Do I really have to go? - The Weekly Email

Remember how last week I said I was ready to leave? I think I lied. We've been very blesed over these past couple of weeks with lots of appointments and new people to teach, and every time we set a new appointment for next week, I think, "oh man, that's my last week...." and it hurts my heart to have to leave these people, knowing that I won't be able to continue to get to know them and help them progress in the Gospel. The thing is, I love people as soon as I meet them here more often than not. That's the thing about missionary work, it binds you to people like nothing else. And a place. A wonderful island place.

So speaking of lots of new people, I want to talk about a few. First off, Louca and his family. Louca plays on an American Football team here with a bunch of members (I'm not kidding, real American Football!). He was drawn by their example, and has come to church for the past six weeks now, including a session of General Conference. He and his wife have been looking to find God, feeling disillusioned with the Catholic church they were raised in, both of them being from Wallis. We were able to have a Family Home Evening with them last Thursday at a member's house from the team, and we taught them the Restoration. They're basically ready to be baptized, in Louca's own words, he wants to join the church where "he feels good" and he feels good here. We also taught a young guy yesterday named David who recently came here from France. We talked and he said that he basically has no idea what to do with his life, doesn't know where he's going, and wants to do more than just "get a job, retire, and die." Well, the Plan of Salvation has answers. What I've been learning more and more over the past couple of weeks, the Gospel and the Church of Jesus Christ have an answer for anything and everything in life. It may not always seem related, but answers are there.

I love you all, one email left!

Elder Miner

Did most of the Mont Dore hike last P-day.

Cool night views from our sector

It's been cloudy and rainy for the past couple of weeks

Trunkiness begins to set in... - The Weekly Email

Honestly, the days are blurring together more and more now. I wish I could say more about what happens from day to day, but I'm really just trying to put my head down and sprint to the finish and do my best to leave it all out here for my last transfer especially. More and more, I find myself wanting to leave a legacy here, that even if I haven't baptized as much as other missionaries or something like that, I can look back and say that I've helped improve the church here, or the missionaries, or the members, etc. The musings of an old dying missionary I guess. I think I'm beginning to pass the point where I'm apprehensive about coming home and I'm becoming more and more excited instead. For better or for worse, but I really am excited to begin the next stage of life.

Elder Hable and I have been working like crazy out here doing contacting this past week, and it's been yielding its fruits this week in terms of more and more appointments this week. We've had some really good and some really weird experiences, but that's mission life. 

Some updates on investigators, I have good news and bad news about Bernadette and Lyzalysse. Bad news is, they won't be getting baptized at the end of the month. Good news is Bernadette's husband has decided that he wants to take the missionary lessons again so they can be baptized as a family. I think that's better, don't you? Our other truly progressing investigator right now is named Ernest, he's been coming to church for the past 4 weeks, except for conference where he wasn't able to attend. He's from Lifou and he's family with some members there, but he doesn't know much about the church. He's progressing really well though, I'm excited to teach him tomorrow. Those are our most progressing investigators, there's a lot of things that are starting to move here, but I don't wanna jump the gun talking about it here and have it not work out. Even if I only have 2 more p-days left here...

Anyways, the work is good, this chruch is ture, and Jesus Christ lives.

Love you all!

Elder Miner

Got special permission to go out and about for my birthday, so we got lunch downtown and then hit a cool hill called Ouen Toro with the ZL's. I can't think of a better way to celebrate my 21st birthday. 

#ldsconf - The Weekly Email

So we got to watch conference this weekend, and it was a great experience. I especially loved Elder Bednar and Elder Stevenson's talks. They both gave a lot of answers to the questions I've been asking myself as I begin to prepare to come home from my mission. My heart goes out to the family of Elder Hales as well after their loss. 

