E-mail dated 12/11/11

Kia Ora,

So this week has been a really good learning week. I was able to go on trade-offs with the Zone Leaders on thursday. I was leading my area. This trade-off was to see if I am ready to train. This new program, called train the trainer, is crazy. We have an extra hour of study every day to make sure I'm prepared to train. My companion thinks I''m ready. I wonder what the Zone Leaders think. We were able to teach this new family. They are keen as to read the Book of Mormon and Pray. L, the husband to P, who we are teaching, is really keen and came to church yesterday. It was amazing. We think he really liked it because my companion and I spoke in sacrament and when we talked to him after, he told us that he really liked it and had this big smile on his face. Another miracle that Elder Whaanga and I experienced yesterday is that we were being fed by a member yesterday night but they needed us to pick it up. The only problem was that we didn't know where they lived. We had to call our bishop because the number we had for them wasn't working. Our bishop gave us an address. It was 2/35 H Dr. There are 2 streets that have very similar names. One is H Dr. and the other is H Dr. South. So he left off the south part but we didn't know so we go to H and get to the house and we look at it and were a bit put off by the way the house looked. It had broken windows and a car in front that looks like it hasn't moved in 100 years. We were starting to think that it was a typo in the message because there was only a 35 H not a 2/35. We were about to go when all of a sudden the gate in front swung open because of the wind. I said to my companion half joking, "I think that is a sign from God to go talk to them." When we went to the door and talked to the guy he was a 29 year old guy and Elder Whaanga asked him, "Have you ever heard of the Book of Mormon." He then has us wait for a second as he goes to get something and come back. He came back with a scripture case in his hand. He told us how his uncle was a member and how he already has a Book of Mormon. He saw the changes that his uncle made in joining the church and was interested. It was a miracle. We now have a return appointment. His name is K. Yeah its an interesting name. My comanion and I also had a talk about things that I could work on. I'm really trying to make myself better. I was going to let this be a surprise but I have given up cracking my knuckles. I stopped like 2 weeks ago. It wasn't that hard surprisingly. The only food I don't like hard out is Kina. That stuff is really not that good. I was trying not to gag as I swallowed it. It's basically a sea urchent tongue. Oh and I like fish now, but not crab meat. It is pretty weird having it being warm during this time of year. For Christmas, we're going to have a barbeque with a member and we are going to have breakfast with R and A. I'm so excited! Oh and you didn't tell me that Haley is getting married but I did already know that from Gram. I didn't, however, know that Justin and Jeff were getting married. (Mom needs to add for reader sake they are not marrying each other) That's crazy! Sounds like everything is going great back home. Keep up the good work!

Ofa Atu,

Elder Lee

P.S. I attached a picture of our recent convert, Jermaine Reihana. He is Venessa's son and he just got baptized this last Saturday. It has been another great week.

Email dated 12/04/11

Kia Ora Everyone,

How are you all doing? I have had a good week this week. We have been working really hard at being exactly obedient so that we can be blessed with miracles. We were able to teach a new family the restoration this week. We committed them to reading and praying about the Book of Mormon. When we went back a day or two later one of them read and prayed and felt good about it. We feel really good about this family but they need to come to church. We have also been trying to teach this other lady and her family but she always seems to be tied up with the kids and wants to do it another day. We have also been teaching our recent converts. R just got called as the YM secretary. He is truly amazing. L is doing really well. She goes to choir practice and is going to feed us on Wednesday. She also is trying to get her children to sit down with us to learn. V and her kids are doing great. J (her son) is getting baptized this Saturday and he is so excited for it. We are also trying to teach the rest of her kids but one of her daughters is afraid of gettting baptized because she is afraid of deep water. It has been a good week but I'm looking forward to a better week this week. Oh also, I would like some different shoes to play sports in because the Merrels are hard to play basketball in, but I'm in no rush so don't worry about it it its too much of a problem. Oh and this last week I got a really nice $200 jacket. I got it for $60! I would like to get you all some christmas presents but I don't know what you all want. Also, Dad, I meant to write it in the last email but Happy Birthday last Wednesday! Sorry I didn't get to say it last week. Hope you all are doing well. Please let me know if you have any questions for me because I can't remember half the stuff I want to tell you when I write these emails.

Talk to you next week!

Ofa Atu,

Elder Lee

Email dated 11/27/11

Kia Ora,

So this week was a really good week! I baptized L.R (One of our investigators). Her and J just got baptized on this last Saturday. Here are some pictures. We have another baptism coming up this Saturday. His name is J. He is V's son. We also have two new investigators. One's name is M. She is only like 18 but she attended her friend's baptism and she wanted to learn more. We taught her the resto and then invited her to read and pray. She has been reading and she finds it interesting. We are also teaching this lady named N. She is a Fijian and she is open to everyone coming around but we also taught her the resto. She has committed to reading and praying about the Book of Mormon and we're going to follow up with her on Thursday. All of our investigators are amazing. We have been teaching people like crazy. We have at least 20 lessons a week with members present. I love missionary work. Elder Whaanga and I fasted yesterday for a miracle. After church my companion went and talked to a lady right outside the church while I was sorting out the Membership records. He told me that she seems golden and we are going to teach her tonight. I hope and pray that we can have another miracle. I love to hear about everyone's week and I do want to see pictures of the house now. Also, if Mom or Dad could send me my line of authority it would be much appreciated. This is all I can think of right now. Love you all!

Ofa Atu

Elder Lee


Email dated 11/20/11

Kia Ora Everyone!

I had my first baptism the other day. We then gave him the Holy Ghost yesterday and then we gave him the Aaronic priesthood. I ordained him to a priest as well as baptize him. My companion gave him the Holy Ghost. It was quite nerve racking but it was really good. He is so funny. The next class after sacrament he said to me you know what the first thing I'm going to do with the priesthood is? Baptize Jack! (His dog) I started to laugh and corrected him, but I have to go.

Ofa Atu

Elder Lee