Tingling Sensation

I hope you all had a good week this week. Ours was pretty eventful with a few trade offs with our crazy but wonderful Samoan sisters and had some pretty cool experiences in our wards. The message that was shared a few times this week was on the spirit. In 3 Nephi 11 it says 

 "3 And it came to pass that while they were thus conversing one with another, they heard a voice as if it came out of heaven; and they cast their eyes round about,for they understood not the voice which they heard; and it was not a harsh voice, neither was it a loud voice;nevertheless, and notwithstanding it being a small voice it did pierce them that did hear to the center, insomuch that there was no part of their frame that it did not cause to quake; yea, it did pierce them to the very soul, and did cause their hearts to burn."

We talked about how the spirit can be hard to hear, so if we are too focused on the things of the world then we wont be able to hear what Heavenly Father is trying to tell us. We had a lesson with one of our favourite family's the other night. We also talked about listening to the spirit and trusting in the Lord, because exercising faith sometimes requires sacrifice. His wife just left for Australia and he is working 16 or 17 hour shifts to save enough money to fly him and his kids over to be with her. His mum also testified of the sacrifices she had to make as a single parent to raise her children and still be faithful in the church. The spirit was so strong and I was grateful for their testimonies on faith and understand that Gods plan and purpose for us is so much greater than our own. That they trusted in him and listened to the spirit to guide them to know what to do and because of it they are blessed. They may have to or had to give up their time and some other things, but God gave them back much more. I am grateful for our Father in Heaven and the blessing we have of the gift of the Holy Ghost and if we are worthy of it then it can guide us and help us make those decisions and help us get to where we need to be.

I hope you all had a good week. Love you heaps. Also don't worry about us and the earthquakes we didn't feel it where we are and haven't heard of and tsunami warnings!!

Kia Kaha,

Sister Boiteux

pictures!

Comp study with our lovely Chinese sisters. Love them too much!

Sister Graham may or may not have seen one of my senior pictures and made fun of me.. So we put Jesus and temple pictures all over one of our less actives door who showed her the picture and did her favourite pose :)

Trade offs with our Samoan sisters in Waterview. Great to be back with these crazies!

Given some homemade donuts so had to take the opportunity to take an Einstein bagel picture :)

The Accidental Gardner

We finally got to work this week!!!!! We left the flat and I didn't have to stare at the same walls all day! Our first day of work one of our members set up an appointment for us to teach one of their friends. I love member missionary work so darn much. Before we went in the lesson we talked with our member and he was sharing a few of his missionary experiences with us.We were sitting in their backyard and he showed us their silver beet and an avocado tree both of which he just threw the seeds on the ground and then they eventually grew. He didn't even intend for them to grow. Then he related it to missionary work. We are here to plant seeds and sometimes we don't expect them to grow but then out of no where someone pops up and is ready for the message. Then eventually we end up with a few avocado trees and silver beet plants. He shared a lot of good insight from him reading "The Power of an Everyday Missionary" it was a testimony builder to me to see that he desired so much to share the gospel with everyone that he could not matter what the out come is. I know he truly understands his purpose as a son of God and he loves the Saviour enough to do as He wants to be done.  

A scripture shared with us yesterday was 4 Nephi 1:15. 4 Nephi talks about how the Nephites and the Lamanites were all converted to the Lord so there was no contention in the land. The question the sister asked us was "what can we do so the love of God can dwell in our hearts?" So that is the question I leave with all of you today. What do you need to change or do so the love of God can dwell in your hearts? I know that sometimes or a lot of the time it requires sacrifice, but the blessings for doing such things is worth it. I know that the work we do as members is so important. I hope all of you are striving to see what you can do every day to serve the Lord and that you are also looking for missionary moments. 

I hope you all have a great week!

Kia Kaha,

Sister Boiteux

pictures!

MLC results in bad pictures and funny times. Possibly Sister Lotts last one. Can't believe she is heading home so soon!

When your companion finds her place to sit on your lap when she has her own chair... Unity?

