Sunday, May 30, 2010

"We are teaching a ten year old boy named Mitchel."

May 30, 2010

Hello from Mt Gambier!

Sorry for not mass emailing you all last week, I didn’t have time. We are teaching a ten year old boy named Mitchel. We have taught him the Restoration, Plan of Salvation and the Gospel of Jesus of Christ. He has read all of the “Book of Mormon Reader” which is the Book of Mormon with pictures. He loves the stories in them especially when Nephi zaps his brothers when they tried to beat him up. He told us, “If god is real, zap my dad!” Funny kid he is, his Dad is not a member but he gave the green light to have his son baptized. I have not met the mother, they are obviously separated. We have an appointment with Mitchel today, we are going to teach him some commandments and set the actual baptism date. I gave a talk today in church as well as Jarom this week. My talk was on the gifts of the spirit. It was a pretty good talk.

We had two former investigators at church today. A 26 year old girl named Kristy. She went to church for three years when she was young women’s age. Then some missionaries were a bit pushy so she stopped coming to church. So it was her first time back to church in a long time, except for a Funeral in between. I heard that the first counsellor in the bishopric was talking to her about Baptism at church yesterday. I really hope that didn’t mess up her progression, she has been back one time and she might be felt rushed. I was talking to the Sister that invited her back to church and she said everything is okay, no damage done. The other former investigator named Penny stopped investigating about a year ago when she was asked to give a prayer in the gospel principles class when it was the first time ever she had stepped into a church, she has never prayed. So that turned her off and made her feel uncomfortable. Not the best decisions those missionaries have ever done. But we are working with them. All the recent converts from 2009 went less active in a matter of months after their baptisms. I am happy to report they are once again active.

It is good to hear from you all. Love you heaps.

-Elder Montgomery

Monday, May 24, 2010

Pictures from Mt. Gambier

May 23, 2010

Eating one of his three birthday cakes!



Visiting one of the beautiful lakes in Mt. Gambier on his Pday




Monday, May 17, 2010

"We had a big primary activity on Saturday...I acted as Joseph Smith..."

May 17, 2010

Hello from Mt Gambier
This week was transfers and neither I nor Elder Williams is being transferred. We are both staying. We had a pretty good turnout for church yesterday. We got three investigators to church yesterday. One is a ten year old boy named Mitchell; his younger brother was baptized a couple months ago. We also got a 17 year old young woman named Sara to church. And also we brought a woman named Colleen to church. On top of that we also got 4 less actives to church. So it was a good day yesterday.

We had a big primary activity on Saturday, the chapel was decorated, and each room was a dispensation in Joseph Smiths life. I acted as Joseph Smith in alot of these presentations, Hill Cumorah, translation of the Book of Mormon, organization of the church, the children acted as a mob and threw me into jail. We even played stick pull. The next day at church all the primary kids called me Joseph Smith. Silly kids but they are cute.

We will continue to work and help progress this area in the lord’s vineyard. We are organizing a missionary fireside in the near future we are pushing it back from this week. The fireside will be about the Restoration. We are getting less actives to participate in the Fireside and have them speak. Some of these people haven’t said a talk in church in years. We pray this will ease them in and hopefully their testimony will grow from participating in this fireside.

Since we don’t have to go to Adelaide for Transfers we will have extra Kilometres to work in the outskirt surrounding areas of Mt Gambier. Planning with the bishopric we are going to invite some members to travel to a city about an hour north of here to have a side sacrament meeting in Naracoorte and inviting all the less actives to come and partake, most of their excuses is the distance of going to church. Most of them have a testimony they just need to be fellowshipped and then they will sacrifice to drive the distance to come to church. Even if it is twice a month it is so much better than not going to church at all.

I have to go; it is good to hear from you all.

Love you heaps

-Elder Montgomery

Monday, May 10, 2010

"This pack of cigarettes is now in our flat serving as a trophy to remind us of the power of the Holy spirit."

May 2, 2010

Hello from Mt Gambier!

This has been the first time in a long time since i have missed church. This Sunday was stake conference in Adelaide. We didnt have the kilometres to spare to go all that distance to Adelaide so we just stayed in Mt Gambier. So me and Elder Williams organized a quick get together activity at the park in front of Valley Lake, which is just a big lake near the city. We made a barbie and fed them whatever was in our freezer, which was sausages and chicken patties. It was fun, just a little something for the members that couldnt afford to make the 5 hour drive to adelaide.

We went into this members home this week and we immediately smelled cigarettes. This member was going through alot of stress and trials. He regressed back to smoking to receive comfort. We asked him if he felt the divine companionship of the holy spirit at this time. He said no. We explained that to feel the spirit you have to replace the bad with the good. We asked him if he wanted us to help him purge out the bad feelings in his heart, he said yes. We then sung him his favorite hymn. And we read Mosiah chapter 18 out of the Book of Mormon with him. This is an excellent chapter, it talks about love, charity and unity. We then said a prayer with him. We did the basics, but they are the most powerful ways we can all obtain the greater comforter or the Holy spirit. By the end he was strongly prompted to threw us the pack of ciggarettes, he shed a bit of tears and we left him with a hug. This pack of cigarettes is now in our flat serving as a trophy to remind us of the power of the Holy spirit.

We have 6 committments from less actives that they will come to church on Mothers day. And we should have two investigators at church as well. I am looking forward to next Sunday so the area can begin to progress. I received 3 cakes for my birthday from members. I was very spoiled. It is good to hear from you all. I will call home for Mothers day so that is exciting, feels like just a while ago i called home for Christmas. got to go
Love you heaps
-Elder M ontgomery