First off... my older brother is a skuxx... what a skuxx!! I like the hair and the sunny's and the suit... and that tie... I wonder where you got that from ;D it's okay, I'll let you have it 'cause I have two of yours xD Side note, Hymn 44 "Beautiful Zion" is our mission's anthem [click on it to listen], so I'm excited to see what Motab managed to do with it!!! I almost cried when I heard that it was the first hymn sung at Conference, because it has a very special place in my heart (been singing it for a year and a half now).
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| The Older Brother Andrew at General Conference in Salt Lake City 10-5-14 |
What can I say about this week? This past two weeks it seems... I've lost all track of time, and this is due to my recent amount of traveling. I have been driving for days it seems, from Berri to Robinvale to Mildura to Adelaide and back and all the rest of it. I am the only licensed driver in Mildura at this time (save for Elder Gray, one of the Senior Missionaries here), and my license expires in November on the 6th, so Mum, if you could please start to get onto the renewing process (and I know that things are crazy) that would be really good. But that's what I have been doing for most of the past many days- driving...driving... and driving some more. I'm beginning to think that I have been given a glimpse of my mother's life, and because of it, I have a new-found appreciation for all the driving that my Mum ever did for me- THANKS MUM!!!
Transfers were this past week. Elder Hefa was transferred into the Glenelg Elders area, and Elder Seru was transferred out of Robinvale. I brought Elder Lee back for Elder Molisi in Robinvale, and my companion is Elder Callahan from Alberta, Canada! We've hit it off fairly well- we can hold conversation, have a laugh, and have very similar ideas of how missionary work should be carried out, which makes it easier to become unified and thus teach with more power and authority.
We also had Mini Mission this past week with the Mildura Branch's youth. For three days we went on splits with an assigned temporary companion and showed them the ways of a ZAAM missionary. There are lots of good missions out there, and lots of good missionaries; they've got portions of the truth and what they do is good... but there is only one true and living mission which contains the fullness of all a mission -and its missionaries- should be, and that is the Zion Australia Adelaide Mission, and I am so glad that those youth were blessed with the opportunity to go on a three-day split with the best missionaries in the world!
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| Elder Schomburg is right in the middle Mildura Mini-Mission |
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| Elder Schomburg is on the far left. Mildura Mini-Mission |
My companion was young Khaleb, a recent convert of about nine months. We actually got special permission for him because he is only 15 years of age, not quite a Priest. We spent our time out in Buronga, a small town on the outskirts of Mildura in blessed New South Wales. We only had three people to go and see, so we knew that most of the day would be spent housing. I was a bit concerned for my companion because housing is the hardest thing a missionary can subject him/herself to, and to do one such a thing without any missionary training or even being exposed to the bitterness of rejection would be no easy task, but I can firmly testify that today's youth are prepared for missionary work- more prepared than my own "marked generation". We had an incredibly successful day, regardless of a few door slams- we found nine potentials whilst finding that day, which was more than anyone else had found, save for one other companionship (Elder Matekohi and Douey... Elder Matekohi is another one of my Kiwi brothers, btw, so it was fun to have a bit of a competition with him xD). The next day we didn't have as much proselyting time, but we found three more (Elder Matekohi and Douey found five... bugger xD). Overall, it was a great experience for the youth- I loved it because my companion was actually the recent convert that we've been going to and having Book of Mormon reads with, and we've been working a lot with him as he is the only member in his family. Khaleb is like a younger brother to me, and it was great to see him do his very best at sharing the gospel. Let me tell yous, though; I will always and forever be thankful to the Lord for having put me in enough situations and given me enough experience to be able to turn any situation into a teaching scenario. Some things my companion said weren't exactly in accordance with "milk before meat" but he was doing his very best and giving his all. I was proud of him- he did not have ANY idea of how to missionary work, had only briefly looked at the Finding materials, and did not have any prior instruction as to how to teach a gospel principle or doctrine, yet he spoke to people right on the doorstep and testified of what he knew was true, and even taught out of the Plan of Salvation pamphlet on the doorstep (that's something even missionaries forget to do). I was impressed and humbled by this young man and am thankful I had the opportunity to be his Mini Mission companion.
Aside from Mini Mission, I've basically already talked about how the days have been- long hours of driving to every area in the Mildura Zone and driving to and from Adelaide. Had a few close calls with passing cars and trucks along the way (I've now been bestowed the nicknames of "Paul Walker" and the "Transporter" by my fellow missionaries... probably best not to ask how I gained those titles xD don't worry, everything's good!), but we didn't hit anything save for a bird, and even though the tires on my car are bald as and could be likened unto racing slicks, the Lord has protected us. I just had the car serviced but they didn't change the tires! How do you not change bald tires when the car has come in for a service!? The eggs... oh well, at least it's clean and still functions properly. I really enjoy being the only driver, though- it's been a blessing to be able to see so much of Australia and getting to go from place to place. There's not a whole lot to look at by way of mountains or oceans, but the Riverland, as it's called, is definitely not short of rivers, vineyards, orchards, isolated valleys, and of course, barren Outback. I love Australia, I love my mission, I love being a missionary!!! This is the best EVER!!!!
Oh, the sisters in my intake went home this transfer, so I was blessed to hear their testimonies. It's a slightly gut-wrenching moment, when you watch your intake sisters give their last formal testimony at transfer meeting. It's a reminder that the journey is almost over and as Sister Carter said, "The best is yet to come" but it's also a reminder that the sacred privilege of being one of the Lords' full-time missionaries, the opportunity to teach the gospel as one having power and authority to do so is almost gone. I'm feeling many mixed emotions about it- the time couldn't come sooner yet I wish time would slow down, at least a little. It's the 8th of October here already. in 19 days I'll have reached my 5 month mark going backwards, you see, and I feel like I just hit my 6 month yesterday. I'm starting to bite into that last six months and I hate it, I absolutely hate it. Hate is a powerful word and I hope and pray that every single meaning, every single emotion associated with the word can be felt when I say that I hate running out of time...
I suppose I'm mostly just scared of not accomplishing what Heavenly Father wanted me to. I've never been so afraid of anything in my life as I am of having missed the point, of having wasted and squandered this precious opportunity to serve. I'm scared of the inevitable pains of the heart that will be inflicted with leaving my beautiful ZAAM. But I can say that I've never felt so confident about how to adopt a new life once I cross that bridge... or ocean... ;D the trick is to not think about what that really means and to get right into it. It's like baptism- no one ever really knows the true depth of making one such a covenant with the Lord, but we do it anyways! xD
I wish I had more to say, but I really don't. There was something I needed... or wanted... but I forgot what it was. I'll remember as soon as I get this sent xD My 21st birthday is coming up... being little is better because it's a big deal, but the older you get, the less significant certain things become. Halloween is coming up too, hey? I'd completely forgotten until I saw the merchandise at a store... I never forget Halloween...
Ah well, the time is far spent and I hope there are a handful of yous who are dying to hear what I've got to say. I know this wasn't the most uplifting or spiritual letter, but I hope if anything it puts some troubled minds to rest. I love you all and I hope you're enjoying the cold, because it's getting a bit hotter here xD
-Elder Schomburg
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| After District Conference - with the Quinns |
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| A wonderful reunion with the beautiful Quinn family from Broken Hill! |
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