Miracle Exchange!

Elder Ford, Elder Tonne, Elder Moore

Elder Laurensen, Elder Ford

Been a good week! Felt so long but so fast at the same time! haha. was great! Our district leaders stopped in after their District leader training. Was good to see them! We took some pictures. Here is a picture of Us and Elder Toone (in the middle). Me and Elder Moore. The assistants came for exchanges on Valentines day so we all wore red ties! haha. It was funny! People commented on it! it was funny. I didn't know the area too well but luckily Elder Laurensen served there earlier in his mission! So he was able to show me around a bit! Was good. He is a great Elder Great Elder!

The work went well this week. Not too much to report. It sounds like you are all doing well. glad to hear it! Dad found the chapel here in minchinbury on google maps as he always likes to do. ha. It is fun to see. Not too much else to report...
   This week my core experience with God, I would say, was going on exchanges with the assistants. It was great to learn from them and see how missionary work should be! I felt uplifted and inspired. We didn't have the best plans but we went forward with faith and actually did quite a bit and accomplished our exchange goals. being and talking with Elder Laurensen I learned a lot about our Savior and our role as leaders. I realized I need to rise to the level of what is expected of me. I felt the spirit and was happy, I felt that I needed to "Rise to a new sense of commitment" as Preach My Gospel says. This combined with the Elder Bednar talks we have been assigned to read lately have helped me to see what my "weapons of rebellion against God" are and encouraged me to let go of and bury them. This is how I am overcoming any distractions keeping me from holding to the rod and progressing. I am striving to continually focus on the words of Christ, as I taught others to do as a District Leader. I realized there is more expected of me than I have been living and doing. I want to establish the Lords vision for this zone with Elder Moore. If you have any input on how we can help inspire these great missionaries, please let us know.
   Jesus knew the People and how to work with them. This last week I have met many new friends and families here in Minchinbury. I hope seek to know everyone in this big ward so I can help the ward to grow. If we know the people, we can help them to learn. If we can help them to learn they will be more than willing to fellowship and rise to a new sense of commitment as we all should. That is how a true Zion like community runs. Everyone helping and learning and growing together, bringing everyone with them. I can see Mighty Penrtih excelling with Members Present at all teaching opportunities. MP. Just a thought. Being like Christ the master, and KNOWING the people, not knowing OF the people.
   I love you all! Thanks for all that you do for! I truly love each of you!
        Love,
           Elder Ford

6 Questions

 

 

