about I reckon. They let us in and we were able to share with them a little bit about what we do and what we share, about families, the restored Gospel, and the blessings of the Saviour in our lives. The kids and mum wanted us to come back, but the father was a bit standoffish. You could tell he had something pricking his heart that made him scared. However, we were able to set a time to come back around. KEEP GRAEME AND HIS FAMILY IN YOUR PRAYERS!! They need their hearts to soften.

Next, I will share shortly.

We went to see one of our investigators named Zack Young. We'd taught him previously and picked him back up. He's 16 and LOVES wrestling. So, we were able to go to their house and sit outside as usual. I've been trying this thing where I ask if I can use the toilet, and I really always do need to, but to get a chance to actually meet the family. I did.. we started talking to the mum named Melissa and dad named Adam, and BOOM WE GOT IN! We started out playing guitar for them because Adam loves guitar. I sang Hey there Delilah because it's the only one I can remember how to play and then my companion just busted out some songs. He knows everything. Then we sang, "My Heavenly Father loves Me" out of the Childrens Hymn book and taught them about God and how He can speak to us if we pray. He wants to hear us. The spirit was so strong. They all committed to pray EVERY NIGHT and Zack said a prayer to close. It was such a cool experience. Finally getting to use some abilities for good and sharing the gospel. What a blessing.

I was touched by the scripture that is on my mission plague back home.

Alma 26:3.

I read them this this morning and it filled my heart with the realization of the multitude of blessings that have come into my life since I've been a missionary. I'd lost sight of them... what I had been able to do in the strength of the Lord. I saw, as Ammon did, my own "nothingness" but I can say... With God we can do ANYTHING. He strengthens me and has helped me be an instrument in His hands to do good and become better. I still have many... MANY more things to improve on and I know what they are, but I know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ will help me. And They will help you, IF you let Them.

I love you all. Stay safe! KEEP WARM! I hear there is heaps of snow in the states at the moment?

-Elder Sargeant

TRANSFERS....OF DEATH! (Nov 16)

G'day all!!

What an epic week of craziness. I'll let you know that the best part about being a missionary is learning about who you are and helping others along the way to find out that same thing about themselves. 

We were blessed with the opportunity to have a ZONE P-DAY in TASMANIA!!! It's been the second time in the 6 months I've been here... that's more than the past 3 years I reckon. We went to the Bishop of Deloraine ward's home--who lives on 50 acres of land. It was a crazy day for me personally because you get heaps of missionaries together, (19-21 year-olds) and people are very hard to handle. BUT IT WAS SO MUCH FUN!!!! WE did a video for the Christmas Party we are having in Tasmania on the 9th of December.

This week was much of the same as last week. We were blessed to help out some missionaries and then to help out one of our Recent converts. She is in a bit of a hard spot at the moment... her partner who was recovering from drugs and was 4 weeks sober, got sucked into some bad stuff and got abusive. We were in the area and she texted us to help her, drive her away, or just take her some place. We were pleading for help of knowing what to do! Calling the cops would mean they'd be arrested and lose any chance of getting their son Tyson back from CPS (child protective services). We ended up calling a member from the ward and having him pick her up--- she is doing okay now. She's alive, that's what matters! the blessings of the Spirit and the guidance SHE received helped her stay as safe as she could in a very dangerous situation.

On a more happy note.... we were blessed with the Sandy Bay sisters setting... 9 BAPTISMAL DATES in the week. They are helping so many people come to Christ and they are all excited to be baptised. We're so blessed to work with such faithful sisters

My favourite part about the week was the Saturday-- we went finding and knocked on two doors before dinner. Doesn't sound like much but one of them was a Nepalese girl who said as after we opened the door... "ARE YOU CHRISTIANS?!?!? I AM TOO!!! I COME TO CHURCH WITH YOU!!!" It was hilarious! She was so outgoing and happy and she came to church!!! She's coming next week and we'll be going to see her again.

I am very grateful for Jesus Christ--- I've come to know Him and His endless love a little bit more this week. Transfers brings anxiety, but I'm staying in Tasmania again! I'm keen---more work to be done. I'm grateful for the chance to keep learning and growing and helping others. I love to learn to love others more. It's a great blessing being able to change and become better, and for that I am eternally blessed.

I hope that you all have a fantastic week!! Thank you for your notes, thoughts, prayers and emails. You have no idea what they mean to me, even on those days I let them slip my mind.

THE WORK IS TRUE!!

SHOUT  OUT---Sam.. my boy. Love you heaps man. You served valiantly. See you in 3 transfer buddy!

