[*NOTE: This is Sister Ottley's FINAL LETTER! She'll be home in four days—LATE, THIS FRIDAY NIGHT, December 16th. Her homecoming talk will be NEXT Sunday, December 18th @1:00PM during Sacrament Meeting. Feel free to munch and mingle with her at our home later that afternoon.]
Highland 4th Ward
(LDS Avonmore Chapel)
5848 West 11000 North
Highland, Utah
Dear Family & Friends,
18 Months of my life has literally NEVER gone by SO FAST. As Sister Tauiliili and I walk from place to place (or mostly when we're walking home at night) I get caught up in thoughts of alllll the mission memories, and just start laughing to myself about so many different things.
Then Sister Tauiliili starts laughing at me 'cause to her it seems like I'm laughing at nothing! Hahaha.... Good times :)
This week has been grand though :) And resulted in miracles of 2 investigators coming to church, who hadn't been yet.
LAST MONDAY we played BUBBLE SOCCER for P-day. Seriously though, I could have played that for hours and been just fine with life :) Haha. I've never been so excited for a sport! We also had an exciting FHE with the Talavave's again... love our nights with them!
Skipping ahead to WEDNESDAY, because Wednesday was a trial day. #ForReals We had a lesson with one of our investigators, and it was going great! Talking about the Restoration. And then we met his older brother.... aka: Bible basher, with a lot of "I'm not trying to be rude, but..." in between each of his "questions." ...And that's where I willingly stopped the lesson. What did I learn here? When the Spirit is present, and when it is NOT. What else did I learn? ...Well, a lot. I could probably go on for DAYS. But I'll spare you all. Haha. But I've honestly never left a lesson so.... stressed. But it was okay. Because it brought up a lot of things that I continued to learn from over the next couple of days....
THURSDAY we had a most brilliant specialised training with President and Sister Balli and the assistants. Was it needed? YES. Was it a complete BLESSING? YES!! We talked about LIGHT. President Balli showed us two different torches and gave us this scenario: "You're walking home late at night on a dark, lonely road..."
Then President told us to choose between the two torches: one a big, hefty one, the other a small little hand-held one. Most of us, being the missionaries we are and liking small things, went with choosing the small one - 'cause we don't like carrying heavy things (ha). But then President pointed out to us that the big one could also give us protection.... haha.
But then he showed us the light between the two The smaller one was LED... aka: WAY brighter than the bigger torch. He then asked, "Elders and Sisters, WHICH LIGHT ARE YOU?"
...We all have light about us. But how BRIGHT that light is - is dependent on our willingness to follow what the Lord wants us to do.
It was a brilliant training. And gave me answers, and made me feel better about all the things. Haha. I just love President Balli and his counsel and... just greatness. Haha.
FRIDAY: ONE WEEK.
That was a weird moment for me! But it was a good day, getting to see some people we hadn't been able to get in the house of. :)
SATURDAY was a day of teaching! And also the day I realised just how much I'm going to MISS teaching. We taught three lessons to investigators this day, and a few to different members. I love teaching. So much. This was also the day we got PROMISES from certain investigators to come to church :)
SUNDAY: CHURCH. Also: My LAST NZ Sunday. Last time teaching our Gospel Principles class—all on Family Responsibilities. It was all very surreal for it being the last day. But so wonderful because of our brilliant members. I'm going to miss all my sweet members here in Tangaroa Ward! They've spoiled me with love and kindness - even with being the only palagi in the building! ;) Haha.
And the bit of this week left that I have before returning home, will continue to result in MORE TEACHING, MORE FINDING, MORE VISITING, and definitely MORE LEARNING :)
It's amazing how much can happen in a year and a half, and how quickly it can all pass by. I never truly realised in the beginning how much my New Zealand would actually become HOME to me. I honestly can't remember what it's like to not live here.... so that's going to be different. But it's time for a new adventure again. Like I was saying last week - it's always just when you start getting comfortable that you get transferred :P. But new adventures await. And for that - I'm actually excited for once (I think? Ha.)
