Change is Essential‏

 Hello familia!

                                                                               All was well this week. Last Monday we went fishing again for Elder Orrs Last p-day in Tuggerah. I caught something this time! yay!!! A big 3 kilo Salmon! Was pretty good, brother Wills had us for lunch again. :)  We got transfer calls on Saturday and after 6 months in the Celestial Kingdom Elder Orr is GONE! sad.. but all is well. I am now companions with Elder Chin Ah You, from Tahiti. He is pretty different from Elder Punu. Still has a heavy rench accent though. He lived in France for part of his life. We stopped by the Forstpointners, our RS president, Sunday night so Elder Orr could say bye. Her son hurt his arm and was asleep on the lounge (or couch as we Americans call them), so what do me and Elder Orr do? Take selfies with passed out little jaxon. ha. It was funny and his parents laughed. Sunday was the last day I got to see all of MY district. Every companionship in the Central Coast zone lost 1 except Toukley 2. They stayed. The district is very diverse again. Elder Saga has replaced Elder Lewis, he is from Malaysia. So this should be a fun transfer, definitely one to grow from!

    My Core experience this week was that change is essential! Things were going really good with Elder Orr. We had great unity, we taught well, we did a good work. Success came. However, it's started to be regular life. We were comfortable with what we were doing. While we were still doing a good work, still operating on a good level, we were not moving forward as fast as we had been or could with a change up. A big change has happened for the both of us and know we are all back at square one, out of our comfort zone, adjusting, and learning! The upward trend is back. It will be easier to "Improve & Progress" for us. there wasn't a need for change, but it is essential to keep us on our toes and ever-more alert of our spiritual growth and potential.
   Teaching as Jesus taught... We are trying to find ways to keep those we are teaching more on topic and with less room to veer of to left field. There is no problem in changing to teach to their needs, but that doesn't mean we should change our whole lesson just because the keep talking about irreverence or something else. Following the spirit is key, but helping those you are teaching to follow the spiritual message you are attempting to convey is also key.
   My missionary purpose has helped me in several ways. Ever since I have arrived in Australia and had a big change of heart I ALWAYS see the obedience message shine through in everything. SO, the first thing I recognize is that Our Purpose (To ever more effectively invite others to come unto Christ by helping them to receive the restored gospel through Faith in Jesus Christ and his Atonement, Repentance, Baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the End), is that our purpose is to follow the spirit and RE-present Christ in our respective areas. Help others understand their significance in gods eyes, healing the sick, and changing lives. Not to just do a good turn daily and do what we want the rest of day. Our Purpose should drive us, but as Elder Christofferson tells us, it is difficult to get there. I believe it is the level of personal conversion. If we know the significance of Christ and His Atonement, we WILL labor with all our hear might mind and strength. That is the biggest way My missionary purpose has helped me. By giving me and understanding of what it is I am here to do and who I am here to RE-present.
   Love,
       Elder Ford

You never know!

 Good Mormon! ha.. Get it? Like Good Morning.. ah ha ha!

    How has your week been? Mine has been good. REAL good! For a Start.... THE JESSEP FAMILY WAS BAPTIZED!!!!!! YEA!!!!!!!!!!! hahaha. SO good! They all were baptized except Ben who turns 8 in October! It was awesome! Our Relief Society Presidency had to run to Coles (the grocery store) after the actuall ordinance to get food for everyone. We owe them a lot... Sister Thompson and Sister Barrientos.. Champs! President & Sister Howes came to the Baptism it was good to see them and introduce them to the Family they have been hearing all about in our e-mails! it was great to have Bishop welcome them to the ward. They were all fantastic! Elder Orr got to Baptize Graeme, Elder Lewis was asked to baptize the twins, & I was asked to baptize, for the first time in my life, Denise and the oldest son. Special! The same pattern followed the next boy for the confirmations! We LOVE Them! It is incredible to see the great things they are doing and the changes they are making in their lives! We are So blessed to have been part of their conversion and the Lords servant in the area at this crucial time. After Cleaning up after the baptism and the after party in the gym, (ha, first one there last to leave right mom?) I was trying to help as best I could. But at every ward function no matter what I am doing, who ever I look down this is what I see (see second picture)! Little max! He is 3... so precious! he is always talking to me. About frozen or about dingos... that is his new discovery, dingos! ha. What a kid... We were getting ready for a dinner appointment one night this week and we have this big mirror in the changing room. SO we just kept being ridiculous till we were all ready. This is one of the pictures we took.. haha I hope you all enjoy it! Tis week has been truly incredible. VERY stressful with a lot to do, but a very good week!

