Kia Ora Whanau
We had a fantastic week, full of great miracles! Sad to say though, Bryon didn't get baptized this week! We were devestated, to say the least! He moved back in with his girlfriend. But we talked to him and said that we'll help him. And I won't forget it, he said, "Elder come here." And he gave me a big hug. But it was one of those hugs where you've got the puppy face and you don't know what to do kind of hugs.... given a few of those to you, Mom and Dad... so I felt for the poor guy. But he said that he's going to be baptized on the 13 of February! So we are praying for him!
We had a great miracle! There is this guy named Kevin! He's the man... he's like 60 years old and lives with his member sister. Well he started to ask questions so we started teaching him. And then we committed him to be baptized!! We asked him to pray with us to know if what we taught was true, and we knelt down and very humbly, with a sincere heart, a desire to know, and faith that he would receive an answer. After he prayed we sat there for two or three minutes just in silence. We asked him how he felt. He said, "Good, I feel like there is a Halo over my head, it's really holy!" I was blown away! He said, "It feels like I got the Holy Ghost's shoes on." lol! What a great guy! Love him!
This week is Transfer week!!! Who know's what's going to happen... For sure one of us is leaving. President Porter had a meeting with Elder Sessions and I to talk about the zone. And when he went through the companionships and stuff, he was asking for our feedback and advice on some things. And I gave him some pretty blunt and to-the-point answers, even to President Porter, lol! He said, "Man, you're a hard case"... pause... "I like that"... "I'd hire you to work for my company! You tell me how it is." Anyway, it made me feel good, a guy that trains CEO's for fortune 500 companies said he'd hire me, that's pretty good. Now we'll see if he'll take me up on it when I go home lol!
We had eight investigators at church yesterday! That's the most we've had since I've been here! We have been so blessed recently! Tyler is getting baptized this Saturday! We are really excited for that!
It's been pouring rain the past three days here! It's like winter, I can't believe it!
I gave a blessing to this sister last week. And we went there to give Kevin's sister a blessing, but their other sister from Rotorua was up. And she wanted a blessing too. Now I didn't know her from a stick of butter. But I gave her a blessing. And I completely relied on the Spirit to guide me in the words that I should speak. As I was focusing on the Spirit, exerting all my strength, I had the impression to talk about her spouse. Now I didn't know if she was even married, or if her partner had passed, or anything... so I doubted, and I almost ended the blessing. But I continued on and told her all will be well with her family. And something about her spouse, that things will work out, all will be well... Anyways, after the blessing she looks to me and says, "I've had many blessings and no one has ever mentioned anything about my husband. He's left me. But since you said that, I know that all will work out." It was crazy. I couldn't believe it! Because like I said, had no idea who she was. But God does, and the Spirit told me exaclty what she needed to hear and know. And this Sister Mattock was so happy! It was a miracle!
Elder Sessions and I are having heaps of fun! And things are looking good! Could be better for our area, but can't complain....
LOVE YOU ALL HEAPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
TTYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Elder Belnap
P.S. Keep praying for me!
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Set TYLER 4 BAPTISM!
Kia Ora!
We had a fantastic week! Things really picked up for us this week! We had a KILLER WEEK!!! We taught 32 lessons, 14 new investigators, talked to 145 people, and set someone for baptism!!!!! It was a great week! We were truly blessed with many great miracles! And were really lead by the Spirit this week!
We have really been praying and asking for more people that we can baptize. Well, God answered. We went to another one of our branches, Cambridge, and there were 2 boys that were at church that haven't been baptized!!! So we taught them and set them to be baptized. Tyler the older brother, 11, is really keen! In fact we asked why he hasn't been baptized he said, "I've waited long enough." He used to be taught but the missionaries got transferred and he didn't get baptized!!! So we are really excited and truly blessed! A great miracle for us!
I had a very spiritual filled week!!! I am being lead by the Spirit more than I have ever been! In the words that I speak, the places to go, the prompting/thoughts that I get. I have been really relying more in God to guide me and direct me. I can truly feel the Spirit guide me. And I have seen the results of it. The zone has had a rough week because of Holidays and heaps of lessons are falling through. We even had one companionship have 19 straight set lessons fall through. But as I've let the Spirit guide. We have had 14 straight walk-in lessons. That's "unheard" of!! And I know that it's the Spirit guiding me. Even on trade-offs the missionaries have said to me, "You really rely on the Spirit, even when you speak, you don't think what your going to say you just rely on the Spirit to tell you what to say." And that's awesome for me, a compliment. Because I had no idea until they started to tell me.....