I've been INSANELY blessed with beautiful people who have become family to me here in NZ, and I know they'll continue to be my family for all time. I'm grateful for this mission, I'm grateful for all my blessings. I'm grateful for all the family and friends I have and have gained. But most of all I'm grateful for this beautiful gospel we live in. For the blessings it brings, and the MIRACLES I have seen that come about because of it. It's true my friends. It's true :)
That's all, Folks! See you THIS WEEK!
Arohanui,
Alofa tele Atu,
Ofa Atu,
Love yous all HEAPS!
Sister Mckenzie Ann Ottley
Monday, December 12, 2016
Thursday, December 8, 2016
Comfort Zone
[*Note: Just ONE more letter after this one and she'll be home—FRIDAY, December 16th @9:56PM. Homecoming talk in Sacrament Meeting, @Highland 4th Ward LDS Avonmore Chapel, 5848 West 11000 North, Highland, Utah, on SUNDAY, December 18th @1:00pm. Please feel free to munch & mingle with her at our house afterwards.]
Dear Aiga,
Guess what! I think I've FINALLY found my comfort zone in Missionary Work..... haaaa!
There's no growth in the comfort zone, and no comfort in the growth zone.
TRUTH.
Aiga (aka: Samoan for "family"), there's literally 11 days until I leave. And it's weird. Ha. And pretty much everyone in the ward knows now. I bore my testimony yesterday in church. I was the last to get up, so as a result, Bishop got up before me to say I'd be the last to bear my testimony for the meeting... and that it was my LAST testimony meeting. And then afterwards and throughout the day everyone started coming up to me asking, "Wait, you're leaving? What DAY do you leave?" Even the kids that I didn't think really paid attention to us. Hahahaha.
It's weird.
BUT! It's been a GREAT week. Ending in the BEAUTIFUL BAPTISM of our dearest Jasmine :)
MONDAY: All the partying with the Johnstone Sisters. :) Love it.
TUESDAY: We had a brilliant lesson with our dear Skye and John, her partner, and MANY others throughout the day. It was my first MIRACLE DAY on the mission of literally just going from appointment to appointment, TEACHING, TEACHING, TEACHING! ...Even though they weren't all investigators, it was a brilliant and exciting day of just sharing testimony and things we've learnt in order to help our brothers and sisters (and, of course, to be strengthened ourselves). Skye—the brilliant one—even helped us IMPROVE our object lesson as we shared it with her. Hahahaha. And this is why she should be a member. ;)
WEDNESDAY: New investigator! His name is Cody. And he's great. We're excited to keep teaching him :) We met him a while back, and then he went and referred himself online!
THURSDAY: Zone "Training" aka: Service! We made meals. It was actually really exciting. A bunch of missionaries cooking together is pretty hilarious though. Mostly because it became super stereotypical of the elders all around the grill, making the meat, and the sisters together all baking the brownies and cookies for dessert. And then the potato salad and veggies were a combined effort. Loved it.
FRIDAY: A last lesson with Jasmine before her big day :) Love her. Love her mum too. Just love everything. Allllll the Aroha, Alofa, and Ofa [Love]!
SATURDAY: Baptism day :) Ha. And a day of runnning around like chickens with our heads cut off. We LITERALLY ran from the chapel (where we were finishing up the last touches on the baptism programme) to Jasmine's house, to make sure she and CJ were on their way, and then ran back to the chapel, to finish, and copy the programme, and to make sure the water in the font was turned off..... Hahahaha. All the excitement!! Everything with the baptism went smoothly though. Jasmine was so excited to be with friends for her baptism, and to be in the flash new white dress her mum found for her :)
SUNDAY: Confirmation :) Jasmine. The cute little thing. She was suddenly scared before, so I walked her up to the stand to be confirmed, and she was all good. All the happy, all the bouncy and excited after receiving the Holy Ghost :) A brand new member!
