May 25, 2015 - G'day Loves! (The roaches are going to die!)

THE EXTERMINATOR CAME AND WE WILL HAVE OUR KITCHEN BACK THIS WEEK! YAYYY! The man said it was a pretty bad infestation but the cockroaches are dying as we speak! YAY! 

 

My memory is horrible and I honestly cant remember what happened last week, but I'll do my best... haha 

Mya and Melissa Lee at church this week, and they are SO excited for their baptism.  So is the ward!! This week we were able to teach them three times and have a Family Home Evening for Melissa's Kids, Mya and Ashley, with some awesome members of the ward.  It's been absolutely amazing. They have been reading the scriptures together and watching Mormon messages. We taught all the commandments this week! Melissa gave up coffee the night we taught Word of Wisdom, and has been drinking heaps of milo instead (: Their prayers are so beautiful, and so humble. They truly understand the relationship they have with God and already see the joy that comes from membership in the church. They are just glowing. And so are we. (: It's been an amazing journey with these two. They are so prepared, and we are so grateful for the elders for finding them! 

We had a lot of extra time on our hands, since appointments fell through (it's flu season), so we have been knocking on doors, talking with everyone. It's definitely work, but it's fun work and we have met some awesome people with amazing stories.  I love hearing people's stories. Everyone is so unique and so different. Even the rude ones make us smile. It's so fun to communicate with people. One man showed us around his garden- he has banana trees, orange trees, mandarin trees, guava fruit trees, and heaps more. We had some guava's and oranges that were just delish! (: Such nice people here in Perth! 

We're lucky we got our shots last week at zone conference (flu shots HURT) because EVERYONE is sick these days. Except the missionaries. (:

We got to study in the morning with the sisters in Murdoch this week. Sister Allen and Sister Leakehe are amazing and so gorgeous. I just LOVE them! They taught me so much the atonement, and how to apply it to missionary work. Those sisters are so humble. They work tirelessly and are constantly improving, or striving to be more obedient and effective. They are very honest with us, and ask us for help, even though I have less experience than either of them on a mission. (: They motivate us in our own area because we hear their miracles, and see how many lives they are blessing and want to be just like them - serving and helping everyone!! 

I am so thankful for prayer this week! I have seen both immediate answers, and some that take a while longer, but seeing my prayers being answered gives me hope and so much gratitude. I don't think I've ever felt so much gratitude in my whole life as I did this week. I have just been blessed with so much!! Both in my missionary efforts, at home with my family, and personally. 

 

One story I loved reading about this week in the Book of Mormon was in Alma chapter 31. Alma is a missionary goes with some friends and family, to a wicked people to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ. When he and his fellow missionaries arrive, they see wickedness all around them. They see the cherished doctrines of the gospel distorted and twisted, and the hearts of the people were selfish and cruel. His first response was to pray. He cried to the Lord, and told him how hard it was to see so much wickedness among the people, and how much he cared for this people, even though he did not know them personally. He recognized that they were his brothers. He truly loved these people, and wanted them to receive the same blessings he had from Christ. He prayed for each individual missionary that came with him, that they would bear their trials and that they would allow the spirit to direct them on how to help these people. Then they left one another, and began to preach the gospel. 

 "And after that they did separate themselves one from another, taking‍ no thought for themselves what they should eat, or what they should drink, or what they should put on. And the Lord provided for them that they should hunger not, neither should they thirst; yea, and he also gave them strength, that they should suffer no manner of afflictions, save it were swallowed up in the joy of Christ. Now this was according to the prayer of Alma; and this because he prayed in faith."

I love you. I pray for you. I know you do the same for me, and I appreciate it with all my <3. 

Thanks for your letters and emails and love this week! It has been a blessing.

 

Love, Sister Falter

May 18, 2015 - I have 32 bug bites on my feet and legs!

THIRTY TWO......

