08/21/2016 - Hi, Happy Sunday

Kia Ora 'Ohana!!!

Sorry so late but we did a 'good as' clean at our flat that's why but finally here.  This was  good week and yah but lots of knocking again.  We are going to try to contact all of the people in our area book because there are heaps of them that we need to visit again and we will get them back.  Missionary life is getting way better and easier.  I'm loving it even more!

I went to my first marae last week.  It is one of the biggest ones in New Zealand.  It's called the Kahungunu Marae and it is one of the  most historic ones.  It was taken down by the pakeha, the haole, because they thought it was evil but then built back up by the church.  It is awesome there!  We had our district meeting there.  You can feel the culture, the people, and the spirit there. So many things to explain.  It symbolizes all of the tribes there and from the beginning of the Maori people from back when Hagoth first landed.  It was 'cool as.'  Then I also wen to my first tangi which is a funeral.  That was so cool.  Lot's of people.  It was at a smaller marae up in the mountains.  We didn't stay for the entire thing but for the service and it was cool as.  Maori singing from a private girls school.  The maori girls have the best voices ever and that Maori guitar strum.  We were gonna stay for the feed after but left because it was so late.  We stopped at a waterfall called Tarenga falls, mean as.  Our district sang at a senior home.  I did a solo on the primary song called Where Love Is.  It was awesome.  Also, I played the guitar for a few songs like Whakaaria Mai (How Great Thou Art).  It was a good lesson and filled me with the spirit.  I was a fun week and super busy.  This morning we got a call from the district leaders saying that a returned missionary wanted to take us out for lunch.  He served in New Zealand too and he is from Hawaii.  His name is Neil and I forgot the last name but he worked with Tutu in the temple and he knew Papa too.

I miss you all.  Lots of reading going on in my free time.  I love it!  I hope to hear from you soon.  Ofa atu and ka kite ano.

08/13/2016 - Hey Elder Mortensen!

Aroha Nui!!!

Well another week gone and it's al goods.  Me and my comp are working hard trying to get the members to go and fellowship more with our less actives and our recent converts so everyone can be comfortable and not so pressured by anyone.  We had a week of finding.  We pretty much just wiped out our entire area and knocked on all the doors.  We had lots of chats with people of the area.  Not too much new investigators but I think that we were able to plant lots of seeds in the area.  There was one door we knocked on and she answered the door but then as we were talking she just smiled and just really slowly closed the door softly like she was a ghost or wasn't there.  It was weird but really funny.  We stayed there for another two minutes, then left.  But, what I learned from finding is basically, just be confident in all that you do.  Just like NIKE - Just Do It!  The week went really well.  I will be speaking in the youth fireside on the 28th on agency; that will be good.  That's the last day of the transfer.  

I'm glad that everyone is staying busy.  So for the business is Dad looking for an extra worker that will be good so he isn't working on his own on the days that you're subbing?  is the truck and van still running okay?   I miss sports.  No one knows about football over hear.  It's called grid iron.  It's all rugby.  They're in their finals now for all of the town.  

Advice to Aukele:
For 'Aukele, the only reason why he will be nervous is because he hadn't practiced hard enought at proctice or he doesn't feel like he is ready.  hen game time comes it's all that you practiced.  If you have a good week of practice, you will have a good game.  So, what really helps is goals.  Set goals for practices.  I will make this many interceptions, this many tackles, this many touchdowns.  The same for games, and always set them high.  It always comes down to desire and hard work.  Good luck to you 'Aukele.  Prayer is always number one as well. 

Miha, same old keeping busy.  Tell her to e-mail me when she can.

Kamaha'o, have fun and always be an example to your friends!  Invite them to youth activities and church if you can.  You better hit the weights or do some drills.  How are the BIIF teams looking?  

Thanks for always emailing me each week.  I really look forward to them and can't wait to hear from you all.

I love you all and thank you for bringing me up in the gospel.  It really shaped me into who I am now.

I'll email again.  Ka Kite Ano

08/07/2016 - Happy Sunday! or Monday where you are . . .

Kia Ora my 'Ohana Hawai'i,

This past week went by so fast.  We are always up and about;  Always praying for our investigators and members.  But cool, we found a new investigator who was prepared.  Found them all the way at the bottom of our area but was looking for tickets to heaven.  They are progressing with reading the Book of Mormon and always have lots of questions and always wants to chat.  Working with a small ward is hard.  We're trying to get visiting teaching going and activities so they can invite the less active to come. The members are really important in the work but prayer is still keeping me going.

Maori class is going really well because I know the mother language Hawaiian.  Ua here maua o Elder Corry kite hare o Matiu.  I love the class so much.  It's just like Hawaiian.  Learning is all done by just speaking it not by reading it.  My district and zone is awesome.  We get along and our Zone leaders are so loving and keen to the work of the Lord.

I miss you all.  Good luck in school and work.  Be a good example and stay on your toes.  Love each other and stay safe.  

Love you and Ka Kite Ano

Me and my District 

My fish and chips

Me and my Zone in Gisborn

July 31, 2016 Letter to Mom

July 31, 2016 Letter to Mom

Time is going by really fast.  My first transfer is ending on August 28th and my trainer and comp Elder Corry is doing a good job.  He keeps me ready and focused most times.  I've been reading the Book of Mormon in all of my studying time and it just opens up my eyes to all kinds of questions that makes me and drives me to keep reading.  There are some parts where I don't understand but that is what companion study is for.  Me and my comp are teaching and hoping to baptize an investigator named Matiu.  He is way cool.  He is really into crafting stones the old fashioned way.  No modern tools and making native artifacts like instruments and weapons but he is really wanting to be a part of a religion and live it.

