MIRACLES!!!!!!! 6 SET!!!!

KIA ORA!!!!

So I just have to tell you...... I'm still buzzing out about the BYU game!!!! How in the WORLD DO WE LOSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Lord is going to have to continue to chasten me when it comes to refs lol!!!! But still!!!!!!!!!!!! REFS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I might be half way around the world but I still bleed blue!!!!!!

Anyway.... Back to the spiritual side of things!

We had many AMAZING MIRACLES where the Lord continued to bless us like none other! We were blessed to set 6 people for baptism!!!!!!!!!!!!! And the Zone is flourishing! As a Zone, we have 14 people set! That is more than some of the city zones baptize! So people can't say that Gisborne (which people think, "you can't baptize") can't baptize!! I am really loving Gisborne! The people are still "different" but I love them! I am really enjoying my mission right now.

We set the only Samoan family in our area lol (everyone is either Maori, Pakieha (pok-ke-a, white people), or Tongan) But we got the only Samoans! I LOVE that family so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's the Apineru Aiga (family). I have been praying that God would help us and bless us with the opportunity to set them for baptism! And He did, Saturday we set them!!! A while back, Elder Sessions and I were out tracting, and we had knocked on their door, but the daughter didn't seem too keen on having us come back. But a week later, we got a referral from a member to go see this family! And ever since we've been teaching them! There is Sister Apineru (a member) Oleeta 19, Vali 18, Lea 14, AJ 9, Nea 7, and Nico 4. Just a beautiful family!
We had heard that they didn't really like our ward and wanted to go to the third ward because they knew some people over there! So I was freaking out because I love that family and I didn't want to lose more of our investigators to the other Elders. So I felt like asking a Tongan Family fellowship them. Well everyone thought it was a bad idea. Even the Bishop, his remark when I told him that we were going to get the Latu's to fellowship the Apineru's, "Have you ever seen the Samoans and Tongans play rugby? It's nasty." I was blown away! I was like it doesn't matter whether you're white, black, brown, Japanese, American, or Spanish. We are all God's children, and we Love everyone regardless. If we have a problem with that, then we are not being true followers of Christ. So I went ahead with it anyway. Elder Collett baked some brownies and we gave it to the Latu's to give to them. And guess what?! Sister Latu and her niece (not a member but she pretty much is a member, just not baptized) hasn't missed church in a year! lol! Missionaries have never taught her, they all thought she was baptized, so we're going to start teaching her (another miracle)! We went over and stayed over there for 2 hours just talking! And on Sunday they sat with the Latu's and the Apineru kids all went with Latu's kids to class and LOVED IT!!!!!!!!! They are set for the December 11!!!! LUCKY 11!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mia is also re-set for either the 11th or the 18th. She is AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We taught her the Word of Wisdom, and she gave everything up straightway. It's been like 6 days since she's done anything!!! We taught her chastity, and she told her partner that they need to get married. He said "no", so she said "see ya later." She is so determined to keep all the commandments of God!!!!! She is A MIRACLE!!!!!!!!!!!! I love teaching her! She calls us her older brothers lol, and we call her our older sister, she's 26 lol!

And can you handle one more miracle?!!! Hope so! We got a call on Friday that someone from Auckland is moving down here and set for baptism! Well a couple of weeks ago, Elder Magleby baptized some Hoopers and said that they have family in Gisborne and to keep an eye out for them. So we've been looking around, seeing if we can find them. Well guess what? This kid is the Hoopers' kid and he moved in with his Grandparents! So as I'm talking to the Grandparents I was like, "Do you know anything about the church?" And they go on about Elder Magleby and the Hoopers and I was freaking out! Anyway, his name is Raymond (17) he came down on Saturday and he walked to church yesterday!!!! And he's KEEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Set for the 18th! I talked to Magbleby last night and he was so happy that we found that family and set Raymond for baptism!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So many miracles, I don't know why God is blessing us so much!

