Catching Up

"You full-time missionaries, if you want to teach more, you must talk to more people every day. This has always been what the Lord has sent missionaries forth to do.

The Lord knows us. He knows we have our challenges. I realize that some of you may feel heavy laden, but I pray that none of you would ever feel that reaching out in normal, pleasant ways to share the gospel would ever be a burden. Rather, it is a privilege! There is no greater joy in life than being anxiously engaged in the service of the Lord.

The key is that you be inspired of God, that you ask Him for direction and then go and do as the Spirit prompts you. When members view the work of salvation as their responsibility alone, it can be intimidating. When they view it as an invitation to follow the Lord in bringing souls unto Him to be taught by the full-time elders and sisters, it is inspiring, invigorating, and uplifting.

We are not asking everyone to do everything. We are simply asking all members to pray, knowing that if every member, young and old, will reach out to just "one" between now and Christmas, millions will feel the love of the Lord Jesus Christ. And what a wonderful gift to the Savior."

-Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles-

October 22 Intake from the Auckland MTC - Front: Elder Crosland (Preston, Idaho), Elder Lee (Panaca, Nevada), Elder Berryhill (Turlock, California), Elder Anderson (Ogden, Utah), Elder Mahina (Tefisi, Tonga) Back: Elder Tu'ihalangingie (Assistant), Elder Howard (Assistant), Elder Winter (Fresno, California), Elder Kaka (Assistant), Elder Zappe (Reno, Nevada), Elder Seabury (Sandy, Utah), Elder Vasquez (Panguitch, Utah), Elder Davis (Irvine, California), Elder McClellan (Simi Valley, California), President and Sister Kezerian.

 Safety vests for all! No one is going to miss our missionaries at night.

 This is how exciting it is to get a package from home!

 This is as good as Christmas - what anticipation.

 We are a biking mission. Everything is ready to go for the missionaries when they arrive.

 Packing up and moving out.

 Last minute instructions

Elder Vasquez, Elder Crosland and Elder McClellan headed to the mission home.

  As we were walking down the corridor to board their planes we saw a picture of the highway near Greymouth where Elder Anderson will be serving with Elder Vimahi . . .  

 and a picture of Picton where Elder Seabury will be serving with Elder Tautua'a.

 Getting ready to fly out!

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 Now for those finishing up their missions. Elder Dalit returning to Hawaii and Elder Ma'u returning to Auckland. . . 

 . . . .Elder Langkilde returning to Samoa and Elder Howard serving just a little longer before he returns to Sydney, Australia.

 Elder Cook - Utah.

Thank you missionaries. Well done! Back: Elder Petaia (Auckland), Elder Cottle (Pleasant Grove, Utah), Elder Cook (Logan, Utah), Elder Langkilde (Samoa), Elder Howard (Sydney, Australia), Elder Ross (American Fork, Utah).  Front: Elder Dalit (Hawaii), Elder Mau (Auckland, New Zealand), Sister Taleni (Melbourne, Australia).

 Zone Leaders arriving in the office from all over the mission, just in time for Mission Leader Council. 

 Sister Training Leaders also gather.

 New members of the MLC. Elder Tinei, Elder Evans, Elder Aparicio, Elder Hilton and Elder Collins. Sister Niutupuivaha and Sister Vila.

We welcomed Elder Cuthbertson to the MLC last month. He is serving as a Zone Leader in Palmerston North along with Elder Bender.

 Lunch with Sister Eames.

Wonderful leaders of the Wellington New Zealand Mission!

 Elder Purcell and Elder Harris serving in Balclutha. 

 Ready to welcome everyone.

Everywhere in New Zealand we find beautiful church buildings and wonderful Christians and friends of other faiths.

 Gore District meeting and interviews

 We so appreciate all the missionaries studying and inviting the Spirit.

 Beautiful scenes from around the mission.

Capture the Vision

"We are all in this together. With fellow ward members and missionaries, we plan and pray, and help one another. Please keep the full-time missionaries in your thoughts and prayers. Trust them with your family and friends. The Lord trusts them and has called them to teach and bless those who seek Him."

-Elder Neil L. Andersen-

Palmerston Noth Stake was reorganized today. Elder Paul R. Coward (Area Seventy), Elder O. Vincent Haleck (Second Quorum of the Seventy), President Lewis, President Ormsby, President Hawera, Sister Kezerian and President Kezerian. These are the men who have been faithfully serving.

Sister Kezerian, Sister Russell, Sister Mulipola, Sister Nowers and Sister Glen at the Palmerston North Stake Conference.

Trees, flowers and bushes are all in blossom.

Beautiful morning.

Travelling to Nelson.

Spring in Christchurch.

Elder Smith in Dunedin.

This is Brother Elkington who is the Patriarch in the Porirua Stake. He caught this fish on his last charter fishing trip. He has just been called to serve as a counselor in the Hamilton New Zealand Temple Presidency. He said he now knows how Jesus' apostles felt when he asked them to leave their nets and follow him.

Great member support with Open Houses.

Elder Mataia

Elder Brown

Sister Morris

Elder Nevitt

Sister Olamaleva

Elder Pasa

Elder Siale

Elder Zollinger

Elder Norford was taught  and baptized by President Mitchell. When Elder Norford was transfered to Westport he served as Second Counselor to President Mitchell. Such a small world in the church.

 This may be a familiar scene for anyone travelling through the Christchurch airport.

The Southern Alps in the background run almost the whole length of the South Island with Mount Cook being the highest peak.

General Conference