KIA ORA (friends) 10-30-16

Another week!!! This week went so fast!!! And I hit 8 Months this week. SO CRAZY! Cannot believe it.  We are getting ready for Christmas lights here at the VC, and it's going to be amazing. We will get to each individually bear testimony to 10,000+ people it will be so humbling!

This week the CRAZIEST miracle happened. On P-Day, last week after I emailed you, we went to the City Centre and we walked by the Body Shop and we just wanted to smell some scents, while we were in there the worker called out to us and said "Are you Mormons" We said yes and she said "How do I become a mormon?" WHATTTT We were in complete shock, we told her all she needs to do, and she said " I just found out I am pregnant, and I want an eternal famliy"Wow. it was so humbling that the spirit guided us to be in the right place, at the right time, with the right people. it was so special to be able to witness this miracle. She gave us her info and we sent it to the local missionaries!!! 

While at shift at the VC this week, there was a RM who was telling us he served in Japan and got reassigned while out to Sydney south mission in Aussie, I asked if he knew Elder Meyer(my cousin) and he said yes! I asked what his last name was so I could tell him hello, and he said"Just tell him I am the Elder with one leg" he then grabbed his leg and hit it to show it was fake. His friend said "Do you remember the talk from conference about the missionary with a fake leg who tried riding a bike, and his mission president reassigned him?" I said yes, and he said that is him. His name is Peter Cowan. WOW. How humbled I felt to know such a strong Son of God. It was so humbling to see! I felt so grateful to meet him.

I hope you are all doing well. and HAPPY HALLOWEEN!! I love you each so much, have the best week ever. and NEVER FORGET that Jesus Christ thought YOU worthy of his blood. I love you so much!!! 

Arohanui,

Sister Maddie DeLoach

KIA ORA AGAIN!!! 10-30-16

Wow, this week was SO fast!!! I will hit 8 MONTHS this week. I cannot believe that. Time is sure going so fast, and it's already November tomorrow! Happy Halloween everyone! Halloween is the saddest holiday here, it's like not a thing. I was so stoked for the halloween party and no one hardly came in costume or anything!! I felt like the biggest kid there, and made everyone say "Trick or Treat" haha. They are a little behind us on a few things. 

Well last time I emailed you, after we emailed, we went to the City Centre, and the BIGGEST MIRACLE happened. We were walking and we walked by the Body Shop. It's so expensive, so obviously we wouldn't buy anything, but we felt like we should go in and smell the scents. We went in and the worker from the check out stand, called out to us and said "Are you Mormons?" we quickly said yes and she said "how do I become a Mormon" WHATTTT my face probably looked stunned. haha I was in shock. We quickly told her that she would need to meet with missionaries and learn about the gospel and then be baptized. She said "I just found out I am pregnant, and I want an eternal family." Wow. It was such a miracle that the spirit directed us to "smell the scents" and to really save a soul. It was so humbling. I felt sooo grateful, it really set the tone for this week. I had a much better week.

This week while in the Visitors Centre, I met a Returned missonary, as he was talking, he said he served in Japan, but got reassigned to Sydney South mission, I asked if he knew Elder Meyer, and he said YES! I said that was amazing and asked for his surname so that I could ask Jackson, and he said just tell him I am the Elder with one leg, he then grabbed his leg, and slapped it indicating it was fake. I had no idea. His friend said "Do you remember the general conference talk about the Elder who rode a bike his whole mission with one leg, and his fake leg kept breaking? so they reassigned him?" I said yes, and he said, That is Him!!!!! His name is Peter Cowan and he is my HERO! He is such a courageous young man, and I have learned heaps from his story. If you didn't hear it in conference I invite you to go back and listen to it!! 

Well it was the ward halloween party this week and it was really fun. TWO less active families came, and one amazing thing about the lady who we showed up at her house a few weeks back and helped her clean when she most needed it, we went over this week and literally we always turn up right when she needs it. She told us of her partner and how he has ill feelings towards the church, and how he has been absuive for quite sometime and she wants to leave him, it's just so hard. She told us, I know heavenly Father knows and loves me though because he put sisters in this ward. "I prayed for so long that he would put sisters in here, if  you aren't here for anything else, know that you are here for me. I really need you." It was so humbling and such a surreal moment to know you really meant so much to someone!!! 

Well it was a great week, literally cannot believe it's been 8 months, it's so crazy. Time is going so fast, Thanksgiving is coming soon, and then Christmas! Time is getting crazy here and that is because we have Christmas lights coming up. The whole country usually comes and I will get to bare testimony to 10,000+ people within the period of a few weeks. So grateful to see blessings from my patriricahl blessing coming forth. What a blessing to be a part of this work. I am humbled and grateful. I heard from Elder Critchlow this week, and he has grown so much he even told me I was his favorite cousin;) haha I hope that's not a lie! I love you each so much, and wish you the best week. KEEP THE FAITH, KEEP ON TREKKIN!!!! 

