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