The week started off pretty normal, visiting Brian and Jo last MONDAY NIGHT. They fed us. They love us. Haha. Oh, and as you already know, we moved that day. Ha. That took up the biggest part of Monday. Moving alllllll of our things. Talk about an exhausting P-day! But it was good even though most of my stuff still isn't unpacked.
TUESDAY was slowish, due to having to be at our old flat while our landlord did some maintenance things. But we were still able to have a lovely lesson with a less-active sister and her kids :) LOVE TEACHING KIDS. Sarah and her two darlings, Lace and Tyler. They were one of the first to understand a little game we do with prayer — tying a knot in a tie, without letting go of the tie once you pick it up. It's pretty fun ;)
Then, Tuesday night when we got home and were planning, we got a call from President Balli: "Sisters! How would you like to come to the office tomorrow and pick up a new sister to be with you? She's just coming out of the MTC, and will be Visa waiting here for a while." Wooo!! 7TH COMPANION :)
So... WEDNESDAY morning we drove down to Takapuna to the mission office to pick up our third companion, where we dropped off my passport (I had it so I could get my NZ drivers license),and also picked up my NEW driver's license since it had arrived. :) So... you're talking to a sister who officially has her own FULL NEW ZEALAND DRIVER'S LICENSE. :)
My newest companion's name is Sister Lemalu. She's from South Auckland, just barely inside the Hamilton mission boundaries. She's Visa waiting to go to Hawaii, Honolulu, Samoan Speaking. (She is Samoan as well.) And we love her, dearly. And she's MY AGE! A few months older, actually! She's great. No need to be trained, but.... she's still my daughter ;) Haha. So, mum, tell Sister Boiteux for me (my other daughter/trainee) that she has a sister!! (I'm sending you her email since we can't email one another on the mission.) Tell her our posterity will not only continue in Mississippi, but in Hawaii!!
Oh. Also, Fun fact: poor Sister Lemalu is lactose intolerant. Ha.. So fun times for her ahead! 'Cause it's a new thing, like when I had to go all gluten-free and all the fun things. She just barely found out in the MTC that she's lactose intolerant! Fun times! But we had a grand first day, even though she was ridiculously tired. Due to her MTC companions having to leave at ridiculous hours of the morning, she'd been up since 3am! We had a couple of lessons that day, including one with our new investigator, Elizabeth :) Also a mini lesson with one of our recent converts, Lili (she's been really hard to catch) and her family. Then we had volleyball at Hibiscus chapel and our last meeting with Brother Maire before he went off to Tahiti........ So sad. But good for him to go back and visit home :)
Side note: The Elders Chatwin, Murdock, and Terekia, just entered the room singing to Sister Gila "God be with you" ... depressing things. But happy things for her also. Going home on Wednesday.
THURSDAY we were able to meet with Cleo, and there were many grand adventures with Sister Lemalu learning about mission life – and people feeding us things with milk in them and her feeling gross... Ha. :( Joys. But she got back up and she's strong. We went to MCM. And she started telling people she's lactose intolerant. Haha. ('Cause the Wharemate's at Missionary Committee Meeting usually give us ice-cream.)
FRIDAY we had weekly planning, a bit of service for our dear Sister Tina Rapata, and a BRILLIANT lesson with Philip :) He's so READY. We've just gotta find that little bit of confidence in him that's screaming to be baptised! It'll happen soon. Then we had dinner at this beautiful little couple's—Brother and Sister Louw. They're from South Africa and showed us all these brilliant old Dutch hymn books from when they were young and in youth and high school. Dutch hymn books. SO COOL.
SATURDAY I was sick. Yup.
SUNDAY I still felt sick at the beginning. But it slowly went away. And I could eat again. Yay!
Also: We met Sister Lemalu's family (we'd met them before, but had just never been to their house) — Ha. Oh yeah. They are HER FAMILY, as in aunt and uncle, right here in our Hibiscus Ward! So she LAUGHED when she found out what areas we were serving in. Great times :) We had dinner last night with the Laytons and Waith's, and met the Kaka family in Torbay.
