E-Mail dated 12/31/12

Well, today is the last day of 2012. It's a bit weird thinking about it. It's been a really good year. Since the call I have only had one really interesting experience. Yesterday we were at our flat at the end of the night and after all of our phone calls with our leaders we were just kind of playing around (Yeah, probably not a good idea). My companion had a green laser that he likes to just shine around for the heck of it and so last night he was shining it out of our window. Nek minnit, a helicopter flies past and so he has this brilliant idea to shine it on it. I was in the other room as this happens and then he comes running into the room that I'm in with all the lights off and then as the helicopter goes around again he shines it on it again. I had warned him and told him not to, but oh well. It was a bit scary because it was like circling the building and so we were a bit worried. I jokingly said things like, "Oh great, now we're going to have the police come banging on our door in the middle of the night." We then called up our District Leader and told him what happened and when we got off the phone it was time for bed. A couple minutes after we got off the phone and hopped in bed we hear this loud as pounding on our door. I looked at the door from my bed because it's got window panes and I could see a light outside. I knew it was going to happen. The police came and confiscated the laser from my companion and told him that it could end up in 14 years in prison. BUT, he did say that it will probably only be a warning because we were cooperative and gave a statement. It was quite nerve racking but it should be alright. At least it makes for a good story. Well that's my story for the week. Not much else happened. I only have a couple pictures from Christmas but I'll send them. We don't really do anything heaps special for New Years. We will probably only be going to a Hangi which is a feed that they cook underground. Not much else planned. We might crack open a bottle of Pam's Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Grape Juice. Hope you all have a good New Years. Love you heaps, Elder Lee

E-Mail dated 12/24/12

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!! It's finally here! Well tomorrow any way. It's been so awesome being in this area for Christmas. Yesterday at church was the best Sunday EVER! During the third hour of church we were asked to come into relief society at the end and so we did and they ended up giving us this massive table full of stuff! It was a basket and a couple bags full of just food and shampoo and deodorant and chocolate and yoyos and just about everything you can think of that a missionary would need. It was so much fun. I love this ward. We also have big plans for Christmas and even today after P-Day. Tonight we're going to this investigators house for dinner and she's just a miracle herself. Her name is N and she is a single mum of a very tiny 5 week old baby. When we first knocked on the door she was very apathetic to what we were sharing and didn't really care much to believe in God. We had given her a Book of Mormon and she seemed keen just to read it not for anything else. We tried to say a prayer with her but she said that they don't pray in her house and so we just left with a goodbye. As we've been visiting with her she's changed heaps. She says that we're so close to convincing her that this is the right way and now she prays and wants to feed us even! It's been awesome. Any ways so after her we're going to a couple other investigators. Tomorrow though we're planning to go to like 6 different houses for feeds. It's going to be awesome. We just get to relax! Other than that not much is planned. I did get the package that Mom sent so I'm going to open the one present tonight and then the rest tomorrow. This last week though we had our Christmas Zone Conference which was fun. I got to drive down to Auckland and it's crazy there like D.C. except not quite as messed up. The conference was fun because we got to learn about this new "Master Teacher" thing that's supposed to help us become a better teacher. I'm excited though. It's going to be a mean last bit of my mission. But I'll talk to you more on Christmas so love you heaps. Hope you have lots of questions prepared. Love you heaps. Elder Lee

E-Mail dated 12/17/12

Kia Ora, This week has been an excellent week! We had a mean baptism this last week on Friday. It was one of the most spiritual baptisms that I've been to. What was also cool was that when N got up to bear her testimony she had said in it that she couldn't have done it without us and that we were the perfect missionaries for her (She's met with missionaries for a while). We also did got to some waterfalls for P-day last week which was pretty cool. It was really interesting because it was basically in the middle of a neighborhood. Only in New Zealand! We also have 2 people set for the 29th of this month. One of them is a huge miracle! We were at church yesterday just enjoying our Sacrament meeting when our District Leader waved us over to him. We noticed that he was talking with a young couple. We found out that the guy was a member from Auckland and his girlfriend wasn't a member but had received all the lessons in Auckland and had just come up for the holidays and she really wanted to be baptized. We were so excited but of course we had to maintain our composure so we just talked with them a bit and she said she would be here in Whangarei for about a month or so. It was the miracle that we had been praying for. It was awesome because earlier in the week I had said to my companion that we had to save at least 2 more souls this month and we already have one that wants to get baptized. God really does watch over us and knows the thoughts and intents of our hearts. My companion and I have so much fun because we always know what the other is thinking. It's really weird sometimes but it's hilarious.

