A letter from President Cummings

Oketopa

Lo'u Aiga,

This week was prime as!!!
We had quarterly interviews with President Cummings on Friday!! We got there 10 minutes early and no one was there so we just started my interview a little bit early!! Which is good because we also finished 10 minutes late!! BAHAHA!!!! President and I had a fun time discussing the situations in this area and the tactics I was using to find people to teach!! He gave me some great counsel for working with less active members that really seems to be working!!! It was such a strong spiritual experience, I felt like some one was pouring warmth into my heart the whole time we were talking. Loved it.

We also had a missionary fireside for the ward last night!! I gave a talk!!! YESSSSSSS! It is the first talk I have given on my mission!!!! I talked about John 14:6 and related it to the gospel of Jesus Christ (faith, repentance, baptism, Holy Ghost, enduring to the end...) and explained how enduring to the end only means keeping our covenants and keeping the Holy Ghost with us at all time. Then talked about how in our baptismal covenant we promise to take Christ's name upon us.... just like how the missionaries wear Christ's name on their badges! Then I talked about the 3 steps Elder Oaks talked about in his conference talk last week for everyone doing missionary work: 1)pray for the will to do it 2)keep the commandments and 3)pray for the inspiration on what you can do in your life! It was a nice fireside!! I am making referral cards right now to give members in our ward!!

What else?

I went down to Hamilton on Tuesday and got to see SISTER MAIRE!!!!!!!!! (Who came from the Provo MTC with me here!!!) She is Sister Training Leader at the Visitor Center right now!!! I drove down with Sister Green (she served in Redoubt Zone with me at the beginning of my mission and was in my psychology class at the U) and Sister Hazelet (my Sister Training Leader last transfer). Sister Seiuli stayed with Sister Ulu and Sister Taugaele in Manurewa 1st!!

My zone leader (we only have one) Elder Van Theil (he from South Africa--and hes white as) called me this morning to tell me that I have a package and that he read on the customs notice that there was chocolate inside... BAHAHA... SO thank you for whoever sent me the chocolate!!! I will get the box today but the chocolate might go to the elders!! BAHAHA!!!

I love you all so much!!! Hope everyone is doing well and looking for miracles and missionary opportunities!!!! 

Alofa tele atu!!!

Sista Peo

 Sisters Seuili and Peo

Sisters Maire and Peo

Yay Vaai!!

Miracles

Lo'u aiga,

Oh man this week was the best!!!

I don't really remember all the details... everything that happens in the week goes into a blender and gets all mixed up inside my head until I'm not sure when things happened... but I'm vaguely certain they happened this week.. 

We have two baptisms set for August!!!

Taua- We taught her the law of chastity this week and then she still want to get married to her partner after her baptism... so that was a fun conversation!! But all goods we sorted that out and now she's on track again! We are just waiting for her partner's divorce paper to go through so that they can get married BEFORE her baptism on the 20th!! BAHAHA!!

Tausili- he is the man! He is 18 and he is basically a member already. His family adopted him from Samoa and he comes to church and activities regularly. He just got back from a .. kafau.. sorry!.. in Samoa so that's why he wasn't baptized before now! So his baptism is on the 6th!

We had interviews with President which was nice! It was nice to have the opportunity to talk to him! He gave me some advice on my area -talk to ward mission leader and bishop about ward mission plan- in order to help us out some more and then we closed with a prayer where he thanked Heavenly Father for my diligent hard work and obedience... which touched my heart that he knew that about me, even though we only talked for a few minutes.

We went and did what President suggested and after talking to Bishop, we were invited to ward council on Sunday!! The first time in over 9 months for missionaries to be allowed to go!!!

In the council they emphasized the ward mission plan and pushed the work!! I was so happy!! And then Members of the ward have been working hard on giving us referrals!! Most of them are out of area.. but I am thrilled we are getting them!!! We are working on having people invite them to their house so we can meet with them!

The working is good... filling the whole day is hard because we only have 2 investigators... so we are door knocking... *sigh... hopefully it won't be for too long and then the referrals will help us out!!

My new companion is the best!!!! I love her so much!!! The second she got in this area, miracles started happening!!!!! SO awesome!!!

This morning I got a powerful reminder of how much Heavenly Father loves us! During my personal study this morning I had a question I was trying to answer for myself... nothing important or faith shaking... just something I didn't fully understand. I read a scripture that I knew had the answer for my question, but I didn't understand it. So I prayed and asked for help to understand the answer to my question. Immediately I tried to read the scripture again... And my eyes of understanding were opened and I understood the scripture and the answer to my question. I think Heavenly Father is dying to help us... dying to bless us... but he can't unless we humble ourselves and allow him to do so.

Ask and ye shall receive, knock and it shall be opened unto you.

Love you all so much!!!

Have a great week!!!

Alofa tele atu!!1

Sista Peo

we saw a double rainbow this week

 a member made us orange skirts for a ward activity.... I was SOOOO excited!!!

 

Sister Peo

Kia ora!  Greetings from the New Zealand Hamilton Mission.

Sister Peo arrived safely to Hamilton, and is already labouring in her new area. Her companion is Sister Taituuga.  They will be serving in the Redoubt Zone, up in south Auckland.   I have enclosed a picture of them, one of the entire group that arrived the same day, as well as a picture with us.  We love Sister Peo already!

We look forward to serving with Sister Peo in this wonderful work as the missionary wave floods this great country of New Zealand!  We need her and are excited to serve together!  Her testimony will grow as she helps others receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and his atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end.

Arohanui,

President and Sister Rudd