May 16 And then there were 3...

What a week it's been. I can definitely say that spending all that time in Adelaide made me want to maximise all the time we could have in Mildura this week. And it is so cool to have a trio! We were able to split off, Sister Rougeau went with a member and Sister Matthes and I went out, we got twice the amount of work done! I love it, can't wait to see what this week has in store for us.

Sister Matthes is just amazing. She's from Samoa! I am so grateful already for her wonderful memory and great example of being a disciple of Christ. We were so blessed to bring her back with us, and she is so open with her questions as well.

 This is us coming back into Victoria, where Mildura is!

 There are 2 sets of 3 in Mildura! And we're both training new missionaries, it really is such an exciting thing to have a new sister with us, who wants to do the work the best she can! I love her :)
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On Saturday we were able to see a less active Young Woman who hasn't been to church in years probably. Her mum isn't a member, but she was baptized in Robinvale in 2010. She's had a lot of things happen in her life, but she was open to meeting more with us. It was such a miracle for me, because I've been there at least 5 times, seen the mum a couple times, who was really unreceptive and told us to go away. But there was a name written on the door post, the same name of the member we were looking for, and so Saturday as we rode past we decided to try again. And she was home! God is there, and so aware of this work. I love seeing His hand, and the amazing miracles that come when we are exactly obedient to His commandments. 

I love you dear family of mine! Keep up your great work!

Sister Townsend

May 8 Mildura is Grand!

Finally figuring out this whole picture thing, this is a picture of our district! The last week of the transfer
we got around to taking a picture of all of us, and now some are moving. Elder Callahan (far left)
is going home to Canada tomorrow! These are all the missionaries in the Mildura zone/district.

Sometimes Sister Rougeau and I have just a little bit of time to pause and take a picture :) There's a place here called Fasta Pasta, and it's kind of like Olive Garden back in the States, but you can get take away food. So we had a picnic by the river! That was right before we started getting heaps of rain, so we're glad we could enjoy it.

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Last but not least is the big news for the day. Sister Rougeau and I are staying together as a companionship, but we are training a new missionary! We found out just last night. So we got to pack a few things up, and started the drive to Adelaide this morning. And we had to get a picture of this lovely sign... Mildura is in Victoria, and Adelaide is in South Australia. For those who don't know, Australia only has 6 states and 2 territories, but is still roughly the size of America!

We have really had some great experiences with less actives and recent converts this week. One in particular was with a lady named Michelle, who we see once a week. She's a pretty great lady, with a testimony of the gospel, but it normally stays pretty hidden, she doesn't want to make herself vulnerable. This week we showed her President Monson's talk from conference (https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2016/04/choices?lang=eng), and started talking about choices. She really opened up so much and shared how her mum made such an impact on her, even when her choices were going against what her mum had taught her. The Spirit there was so strong, and we really could see how much she wanted to get back on track. I was so grateful for the prophet's message, and how applicable it can be for every single person. I know the gospel is for everyone, and can help every single person :) Love you all, have a fabulous week!

May 1

Sorry for the shorter email this week everyone!

As you can see, our mouse problem has been taken care of, but there's always something. I was told that since sisters aren't sent out bush, there's not much chance of coming across these sorts of things. But no, we got lucky enough to have a massive cockroach strolling along our kitchen floor. Not running, it was actually strolling. And it was so big I thought it was the mouse come back to scare us. 
One of my favorite spiritual experiences this week involved one our Indian investigators. She is the friend of another investigator who we started teaching last week, and she was talking about her belief in Jesus and what His purpose was on earth. As she was talking about how he was just a normal person, who happened to live a completely perfect life, and died for us, I felt the Spirit testify to me so strongly that NO, she was wrong. I knew, more at that moment than any other time in my life that Jesus Christ was the Son of God. That He came to earth with a divine purpose, and He fulfilled it. All that His Father had asked him to do, he did, and did it perfectly because of his divinity and because of his love for us. That knowledge I gained and testified to her didn't seem to make much difference to her, but it made a massive difference to me. I never doubted it before, I thought I knew it, but this was a re-confirmation of what I know to be true. And it makes me want to go out and share it with everyone. It is true, I know it is. And that knowledge is available to everyone! John 3:16

Picture #1: And for all who wanted to see, we got a picture of the mouse! Hopefully it's died now, but you know :)

#2: Our honorable district leader Elder Fuhirman and his car. Can you see anything special about it?