Life is good. And it just keeps going. I honestly have learned a lot about myself. I've learned I'm GREAT at comparing my weaknesses to other people's strengths. Ha. Thus, where the feelings of failure and depression come from. But, I also know that it's helping me to learn how to overcome it and help other people instead. It's good. It's all about learning, right?
So.... new adventures here in North Shore in a trio. Or....at least for one more day. Our dear Sister Gila leaves us early early Wednesday morning :( I'm gonna miss my Gila. But - all is well. She's served her mission and it's time for her to move on to different adventures and exciting things in study and everything else back home :)
Also: THANK YOU, and I am very grateful for the package :) ALL the happy things. And all the happiness with the "stress relief" gifts :) Hahaha. And SUPER excited for the new clothes. Willlllll be wearing them like: tomorrow. Haha.
Love you all HEAPS, and hope you have a most brilliant week!!
I LOVE MIRACLES. How COOL is it that we have SO many little miracles in each day? It's been a GOOD WEEK :) And I know there are many more grand things to come.
We moved to Torbay today! Haha. So I have a new address for Dad to stalk :) We now live in a flat below one of our members. My feet are really cold right now, but that explanation will come later. Haaaaa.
And, my apologies, as this email is probably going to be a bit shorter than usual as well, since we've been moving today and also have an appointment at 5:00pm in Hibiscus, down at the end of the penninsula.
MONDAY we met Kim (a less-active) and her family. They're wonderful and adorable and we're excited to get to know them all better. She's keen to return to Church, and we're keen to visit with her family more now. Oh - and she gave us a tupperware with loooooots of pasta in it. Blessings, as we didn't really eat Monday, so we were ravenous by the time we got home. Okay. Maybe not ravenous. But definitely hungry!
TUESDAY was District Meeting. Good! But then.... struggly. Some people...weren't in a good mood this day. Which makes it difficult for everyone else to be in a good mood. Whatevs. It got better. "He turned me into a newt! ... But it got better." (Monty Python.) I miss the quoting things life. Haha.
And THEN. I'm getting the best "SOUVENIR" EVER. I went to turn in my paperwork for a NEW ZEALAND DRIVER'S LICENSE. Excitement in this Sister's life!! Haha. I will let you know how the picture actually turns out.... Hopefully I should be getting the license soon! *Side Note: My eyesight has changed. The Lord DEFINITELY helped me in passing that little mini eye exam for the license-ness. Ha. It's really not that bad. I can still see. Just not as well.
We then rushed our way back to Hibiscus, where we met Sister and Brother Manuel. We have LOVELY and amazing members. Have I mentioned that? Haha. Previously we had set up with Brother and Sister Manuel to bring us out to Warkworth on Tuesday :) MAN it's BEAUTIFUL!! And a long-ish drive. But worth it. Why? 'Cause we were able to "resurrect" TWO former investigators! And we have appointments set-up with them for this week and the next! So we're excited. More traveling out into the wop-wops for us! (Wop-wops" - aka: boonies/bush/ages away!) "Dinner" this night resulted in the Manuels bringing us to Pack n' Save (grocery store) and saying to us, "Fill up the cart!" #Spoiled. Also a blessing with Sister Gila being worried about money with her leaving and all.
I also forgot to tell you that at Tuesday's District Meeting we were trying to come up with a district name for the next transfer. Many ideas were offered. What did we choose? "KMF" for "Keep Moving Forward," which coincidently also works for "Killing My Friends" ...aka: I'm "Killing" all my friends this next transfer. Have I mentioned that the Sunset Sisters (Taylor and Rarawa) were put in a TRIO this transfer?Sister Hoiesi came to join us, while she Visa waits here for her "real call" to Brisbane Australia. Sooooooo ALL OF THEM ARE LEAVING ME! Sisters Taylor and Rarawa and my Gila are all going home, and Sister Hoiesi out to her actual mission, soon, hopefully for her ;) ;) Sister Gila actually leaves me NEXT WEEK :( Sad face. Can you believe that??? We're almost half way through this transfer already!! And I can't even handle how fast life goes. Note: Just a reminder—to be "killed" or "die" on the mission just means going home or sending your companion home. Haha.