Conference kind of consumed most of this week, we did have two investigators come to some sessions, a newer investigator named Armand, he's 19, and then Bernadette came to the Sunday Afternoon session. She's thinking that she wants to postpone her baptismal date, but we're still working on it. She's ready, she just needs to know that she's ready. Other than that it's just been missionary work, lots of contacting, training and studies, alll the normal missionary things. The days have slowed down somewhat, I'm just trying to pass on all the knowledge I've gained to Elder Hable so that the mission can continue to go to new heights. Life is good, God is good, and this work is true.

Love you all, see you in a month!
Elder Miner

PS Sorry, no new pictures this week, I haven't taken any since zone conference...

Longest Week of My Life - The Weekly Letter

Wow do I have a lot to talk about this week! And like no time to do it today because it took forever to get my new companion his library card. It's been quite an intense week, I saw Elder Kessler off and then on Friday got to meet my new companion! I think I'll start there, his name is Elder Hable. He's an American, but his Dad works for the State Department, so they're currently living in Indonesia. Most recent American city is Boston though. He reminds me a lot of me, but better, honestly the caliber of missionaries we're seeing here, and I'm sure it's the same the world over, is just getting higher and higher. His attitude is great, he wants to work hard, he studies like a maniac, and he speaks French pretty well already since he studied French for 6 years. We've only been together for like, 5 days, but it feels like so much longer. He's also a great athlete, plays rugby, soccer, and baseball. In short, he's great, we get along great, he's happy to be here, and I'm as happy as can be to be training for my last transfer.

Most of our time these past few days has been spent in zone conference, basically only Saturday were we able to get any real proselyting in. Zone Conference was great, it felt a little strange knowing that it was my last one as a missionary, it almost felt like something was missing. I did translate one last time, I'd rather help others to understand more of what President Granger says since I'll be leaving soon.

Bernadette is still on track for her baptism, we saw her yesterday and everything is going great, she's given up coffee, now we're just working on cigarettes, and she needs to get in contact with her husband on Lifou just to make sure that everything is good.

I love you all, I'd love to send more but I'm a little low on time today, hopefully I'll get some pictures sent off too that'll fill in some more details. See you way soon!

Elder Miner

Got to see Elder Kessler off as well, Godspeed Elder.

Once Elder Kessler left I got to spend time Monday - Friday with the North Zone Leaders, y'all probably recognize these two, and it was a great time.

Last Zone Photo

The Veterans

Fathers and the next generation

On Vacation in Tontouta - The Weekly Email

Hey everyone! This is Elder Miner signing in from Paita right now. I've been chilling up here in Tontouta with my Zone Leaders waiting for my new companion to fly in on Friday. I'll be training Elder Hable, a brand new American missionary, and I'll be staying in Riviere Salee. I'm really excited to train, and I'm happy to be staying in the area, there's a lot of cool people there and Elder Kessler and I put in a lot of work to get it humming again, now we just need to keep working. 

Elder Kessler has gone home, he should be home tomorrow here, Wednesday for you, which will be the same day he left, because the international date line is confusing. I loved being with him and he was a great missionary. I wish him all the best as he returns home. 

The last week with Elder Kessler was all pretty much the same, we just kept working, things have plateaued a bit in our area, but we still have a lot of things to do and a lot of doors to knock. We were able to visit our investigator Bernadette on Monday, she just got out of the hospital with her newborn who is healthy and adorable. Albert Joseph is his name, and she kept making the joke of "Albert Joseph Smith." Haha, aren't golden investigators the best? We also got to teach two new investigators the lesson of the Restoration on Elder Kessler's last morning. I can't think of a better way to go home. 

Love you all! I'll let you know all about Elder Hable next week.

Elder Miner

PS Sorry, no photos, this cyberbase won't let us. Next week! :)

Getting Ready for a Funeral - The Weekly Letter

Well everyone, this is it, Elder Kessler's last week, or as we say in mission lingo, he's about to "die." We served a total of 9 months together between or three times as companions, and he's become one of my best friends, and he's an amazing missionary. He's spent two years here, and now it's time for his family to get to enjoy him as much as I and the people here have. 