    My core experience this week is really an extension of last week. There were MANY oppertunities to exercise and use the Priesthood power we have been entrusted with. The obvious is in Baptizing the Jessep Family. By being worthy of the Priesthood we hold, they were all able to be cleansed from their prior lives and recieve the Holy Ghost! That is 10 ordinances. Wow. Also, giving the Toukley Sisters blessing and assissting in their spiritual needs was a big surpirse. I found myself quite nervous. Then I thought about it. "Are you worthy Elder Ford?" It was a big relief to honestly & justly answer "Yes." Long story short. Always live on the Higher plane that we, as Melchizedek Priesthood Holders and Covenanted to live on. So that we may be worthy to bless and aid in the lives of others! It reminds me of al the conditional promises in patriarchal blessings I learned about this week!
   Teaching as Jesus taught. As we are now faced withthe oppertunity to re-teach all the missionary disscussions to the newest family of the Tuggerah ward we are coming up with new ideas. We feel that it would be a large benefit to their understanding if we reveresed the rolls and let them teach us the first four lessons. helping others to understand is all teaching is really. What better way to asisst in someones conversion process than by showing them how to learn for themselves! Since missionaries will leave eventually...

   Thank you all for your love and support! I am so greatful to hear from you when I get to be so blessed. I think and pray for all of you often. But not too often ;) Love you!

   Love,
       Elder Ford

Priesthood Oppertunities

 Hello My Beloved brothers and sister! You are all a motivation to me... all of you!

   This week has been good. My best pictures come from last p-day, when we went fishing with Bro. Wills. We went beach fishing, a new experience for me. Elder Orr was VERY excited. SO excited he even caught a fish! ha. It was a big one too! Ocean Salmon! We went to Bro. Wills house for dinner on Wednesday and had it for dinner along with some croc meat! Yes, crocodile meat! It honestly doesn't taste to crazy, and not to be cliche, but tastes like chicken! Honestly it does! It's weird. But good! Salmon was nice too! tasted a bit more fishy however.;)  The scenery on the beach was beautiful! The sun sets a bit early here because it is winter, so we were able to fish at sunset a bit. I got some good pictures of Budgiewoi beach and one of the TOukley lighthouse in the distance! It was pretty cool! All of them are unfiltered and with no effects. ALL natural! That is how they came out of the camera! it was beautiful!

   On my list for my "40-day-fast" is To Honor my Priesthood. It obviously helps me to change habits that a priesthood holder should not have, to know when to step in and help someone (and when to not), and to be a more Christ-like disciple. That was not the core experience this week though. This week I noticed all the oppertunities that arose to Honor my Priesthood. Whether it be by exercisng the Priesthood or simply by being a better individual than one would be with out holding the Priesthood. Oppertunities to serve others seem to be jumping out, including the members and families in the ward council. Responsibility at ward functions seems to lifting higher. Respect for self, the power we have been given, and the Godhead all have raised to a much higher level. Holding the Melchizedek, or Higher, Priesthood is more than giving blessing to someone in need. It is an Oath and Covenant to live on a a higher plane, a promise to be the manner of men we OUGHT to be, rather than the men we are currently. What a privilige the Lord has given us, not only in power but also in oppertunity to do good.
   We are truly following the spirit, The results are flowing. We are all actively taking part in the teaching, we are not just teaching more like the savior, but the savior is teaching all of us together. The members, the investigators, the less actives, and us-the missionaries. Christ is the ultimante example of teaching as we all know. As we follow the spirit he will teach us by teaching through us. We have to choose whether or not we all improve and progress in a lesson or whether we want to share our obtained knowledge of any principle in a lesson. Christ is the ultimante teacher , not us. I hope I have conveyed that thought adequately. it made sense in my head.
   My spiriuality has grown miles since I have come out on my mission. Upon entering the MTC my biggest problem was faith. Now, I see that all things ARE spiritual. Lessons to be learned from every experience, warnings before every struggle, forgivness in the atonement. I said a few times to a district leader of mine, "I don't mean to be overly spiritual but..." Looing back at that... I dont know why I said that. We SHOULD be overly spiritual, if it is possible because ALL things ARE spiritual!

   Kind of a short e-mail this week. Sorry. But I hope the quality makes up for the lack of quantity (or length). ha. I love you all!! Thank you for your prayers and support!

   Love,

    Elder Ford

Spirit IS Key

Hello my beloved brethren and Sisters!