I had a trade-off with Elder Handy, an Assistant President. We had all but one of our lessons fall through. But we ended up with 6 lessons!!! A couple days before that we had 4 set lessons, all fell through, but ended up teaching 5 lessons! If that isn't proof enough that this is God's work, and as long as we are the ones tuning into the Spirit letting him guide us then I don't know what is. I wish I could tell you all the experiences. But I can't even remember them all. I even sat down and tried writing them all down on that trade-off, and I couldn't even remember them. That's how blessed we have been! But I wish you could see all the "little" promptings that turn out to be a big thing! I would challenge ALL OF YOU to follow those thoughts and promptings. Whether it be a place to go, something you should say, or do and I can promise you that God will bless you. Whether if it's someone you can help bring into the gospel or a blessing or answer to your prayers. I have a STRONG!!!! testimony of this. I have never felt the way I feel right now. As I know that without a doubt in my mind that I am being lead by the Spirit in God's work. It's an incredible feeling. As the prophets have said, how would you like to have those good feelings with you all the time and being guided by the Spirit in everything you do? I testify that the Spirit can be with us ALL DAY and guide us in ALL THINGS. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Last Monday we went fishing. It was a blast! Ha we went with 2 Mongrul Mob gangsters as well. Hahaha they were all Patched up and everything. But they were the cousins to Bryon who is getting baptized this week! And they were cool, and we asked if they wanted to come. And even that was a cool miracle! We didn't catch anything. But man, came oh so close! The fish are HUGE!!!! It's ridiculous!
Interview with President was great! It was nice to have a chat with him. He didn't tell me too much. We joked a bit. He told me I need to learn how to keep the zone leader buzz going. He said that I could be a zone leader for over half my mission. And if that's the case then I need to work through it, because it can be such tiring work.... President Porter is actually moving to Alpine. And is going to be taking a job for the church! I'm really excited because this means that I can go chill with my mission President! I just love the guy!
Things are good! Pray for Bryon, he's getting baptized this week but he needs all the prayers he can get!!!!
Pray for people to get baptized in your ward as well!!!!!
LOVE YOU ALL HEAPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ALWAYS & FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Elder Belnap
FULLY INVESTED!!!!!
IN
NZAM
We had a fantastic week! Things really picked up for us this week! We had a KILLER WEEK!!! We taught 32 lessons, 14 new investigators, talked to 145 people, and set someone for baptism!!!!! It was a great week! We were truly blessed with many great miracles! And were really lead by the Spirit this week!
We have really been praying and asking for more people that we can baptize. Well, God answered. We went to another one of our branches, Cambridge, and there were 2 boys that were at church that haven't been baptized!!! So we taught them and set them to be baptized. Tyler the older brother, 11, is really keen! In fact we asked why he hasn't been baptized he said, "I've waited long enough." He used to be taught but the missionaries got transferred and he didn't get baptized!!! So we are really excited and truly blessed! A great miracle for us!
I had a very spiritual filled week!!! I am being lead by the Spirit more than I have ever been! In the words that I speak, the places to go, the prompting/thoughts that I get. I have been really relying more in God to guide me and direct me. I can truly feel the Spirit guide me. And I have seen the results of it. The zone has had a rough week because of Holidays and heaps of lessons are falling through. We even had one companionship have 19 straight set lessons fall through. But as I've let the Spirit guide. We have had 14 straight walk-in lessons. That's "unheard" of!! And I know that it's the Spirit guiding me. Even on trade-offs the missionaries have said to me, "You really rely on the Spirit, even when you speak, you don't think what your going to say you just rely on the Spirit to tell you what to say." And that's awesome for me, a compliment. Because I had no idea until they started to tell me.....
I had a trade-off with Elder Handy, an Assistant President. We had all but one of our lessons fall through. But we ended up with 6 lessons!!! A couple days before that we had 4 set lessons, all fell through, but ended up teaching 5 lessons! If that isn't proof enough that this is God's work, and as long as we are the ones tuning into the Spirit letting him guide us then I don't know what is. I wish I could tell you all the experiences. But I can't even remember them all. I even sat down and tried writing them all down on that trade-off, and I couldn't even remember them. That's how blessed we have been! But I wish you could see all the "little" promptings that turn out to be a big thing! I would challenge ALL OF YOU to follow those thoughts and promptings. Whether it be a place to go, something you should say, or do and I can promise you that God will bless you. Whether if it's someone you can help bring into the gospel or a blessing or answer to your prayers. I have a STRONG!!!! testimony of this. I have never felt the way I feel right now. As I know that without a doubt in my mind that I am being lead by the Spirit in God's work. It's an incredible feeling. As the prophets have said, how would you like to have those good feelings with you all the time and being guided by the Spirit in everything you do? I testify that the Spirit can be with us ALL DAY and guide us in ALL THINGS. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Last Monday we went fishing. It was a blast! Ha we went with 2 Mongrul Mob gangsters as well. Hahaha they were all Patched up and everything. But they were the cousins to Bryon who is getting baptized this week! And they were cool, and we asked if they wanted to come. And even that was a cool miracle! We didn't catch anything. But man, came oh so close! The fish are HUGE!!!! It's ridiculous!
