Meeting Elder Nelson

HELLO FAMILY!!

I miss you all so much but this week was by far the coolest one on the mission so far! We had ANOTHER mission conference this week. But this time Elder Russell M. Nelson and his wife came and spoke to us. We all got to shake his hand and when he looked into my eyes it felt like he could see my whole soul. I hope he mostly saw the good parts! lol It’s amazing that in that conference questions that I have had for years were answered and questions that I have had just since I have been out on my mission were answered to. I learned and grew so much! I don't know if many of you know how involved I started to get in my genealogy before I left but both him and his wife talked about the importance of doing work for our ancestors. I love doing it and you feel so close to them as you search for their names and find out more about the lives they lived here. Sister Nelson said "They are not dead and they don't like being called dead. They are very much alive!" and Elder Nelson said "Angels are watching over you every day, you will recognize them in your life and realize that most of them are your ancestors." They are waiting for us to do their work and find them. They love us and watch over us and in return we should love them and help them receive the blessings of this gospel on the other side. All kinds of missionary work to be done.

Also this week was the first time I had someone get so angry with me for knocking on their door. We were tracting up on a road that is a little bit of a nicer area, which usually means people are less receptive to our message. But this one lady as we walked up was standing in her kitchen and walked out to talk to us with a grin so we had high hopes that it would go well. As we got talking to her we could tell it was way off base. She was yelling at us that we were false preachers and that Christ is the only God and she was red from the top of her head clear down her chest. She had fists and was just so angry. She was yelling at us not to knock on any more doors until we read the bible and learned Hebrew for ourselves. I have never felt so calm and just tried to tell her that I knew for myself because I had read the Book of Mormon and asked God. We slowly backed away and left but she just kept screaming. As we walked down the long driveway poor Sister Holmes was a little upset she is a tender soul and doesn't handle being yelled at very well, but I couldn't help thinking to myself that we would need to come back one day. At the conference on Saturday it was funny because Elder Nelson was answering questions and this one Sister asked "How do you explain that God and Jesus are two separate beings?" This is the very frustration that this poor lady had been having. Elder Nelson answered in the most beautiful and perfect words but I will try to sum it up for you. He said that is a hard one because the bible can be very unclear because most the time it doesn't matter who is being referred to because they are as one. And then he shared that when the world was created the word for God used was Eloheim- which in Hebrew means a plural mass. Or in other words God and Jesus Christ created it together along with Michael (Or Adam). He then went on to say, share this scripture with them of Christ’s Intercessory prayer found in:
                                    John 17:1-11 "These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou has sent. I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy work. Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, Keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are one."

    

He then told us to bear our testimony of God the Father and Jesus Christ whom he sent to atone for the world. As he was saying this in the conference I knew that I was going back to talk to her this week. I was worried when though because Sister Holmes had been so upset the first time. But then I remembered we are doing companion exchanges with the sister training leader on Wednesday so I plan on going back then. I know that it might not go so well, but when an Apostle of the Lord speaks and you feel strongly influenced I figure I better go with it.

In other news this week Teno sat us down and told us she wants to get baptized!! I started crying right there as she bore her testimony to Sister Holmes and I and said she wanted to try to do it before we leave. As we left that lesson we knew that it was time to teach the law of Chastity....dun dun dun.... It is so hard to teach to someone that is living with their partner and baby. They have the sweetest little family and it is hard to bring up. We taught her that and the law of tithing this week both hard ones. In the lesson she voiced her many concerns with both of these but then she faithfully said "I will pray about it to know if that is really what God wants." So she did! We went over to see her on Saturday and she wasn't there. We were really concerned that she was super upset about it and that she would start going backwards. And on Sunday when we popped our head into the First Ward to see if she was there and didn't see her we got really discouraged. I prayed for her so much that she would keep going forward. So yesterday afternoon we walked over there with the Bible she had asked for and she came right out to greet us! She said oh I just got home from church and was going to text you guys. Apparently she went to church all by herself and that is why we couldn't find her. She got her answers about tithing and she went and asked the Bishop if she could pay tithing before she was baptized because she has to get married first and that she would still like to pay it now. He told her no one had ever asked him that before. lol She is an angel I hope through my emails you can feel the amazing faith that she has. It blows me away every day! And she often says she knows that we were supposed to meet and that it just had to be the right timing for her to find the gospel. I have never met anyone that has so much faith in Prayer especially.

Well that is all for now! I hope you are all safe and happy at home! I miss you and love you so much!

Love, Sister Miggin

The tiniest little puppy our friend Selena let us hold! Don,t worry this one had no fleas!

We played another prank on the elders but this time we set up Elder Hester’s first district meeting as District leader like relief society haha we even put apples on his desk! He thought it was super funny! Then Elder Otto needed more study space so he pulled over the tiny desk and Elder Hester was upset because he said he look like a dictator especially with his fancy table cloth.

Late night before mission conference at the sisters house in Papakura where we stayed cause we had to be up for the bus at 4:30 in the morning. I was so tired and did not want my picture taken. Sister Holmes took it anyway can you tell I was happy

A crazy plant we found

BEFORE

 

AFTER

This picture was included to promote our jealousy.