   Happy Independence day. huh? haha it was a bit odd not celebrating the 4th oh July. But some members made it fun! We got a text in the morning from Brother Geerlings, our Bishopric 1st councilor saying happy 4th! We had District Meeting on Friday so I gave all the sisters a little American flag (all the Elders had one already). I tried not to be too over the top (which you all know for me is hard to do when it comes to the 4th of July!) because he have a Samoan sister and a sister from Heroshima Japan. that being said we asked them if we could sing Hymn #340 to close, and they were okay with it. So that was fun! We all went out and got all you can eat pizza hut after! That was fun! That night for Dinner we went to the Thompsons, we walked in the house I was holding my BIG American flag, Elder Orr was waving 2 mini moones around, Elder Evans had the American flag party tape all around him and Elder Lewis followed up the rear with the Star Spangled Banner Playing Out of my CD player! haha. It was SO funny! They got a good laugh out of that! I was pretty happy.It was fun. She said she forgot it was the fourth of July or she would have made an America cake for us. haha. Gotta love good Ol' Saints! We visited one of our Recent converts Zak, and his little brother was down visiting for school holidays, Isaiah. They are so funny! Zak is quite and calm and Isaiah is crazy and loud! It reminds me of my and my brother SO much! They even comment and say that I look like an older Isaiah. We were riding our bikes on the bike paths gain later in the week. I HAD to stop and Take a picture because it was BEAUTIFUL!!! so good!So I have had a pretty good week! real good week! On to the Good stuff!

  My core experience this week is a result of what my experience was last week. As we have been really trying to get a stronger spirit in our lessons it has made the biggest differance! Go-figure! We shared a mormon message with a family and really let them talk and express their thoughts afterwards. We used skills we had been developing through the spirit to ask inspired questions. It guided the family to realize how important family scripture study, prayer, and home evening is. Something we have been trying to do since we got here. The father is a returned missionary the motehr was born in the church, they are honorable members, but complacancy can hit and tempt anyone. It was incredible to see them find their own commitment and then to have Elder Evans boldly and directly ask them "Will you have family scripture study and prayer every night?" They couldn't help but agree to the invitation. Since the spirit was there Elder Orr promised a seemingly big blessing, but it was prompted because the spirit told all of us that it was true. After this lesson we were listening to some MoTab on the way home. So, we had kept the spirit with us, strongly. When we arrived neither I nor my companion wanted to get out of the car because we felt so good. As missionaries the spirit is usually always around us. However, the strong moments are the ones that leave an impression. I asked myself why would we ever NOT want to feel this way? We need to share this! It gave me a renewed sense of purpose. I am excited to go out and do some more finding!

 Teaching as Jesus taught... I have had a different experience as I have been giving district trainings. The spirit flows best when all members of the participating group are actively involved and sharing how they feel and what they know. It is similar to the spirit of a testimony meeting. When every individual is striving to learn from the spirit and help others do the same, revelation follows. It something we have tried to adapt into our teaching of investigators and members alike. It has really helped the spirit flow as you can tell from my previous paragraph.

   The zone conference we had recently was good. All of the topics covered were things that I had planned to train on in a district meeting that week but didn't get the time to. It was a real big "oh, wow!" moment to me to see how the spirit of revelation works. I had been prompted to create a lesson=plan, covered half of it, then zone conference covered what I did not. The next week at district meeting I was able to follow up a bit and help give more understanding as we all discussed it! Revelation and the Spirit are Undeniable

Thank you all for your love! I love you!

LOVE,

    Elder Ford

The Power Of The Spirit

 Hello again! Another week in the service of our God, A good one at that!

All is going swimmingly Down Unda! All Good in S'tray'uh! We are having fun. Doing the work as usual. We had zone Conference up in Charlestown (NewCastle) about an hour north. That was way fun! It was a combined ZC with Coffs Harbour, NewCastle, and the currently greatest zone in the mission the Central Coast! haha. I am completely unbiased too... totally. (Tuggerah is in the central coast BTW). It was fun to see old companions and friends from Coffs Harbour that are still there and missionaries I came in with that are serving in Newcastle! We learned a lot. It was a BIG zone conference. I included a picture of The District leader training I went to a few weeks ago and am hoping to add in one of Tugger lake, and a nice sun rise early before ZC on Friday!

