Feb. 26
This week in Pictures!!
1) we did service for a sister who is moving, in our matching Australia Adelaide shirts
2) this morning at the temple :)

Today is the day that all of the missionaries going home this transfer (tomorrow) went to the temple. It's a tradition. Sister Mason and I were invited as part of the group, even though we still have 4 weeks, cause it's only done once a transfer. In the celestial room I felt similar to how I felt reading your experience. There is so much we have to be grateful for in the gospel, and these dear friends I have made here, who maybe I won't see til after we go on, I'm grateful the gospel has brought us together.

I cannot believe it's the 26th!! Think of what we were doing 18 months ago... wow.

Love you so much, I'm so glad James had a good experience receiving the priesthood.

Last ? Bike Accident

Feb. 19

Quick message home...
This week Sister Hsiao's bike went flat, and since I have experience with that, I offered to ride it so we could get home faster. Then I fell. And we walked our bikes home. On her birthday. Great memories!
We had a meeting this week, and were talking a lot about the power of godliness, so the priesthood, which was great. And at the end, Sister Parker shared how she felt the power of godliness was manifest in being a mother. It changed the whole attitude of the room, and the spirit really testified how true that is. So thank you for your role as a mother, and in mothering so many others!

Love you :)

Bible Bashers Beware Atheist Guard Dog

Feb. 12, 2017

Dear Family,

To begin, I would like to clarify, I don't view myself, or any other missionary, as a Bible Basher. That would be too much contention, and we all know I don't like that. However, some people can think what they want. We approached a door this week, and saw a sign with that saying. Of course I wanted to knock :) When we did, we heard the dog barking, and we heard people moving inside, but they chose not to answer the door. Oh well, maybe next time!

It has been an interesting couple of weeks. We have had a few discussions with a lady from Pakistan. It is really good to get to share and build on common beliefs, but something that makes me so sad is their belief about Jesus Christ. Basically, that we don't need the Atonement, and that He didn't die. I know Jesus Christ really did die for our sins, and even more than that that He suffered for all the pain that any of us would ever feel. This act was called the Atonement and it has truly changed my life. That is what I want to share with people, more of the happiness and peace and joy that can come from turning to Christ and living the first principles and ordinances of the gospel. (John 17:3)

This week I went of trade offs to the Gawler area. It's a small little town, not many people, and on one of the hottest days we have had this summer. My companion was Sister Teriihaunui, from French Polynesia.  At least we were still smiling! 
​

Then also this week we were invited into someone's home, and she spent 45 minutes teaching us ALL about the Bahai faith, or way of life, however you put it. Then she would say, "Now you teach me." We said 2 words and she started teaching us again. She was very nice :)

I love you all very much,

Sister Townsend

Pictures:

road trip to the temple with Sister Rooarii (Tahiti) and Sister Afualo (Samoa)

Lays chips from China?

Sister Hsiao!

Happy Chinese New Year!

January 29, 2017

Happy Chinese New Year! It seems for this holiday, there is a lot of build up, and then not many people actually do anything for it....

But we were able to have dinner with Jennifer, who was just baptized 2 weeks ago. She is the sweetest, and wanted to cook traditional things for Sister Hsaio, who is from Taiwan!

Weeks continue to be busy, but I hope you are all doing well! I am in a new area, and it helps grow my testimony so much that God is aware of us, and knows the people we are around. Everything happens for a reason! And stuff like that :)

Love you!

Sister Townsend

                                                                          Chinese New Year!

Transfer and Sister Trainer Letter

Transfer and new sister!

January 16

Well the biggest news this week is that I'm being transferred! Weird to think that, but I'm really excited. And I will be training a new sister, she comes on Wednesday! Sad to leave Sister Brough, but she will do great things here.

Last week we went to the museum! I felt so cultured :) We went with our investigator Abi :) There was a giant squid. Feel free to share the pictures. Love you!!

With the new year comes Mandarin courses?

January 2, 2017

Yes, we will be learning more Mandarin. Official language study, not something I thought I would do wehn I learned I was coming to Australia. A lot of people we talk to are Chinese, but there's no way we'll be fluent. It is helpful to be able to introduce ourselves as missionaries, share certain words like "church" and "faith" and get to know them. It would be so hard being in a country where you have no idea what anyone is saying!

This week we had a wonderful experience in finding. We sat down next to a girl on a bench, and as we started speaking, found out she is only here n Adelaide for one day, her flight back home to China had a really long layover. She is just starting to learn of Christianity, and heard a bit about Mormons while she was living in New York for a few years. She has a real desire to know more. We were able to share with her the Book of Mormon, where it came from, give her a copy and commit her to pray and know if it is true. It was an amazing experience to see how Heavenly Father placed her right there in our path, on the one day and at the one time she would have this chance to learn about the gospel. We felt so privileged and mindful of God's awareness as we walked away, and we have an email to stay in contact with her as she flies back to Shanghai.