April 25 Gift of Faith

Hello dear family!

I've been thinking a lot this week about the example Christ set for us while He was on the earth. He did so much for us, we could study it for years and still wouldn't know everything, but we do the best we can, yeah? One of my favorite scriptures has been from 1 Colossians 3:17 "and whatsoever thing ye do in word and deed, do all in the name of the lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him." This without a doubt is something that strengthens our faith. And I know that Heavenly Father WANTS to help us strengthen our faith, that is why it is a gift from him. We can all do things to develop our faith, and that is when Heavenly Father rewards us with even more blessings :) 

For a funny story this week.. Last night I was sitting in the room minding my own business, and suddenly sister Rougeau screams and says there's a mouse! I, of course, didn't believe her. Why and how would there be a mouse in our flat? So I went up to the pantry where she said it was, covered the entrance just in case, opened the door, and then screamed there's a mouse! How crazy is that? There actually was a little mouse in our pantry, no idea how it got there, and it's actually still there... We haven't opened it since. Eventually we will, but were just not really sure what to do with it. And so we wait :)

Well I hope you all have a fabulous week, and keep strengthening your faith in Christ! :) Phillipians 4:13

Yes the weather is getting colder bit by bit, This week has been pretty warm though! We had a good week, sorry I forgot to tell you that yesterday was ANZAC Day, which is like Veteran's Day here. So P-day is today, and it was cool we got to talk to a couple veterans yesterday. What I've loved the most about being a missionary is learning so much about other people's lives, and from their experiences. It's my favorite thing, meeting these amazing people. One of my absolute favorites is this family, the Naqutos. That's not all of them, but Sister Naquto is Amazing, and I love those kids so much, it helps take away from missing Bria James and Vivi too much.

Love you!

April 17- The Week I Ate Raw Fish

I knew I would have experiences eating strange things, and I was excited for it, but no one in America had ever told me about raw fish being a part of the culture. But of course, there's a great story to share with it :)

Our mission is putting a big focus on biking everywhere, and I love riding the bikes! (Next week I'll share a picture) By being on the bikes, we can talk with all the people we see. Anyways, as we were riding down this road, a lady pushing a stroller steps aside and said, "Let the elders through. Oh wait, I mean sister!" Haha so we stopped and asked her 1-why she called us elders :) and 2-how well did she know the missionaries? Turns out, she used to have lots of contact with missionaries last year, but for some reason we had no idea who she was. But she invited us to her place to have lunch. When we got there, you should have seen how much food she cooked! My companion and I looked at each other in shock, there was enough there for at least 10 people! Heaps of fish, KFC (standard Polynesian fare) and raw fish soup, a traditional dish. I looked at it, and knew I'd have to eat it...So I scooped some into my bowl. It's not just fish, it's in this milky liquid, with tomatoes, cucumbers, spring onion, lime, all the god stuff :) and I ate it, and it wasn't that bad!

My spiritual thought for the week comes from Mosiah 3:19, from the Book of Mormon. It says, "For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural manand becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father."

I LOVE this scripture. It has had a lot of relevance this week. I know that deep down, we all have strong desires to do that which is good, to follow the example of Jesus Christ. But quite honestly, it's hard sometimes! There's so much we have to get done, and sometimes we can be distracted. That's part of life, the "natural man". But I know that God wants to help us overcome our weaknesses, and develop those qualities mentioned above :) I have seen it time and again, especially in my own life, as I pray and ask my Heavenly Father to elp me overcome my weaknesses. He will help you! Hopefully this week we can all try a little harder to put God first in our lives. I know that when we do, we WILL be happier, and have greater strength to do all that needs to be done. 

I love you all, have a marvelous week!