  I thoroughly enjoyed and learned a lot from the recent Zone Conference, and from my first few weeks  as a District Leader! However, my Core experience with God this week has come from working with the members, Less-actives, and investigators. What some would call the usual and mundayne missionary work. Sometimes we have to go "back to the basics," as they would say during the first week of football practice in High School. For whatever reason, Elder Orr and myself have found a new way to go about working, particularly with the members and less-actives. It's called "The Spirit!" We have experienced some REALLY good lessons this week , some of which came out of members who we usually struggle to get into spiritual or sacred space. As we listened, truly listened, to these people questions would pop into our head. We couldn't always ask them right at that very moment, but whenever we asked them in the next moment or two it always brought the conversation to a higher level. It brought more spirit. We would let them talk and since the spirit was there they received personal revelation. In one case it was for a less-active son who holds the Melchizedek Priesthood. As we were leaving this mother said "I think I know What I need to do now, I think I need to get the ball rolling." It was a very happy and fulfilling moment as a missionary. It is not only my core experience with God for the week but also how I, or more we (My companion and my flat-mates), have been trying to teach more as Jesus taught.
   Going along with this improved understanding of the spirit, I was really trying to focus yesterday on the meaning of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I looked at the Water as if it were a small cup filled with blood. It really helped me to visualize and take more seriously what it meant. It represented my Savior love for ME. He had provided a way for me individually. A small cup just for ME. He made sure he could help ME to be clean. It was interesting. It was a small, but meaningful lesson to learn as my Companion and I strive to deepen our testimony of the the Great Mediator, Jesus Christ.

  I love you ALL! SO much! You know it. I Hope all is well!

   

     Love,

       Elder Ford

A Higher Plane

 

Hello my wonderful friends and family!

I hope you all have had a fantastic week I know I have. It has been a really good one. Last week for P-day Bro. Hancock took us to "The Mental Hospital." We had to drop off Elder Orr. ha no I am kidding. It is a site where they have a BUNCH of kangaroos! So I took some pictures for ya! We broke out our onsies me and Elder ORR haha. Pretty funny. We also tried to do some street contacting on the bike path that goes around Tuggerah lake. Dad would love that place. He loves bike paths.... ha. It was a nice and sunny day! So we took a minute to look at the beautiful lake. It was nice! SO I included a picture of that as well. Thought you would enjoy. They call it winter here but this week has been really nice actually! Really nice. Very much so enjoying that! I hear it is nice weather there as well. Good for ya'all! Enjoy the long hot summer, I would. i am excited for the 4th of July coming up. We have four Americans in our Flat, I guess that is pretty rare. So we are going to sing the Star Spangled Banner (Hymn no. 339) to open our companionship study that day. haha. ANd I have an American Flag so we can put our hands over our hearts and go the whole 9 yards!

 Here is Another Joke to brighten up your e-mail reading.
  Who puts the Leaves back on the trees in the spring time?.............................................

.................................................................................................................................................

The Re-leaf society. ha. ha. (Credit to Sister Hughes in Sunridge Ward (one of my old primary teachers) for that joke)
...well....On to my weekly e-mail we venture!
    My core experience this week was all about revelation. As I have strived for greater guidance from the spirit I have been more able to easily recieve Revelation. For myself, my companionship, and the District. I am constantly thinking of things I can do to share or help the Districts or my own situations. There is an obvious connection between the increase of Revelation and my desires. It is that, my desires. I now feel a greater sense of responsibility and purpose. I have a greater need to rely on the spirit. All week I have been thinking "wow, it is incredible how I just receive promptings." It is indeed incredible. What is the reason it flows better now? I see now that it is sincere desire and real intent to change and serve. It is a consious decision to think on a higher plane. I have noticed this slowly spreading across differant fields of our companionship. We are activly seeking to improve our prayer to our father in heaven. We are actively trying to have the spirit by being obedient to mission rules. We are sincerely seeking more inspiration and revelaton. (I do not mean to be prideful I aor brag about the good we are doing, but trying to point out good changes I see.) I now more fully realize the promise in the Book of Mormon, we WILL recieve an answer to that the Book is ture if we ask with REAL INTENT to change. We can act all we want but Improvement and Progression will not occur unless we have a desire to change. I recall hearing words in a transfer meeting from inspired leaders, "You determine the level of spirituality you live." If we have real intent to change, to improve and progress, we determine to live on a higher plane. I see my companionship and out flat all on this upward slope. I hope my ramblings added up to a coherent and understandable lesson I learned. It made sense in my head.
   Last week I spoke about how we were trying to find and utilize more resources. We have been sharing some mormon messages in lessons. It has had a very good impact! I do understand there is a danger in relying fully on a video for a lesson. SO we are trying to find ways we can integrate them rather than have them be the focus. It is good though. It really brings the spirit and we can feel more what to teach to the individuals. It is not nessecarily how Jesus taught, but he did utilize what he had. He taught in parables. I feel that mormon messages and parables have a similear out come. To teach based on experiences we can percieve but have not nessecarily experienced ourselves. I hope it continues to be a fruitful method of teaching where appropriate.
   The mission so far is great! The Sydney North Mission is Differant from the Mission I was "Born" in. So it is fun to be able to learn from and see two differant worlds. Altogether the experience is simiear though. It is very humbling and really shows you what is important in life. I talk about this with Elder Orr often. We really see now what is important. Plans that we had before our missions now seem pointless and mwith out purpose. We usually find the idea of home life and not being a missionary quite odd. I would the mission experience 12.5 months out is great so far! I have learned a lot and know I have muck to learn. I am finding the mission very revelatory and Life-changing. Absolutely life-changing.  Many thughts or ideologies I had are now very differant. i can see the eternal perspective easier and why I believe what I believe.
  I LOVE you all! I have had many extrodinary examples in my life. I am very grateful for all that you have done for me. All the sacrafices you have made in my behalf. I am eternally grateful!

