Happy birthday Mom & Katherine

Hello again! I love you all so much! :) I'm going to try and write a general email today, but I want to especially wish Mom and Katherine a happy birthday! I love you! :)

Hello, everyone! I love you all so much! :) I apologize for failing to send general emails for a long time, but I'm hoping to fix that today! I love you all, and I try to talk with you all, but sometimes that doesn't work... so, I'll try my best to share my week with you generally first. :) 

This week, we celebrated the Lunar new year! It's a big deal in Chinese and Vietnamese culture, and it was a lot of fun. The branch put on a big potluck and talent show, and we got to participate as singers and also wear traditional Vietnamese robes! It was very schnazzy, and a wonderful experience to see the diversity that we have around the world even though we are all children of God. Even the Vietnamese Elders from Springville (outside the city) were able to come!

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I got a haircut from a Vietnamese barber, but due to an unfortunate misunderstanding, he practically shaved my head... that's why my hair is so short. It's still approved by missionary standards, but I feel like I'm in the military. Fortunately, hair grows back. :)

This week, we've been blessed to be able to meet and teach new investigators. It's been a little rough because our initial investigators, who seemed to be doing so well just a few weeks ago, have dropped us or disappeared from all contact. However, Heavenly Father is merciful to us, and as we've been working hard to be worthy of his trust, He's given us some of His children to watch over and to guide to the truth. The people we are teaching now are very eager to know the truth, but it may take some quality time with them to help them recognize it. I'm grateful for the chance to be able to go slowly and help others understand the gospel, for it helps me understand the basic fundamentals better myself. We also have a lot of investigators from Japan (I'm temporarily an English elder since they're transitioning the Vietnamese members out of the branch I'm serving it, but it's fun!), so it's interesting to be able to try and communicate feelings of the spirit through the language barrier. :)

This week, I've been feeling really positive and really happy! It's been such a blessing to be able to feel all of your love and faith for me. Thank you for sustaining me in my good times and bad times, and for helping me become a better disciple of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. :)

My Ponderize scripture this week is from D&C 84:33-40, the Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood. Throughout the week, I've been able to see the power and blessings of the Priesthood in my life, and also how that power and promise is available to all covenant keepers and all the children of God. How merciful is our loving Heavenly Father in allowing all of His children to enjoy the blessings of the priesthood in callings, leadership, families, and ordinances. 

I love you all so much! I hope that you're all doing well. I love reading your letters and seeing your pictures, and I apologize if I can't respond individually, but please know that I pray for you, by name, every night. :) I love and appreciate your prayers and faith in my behalf as well. I hope you have a fantastic week! 

Ps. What kind of son would I be if I didn't wish my mom a happy birthday? I love you, ma! :)

Elder Xiao (not my current companion) is a Chinese elder called English speaking. He's awesome! :)

Good Sabbath

Hello again! I love you! :)

​Little Twilight (From a candy package Elder Mahendren got) and I say hi! :)

Shabbot Shalom

Hi! I love you so much! :)

It's Hot in Melbourne

Happy things (Yay! :D):
I'm starting to feel more confident about this new area; I'm starting to know where to go, what works, what doesn't, and how I can best serve the people here. The branch is very supportive and helpful, and I'm getting along really well with the members and with Elder Mahendran. We're starting to see our investigators change under the influence of the spirit and really feel His influence in our lessons and powerful Sacrament meetings!We also had a world-wide missionary devotional where Elder Oaks and Bonnie L. Oscarson and others gave trainings on how to be better missionaries! It was very inspiring, and I know that the Spirit has told me how I can do and be better to be an instrument in the hands of the Lord. :) We're finally teaching a Vietnamese girl, and she's really excited to pray and to read from the Book of Mormon! She's younger, but she's genuine.

Sad/Hard things :( :
Sometimes, being in this new area is really stressful, but I think it's more of a good stress that pushes me to be better and to try harder. :) When I make mistakes, it feels really bad because I care about these people, and I don't want to be in the way of their salvation. I know that these thoughts aren't coming from the right source, so I try to deviate away from them. :) The weather hasn't been great; it's been rainy and cloudy a lot, and it's been affecting my mood for some reason. Mornings have been kind of hard, but it usually picks up by the end of the day. :)

My Scripture! :)

D&C 25:13 I know that covenants are what help us rejoice and become more like our Heavenly Father. Being able to think about that frequently throughout this week has helped me want to be a more dedicated, consecrated servant of the Lord. :)

Transfers...

The happy things! :)

Everything is new! But everything that is new is good. :) Change can be hard, but Heavenly Father has given me a great new flat, new companion, new area, and new resolve to do the Lord's work! I'm felling so good about teaching my companion Vietnamese (It's so fun! I hope I can teach at the MTC when I get back. :) ), and I feel like I'm a better teacher now! I've been blessed with so many gifts and abilities, and I can't wait for Heavenly Father to help me develop them further. :) 

The new flat is smaller than my last one, but really good! It gets hot fast, though. Hot and humid, but that's Summer in Melbourne for you. :)  ​We killed all the spiders and cleaned everything up and personalized it. I'll send more of the "after" photos next week! :) We're still figuring things out, but it's working pretty well. :)

The members: are incredible! Our Branch mission leader, Brother David, is form Mexico, and he's fantastic. He's really good at pushing forward the work and making investigators feel loved and welcome. Seeing and hearing him helps me think of you and be happy about my heritage. :) I'm doing really well. I'm the happiest I've ever been on my mission, and I'm getting happier every week. :)

Auf Wiedersehen! :)

I love you so much! Sorry time is short! Until next week! :)

Happy Sabbath!

Hello! I love you so much! :) I hope you're all happy, well, and healthy! :) First thing's first: I'm getting transferred into the city! I'll be with an English companion to whom I get to help teach Vietnamese. I'll meet him tomorrow. :) I'll miss Footscray/Sunshine, but it'll be exciting to open a new area! :)