Hello my wonderful family and friends!! It is a day late yes. I was transferred! I left Elder Nathan and all the great missionaries in Baulkham Hills! I grew to love it, I will miss them, but on to the next one! I am now in the Minchinbury ward in the Penrith stake!  Pretty cool. It is in western Sydney and it is my first time out west. I have only heard amazing things about the ward, everyone at transfers kept smiling and saying "wow... you'll love it!" That usually happens but it seemed more legitimate and real than normally. I am excited. I now am with Elder Moore. He was born in Texas, but grew up in Guam, and will be going home to Brazil. His dad works for the FBI, counter terrorism or something... Should call him Elder Bauer, hey? haha 24... Ages since I have thought about that.  He is great though! A legend! I have looked up to him for a while so it is cool to be his companion, I think he will be an assistant before his time is up! I do not have a picture of us yet since we were crazy busy yesterday! Had to help some missionaries get to their area, move bags and stuff, plus do some Zone stuff. SO yea.. way busy yesterday. Sorry... Picture next time!
   This week there are a few experiences I could write about. However, I think the one I could best illustrate for you has to do with my new calling or assignment as a zone leader. As I began to pray this morning I kept thinking of one thing. Sister Howes. Her words about my companion from yesterday were playing over and again, "he needs a companion, not a backpack." I pondered on that for a moment or two and began my study. I felt prompted to read a bit about Callings and Authority in the topical guide and Bible dictionary. I was obviously led to D&C 121. I was reading through it and I thought of zone leader examples from my past, many of which have actually served in the Minchinbury ward, and the outcome of their examples. Between the two, mostly the scriptures, I learned much. The gist of what I learned can be put simply as follows. I was lead to write down 6 questions I and the Lord want me to ask myself before I make any decision. 1. Is it Hypocritical? 2. Is it Patient? 3. Are you doing it for them, or for yourself? 4. Is it Loving? 5. IS it what God and Jesus Christ would do? 6. Then should you do it? By so doing I can easily detect if I am being a righteous Priesthood leader. If am truly being a representative of the Savior to those I have been given responsibility for. I was greatly humbled this morning to realize a bit more about the trust and responsibility I have been given. Also how to fulfill all that the Lord wants me to do here.
   Teaching as Jesus Taught. This might not be a particular skill, however I feel it is right to share. I heard a song by the Mormon Tabernacle choir this past week. Towards the end it was building and building to it's climax and eventual close. I thought about that and how it is similar to the Saviors mortal ministry. He got more bold, taught more people, taught more personally and with more spirit than ever before. Until his final service of said ministry offered at Gethsemane and Calvary. I Realized that is how I am to be. I spoke on Sunday about "Forgetting yourself and getting lost in this great cause." I have a great chance to do so and follow the Saviors example by building and building, improving and progressing, lifting and strengthening higher and higher until and inevitable end. The focus being in the building portion. The work.
   My mission thus far has been great! I am so grateful for all that I have learned and all the families I have been able to be a part of and strengthen. I have learned much, I have shared much. It has had a bigger impact on my life than anything else I have ever done before! It has helped  me to really know God. It has helped me repent. It has helped me realize what I need to be and what God expects of me! It has increased my intellectual capacity. It has given me many close friends with deep bonds. It has prepared me for the rest of life. My mission has gone great so far! It could undoubtedly it could have gone better to this point.. missed opportunities and promptings not followed.. That is part of the learning process though! I could not be the missionary or person I am today without having those experiences. It is the same reason we still feel pain even though we are forgiven. To help us learn and remember what we have come from and how the Lord has helped us!

 Thank you all for your love! I appreciate it!

    Love,

       Elder Ford

A House

GOOD MORNING (insert your last name here) FAMILY!!!!!!!!

I just thought of that home renovation show.. Extreme Makeover! That's it! ha. And how they would yell that at whoevers house they were going to renovate.. then I thought of Nick petty yelling it at his pet mice in 7th grade! ha. Good times... It is still good times here as well! Had a great week, Had zone training meeting. Our Zone leader, Elder Watts, made us all take a picture out in the rain! ha. It was funny. Cheerful attitudes everywhere! SO many umbrellas! If I get  picture I'll send it to ya! ha. was good. Went on exchanges and saw some miracles. that was good! Enjoyed that! OH! So this lonely older man we visit didn't answer his door on Friday for our appointment which he never misses. In fact he calls us if we are 5 minutes late to check if were are still coming. He wouldn't answer his phones, no one knew were he was. We were the last ones to see him and that was on Wednesday. It got to Saturday and no one had heard from him still. His phone was dead at this point and we were beginning to get a bit scared. Our Elders quorum president called the police and they broke in. Nothing. Everything seemed to be in order. the only thing gone was him. All of his cigarettes 9we are working with him for that..) his phone all there.. But not him! We were baffled! Looking around for a crazy old man! the hospital had no record of him we called several times to a few different hospitals on Saturday. Nothing. WHERE DID HE GO? He could be dead in the ally-way nest to the R.S.L. for all we know!! haha we got a call from our Elders quorum President Sunday morning saying he called the hospital one more time and got connected to someone with his name but no one answered... so we went up to have a look. Well what do ya know. he had been in there since Thursday evening when he was in a struggle for breathe at the shopping center! my goodness.... relief! Found him with a big desire to quit smoking... the Lord finds ways to humble those that need it...he is safe though. We are visiting him again tonight! phew.. funny story for ya!  In other news I got my watch fixed this morning! Got a new battery and it works better than when I first got it! ha. pretty cool! Excited about that. My wrist felt naked! I was able to go on exchanges for the last time with Elder Spicer! From Queens land. he was my zone leader in Coffs and is now my district member. I have learned heaps from him and he goes home in a week! Also, me and Elder Nathan made a home made camera mount out of blue-tak in the car! So we can take pictures and record funny videos while driving. Do not worry.. the driver is always alert and focused on the road. Here is a picture for you laugh at! ha.

