Week 85 Elder Cardon

Well this week went by so quick. Everyday was full of an eventful thing!!

We started with Mission Leadership Conference on Tuesday. Elder Cardon from the Seventy was there. He really wanted to get a feel for our mission so he had us do things as we always do but often we would say something and he would ask a question or give insight. When we stood accountable for our zone we were super glad the sisters baptized a family. Our zone goal was six but with this family we reported nine. Elder Cardon asked, “Elder what did you do? You got more than your goal...” It was pretty cool!!

One thing Elder Cardon taught us was five words that Elder Holland HATES!! "I'm sorry to disturb you." He gave some remarks on how a servant is one who serves others. A king is one who you don’t bother, but in the church we are all servants. As missionaries or even as a General Authority you must never get to busy with things that we think are important. We must make sure we never forget that we are here to serve. It really hit me hard. I find that I get "too busy" with non important things and could spend more time helping out the elders around me or serving people. It opened my mind to simplify my life.

The next day we went back to a Zone Conference where he was presiding. Right before the conference started Elder Cardon pulled me aside for an interview. He wanted to talk and get to know me. It was a pretty cool moment to be able to talk and ask a Seventy questions. I could really tell that he is very humble and is great at listening to the spirit. He shared a cool experience where he was with one of the 12 Apostle learning how they assign missions to people. He shared that this Apostle (I cant remember who) would sit at a screen with a picture of the future elder or sister with information on them and then look at a screen with all the missions. He was able to get through a lot of people quicker than you would think but on one occasion he could not figure out where this elder should go.. So they skipped him. Later when they were doing other people he said, “Australia Brisbane mission.” He said, “That is where the elder needs to go that I could not figure out.” After telling this story he said the Apostle said, “Let me take a moment to explain that I only speak when the Lord needs me to speak.” I have really tried to listen to the spirit and speak what he is saying.

The next day after this we had some time after our deep clean to knock some doors. That morning I prayed that the Lord would loose my tongue so I could teach and testify to people. Well be careful what you pray for. I testify that He listens and answers prayers. As we were knocking a man started to try and tell us what we believe. It was a load of crap what he was saying. It had truth in all of it but it was out of context and wrong. He already knew about Joseph Smith but thought there was no way he was a good man. He read all this bad on him. Bottom line yeah we all make mistakes but look at the good.

The whole time it was not bashful or contentious in anyway but his heart was not open. I really was listening for the spirit because I had no clue how to help this man. I started to bare my testimony and he stopped me and said, “How?” "Well by the Holy Spirit... You said yourself that the Holy Spirit touched our heart and now you have hardened it to the truth." I don’t remember everything else I said but I was pretty bold in what I said. I felt it coming from the spirit though. I was not upset or dismayed. I loved when we got into the car Elder Tewes leaned over and said, “Wow your tongue was loosed.” haha We both felt a strong spirit testify to us that the church is true. This man was not open to find out for himself. We really wanted to share D&C 3:4 with him because it would have just been so bold, but we did not want to be mean. The whole thing was all really nice with the spirit. We were not there to contend but to testify.

I am always really excited for the future. Elder Tewes and I are staying another transfer together and we are getting some really good missionaries in the zone. One of them is Elder Top from Gold Coast. I am super excited to work with him!! He is a great elder!!

I will end with my testimony that God knows us by name. I know that he listens to our prayers and wants to reach out to him. I challenge all of you to grow a deeper relationship with our Heavenly Father through prayer. He wants to hear us. He wants to help us. We just need to ask and thank Him!!

I love you all and have a great week!!

Week 84 It was all fun and games until the next day.

“Ahhhhh!” Sometimes I feel like shouting that really loud. We had a good and hard week. Every week is like that though. The tender mercies are always there. It is what you choose to focus on that makes the difference.

I will start with the fun before I get into the tough mission stuff. Last P-day we got all the elders in the district and we went to a trampoline park. We paid to jump for one hour. Before we went there we played two hours of basketball to tire us out so one hour would feel like a long time jumping. It worked really well. We all got super tired by the end of the hour. Everyone had a really good time. Elder Tewes and Huang learned how to back flip and everyone else had a great time trying it in the airbag.