WEDNESDAY we chatted away with Sister Gimblett (an older woman in Hibiscus) and got to know her better. LOVE. We were actually supposed to go over that morning to help her start packing stuff away for her moving day soon, but, she forgot all about it and was waiting for Sister Sheward to come pick her up for her hair appointment. Haha. So we just had a bit of a chat with her instead. (We went back Thursday morning to help again!) After that we went off to Torbay and met one of the referrals we've been given lately—named Elizabeth—and she's beautiful. And she's now become a new investigator! :) THREE THIS WEEK!! We have an appointment with her this coming Wednesday, and we already have a lovely member (Kendall McKenzie) coming out with us to help teach her. :)
Wednesday afternoon, our STL's (Sister O'Reilly and Soderberg now!) came up to have a trade-off with us. So I got to be with my dear mum :) Sister O'Reilly. It's always nice to catch up with her again.
THURSDAY we continued Tradeoffs, helping out Sister Gimblett in packing away her kitchen, and then rushed up to Torbay to help rake some leaves at a potential investigator's home (a friend with one of our members - she's in a wheelchair and has cancer :( (Sad face. Lots of people seem to have cancer here.) But it was a lovely fun time raking leaves again! It's been forever! Haha.
After trading back to being companions with my dear Gila, we had dinner at the Rapata's, and a lovely MCM (Missionary Committee Meeting) with many off-topic moments, including the two of them—our WML (Ward Mission Leader) and his wife, who's a Ward missionary—going off on how they met. Hahaha. I love them. So much. Those MCM's always make our Thursday nights interesting.
OH! And the MIRACLE of Thursday was receiving a referral from the Elders! It was a referral through the Church from a member, Sarah, referring her friend. Fun fact: Sarah is one that we've been trying to FIND lately. She's a less-active, and we DIDN'T KNOW WHERE SHE MOVED TO. So.... BLESSINGS all around!! — More to come on this.
FRIDAY was planning. And then dropping off to the Plaza (mall) to pick up Maggie (one of our BRILLIANT ward missionaries in Hibiscus) to come to a lesson at Philip's with us :) Maggie takes a shift here and there at the mall in an art gallery, trying to get people to buy local artist's paintings and whatnot.... One of the local artist's paintings in this shoppe is our dear Sister Christine Heaps (also a ward missionary in Hibiscus). AND HER PAINTINGS ARE GORGEOUS! When we arrived at the mall to see if Maggie could come with us (we knew she got off at 3), she was there chatting away to one of the other ladies (Trina) that works there (who has also been showing a bit of interest in the Church.... 😄 ). So Maggie introduced us to Trina, and then told us to browse around the shoppe for a minute while she finished her conversation. SISTER HEAPS' PAINTINGS! MAN! I'm in love. I already knew I did from when we had dinner at their house a couple weeks ago, but there's this one specific painting of a red poppy field against mountains, that's done with oils and a pallet knife. BRILLIANT. I actually debated purchasing it right then and there. But... missionary life. Haha. Anyhoo. We stole Maggie away and went off to our lesson with Philip. Philip is SO GOOD. We just love teaching him. And we got to teach the Plan of Salvation and share more things that he wasn't clear on, even though technically he already knows most things he's been taught for so long. But we'll hopefully be having another lesson with him again this week, so we'll see how things continue :)
The rest of Friday included dinner at the Glover's in Torbay, and an appointment with the Sunset Sisters — "op-shopping" as we helped one of their members with some of her clothes she was packing away to send off to other islands for girls there! But...she let us pick some new clothes for right now, 'cause she knows how boring clothes get after a while.... I can't even understand how the elders wear a suit for 2 years! Bah. So. Lovely night. Lovely day. Lovely fun :)
Ah! And to continue with the referral from Sarah – we had called and texted Sarah that morning, 'cause we wanted to get to know her and ask about her friend before we go meet said friend referral. She called us back just as we were picking up Maggie and said, "Yeah Come over tomorrow!" Love her.