      My core experience this week came again from Studying "Preach My Gospel!" I was in the effective study chapter and in the course of my hour I was lead to read a lot about knowledge and its importance. I enjoyed reading much from the Book of Proverbs. (1:20-33; 3:13-26; 4:1-13; 8:1-36; 15:14;) The bit that stood out most to me most, however, was Proverbs 24:3-4, which reads:" 3 Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: 4 And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches." I do not claim the exact intents of the author but my thoughts were interesting. I pictured a house. It is established by the parents, Meaning they set the rules. This probably comes from my imagination of having a future family and intending to create a sacred environment as D&C 88:119 says:"Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God." Anyway... that is how it is established, by the Children understanding (as proverbs says) and applying the principles they are being taught. Learning and living the basic principles of the Gospel: Faith, Repentance, Prayer, Sacrifice, Baptism, ETC. That is when the house is established and the knowledge is obtained, thus furnishing our lives with precious and pleasant riches (the joy that comes from true gospel living). Now, "what does this have to do with you Elder Ford?" You may, rightly so, be asking. I understood a bit after reading that the parent of the House is our Heavenly Father and we are obviously the small children striving to understand the BASIC principles given us by our maker. That is how we will establish the house of God, or Bethel we will raise as I have been saying recently. By continuing to learn and apply what we have been taught. By improving and progressing until we reach the point where we can become Like the our creator, like our Savior. We cannot selfishly take in all we can and not help our brothers and Sisters to improve and progress eternally, or we are not raising our Fathers house, we are trying to raise our own. Thus, we must teach, we must Invite others to com unto Christ and be perfected in him.
   We have been teaching using stories and poems a bit. We try to use resources we have and almost teach in parables. The savior often taught in this symbolic way with great power. We are trying to teach similarly to our members. the result is good. The spirit is strong, the confusing doctrines of the kingdom become just a little bit more clear. I am happy about it. I feel the ward members are gaining a bit more respect and trust for us. Which is essential do bringing to pass the Lords great work in Normanhurst as you well know. It has been successful.. funny what happens when you follow the example of Jesus Christ.
   We have been rehitting the survey while tracting this week. It is great! It defuses that fear people have when they see missionaries at the door. It can instantly get you right into a gospel conversation with them feeling comfortable and willing to learn more. It has been worth while. This is the only area where I  have had success with the survey.. and it has been great success! ha. It is, I would say, my best way to find, using the survey that is. it works on the street and it makes tracting a bit better. We have enjoyed it.
I LOVE you ALL!...HEAPS!    Please don't forget that! I wish I had time to write you all individually but the time does not permit. Whether friend or family, I Do love YOU! Thank you for your support.
       Love,
           Elder Ford

A Realization of Time

Hello My dearest Loved ones!!!! How much I do Love you, you will never know...

This week has been good! A pretty regular week. We had a zone conference. Always fun. District meeting on Wednesday. It was good we learned about teaching and our resources. We took some pictures after. Here ya go! A couple of pictures! went on two exchanges this week! Back to back! Elder Nathan went to Dural for 2 days and I handled the fort here  in Normanhurst for the same. Elder Bjornberg form west Valley Utah and Elder Tetuira from Tahiti! Both great missionaries, loved serving with both of them! was fun.. forgot to take pictures! Sorry... ha. had a good time though. Taught a lesson with 2 returned missionaries for our members present, was smash! Felt the spirit. It was cool, everything was like triple testified! ha. loved it. Well... on the lessons learned on my part!