We thought it was all fun and games until the next day. When we woke up I could hardly move. We were all so so sore. My back was really hurting. I forgot how bad of a back I have since I have not done much beside walking for almost two years. I was fine but really sore. To make it really interesting we were doing a zone fast for someone getting baptized over the weekend. I wish some one videoed that day. Elder Tewes and I looked like old men getting into and out of our car. It would take a sec to get up. It made for a really interesting day.

For the rest of the week we felt great and worked hard and saw some pretty cool tender mercies. Things are pushing along. Like I said last week we are trying to get the ball rolling. It started a bit yesterday and we are hoping that it will take off in the next two weeks.

We had two really big things happen. A few weeks ago I spoke of a Samoan family. Well the member of the family came to church. Maria. She is a member who is less active but now really wants her family to join the church so they can be sealed. She came to church and everyone just loved her. We got a text that night that said I spoke to my brother who is less active too and he wants to bring his family to church so they can be baptized and then sealed also. So we could possible have two really great families who want to be taught. I am really hopefully for them.

The other great miracle we had was the baptism of Monaria Hunt. Bishop saw that her records had been lost and she needed to get re baptized. Pretty crazy right, so this week we set up an interview. She has been coming to church since her family got baptized in 2008. She was baptized back then but the paper work was lost for her. So on Sunday after church we filled the font and thought it was going to be really quick. We really did not prepare anything for the baptism. Our Bishop said it would be a small quick one. Well so many people turned up that they filled the whole sacrament room. They had prepared a program and had everything planned out!! When you are Samoan you are related to everyone who is Samoan. Most of the people that came to the baptism were less active family members. We got their numbers and they want to come play basketball with us on Wednesdays. I can see a good future for everyone.

The last little tender mercy is Robert Leulua. He is from New Zealand and his ex-wife and kids are all members. He is getting remarried to his ex-wife. He has been coming to church for the last two months. We thought he was a member. But it turns out he is not. So we have been visiting him. On our first visit he pulled out a teaching record and said, “Elders this is what I have been taught.” GOLDEN!! How many investigators do you know that carry around their own teaching record?? I think he is the only one!! He has been taught everything. The only thing he is caught up on is smoking. But we are doing daily visits with him and he has cut back a massive amount this week. Yesterday he only had six. That is good for him. 20 was about the daily average for him. He is not on a baptismal date but in the next two weeks he will be baptized. He wants to so so bad. Smoking is so addictive and really gross.

We are really going to struggle to see him this week everyday!! Our week is already full. Every hour is accounted for!! We are calling it a vacation week. Today is P-day so we will be preparing for our week. Tomorrow we have MLC with Elder Cardon from the Seventy. That will be an all day thing ending with a dinner. Then Wednesday will be a zone conference with Elder Cardon. Again all day. Thursday is our deep cleaning day because it is the last week of the transfer and Friday will be our weekly planning. Saturday we have three baptisms in the zone and will be attending those and then Sunday is six hours of church plus two ward counsels.

It is going to be a very interesting week. I am really excited to meet Elder Cardon. It will be really fun to hear from him and be inspired. Our mission has prepared a lot for him to come so we are hoping we will be blessed for that effort.

I hope everyone is going to have a good week too.

Love, 

Elder Cahoon

Week 83 Getting the Snowball Rolling

Even though we watch conference a week after everyone I was so excited to stand in the Solemn Assembly. Oh the Spirit that was felt in our little chapel as we sustained the Prophet and Apostles!! I loved raising my arm to the square and giving my vote or witness that I know he is a true Prophet.

I had to study on why we raise are arm to sustain and it comes from the Old Testament. The prophet Moses was in a battle and when he lifted his arms up his people started to win the battle, as he grew tired and his arms lowered his people started to loses the battle. So his 2 I guess you could say counselors stood next to him and raised his arms up!! So when we raise our arms up with the prophet we literally gain spiritual power!! Some think that the world is getting pretty out of hand and crazy that that good is losing the battle. Well we just all lifted our arms to support and sustain the Prophet. Now lets follow his guidance and we can win the battle!!

