Are you pumped?!‏

G'day!

This weeks email's subject is brought to you by our Zone Leaders, Elder Jordan and Elder Mason.   On Monday we had our Miracle Monday where we saw heaps of miracles within our zone.  As a zone (24 missionaries) we found 12 new investigators and set 3 new baptismal dates!  On Tuesday for p-day all of us went bowling to celebrate.  It was great, we played 3 games.  Sister Tomaki had never bowled before.  If you look at our scores she did pretty dang good for her first time.  Our district was crowned winners of the Monday Miracle Madness competition.  We were pretty pumped.  Then at Zone Meeting on Wednesday we walked in and the Zone Leaders had written on the board, "ARE YOU PUMPED?!"   We did an activity where everyone blew up 2 balloons and on them wrote things that pumped us up to go do work.  Elder Jordan asked Elder Poole, "Elder Poole, if you stood on your 2 balloons would they hold you up?"  To which Elder Poole replied, "No, I'm too fat!"  Elder Jordan said, "Do you all think that if we combined our pump that we would be able to hold us all up?"  We were pretty skeptical that it would work.  They had us throw all of our balloons to the front of the room.   Then the put one of those big church tables on it!  The balloons held the table totally fine.  Then Elder Jordan in all of his excitement and enthusiasm fully jumped onto the table!  Not a single balloon popped.  He looked at his companion and said, "Elder Mason are you pumped?!"  Elder Mason is of course super pumped and jumped up on the table next to his companion.  Elder Jordan then proceeded to ask each district leader if they too were pumped.  Then they added the Sister Training Leaders as well!  There were 8 people on that table that was still being upheld by the balloons that they rested on.  We couldn't believe it.  We added Elders until the balloons finally popped.  It was a really cool object lesson. 

 

 

 

 

The District Leaders :)  This is them on the table.  The Zone Leaders are behind them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Then on Thursday the Zone Leader came and dropped of balloons to our flat that had things about us written on it that they admired and that pumped them up.  It was accompanied with cookies :)  I had a water bottle sitting on the counter while we were weekly planning that Sister Tomaki just laughed at.  The bottle company is called PUMP!  We took our lunch break to create these for our Zone Leaders.  The Sister Training Leaders took them to the Zone Leaders flat when we did an exchange with them.  We thought we were clever. 

 

 From the Zone Leaders :)

 

 

 From us :)

I just wanted to share a few stories that really pumped me up this week.

#1 We had a lesson with our investigator named Faith.  Faith had a baptismal date but her husband said she couldn't be baptized and won't let her come to church.  Well with Sister Tomaki being brand new we decided it would be good to go through the lessons again with Faith so that she can have a refresher and so Sister Tomaki can practice teaching the lessons.  Well this week we taught her the Plan of Salvation.  We really emphasized the need to have faith, repent, be baptized and receive the Holy Ghost.  The spirit was so strong!  She realized that she can't get to the celestial kingdom and live with God or her family unless she is baptized.  It was amazing to see a new determination in her to do that right thing.  She committed to read and pray daily to build her connection with God again.  She said that she would start praying for her husbands heart to be softened.  I loved seeing the light from her start to burn again.   It was beautiful.

 

#2 Our District Leader Elder Eti last week told us that there was a part member family that just moved into our ward.  Sister Williams is active and all 4 of her boys are active and have been baptized.  Her son Helaman actually gave a talk in sacrament meeting yesterday and I couldn't help but think, "he is going to be an amazing missionary some day."  They are a great family.  They are from Samoa.  We had a dinner with them on Friday night.  Brother Williams is not a member.  He as incredible faith in Jesus Christ though.  He has always been really religious.  We shared a message with them and then Sister Williams said, "My husband just has a lot of questions."  He denied her claim but after a few more minutes of talking he said, "Okay I only have a couple of questions."  We smiled and asked what they were.  He wanted to know about the Kingdoms of Glory, the Godhead, the apostasy and the essentially the fact that the church needed to be restored.  He has golden questions!  We set up another time to go back and answer his questions.  I can't wait for our lesson with him on Wednesday.  I'm so grateful that I've studied up on the Bible so that I can show him all of his answers in both the Bible and the Book of Mormon.  I'm fully confident that he is going to be baptized in the next couple of months.  He is going to be a mean member of the church!