And TODAY. Today is Zone P-day. 'Cause.... both Elder Ruth and I leave next week. Crazy. Sauce. What are we doing? Playing BUBBLE SOCCER. Haaa... Should be an adventure :) I'm actually kind of excited. I'm sure there will be pictures.
I can't believe it's been as long as it has. A year and a half of my life has never gone so fast!
I've never been so happy, and I've also never been so sad.
I've never seen so many miracles, and I've also never been given so many examples of WHY we have to CONSTANTLY work to keep our faith and our Saviour a PART of our lives.
I also never realised how much you can learn, without truly realising it. Little by little, that's what it's all about. Basically.... I don't want it to end.
And I know it won't. I know it's just a new beginning. It's just... weird. Everything is werid lately. Ha. And I'm pretty sure my dear Sister Tauiliili just laughs at everything I say now as I freak out at the idea of leaving this home.
The gospel is TRUE, my friends. It always has been, and it always will be. It helps us in learning new things each and every day, and it always WILL.... IF YOU LET IT.
I hope you all have a beautiful week—lighting the world everywhere you go! Because, that's really what should be our goal in life—to be that example, help, serve, and love everyone in our path. #LighttheWorld
https://www.mormon.org.nz/
....LOL. I just realised the link goes to "NZ" here. Haaaa. Obvi you can just go to the normal one back home.
Okay. I must be off now. But I love you heaps. And I hope you have a brilliant week :) You're the best of best. Talk to you next week — and SEE YOU after that!!!! :D
Alofa tele atu!!!!
Sister Mckenzie Ann Ottley
Dear Aiga,
Guess what! I think I've FINALLY found my comfort zone in Missionary Work..... haaaa!
There's no growth in the comfort zone, and no comfort in the growth zone.
TRUTH.
Aiga (aka: Samoan for "family"), there's literally 11 days until I leave. And it's weird. Ha. And pretty much everyone in the ward knows now. I bore my testimony yesterday in church. I was the last to get up, so as a result, Bishop got up before me to say I'd be the last to bear my testimony for the meeting... and that it was my LAST testimony meeting. And then afterwards and throughout the day everyone started coming up to me asking, "Wait, you're leaving? What DAY do you leave?" Even the kids that I didn't think really paid attention to us. Hahahaha.
It's weird.
BUT! It's been a GREAT week. Ending in the BEAUTIFUL BAPTISM of our dearest Jasmine :)
MONDAY: All the partying with the Johnstone Sisters. :) Love it.
TUESDAY: We had a brilliant lesson with our dear Skye and John, her partner, and MANY others throughout the day. It was my first MIRACLE DAY on the mission of literally just going from appointment to appointment, TEACHING, TEACHING, TEACHING! ...Even though they weren't all investigators, it was a brilliant and exciting day of just sharing testimony and things we've learnt in order to help our brothers and sisters (and, of course, to be strengthened ourselves). Skye—the brilliant one—even helped us IMPROVE our object lesson as we shared it with her. Hahahaha. And this is why she should be a member. ;)
WEDNESDAY: New investigator! His name is Cody. And he's great. We're excited to keep teaching him :) We met him a while back, and then he went and referred himself online!
THURSDAY: Zone "Training" aka: Service! We made meals. It was actually really exciting. A bunch of missionaries cooking together is pretty hilarious though. Mostly because it became super stereotypical of the elders all around the grill, making the meat, and the sisters together all baking the brownies and cookies for dessert. And then the potato salad and veggies were a combined effort. Loved it.
FRIDAY: A last lesson with Jasmine before her big day :) Love her. Love her mum too. Just love everything. Allllll the Aroha, Alofa, and Ofa [Love]!
