G'day!
Hey everybody! Another eventful week in the great work of the Lord.
Elder Vaivela and I had some good experiences this week. None of our
investigators are ready for baptism yet though which is a shame BUT I
had a bit of my own personal revelation this week. I've been feeling a
bit anxious because Elder Vaivela and I havent baptised but then I
remembered Sister Simmons words when she said "Maybe you were just put
back into this area to train Elder Vaivela." Maybe she's right. I did
realize though that after all the training and working we did witness
someone become converted to the gospel and have a change of heart. I
told you about Malakai before but let me refresh your memory. Malakai
is from Tonga and he is the Taofi's 2nd cousin. He was baptised a
member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day saints when he was
17 years old. After he was baptized he never went back to church. He
started drinking, smoking and getting himself into all kinds of
trouble. He's 26 now and he's married with two young children. He came
over to Australia to earn some money because there arent very many
opprotunities for jobs in Tonga. So he lives with the Taofi's and they
are very strong in the church. Since he's been living with them he's
had to stop drinking and smoking. Elder Vaivela met him at church one
sunday and decided that we would teach him the lessons. I couldnt
understand anything because it was all in Tongan but my point of all
of this is that BECAUSE Elder Vaivela taught him the gospel. He's now
converted. He wanted to get baptized again (even though we cant do
that) becuase the first time didnt really mean anything but he's
grateful that he is apart of the church. Now he is preparing himself
to hold the priesthood and to go back to Tonga to baptize his family!
I asked Elder Vaivela what has been the strongest spiritual experience
he's had so far and he said teaching Malakai. The Lord's Tender
Mercies are everywhere. I'm thankful that Heavenly Father taught me
that lesson this week.
Again I testify that Heavenly Father has a deep love for all of his
children. NO matter what they look like! haha. We found this new
investigator Jason this week and he is a crazy looking dude. He has
long as hair. Its faded red. looks burned. He's a wanna be rock start!
Haha I know this sounds really mean but its true. But he has a solid
faith that Jesus Christ Is his Lord and Saviour. We taught him the
Restoration this week by the Dee Why Library on a park bench and I
felt the spirit. When we taught him about the Restoration and the
prophet Jospeh Smith the spirit testified to us all that what was said
was true. It was a great feeling! He could feel it too. I know he did
becuase we asked him. We invited him to be baptized and he said he
would need to read some of the Book of Mormon and come to church but
if he knew it was true he would! He's a humble man. We're praying that
he reads and continues to progress. We really need to focus on getting
our investigators to church. I know that we need to invite ALL those
around us to COME UNTO CHRIST no matter what they look like because
its not for us to make that judgement. I love you all. Ofa Atu
Elder Nelson
Hey everybody! Another eventful week in the great work of the Lord.
Elder Vaivela and I had some good experiences this week. None of our
investigators are ready for baptism yet though which is a shame BUT I
had a bit of my own personal revelation this week. I've been feeling a
bit anxious because Elder Vaivela and I havent baptised but then I
remembered Sister Simmons words when she said "Maybe you were just put
back into this area to train Elder Vaivela." Maybe she's right. I did
realize though that after all the training and working we did witness
someone become converted to the gospel and have a change of heart. I
told you about Malakai before but let me refresh your memory. Malakai
is from Tonga and he is the Taofi's 2nd cousin. He was baptised a
member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day saints when he was
17 years old. After he was baptized he never went back to church. He
started drinking, smoking and getting himself into all kinds of
trouble. He's 26 now and he's married with two young children. He came
over to Australia to earn some money because there arent very many
opprotunities for jobs in Tonga. So he lives with the Taofi's and they
are very strong in the church. Since he's been living with them he's
had to stop drinking and smoking. Elder Vaivela met him at church one
sunday and decided that we would teach him the lessons. I couldnt
understand anything because it was all in Tongan but my point of all
of this is that BECAUSE Elder Vaivela taught him the gospel. He's now
converted. He wanted to get baptized again (even though we cant do
that) becuase the first time didnt really mean anything but he's
grateful that he is apart of the church. Now he is preparing himself
to hold the priesthood and to go back to Tonga to baptize his family!
I asked Elder Vaivela what has been the strongest spiritual experience
he's had so far and he said teaching Malakai. The Lord's Tender
Mercies are everywhere. I'm thankful that Heavenly Father taught me
that lesson this week.
Again I testify that Heavenly Father has a deep love for all of his
children. NO matter what they look like! haha. We found this new
investigator Jason this week and he is a crazy looking dude. He has
long as hair. Its faded red. looks burned. He's a wanna be rock start!
Haha I know this sounds really mean but its true. But he has a solid
faith that Jesus Christ Is his Lord and Saviour. We taught him the
Restoration this week by the Dee Why Library on a park bench and I
felt the spirit. When we taught him about the Restoration and the
prophet Jospeh Smith the spirit testified to us all that what was said
was true. It was a great feeling! He could feel it too. I know he did
becuase we asked him. We invited him to be baptized and he said he
would need to read some of the Book of Mormon and come to church but
if he knew it was true he would! He's a humble man. We're praying that
he reads and continues to progress. We really need to focus on getting
our investigators to church. I know that we need to invite ALL those
around us to COME UNTO CHRIST no matter what they look like because
its not for us to make that judgement. I love you all. Ofa Atu
Elder Nelson
Elder Nelson,
ReplyDeleteI was Elder Michael Nelson in Sydney from 1986 to 1988. I served in the Spanish Ward in Fairfield most of the time I was there. It's good you are keeping the name going.
Mike Nelson