Interview with President was great! It was nice to have a chat with him. He didn't tell me too much. We joked a bit. He told me I need to learn how to keep the zone leader buzz going. He said that I could be a zone leader for over half my mission. And if that's the case then I need to work through it, because it can be such tiring work.... President Porter is actually moving to Alpine. And is going to be taking a job for the church! I'm really excited because this means that I can go chill with my mission President! I just love the guy!
Things are good! Pray for Bryon, he's getting baptized this week but he needs all the prayers he can get!!!!
Pray for people to get baptized in your ward as well!!!!!
LOVE YOU ALL HEAPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ALWAYS & FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Elder Belnap
FULLY INVESTED!!!!!
IN
NZAM
Saturday, January 15, 2011
KIA ORA!
Hi Everyone!
We had an ok week. It started out pretty rough. Heaps of lessons fell through and we weren't really having much success. But towards the end of the week, we were really blessed. We taught heaps of lessons and found some really good, new investigators. I went on a trade-off on Saturday. The day was booked. 5 set lessons! But guess what? All 5 lessons fell through. But we didn't let that stop us. We exercised faith, we prayed and told God that we needed to teach lessons. We ended up teaching 5 lessons and found 2 new investigators. It was a miracle. To have 5 set lessons fall through and still be blessed to teach 5 lessons is huge! As soon as one lesson fell through we went out looking for people to teach. As we were lead by the Spirit, we knocked on a house and bam! They invited us in to teach them! Miracle after miracle!
We have 1 person set right now. Bryon from Kawhia (you should go look up Kawhia, it's beautiful) He's doing really well. We are planning on baptizing him in the ocean, right outside his home on the Maere. It's going to be great! In fact we are going to Kawhia today to go fishing with him. And we are going to be spending the day up there! And we are going to be teaching a Samoan family up there as well! So it should really fun! And Kawhia is one of the best places to fish. Everyone has been catching huge fish too! Can't wait!
We have interviews this week with President Porter! Can't wait for that! And I'm going on trade-off with the assistants tomorrow! That should be really fun as well!
We are still having to go through some problems as we are having a hard time finding good solid invesitgators. We really want to baptize weekly, but from the looks of it, the only way that'll happen is by a miracle from God. So we are praying our guts out for the miracle!
LOVE YOU ALL HEAPS!!!!!!!!
HAVE A GREAT WEEK!!!!!!!!!!!
Elder Belnap
We had an ok week. It started out pretty rough. Heaps of lessons fell through and we weren't really having much success. But towards the end of the week, we were really blessed. We taught heaps of lessons and found some really good, new investigators. I went on a trade-off on Saturday. The day was booked. 5 set lessons! But guess what? All 5 lessons fell through. But we didn't let that stop us. We exercised faith, we prayed and told God that we needed to teach lessons. We ended up teaching 5 lessons and found 2 new investigators. It was a miracle. To have 5 set lessons fall through and still be blessed to teach 5 lessons is huge! As soon as one lesson fell through we went out looking for people to teach. As we were lead by the Spirit, we knocked on a house and bam! They invited us in to teach them! Miracle after miracle!
We have 1 person set right now. Bryon from Kawhia (you should go look up Kawhia, it's beautiful) He's doing really well. We are planning on baptizing him in the ocean, right outside his home on the Maere. It's going to be great! In fact we are going to Kawhia today to go fishing with him. And we are going to be spending the day up there! And we are going to be teaching a Samoan family up there as well! So it should really fun! And Kawhia is one of the best places to fish. Everyone has been catching huge fish too! Can't wait!
We have interviews this week with President Porter! Can't wait for that! And I'm going on trade-off with the assistants tomorrow! That should be really fun as well!
We are still having to go through some problems as we are having a hard time finding good solid invesitgators. We really want to baptize weekly, but from the looks of it, the only way that'll happen is by a miracle from God. So we are praying our guts out for the miracle!
