Miracles in Panmure

Kia Ora all once more!

This week was great. The entire zone really stepped it up and we all saw heaps of miracles! On Monday of last week we met this guy named Vinny. Found him by texting all the investigators in the phone, yes that actually works haha. We caught up with him and the Spirit was so strong from the very first minute we got in. He asked us to teach him more about the plan of salvation so of course we gladly did! He was on to it! He understood it all, had his own Book of Mormon and was asking some mean as questions!! We didn't know how but we wanted to invite him to be baptized, and thanks to the spirit for setting up the situation, we were able to make it happen! Then we met with him on wednesday, he had been giving baptism some serious thought and was talking to his auntie in Aus about it. We felt very prompted about it and he agreed to be baptized on the 18th of this Month! Super excited for this guy and to see the steps he's taking!

For the rest of the zone, we found 12 new investigators total and got 5 new sets for baptism all in this one week! I was super happy and humbled to be a part of it. Seeing the hard work that all the missionaries put in this week made me want to work even harder and help the best I can!

This week coming we have our transfers. It'll be interesting to see what happens! Exciting time for the mission and all of us!

That's all for this week guys!! 

Love you all and Happy Waitangi day!!

Elder Maughan

New Missionary Life!

Hey everyone! Back at it again after an awesome week! We had a very busy week I guess you can say, but it was awesome!! 

On Wednesday we had MLC, and we had a mean training from a senior couple on mental health, and got a sneak peak at the Missionary Broadcast. On Thursday for zone training we had a combined one and we watched the Worldwide Missionary Broadcast. Not gonna lie it was a little cheesy and funny, but it was so cool! We got to hear from Elder Oaks, Bednar, and Andersen of the 12. And they announced a new missionary schedule and key indicators! With these changes its giving us a lot more freedom to choose how and when we do things, also to focus on people a lot more and not just numbers. It's honestly gonna be awesome! I'm very happy and blessed to be part of missionary work at this time! So many different changes to make the work move forward even more!

Saturday I had a tradeoff with Elder Nu'usila from Layton! We attend a baptism in our Zone and then went out and did a few things in my area. This kid has great potential and I'm glad to be serving with him so early in his mission!

Well that's about it for this week! Thanks for all the love and prayers.

Love you all!!

Elder Maughan

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