Then we also got another blessing, the Elders are so busy with Kaiti that they don't have time to cover Mangapapa, so we got permission from President Porter and we are now covering it! And that area is pumping!!!!!!!!! We starting working in it this last week and WOW!!! Love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GREAT THINGS ARE HAPPENING!!!!!!!!!!!
THANKS FOR YOUR PRAYERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
KEEP PRAYING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AROHA (a-doe-ha, LOVE)


Elder Belnap

FULLY INEVESTED
IN
MY MISSION!!!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!

Kia Ora!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!!! Man I'm missing "basting" the turkey! lol! And I'm missing that apple pie, hmmm... But I did enjoy those pumpkin cookies, they were gone in a couple days lol!

We had a really good experience this week. We were planning on setting the Samoan family, but during the lesson I just couldn't set them. And I had the feeling that we should go back the next day and talk to the mom about baptizing her children. So the next day we go see her. And she pulls up just after we pull in, good timing huh! She starts telling us how happy she is that we come and visit her. And then she starts crying and she tells us that she wants her children to be baptized!!!! How cool is that! So when they get back from Hastings' were going to talk about them getting baptized! Next month we are planning on baptizing five!! It's going to take a lot of work and faith but it can happen!

We talked to someone yesterday and they want us to baptize their son! So that's another good miracle!

We had some rough things happen this week. We found three new investigators that are really keen. And we were planning on setting them, just really good. But this week the moved to the other ward! Man I was pretty upset just because we are having a hard time getting keen investigators, and so when they moved we not only lost some of our baptism propects but we also lost some of our few investigators. But the Lord provided, the next day we found two new investigators.

I love Gisborne. It's got it hard parts, but I learn and grow from them.

The zone is really struggling this month. We've only baptized two this month. And we are projected to get only three. Next month looks really good! We are looking at breaking the Zone Best again! And our goal for the zone is 14!! So we really need your prayers!


THANKS FOR EVERYTHING!!!!!
CAN'T WAIT FOR THE CHRISTMAS PACKAGE!!!!!!!!!
LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!


Elder Belnap

DAMIEN, RACHEL & NAOMI'S BAPTISM!

Hello Family!!!

We had a GREAT week! We had a full on week as well!

First off, we flew up to Auckland for a Zone Leader Training! That was really fun! It was different being on a plane! I was about to tell President if he keeps putting me on a plane he's going to make me homesick lol!!! The training was really fun! Learned a lot! Then we flew back on Wednesday night! Then Thursday I was not feeling good at all! I slept til 4 pm then had to get up to go to our lessons... I'm fine now, I just think I caught a little something. But all good!

Friday, we had the Alovili family baptism!!!! That was GREAT!!! Heaps of people there! Super super stressful though. The baptism was SUPPOSED to start at 5:30, but didn't get started til 6:15! And the brother that was supposed to baptize the children couldn't make it!!! Find out probably one minute before they get baptized. And the wife threw some clothes to some other Tongan at the baptism to baptize the kids! Talk about crazy and stressful!!!! But they got baptized. Which is all that matters! Then I got to confirm all three of the kids on Sunday! That was wonderful!

We had tradeoff and luckily I was in a different area and we had a great day. Well my companion went to a Tongan wedding for lunch and apparently one of the 20 pigs (no joke) was cooked properly and everyone got food poisoning that ate it. And it just so happens that it was my companion and another missionary. So he had a long time where he was more on the toilet than he slept, he even missed the confirmations because he was on the toilet, poor guy. Then we made the 8 hour trip to Auckland!! With two people that have food poisioning LOL!!!! Have you heard of anything crazier!!!!!

We just got back from Auckland a couple of hours ago. We had a Mission Conference with Elder Hinckley! It was powerful! Really wonderful! We as a mission have been really blessed. The general authorities talked about how this mission is on fire! And how this mission has improved so much! That this mission is one of the few that is having so much rapid success! Elder Hinckley described this mission as a "on the go" mission! So it makes you feel good to have such wonderful compliments from a General Authority.