SATURDAY: Baptism day :) Ha. And a day of runnning around like chickens with our heads cut off. We LITERALLY ran from the chapel (where we were finishing up the last touches on the baptism programme) to Jasmine's house, to make sure she and CJ were on their way, and then ran back to the chapel, to finish, and copy the programme, and to make sure the water in the font was turned off..... Hahahaha. All the excitement!! Everything with the baptism went smoothly though. Jasmine was so excited to be with friends for her baptism, and to be in the flash new white dress her mum found for her :)
SUNDAY: Confirmation :) Jasmine. The cute little thing. She was suddenly scared before, so I walked her up to the stand to be confirmed, and she was all good. All the happy, all the bouncy and excited after receiving the Holy Ghost :) A brand new member!
And TODAY. Today is Zone P-day. 'Cause.... both Elder Ruth and I leave next week. Crazy. Sauce. What are we doing? Playing BUBBLE SOCCER. Haaa... Should be an adventure :) I'm actually kind of excited. I'm sure there will be pictures.
I can't believe it's been as long as it has. A year and a half of my life has never gone so fast!
I've never been so happy, and I've also never been so sad.
I've never seen so many miracles, and I've also never been given so many examples of WHY we have to CONSTANTLY work to keep our faith and our Saviour a PART of our lives.
I also never realised how much you can learn, without truly realising it. Little by little, that's what it's all about. Basically.... I don't want it to end.
And I know it won't. I know it's just a new beginning. It's just... weird. Everything is werid lately. Ha. And I'm pretty sure my dear Sister Tauiliili just laughs at everything I say now as I freak out at the idea of leaving this home.
The gospel is TRUE, my friends. It always has been, and it always will be. It helps us in learning new things each and every day, and it always WILL.... IF YOU LET IT.
I hope you all have a beautiful week—lighting the world everywhere you go! Because, that's really what should be our goal in life—to be that example, help, serve, and love everyone in our path. #LighttheWorld
https://www.mormon.org.nz/
....LOL. I just realised the link goes to "NZ" here. Haaaa. Obvi you can just go to the normal one back home.
Okay. I must be off now. But I love you heaps. And I hope you have a brilliant week :) You're the best of best. Talk to you next week — and SEE YOU after that!!!! :D
Alofa tele atu!!!!
Sister Mckenzie Ann Ottley
Monday, December 5, 2016
Grateful
WHERE HAS NOVEMBER GONE!??
Seriously though. I feel like it was just YESTERDAY that I was saying, "Yay! 18 days until my birthday!" And now I'm like, "HOW IS THERE ONLY 18 DAYS LEFT OF MY MISSION??" ......And then there's silence. 'Cause I don't know how to deal with that fact of life. I just want to keep finding and helping people here. I mean – EIGHTEEN DAYS!
It's truly true that at the end of your mission you realise just how fast everything goes. In the beginning you're praying every day to be able to MAKE IT to the end. And now.... it's like I BLINKED, and it's a year and a half later.
Time is TOO WEIRD.
There's been SO many things I've seen—especially in this area—that just make me insanely grateful for the life I grew up in. But seriously... this year has gone by just too fast! And I'm trying not to think about leaving all my islanders here in South.... 'cause it makes me sad.
Anyhoo. It's been a good week :)
TUESDAY was District Meeting—one that people kept freaking me out with saying it would be my last! (Because we won't have one for the next 2 weeks due to some training and things.) But I still have one more. No worries. Sister Stokes joined us for this particular district meeting, as the Tongan sisters were on trade-offs for the day. I've never actually served around Sister Stokes, but we're still friends somehow with like the... 2 or 3 times we've talked. Also: bonding through Sister Anitema. 'Cause S. Anitema knows us both.
Anyhoo. She leaves for back home THIS WEEK and I wish ALL THE BEST for her. (And we'll see one another in Provo!)
