So I spend most of my email time responding to personal ones today so this will be short!
Christmas was great, I loved Skyping my family. We spent Christmas just mostly at the flat because we aren't allowed to proselyte on that day, but we had an awesome dinner with members!
We have been teaching the Boyd family which I mentioned a couple weeks ago, (single mom who is a less active member, 5 nonmember daughters) and they are doing super well! They won't commit to baptism quite yet but they will soon I am sure! The mom came to church last week which was the first time in years so that was awesome.
Everyone here goes crazy about boxing day. It's like their version of black Friday. Big shopping day. That was another no proselyting day so we haven't done a whole lot this week!
Here is me with a metal Santa Clause and here is a schnazzy pic of the Book of Mormon. (And a few from our Christmas Skype. That is the flat where he lives.)
Thanks for all the Christmas wishes! Happy new year everybody! Elder Chappell
Woooooooooot I am so excited for Christmas! My companion and I have been making Christmas cards for everybody in the ward here and we will send them home as well. But yous will all get them after Christmas. Sorry for that. But they will be stupendous.
So in the Holiday Spirit, here is the Australian version of Jingle Bells!
Dashin' through the bush In a rusty Holden (Chevrolet) Ute (wimpy aussie truck) kickin' up the dust eski's (cooler) in the boot (trunk) Kelpie (dog) by my side we're singing Christmas songs It's summer in Australia in singlets (tank-tops) shorts and thongs (flip-flops)
Jingle bells jingle bells jingle all the way It's Christmas in Australia on a scorchin' summer day Hey! Jingle bells jingle bells Christmas is a beaut Oh what fun it is to ride in a rusty Holden Ute
Well random story of the week, when driving home from district meeting, we passed some fields. Most were empty, but I saw some horses occasionally. Then out of nowhere, I here Elder Babneau say, "is that a camel?" And I think, "whatever he is looking at, it can't be a camel." Sure enough, There's a random camel in a field. Why? ....nobody knows. I will get a picture of it this week if I remember. I thought that was funny.
So I have now learned what Australian heat is. And it is so much hotter than Utah heat. It got up to 42 (Celsius) two days ago. I am not sure the conversion but I'm pretty sure that's around 115. But it's not just that. It's humid, and the wind is hot. When you step outside, its like a wall of heat smacks you in the face. It's crazy! The sweat comes immediately. And going in the shade makes no difference. The air is just so incredibly hot. President and Sister Maxwell said on days above 35 we cannot be in the sun. So we spent a lot of that day making Christmas cards and seeing members. Too hot man!
Miracle time!!!! So if you remember Niko, he is someone we have been working with since I've been in Melton. Well we haven't been able to see him in ages. But we saw him yesterday and he wants to be baptized! He has a powerful testimony of the Restoration and wants to be sealed with his family. There are some Word of Wisdom issues but he is working on them and the miracle for that will be coming. You'll probably hear about that next week. He is the man. So for now his baptism date is Jan 23, but that could move forward or backward.
Congratulations to the Eddys for your mission call! You will be an amazing Mission President family. I wish you were in my mission!
Merry Christmas to everyone. Remember that every gift given and received represents the gift that our Father in Heaven gave us of His Son Jesus Christ.
I love you all and will miss you. Merry Christmas!
The pictures are: Mary's baptism last week me by the ocean (in my zone but not my area) 2 second video of a giant spider we found escaping our clutches and reigning with terror on the flat.
This week was a week of miracles here in the land down under. We have been focusing on finding new investigators and building our teaching pool. Seeing as we are both brand spankin new missionaries we don't really know how to do that, but we worked hard and the Lord poured out miracles on us.
Miracle #1 We were walking down the street to see a less active member and a guy on a bicycle pulled over and yelled, "hey are you Mormons?" I thought to myself he was probably gonna yell at us, but I answered yes. He says, "ok come to my house in half an hour. This is my address." His name is Chris and he and his 9 year old daughter are the best. He has been searching for the truth and that morning he prayed for guidance that he would be able to find what he was missing. Then he ran into us and knew that was from God!! I am so happy to be teaching him.
The next miracle was a referral! They are the Boyd family. The mom is a less active member and she has five daughters that are not members! (plus the husband, but he's not really interested right now. Still supportive though!) The daughters want to learn and the mom wants them to be baptized but she wants it to be their choice. I know they will feel the Spirit as we teach them and then they will make that choice. I am so excited! It is really fun to build up an area.
and the last miracle is the best one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mary got baptized!!! I would send a picture but we are at a different library today and I can't figure out how... But next week I will! This baptism has been a long time coming and now she got baptized and it was great. One of the best baptisms I've ever been to. I loved it!
Well I love you all! Thanks for everything and Merry Christmas!
***AUSTRALIA ELDER CHAPPELL*** (this is for you Matt, Kanaue, Shadow, and the rest)
Well right after I sent my email last week. Like, 10 minutes after, President Maxwell called and asked me if I would train a new missionary. I was kind of shocked because I just barely finished being trained myself! It's like teaching someone how to be a missionary when I don't know how to be one myself... So that's gonna be fun!
My new companion is Elder Seifert. Guess what? He's another Philippino! He is actually from the same city as Elder Sifuentes (my trainer). We are having a great time already. He loves to sing so we just sing all day. We want to do a duet in Sacrament meeting.
So we are in Melton South now. (again). This is where I was when I was with Elder Sifuentes! Deja vu all over again. I love it though! One of our investigators is Taylah. She is living with her partner Stevie who is a less active member. We have been working with them for a long time, and she has wanted to be baptized from the beginning but she couldn't because they aren't married. They couldn't get married because of a lack of money and also some legal issues. But the Lord has been preparing the way for them and has given them a miracle. They are officially engaged!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOT! I am very happy. They will be married sometime in January and then she'll be baptized after that! Stevie is also working on his W.O.W. issues so he can receive the priesthood and be a good dad. Oh yeah, they are pregnant btw. They are going to be an awesome strong family in the church.
Hey everyone! guess who's birthday it is on the 10th? That's right, My amazing beautiful Mum. I will wish you a happy birthday now. Happy birthday! I love you Mom. I am so thankful for everything you have done for me. Elder Holland's talk in this most recent General Conference about mothers has really touched me. I listen to it all the time. He compares a mother's love to the love of Jesus Christ. I can really see that that is true. Thank you for everything Mom.
So this area has just a few investigators. So we spend most of our time trying to find new ones. It's fun. Next week we will probably have like a thousand investigators. But if we don't, that's ok. Just the trial of faith before the miracle! The miracle will come though.
Love you all!
Elder Chappell (the Aussie version)
This is my new proselyting outfit, courtesy of my Tongan Ward Mission Leader Douglas Tui'onetoa. (jk we can't wear that proselyting. But I will wear it when I come home)