We found some really choice people this week as well where Heavenly Father placed us right in the perfect spot at the perfect timing for us to meet certain people! Always a blessing!

I'm really tired and we have a packed night tonight as well as tradeoffs so it's a bit short of email!

I LOVE YOU ALL TONS!!!!!!
MISS YOU LIKE CRAZY!!!!!!!!
I AM FULLY INVESTED IN MY MISSION!!!!!!!!
LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!
KEEP SMILING!!!!!!!!!!!!



Elder Belnap

TRANSFERS!!!

Kia Ora!!!

Just when everything was going Great, and I was getting comfortable...........I got a phone call Tuesday night from President.
He said, "You're doing great! So look, I'm taking Elder Sessions from you and I'm making you Senior companion over the Gisborne Zone. And you will be training a new Zone Leader. And he's never had any leadership experience. I'm sending down Elder Collett." Elder Collett is the TALLEST missionary in the mission. So I have offically served with the 2 tallest, Checketts and Collett. He's only got 3 months left. President pretty much said that I'll stay down here for one more transfer then he'll move me. I tell ya, Heavenly Father NEVER stops challenging you.
Once you get comfortable he gives you another assignment.
When I got the call, I was/am super nervous. There's a lot on the line here in Gisborne. And President put me in charge. I love a challenge, but man, this is different. It's like when I first became Senior companion. That's the same feeling that I had. But this time even though I am really stressed/nervous etc... I have learned to rely on the Lord more. That everything will be ok. As long as I do my best, work hard, be obedient, God will provide!!!!! So when I get stressed I just think of God, and He always calms me down.

So that's the big news. No one else got transferred. President said he wants to have another big month so he didn't make any changes to the zone! NO PRESSURE LOL!!!

And now I am also the designated driver. FUN!

We had some great miracles!

So on Thursday I got to sleep over in Tauranga with Magleby! And we went on Tradeoffs with him. It was just like good old times. Just the two of us. We definitely have a special bond. And we went hard for 2 1/2 hours and had some serious miracles!!!!!! We worked right up to 9.
And as we talked to this person, they weren't interested. We walked out of the gate. and just as we walked out, there were these 2 people they were right there. We talked to them. This kid was KEEN!!!! We set him for baptism as we walked back to our flat!!! HOW COOL IS THAT!!!!!!! And Magleby and I found a family!!!! I tell ya, if we served together again we'd tear it up!!

And I got to visit Jess Mackie. The first person that I baptized! She and her family are doing great. And yesterday at church, I saw someone poke there head in at sacrament meeting and I looked and I couldn't believe it. It was the Ormsbee's from Otumoeti ward in Tauranga. They were just down here for a drive and decided to pop in. I gave her Husband a blessing while he was in the hospital. He's doing great! Tender mercy from Heavenly Father. I can't wait to go back and visit everyone from Tauranga.

Saturday we had miracles! The first 2 lessons that we had, we committed people to be baptized!!! INSANE!!!! This one girl, her name is Mia! We had a lesson with one of our recent converts and she decided to come. And she is KEEN!!!!! She came to church yesterday.
Just a really prepared person! The last like 5 or 6 people that I've baptized I've set on the 1st lesson. It's not me, God preparing people for us to baptize. I have a strong testimony that when we work hard, rely on the Lord, and QUALIFY - He blesses!

We also found a Samoan family!! We are really hoping for December for them to be baptized!!!! We have Damion, Rachel, and Niomi getting baptized this Saturday! The Zone has 6 people set!!

Tomorrow I'm getting on a plane and flying up to Auckland for Zone Council! That'll be fun! Elder Hinckley (the son of the Prophet) is coming to the mission. And we are account to him for answering to a call of a Prophet and DOUBLING our baptisms!!! How cool is that! So big things are happening!

Things are good! Another new companion to get used to. 9 Transfers and 8 companions. Crazy! Not really heard of. But I'll do whatever God wants!

