Sister in Sydney: Sweet is the Work

Hey yous!

Don't know where to start, so we will start random! Sis Burgress is teaching me how to Tahitian dance and I teach her some Ballet for morning exercise. It is so much fun! She says I'm the first Palangi to dance like a Tahitian (this is where my Dad would chirp in that he taught me all that I know) haha

Flat mates: Sister Burgress (Tahiti),Sister Sauaki, (Tonga), Sister Manoo (Tonga), Sister Rushing

This week was a little crazy seeing that my companion was still "sick" so President let us do splits with the two new sisters, which worked out well so I could always WORK. I go crazy when I don't haha The perk was I could then go with one of them to old investigators and less actives I have a relationship with to hand them over with a good pass off!

Baptismal date updates! I love Alek SO MUCH. Everything is squared away and good. Tried on a dress, had her interview, everything... until right before church she had me tell bishop to hold off announcing it because her sister/Jason's mom that is back from Africa is all like... you've already been baptized (I just LOVE this issue with all the Sudanese) so you better check again with mom. But this is why I fasted yesterday right? Please keep Alek and her mom (Yom Bol) in your prayers to get that final signature and permission to have her service this Saturday. Trish is really busy and has been kind of MIA but we have an appt Thursday where she will let us know her new baptismal date. She is so ready but it will just be moved back for scheduling purposes.

Alek Trying on Baptismal Dress

But crazy cool- Alek went to the YW camp all on her own. We showed up to be the guest speakers and she was there! That was also a funny/miracle moment. My companion was ready to "work" that day and when we broke up into our groups with the young women, she went into her past life of boys, drinking, smoking and enjoying being in jail for a month... you should've seen those girls faces. So after, I kindly mentioned we don't really go into past transgressions but the miracle is she was out and working so that’s good #positivity

The Mangelsdorf family that always has us over for dinner Sunday to teach their less-active daughter and neighbor, and always invite nonmember friends, have also led us to some miracles. We were able to give their neighbor a Book of Mormon last night and he committed to sincerely read it and pray about it. Also, we have a dinner appt with their friends from a few weeks back and dropped by yesterday and they were so friendly, let us straight in, let us teach a lesson and believe it or not... still want us over for dinner!

One cool miracle this week, although depressing is a very less active member we gave our number to maybe 4 months ago called us. Unfortunately because her Dad just passed away and this was the only number she had. We were shocked she still had our number but luckily were able to direct her to the help she needed. Its tragic that sometimes it takes these sensitive matters for people to realize how much God is there for them and wants to help them if they only turn to him. But in the meantime it gave us sisters a good opportunity to go and heart attack her house with lots of love, quotes and scriptures of comfort.

Can't wait to go help one of my favorite less actives, Shenee, the older aboriginal lady go and make her mormon.org profile this week - she is a hoot :) And also can't wait for the traveling sisters to come down tomorrow and to work with us!!

So things are looking up, I am really anxious about Alek's baptism and if it will follow through or not but once again this is another opportunity for me to have faith and put all my trust in the Lord. The last couple of weeks I have learned so much about needing to trust him and in turn, I feel like my relationship with him has increased so much. He is there for all of us, turn to him and trust him. I know this without a doubt. I also know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and my best friend and that I get to represent him and his church on the earth today. I loved reading Mosiah 14-15 this morning about him. Great chapters, even with the Isaiah. I know it is through his stripes that we are all healed and how we all can be healed. He has literally borne it all.

Also, I can never express enough of my love to all of you! I feel all the love, support and prayers all the way down under and please know I am praying for all yous as well.

Sister Rushing

(We made Mike Norman a card before his surgery. It had to be funny. So I tried my best. It was an elephant and the trunk popped out when you opened it. He is getting a priesthood blessing before even! So much for being anti-mormon right? #miracle)