SATURDAY was back to meeting with some former investigators, and meeting some less-actives we haven't been able to yet, ...Including: Sarah! She's adorable btw. A young, single mum with 2 kids. We're having a mini Family Home Evening with them tonight! Excited :)
And then Saturday night was the excitment of all things. LOVE SOUP. That's what we call a Community Night (organized by one of our members) for people to come, have some kai (Maori for food), and watch some entertainment. SO - we went along to help out in the kitchen, dish up food, wash dishes, and meet some people!! Service nights. Gotta love 'em. And we did, indeed, meet some lovely people :) including some that we've...once again, been looking for! Oh. And we got matching Service T-shirts. Ha. Brilliant :)
SUNDAY was Church at Torbay—a cluster meeting with surrounding stakes —topic MISSIONARY WORK, and then visiting with Gina that night :) And stopping by the Rameka's to see....our new flat!!
So yes, we've moved. That's what today's been about. Ha. Moving out and moving in. I'm not really positive about the reason behind the move - it still doesn't change the fact that we have to travel to Hibiscus and Torbay both all the time. Haha. But we ARE closer to the Stake Center (Torbay Ward Building on Sunset Road) now, which is nice. We love it though. This flat is beautiful. I mean, right now it's all in chaos and boxes, but it'll be grand soon ;) And it has carpet! So our feet will be warmer. I think it's a better neighborhood too? The other one was fine, but I'm feeling more comfortable with this flat. And Sister Gila is grateful 'cause with carpet her feet won't freeze like with the fake wood floor in our other flat. Haha. (The Hibiscus flat had a particle-board like floor throughout the entire thing.)
It's still not really even that cold here, but It is for Sister Gila, because she's from Vanuatu, an island where it's ALWAYS hot. Haha. For me, I really only have to pull out my coat at night sometimes.
FUNNY STORY though about the move this morning, well, a couple of things actually. 1) Our Zone Leaders FORGOT to call us and tell us WHEN we were moving.... Ha. So this morning around 10, we called Elder Garth, asking when we were moving! "A... Didn't your Zone Leaders tell you!?? ...Well, we'll be coming at 11 with a trailer to pick up your stuff!" Haha. Good times! 2) ALL my shoes got packed/taken away......... So Sister Ottley hasn't been wearing shoes this afternoon/most of the day. So yes, my feet are a little cold. If Elder Summers were still here he'd be calling me "Hori as!" Still not sure how that happened. But all is well. I know they're in the Sister's car, which should be here soon, and then I'll be reunited with some shoes for the night. Haha. Btw - "Hori" by definition, or at least the best definition I can give you, is a Maori word/term symbolic of the little kids that run around in the streets with no shoes on, that use all the super New Zealand slang. Saying "hori" out LOUD, it sounds like "whorey," but, ya know, very DIFFERENT meanings!
AH! HAPPY FATHER'S DAY! I apologize for having no idea until reading your letter....NO IDEA. Haha. ....Father's Day isn't until September for me.... Hahaha.
Good days. Good weeks. MANY MIRACLES, and many more to come :)
The work is hastening here in beautiful "Torbiscus" (as I've decided to name our two areas together, instead of always saying "Hibiscus and Torbay"). We love it. And we're excited for our new investigators, and the other new ones that WILL COME.
Ofa atu, my dear whanau (ha......all the mixes of languages)!
(I also just realized that this really wasn't that short. Long story, but we ended up having to reschedule our apponitment... Ha. So we got to be on a bit longer :P Details. Details rule my life!! Haha)
VISION. Something we've been focusing on A LOT in our mission—how to "Raise Our Vision" to do the work. It's actually been really cool, and we're all currently in the process of bettering/writing our vision statements. Fun fact: I never actually WROTE a legitimate "vision statement" for my mission. But - I've been writing one now, and I'll let you know when I finish. It's based on Moroni's Title of Liberty, and a bunch of other things. It should be good.
Also: this may have to be a short email, as we have to go get my license... Yes, as in my NEW ZEALAND DRIVERS LICENSE. I get one!! My American one is still fine for another two years, but once you've been in New Zealand for a year, you have to get a NZ license to drive legally. :D Am I excited? YES. YES. I AM! Silly, I know. But you know.... #Memories
This week has been good though. Lots of visitng less-actives and helping out the Sunset Sisters to meet some of their appointments. (They get sick quite often, so we help them out by doing tradeoffs for appointments sometimes.) Which means I also got a bit of extra study time this week, which was nice and needed.