 

#3 The Fiti family.  I told you a little about them last week.  The mum has been wanted to come back to church for a while now but didn't have the support or drive.  The dad was baptized only a few years ago and then fell away pretty quickly afterwards.  We went around last week and shared a message about how we all want to be ready when the Savior comes again.  We set the daughter Kaya on date to be baptized on the 31st of next month.  Well we had a lesson with them on Saturday that fell through.  We make things happen though and Sunday night after dinner we said a special prayer that they would be home.  They were home!  They had only gotten home about 10 minutes before we showed up :)  Prayers are answered.  We shared the Restoration with their family and had the mum, dad, and older brother talk about how they've felt the Holy Ghost in their lives, the importance of a prophet to them, and how needed the priesthood is.  It was powerful to hear them bare their testimonies on things they haven't been aware of for a while.  After reciting Joseph Smith's first vision the 10 year old son said, "Is that a true story?"  I responded with, "that is for each of us to find out for ourselves."  Kaya said, "I think it is."  I looked her in the eye and just smiled as I said, "I know it is."  Sister Tomaki and I were able to bear powerful testimonies of how we know that this church is true.  You could have cut the spirit in that room with a knife.  We talked more about the things that we needed to do with them leading up to Kaya's baptism and how we wanted to help their family.  They all committed to read and pray daily.  On the way out the dad said, "We've been a little slack lately but then you Sisters always come and make it happen."  I've been incredibly humbled by the miracles that we've been able to be a part of here in Golden Bay.  I'm grateful that Heaven Father trusts me with these precious children. 

Lastly,  I was reading in John chapter 9 this week.  The greatest moments I reckon is when you are studying the scriptures and the things you read bring you to tears.  This chapter did that to me.  As we've been reading through the 4 gospels I was getting kind of bored to read the same stories over and over again throughout Matthew, Mark, and Luke.  John however is totally different.  I've been touched by everything that I've read over the last few days.  I love being able to put myself into the scriptures and seeing how they literally do apply to each and every one of us.  I love the scriptures.  I'm grateful for the power that they bring into our lessons and into our individual lives.  I hope you are all reading daily.  Whether it be from the Bible or from the Book of Mormon.  The word of God is there for you.  Trust in it and let it lift, inspire and bless your life.  I love you all and hope that something this week pumps you up :)

Much love,

Shayne             

Bowling photos and scores

The outlook by our house.

Me and my companion

The Lord's vineyard of WA :) 

 A servant in the Lord's vineyard :)  I thought I was funny.

ANZAC day dawn ceremony.  This was really cool.  We went and met up with the youth from our ward and their leaders at 5:30 in the morning. The ceremony is to remember all of the soldiers of war here in OZ and in NZ.  It started with a "Welcome to the land" by one of the aboriginal elders in the community.  He played the didgeridoo :)  It was amazing.  It was a great experience that I'm glad we sacrificed our sleep for.

Missionaries from our Zone at bowling.

This is our district leader Elder Eti being crowned for Miracle Monday madness :)

Testimony Strengthening‏

G'day family!

I'm so glad to hear that you all made it up to Lehi for Easter.  I love going to Grandpa's for the traditional Easter egg hunts.  Last year we colored eggs in Spokane.  Here in WA all of the eggs are brown so the color doesn't work the same.  We still have our coloring pack though and will give it a try after we buy more eggs. 

