Time is going and going fast

Hey everyone! 

Things have been pretty good this week. Lots of rain and sunshine all together but it has still been good. We had interviews this week and it was really good to sit down with President Balli and receive some guidance and counsel from him. I really love meeting with him and receive the counsel.

We have heaps of stuff to work on in our area. We have one awesome family that we are working on named Jane and Paula. They are doing good. Lots to work with and so I'm excited to see the steps they make and do the best I can to help them come closer to Christ!

It's weird how time is going. The beginning of the week seemed so slow, but the back half seemed so fast. Especially since we had stake conference. But it's made me realize how little of time I have left to serve. 8 months isn't heaps, and I want it to be the best. Time is something the Lord has given us and I don't want any of us to waste it. If you're a missionary or not, every moment we have been given from the Lord should be cherished and we should use it to the fullest. So no matter where you are in life or what you are doing, cherish the moments you have, and thank the Lord every day in your prayers for the opportunities He has given you. Open your heart of gratitude to the Lord.

Love you all!!

Elder Maughan

Hot in Panmure

Hello all! We had a good, hot, muggy, humid, week this week. I think that describes it well. For church yesterday it was cloudy as all day, but it was still 28 degrees. (82 in F) so everyone in church was dying of heat. But I had the great chance to speak to the ward on missionary work. It worked out well considering I didn't write it until 8 o'clock that morning with 9 o'clock church :) The Lord provided big time haha! We are really excited to be working with one particular family, Jane and Paula. Paula is a member but he's been less active for a while, Jane has had heaps of missionaries just has had some rough patches in her life. Yesterday we were able to meet with them and talk about an action plan to help them with smoking. Jane told us she wants to be baptized as soon as she can!  We are really excited for her. She knows the church is true and wants it so bad! Please keep them in your prayers to help them out :) I also had the chance to go on trade offs with the Assistants this week. I got to go to the Takapuna Ward with Elder Hixon. We had a mean time! Their ward is really cool and very helpful to them. It was fun to get to see more of the mission and meet some more really awesome people of the church.

Time to grind this week and get the area and zone moving in the right direction! Thank you all for your love and prayers! It's very much needed!

Love you all!! :)

Elder Maughan

Week in Review

Well here are once again. Time has gone so fast I feel like I was writing this email last week! 

We had a good week and we have a lot of good things going for us so I'm glad to get it moving!! We had a busy week. We had MLC on Wednesday so we were over in Takapuna for 8 hours in the mission home doing a training. It was a really good training tho and I got to see heaps of my good friends so I was happy! And they had some MEAN food so of course I can't complain.

Thursday we had our zone training and we went up Mt. Wellington for our training. It was a good training, but could be better of course. 

Friday we had to deal with some drama, yay for our job, and then just keep going with the work. Not much in the work going on at the moment, we are trying are best to find and work hard!

Saturday I had a cool experience we a Part-member family and our zones greenie. Our comps weren't feeling too well so we decided just to go out for a bit and hit up our appointment. It was a little shaky at first cause neither of us have ever really met them or been inside their home, but we were able to get the conversation going and laughing. Towards the end we were able to ask them if they were gonna attend church with us tomorrow. Jane, the non-member, asked us if it was fast sunday and express how she needed to fast. We explained yes and that we would love to join them in the fast. This girl is super prepared and ready to enter the waters, just needs some help overcoming a few challenges. As we left my companion was freaking out at how awesome that experience was and how he loved it. I'm glad I was able to be apart of that experience for him and for this family :)

Looking forward to a nice, warm, sunny week ;) Hopefully everyone in Utah doesn't freeze too bad ;)

Love you all!!
Elder Maughan

New Area, 2017, Virus

Hello all and Happy New Year!!! Can't believe 2016 is over. Went by too dang fast. But I'm ready for the new year, and as you can see, a new area!!! On wednesday we had transfers and I'm now out east in Panmure. President gave me a new assignment as a zone leader in the Stonefields Ward. My time out west was awesome and I will miss Lincoln heaps, but I'm loving my new area so far. My new comp is named Elder Smith from West Point Utah. We went to neighboring high schools so we are off to a great start so far! We are having heaps of fun and have a great zone to work with. Very excited and very blessed!

