January 10, 2016 Melton South

Australian Elder Chappell)

"Good morning starshine! The earth says hello!"

How is everyone? I am doing really well!

So for the transfer
news....................................................................................................
I'm staying in Melton! I am really happy about that because we have
been working really hard at building up this area and now we have some
baptisms lined up!  I am enjoying training. It has been hard at times but now we are
really seeing amazing miracles! We have been leading the mission in
New Investigators so that has been really fun. Finding new
investigators is so fun and makes me so happy. We have heaps of people
to teach! So it is impossible to be unhappy when the work is going
well and it is going so well.

Elder Deng got transferred so that is sad. I love that guy.

So for the investigators, Rel, Joseph, and Samuel are 3 boys that we
have been teaching for ages. They are 15, 13, and 12. They are
Sudanese. There are heaps of Sudanese people in our area. So anyway,
these boys have been wanting to be baptized but they just didn't
really understand the Restoration or have any testimony of the Book of
Mormon. They just thought that every church is true. But recently we
had a lesson with them that we just talked all about that, then they
prayed about it and all three of them now have strong testimonies!
They will be baptized on the 30th! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT!!

Niko is still coming to church but still too busy to meet. But he is
doing really well.

So to explain the subject line of this email, we met this guy named
Bruce. He is an Aussie with a thick accent. Once he introduces himself
as Bruce, immediately my thoughts go to Finding Nemo. So he is talking
and I am trying to listen but quotes are running through my head.
"Fish are friends, not food." and the like. Then, the conversation
turns to family. We talk about how families can be forever, and he
says, "Well, I never knew my father." ...gasp... He is the human
version of Bruce!!!!! It was pretty crackup.

Ooh a funny thing happened to me yesterday! We were having lunch at a
member's home after church, and they are Tongan, which means HEAPS of
food. And this particular brother really wanted us to eat everything
he had prepared, which was enough for maybe twenty people. Not and
exaggeration. So I was doing my best. It was delicious. I love Tongan
food. But my companion is a little guy and he can't eat much, and I
don't eat all that much myself. This brother keeps saying, "More
Elders. More." He literally kept piling food on our plates! Anyway,
without going into too much detail, in order to please this member I
stuffed myself so much that I had to go and vomit. Then I had to go
back and eat more. The things you do to gain a relationship with the
ward.

We have had many miracles this week! I am sorry I can't type them all
up though! If I could ask for prayers for a woman named Akuei, that
would be great. (Pronounced uh-quee)

I love yous all!

Next week.

May the force be with you.

Elder Chappell

Australia Melton Mission

Pictures:  The sun rise this morning, and me and da boys

January 3, 2016 Melton South

How are you all doing? Everything is awesome here in Australia. It's
cooled down a bit so it is bearable! Transfers are coming up! Next
week we'll have the news of who is going/staying. I am fairly sure I
am staying because I'm training Elder Seifert and people almost never
get moved during the two transfers of training, but you never know!
Cause Elder Sifuentes left me halfway through my training!

So how was New Years? Here in the land down unda New Years is the big
fireworks holiday. Because they don't have the Fourth of July! So
there were heaps of fireworks going off all night. We didn't really do
anything special... just slept. Haha sometimes sleeping is the best
form of celebration!

MIRACLE TIME!!!!!

So this miracle really made me happy. Way back in September, when I
first got to Melton, Elder Sifuentes and I found a man named Sulu. He
is a member but hasn't gone to church in years. He invited us in and
listened to us, then told us he wanted us to teach his wife!
(non-member) We were super excited. But that was way back in
September! So we tried and tried to set an appointment with them and
no luck. They were just too busy! But every time we were in that area,
(at least every other day) we knocked on their door. They have never
been available. Then just this last Tuesday, 4 months later, we were
in that area and our plans fell through. So we decided we would just
go knock on Sulu's door. Guess what? They were both home! She invited
us in and we taught her the Restoration. She loved it! She is a Muslim
but she has always been confused about religion. She listened and had
good questions and the Spirit was so strong! She was shocked when we
gave her the Book of Mormon. "for free?? Really? Thank you so much!
Wow. I will treasure this." After the lesson Elder Seifert and I
walked out of the house, then looked at each other and just started
laughing and hugging each other. That's the third time on my mission so
far that I have felt that good after a lesson and that is the best
feeling ever! I live for those moments.

So in our area we have a little town called Bacchus Marsh. It is
beautiful! When you drive in, it's on a road called the Avenue of
Honor. It has all of these massive trees lining it on either side.
Each tree is in honor of a WWII vet from the area. It is so beautiful.
My pictures don't do it justice, but I'll send them anyway.

This other picture is for my little cousin Lilly Allen! Lilly, you
asked me to send any pictures of cute animals, and I thought this
little bird was pretty cute, so I hope you enjoy that. When I can
finally take a picture of a Kanga and when I finally see a Koala I
will send those for you too!

I love you all and miss you! Happy New Year!
Elder Chappell (Aussie)

December 28, 2015 Melton South

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

December 20, 2015 Melton South

Merry Christmas to all!!

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.

December 13, 2105 Melton South

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!

Elder Australia Chappell

December 6, 2015 Melton South

***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)

This is me and Elder Seifert!