The best way to describe General Conference when you are a missionary is like watching the Super Bowl with field side tickets!! haha It was just so powerful!! All the talks stand out with great power and glory!! Each speaker was truly inspired!! One of my favorites was in the priesthood session. The Prophet gave a talk on our priesthood and the power we have to give blessings. That really stood out to me. I have given so many blessing on the mission and want to improve on giving them. I prayed for the opportunity too and the Lord provided this week.

After the conference a lady in our ward asked for a blessing and asked if I would give it. One of the coolest things in the world is listening to the Spirit and giving a blessing. I was also called upon by a family on our list that says DO NOT VISIT! They called and needed a blessing to cast out a devil. (yes mom again) This woman was not a member but her husband is. He is not active and needed us. You could tell that she was very uncomfortable. It was a very cool experience to give her a blessing. They went from a DON'T VISIT family to a new investigator and ones who wants us to come around all the time!!

What an amazing week though. We are just pushing through. Elder Tewes and I are going hard all the time. One things we have started doing is following up with all the people we don’t know on our list. It has been really fun and now we have lots of new less actives to visit and most of them are now part member families.

When we get held accountable for our week we really get to look at how we are doing. I would say right now we are getting the snowball rolling. It is starting to build up and roll down the hill. In the next few weeks it is just going to take off and gather more and more and go down the hill on its own. We are really enjoying the building it up right now!! Still lots of Sorry Elders texts but we are pushing on!!

I am really excited for this up coming week. We are having Elder Cardon come visit our mission. For the last month we have been preparing for him. He has asked our mission to devour chapter 4 of PMG. Recognizing the Spirit!! It has been amazing to read and learn new things. All of our training for District Meeting has been from that chapter. A whole new world has opened up!!

Yesterday we trained on Praying with Faith. During the meeting the North Pine Sister got a text from the family that they will be baptizing this week. Well they wanted to cancel their baptism. At the end of our meeting we talked about one of the talks at General Conference about pleading with the Lord. One of my favorite elders in the zone said to plead is like when someone is holding a gun at you and you are telling them not to shoot. Do we pray like that when we talk to the Father or are going through a trial?? The Spirit was so strong during that last part of the meeting and for my final remarks committed everyone to plead with the Lord for this family to get baptized this weekend. They are ready. I have met them heaps of times. So we could use your prayers of faith to for the Stubbs family!!

I love you all so much!! I know the Church is so true!! It is not a part of our lives but it is our life. We either fully embrace it or we don’t. The Lord is always there wanting to bless us. I know he loves us and we need to open our heart and receive him as President Erying said.

Have a great week. Love you all!!!



Here is a link to the photos of this week.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/OJ3zmfnSDvTAStVp2

Week 82 168 Bucks

NOOOOO!!! This week was a bit of a struggle but it did have its amazing moments!! There is this road that we live on and it goes from 70 ks to 50 ks really quick!! It was late at night around 8:59 and we were on our way back to the flat!! I guess I was going 58kph and the hidden speeding camera got me!! I went almost my whole mission without a speeding ticket and now right at the end it got me!! Australia has hundreds everywhere. They are so frustrating. So now I have to pay 168 bucks for this darn ticket! Haha at least we were back by 9. haha

The sad news does not stop there. This is not a pity party for me but just the struggles of the everyday missionary! We had so many lessons set up with really good potentials, investigators, dinners... this week I don’t think any set lessons we had went through!!

We got so use to the texts starting out with "SORRY Elder..." oh far out do you know how frustrating that is!! Man you said it was going to work and we made our whole scheduled around it and now we have nothing!! We got to knock so many doors this week... It was not all in vain, we did find some that we think are really good people to teach and got their phone numbers so we are praying we don’t get that same text from them...

I am really struggling for things to think of to write about! I just looked through my planner and yup every day this week everything fell through. It was a tough week!! It did not end how we thought it would!!