We've visited some former investigators (Brian & Jo), and have already become great friends with Jo! So we'll be dropping by to see them again soon.
ZONE CONFERENCE is always wonderful. This transfer's theme was a lot on "focusing on the doctrine" and teaching simply, but making sure you get in all the points needed for our investigators. So there was a lot of role playing and talking - and it was good :) And it makes sense you got pictures on Facebook from Ashley's neighbor who was visiting NZ, 'cause I think it was the Relief Society in her mum's stake that made all the food and things for us :)
We've been able to meet some more lovely members (well - getting to know them better at this point). And helping out with more moving-out things, and all the service :) I love it. We've also received a new referral from a lady the Elders met in our area one day —who sounds pretty keen! Woo!! We still haven't met her, as she wasn't there when we popped in. But - all goods. She'll be there soon enough :)
And then: The day all missionaries wait for. Haha. Sunday morning we had Ward Council in Hibiscus at 8am - and then, before church around 9:30, one of our bishopric counselors asked us, "Would one of you like to give a talk for me?" Haaaaa... And then he asked me, specifically. So - impromptu talk! First time. It was good. Short and simple on how the Book of Mormon strengthens our testimonies :)
So...more things to come. Yes, it's true. The mission is hard, but more miracles coming our way. And this week we're going to Warkworth! (North part of Hibiscus area) so that should be exciting. One of our members is bringing us so we don't have to get lost or use our km's! :)
And I definitely look at the happy cards the girls sent me a lot... This week? I think - I opened the "When you need a lift" one - with a minion in it that says "Sometimes you just gotta hold on!" It was hilarious, and definitely made me happy! :)
Miracles this week! And LOTS of instances and experiences that the theme for my week turned into how "no one is perfect, even those that we THINK are perfect!" – And we just have to deal with it and move on! Ha. Well, kinda. You'll get what I mean. It's all goods!
MIRACLE MONDAY. So the miracles began last Monday, the day I felt like I was going to kill over because I felt so ill. But during emails, we got a phone call with a lady on the other end asking, "Are you the Sister Missionaries that serve in the Little Manly area?" "Yes! Yes, we are!" (Hibiscus area.) Then she proceeded to tell us that she wanted us to visit her mum, Joan. —The funny thing, after we got the name and number and the name of the daughter giving us the information, we realised the daughter is actually an INVESTIGATOR who's been meeting with the missionaries for the last couple of years in HENDERSON (my old area, except Lincoln ward). Her name is Annette, and I've met her on trade-offs when I went with Sister Cluff when I first got to Henderson. So, that was pretty brilliant! *More to come with Annette and Joan later.*
The rest of Monday was to say the least, an adventure—getting lost around Takapuna while looking for the bus station to pick up a sister who was coming down from Whangarei—Sister Vea. She was my dear Sister Hobbs' daughter (trainee), but since she's finally received her visa, she is finally able to be sent to her actual assigned mission—first to Provo to learn Tongan, and then she'll be off to Tonga! So all the excitement for her! So I did get to be in a trio for about a day –all the fun. :)
TUESDAY morning we woke up bright and early to bring Sister Gila to her orientation ("End of Mission/Self-Reliance Orientation"), even though she isn't leaving yet, but, of course, she won't be here for the next one since her release date is in half a transfer. So they invited her to this one! (Problems with leaving mid-transfer.) So I was companions with Sister Vea for the day, and we spent time with the Sunset sisters, getting Sister Vea more organized (repacking her bags, 'cause...they were too heavy). Then we dropped her off at the mission office, and picked up Sister Gila at the mission home later that afternoon—and Sister Gila and I were once again reunited in happiness :) Haha. We had a lovely dinner that night, but then suddenly neither of us were feeling very well—struggles with us and winter starting. But we got a good sleep that night, which helped for Wednesday morning. :)
WEDNESDAY we finished personal study and were just starting into companion study when we got another call from Annette! "Hey Sisters! I'm at my mum's today. Do you have time you could come give a lesson?" "YES! Yes we do!" "Could you come over THIS morning?" Alllllll the brilliance!! We went over, mainly with the intention of just getting to know Joan at first, or so we thought—but Annette and the Lord had OTHER plans for us! 'Cause, as we left the flat - I suddenly had a thought come that, "Maybe I should grab my Plan of Salvation kit to bring." ...And that's exactly what ended up happening. We taught the Plan of Salvation, and Joan was very interested :) She would pause us frequently, asking questions about thing's she's also learned from Jehovah's Witnesses lately—things she clearly hasn't agreed with. Haha. But it was a lovely lesson, and brilliant to have Annette there with us. (Annette is basically a member, without being baptised yet.) Soon. She'll be baptised soon! So....NEW INVESTIGATER!! :) She said she only wants to be taught when Annette is going to be there, but we worked it out with Annette and she said she would come up to the shore once a week, because she REALLY wants her mum to have this! Don't you just love it? Love. Love the Gospel and the blessings it brings :)