Trade offs with Sister Torres. Our members loved us and brought us burger fuel for lunch. Love learning from our sweet sisters!

Visited Herbert and he so kindly kept reminding me of how terrible I looked that day. So I went home and did this.... The 20kg mission is a real problem. The ice cream was delicious though :)

Can I Have a Smoothie?

This week was full of sleeping, cleaning, studying, eating and then repeating. We have been stuck in the flat since Wednesday. Sister Graham finally got her wisdom teeth out! Taking care of her makes me feel like a mother.. As soon as I sit down she wants something else... If this is what its really like to be a mum I might go a little crazy... She has been pretty hilarious though. We are just going a little stir crazy in the flat. 

Earlier this week I was reading in 3 Nephi. The story about Christ coming to the Americas and showing himself to the people. In verses 2-3 it says

 "2 I perceive that ye are weak, that ye cannot understand all my words which I am commanded of the Father to speak unto you at this time.

 3 Therefore, go ye unto your homes, and ponder upon the things which I have said, and ask of the Father, in my name, that ye may understand, and prepare your minds for the morrow, and I come unto you again."

It was really cool to see the pattern the Saviour gave to the people. That although they werent ready to receive all that He had to teach them He still told them to go back and ponder and pray so that they can be ready to receive more knowledge. I love the fact that even today we are encouraged to take what we learn ponder, pray, and prepare so that we also can be ready to receive what the spirit wants to teach us. In verse 5 it says

 "5 And it came to pass that when Jesus had thus spoken, he cast his eyes round about again on the multitude, and beheld they were in tears, and did look steadfastly upon him as if they would ask him to tarry a little longer with them."

 When I read that verse it made me think of my own personal relationship with the Saviour. Do I love Him enough to want Him to tarry longer with me? Do I actually desire to want to learn about Him and do I want to become like Him? Later in that chapter it talks about the Saviour praying for the people and exercising compassion towards them.

" 16 And after this manner do they bear record: The eye hath never seen, neither hath the ear heard, before, so great and marvelous things as we saw and heard Jesus speak unto the Father;

 17 And no tongue can speak, neither can there be written by any man, neither can the hearts of men conceive so great and marvelous things as we both saw and heard Jesus speak; and no one can conceive of the joy which filled our souls at the time we heard him pray for us unto the Father."

I know that the Saviour loves us more than we can even comprehend. That no matter what we do or how far we travel off the path He will always be there with open arms welcoming us back. That He truly does love us just as He loved the people He saw when He ministered to them. I know that we are children of our Heavenly Father, that His Son Jesus Christ came to earth for us. That the prophets in the bible and Book of Mormon were inspired to write the things that they did. That Joseph Smith truly did see God the Father and the Son. That he was given the power to translate the Book of Mormon, and that it is another testament of our Saviour. 

I hope you all have a great week. That you are enjoying your own personal feasts from the scriptures and that you are pondering, praying, and preparing to receive more.  

love,

Sister Boiteux

pictures!

Double rainbows <3

Before she got her teeth out

After she got her teeth out!

We had a few visitors through out the week keeping us a little sane. Didnt document all the pictures (Sister Graham would kill me for sending them home) But am grateful for all the missionaries we serve with 

Extra Strength

Kia Ora mi familia!

This week was pretty good. Sister Graham and I were given that extra strength we needed and were able to work all week without dying in our flat (thats this upcoming one for her wisdom teeth) It was good though. We had some funny experiences this week. We had trade off with two sets of our sisters. I got to go to Henderson to be with Sister Bates. It was really cool because we went to go and contact a potential investigator. We knocked on her door and she let us in. We werent planning on her letting us in and were just going to get a return appointment but this was even better. As we talked with her she asked about what we do as missionaries and if we go to another country once we finish here. So we explained the missionary process and how are call comes from the apostles and prophet. She was stoked as to hear that we believe that we have a living prophet. Seriously I have only seen a select few people find that news as great as she did. Her eyes just lit up. So as we taught her the message of the restoration the spirit was able to testify to me that what we were teaching was true. My testimony of the prophet was really strengthened. I am so grateful to know that God has reached out to us again by calling a prophet. That the priesthood that Christ had here on earth is the same priesthood Thomas S. Monson holds today. That he truly is the only man who can receive that revelation that we need. I know that as we follow him we wont go astray. I am grateful for the spirit and that we are able to teach people about the church and that we get to invite them to follow the prophet and by following him they can follow the Saviour. 