It was a grand day of miracles, ending up where we needed to be, even when it wasn't planned. We met some lovely people. Also a man who said, "I know what you do, and I don't like it," and closed the door. I laughed a little (...Does that sound bad? Ha.) Poor man. One day you'll learn :)
WEDNESDAY was a normal day, but we found some lovely potentials. And then our phone failed us and made it so we missed MCM...'cause no texts came through all day. Therefore, everything our WML said of, "Hey Sisters, yes, we're having MCM" and "Where are you?" and "Did you have an apointment?" never came through... until Thursday. Ha. #Struggles
THURSDAY. TRADE OFFS. I got to go out with my Sister Boiteux again :) (aka: my first baby/trainee). I MISSED HER. Seriously. All in her STL self ;) It's fun to be able to get back with old companions at the end of your missions and see how much you've both grown, and to share experiences and talk and just learn more from one another. So.... I was pretty lucky in my last 2 trade offs being with my "mum" and then my "daughter". LOVE. #BLESSED.
FRIDAY. MIRACLE.
So tired. Felt gross. Still made it out. Heavenly Father blesses. We met a man who, honestly, I was hesitant to stop at the house of - just 'cause he was on the phone, and had a beer in hand. (I should know by now that that doesn't change much in South Auckland. Ha. Life in general here would probably be rated R pretty much all the time for language issues. You even hear SMALL CHILDREN swearing.) But we waited patiently, and he told us how he had recently seen a new movie out about Christ teaching as a child ("The Young Messiah") and how watching it made him miss the feelings he felt when he was a kid—the feelings of the Holy Spirit around him.
And because of this film, he and his wife were looking into bringing their 5 kids to church, and getting themselves into a better environment. They were looking into going to a church with his wife's sister in Mangare, but we mentioned to him when and where our services were, and he said, "Ah! That's
much closer!" Blessings! Hopefully we'll see them again this week :) They weren't able to make it to church this weekend, but we're still in contact, so... good things :)
Blessings. Miracles. Little things to PICK YOU UP. Love it.
SATURDAY. This weekend we had a Stake RS weekend basically—Service, a "Cultural" Activity, and a Devotional on Sunday night. So Saturday afternoon was the main activity with each ward assigned a different place within the islands (Niue, Fiji, Tonga, Tahiti, Hawaii, Kiribus) and each brought a food item and did a dance.
BEAUTIFUL and exciting things!! And the best part? Our dear Puna (investigator) was super involved in all the things. Dancing with our RS and all. Love her. Heaps.
SUNDAY the RS devotional was beautiful too. Singing in different languages (I know how to sing "I Need Thee Every Hour" in Kiribati now!). The spirit teaches you brilliant things. I just love it.
Also, this weekend Tyler broke bread and Hohia passed the sacrament!!!! Why is this exciting? They were BOTH super less active 5 or so months ago—Tyler in the way of 5 or 6 months ago he was smoking and drinking every day....and now look where they're at!
THE GLORIES OF THE GOSPEL!!
So... another week, more knowledge gained, and more experiences had. And I know there are more miracles to come, more people to find, and exciting things to come as well.
Life is great in the NZ world. ...I kind of don't remember what life is like anywhere else. So that's different than what I expected. Ha. I love it. I'm blessed. And I'm grateful :)
I hope you all have a most beautiful week ahead.
ALOFA TELE ATU!
Sister Mckenzie Ann Ottley
Seriously though. I feel like it was just YESTERDAY that I was saying, "Yay! 18 days until my birthday!" And now I'm like, "HOW IS THERE ONLY 18 DAYS LEFT OF MY MISSION??" ......And then there's silence. 'Cause I don't know how to deal with that fact of life. I just want to keep finding and helping people here. I mean – EIGHTEEN DAYS!
It's truly true that at the end of your mission you realise just how fast everything goes. In the beginning you're praying every day to be able to MAKE IT to the end. And now.... it's like I BLINKED, and it's a year and a half later.
Time is TOO WEIRD.
There's been SO many things I've seen—especially in this area—that just make me insanely grateful for the life I grew up in. But seriously... this year has gone by just too fast! And I'm trying not to think about leaving all my islanders here in South.... 'cause it makes me sad.