I had a cool miracle moment this past week on my P-Day. We were all at the chapel playing sports, our District - the Wairoa Elders and the Nuwhaka Elders.  We were playing basketball in the cultural hall and we decided to go out and play some rugby in the field but guess what?  We forgot our keys and phone in the chapel!  I was like, no,no,no, why!!!  It was getting close to the time where we had to start up working again and I didn't want to be late or worse, be sent home because of this.  We looked for all kinds of ways to get in but found none.  So the only thing I could think was to say a prayer.  I went to the cars and said a prayer and in the prayer I said, "I know that Thou can help us get in and get going so we can get to our appointments and my prayer is my example of faith to Thee."  When I closed that prayer, only a minute later an answer came.  Our second counselor in the Bishopric came over with the key.  All I could say was, "Are you serious? That was fast..."  We got in and got our things and was on time.  I was so glad that Brother Mahea opened the building for us and that Heavenly Father answered my prayer.  There is no greater work than this.  I love you all. Stay cool.  I think about you all the time.  

Ka Kite and Ofa Atu

PS - I forgot, I really need my reading glasses for my studying and reading.


My MTC intake going to the Hamilton Mission and President Cummings and his wife.  They are so awesome!  

My intake group arriving in Hamilton

My Mission President and his wife.  Elder and Sister Cummings.  

July 24, 2016

Kia Ora Whanau,

Wairoa is really good over here.  The people are always super nice and they're always up for a chat.  It's always about their whakapapa (mo'okuaukau - genealogy).  They can pretty much trace their family back. . . way back to almost Adam and Eve.  It's crazy, but they're always respectful to the Elders.  The weather is fine in the day.  I can just wear a sweater because the sun is usually out but after five 'o clock it gets pretty cold and the coat is warm.  At night I wear my thermals to sleep and use two blankets.  It's hard to get up in the morning for a run sometimes because it's so cold in the mornings.  My comp is always on the look out for me, correcting me all the time and giving me advice at the end of the day at planning.  He is an egg though, and he makes me laugh lots.  Our conversations get out of hand arguing about some deep doctrine questions we have sometimes.  For example, What is the name of the brother of Jared? and Where is it found? or Who is Gazelam? Mean questions.  

Our flat is not too big but it works.  We have an AC with a heater.  No fire place.  We have a kitchen, a dish washer, a washing machine, and a dryer so it's all good.  At the flat we have bikes but one of them is out of order and not working so we can't ride even though I want to.  We have a car so we park in the area and walk here and there.  I'm lucky.   Something I'm not lucky about is that everything in this country is expensive as nothing barely every goes on sale.  Yah, I have to spend wisely.  

As for the address, BOXES, you can send it to the mission office at:
131 Ward Street, 
Hamilton Central, 
Hamilton 3204, 
New Zealand.  

LETTERS, you can send it to:
PO BOX 9542, 
Waikato Mail Centre, 
Hamilton 3240, 
New Zealand

I'm glad everything is going good over there.  Looks like fun, just not the storm part.  About the mowers, that was my biggest question. . . What was going on with the mowers?  But all good that you got our mower back and got to use one over from Steve's.  Funny thing, if we were to look for bids here in Wairoa we would get none because basically everyone cuts their grass every other day.  They don't have anything else to do lol!  Looks like Aukele is doing good in working.

I hope all is good.  I just wanted to say thanks to you and Dad for bringing me up in the gospel.  It's awesome teaching people about it and sad to see people fall away from it.  Pretty much what I learned out here is that the gospel is so simple.  It's only hard when you aren't living it fully.  I am thankful for you and this gospel and the companionship of the Holy Ghost.  It helps me everyday.  I like the video THE REFINER'S FIRE  

It is so true!  Our values and our Heavenly Father's love can shape us to who we are and who we will be. I love you all and this gospel!  I hope to serve Him with my all and be obedient.

I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Ka kite and ofa atu.

PS:  Can I get another journal as well and some cookie recipes?  By the way, the rubber pancakes are a big hit! :)

Letter from Kamaha'o and Elder Mortensen's reply

This is a letter from Kamaha'o to Elder Mortensen.  This mama has been crazy busy and hadn't gotten around to putting up the most recent letters from our Elder.  He has been faithfully emailing us every week on his P-days (preparation days, which are Monday's - his Monday is our Sunday:  they are a day ahead and 2 hours behind).  Kamaha'o said to be sure that I post the picture he created on the computer lol!  With my limited computer skills, I had to scan and then post, because I didn't know how to get the picture on.  In any case, here it is!  See below for Elder Mortensen's reply to Kamaha'o

Hey Kamaha'o yup I'm still waiting for that fish tale!  I want a big one!  Not just some small manini kine you know. . . but it's all goods.  How are you?  I miss going to the beach and I'm craving some poke or some fry fish.  The only fish I got so far is some pretty mean Fish and Chips from Tui's.  It's way good but not like fish at home.  Be safe and smart out there when you're fishing and on the boat you know.  All I can say is that you are growing up.  Things are coming up. . . new and fun things, but getting caught up in it all there will be spiritual crocodiles.

(Here's the link's to the complete article to which he was referring to in the July 2016 Ensign)  https://www.lds.org/ensign/2016/07/spiritual-crocodiles?lang=eng 

Just listen to Mom and Dad.  Work hard and stay on your toes.  Never get too comfortable alright?  Whenever I think about you I always think about our trip to the temple together and you got sealed to us for good.  It really was a good day and I remember the brother who did the ordinance say "you will be the one to stand up for good and right," and that really hit me because that is you and I thank you for that.  So be that one example to your friends and your siblings. . . in EVERYTHING!  Save them from those crocs.  I love you!  Stay cool!  Ka Kite Ano and Ofa Atu!