The biggest news for this week is about Bernadette. You remember Bernadette? The sister from Lifou who's pregnant and came to Noumea to give birth that we set a baptismal date with? Well, we stopped by yesterday to say hi since we were in the neighborhood, and she told us she was having contractions and would probably be going to the hospital that day or the next, so in all likelyhood she's there now. We also started teaching a new investigator, she's the mother of a young member who is the only member in her family. She asked for a blessing and after giving the blessing we asked if she wanted to take the missionary lessons, and she said yes and asked to start right then and there. It was a great lesson and she has a lot of potential, especially since she already has family in the church. 

All I can really say right now is that Elder Kessler and I have been extraordinarily blessed recently with miracles and people to teach. For a sector that was and has always been a little dead, it's been amazing to see what a lot of work can do, and the blessings that flow. I think that's a pattern for life, the Lord will always bless us according to the effort we put into something. Even if it looks hopeless or we're discouraged, if we keep enduring and keep pushing, the Lord blesses us as we stay close to Him. 

Love you all! See you in a transfer!

Elder Miner

Nice views of the sector.

All in day's work here

Farewell Elder Kessler and Sister Pahio, farewell...

"13 Days...." "Stop it!" - The Weekly Letter

Hello one and all! So recently I've been bothering Elder Kessler by commenting on how much time he has left here in New Caledonia. I don't think he appreciates it. But it's fine, because he's probably going to be one of my best friends for life. Interesting how a mission can do that, bringing people together who never would have met otherwise, missionaries, members, and investigators alike. Always interesting to see who clicks with you, sometimes it's the people you'd least expect. But I believe fully that we knew and were destined to find people that we knew from the pre-mortal life  here in this life, and sometimes it takes going halfway across the world to do it.

Honestly all I can say about this week is that the Lord is blessing immensely. Will we be able to baptize before the transfer is out? It'll take a miracle, but for a sector that had been having nothing going for it and a bad reputation for the longest time, things are really moving. Just last week we started teaching two new part member families and another family from Vanuatu. Our efforts can only goes as fast as our two feet (or two bike tires) can carry us, but the work goes on. I'm so grateful for this chance I've had to be a tool in the Lord's hands during this time, and to have a front row seat to His infinite mercy and beautiful plan, in my life and in the lives of others. 

I love you all, see you in a couple months.

Elder Miner

Best Comp ever! :3

P-day activity last week, we went out to some cannons in Nouville on the far edge of Noumea

Destiny photo, Parc Riviere Bleue take 3

This is my new friend Steeve, our shuttle driver in Riviere Bleue, our last P-day activity before Elder Kessler goes home.

Apostolic Goodness - The Weekly Email

Sorry that I didn't get a chance to email last week, our email place was closed, but now I have something great to talk about! So, Elder Gary E. Stevenson visited Vanuatu a couple weeks ago and did a training for the missionaries there, but we weren't able to attend, so they filmed the training and President Granger visited last wek and showed the training to us. Elder Kessler and I volunteered our services to translate since we're both old in the mission and going home soon, so we didn't get a ton out of the training, although one of the things that stuck out to me the most was when Elder Stevenson, quoting another old apostle, said that "a lesson without a committment is a waste of time."

In other news we were able to fix a baptismal date with Bernadette, our miracle from Lifou. We set a goal for the 28 of October, after she gives birth, but unfortunately after Elder Kessler goes home as well.

In other news, it's now gotten to the point that often on first meeting me people think that I'm from France. Members, investigators, even new arriving missionaries from Tahiti, all native French speakers. I'm pretty happy about that and grateful that God has blessed me with the gift of tounges to that degree. 

I'm enjoying the sector here, lots of work to do, lots of people to me, lots of "building the church" to do here. It's been nice being on foot and on bike, bit of a change from before, but it's nice to be a bit closer to the people. 

That's about it for now! Love you all, see you real soon!