     My core experience with God this week was realizing my time. Not to say I am thinking about home or getting trunky, but I realized time doesn't slow down or stop. I was thinking this week and the spirit helped me to understand how much more I could be doing and my true potential as a missionary. I saw how valuable our time as a missionary is and of powerful and sacred our calling is. It helped me again to be more purpose driven. I then went on two fantastic exchanges and felt like I really helped and guided these missionaries. It is not the longest experience I have written about, but is an important one!
   Teaching as Jesus taught. During district meeting, and zone conference for that matter, this last week we focused on teaching for understanding. We learned several different things we can do and how we can help the people understand more of our great message. We also focused on what the Brethern say to MAKE SURE every one we teach understands. How can we expect people to accept our message if the cannot understand it properly. We need to teach so basically that no one can misunderstand and that a child can have the knowledge to make the correct choice in embracing the gospel.
   I learned from the White Hand Book this week that blessing are just as sacred as ordinances. All the direction and protocol are in the back ready for us to review. How it administer a Priesthood blessing is in with the rest of the "How to's" of the Priesthood, including: Baptism & Confirmation, Baby Blessings, blessing a home, dedicating graves, and setting apart priesthood and auxiliary leaders. great things to be learned from the WHB!
    Love,
       Elder Ford

A Wallaby & A Weekly E-mail

 Hello, Dear Friends and family!! I love you all dearly! you are fantastic.

 It has been a good week. We have taken ALL the formers out of the 2 area books we have and organized them into suburbs. We are now going and visiting every one and leaving our mark, if you will, on the area book. We are excited. Bishop also met with us yesterday and pointed us in the right direction with some of the less-actives and what he wants and is okay with us doing. FANTASTIC!!! Miracle! ha. One of the people he wanted us to visit is a nice woman who lives alone with a yard to literally fades into the bush-land. So she has wallabies that come visit her! ha. For those of you that are unaware, a wallaby is a small kangaroo (in a nut shell). Not literally in a nutshell... but you get the point! how fun. She feeds them! probably nicer and cuter than the other animals that show up looking for a feed *cough*cough*  missionaries! *cough*cough*. ha. I thought I would include a picture for you to laugh at. ha. they are so funny... with their little hands. Like little people that hop around. ha. We have also decided that once a week we are going to try some of the restaurants around Hornsby. So last week we got some sweet curry, this week we got some nice pizza. We chose this certain pizza-place because the it had a big Ferrari logo painted on the wall on the inside. ha. I wanted to get a picture.. but it was too crowded inside. Sorry dad! ha. maybe next week... Anyway the pizza was good! Enjoyed it. As I hope you enjoy the picture of Elder Nathan and said Pizza! ha. On to what this week  has taught me and vicariously you...

    This week in my daily reading of Preach My Gospel I have been going through chapter 2: Effective study. It seemed to be repeating itself and hammering the fact that the Holy Ghost is the way we receive all knowledge and can even "Know the truth of all things" through the Holy Ghost. It was great to think about as beginning my personal study I have been reading my Patriarchal blessing. As I ponder my life (and my Mission) I can see a few different ideas and paths, even paths I was on before my mission. While the spirit is there I realized I could actually see far down the track and what impact various decisions would have and Generally how my Mission or life would result. The spirit helps us to lift our vision and even see much beyond what we can see through or natural man eyes or natural man pondering. The spirit truly helps us answer deep, personal, and greatly important questions. The scriptures are right again! The spirit CAN, indeed, show us the Truth of all things.
     I am studying Preach My Gospel everyday in personal study and doing all the study activities. My capacity to teach and understand doctrine has been greatly increased! My studies are more spiritual and I get much out of them. I am starting to understand on another level what it means to Teach as Jesus taught, or to be as Jesus is. I can see how he teaches and what he taught those who would listen. Once again I quote a great example as a missionary, Elder Leneham said to me once: "As missionaries we have so many resources we don't even know about!" I did know about Preach My Gospel. I did know we are supposed to study from it often if not daily, I just didn't like to. Now, I feel as Jynx in the Preach my Gospel videos "you'd think would've told me this sooner. You've all been saying it and I just haven't been listening." I feel as if I just found a resource I didn't know I had. Not really teaching as Jesus taught... but a good thing to share regardless.
     One thing about the Mission that is strengthening my testimony is working with the People and working with myself. I could not have imagined upon entering the MTC how I could now see the Atonement work. In the people we teach lives and in my own life especially. The Atonement is the power purify us. The power to cleanse us. The power to humble us. The power to change us. The power improve us. the power to SAVE us. Save us from sin, confusion, doubt, guilt, and personal inadequacy. And fill us with Power, confidence, gratitude, humility, faith, peace, joy, and all other gifts from the god the Spirit can bring. My mission has highly increased my testimony of the atonement, by working with others and by working with Christ to change me.