-Elder Sargeant

Crashed and burned (Nov 9)

Mum and everyone that reads it!

 

Well let me tell you the beginning of this week was fantastic. We went up to Melbourne for our monthly meeting and it was an exciting time. I won't go too much into detail because it'd bore you to tears, however I'll say that I was awakened to a new sense of HOW MUCH I LOVE THE GOSPEL AND SHARING IT!!!! I'm definitely not perfect at it, but I sure want to be.

 

 

Wednesday was the highlight of the week. We had a really good district meeting in the south town of Glen Huon, Tasmania. It was a rainy day and the streets were slick. After we finished up our once a week meeting, we were going out to lunch in town and were on Glen Huon Road. It's a bendy and pretty crazy one at that which reminds me of driving back home. Some of the Elders were two cars infront of us. All of a sudden, we saw their car was gone. Where did they go?? The Sisters infront of us slammed on their brakes. We were close to smashing into them, but luckily we skidded to the side of them in the middle of the road. Sister Bennion's face was in a state of shock and she yelled "they went over the side!!"

 

We raced up, pulled over, and ran back.

 

The Elders rolled twice over a guard rail and into a massive ditch about 10 feet below on top of a blue berry patch. Luckily, the back end was crushed and the front was completely fine where they were sitting. They climbed out, unharmed, but very shaken up.

 

All is well with the Elders... but goodness me it was surreal. It didn't even seem to be something that would happen. Luckily, they were protected.

 

 

We spent the rest of the week going out and working to make up for our lost time, and helping the Elders who were sick and recovering from their accident. It's a blessing to look after so many people sometimes.

 

 

We had a cool experience with someone named Ty Fellowes He is Daniel Fellowes brother! He reached out to us and asked us to come around to him in the psych ward, as he had attempted to take his life. He broughwo things: His phone and a copy of the Book of Mormon.

 

He wants to change. What a little miracle! We were able to talk to him and help him see what he needs to do and that it's possible for him to change. He is the man!!!

 

 

Other than that, all is good. I'll let you know what of release date ASAP so you can plan.

 

 

SHOUT OUT TO PAPA GISH!!!! He's sent me letter after letter and I've sent 0. I'm slack.. please forgive me, but chances are I probably won't get back anytime soon :\ Mondays are our worst days as we travel up north often.

 

 

LOVE YOU!!!

 

-Elder Sargeant

The Power of Yes (Nov 2)

G'day all!!!!

What a powerful week of adventure and experiences!! LET JUMP STRAIGHT INTO IT!!!

First of all, just a shout out to my brother Sam Gish! What a stud! He finishes his mission soon as and I'm so excited for the things he will be doing in the future. You must have had an amazing mission, and many wonderful experiences because I've seen you grow heaps. I'm stoked to see you again brother!!! Enjoy all those ladies that will be fighting for you tooth and nail ;)

So, this week started with a trip up north. 4 hours up, to exchange with the District Leader and his companion. I was blessed to go with Elder Hynds. We had some really cool chats with each other about our goals, experiences, the mission, and were yelled at a few times by some grumpy as old people who said we didn't know Jesus. I just laughed. We had a good chat at the end of our exchange and I've seen how the Spirit has influenced this missionary to change for the better. He has seen the impact that working has vs the impact of not working! HE WANTS TO BECOME BETTER. That made my heart sing.

Then we were blessed to have Zone conference where we were taught about Power of knowing who we are and what that means. We've been focusing heaps on this idea dn it's been a blessing to me for sure. My companion and I did a training on Teaching with Power, but we did an exercise that was so spiritual that I had never done before. We lined everyone up like so:

1   2    3   4  5   6   7  8  9   10

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Even our Mission President and his wife joined. We took each other by the hands for 10 seconds and just looked into each other's eyes. What a cool experience. I have never done it before... and I felt so much love for each missionary. I felt their qualities, experiences and who they were. I saw the things they had that made them the person I had known, and the person that Heavenly Father knows. I was filled with something I've haven't felt in ages. It was awesome! 

Well, please save your prayers for our investigator named Malcolm. He wants to be baptised, and knows he should but he's scared and doesn't think he can do it. We had one of the most powerful lessons I've ever been in with him and his fellowship Anker and Kelly Fuglsang.

HE NEEDS HELP OVERCOMING HIS FEAR!!! PLease pray for him to find strength. He WILL do it! :)

I bear my witness that this gospel is true.

LOVE YOU ALL!!

-Elder Sargeant