About a week ago I got a call from a man named John. He said he was a member and would be coming to church this week!! He requested a Portuguese Book of Mormon. On Sunday we found out why. His partner is from Brazil and wants to read the Book of Mormon. Sadly they left church really quickly before we could set up a lesson. We also were unable to get a book from our mission office. They ordered one but it was going to be awhile. Out of desperation we asked everyone in our zone if they had one.

Luckily some elders had one. So we got it from them and called John and asked if we could bring it over. He told us to come at 5:00. We were a bit early so we knocked the houses around his street. Double miracle!! Two people on the street accepted a Book of Mormon and a return visit! Just at the door we taught a really good lesson on the restoration and got their phone numbers!! I think they could be really good!!

At 5:00 we came to the lesson and they were ready for us!! (Thank you Heavenly Father) John served a mission and still reads the Book of Mormon every day!! He is going though a divorce so he can’t marry Karol right now. So they are not living the gospel but are working towards it. Any way... we got to know Karol. She has been over here for 2 years and has been looking for a church. She said she never feels anything when she goes to everyone else but when John brought her on Sunday she said, “I felt something and want to learn about it!!” We jumped right into the restoration and I really got into it!! She reminded me of Alessandra Barbarossa from Gold Coast!! As we kept teaching the lesson I felt really prompted to just talk about the Spirit. I think we had just talked about apostles and prophets before Jesus Christ. As I started to speak about the Holy Ghost she said, “I feel something.” I said, “That is the Holy Ghost.” As I spoke of it, I don’t even know what I said but I know how I felt. It was the strongest Spirit I have ever felt in a lesson! It testified right from my heart that the church was true and I know that Karol felt it!! She was in tears as she listened!! The whole lesson was full of the strongest spirit I have ever felt.

For everyone that does not know, PMG is set up so we can teach people and not lessons. We still taught about the restoration but the way we did yesterday brought a whole new meaning on how to teach people!! John got right into it also!! He was like a little kid in a candy shop explaining about the principle and doctrines!! If you are struggling with your testimony at the moment or are wanted to feel a stronger spirit in your life, share your testimony with a non member!! Do missionary work!! So many people don’t have solid testimony because they don’t share the gospel!! I testify that the more you share the Gospel the stronger your testimony will be!! I have seen it my whole mission and I witnessed it with John!! He is so excited to start living the commandments and get married!!

Karol does smoke and they are working on marriage. I know though that as soon as we share with her those lessons she will follow it. I know that John is going to do all he can too!!

Right after she started crying I knew she was ready for baptism. There was no doubt that she would say no. She already has a spiritual witness that it is true!! She is the next Alessandra and Bia!! Boy do I love the Brazilian people!! They are so in tune with the spirit and are ready to hear it!! Dad you must have loved you mission!! They are an amazing people!!

So despite such a hard week in the beginning I know it was God preparing and testing me. He was helping me grow. Sometimes we have to go through hard things so we really appreciate the good things when they happen!!

The other thing I want to talk about is how amazing the Richins are. They are my new Grandma and Grandpa for right now!! Elder Richins invited us over for breakfast this morning!! Haha they just want us over all the time. We had a feast of waffles and fruit!! We had such a fun morning with them and a great conversation. I really love working with them. We found out that Sister Richins drove a race car back home. She told me, “Hey sometimes it is worth it to pay the 168 dollar ticket.” We both just started laughing so hard!! It though she was going to give me a hard time for speeding. I guess I’ll leave that one up to you Dad. haha just kidding.

I really love my mission so much right now!! Even though there are hard days and even weeks there are tender mercies all over the place if we are willing to look for them!! I so testify that this is true and that the Gospel is true!! It is not just a church, it is Jesus Christ Standard for us for our happiness!! I love this gospel so much. It is hard to live because it is worth it!!

I love you all and hope you have a great week with set appointments!! Oh I found out that it was Alessandra birthday on April 2. How cool is that!!

Love,

Elder Cahoon