The remainder of the day was mostly spent helping the Prendergast's again in their endeavors to get their house in tip-top shape for the photos to be taken on Thursday in order to put it up for moving. I LOVE the CLEANING service life. It's just grand! We had a delicious dinner with them, and then a meeting with Brother Maire that night to start going over the ward list to better figure out places we could be of use :)
Oh, and yes. No transfers for Sister Gila and me :) Same area, same companionship. Some changes have been made in the zone (Elder Summers is gone...sad face), but Sister Taylor AND Rarawa are still here tooooooo! (So good and sad things there, 'cause...that means I kill THREE SISTERS THIS NEXT TRANSFER. They're ALL GOING HOME ON ME.) But it's good. They're all wonderful :)
THURSDAY we went out in the morning to see our dear Emma for a bit, and attempted seeing a few people around - but, not many exciting things happened. And then, when we got back to the flat for our lunch break we ended up staying in. 'Cause... my Sister Gila wasn't doing well :( She slept, and I decorated a planner for her, and organized a few things and whatnot.
FRIDAY—ANOTHER NEW INVESTIGATOR! One that will probably take time in learning things, as our appointment with her isn't for another week and a half. But, busy times in life for her this week. We met her a couple weeks ago, and she's keen to learn new things, so we'll see how that continues :)
And a lovely member lesson that night with our dear Sister Matla as well. We coloured the Plan of Salvation – and it was ALL the exciting. I love how many people love colouring in things here! :) (We used a Plan of Salvation drawing that I made back in Henderson when teaching Eli and Hakeian.)
SATURDAY. Well, Saturday was an interesting day.... I was suddenly in kind of a bad mood. And I felt bad for my sweet Gila. Struggles. And it really didn't help that we kept getting shot down by people we would meet – so, ya know, Satan pulls you farther down when you're already down. But it was okay. We DID meet a couple of LOVELY people on a street we had decided to tract, so hopefully we'll be able to visit them all again :)
We spent that night with some more cleaning at the Prendergast's (now that the photos are finished there's still more nitty-gritty things for the actual open-house this weekend). Crazy things selling a house! Loved it though. It was a time to de-stress, a time to ponder, and a TIME TO WEAR PANTS. :) Many things to love about it! And yes, we've heard about the Sister Clothing Changes! —Also with President Balli coming out and saying, "Nope. We won't be doing that!" Haha. All goods though ;)
SUNDAY. Lets just say it was an interesting day in the struggly mind of Sister Ottley—I honestly wonder sometime if I have some sort of depression. It's like... my head doesn't know how to fully cope sometimes, if that makes sense. I was just feeling really down. And then during personal study, I read the "Confessions of a Perfectionist" Ensign article you sent Mum and it was brilliant!! Because, I started to realize that sometimes the perfectionist side of me can, yes, be a good thing, but...at other times, noooooot so much. This was obviously one of those "not so much" times. But by the end of personal study I realized I was wearing very...DARK colours. And I wanted so desperately for my attitude to change 'cause I'm sick of the sad version of myself. So I changed into lighter colours, put on my delicious Wild Orange necklace (I seem to be fine with the metal against my skin again—things I don't understand), and we listened to my "Look Up" song by Taylor Olson—my "pump up" song for motivation—as we drove to Torbay. So... colour and music and it all became good. And then I laughed when the Sacrament Meeting testimonies were nearly ALL about how "No One Is Perfect" and how Heavenly Father loves each of us so much, and the simple things we can do. :) It was brilliant for my pathetically perfection-ridden mind—because at times I can't seem to get over feeling like a failure, even though I get many confirming feelings that I'm doing the things I need to be doing. #Struggles. But after that the day continued with me feeling much better about things and with... less "perfection" on my mind. We also got to know some members better, and I've come to realise how brilliant convert members are, specifically. We had dinner this night with the CUTEST of newlywed couples. Sam is a convert of...a few years? She gave us a couple ideas of people we could visit that she used to go visit with previous sister missionaries. LOVE. And she was just so excited about the work and telling us about these people to visit. Grand things! :)
And then the Layton's. And cocoa rice. Ooooh the cocoa rice. (The "pakiha" version –supa good! Different from the traditional Samoan cocoa rice, but delish.)