I LOVE you ALL!!! Thank you for all you do and all your prayers. I am grateful for your role in my life. All of you. Thank you!
   Love,
Elder Ford

Increase of Happiness and Spirit

 

Good Day to you my loved ones!!! I DO love you all! You are all fantastic. I am grateful for the part you have all played in my life thus far and hope you continue to be a part of it. You are an inspiration. Remember That!

  It has been a good week! 6 weeks have come and gone once again! A new transfer has begun. Elder Nathan and I are both staying in Normanhurst! We are excited about it! Glad to be here and happy to improve it! This last p-day we got together and hit some golf balls at the Thornleigh golf center! It is right by a busy road so they have these huge nets, pretty cool. One of the zone leaders came with a Tongan Elder he lives with. So we had a fun little activity. Driving is weird... it is stress relieving because you hit something but also aggravating because I cannot hit the ball. haha. I am getting better though! Getting better. We had the last district meeting of the transfer while on exchanges so we took a big group photo, turns out only 1 of us left. Had a fun district lunch afterwards at Westfield: Hornsby. Later that day on exchanges we had to take some photos. Almost a year ago Elder Watts and I were regular missionaries, junior companions in fact, on exchanges in Taree. We took a photo then at a scenic place, so we  had to recreate the Photo, now as a District and Zone leader, in a scenic place here! haha. SO I included a phot of us at a scenic place. I will have to send both the old and new pictures next week.. ha. funny! well... on to the Good stuff!

   I was pondering on what I could write to you this week about and share as my core experience with God. I was thinking and thinking when Elder Nathan was recapping what we did this week I realized there was such an increase of Spirit felt and Happiness in all that we did! Upon thinking about it for a moment I realized it came from two changes in attitude and behavior which hopefully will change into a change in Nature! The first: An intentional increase in diligence and work. We realized we had been slack in a few areas and determined to become better than we were. We worked and did more than we had for a few weeks. As a result we talked to many more people and were again thinking about how we can do even better. We were happier, felt more joy in our days, and felt more meaning and purpose to all we were doing. The second: Relying on the Savior and His Atonement! Doing so really enabled us to change and make ground on our 40 Day fasts, our process of purification. Changing our will to match his and praying for the strength to do so. I have done this often. The key thing is as Moroni says, to have "a sincere heart and real intent," and I would like to add faith! If we have a sincere heart and really intended to follow the promptings we receive (and accept the way out the Lord gives in the face of temptation) we must have faith. Believing that we will receive an answer and really will have the chance to get away from the wickedness that will inevitably face us. I can't think of a better way to describe how to have faith than a sincere heart and real intent. That has been my lesson learned this week. By Working, increasing our diligence, and relying on the Savior and his Atonement we received a great uplift in Spirit and Joy. A lesson I am grateful to have learned.
    Teaching as Jesus taught. I have been trying to be happier when I teach. I noticed this week when we were watching "The District" videos for 12-week study that I began to feel the "Missionary-buzz" (as I call it) again! It was fun. I remembered the zeal and excitement I had coming out on my mission. I realized what we are and what we do: Represent Christ and re-present  Christ in our Areas. I noticed the missionaries that had the successful and spirit filled lessons had all been happy when teaching, still respecting and maintaining the high level of the spirit in attendance. I realized that is how Christ likely did and would teach. Happily. That is one way I have been trying to improve my teaching this week.
  One good thing I will do for Elder Nathan this week... I keep getting funny ideas from Elder Guthrie. He would make funny jokes about silly things we "was going to do" for his companion, Like sing him a lullaby before 10:30. I don't plan on doing that but I will do something good for him this week. I am sure I will have many opportunities to serve him through out he week, make him a lunch, make his bed, etc. However, I think the BEST thing I could do for him would be to change myself and be a better example to him. A better example of missionary work, and a better example of a consecrated and sanctified Missionary & Leader.
 I love you all! So much. HEAPS even! You are an inspiration! Remember that.   
     Love,
        Elder Ford