I hope you all had a good new years, and had a chance to reflect on goals, all that good stuff :) A scripture that really touched me this week was in Romans 8:28 "We know that all things work together for good to them that love God" Whether it was a good year or not, we can look to the future with positivity!! Remember, "if God be for us, who can be against us?" (Rom 8:31)

I love you all, have a great week and a great new year!!
Sister Townsend

I just love Sister Brough. She is so great, and inspires me to keep improving and being better than I ever have before. Great motivation, we all need some form of that in life :)

us when our ward mission leader and his wife dropped off gingerbread cookies :)

Sister Collins from New Zealand, Sister White from Oregon 

Mandarin!

Mission Parents

Merry Christmas! Happy Boxing Day!

December 27

Merry Christmas to you all! Hope you were able to appreciate this great time of year with special loved ones. I am so grateful for all of you and the support you have given me throughout my life :)

This week was pretty exciting! On Wednesday we got together with our zone ( a group of missionaries) and had a special Christmas conference! Everything was focused on strengthening our faith in Christ. We were able to act out some Christmas skits! Because I love acting....

On Thursday we got to go to the temple!! That was really special, a wonderful Christmas present. Then we went to go see Tanya, and acted out for her the Christmas story. So much fun :)

Friday we went to the baptism of Jack, and our investigator Misa came! She was stressed for Jack, and she doesn't even know him! But at the end, she really loved the baptism service, and the spirit that we felt there was really strong.

On Saturday it was nice and hot! (fun fact: we were told that on Christmas, Adelaide was the hottest city in the world, 40 degrees Celcius!) We met some interesting people on Rundle Mall, and there were 2 men that wanted to discuss the Bible with us for 30 minutes! One thing that I really love about being a missionary is being able to learn from other peoples' point of view. Because they really want to share their beliefs! But I love learning why they believe what they do, and it only strengthens my testimony that God loves everyone :) (Romans 8:39)

Sunday we SKYPED with our families, that is always awesome! Then we were able to watch all the Christmas skits from missionaries all over Adelaide. Ours definitely won.

Monday was Boxing Day, and Australians really love to shop! It was like Black Friday, but after Christmas... and raining a lot, but people were determined.

Overall, I pray you were all able to feel a bit happier at this time. If not, I know there is always a reason for everything, even if we do not see it at the time. I love you all, have a wonderful week!

Sister Townsend





parents

"Here's our card...No, I'm a Communist"

Dec. 21

Every night we do compliments with our companionship, it ends the day on a good note :) this week I was complimented on being organized, and my first thought was, "I'M GOLD!" Something I never thought would happen, that's always been my last color. But good to know that Heavenly Father blesses us with traits we need to help further His work.

Even at this wonderful Christmas time, we still meet people who don't want to talk to us. At least one person had the excuse they were a Communist!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL!!! I wish I could share how much I love Christmas time and the Spirit it brings. There is just so much light and happiness, hopefully you can feel it :) this is my favorite time, and we get to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and we celebrate His birth because of the wonderful things He did for us while He was alive.

I know that He loves us so much. And I love you!!

John 3:16

"Corsets Improve Posture"

December 11

Dear Family,
Quick summary of my week: Not possible. But I do my best :)

Sunday night: found out I would be training. That was pretty big surprise. Then had to help Sister Coultrup pack up all her things and prepare to go home, do all her leavers things.

Monday: Took Sister Coultrup to the temple, took Sister Rougeau to the mission office (she's going to DARWIN) and hung out with Sisters Collins and Samita for a while, they're both from Samoa, Sister Collins was raised in New Zealand. Started my trio with Sister Maea and Sister Purvis, who will now be living with me and my new companion in our very small flat.

Tuesday: Leadership meetings from 10:30 - 6:15 AWESOME!!! It was great, talking a lot more about how the priesthood and sisters can work more together and help the mission grow. Loved it :)

Wednesday: Sister Paton, a member of the ward, came with us to see Tanya. She was so excited to learn Auslan, and to help others at church learn as well. small miracle. We looked and looked for ways we could "Feed the Hungry", but all the hungry people must have been hiding.
Met up with Sister Taufa, who I haven't seen in 11 months, and now sh'es training as well. Then we met our new companions!!! Mine is Sister Brough, from Springville, Utah. Nice and close to home :) She came in with HEAPS of other sisters, it is so exciting.

Thursday: Arrivers Training with all the new missionaries, and I got to see Sister Matthes!! The first sister I trained. Now she's training :D after training I got to have an interview with President which was wonderful, Sister Brough took her driving test on the opposite side of the road (which now feels normal to me...) and we had dinner with a member.

Friday: wrapped Christmas presents for Sister Parker. Finally visited Sister Quinton, a lday in the ward we go see, haven't seen her in ages. But we'll have lunch with her next week. We met a really nice girl from China, who told us her friend is serving a mission, just like us, in Korea!! That's pretty cool.

Saturday: went to Onkaparinga for their Chrismas party, drove an hour to get there

Sunday: Miracle day. So good. Met some funny people (see title of email) and had great experiences. We met Winnie on the street, and invited her to come to the teaching center we have, she agreed, came up, and committed to follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized! Unfortunately, she's leaving for China today, we'll see her in February. This is how excited we were

Missionary work is amazing, especially at this time of year. For those who haven't seen it yet, there is a 2 minute video on mormon.org that truly shows the focus of Christmas. It's not about the gifts we get, but about what we can give to others, big or small :)

#LIGHT THE WORLD

Love Sister Townsend