         Love,

            Elder Ford

A change of View

Hello Friends and family! All is well down unda! I am just getting over a bit of a cough. Feeling better. Yes transfers were this week and we did not e-mail on Monday.... so what is your guess???    nope! I am still in the beautiful Tuggerah and with not so beautiful Elder Orr! haha jk. He is beautiful.. just spiritually. ha. Jk again. Love him! I did get a call on Saturday night from president Howes though. He asked me if I would be willing to be the new District Leader in the area since Elder Balmes was being transferred. "Come What may & Love It!" "Yes sir I would love to!" So I have to prepare hour long trainings for the missionaries every week now. I am excited for this chance to serve even more in the lords vineyard! The new missionary in the apart... flat. in the flat is Elder Evans. From South Jordan'layton Utah. There are 4 Americans in Tuggerah. crazy, hey? It is fun though! he is a great missionary and will keep me and Elder Orr on our toes! I am excited to see how it goes. I didn't take many pictures this week. There is one of one of my Zone Leaders, Elder Kiwa (Maori-New Zealander). We were expecting them at any minute to go on exchanges. So we heard this knock on our front window. Elder Orr lifts up the blinds and we die laughing seeing this! ha. It was great! We had to take pictures, obviously! ha. the next one is the only one I took with me in it. That is a sister that got transferred out of toukly (in the district) and some random member. haha. so yea.. that was my Sunday best this week! That is all the big news of the week... yep!

   My core experience with God this week came from a few differant experiences. I began to notice and look at a change of Attitude I was having. In highschool I often felt like the one on the outside trying to fit in with what was "Cool." I alays got into the trends as soon as they seemed to be dying. I always felt a bit like the odd duckling. I could never seem to fit in just how I wanted to. Everyone wants to be "That cool kid," even if it means acting stupid. Anyway, I have painted that picture adequately enough. I NOW see what I thought was a burden of unpopularity and "just not being with the times" is actually a TREMENDOUS blessing. I am less attached to the world and can break the ties to sin much easier, or so I feel. A change of context shifts viewpoint draramatically! I am now greatful I could never find that social position I thoguht I wanted. A true testament that Gods ways TRULY are higher than our ways! He has a Plan for me that gets clearer and more seamlingly tailor-made everyday! I know who I am, I know gods plan!
    Going along with last week where we were improving our teaching by teaching to their needs, Me and Elder Orr realized we need to check our inventory and resources. There have been so many times in my mission were I (or other missionaries) have said "Wow! I wish I knew that when I came into the mission! It would have saved so much time!" I see that happening again... So we are evaluating our resource pool so we can evermore effectively Teach to their needs.
    A time I felt spiritually fulfilled this week was... Honestly.. Taking the sacrament! I really tried to focus on what it meant that day, to be cleansed again! Everytime I think about it.. it amazes me! We have the chance to be forgiven of all our sins everyweek! Is that not impressive? I focussed on it and tried to think abour and contemplate the atonement. I have realized I need to keep studying it. I need to more fully understand it! Like has been told me before, I could awrite an eassay and cover all the points but I have not yet learned to appy it propperly or fully in my life. Sorry this has turned more into a revelatory experiemce thana time I was spirtiually fulfilled.

   Thank you all for the love you show me! I can feel your prayers! Thank you all so much!

 

Love,

    Elder Ford