So busy, he didn't have time to make up a subject line.

Don't have much time today to write a really big email but this week has gone by really quick since it will be my last full week with Elder Guitar Strings (some lady called him that because she couldn't pronounce his name SMH!!!).I will tell a story about our sacrament this past week though. 

One of our investigators named Barry came to church this Sunday. He has had a problem with alcohol and tobacco for many years now and has been in and out of maximum security prison a couple of times but he really likes the church and how nice the people are. When I shook his hand when he came into the chapel I could smell a lot of alcohol on his breath and he didn't look very good at all. I went and sat with Barney after I finished blessing the sacrament and throughout the whole meeting I could hear Barry in the background talking quite loudly to Elder Gutierrez and Mike (a recent convert).

Then one of the ladies who was there for the family history meeting in the 3rd hour went and grabbed Barry and took him outside. Turns out they went up to top of the driveway to have a smoke and on his way out Barry spilled a bunch of his tobacco on the floor of the chapel. Turns out he had just gotten kicked out of his flat because some guy came around and caused a lot of trouble for him and his landlord earlier in the week so he was quite drunk at the time but at least he showed up to church!

Other then that it was a pretty normal week with a lot of driving to the outer edges of our area to see people who live super far away!!!

I'll send pictures of our sight seeing next week.

Elder Mitchell

"My eyes are just a little sweaty today"

This week.......

We had a baptism!!!

We spent most of the week preparing Barney for his baptism but when we weren't with him or Mike (one of our recent converts) we were out inviting people to his baptism. On Wednesday we had the Zone Leaders from down in Hamilton come up and interview Barney for his baptism but he has a small mental disability so they made sure to ask simple questions. Other then a few meal appointments with some of the members we didn't really get to do much service but we did get 2 referrals from some of our members so we will try and contact them later this week. 

After investigating the church for a little under 2 months, Barney made the decision to step into the waters of baptism and make the first of many covenants to our Heavenly Father! Elder Gutierrez had the privilege of performing the ordinance and then on Sunday he asked me to give him the gift of the Holy Ghost so I had to learn how to perform that ordinance in about 2 minutes haha! The spirit was very powerful in the chapel and I got a little chooked up while I giving him a blessing and after he said that when I finished it felt like "someone put a warm blanket on me" and I told him that it was the Holy Ghost. 

Loving the people here in New Zealand!!!!!!!!

Elder Mitchell

#GoTeamIsrael

Barney's Baptism

"Is her middle name Cherie, so It's a Secret Cherie, maybe?"

This week we had exchanges!!!!

On Tuesday after District meeting Elder Landis (he came out with me to New Zealand) took me on an exchange and we headed up to Raglan and taught a few pretty good lessons and talked with heaps of people! The exchange went pretty well and I think we both learned something. When we got back to Hamilton we found out that both of our companions didn't really do much in the way of missionary work because they spent almost the entire time while they were together in the hospital for Elder Prasad's foot and My companions hand!

The Nawton Elders have a pretty rubbish flat so while Elder Gutierrez was staying there he got a mean cold and so we spent most of the week inside trying to get him feeling better but he has been coughing pretty bad since then so we might be going down to the doctors after district meeting this week. Even though we stayed in the flat most of the week we got heaps of work done and finished the lessons that we are supposed to teach before baptism to Barney and we have his baptism scheduled for Saturday at 4:00! 

Last week I hit my 8 month mark which means I am 1/3 of the way done here. I have learned so much and met so many great people over my time here and it makes me sad to see the time fly so quickly. I know that the next 16 months are going to be great even though there will always be challenges! 

I am loving the people here!!!

Elder Mitchell

Attached are some pictures of the beach

"Do you mean the girl ...

....who came up to us when we were running in the park just now and she was looking for her epileptic dog?"

This week...... WE GOT A SET!!!!!

On Saturday we went over to one of our Investigators and taught him the Word of Wisdom and we set him for baptism on the 18th of this month! His name is Barney and we have been working with him quite a bit over the past couple of weeks and he has decided to make that step into the waters of baptism! He has a small problem with coffee and tea but the people he lives with are going to help him out with dropping it which is great to have that kind of support :) 

We had an Unveiling on Saturday at the Marae near Raglan for a guy named Henry Grey. Now some of you may not know what an Unveiling or Marae are so let me explain them too you. 1 year after the funeral of someone of Maori descent (or anyone that belongs to a Marae) they put the headstone on the grave and have a huge kai (feed) to celebrate his life. A Marae is a gathering place for a tribe of Maori people where they have parties and such. The Maori culture here is so fascinating! 

Not much else happened this week for missionary work except we have been knocking on a lot of doors because our appointments keep dropping us but it has given an opportunity to go and try and find people. It is a branch here in Raglan so not many people attend church in fact we had 20 people yesterday which is pretty good for this area. We might be going and hiking a mountain later today if the weather stays good!!!!

All is good here in Raglan!

Elder Mitchell 

Attached are some pictures of Bridal Veil Falls (Yes the same name as the one in Utah) and one of our district