This has been  great week for us here in Golden Bay.  We honored Good Friday with a Zone Conference.  We talked heaps about moving our recent converts from baptism to the temple to do baptisms for their ancestors.  Sister Tomaki and I were able to jump on to familysearch.org and we found her grandparents and great-grandparents on her fathers side.  I was incredible exciting!  President has given us permission this transfer only to go to the family history center at the Stake Center to find a family name for ourselves to take to the temple.  I'm so excited.  I haven't been able to go to the temple since about last August so I'm excited that we will be going soon.  It was an emotional meeting from the beginning.  President showed a slideshow of all the missionaries and their converts for this year so far.  We have had 84 baptisms this year so far!   We are on tract to reaching our goal of 300 for the year.  That is more than 100 more than we have ever reached before.  As we cleanse ourselves and keep a determined focus on the Lord's will and how He can use us to preform His works then we are only going to see more and more miracles.  There were a lot of pictures of missionaries who have left for home this year.  A few that brought tears to a lot of our eyes were the ones of Elder Rigby and Elder Boynton.  Sister Lindsay talked about how these elders have returned home but their recent converts are our recent converts and how in this church we take care of each other.  At the end of our conference President Lindsay read us an email from Conner Boynton it said that he had just gotten back from the specialist in London who after running a whole bunch of tests have decided that they will have him undergo surgery to remove the cancer and then he will only go through one round of radiation.  He was grateful that he wouldn't have to have chemotherapy.  We were so excited to hear good news.  He is still constantly in our prayers that the procedure and recovery go well. 

There have been a couple of random things that have strengthened my testimony this week.

#1 -  I've had these random headaches.  Don't worry they are nothing crazy but enough that I'll grab a Penadol and be fine.  The other night I got one just as I was laying down to go to sleep.  I couldn't help but think about how grateful I am that I was raised in a home where the priesthood was always readily available.  It's weird not having the priesthood in the flat.  I'm grateful for worthy elders that serve around us and can help us when we need it.  My testimony was strengthened and rooted deeper within me knowing that I won't settle with not having a worthy priesthood holder in my own home some day.

   

#2 - I read John 10:40-42 this week and it struck my heart.  I read, "40: And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode. 41: And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true.  42: And many believed on him there."  

I had been thinking about the work that I am a part of right now and how nothing I do is a miracle.  I'm part of miracles in others lives and I get to see the gospel blesses the lives of so many but this isn't my work.  It's the Lords.  I was touched when I read that John did no miracles.  I would say being worthy to baptize the Lord to fulfill all righteousness is a miracle and a major blessing but the scripture came off to me as John preached the gospel.  That is was he did.  He taught and testified and through the spirit others believed.  It is the same as the work that each and everyone of us do today.  I love being a part of this work.  So many prophets have testified that there is no better work that we can do in our life and I definitely add my testimony to that.  

Easter was incredibly special this year.  Our ward put on a stake devotional.  Sister Tomaki and I were privileged to sing in the choir.  There were musical numbers and speaking parts through the whole program.  You hear the testimonies of disciples, Mary the mother of Jesus, Mary Magdalene, Judean citizens who were healed by His hand and some who were part of the miracles of feeding the 5,000, were able to hear the sermon on the mount, and many others.  There wasn't a dry eye in the congregation.  The spirit was so strong.  There is no denying that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints isn't a Christian church.  To that I share Gary J. Coleman's testimony http://www.mormonchannel.org/video/mormon-messages?v=1101417650001.  Jesus Christ is the head of this Church.  I know that with every fiber of my being.  This is the only true and living church on the earth.  I'm so grateful to be a part of it.  I know that God hears and answers our prayers.  I felt that yesterday and I was praying my little heart out that we could see a miracle and bring another soul closer to Christ.  As we were driving along I felt the strongest impression to go visit a part member family that we haven't been able to catch in a long time.  I followed that prompting and turned to go to their home.  Miracle number 1, they were home.  Miracle 2, we shared a message.  Miracle 3, mum wants to come back but has needed the drive and support.  Miracle 4, dad has questions and needs the lessons over again to solidify the testimony he barely gained years ago when he was baptized.  Miracle 5, the 9 year old daughter accepted the invitation to be baptized and we set the date for the 31st of May!  They are going to come back!  We have a lesson with them on Saturday and I couldn't be happier.  I said so many prayers of gratitude that I can't even count.  I love being able to feel the spirit and see the blessings that come to others as we act upon the spirit.  I love being a missionary.  I love this gospel with all my heart.  I love you all and hope you are all well.  Keep up all of the amazing things you do. 