Elder Miner

Last picture with the Glades, our amazing office couple before they left the next day.

Original parts Peugeot truck in our area.

On exchange with Elder Stone, new AP

When members give you a free pizza. :D

Keep on moving on... - The Weekly Letter

I really wish I had more to say this week, but I'm still trying to get my head around the sector and there's not much I have to say. The missionaries here were working a lot with inactives before, but Elder Kessler and I want to find someone who wants to be baptized before he leaves. We've got a couple leads, but we need to feel them out more. It's definitely different being on foot/bike, and especially not being a zone leader anymore, and I'm still kind of adjusting. 

I will take this time to bear my testimony of the Book of Mormon. I testify that the Book of Mormon is true. It was written for our day by ancient prophets. Its origins are exactly what Joesph Smith said, an ancient book of scripture written on gold plates, brought forth and translated by the gift and power of God. I testify that we can learn many lessons from the Book of Mormon, applicable to our day and our problems. There is power in the Book of Mormon, both what we can learn from what's written and from the Spirit that comes any time we read holy writ. I love the Book of Mormon, and I know that we can find help and heavenly strength as we read from its pages. 

Love you all, see you soon,

Elder Miner

You Better Believe it... - The Weekly Letter

So transfers happened! I'm now serving in the Riviere Salee sector, in the North Zone. It's my first time in the North Zone, but I'm still in Noumea, and our sector actually borders my old area... But it's pretty different, I'm on foot now, so hopefully I'll lose a little weight. It's also pretty small, but it's all residential, so there's a lot of potential, and a lot of work to be done. You won't believe who my companion is though................... Elder........................KESSLER! 3rd time now, after this transfer we'll have spent 9 months together, and this is his last transfer, so in the missionary slang I get to "kill" him. Despite this sector's bad reputation, I'm excited to be with Elder Kessler, and we're both experienced missionaries so we're looking to build this sector up. 

I think the story of this last week will be best told in pictures, and since it's been a while since I've sent some, I'll just let them speak for themselves. 

Love you all!

Elder Miner

Last Ducos District Meeting

A member gave us a huge dinner, so we took it on top of the cell tower in our sector that overlooks all of Noumea at night, it was way cool. 

                                                                                                                                                                                             

This was my old apartment in 6em, sorry for the mess, I realized I had never taken pictures of that house, and I was leaving that day and working on moving out.

Last Pictures with Marie-Rose and Kena

Last picture with Elder Scroggin

First picture of my new sector

Golden Dreadlocks - The Weekly Letter

So, a long while ago we found a potential investigator while contacting named Sonia. Sonia is super cool, she has long dreadlocks and is from Houilou (pronounced Why-Loo), a city in the North. She was excited to talk, but when we tried to call her back it was a wrong number, so we forgot about it until about a month later we ran into her by accident, got a new phone number and set up an appointment. That first appointment was about a month ago and we taught the Restoration. It went super well, then just last Saturday we had our second appointment and we invited them to a musical fireside being put on by the Magenta ward that we had also been invited to participate in. It was super spiritual, and they wanted to come so bad that they WALKED what normally takes us at least 10 minutes to drive. Just yesterday we had another lesson and we talked about the Plan of Salvation, and she accepted a baptismal invitation. We haven't set a date yet, maybe this weekend...

Hopefully we'll still be around to keep teaching her, since transfers are coming up this week, we'll get the news Friday, probably make most of the changes on Monday, so we'll see what that brings. 

We also had zone conference over the past week, it was solid, I had a great interview with President. This past month of miracles we had 250 baptisms across the whole mission, giving us 675 total for the year. Pretty crazy stuff, and very close to our goal for the year of 1017. I'd love to see us hit the goal before I go home. I can't believe I only have about 3 months left... 

Guess that means I really will see you all really soon, having only two transfers left has really hit me that I don't have much time left, but I plan to do the best I can to bring the most people possible closer to Christ before I leave here. 

