MIRACLES!!!!! SET 2 PREPARED PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!

Kia Ora!

First, I'm sure that you are all freaking out about the earthquake, so to let you know, I'm fine. Didn't even feel it.... And frankly, you probably know more about what's happening than me... ha I don't watch the news. I found out from an investigator lol!... But yes, it's a big tragedy. And everyone is talking about it. Especially because many people have died.

We finally got the miracles we've been waiting for!!! Tuesday I went on a trade off in my area. I was just waiting for God to pour out His blessings upon me... President Porter has been really focusing on STRETCH... and how we can stretch ourselves. So when I was on a tradeoff with the Assistant presidents, I had Elder Greening explain to me the Doctrine of stretch. And ever since he did, it's just made sense, and we can apply it in our every day lives... It basically comes down to getting out of our comfort zones and pushing ourselves to do better! So I'm trying to teach our missionaries how to stretch themselves, and the best way to do that is on tradeoff's.

So on Sunday we felt prompted to go to this area, knocked some houses and nothing. We go to the car and I was like, "This place is dead!" So I'm ready to drive away when I look in the rear view mirror and I see these two people walking. So I put the car in park, hop out and talk to them. The guy didn't want anything to do with us, but the lady was keen. She said, "Oh, I'll see you at church next week." (they all say that) So on tradeoffs on Tuesday, we go to check up on her. She invites us right in and we have a walk in lesson. She is ultra prepared! Her name is Tesi (Chertesi) and she's Niuean and she's so nice. She had missionaries before, and she's even been to church before! We taught her the first lesson. And then committed her for baptism!!! I've been dying to have a lesson like that! She accepted and she will be baptized on the 19th of March!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you for your prayers!!!!

The day gets better!!!! So we go to see a person that I talked to on a tradeoff with Elder Greening. He saw this person walk in the garage, and I didn't see her, but we went over and talked to her. She's a less active 25 year old and Tongan. She said to come back. So I call her on Sunday to see if she's coming to church, and she says, "Sorry I'm helping my friend move in with me, but we'll have a lesson on Tuesday." So I was excited because for all I know, her friend is not a member.... Well we rock up there and have this choice lesson with Lia (Tongan) and her friend Nia (cook Islander). Right away I could tell that we were sent there for a reason. Nia starts to tell us about her life. She is only 20 years old but she has been through everything you can imagine. She's been baptized four times before just to have her sins forgiven. But she still feels guilty and doesn't feel forgiven... ha, I wonder why that is? So we explained the Atonement and how she truly can be forgiven, that Christ and God know what she's been through and that she can be forgiven and feel at peace. She said that she wanted that. And we committed her for baptism! My testimony grew, you could say that those are the people that really need Christ in their life and can use the Atonement!

I'm just so glad that God has blessed us with choice people to teach, sure they have their own problems that they need to overcome but that's why I'm here to help. I am just amazed, we have had some really rough weeks. But God PROVIDES!!!!! He ALWAYS will bless you! As long as you are obedient, qualify, and stretch yourself to do things you've never done before, then God has no way BUT TO BLESS YOU!!!! I know that is true, and it applies in your own life....

We have a Zone council this Wednesday with the area president, Elder Callistar. And we are finally having another Zone conference on Wednesday as well! So we got some good things happening!!!!!!

So much is going on that I don't have time to tell you everything. But I can tell you that I have met/taught people from everywhere; Korea, China, Japan, Iraq, Iran, Isreal, Egypt - you name it! I've probably talked to someone from India, Figi, Tailand, Malasia, Africa - crazy! In fact, the best hair cut I got was from an Iraqian, and you are probably wondering how that went and if we talked about Sadaam Hussein. Yes we did, he even served in his army, and I'm glad that we did what needed to be done....

Anyway....
LOVE YOU ALL HEAPS!!!
Thanks for your prayers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Elder Belnap

GREAT WEEK!!!

Kia Ora!

So after much pleading with the Lord, He in turn blessed us!!! It was such a fun and eventful week! So many things happened!