Much love,
Sister Shayne

Picture #1 In honor of Easter we bought hot cross buns.  These were filled with Nutella :)

 

Pic #2  Emma and Caitlin moved back to the states this week.  We miss them heaps!

 

Pic #3 Another beautiful sunset. 

 

 

 This is our family tree :)  This is at one of the parks in our neighborhood.  I think it is amazing. 

 

 

 

 

These are my favorite little birds.  They are everywhere! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sister Tomaki was really hungry the other night.  She made herself some sandwiches. 3 to be exact and yes she finished them all.

 

 

 

 This is Elder Maughan as one of Christ's disciples at the Easter Devotional.  We had to take a picture.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quick story:

I finish getting dressed one morning and am out pouring myself a bowl of cereal when Sister Tomaki comes out of her room and shows me her leg.  No tears, to screaming, just calm as a cucumber says, "Um Sister Beckstrand can you help me?"  I ran to my room and grabbed my super big and wonderful first aide kit that you bring on a mission when your mum is a nurse and you are certified in first aide.  We cleaned it up as you can see in the picture and then bandaged her up.  She is one tough cookie!  I felt a lot like mum though.  Sister Tomaki just laughed at me when I said, "I'll bandage it up but let me take a picture first."  :)  It was a fun little adventure before personal study.  She basically had just got her leg caught in something at the flat and figured if it went in one way it should come out the same way but that wasn't the case.  It just tore all the skin off that was in the way.  Lesson learned. 

(That's my girl!)-Penny

A week different from all the rest‏

G'day family!

This has been a week unlike any other on my mission thus far.  Transfers always bring about a crazy week but I am still trying to just get my head wrapped around it all.  Monday we had a great family home evening with the Mutu's.  I love this family.  They are full of love and fun.  Sister Mutu is a solid member.  She is definitely my mission mum of this area.  She and her daughters go to the temple at least once a month.  Both daughters are sealed in the temple and her son Nikau is preparing for a mission.  Her husband isn't a member.  Nikau shared a lesson on gratitude.  It was really good.  It opened us all up for a mini testimony meeting of the things that we are grateful for.  The spirit was soo strong. 

Tuesday was gone in a blink of an eye and we were on the highway Wednesday morning at 7am to get to the temple in time for my trainers meeting at 9am.  The meeting was great and after shuffling suitcases from car to car for Sister Murray she was off and I was with my temporary companion Sister Brown for the day.  We were able to go back to her area of Kwinana for the day to work.  A highlight from that day was teaching this lady named Pam.  Pam was contacted once but then the sisters had struggled to get a second appointment.  Well we talked with her for a bit at the door and then asked if we could come in and share a the Restoration with her.  She agreed and we had an incredible lesson!  The spirit was so strong.  She had golden questions and situations.  She said that she has been looking at different churches but they all seem to be missing something.  (Sound familiar?)  I asked her if she would like to know what was missing and she said yes.  I told her it was the priesthood and we invited her to come to General Conference and to read the Book of Mormon.  She said she would do both!  Our jaws just dropped as we got in the car.  The spirit was great and we offered a humble prayer of gratitude before we called in our miracles to our leaders.  1 hour back in our area and Sister Brown had invited someone to be baptized :)  That is how we make it happen here in the APM. 

Thursday we went to the temple to pick up our new companions!  My new companion is Sister Marie Tomaki.  She is 21 and the 2nd oldest of 6 children.  She is straight from Port-Vila Vanuatu.  Her English is pretty good for not knowing much before her 2 weeks in the NZ MTC.  She is really shy during regular conversations with people but when she opens her mouth to share a scripture or testify she is powerful!  Since she is being trained and learning a language our studies start at 8am and don't end until noon.  I definitely needed this.  I have been looking back on the stuff that I am supposed to teach and I've realized that I have gotten into a pretty set routine of how I teach.  It isn't bad but I know that we are going to grow and learn a lot from each other.  Sister Tomaki has only been a member for just over 2 years.  She was the first to be baptized in her immediate family.   She joined, then her dad (who passed away last year), her sisters, and then her mum.  Her older brother has yet to join the church.  We had made a plan that she will baptize him and then take her whole family to the temple in Fiji to be sealed after her mission.  That left a big smile on her face.  She is just precious.  I already know that by the time we are done with her training that she will be a powerhouse and I will probably cry when we have to be transferred in like 3 months.