So early Sunday morning I woke up at 3 and paid a visit to the toilet, same at 6, and later at 9. Our nurse told me I had some weird virus with all the symptoms and that I had to stay home and not eat or drink anything for the whole day. I was dying of heat and just wanted a glass of water, but I wasn't allowed so I took a long as shower haha. I was sad cause I wasn't able to go to my new ward on my first sunday in the area. But some members came by and gave us the sacrament and dinner so I felt very loved. What a great start to 2017 aye??;)

Well that's about all from me for now. I hope you all had a great holiday and are looking forward to a great year! Learn from last year can become better and closer to Christ!!

Love you all!!

Elder Maughan

Christmas is Hot Here

Hello. Pretty good week just gone. It's getting warm that's for sure. Time for the BBQ and watch people go to the beaches!! Haha put it's been super nice to get out in the sun. Lots of service and trade-offs haha. Elder Seelos and I went on trade-off twice this week and did worked and had fun. We also found another couch for our flat!!! This one is just a one seater recliner so it is super super nice. We got that during one of our multiple service this week haha. But I love it, it's nice to take power naps in. 

Update on some people. Mainly just Annette. She is super determined and keen to make her baptism happen this coming Saturday. But she is still struggling to get around some things. We will do all we can to help her out. I have seen her come such a far far way from when I first met her, I really want to see her take that step with the Lord. She has been so prepared and ready to go. Can't wait to see it happen!

Christmas is in my bones right now!!! Nonstop christmas music and singing! I'll be sending out a Christmas "postcard" next week so be prepared for it!!! 

Well I'm excited for this coming week! It will be a good challenge for me again so I can't wait! I'm excited for the things the Lord has thrown out at me and I can't wait to see what's coming my way! 

I hope you all have a good week and a very Merry Christmas!! Love you all!!

Elder Maughan

Another Week Gone, Wooooooooo

Hello all. 

This week, it's about time it's over haha. Our baptism didn't happen sadly. Bills dad took away his permission a few days before the baptism happened. So that started the week off pretty bad haha. Then a few days later I got sick. And one of our zone leaders was sick too so him and I just stayed home all day long. So that was another blah of a day. The weekend was alright. Heaps and Heaps and even Heaps more of service. It feels so good to be out in the sun. It's the best to get out and just serve in anyway I can. It's my favourite thing to do is just serving and helping people have things be better for them. Just seeing their faces and hearing the gratitude in their voice is the best. That's what this time of year and a mission is all about! 

I wanna encourage everyone to keep up with the Light the World calendar and do all you can to serve other people and make their lives better. I know the Lord will bless yous as you do so.

Sorry this is pretty short but not much to report this week haha.

Love you all!!!

Elder Maughan

#LighttheWorld!

Hello!

This week was just another week. Lots of good things to come so this email wont be very exciting haha. But I'm still doing good and am happy where I am. Things are all going well. 

Bill's baptism is a go for this coming weekend so that's gonna be pretty awesome! He is golden. Since the first day we met him he was prepared and ready to go! Pictures will be coming of that next week so look forward to those!

Christmas is kind of in the air here haha. Sunshine all day long, sweat a lot, that's what Christmas is right?? Haha it's a great time of year to be here! But I wanna make sure you all share your light this month! I'm sure you've heard of the church's new theme and seen the new video. I absolutely love it. Jesus Christ made the world a better and brighter place, and I know we all have the chance to do the same. If you haven't seen the events and the video go to mormon.org and see what I'm talking about!! There's so many people out there in the world, wherever we may be, that need Christ in their lives. And now is the best time of the year to bring Christ into their life. So Please do all you can to be that explain to those around you!! I know you are all some of the best people the Lord as to help in this great work! SO please LIGHT THE WORLD!!!:)

I love you all! Have a good week and stay warm!!!:)

Elder Maughan