First off, I have to tell you about our most choice investigator!!! I've really missed teaching great and prepared people! Her name is Alvina!!! She is 19, Samoan. This is how we found her... We got a referral for her cousin. Well he just moved out. And we talked to his cousin, which is Alvina's sister, Sa'ara. Well anyway we get a return appointment with Sa'ara. And she stands us up! We rock up there and her sister Alvina said that she was gone, and she asked, "Did she tell you to come back today?" We said yes. She said, "Well she left for her trip down in the south island today." We asked how old she is and Alvina told us that she is 16. Ha, she told us 20 lol! So yes, we got stood up by a 16 year old. lol! So I hope you got a laugh out of that.... But here is the miracle! So we asked Alvina if she would be interested. She said, "I went through it a while ago. but ahhh.... sure... why not?" So we got back and taught her.... I was on a trade-off with the Assistant presidents.. Elder Greening! He's the man, love the guy! Well we went and had the most choice lesson with her! She taught herself that her Presbytarian religion is wrong, and that our church is right! All we did is ask effective questions and teach simple doctrine and she figured everything else out... Then we got to the climax, we asked her to pray to know if what we taught was true. We knelt, she said the most heartfelt prayer and asked if what we taught was true.... we asked how she felt. "I feel good, like really good," she answered. "Where do you think that good feeling comes from?"... "the Spirit".... "So what do you think the Spirit is telling you?".... "That what you taught is true"... "Do you believe that?"... "Yes, it is true!" It was music to my ears!!! So I AM I STOKED RIGHT NOW, YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's been three weeks since I've had a choice investigator, and we got blessed with one! ...... The next lesson we committed her for baptism. She would be keen for it, but there is a lot of pressure from her family, and right now that's what is keeping her from being baptized! So we are working with her. But she enjoyed church yesterday!!! So this is my committment for you: Will you all pray specifically for Alvina and her family, that they will soften their hearts and that Alvina will be able to make this descision. We have been praying are guts out and fasting for her!!!! All the prayers we can get will help!

Then the next night, President Porter came out with us to teach a lesson! Boy that was nerve racking! We ended up teaching these two 17 year old girls from Ethiopia... I'll just say this, President Porter is used to going out to lessons and teaching their most keen investigators and are ready for baptism... And with us, it was like a walk in lesson, with two young girls that we taught for the first time. And they weren't giving us NOTHIN'! FLIPPIN' one word answers!!! So it was a bit of a rougher lesson lol! But we tried our best!

I don't know if you remember Sam, we baptized her when I was in Swanson ward... anyway I saw her last night at the mission fireside. She hasn't missed church, not once! And is really strong!

We had three investigators at church yesterday!!!! Best we've had yet! And we taught 18 lessons, the most this area has taught in months!!!!!!!!!! So things are really beginning to pick up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And I am one happy guy!!!!!!! And we talked to the most people that I've ever talked to in one week: 216!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So I'm stoked!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Our zone isn't doing as good as it should be. We are trying to get our zone going. And we are hoping for a miracle this week. We haven't baptized this month. So we are hoping that a miralce happens....

By the way... All three people that I had set in Hamilton got baptized... Tyler, Bryon, and Kevin!!!!

LOVE YOU ALL HEAPS!!!!
KEEP PRAYING FOR ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Elder Belnap

HARD WEEK!

Kia Ora!

This week was a bit rough.... Our area is really struggling. And it's very frustrating. We only found 2 new investigators, taught 11 lessons. Sad numbers.... I know it's not about the numbers, but that's got to change for me. I'm used to leading my zone in new investigators, lesssons, and baptizing. But this area is really hard for me. And I can't understand why???? I've been sent to the Gisborne, a place that is supposed to be the hardest place to baptize, etc... and we had GREAT success. Tauranga, another tough place to baptize and we baptized weekly. So I'm just really trying to understand what the Lord wants me to learn. Because I am waiting for the miracle! It's hard to stay positive when your area is struggling and your working as hard as you can and doing your best to qualify for miracles. Yes, we've received some great miracles but we are still struggling. I've learned for myself is I'm going to be obedient with exactness, talk to everyone, and qualify like crazy. So even if my numbers don't look good, God knows the work that I'm putting into my area.