LOVE YA HEAPS!!!!!!!!!!
KEEP PRAYING FOR ME!!!!!!!!!!!
I NEED IT!!!!! LOL!
XOXO

Elder Belnap

Fully Invested....In my mission!!!!!!!

BROKE ZONE BEST!!!!!!

Kia Ora!

We had an AMAZING WEEK! Full of miracles, hard work, and lots of prayers!

In order for us to break the Zone Best we needed all 4 of the zone's people set to go through. I interviewed 3 of the 4! And it was wonderful. We had an interview miracle. On Thrusday, Elder Sessions was on tradeoff and was teaching Tama (was one of the 4) and anyway, he decided that he didn't want his interview and wasn't going to be baptized. We continued to pray for him. The next morning we got a phone call from Elder Beckstead and he told us that Tama wanted his interview and wanted to be baptized. He were worried for the fact that we didn't know if he was worthy enough to be baptized this week. And after an intense interview, it lasted probably 2 1/2 hours when they usually go 30 min. But I really needed to find out if he was worthy and willing to keep all of the commandments. At first I didn't think he would pass, but as the interview continued then I could see that there was a possibility that he could be baptized the next day. At the end of it, I told him that I needed to go and have a prayer. As I prayed I got a confirmation from God that it was ok to pass him to be baptized. It was a MIRACLE!!! Even the other missionaries couldn't believe he passed. But then again, it's between him and the Lord, and the Lord saw fit. His baptism was wonderful! He was crying so hard because he was so happy! What joy it brought to me.
Ashlie, our investigator, got baptized with the other 3 people! She was so happy! She was full of the Spirit! Her and her husband are working on going to the temple! We are excited that we get to help them with their journey! Then one of the girls in that got baptized in the other ward asked me to confirm her, so all 4 of the confirmations got done in one ward. It was amazing! And it feels so good to be a part of something so great! To know that I (as well as the rest of the zone) was used as intruments in God's Hands to bring to pass something so great!!!! We have been on our knees giving God thanks for all of the miracles!!!! Thank you for all your prayers, I know they were heard!

Well my Mother will be glad to know that we did a service project, and we did Gardening! I thought that I'd never have to do that again. The Lord said, "Think again!" lol! So we did Zarah's (Whaanga's cousin) garden. We are softening her heart!

On Wednesday we were on our way back to town, when all of the sudden Elder Sessions yells out "That car just rolled!" Sure enough, the car that just past us going the opposite direction had rolled. We turned around and went to go help this person. We were the first on the site, and I thought that we were going to have to go all out and help save this person. When to our surprise, he walked away from the accident with nothing more than a strained back, a broken tooth or two, and some cuts on his head. A miracle that he walked away! And an interesting thing, that was the second rolled car in 5 days! Pretty Crazy!

This past week was also the bussiest week that I've had so far in Gisborne! We were busy out of our minds this week! And I like it that way!

Had a crazy experience this week. I was on tradeoff and this guy came out of nowhere. has this power walk going on, he looks a little crazy. Dressed in black. Doesn't say a word. I don't know what he's going to do, so I'm thinking to myself, "Does he want the left hook or the right hook?" lol! Anyway he comes right up to me, and tries to grab my pen, but I smack his hand. Then the Spirit was like, "Just let him take it." So I did. He put his details in my planner and said to come see him. I look back at the day, and I know that God put us right there at that exact second to see that man. We went by to visit him and we will go back to visit him. He's an inactive member, going through a rough time. So we'll see what happens.
We have Transfers this week!!!!! Crazy, the fastest transfer! Sessions and I are getting along great! And I love him! Great Missionary!

GREAT WEEK!!!!!
THANKS FOR THE PRAYERS!!!!!!!!!!
LOVE YOU TONS!!!!!!!!!!

Elder Belnap

SET 2 MORE PEOPLE!!!

Kia Ora!

We had a great week! We worked hard and stayed really busy and were blessed!