Anyhoo. It's been a grand week :) I'm glad I'm still with my dear sisters, even if they do all leave me this next transfer. They're all my happiness and joy. So it's good. And, the brilliant quote that now will keep me going: "I believe happiness comes from striving for a better understanding of ourselves. Striving for perfection is the journey, not the destination in this earthly existence. It does not need to be an obsession!" —Kelli Allen-Pratt (Campbell), June 2005 Ensign
Thank you Kelli Pratt for your Confessions of a Perfectionist article! You're brilliant, and I don't think you know how grateful I am for your beautiful words about the negative effects of perfection. Happiness truly does come from understanding ourselves better, and I know I gain a little bit of knowledge each and every day about the ways the Lord blesses me. So...it's grand :) One day we'll be able to be perfect. We just have to deal with being imperfect in order to get to the perfect part.
There's a quote by Marjorie Hinckley about imperfection and perfection that I also love.
"I don't want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully, tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long, perfectly manicured fingernails. I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to Scout camp. I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbor's children. I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone's garden. I want to be there with children's sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder. I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really LIVED!" —Marjorie Pay Hinckley
And Mum, the Cheer theme of your email this week is hilarious – 'cause it goes very well with how I've been trying to figure out what my planner "theme" for this transfer should be! You've helped me find it! So thank you :)
I loved hearing about the Memorial Day festivities :) And my cute Ashley and her birthday :) And EM! She's CRAZY! Truly no fear! Glad the little crazy didn't drown!
Life in the North Shore is good :) And I know it'll get even better. Just 'gotta have the faith' :)
I love you all, and I hope you're having a most BEAUTIFUL beginning to Summer there :) —While we start getting all freezy here. (I just want to bring my blanket with me everywhere.) HaHa.
Winter is in FULL SWING here in Aotearoa! Well.... kinda. It's really not that cold yet. It's just suddenly become VERY RAINY. All the time. And I kind of love it. The only part that makes me sad about it is the fact that I can't just stop and go dance in it.... I guess technically I could. Agency and all. But it would result in being wet and soggy all day. Consequences.
Anyhoo. It's been a good week :) Also a week that at the end of hearing about it you're going to be thinking, "WHO ARE YOU, and WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH MY DAUGHTER?" I promise. Outgoing things to come. ;) HaHa.
This week has been good though. Showers of Blessings and happiness. Even though it really hasn't been all that eventful... just a bunch of trying to find people at home (which hasn't been very successful this week) and some tracting. Tracting life! Woo!
ALSO: TRANSFERS are THIS WEEK! Wha-?? How did that happen? Did I not just get to this area? So...guesses anyone? ;) Staying, going, new comp, same comp, still covering both wards - or just one? Alllllll the possibilities with this one :) 'Cause Sister Gila goes home part way through this transfer. (Exactly a month from yesterday! Crazy!)
This week we've met some new people, helped out some people in our wards, and we've gotten to know some more members—which is grand, because I'm becoming more and more convinced that the work in our areas is going to be best coming from members bringing people in, and then us teaching. I've learned that it goes over much more smoothly with friends involved ;)
And YES! Our car is pretty. We've named her Abish. She's a 2014 Toyota Corolla, and she's blue, and she's beautiful. She even has one of those camera/screens that when the car is in reverse, you can SEE WHERE YOU'RE GOING FROM THE CAMERA. It's great. We're spoiled.