E-Mail dated 12/10/12

Kia Ora, Well, it's been another great week in Whangarei! So you all wanted more information on the area so here it goes. We cover two units. ONe is Whangarei 2nd ward and the other is Te Horo branch which is out in a little town called Pipiwai. Whangarei is part of what they call the Northland and is very hilly. I'm grateful to be in a car for that reason. There is a lot more to do here in Whangarei for P-days than there was in Gisborne because it is much bigger. Last P-day we went to Abbey Caves and that was heaps of fun. We took a few pictures but I can't get them to you yet because my hard drive isn't working on these computers for some reason. It was nice and cool down in the caves which is a contrast to outside because it is just like Virginia here except a little bit cooler. It's been a lot of fun in this area because we are teaching so many good people. We've made a goal as a companionship to invite someone to be baptized everyday. Since I've been here we've only missed one day. We had 3 people set with a date for this month but two of them have fallen through because they didn't come to church. One of them, named Pucki, is a 9 year old boy whose parents are less active and are a bit lazy to come to church. The other is named Avin and he is in his twenty's and knows the Book of Mormon is true. He is a good guy but loves to talk. We still have one person set. That is Nancy! She is awesome! She's given up her smoking and is doing so well. She knows just about everything and is just a really nice lady. She's already practically a member. She even signs up to feed us every month. She's getting baptized this Friday at 7:30 PM and we are so excited. We are also teaching a few other people that are really good as well. It was funny this last weekend we were teaching these two sisters that are in their late 20's and one of their sons. Khaviarn (the son) and Katarina (the Mom) committed to coming to church but the other sister said she wasn't going to. We organized a ride and everything for them and then on Sunday when we were making all of our last efforts to get people to church we got a phone call from the ride and they said that Katarina wasn't coming. We also found out that the other sister was. We later asked her what changed her mind and she said she didn't know. She just did. I know that is the power of the Spirit to change the hearts of men to their carnal state to their spiritual state. We also had a mean miracle this last week. We were trying to contact a potential investigator named Makayla and we knocked on her door but it was her sister that answered. Neither my companion or I had ever met her before and so we talked with her and ended up teaching her about the Book of Mormon and the Restoration.She then taught us it back! She had apparently just moved up from Whakatane which is near Gisborne and she had been going to church with her friend down there, but no one had actually told her about the Book of Mormon. She had heard of it but didn't know anything about it. She was so excited to hear that it meant that God's church was on the earth again. We were just so amazed by how prepared she was. It's just been an awesome week. What tops it off is that my companion, Elder Johnson and I get on so well. We have so much fun while working. Even though he's been out for about 3 months, he's the man! He is way better than I was when I was a out for 3 months. I'm not sure if I told you but he's from Adelaide Australia and is into martial arts. He's a pretty stocky fella. He's hilarious. So being here in Christmas isn't all that weird anymore. It's pretty nice. Getting to go to bbq's at christmas time is quite nice. I love being in New Zealand. People still have Christmas trees here with little snowflake decorations but I don't much notice Snowman decorations. So I'll try and look out for it. Love you all heaps, Elder Lee

E-Mail dated 12/3/12

Kia Ora, First Happy Birthday Dad, even though it was just the other day. It sounds like you all have had a busy and fun week. It's been an awesome week for me. As you all guessed I have been transferred. It was a bit gutting at first but I'm allgoods with it now. It was funny though because Elder Gentry in my last ward replaced me so he just moved down the road about 3 minutes. That's the first time I've heard of that happening. I've been shifted to Whangarei. Which is up in the Northland. It was a long trip because I came from all the way down at the bottom. It's been a mean last few days though. My companion's name is Elder Johnson and he is from Adelaide Australia. He's the man! We've been having so much success and fun as we've been working hard. The investigators here are all so good! They practically all have a testimony of the Book of Mormon but there's always like one or two things that get in the way. Oh and I'm in a car area again but this time I'm the driver! It's been so nice. I missed being in a car. Since I've been here I've been able to meet a few members of the ward and the Bishop is just on to it. He's knows what he's doing. He came with us to a lesson and invited her to be baptized and he set her for the 14th. It's been heaps of fun though, and I love this area. It's still crazy to think that you're going to be in Utah for Christmas and that Ryan and Brittany are having a baby! Speaking of Christmas coming up. Can you let me know what phone number I'm supposed to be calling as well as what time? That's about all I can think of. Hope you have a good week. Love you Heaps, Elder Lee

E-Mail dated 11/26/12

Kia Ora, So from everyone's email this week it's been a crazy week. I completely forgot about Thanksgiving. Oh well, it's been fun down here as well. We had a wedding for the other Elders' investigators. It was way hectic because they have one rowdy family. We've been told that looking back on it we're going to see rowdy families and think Man that's nothing! It was good to have their wedding though so now they can get baptized. Not much else happened last week. We had a linger longer after church yesterday because it was the Primary Program which I got to help with which has been heaps of fun. Then we got asked to help out yesterday in Primary doing the Music time because the lady that normally does it had to go with the nursery kids. It was cool though. I was a little caught off guard though cuz I didn't know what I was doing and yet she asked me to conduct. This week is transfers but I don't know what's going to happen. We don't find out until the night before. So I could go but I hope not. I love Gisborne so much. Well I got to go but I love you all heaps. Sincerely, Elder Lee

E-Mail dated 11/19/12

Kia Ora, It's good to hear from you. I can't believe you skipped out on Stake Conference! That's just sad! But, not much to report this week. We had our Zone Conference this last week which was pretty mean. We got to drive up on Wednesday to Hamilton. It was even more fun because I got to drive for some reason! It's been good here in Gisborne though. I love it here because it feels a lot like home. All we did for P-day last week is we played mini-golf again. I won this time with a score of 13. We also hung out with the other elder's neighbors. They're a less active family but they are so funny. Well our Zone Conference was the only thing that really happened this week. It was awesome because it was on the Doctrine of Christ and it taught me a lot about faith and repentance. We also started a scripture study class this last Friday and it only had one person there. But it's just the start so it'll get there. I love you heaps and pray for you all the time. Ofa Atu, Elder Lee