It's like we've opened up a area, and we are starting over from stratch. And it's hard. I thought getting double shifted into Gisborne was hard, but this has definitely topped that off. I am just waiting for God to pour out His blessings upon this land... I just can't understand... the city has MORE people, but yet our teaching and everything is down. I just ask for your prayers that God will bless us with people to teach....

The zone is doing ok as well. We should be doing MUCH better than where we are at as well. So another thing that is stressful. But I just have to put it in the Lord's hands...

Yesterday we had an investigator come to church that we hadn't expected. And there was a non-member there that we haven't taught yet. And I talked to him and we get along GREAT!!! He played arena football for an Idaho team. And he's pretty keen and said he'll get baptized after he gets married. But.... he's not getting baptized until May. So we need to work on this guy and hope for a miracle to baptize him earlier!!! That was the biggest miracle that we received this week.

One more great experience. I went into the rich area. And there was a member on the ward list that I felt like seeing. We walked up and the gate was open, knocked on the door and this wonderful lady came to the door. She was baptized when she was 16, but hasn't been back to church in ages. She started to tell me that she doesn't really believe in God anymore. But she has three unbaptized kids. And she said, "I've been thinking; the thing that I loved the most about the church was the youth. And I think it would be nice for my kids to have that experience..." Then she said, "I've actually been thinking that I should go back to church and it's just ironic that you are here on my door step!" The best miracle of the week! So hopefully we can go teach her family!!! Here's to hoping!!!!!

And yes, I heard about the Packers, I alked out of the mall and they were playing! So Icaught 20 seconds of the game.... Man that is my weakness!!!!!!!!!!!!! I just couldn't walk past without looking. So Ihad to repent and get refocused!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But I do have to say, THAT MADE MY DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GO PACKS!!!!!!!!!!!


LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!!
HAVE A GREAT WEEK!!!!!!!!!!


Elder Belnap

NEEDING THE MIRACLES!!!

Kia Ora!

We had a good week! We were blessed with two "choice" new investigators this week! One of them, Apiphany, 16 year-old girl... I invited her to be baptized but, she said that she isn't ready! Pretty upset, just because we still only have a few people we are teaching. And no one is too close to being set for baptism! In order for us to baptize this month, it's going to have to be a absolute miracle from God, where He puts someone right in front of us to be baptized! We have a few prospects for March though. So we really need your prayers that we can baptize souls THIS MONTH!!!

We had our Zone Leader Council and Leadership training this week! That was really fun! Learned a lot more about the Atonement. And we got to do a little skit, go onto the New Zealand Aukland Mission blog and you can see it!

We had a good miracle... Elder Christiansen had this prompting to go visit a recent convert. They weren't home so he said, "I feel like we should knock some houses." At first nothing, but we kept knocking. There were only two houses left. And both of them were miracles. We found a recent convert that has become less active but is keen (she came to church yesterday with her unbaptized cousin!!!) And she is awesome. her name is Ennette. And as we were leaving, the house next door yelled, "Elders!" We went over and they are members but they go to another ward and they wanted us to give her son a blessing because he was sick! But come to find out, they are cousins with Apiphany and they are keen to help her come to church and do anything she needs!!!!! A great prompting!!!!

The city is different than the country. But it's still fun! Lots of people! I swear it's like I'm serving in India or Iraq, lol! There are so many Indians and Muslim people! There are still quite a few Islanders. But not that many Maoris.

I thank you for your prayers! Please pray specifically that we will be able to find someone to baptize this month! I hate being the Zone Leader when everyone is looking at you, and then you yourself don't have someone to baptize. Especially when President Porter wants us to baptize weekly! So yes, it's hard. But then again, God asks us to do hard things!

LOVE YOU!!!!!


Elder Belnap