I was also able to go on trade offs in Avondale Ward!!!!! I was with a sweet new sister who I just love so much. She is full of faith and excitement to be here. She taught me heaps. I am grateful to be able to have this calling and to work with so many sisters so we can see how they teach and how they are growing. It is a really humbling experience to work along side them. A lot of Avondale was shocked to see me and it was funny. Weird to be back since I didnt leave it long ago. But also great to see people that I love so much! 

I hope you all have a great week and continue to have spiritual reminders of the truthfulness of the restored gospel. I love you all heaps!

Sister Boiteux

Pictures!

How I felt when I got my blood drawn last week. I was happy after cause Sister Graham took me to Carls Jr for lunch :)

Sister Bates first try of Buttered chicken pizza. She is now officially part of the mission 

Trade offs with our Henderson sisters! (Sister Graffe is from Tahiti.. Speaks french. She may or may not have cracked up when she read my last name. I avoid french people at all costs) ;)

 Trade offs in Avondale!! Got to see some of my favs.. No big deal :)

When you get a 2 min notice of having to teach 16 primary children. 

LOL when you see it

A Lack Of Wisdom..

This week was eventful. Never a dull moment when you are companions with an Aussie. We have had a few companion inventories mostly because one of us is having a mental breakdown about something. Its jolly good fun! We had interviews this week. It was mostly all about our health haha yeah we are that sad of a companionship. It has been determined that my companion has to get her wisdom teeth out which she is not looking forward too. But I am cause she is going to be crazy on those drugs. Because we are both always sick we have had a lot of time sitting at home reflecting on life. Only a few meltdowns about our lack of desire of going home. Kinda scared to go back to the real life and the fact that we only have a couple of months left so we have to start figuring out what we want to do. It has really made me grateful for my mission. My mission has helped me understand the importance of everything in the gospel so much more. I feel more prepared to go back to uni and to take it more seriously and have better study habits because I now understand the importance of education, I am excited for the callings I am given in church because all callings come from God and I will be able to serve others in the ward around me, I am excited for visiting teaching that I will be able to go and visit sisters that may need help or may not but will get it anyways, I am excited for reach outs! To go with the ward and our missionaries and help our less active brothers and sisters come back to the church, and of course excited to apply all that I learned in the mission field into the life of my future family.. way way down the road :) 

Scared because I love New Zealand all to much. I love the calling I have to represent the Saviour. I love being focused on others 24/7 and being able to have a badge that has His name on it. No greater calling than to be a missionary. I know we still have a while left of our mission but I am still grateful for all the blessings I have seen come throughout my mission. For the changes I have seen in others and in myself. I still have a lot of growing but I know my mission has helped me become into an even better person. 

Sister Graham and I are excited for this upcoming week and the work to be done in both of our wards. Its going to be crazy but it will be great. I hope you all enjoy your week and the adventures taking place in your life. Continue to see the blessings that come through the experiences the Lord gives to you. Love you all heaps!

Sister Boiteux

pictures!

Intereviews! Sister Graham was taking ages.. So the assistants and I took some selfies. #intakebudies #favSTLs #shewasjealous

Had Quiana come out with us. Love our RMs

The life of Sister Graham and Sister Boiteux

Graham Canyon

This week was pretty good. We had transfers and we found out that Sister Thompson is training and I got transferred to Penrose to be with... Sister Graham!!! Just one of my most favourite sisters that I have wanted to be with my whole mission. 

Yesterday Sister Lott called and gave us the news that Sister Thompson was able to set Wilson for baptism!! So that sweet boy is getting baptized on October 23. Pretty stoked for him because I just love him all too much. 