Love you all!

Elder Miner

South Zone at Zone Conference

Tumoana and Sasaou, so you can put some faces to the names I use in emails. 

The Gospel Blesses Families - The Weekly Email

"The Gospel Blesses Families" is the first point of the first lesson, the first thing that we've been instructed to teach investigators. And I think over the past couple weeks I've seen that more than ever with one set of inactives in particular. We've been working with a couple named Tumoana and Sasaou since I moved into the area with Elder Kessler, and they've been on and off in coming to church and studying their scriptures and other things. I talked about them a bit in one of my other weekly emails, but I just wanted to take the time to talk about all the things that are happening for them. Since they've made this decision, Tumoana has been able to get his plane ticket to head back to Tahiti to get divorced, he leaves on August 19. We're super excited for him, and over the past few weeks all we've really talked about is how to strengthen the family, on Saturday we talked about the temple and temple marriage. They both know that the gospel is true, but they still have a lot of questions, and we get to answer them! For them and for Marie-Rose and Kena and everyone else who lets the gospel work more fully in their lives, the gospel brings innumerable blessings. And I testify of that.
Side note, I'm emailing today because we have our zone conference coming up Wednesday and Thursday, so we had to move P-day. We'll be celebrating our month of miracles I'm sure. New Caledonia was able to reach our record for baptisms in one month: 14, but couldn't quite break past that record. I'm still super proud of all the misisonaires here, especially my zone, for putting in so much effort.

Love you all! See you real soon,

Elder Miner

Rock-solid Converts - The Weekly Email

Not much to update everyone on this week, the biggest piece of news honestly is just how well Marie-Rose and Kena are doing right now. First off, they're both fired up to do missionary work, just a couple days ago we went past Marie-Rose's house, and first she asked for a Book of Mormon, and then since we didn't have anything fixed, she just called us up because she was right up in the middle of talking about the Gospel to one of her friends, so we were able to talk with her and give her a Book of Mormon and help her out. It was a really great lesson, and now we have a new investigator. On Kena's end, he's working up North this week, but he accepted the challenge to give a Book of Mormon to someone while he's up there. And they both have come with us to some lessons and want to go to more, it's so amazing to see how strong they are and also the blessings that are coming. Story example: Kena needs his birth certificate so he and Marie-Rose can get married, but it's in Tahiti. Under the French system either he or his parents have to go there, but they're poor, and in any case for Kena to get his passport, he needs his birth certificate. So, they started working on ordering it online, but since this past Sunday, some members found out and they know someone who works in the town hall in Tahiti, so now they're working on it too helping them out, all fulfilling the promise that we made to Kena before his baptism that if he would commit to living the word of wisdom and the law of chastity and be baptized now, that they're marriage would come with no obstacles. And now it's happening. So amazing to see promises fulfilled. 

That's what I'd like to share with you all this week. The Gospel changes lives, plain and simple.

Love you all, 

Elder Miner

Baptisms Shamu Style - The Weekly Email

Hello everyone! Great news, Marie-Rose and Kena's baptism went off great and without a hitch! I got to baptize Kena (the big tall Wallisian in the photo) and when I did we splashed a ton of water out of the font and got the front row of chairs wet! According to my companion it was hilarious, I was more focused on getting him back out of the water! They were then confirmed yesterday and have been fired up ever since. We even took them out to a lesson with us last night and it was fantastic. They'll be super strong converts and great members, and we'll always be "their missionaries" as they like to call us. 