WEDNESDAY I found a brilliant quote in a TALK I read during personal study: "Move Forward with Faith" by Elder Brent H. Nielson (June 2013 Ensign). Funny thing, the talk is about when he and his wife were in New Zealand on assignment, and he talks about the great amount of round-abouts here. He goes on to make an analogy of how sometimes we get "stuck in a round-about," and don't really progress anywhere! It's quite brilliant. Anyhoo. At the end of the talk, he says, "If we sit and worry all the time about whether we are making the right choice, we will miss opportunities that will present themselves along the way." ...TRUTH. Love. I love personal study. All the happy.
I also got to use my artsy/crafty self a little this week in decorating the bulletin board for "Missionary Work" in the Hibiscus Ward this week, while we were there for volleyball! (We have Volleyball every Wednesday night –alllllll are welcome, and usually more non-members come than members!) Anyhoo. It was exciting. The artsy. I miss my artsy things. And our WML (Ward Mission Leader) laughed at the OCD side of me - and made fun of me at the same time as saying, "It's great!" Haha.
THURSDAY we had Zone Training, and then we got to go help one of our members who's "moving house," as we say here in NZ. Cleaning!!!! Yes, I"m still the same me, and I still LOVE cleaning. It was exciting. Cleaning windows, floors, walls—all the fun things, getting it ready for pictures this week :) Love the service life.
FRIDAY was a lot of planning, and helping the Sunset Ward Sisters (Sisters Taylor and Rarawa) prepare for the Fireside their ward was putting on for the stake on Sunday.
And SATURDAY we went over to help with more cleaning at the Prendergast's home—as it was the day Sister Prendergast posted on the Ward Facebook Page a "Come help when you can, please!" day—but only one family showed up.... Sad. But we were glad to be there :) Also: Perks of cleaning/servicing? Pants :) I miss wearing pants!!
We also had a lovely member lesson with our dear Alesha (Brother Maire's daughter) on Saturday night. Love her. Love the teaching life. Love the Plan of Salvation :) Allllll grand things.
And then... SUNDAY. The day we've all been waiting for :) Excitement! We had church in Hibiscus, a lovely MCM (Missionary Council Meeting), and visited (or - tried to find) people to tell them about the Fireside going on that night. We had dinner at the Woods'—a family that's recently moved here from Arizona! They made Mexican, and I was in HEAVEN! They're the cutest little family who moved here—"just because"! Adventurous!
The Fireside came..... and why was this Fireside so big? Well...first, because one of our members brought along SIX PEOPLE with him to enjoy the Fireside... SIX!! And he said, "And hopefully, after this Fireside you'll be able to teach all of them!" BRILLIANT! And the second big reason for the Fireside excitement: Sister Taylor last week was looking for a backup musical number, 'cause one of theirs didn't work out. So - she was just going to sing. But she really didn't want to on her own. Ha.... So.... what did Sister Ottley do? ..."I'll sing with you!" ...Wha? Since when? But it was good :) We sang a song called, "Someone He Can Count On,"—an EFY song from 2015. It was actually quite fun! Grand adventures here in the mighty NZAM (New Zealand Auckland Mission) :)
Anyhoo. So.... things are good :) Still slow at times, but I know it'll pick up. As we continue to get more organised and search our little eyes out for people, I know they'll come!! And our members are great! They're all starting to learn from the "Power of the Everyday Missionary" book by Clayton C. Christiansen (?...I think that's what it's called/the name of the guy? Check that mum!) and it's getting people more involved in the work! Grand things to come :)
Clearly really not the most eventful week. Ha. Really not much to say. But the people WILL come, and we're excited to see what happens with the people Brother Hutchinson brought along with him to the Fireside :) Good things to come :)
I love and miss you all :) And I hope you have a most amazing week! Much love!
Ofa lahi atu, Sister Mckenzie Ann Ottley "Never give up on anyone. And that includes not giving up on yourself." —President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