We had a whole new district here in the Mandurah ward.  Elder Eti and I are the only ones that stayed in the ward.  The new Mandurah Elders are Elder Teuira from Tahiti (Elder Teuira has been out for a year and a half the same as Elder Eti) and  Elder Cook.  He has been out for 6 months and is from Wyoming.  Elder Eti is training a new missionary as well.  His name is Elder Maughan.  The first time I asked him how to pronounce his name he said, "Have you seen Cool Runnings?"  I said yes and he replied, "Ya man! (in a thick Jamaican accent)"  I think we will get along.

General Conference was amazing.  I can't even begin to explain the thoughts and feelings that ran through me as I watched and listened to those inspired speakers.  The whole week prior to Conference we told all of our investigators, members, and less actives to prepare questions that they wanted answered and to take them to Conference with them.  Well Friday rolled around and I realized that I had questions but I hadn't really meditated on them or wrote them down.  I said a prayer and decided to write them on a sticky note and put it in my planner for the next day.  Two questions I want to share with you and the answers that I received.        

Question #1 How can I increase my faith?  In Christ and Self? 

Answer #1  Elder Nelsen's talk.  Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ comes from living His gospel.  He meantioned searching for truth.  I wrote, "What am I learning?  Am I searching for truth in all that I do?"  I loved when he said, "Those who face their fears with faith have courage also." I loved his talk. 

Question #2 What does the future hold in store?

Answer #2 Elder Gary E. Stevenson's talk.  This life is my four minutes.  As he talked about the Olympians I just cried.  He was speaking to me!  All of the things that I've been through in live, all of the dreams, all of the blessings that God has orchestrated into my life this far.  All of it is a part of my four minutes.  I am in charge of what happens next.  As I continue to live the way God wants me to live, as I obey his commandments with exactness, and as I continue to progress the work of salvation He will help me accomplish anything else I desire to do.  Isn't that a beautiful promise?  That is how I will find my next medal :)  As he got in to his talk Sister Tomaki just looked over at me and pulled out a tissue for me.  That talk really hit home. 

I hope you all enjoyed General Conference as much as I did!  I really look forward to taking President Monson's advice and being able to study the words that have been spoken.  It is such a special blessing to be able to listen and apply the words from God through the leaders of Christ's true and living church every 6 months.  I love this gospel.  I love that we can continually change, repent, and progress towards our ultimate goal of the Celestial Kingdom.  I love you all and hope you have a faith filled week!

Much love,
Sister Shayne   

Picture: Me and Sister Tomaki :)      

Before I got Sister Tomaki I spent Monday and Tuesday preparing our flat for her :)  I made her a new planner, put up some signs and topped it off with balloons.  She loved it :)  Her planner has a sunset from here in Golden Bay (her first area), Perth city, the mission office, and of course pictures of the Savior.

 

Gone in a blink of an eye‏

G'day family!

This week flew by!  I feel like it was just Monday.  Last Monday we cleaned, emailed, shopped, and then went and hung out with Emma Harper until our dinner appointment.  Tuesday was just a full miracle day!  We went to Zone Meeting at the Rockingham chapel where we were trained all about our authority and our power.  Quote of the meeting, "Our setting apart gives us our authority.  Our obedience gives us our power."  While at Zone meeting we got a call from a girl named Toree.  Toree is in another ward in our stake.  We called her back later and she asked if we covered Secret Harbor.  We said that we did and she told us that she has a friend that wants to know about the gospel.  She asked what we were doing that day and we set up an appointment to come by at 5 and teach a lesson.  When we went we got to know her and asked her what her favorite thing was that her friends have been telling her about.  Of course as a 17 year old girl her favorite thing wast he idea that her family can be together forever.  We taught her the Plan of Salvation and committed her to pray.  She said the closing prayer and it was incredible!  It was the best 'first prayer' I've ever heard!  We asked her how she felt and she just teared up.  We invited her right then and there to be baptized.  She said yes and we set her on date for the 10th of May!!!  She is solid as!!!  We went back to teacher her all about the Restoration on Friday and were planning on giving her a Book of Mormon.  She already had one and had already read the introduction and testimonies in the beginning of it!  That NEVER happens!  She is soo prepared. That is living, breathing proof of what happens when members know, live, and share their beliefs and testimony with others.  Your friends see the light in you as you live the gospel.  The missionaries are here to teach and it is what we have been set apart to do.  When we get calls like the one from Toree we know that we have found an elect child of God who is ready for baptism.  She went to church on Sunday with her mate Toree and loved it!  She said she just cried through testimony meeting.  I'm so excited to work with her.