In other news, the mission is sitting at 126 baptisms for the month. New Caledonia is set to break our record of baptisms in one month. We have 10 so far, and the record is 14 and there are 4-5 planned for this weekend in the North zone, and Mont Dore in our zone should have at least 1 if not 3 more this month, so it's looking great. It's been a crazy month, just Saturday is an example of how miraculous it's been. This Saturday after our baptism we went to a baptism in Mont Dore, then we went to an appointment with a new investigator, and she and her daughter especially, but basically the whole family was riveted during our lesson on the Restoration and were excited to come to church as soon as they can. They'll be solid investigators. Then we went to a lesson with some inactives we've been working with, Tumoana and Sasaou, and they told us that they've decided to give up all of their word of wisdom problems, to make a huge effort to read the scriptures and pray together, to come to church, and to get Tumoana to Tahiti in order to work out his divorce. They've been doing some of those things, but rarely consistently, but now they're 100% committed and it feels different too when we talk to them, they're so much happier and more motivated. I don't know what changed, but it just shows that the gospel works miracles, and we should never give up on people. 

That's about all for this week, love you all!

Elder Miner

Marie-Rose and Kena before their baptism.

Contacting, jam-session style.

2 Miracle BAPTISMS - The Weekly Letter

Sorry this letter is coming out so late today, we had stuff to do this morning so we couldn't email at the normal time. But I have some really great news: MARIE ROSE AND KENA WILL BE GETTING BAPTIZED THIS SATURDAY!!! That's right, we've set their date and everything, now we're just working with them, trying to stay in contact every day to keep them strong and on the path. We've already seen a bit of opposition, just yesterday we were visting Kena when his dad came out and got after us for coming in the morning. Very unusual, but we know it's just satan being all unhappy about people joining Christ's Church and stuff and trying to slow down the work. We haven't really been paying attention though, we're just working to make sure this all happens. The mission's goal for this month is 200+ baptisms, and right now we're at 100 even, so things are looking good. The missionaries in Lifou are also set to baptize a family of 4 this weekend, so that'll be awesome. 

In other news, President visited New Caledonia and he had 2 hour meetings, one with the Bourail district in the North, then the rest of the North Zone, and then us in the South Zone. Nothing brand-new or different from a zone conference, just a little visit to keep us pumped and working. President Granger is the best kind of mission President, the kind that gets right down in the trenches with us; he's set a personal goal to baptize a family in Vanuatu. 

I'm a little low on time today, so I'll end there, sorry, no new pictures this week, but I'll have plenty next time. 

Love you all!

Elder Miner

Happy birthday America! - The Weekly Letter

Hello everyone! Yesterday was my second fourth of July that I've spent on mission, and we celebrated in about the same way. My companion and I both wore red, white, and blue ties, he wore America socks, and we blasted MOTAB's versions of "The Star-Spangled Banner," "My Country 'Tis of Thee," and others all morning. Glorious. 

In other news, our month of miracles is off to a great start. We were given a great idea by a member to go on Saturday, each companionship in their area early in the morning to some secluded spot and to pray in order to be connected to our mission President's vision, to have miracles and inspiration, and to know that we're in the right place. Elder Scroggin and I had a great experience, nothing huge or miraculous, but a great feeling of peace and confidence. Later that day, through a miracle, we were able to get Marie-Rose and Kena out to see a baptism in Mont Dore. Literally last-minute a member came through to drive them out there, and the baptism ended up being amazingly spiritual and powerful, and now since they're living situation has changed, they're eligible to be baptized! Just yesterday we challenged them to do so, and they're going to talk about, and we'll be doing a follow-up today, so hopefully they can be baptized next week! July is going to be great!

In other news, transfers happened, nothing changed for me and Elder Scroggin, although Elder Kessler is back in the district as DL in Ducos, and we shifted the office Elders to that sector as well. We'll also be getting 6 new missionaries on Friday, 3 of which will be in our zone, so that'll be fun. We also have missionaries back in the Loyalty Islands for the first time ever since I've been here! Elder Eronico and Elder Langomazino (both of whom are my "brothers" in the misison since we were trained by the same missionary) got sent there, they flew out on Monday. Super excited for that. And they're in our zone, so I might get to do exchagnes out there! 

I think that's about all for this week, love you all, keep sending prayers our way. See you soon!