Right now the Gisborne Zone is on pace to break the Zone Best, "if" everyone gets baptized this weekend! We have a total of four people set for this upcoming weekend and three of four have a smoking problem! So we are working hard on helping them with their problems! Lots of prayer! So please pray for them to overcome this trial in their life so they can be baptized!!! Ashlie, our investigator, is going to be baptized this weekend! She is really strong-willed and has a strong testimony of the gospel. If this month goes as planned, the mission will baptize over 200 people! Something that has never been done before in the mission! So we are all working really hard!

I had dinner at Whaanga's aunt's (The Gilberts) this weekend. Man she asked what I wanted, so I told her an American Breakfast!!!! Haha New Zealanders don't know what that is, so I told her and they made me the meanest breakfast!!!! It brought back many memories! I think I got home sick lol!!!! Can't wait for that meal when I get home!

We set two kids this week, Damion and Rachel! They are keen, and really like church! We set them for the 13 of November! So we are really excited about that!

While we were at Gilberts, these two kids were swearing at us as soon as we got out of the car. We didn't do anything, just kept walking. After we cross the street, we hear this bang. I look back and yell at the kid, "What's your problem?" So we go check out the car, and at the time I didn't see anything. When we came back I checked the car again, and sure enough, the kid had dented the car. It made me really mad! They dented the car for no reason. But it made me be patient with those people. I had to control my anger.

We had a conference call this morning with President Porter. And I can't say anything right now, but there are BIG PLANS in store for this mission! I can't believe what is expected to happen! I'm really excited for this mission and to end this year strong. I'm just blessed to be here right now!

Things are good in Sunny Gisborne!
THANKS FOR THE PRAYERS!!!!!
KEEP EM COMING!!!!!!
LOVE YOU ALL HEAPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
XOXO

Elder Belnap

SET ASHLIE FOR BAPTISM!!!!

Kia Ora!

We had a great week, full of miracles!

We set this 27 year old girl for baptism at the end of this month!!!
It was a serious miracle! We have been fasting and praying that we would be able to baptize someone else this month! And we got blessed with her. She had family get baptized last week, and she has been coming to church and wants to be baptized! So we had our first lesson with her and set her for baptism!!! God is a God of miracles! We are praying hard for her and hopefully she will be baptized on the 30th!
If everyone that is set gets baptized this month we will have broken the Zone Best and get 10 baptisms!!! So a lot is on the line here in Gisborne! But as long as we qaulify the Lord will bless us with people to baptize!

Another miracle... We were able to get 20 lessons this week (which is somewhat hard to get in Gissie) and found 12 new investigators!

Wednesday and Thursday it rained ALL DAY!!! It never stopped, and it POURED! We were literally wet all day, even though we were in a car! I was just thanking Heavenly Father for the car, lol!!!

On Wednesday, I was on a trade-off with a greenie missionary from Orem. And we had tracted this one area, and didn't really find anything, but as we were headed back to the car, I had this distinct feeling that we needed to keep tracting, so that's exactly what we did. We walked all the way back to the car, and I just couldn't unlock the door, so I said, "I just feel like there is someone that we need to see." So we kept walking in the pouring rain. I walked straight to a house and knocked on the door. And you'll never guess who answered.... Well, as we were talking she seemed standoff-ish at first. Then I just started talking about her family and asked where she was from. Well, she is from where Elder Whaanga is! And guess what?! It's his cousin. She isn't a member, but as I was talking to her she softened up and let us go by and teach her. And we taught her, and she is doing good! How crazy, we never would've been able to teach her if I wasn't companions with Whaanga!

Things are good! Gisborne is a different place, the people are just different! But I do love it!

THANKS FOR EVERYTHING!!!!
KEEP PRAYING FOR ME!!!!!
I NEED ALL THE PRAYERS I CAN GET!!!!!
LOVE YA HEAPS!!!!!!!
XOXOXO!!!

Elder Belnap