My week has been:

​#doesntdoitjustice #heapsmoreontheothersides 

Other than the 32 bug bites I have on my feet, this week has been really good (: 

We had an amazing week, actually. We got to see our investigators Mya and Melissa and invite them to be baptized on the 6th of June (yay). On Tuesday we taught Melissa the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As we taught, she practically invited herself to be baptized. We read Mosiah:

"and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light. Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you? And now when the people had heard these words, they clapped their hands for joy, and exclaimed: This is the desire of our hearts."

 We asked her why she wanted to be baptized, and why it is important and she said to follow Christ and be closer to God. Her girls came to youth on Wednesday, and on Thursday we brought a youth girl with us to teach Mya. When we got into the home, she told us she wanted to be baptized like her mum. She hadn't been taught the Plan of Salvation yet, so we helped her understand the importance of our life here on earth, and why we must follow Jesus Christ now so we can be happy and live with him when we die. The questions she asked were amazing and so profound for a girl her age. We invited her to be baptized with her mum and she accepted! They are eager to learn about the commandments and were excited to go to church with us.
When Sunday rolled around they showed up, and sat with members for sacrament meeting! During Gospel Principles, the elders taught about final judgement. At the end, when they asked for comments, I was surprised when Melissa spoke up, because she is so quiet. She said she wants to make those changes to be ready for final judgement not only to please her Heavenly Father, but to be a good mum and role model for her children. Sunday was a beautiful day, even through the rain and storms. 

It poured the last couple of days. POURED. It was beautiful.  I LOVE the rain, so I was excited to go out in it. Sister Tukuafu put up with it pretty well (she HATES the rain) and during our time, we found a new family as well as a couple others to start teaching next week. (: We also found a less active man who needs to get his great grandchild blessed.(: It was so funny, his name is actually Bill, and after talking to him for several minutes, he noticed our badges and said "You're Mormons! So am I, come in!!" HAHA, Gotta love those kind of people. (: 

We also met another man named George who converted from Saudia Arabia, being brought up Islam and converted after fleeing the country when he was just married, and was baptized into the LDS church when he was a refugee in Jordan. After moving here, he has been producing television series about Christianity to his people in his language, and has helped convert thousands and bring people to Christ. He says he does not care what happens to him, or where the people  go from there, but he only cares about showing people the light of Christ he felt when he prayed to God in His name. He wants that for his people. His story inspired us. (: 

People are amazing. I love hearing their prayers and testimonies.

Sister Tukuafu is teaching me all about loving the people we teach. She loves everyone so much and is always thinking of them. I love that about my companion. It's amazing what love can do for people. (: 

This week was full of miracles. We see the hand of the Lord in the work. He is answering my prayers. I'm more exhausted than I have ever been but also VERY happy! (: 

I have felt your prayers this week. My back, especially, has felt your prayers and hasn't bothered me since Monday. I know it's because of the faith of my family, so THANK YOU! It is a miracle. 

I love you all so much. (: 

xxx

Sister Falter 

May 11, 2015 - "You can leave now..."

We killed those ones with kindness. It was actually so funny because we went up to these people in their yard, they were like oldish and it was a woman and her husband. They immediately hated us. We offered service and they said we could leave, so we asked if they knew anyone who needed service or an uplifting message. They said even if they knew people they would never send us there.... HAHAHA. We just told them to have a happy day and a lovely mothers day. They didn't like that so we just left. 

This week was SO GOOD!!! WOOOHOOO 

I loved skyping. I was so nervous and didn't wanna do it but it ended up being WAY fun! <3 Love you all so so so much! The Chapmans are the best. Sis C reminds me of my grandmas <3333

Mother's Day Skype Session! <3 The whole family together for 40 minutes on one computer and two phones!