Conference was really good this past weekend. The most I took out of it was about repentance and the atonement. Sister Graham and I had a conversation last night about repentance. We were talking about how do we know if we truly have been forgiven of our sins or not. Sometimes as a missionary past transgressions still come to mind and eat at you and make you feel worthless. Pretty sure its the same for all of you at home. We were discussing it and she talked about how satan just wants us to feel like we are nothing. That we really didnt repent and we have to keep dwelling on what did happen. But if we did all the things we were supposed to then we were forgiven. 

1. Did you ask for forgiveness from Heavenly Father?

2. DId you talk to priesthood leaders if necessary?

3. Have you changed? Is the person you are now the same person that existed when the sins happened?

4. Did you ask for forgiveness or forgive who ever else was involved?

5. And do we have enough faith in the Saviour to believe that we have been forgiven and our sins have been forgotten?

I am really grateful for the knowledge that we have of the atonement and the plan of salvation. Being able to know that our Saviour came to earth to suffer for us and when we do mess up we can repent and become better. I am grateful for the prophet, apostles, and other church leaders for their words of inspiration they were able to share with us. I hope you all had a spiritual experience and had a change of heart. Love you heaps! Have a great week!

Love, Sister Boiteux

pictures!

Saying bye to some of my favs from Howick Ward!

Last of the miracle district

tried to get a generation pic.. it failed

Dont really have a good one of us.. But this is Sister Graham. She is from Melbourne.. one day will move to Provo :)

Oh Mylanta...

I hope that you all enjoyed your conference weekend. We are still waiting for it but I am sure it was wonderful. We got to watch the Womens Session this past Saturday and it was great! As always of course. I am grateful that the talks talked about the doctrine of Christ that they are again and again encouraging us to have testimonies and to be righteous saints who stand up for what we know to be true. I know that as we do listen to the counsel of our wise leaders we will not go astray. 

This week was really good for Sister Thompson and I. Something I have noticed throughout the week is that we have been asked heaps about the spirit. A few people have asked if we can tell that we have the spirit, or how do we know when the spirit prompted us, how do we know if its really the spirit, or just experiences we have had. It really made me reflect on my mission. How grateful I am for it that I have realized and understood how the spirit personally works with me. It works differently with all of us, and I know that he will always guide us and helps us to what we need to do, go, or say. We have really been encouraging our members to say meaningful prayers and as they do so listen to what the spirit tells them to do, and then act on those promptings. Sometimes the action is the hardest part. We contemplate on whether it was just a thought we had or if it was really the spirit. Maybe sometimes we really dont want to do what the spirit told us. But wise words from our ward mission leader "you never know if its a prompting unless you act." So we leave that commitment with all of you at home too. Pray, seek, and act. Miracles will happen.

A testimony shared in church yesterday by one of our members really hit home for us. She was talking about trials and how sometimes we just dont want to go through them or maybe we think we have done enough we finally hit the level of righteousness we need to be at and should just be translated. Sometimes we have that attitude, but there is always more that we can be doing. She shared a thought her dad would always tell her which is "When we stop having trials and challenges in our life is when we become complacent and prideful." I testify to the truth of that statement. When we stop yearning to grow is when we start being prideful and giving into temptation.

I hope you all learned from conference, and that you took something out of it that you can improve on. I hope you have a great week and keep growing and keep going!! Love you heaps!

Sister Boiteux

pictures!

Took a photo op when the sun was going down behind the chapel!

I promise she enjoys backing me up!

SKYTOWER!

 So I went to the doctors on Friday and they diagnosed me... dont worry I am not dying yet. But she put me on medicine and I can finally eat food again. So we missed our dinner time and we were able to go and get food after my appointment.. Some how our car took us to china town and we got chicken noodle soup. Had to just share that we were definitely the minority in the place. It was a jolly good time!

So Long elder... The two years for our zone leader has been accomplished!

#peaceinpanmure

Just my favourite sisters of all time!