Anyhoo. It's been a good week :)
TUESDAY was District Meeting—one that people kept freaking me out with saying it would be my last! (Because we won't have one for the next 2 weeks due to some training and things.) But I still have one more. No worries. Sister Stokes joined us for this particular district meeting, as the Tongan sisters were on trade-offs for the day. I've never actually served around Sister Stokes, but we're still friends somehow with like the... 2 or 3 times we've talked. Also: bonding through Sister Anitema. 'Cause S. Anitema knows us both.
Anyhoo. She leaves for back home THIS WEEK and I wish ALL THE BEST for her. (And we'll see one another in Provo!)
It was a grand day of miracles, ending up where we needed to be, even when it wasn't planned. We met some lovely people. Also a man who said, "I know what you do, and I don't like it," and closed the door. I laughed a little (...Does that sound bad? Ha.) Poor man. One day you'll learn :)
WEDNESDAY was a normal day, but we found some lovely potentials. And then our phone failed us and made it so we missed MCM...'cause no texts came through all day. Therefore, everything our WML said of, "Hey Sisters, yes, we're having MCM" and "Where are you?" and "Did you have an apointment?" never came through... until Thursday. Ha. #Struggles
THURSDAY. TRADE OFFS. I got to go out with my Sister Boiteux again :) (aka: my first baby/trainee). I MISSED HER. Seriously. All in her STL self ;) It's fun to be able to get back with old companions at the end of your missions and see how much you've both grown, and to share experiences and talk and just learn more from one another. So.... I was pretty lucky in my last 2 trade offs being with my "mum" and then my "daughter". LOVE. #BLESSED.
FRIDAY. MIRACLE.
So tired. Felt gross. Still made it out. Heavenly Father blesses. We met a man who, honestly, I was hesitant to stop at the house of - just 'cause he was on the phone, and had a beer in hand. (I should know by now that that doesn't change much in South Auckland. Ha. Life in general here would probably be rated R pretty much all the time for language issues. You even hear SMALL CHILDREN swearing.) But we waited patiently, and he told us how he had recently seen a new movie out about Christ teaching as a child ("The Young Messiah") and how watching it made him miss the feelings he felt when he was a kid—the feelings of the Holy Spirit around him.
And because of this film, he and his wife were looking into bringing their 5 kids to church, and getting themselves into a better environment. They were looking into going to a church with his wife's sister in Mangare, but we mentioned to him when and where our services were, and he said, "Ah! That's
much closer!" Blessings! Hopefully we'll see them again this week :) They weren't able to make it to church this weekend, but we're still in contact, so... good things :)
Blessings. Miracles. Little things to PICK YOU UP. Love it.
SATURDAY. This weekend we had a Stake RS weekend basically—Service, a "Cultural" Activity, and a Devotional on Sunday night. So Saturday afternoon was the main activity with each ward assigned a different place within the islands (Niue, Fiji, Tonga, Tahiti, Hawaii, Kiribus) and each brought a food item and did a dance.
BEAUTIFUL and exciting things!! And the best part? Our dear Puna (investigator) was super involved in all the things. Dancing with our RS and all. Love her. Heaps.
SUNDAY the RS devotional was beautiful too. Singing in different languages (I know how to sing "I Need Thee Every Hour" in Kiribati now!). The spirit teaches you brilliant things. I just love it.
Also, this weekend Tyler broke bread and Hohia passed the sacrament!!!! Why is this exciting? They were BOTH super less active 5 or so months ago—Tyler in the way of 5 or 6 months ago he was smoking and drinking every day....and now look where they're at!
THE GLORIES OF THE GOSPEL!!
So... another week, more knowledge gained, and more experiences had. And I know there are more miracles to come, more people to find, and exciting things to come as well.
Life is great in the NZ world. ...I kind of don't remember what life is like anywhere else. So that's different than what I expected. Ha. I love it. I'm blessed. And I'm grateful :)
I hope you all have a most beautiful week ahead.
ALOFA TELE ATU!
Sister Mckenzie Ann Ottley
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