The Runs

Kia Ora-

I miss you all and am so glad it is P-Day! This week was super great and crazy! First story is I caught a Mauri Disease. Don’t freak out I think it is starting to go away but it is funny how I figured out what it was. We were at my investigator Teno's house having a lesson (PS I love her I am pretty sure I would have come all the way to New Zealand just for her!) but she was like "How have you been" and I looked like I had been ran over and so I told her I had a stomach ache the last couple days and she goes have you had diarrhea? (Sorry for the gruesomeness but I swear it leads to funny!) And I said yes!! She started laughing and she goes "You got what the Maori’s call the RUNS!!" lol I almost died laughing! It is really Rota Virus.  She gave me some tips on how to get rid of it and finally today it is getting better! Apparently whatever I got is really common here and people usually get it two or three times a year! YUCK! I hope this is the only time I get it...It was miserable! But I just kept working through it for the most part and we saw so many miracles.

We haven't heard from Anne since she went to Samoa and came back so we were starting to get really worried. She was supposed to get back on the second of February and as the days kept going we were getting sad that she wasn't texting us back. I prayed so much that we would be able to see her. I prayed specifically for a miracle and that is what we got. We just left the flat back on the street after dinner and stopped to chat with one of our favorite members when we heard a car horn and her car pulled over and she jumped out of the car. She ran over and hugged us and said she just hadn't been able to pay her phone bill since she got back but she was still reading the Book of Mormon and sharing it with her sisters now. I think we will have to reschedule the baptism so that we can fit in all the lessons but she still is planning on getting baptized and is as strong as ever! What a blessing!

Our next miracle is super crazy Teno has been sharing the gospel with all of her friends and family! She has been having these dreams about stuff that is in the temple that she would have no way of knowing and she talks about getting baptized all the time. We have asked her a couple of times and she said she is not ready but I believe when she is she will do it. She got her sister in law to come to church with her on Sunday and now she is taking the lessons to from the sisters in the other ward. She has read up to 2 Nephi already and understands so much! She got herself back in school this week and joined a netball team (Which is like basketball but without dribbling you just have to pass to make it in and the person with the ball can’t move forward until they pass it forward, it sounds super fun I haven't tried it yet though!) She started quitting smoking and hasn't drunk at all in over two weeks. She is reading her scriptures every day and praying every day. She bears her testimony about how she knows the gospel is true and how strong her relationship with Heavenly Father is now. I am so grateful for her strength that boosts me up on my mission.

We had a Pacific Area Broadcast yesterday to the Leaders of the wards and the Missionaries, but they talked all about member missionary work and how when you work on your own spiritual strength you will automatically start sharing it with others. President Hamula challenged us to do three things 1. Increase personal faith in Jesus Christ 2. Live the law of the Fast 3. Immerse ourselves in the Book of Mormon. They also challenged us to read the Book of Mormon twice this year. I know that Nicole started reading the Book of Mormon and was going to try and read it in a certain amount of time. Our mission President challenged us to read it by Easter. I would invite anyone who is reading this to set a goal for you to read the Book of Mormon and do it before June! I know that is a huge challenge but I know the blessings that will come! Everywhere I turn we are being challenged to read it. Strengthen yourself first and then you will be able to strengthen those around you.

I love you all and hope you have a great week!

Love, Sister Miggin

 

The cake we baked for dinner with Teno and Garrison

Tracting out on the country road it was super humid you can see my hair fuzzing out in the back

Me sick with my water bottle

A Baptism and a Prank!

Hello Hello Family!

I can’t believe how much can happen in just one week! The week started out anticipating transfers. I was pretty confident we were staying in Pukekohe and I was right we aren't going anywhere!

Sister Holmes and I played a prank on the elders in district meeting it was hilarious. We were the first ones there so we set up the tables and put a little baby nursery table up front with little baby nursery chairs. Elder Brann and Terry our zone leaders walked in and Elder Brann started laughing and Elder Terry just looked annoyed but they just sat down anyway and started studying like we do before meetings. Right before the meeting started they got up and left for the restroom  and I leaned over to Sister Holmes and said hurry lets switch it to a big table while they are gone. So we jumped up and switched it back putting all their stuff exactly how they left it on the little one. And when they came back we were all studying again and they started laughing pretty hard it was great!

On Wednesday the day before transfers Sister Whiting and Sister Lamoureux our training leaders came down and I am so glad I got to say goodbye. I adore Sister Lamoureux I think we were friends in the Pre-existence, plus she loves Nitro Circus what are the chances??

Thursday morning (EARLY IN THE MORNING!) Sister Holmes and I got to teach the seminary class. It was lots of fun and even though it was way too early to be alive. The kids were great I love the youth in this ward!

Fixing the heater in the baptismal font. She's super handy.

Shanti did get baptized on Saturday! It was a huge miracle! About half the ward showed up at 8 when the baptism was supposed to start and NO SHANTI! Through a long chain of events it all worked out she showed up at about 9 o’clock, all the ward members had waited for her that night to show up and now she is officially a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints! WOOT WOOT! The service was beautiful and I felt so happy and blessed. She was as golden of an investigator as they come. She knew that everything we told her was true from the moment we first met her. It sounds crazy but I am just grateful that God let me be part of her life!

Well I hope all is well at home love you much!!

Love Sister Miggin

Sister Leung-wo She is the best! I love her dearly! She is from austrailia and is so funny.

I decorated her white handbook with stickers to make her feel better! By the look on her face I think it worked!

This is Ellie Cooper that we were at her house for Christmas!

She gave us an Ice Cream Cone because it was really HOT!

I would just like to take a moment to thank everyone who has been reading. Its so nice to hear your feedback and know that you are excited to see what Lyndsi is doing. This week I loved seeing that Shanti was baptised. Its very cool that she is now a member of the church. It strengthens my testimony and I am grateful that Lyndsi was able to go to New Zealand participate in bringing her the good news of the gospel! As always please keep Lyndsi and her companion in your prayers and I will keep you updated on her progress. -Nicole