19 Months Today

Can't believe it is 19 months today... Crazy!!!

GOOD DAY to you all!!! I hope you are enjoying the new year!

What a week it has been! We went on 2 exchanges back to back! Elder Nathan served in Dural for 2 days straight and I spearheaded Normanhurst! Was fun. Worked with Elder Musters from Toronto and Elder Bjornberg who has only been out a few weeks form West valley. I decided to show Elder Bjornberg a bit of the "bush land" in our area and take him across the ferry. Took a selphie for ya! When were back in regular companionships we had a dinner appointment in at on retirement village. All the parking was taken and we couldn't find anything.. so Elder Nathan guided me to what he deemed to be an appropriate space. I included a picture for you! The zone leaders asked to come to district meeting this week so we had a full house, we took pictures using our cameras self timers (as missionaries do) so we all had to run and stand together. (again as missionaries do). ha. It was a fun week and we did well. I am excited for what the new week can bring!

   Last night while I was half asleep and my mind wandered on it's own, I kept hearing a line form Hymn no. 100, "Nearer, My God, To Thee" (one of my favorite Hymns). The line was out of the seldom sung 5th verse: "Out of my stony griefs Bethel I'll raise." It stayed with me all morning. At the beginning of personal study I decided to look into it a bit. I re-read the story of Jacobs ladder and the Bible Dictionary under "Bethel," meaning "House of God." I pondered the story and meaning and wondered what It was God was telling me. I resolved that I must repent and do better. I Must rise out of MY "stony griefs" and raise Bethel, or the House of God. I must strive more earnestly to Build the Kingdom, Gather Israel, and Strengthen Zion.  I seek to make "Out of My Stony Griefs Bethel I'll Raise" one of my new mottos or even my mantra for mind/self control. New Years time to reevaluate and move foreword.
   Teaching as Jesus Taught. Using resources. Christ used all his resources as any master teacher or master anything would do. I am now reading Preach my Gospel and doing all the Study activities. I have been getting more out of my studies, on a consistent basis, than I have in most of my mission! I am so grateful for that book. I have heard others speculate and quote that is was "Constructed beyond the veil." It is inspired of god. I am grateful I was led to do this now while there is still time to do it all!
   How I have grown and improved this last year is amazing. I would say the biggest thing it has done for me is to Build my testimony! A year ago, I had a decent new missionary testimony. Over the last year I have had uncountable experiences, insights, studies, and conversations that have given me the firm gospel anchor I have needed and yearned for (whether or not I knew it) all my life. I now feel comfortable saying I Know that God lives, loves us, and is our Father. That Jesus IS the Christ, and he also: lives and loves us! That the Atonement that he accomplished for us is real. that it is the only way that we can return to live in his presence and become like him. I Know that Joseph Smith was not a crazy young boy, but indeed an inspired, dedicated, honest, brave Prophet of god that indeed did in reality restore the Church of Jesus Christ to the earth. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints is the Church of God and the only way to Salvation, not to mention Joy in this life and the life to come. My mission has built my testimony. That is without a Doubt the biggest area I have grown in during the last year!
   I love you all! And as my mother would say, more than you know! I am grateful for the part you have all played in my life, especially the past year-19 months! It's like a Symphony, you all play a piece to make my life the Beauty that it is! LOVE YA HEAPS!!!!!!!!!!
   Love,
     Elder Ford