Elder Miner

We went out to Yate in the South for a district activity, and it was absolutely gorgeous.

A view from "le col de Prony" or "Prony Peak."

Look up and Taste the Blessings!

On the way home

Iorana les miracles! - The Weekly Email

Iorana tout le monde! I've decided to toss in a little Tahitian today for a couple of reasons, first there's a TON of Tahitian members in the church here, Tahitians are actually the ones who first brought the church to New Caledonia, and second, we had a big Heiva activity this weekend. A Heiva is a tradtional Tahitian festival that is a week long in Tahiti and includes traditional food, games, va'a (traditional canoeing), and most of all, traditional dances. Our activity wasn't quite on that scale, but it was still a huge success, the dances especially were all amazing, if I could send videos I would, but it still wouldn't do it any justice. We also had a ton of non-members and inactive members who danced or helped play instruments and who attended and watched as they were invited by members. One companionship even walked away with a couple new investigators. Just shows how much more effective missionary work can be when coupled with the efforts of the members in a cool way. 

The other thing I want to mention is that July is set to be another huge month of miracles, and boy has it already begun. Firstly, Louis is on track to be baptized, we're hoping by the end of July. He's already begun working on his marriage papers, and he wants us to start coming over to teach him twice a week now. We also had a miraculous experience on Sunday. Sunday morning we were calling all of our investigators to see if they needed a ride to come to church or anything, and then we got a call from a new investigator, asking if we could teach her later that day at the chapel. Of course we said yes, and she came! That like never happens here! It was a great lesson about the Restoration of the Gospel, and we really hope she felt something. She said she'd contact us again, and this time I actually believed her. 

Love you all, thank you for your thoughts and prayers. See you soon.

Elder Miner

Pizza with the Mont Dore Elders. They had a car inspection so they spent the morning with us contacting like crazy, and then we got a pizza for Elder Scroggin's one year mark.

One of the Heiva games, a rock lift. This one weighed something like 200 pounds.

                                         The Heiva dance floor.

Gud Morning! Olsem Wanem? - The Weekly Email

Hello everyone! Just got back from MLC these past couple days! I'm running on about 3 hours of sleep, but I feel oddly fine. Perhaps it's just the spiritual boost I just got fired up on... Anyway, MLC was a great experience. First off, July is going to be an absolutely huge month for our mission, we have a goal of 200 baptisms mission wide and to have EVERY SINGLE COMPANIONSHIP baptize. I normally don't get majorly fired up about anything really, but I'm pretty stoked for July. I haven't seen an investigator that I've been teaching be baptized in a long time now, and I'm tired of the drought. Some really great things came out of MLC though, it was awesome to watch how councils in the church bring up issues and lead to revelation that wouldn't have come forward before if there hadn't been any discussion. One of my main take-aways was to focus on what we call our foundation in the VPVM: The scriptures, the white handbook, Preach My Gospel, letters from the Mission President, and the words of the living prophets. 

In terms of the work this past week, Kena made a huge step forward on Thursday. We had a lesson with just him (often our lessons are with a big group) and he talked about what he's been feeling recently. We had visited them the day before in the evening and ended up giving their newborn a blessing before they took her to the hospital (nothing serious, just a little concerned). Once at the hospital, nothing was wrong, so they came home. He told us that seeing that blessing had touched them, and he admitted that he had kind of been lying to us and avoiding us recently, but that he wanted to change and get back on track. Really excited about that. Other than that, right now Elder Scroggin and I are really looking for some new investigators and evaluating where to put our focus in order to help the people who could get baptized do so, while putting those who are still working on marriage more on the back-burner. 

That's about all for this week, love you all!

Elder Miner

In the Port Vila Market

Vanuatu MLC! Us and the STL's for all of New Cal

A view of MLC

Sister Granger bringing some miracles!

Recording session in the mission home, we got asked to record a song we performed at the MLC musical devotional. Hope it ends up on the mission Facebook page so you can all check it out.