Still in Dannevirke

I arrived in Dannevirke in early March straight from the MTC.

Dannevirke is a town with a ward that used to have an attendance of about 150 people, but had dwindled down to only 20 - 25 people each week.  When I was told this, I knew that my job in the mission field was to help people come back to church. 

The people of Dannevirke have been awesome. Everyone knows who the missionaries are.  There weren't a whole lot of people to teach as the town is small and everyone has had their doors knocked on at some time.  So Elder Chong and I - and then Elder Suard and I - started going through the ward list to visit less active members.

Dannevirke, although a town, is spread out quite far.  Visiting less active members was difficult at first because we only had bikes.  However, in May, we were able to get a car.  This was a real blessing because it enabled us to go out to some of the more rural areas and visit and serve people. I have loved having the opportunity to help people and show them where they can find true happiness. It has brought so much joy to my life.

I have seen miracles in Dannevirke. Since i have been with Elder Chong and Elder Suard, we have seen growth in the ward.  We have two baptisms in the coming month or two, but even more exciting is the reactivation of 3 families.  We actually had 51 people at church this week!  That's double from the number that came when I first arrived. Seeing the chapel get filled is such a blessing. The Lord is preparing people, both on this side and the other side as well.  I am so grateful for the many experiences I have had here.

This week was transfer week... and there was part of me that was excited about the possibility of transferring somewhere else.  However, it looks like Elder Suard is moving onto another area and I will be staying in Dannevirke to train another elder.  I may be here for a long time! This is OK... I will go where you want me to go Lord.  I will stay where I am needed.  I love missionary work. I love the people in Dannevirke.

With deepest love,
 Elder Shaw

New Zealand and the land of sheep

This week has been a really weird week really, We went out to dinner one evening at someone's home (they own a farm) and we decided to have some fun, to feed the sheep and to get head butted by a calf, it was quite enjoyable! You really had to watch where you were stepping!! 

Later in the week we walked to New World (the grocery store) and ran into someone really really strange, so strange I had to take a second look. It is a little bit of an odd photo but in the back of that truck there is a pile of dead lambs, in the parking lot, like it was terrible! Elder Suard paid his respects to them, but I stood far enough away!

  Their has also been quite a few blessings this week, it has rained almost all week, but today (Monday) it is beautiful, warm and the sun is shinning, that is such a great blessing as I have not enjoyed walking around in the rain a whole lot! But I have had  great opportunity to jump in puddles! We were also blessed with a fish and chip meal from the members, what a blessing! No instant noodles were had that day as we enjoyed a beautiful fish and chip meal! 

As I have been gaining some weight (like 6-8kgs) I have found that I no longer fit in my grey suit, it was very disheartening as I loved it a lot.  It was a gift from my grandma and was my favourite suit.  A young man in my ward named Teancum (like the scriptures) was about my size so I decided, rather then donate it to the local charity, why not give it to a young man?! and he fit it like a glove! I was so happy that it could go to him! His parents were so grateful!  

And lastly, as we were walking around on the Sabbath trying to find people on the street to talk to (no one is even alive on Sundays it seems) we were walking by a bakery and elder suard said "Look! look!" and I looked and beheld a conference Ensign! What a great site is was to see that! I never dropped it off there so it must've been there before me! So that was super cool!

 Otherwise missionary work is amazing, I love it here and as It gets closer to transfers I start to feel the anxiety of maybe moving? maybe no! What an exciting life it is!! This was a great week!

A baptism

This week has been full of blessings.  I love New Zealand and being on a mission is teaching me live on a budget!

This week was mostly a busy week trying to organize our baptism.  We went to Takapau to have the interview with Maurice and he made us afternoon tea and showed us his vintage car. I absolutely loved it!

I got a package from home! I was so excited, it felt like ages before it got here! , I wore the pink tie to our baptism on Saturday and got lots of compliments on it! 

Some pictures of activities at our district meeting, quite a fun meeting it was! haha. And I found it.... I found the one candy bar I've looked for, sought after, hunted. and I found it. A beautiful cherry ripe. I almost cried, I've spent over 7 months looking for such a beautiful bar of chocolate. and spring is here! exciting!! 

We live in a Beautiful World

This week we were invited to a Maori Celebration at a local church.  They did Poi Dancing and had games.  We also went to Akitio and we took a quad up to the top of a member's hunting block.  I am so grateful for this beautiful world that has been given to us by Heavenly Father.

A new companion

This week has been another crazy week.  We had transfers so we spent Tuesday night in the Pahiatua flat. We didn't get there till 12:00am. Elder Chong had to pack all his gear so it was absolutely crazy!

I have a new companion, Elder Suard. Elder Suard is awesome.  He is from Tahiti and he knows 4 languages! He bodybuilds, he boxed and does heaps of stuff. I am excited to be his companion, we are going to have a great time here.

My companions

Elder Chong, Elder Shaw, Elder Suard

Tim Tam Slam

Elder Suard and I (with the Avengers)

Goodbye Elder Chong!

We also had a boil up with the Riwai Family

The Boil Up

Awesome Riwai Family

After picking up my new companion, Elder Suard, we headed off on exchanges with Pahiatua so that they would be finished early, during the exchange we went to the Waihi Falls and to the Ocean. We were on our way to visit someone and because we were only 10 minutes away from the ocean we thought we would stop and grab some pictures. It was a beautiful day and I hadn't been to the ocean on a beautiful day yet!

Then on the way to Pahiatua we took a slight detour to visit Waihi falls! it was in the middle of no where, but it was awesome! You could hear the water running from where we parked the car.

The countryside is beautiful here. So green!

Unfortunately, as a bonus, we found a random dead sheep. We had to take a picture!

I love New Zealand. I love the people. I love the countryside. But more than anything I love missionary work.  It is truly a blessing to serve here and to love this people. I am grateful for the blessings I've had this past week.

Ka Kite!