Tuesday night we received a text from President that read, " Dear Missionaries, Tonight, Elder Boynton boarded a flight to return home to England for treatment of thyroid cancer. His early departure is a sadness for all of us."  For the last 2-3 transfers Elder Boynton hasn't been eating properly but has been putting on weight.  He noticed a lump in his throat that wouldn't go away so they got it checked out.   We had a mission fast in his behalf yesterday.  It was heart breaking to get that news.  We called President just before he sent that text and Elder Boynton was with him on the way to the airport.  It touched my heart and brought me to tears that night as I thought that our special little miracle with Tiana may have been the last mission miracle that he heard before he left.

Another miracle came from a blitz in our area on Saturday.  We had 10 missionaries come help us find the elect in our area.  We had a mean miracle come from it.  Sister Murray and Sister Bailey went tracting on a street that we had prayed about and met the Greentree family.  Brother Greentree was baptized down in Esperence ages ago when.  His family was talking to missionaries but the missionaries were taken from that area and then the branch down there was no longer a branch.  They just moved into the area!  They know members here!  The dad does fly in fly out work so we set up a FHE with them for next Monday.  We are so oxcited to teach a family!  THe mum and all 3 kids are baptism age.  Ahhh!!  Getting to teach a family is seriously the greatest blessing.  We must be doing something right here in Golden Bay! 

Last night we watched the General Women's Broadcast.  I cried through the whole thing.  This gospel is amazing.  The force that Sisters in this gospel have is incredible.  I love that we have so much to learn from each other.  I couldn't help but think about all of the ladies in the ward back at home sitting and watching the conference last week.  I thought about the girl power in my family and especially all of the Sister Missionaries that are serving around the world.  It's just amazing.

Other random things from this week: 
We had the JW's knock on our door this week.  That was a fun little conversation.  They noticed the badge straight away and just gave us their little flier and left.  

My red pen died on me this week.  Why is that of enough significance to be added into my email home?  It's the red pen I bought at the MTC.  It lasted me over a year!  It was like a little funeral having to throw it away and get a new one. 

The 21st is ANZAC day here and will be another holiday.  Pday will be moved to our Tuesday and your Monday.  Just a heads up.

This is a pukana.  Sister Murray has been trying to teach me how to do this all transfer long.  In the haka the boys do it and they stick out their tongue.  Girls don't stick out their tongue.  They just make these ugly and scary as faces to be intimidating.  Our elders were proud of me :) 

Last but definitely not least we got transfer calls late last night.  I can't believe this transfer is already over.  I feel like I just got with Sister Murray.  I will be staying in Golden Bay and training a new missionary!!!  I am soooo excited!  I had a feeling about a week and a bit ago that I would be training again.  It is exactly what I need.  I'm excited to meet my new Sister this Thursday!  I'll tell you all about her next week.  I know she is going to be great. 

That's all for this week!  I hope you all have an awesome week!  I was pumped to hear about the SHAC TRI and all of the great things that are going on back at home.  I miss you all heaps and love you more that you'll ever know! 

All my love,

Sister Shayne

Pic #1  This is our morning exercises.  Sister Murray squats  me.  No big deal.

 

 

Pic #2  This was a failed attempt of capturing our squat.  This also pretty much summarizes this whole transfer :) 

 

 Pic #3 This was my chocolate chic that Caitlin bought for me :)  It made me pretty happy. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is me and Sister Murray before church

This is our all brown district after church

This is a pukana :)