Sept. 29, 2013

Dear Family,
The mission so far has been great! Recently my companion and I went to a peninsula down by the bay and it's above a rocky outcropping right by the water, we will go by when it's nice and sunny and take some pictures. It's so beautiful out here. We were door knocking the nice homes down by the bay and found a path leading out there, I love it! We had a mission wide fast this past weekend, and it was a whole day of fasting, long time for us missionaries, but it brought blessings already! At the end of our door knocking yesterday we met a lady who at first said she didn't want it and had nothing in common, but we offered service and she opened right up. We had biscuits and lemonade, and found we have the same beliefs pretty much, and at the end we had a prayer with her and she teared up and was almost crying. She was so thankful we had come around and help her out just because we wanted to. It really shows that when we do what we are supposed to, finding and helping people, we are blessed. We talked to another family we met a few weeks back, unmarried partners, but he has lots of questions and is pleased with he answers we give him. On Sundays we usually door knock some with the Elders from Waimate, Olson and Uasila'a. (Wess-la-a) We have had some good finding days with them, and teaching that family goes really well with all of us. I think they could be baptized.

Another family we are teaching from Fiji, we just recently got them a Book of Mormon in Fiji, that's what they speak at home, and they are really open to our religion even with them being Methodist. They are super nice people, and after reading with them and they are coming to FHE at Michael and Pat O'Sullivan's home tonight, we will invite them to church and later to baptism. To see these people progressing is the best thing in the world! It's why I came out here, to bring souls to Christ and meet amazing people and help them have these amazing experiences. We go finding a lot, knocking and street contacting, but we only get a few people from that usually, but those few make it worth it. We visit with members and less actives as much as we can, and request their help all the time, which they are very willing to. The members here are great, especially the O'Sullivans and the Paea's. president Paea is a great man, he'll do anything for us as long as he's available, and even then he makes himself available. I love that guy. He's a Maori, and a great one at that. I'll attach a picture of him singing at our party on Saturday night. 

A member invited us to her get together out in Temuka, and we rode over with the O'Sullivan's since we didn't have enough K's to get out there. It was a good little get together, a few non members, and much singing and getting to know people. We were fasting though and couldn't eat all the great food she had, but she gave us some to take home, so we now have real food instead of meat pies and noodles all the time! haha but we do have sandwiches and stuff too, not just meat pies, even if they are really good. 

We have been doing heaps of biking the past few days, no k's for the car. Which is good, besides that it rains a lot in the spring and it isn't super warm outside, but we manage. we biked to Tom Goldsmith's new place, which is on the far edge of town so it's a long ride, but meeting up with that guy is worth it. Tom is a great man. the angel of Timaru is what elder Medley calls him. we had fish and chips and drinks for dinner, very tasty, the best fish and chips I've ever had, maybe the first I have had besides the one time tearing down the shed. The fish here is really good, even store bought packaged stuff, it all tastes so fresh, and I'm not a fish person, but I love fish and chips now. We did some street contacting on Saturday, got told off by a couple people, which happens but not often. We had Subway for lunch because we got our blessing for the next two weeks. (paid) It was delicious! Tastes just like home. We have been doing really well, and I love it!

I know this is the Lord's work, and I can see the blessings from our obedience and even from our fast already! Missionary work is very important, and I'm glad I get to be a part of it. Love and miss you all!

Arohanui (much love)

Elder Passey

Here's some pictures from the bay and also the aviary they have at the Bay park, it's free and public and very cool. 

The Fiji family has not come yet, and we invited them to FHE with the O'Sullivan's, but they had a busy day and couldn't come.
The Kumara is pretty good grilled, but if you bake it with meat or something else, it tastes amazing! you can try whipping it after you boil it or something, they are pretty stiff, and kind of annoying to peel. Bike is all good!

yeah we have conference next week, it is downloaded and we view it at our chapel.

Love and miss you tons!

Ofa lahi atu! (love you very much!)

Elder passey