LOVE YOU ALL HEAPS!!!!!!!!
HAVE A GREAT WEEK!!!!!!!!!!!
Elder Belnap
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!! :)
Kia Ora!
We had a really good week! Had some really great miracles! Yesterday we spent the whole day up in Kawhia, it's an hour and a half away from Hamilton. And it's absolutly beautiful! The scenery is amazing!!! It's this little tiny town, and there is a branch out there! So we went up for the day. And as we came back to H-Town, we went to contact one of our Joy To the World Referrals. Her name is Anna! And she is keen! I actually talked to her on my first day in the area, and she invited us to come back, but we couldn't catch her. Well we got a call that she had ordered a DVD. And yesterday we got to teach her! She has been very prepared for us, and the message of the Restoration! It was a great lesson, where the Spirit was strong!
We had another really good miralce. Elder Sessions and I are pretty much building our area back up. It's always hard to do. But one day as we had nothing really planned. We were praying our guts out for lessons and specifically that we could set someone for baptism. Well we were going through our ward list. And I had written this guy's name down. And we pulled up to the house, and we were like, "Man, should we really go in?" So we said a prayer that God would give us the miracle we desired and prayed for the faith for it. It was one of those bottom of the 9th and two outs and this was our last shot for the day to make something happen. And sure enough it happened... Walked up to the door, asked for the member, and she wasn't home. But this guy who was decked out in Mongrul Mob tattoos from head to toe, and I'm not kidding, came to the door. And wanted to know what we wanted and was sort of giving us a hard time. But he started talking to us. And sure enough that gang member had his heart softened and he was very sincere about following Jesus Christ. So we committed him to be baptized! And he said as he learns more about it that he'll prepare for it! An amazing miracle. The more SPECIFIC we are in our prayers, the more specific the answer God can bless you with!
Tomorrow we are going to Zone Council, and we have to drive up, no more flying.... dang....
Our zone isn't doing that great right now. We really need all the help we can get!!!! Sessions and I went from the smallest zone in the mission to the BIGGEST zone in the mission! And President Porter has these huge expectations for us. Ha and neither of us know what we are doing! lol! So we are relying on the Lord hoping and praying that he'll provide for us! And especially our area, it's not doing that good. We need all the prayers we can get!
LOVE YA!!!!!
THANKS FOR THE PRAYERS, KEEP EM' COMIN'!!!!
XOXO
Michael
We had a really good week! Had some really great miracles! Yesterday we spent the whole day up in Kawhia, it's an hour and a half away from Hamilton. And it's absolutly beautiful! The scenery is amazing!!! It's this little tiny town, and there is a branch out there! So we went up for the day. And as we came back to H-Town, we went to contact one of our Joy To the World Referrals. Her name is Anna! And she is keen! I actually talked to her on my first day in the area, and she invited us to come back, but we couldn't catch her. Well we got a call that she had ordered a DVD. And yesterday we got to teach her! She has been very prepared for us, and the message of the Restoration! It was a great lesson, where the Spirit was strong!
We had another really good miralce. Elder Sessions and I are pretty much building our area back up. It's always hard to do. But one day as we had nothing really planned. We were praying our guts out for lessons and specifically that we could set someone for baptism. Well we were going through our ward list. And I had written this guy's name down. And we pulled up to the house, and we were like, "Man, should we really go in?" So we said a prayer that God would give us the miracle we desired and prayed for the faith for it. It was one of those bottom of the 9th and two outs and this was our last shot for the day to make something happen. And sure enough it happened... Walked up to the door, asked for the member, and she wasn't home. But this guy who was decked out in Mongrul Mob tattoos from head to toe, and I'm not kidding, came to the door. And wanted to know what we wanted and was sort of giving us a hard time. But he started talking to us. And sure enough that gang member had his heart softened and he was very sincere about following Jesus Christ. So we committed him to be baptized! And he said as he learns more about it that he'll prepare for it! An amazing miracle. The more SPECIFIC we are in our prayers, the more specific the answer God can bless you with!
Tomorrow we are going to Zone Council, and we have to drive up, no more flying.... dang....
Our zone isn't doing that great right now. We really need all the help we can get!!!! Sessions and I went from the smallest zone in the mission to the BIGGEST zone in the mission! And President Porter has these huge expectations for us. Ha and neither of us know what we are doing! lol! So we are relying on the Lord hoping and praying that he'll provide for us! And especially our area, it's not doing that good. We need all the prayers we can get!
LOVE YA!!!!!
THANKS FOR THE PRAYERS, KEEP EM' COMIN'!!!!
XOXO
Michael
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