Sister Townsend

April 3 - Experience the culture

This week was an amazing experience. We had a little girl baptised on Friday, and her family is Samoan. Let me tell you something about Polynesian culture. They go ALL OUT. First of all, the baptism service was pretty cool. Most of the people there were from Samoa, and so we prayed and sang in Samoan. Normally we only speak English at the church, so the prayers (said in Samoan) were pretty long, I think they wanted to take the opportunity while they could :) I wish you could have heard us singing. You might have been able to, if you were listening closely, I thought something might break :) and then there was a party. And remember, this girl, her name is Lupe, was only turning 8 years old. The parents had put up so many decorations in the hall, there were balloon arches, cupcakes, party handouts, and the FOOD. A pretty good blend of cultures, there was just a lot of it. No such thing as small portion sizes. So we all loaded up our plates with chinese food, pizza, crab salad, cassava (kind of like a potato root thing?) and taro leaves with lamb, I forget the name of it... Yum yum.

We also have a new couple we are teaching who are from South Africa!! They are super cool, I keep learning more about that place every time we see them.

Most important this week I have seen the power of the Atonement. I know that Jesus Christ truly suffered for us and felt all that we feel, no matter what. He wants to help us, and that help is so close, it comes from prayer :) I look forward to all the chances I have to pray and talk to my Father in Heaven.

I love you all!!

Sister Townsend

Mar. 29 I'm grateful for it, it was just nasty

What a blessed week. I'm so grateful for the Easter time when we can remember our Saviour Jesus Christ, and all that he did for us. That was probably one of my favourite parts of this week, being able to share the true Easter message with almost everyone we taught.

HAPPY EASTER!!! The bishop and his family had all the missionaries over for lunch on Saturday. Being Tongan, they wanted to have something traditional for us. If you look at the picture attached, that is pig on a spit. I think they have another name for it, but I have no idea how to spell that. So be happy with pig on a spit :) And they eat all of it! Not a bit goes to waste. You slice into it, and eat whatever part is given to you, no matter where it came from on the pig.

As far as Easter goes, my favourite scripture is from Luke 24:6 "He is not here, but is risen". That's the glorious news of Easter time, that Christ really was resurrected, and lives again.

This week something really amazing happened. We were trying to find this referral the elders had given us, and she ended up not living at that house. So we were walking around, trying to get a feel of which house she might be in. Then we see this Polynesian family pull up in the driveway, and Sister Tamana said, "Islanders! Let's go talk to them!" (they are very receptive to gospel things, I promise we weren't being prejudiced at all :) )So we went up to them, and the man who answered the door knew us! His daughter is a member and we had met him a few times before. He invited us in, pulled up some chairs, sat us down with this girl and said, "She needs this. You teach her," and then he left! As we got talking with her, we found out her partner in Melbourne is Mormon, his whole family except him are super active and she's even been to church before! She was asking us about the priesthood, temples, and how many wards there were in Mildura. It was such a blessing to find her then, and we will definitely be teaching her as soon as she comes back from Melbourne.

If anyone is curious about the title of my email, we had KFC for dinner on Tuesday night. Sometimes the members here really want to feed us, but don't have time so they take us out. And KFC is a pretty common place... It was after we had got home from that dinner that Sister Tamana made her positive comment of "I'm grateful for it, it was just nasty!" It was a bit heavy, and some missionaries (me) don't like fast food as much. But we are always grateful :D

One of the things that has puzzled me is how hard people have to work to say TOWNSEND. A lot of them just don't get it, especially those who speak English as a second language. It ends up sounding a lot like Thompson. For example, "Sister Thompson is lie singing!!" Which was also said this week.. My companion has an amazing voice, I think she's famous on Facebook right now, at least in Australia, and sometimes I don't want my voice to be heard along side hers. But I promise I do my best, and sing a lot :)

One last thing, we had transfers this week! I am staying here in Mildura, thank goodness, but Sister Tamana has gone to Adelaide. And my new companion is actually my old companion from the MTC, Sister Rougeau! That's really fun.

To conclude, I want to bear my testimony that I know Jesus Christ lives. He directs this work, and he is at the head of His church. I'm so grateful for prayer and the power it has to help us communicate with our Father in heaven. We CAN receive answers to prayers, especially when we sincerely pray for what we need in our lives.

I love you all!!

Sister Townsend