I went on exchanges with the Murdoch sisters this week and it was so so good. We were on a high from zone meeting, and were excited to invite everyone to pray. We taught a sister named who was super closed off and at first I thought she was just going to interrogate us. She seemed to ask hard questions to try to trick us. I usually get very nervous and upset when people are like that, but the whole time, I just remained calm. With every question, we opened the scriptures and allowed her to explore how the Book of Mormon can answer or counter any doubt she has. We taught about faith and prayer, and asked her to offer the prayer. She said she felt awkward, but I know she felt the spirit because we did. Sister Leakehe is an amazing teacher. She is so concerned for the people in her area and genuinely cares for everyone. I love that about her. We had some success finding, but the coolest part was meeting a man who was baptized 30 years ago in Bunbury (south) who had moved and his records were never transferred. We were able to meet some of his family and share a message with him and his wife. I love exchanges and learn so much, but the thing I took away from it all was the power of the Book of Mormon in teaching. We need to use it so that the words are not coming from us, but from God through His chosen prophets. The spirit will always be there when we use the Book of Mormon in our teaching.

Sister missionary is Australia Perth Mission

On mothers day we saw some less active ladies who are old and lonely. It was beautiful to be able to share messages to lift their spirits and remind them how loved they are. They truly have amazing spirits and testimonies. I cherished that time with them. That was one of the highlights of my week. (: 

We read the book of Mormon childrens reader with our little boy that we see regularly this week. We read about a prophet King Benjamin. We read about his sermon. Before it was over he ran away. We called him back but he climbed on top of this pole and started preaching from his very own 'tower'. It was so funny we couldn't stop laughing. He's so cute!! I love that he soaks in everything that we read about. 

That's all for now. I LOVE you all so so so so much. 

Have a fabulous week. Read the Book of Mormon EVERY day! 

<3 

Sister Falter

Planner Selfie! <3

May 4 - Miracles

MAY THE FOURTH BE WITH YOU! 

So since I'm going to hear your voices in 7 days i'm just gonna share a miracle. Sorry it's so short, I just can't be bothered and if I share it all we will have NOTHING to talk about next week. (;

I got to see my dear friend (whom i have never met before), Becca Osborn on SUNDAY!!! She's moving to Vietnam this week, so she rushed down to sacrament meeting in Armadale to say hello and goodbye. I'm sure that's not the last of her I will see, but it will be a while. She was my only contact in WA when I came here and she dropped off my first package to the mission home the day I arrived 5 months ago. (: 

Here I was greeting people, when a young lady walked up to me and said "I came here for you..." I must have looked bewildered because I knew for certain I had never met this lady before. My first thought that was mom was worried about me and payed someone to check up with me at church (I wouldn't have put it passed her --- love you mom hahaha) but then she said her name, and I was SO SO SO excited to see her. She's lovely. <3 Sometimes talking about ranch and enchiladas is all you need to brighten your day. 

That was a miracle

Also I met someone who lived in Seattle for 7 years. He is a few years older than me, and graduated in 2010. He JUST moved back to AU and it was soooo cool to talk to him. He is meeting with the sisters this week, which is pretty cool. He was AWESOME, and when we taught him about what we do, I just wanted him to have all the blessings we receive as members. He's had lots of trials the last couple of years, and all I could think to do was promise him blessings for building a relationship with God. So I did. I hope he listens to them, and to the Spirit this week. 

That was a miracle.

It Poured down Rain this week. POURED. I just stood out there because it felt SOOO GOOD. Miss washinton rain. (:

That was a miracle. 

Finally, we went to see a sweet family we are teaching. The cute boy I talked about last week, who is 8 and his mother. They are beautiful.

We were all together, watching Mormon messages and teaching about prayer. At the end, we knelt as a family and the mum offered a prayer. It was the first family prayer they had ever said. The kids were restless, and it reminded me of home, but the spirit was strong and everyone felt it.

There is power in prayer. 

I have felt it as I've prayed for my family and friends back home. 

As I've prayed for NTHS this week,

As I prayed for the people I teach, my companion, the mission leadership. 

I feel it when I pray for the apostles and prophets.

And for the things I am working on. 

I love the Savior and recognize that He is my advocate with my Heavenly Father. I am forever grateful for Him. 

I love you. 

See ya (talk to ya) soon!!

xoxo

Sister Falter