Arohanui, 

Sister Maddie DeLoach

Kia Ora Friends 10-24-16

Another week! Wow time is flying!!! 

I hope you are all doing amazing. I'd absolutely love to hear from you all! I know times are so busy right now with school!! Moved flats this week, and ours looks like a gma flat, hahah we love it though, we didn't have hot water for a few days so bucket showers it was! Makes you humble!

\Well, this CRAZY old lady who is smoke-aholic and who you can tell had a really sad life, she has the same skin as micheal jackson. She asked us "Are Yous Fags" HUH??? ahhah we were so confused and then she said are you two lesbian... WHAT?!?!? Didn't really think about it that it does probably look weird two females going everywhere together haha. Her name is Louisa though and she is a Less Active member, hasn't been for 50+ years. Has no family, really does have the saddest life, she just smokes, and sleeps. We bring her happiness and hope when we come, if she is nice to us, and we felt like we should go before church, so we did, and we would NOT accept no as an answer if she was coming to church, we got her ready, brushed her hair and even put on her sandles that her cat peed in.. haha they were her only ones... and we walked with her to church. She STAYED for one hour, and you wouldn't believe the difference of personality she had immeditely of walking into the chapel. It was amazing, I know that that is dedicated building!!! I know the spirit is SO strong there!!! 

Also had a miracle at the Visitors Centre that happened to me. There was a girl from Minnesota who served in polland, and her boyfriend was from finland, he is over here visiting her because she is doing an internship here in NZ for a few weeks. Anyways, she was talking to me and she said she really felt like she wanted to bring us lunch tomorrow and little did she know that I had really been praying for some guidance and peace, and she and her boyfriend came the next day and brought us sushi and we had a picnic on the temple grounds, and we were able to talk, and it was exactly what I needed. I am so grateful to heavenly father who truly does weird or crazy things to make sure we know that we are loved. I know he loves you, and look for those around you, let them serve you. You never know if they are the answer to your prayer. I love you each so much. Keep going, keep walking, don't give up. And as my brother Dayton says "keep trekkin"

Arohanui,

Sister Maddie DeLoach 

Kia Ora.. Another Week 10-24-16

What a week! We moved flats this week, and the flat we are now in looks like a grandma flat, no offense grams, your flat is gorgeous hahah :) For the first few days we didn't have hot water, so luckily my comp showed me how to have a bucket shower... Oh the gratitude I had when the hot water came back on.. hahah:) 

Well this week was a huge miracle. One day I was just really feeling down, and this girl and her boyfriend came in, I could recognize her accent though, YES she was American! And she was from Minnesota, she served her mission in polland, and her boyfriend was from finland, and just came over here to visit her, she is doing an internship here. Anywho, they were so nice and we were talking to them, my companion was talking to samuel, the boy and I was talking to Katie and she said, "Things are hard right now, huh?" I got tears in my eyes and told her, YES. She said, we are bringing lunch tomorrow. They got our number, and the next day we met them here at the temple, and had a picnic on the temple grounds, ate sushi, talked and laugh and got to know each other. I really felt like we were so much alike and it was REALLY something I needed at that exact point in my life. I really needed Katie to know that I wasn't okay. We had the best talks, and she compliments my green stone ring, that I love with all my heart, and I felt that I should give it to her for how big of an answer she was to my prayers, I put it on her hand and she just wept. She was so grateful, she took off a ring of her hand and put it on mine, and now we are forever friends. I am so grateful for Katie and Samuel. They were seriously a miracle in my life. 

A few months ago  I told you about this old lady that was so cute who came to the VC who loved to talk about Jesus, Well she is in the Sunnyhills area and we go and sing to her, and talk about Jesus. This week when we showed up, she shouted from across the room and came running, she was SO excited to see us. It was SO cute!!! I love her to death. It was really funny because across the room a JW (jehovah witness) was there and JUST staring so hard at us hahaha.

Well, interesting, this week.. Luke the poem guy we met at the VC told us "I read the Book of Mormon, and it's not true." hmm.. in the moment, you really aren't so sure what to say, so we just bore testimony and he came to the conclusion that he would finish reading before he said that. I really hope he comes to know for himself!! I do know that the Book of Mormon is true, and how humbling it is to know that EVERYONE will receive an answer if they are humble enough to do so!

Well, this CRAZY old lady who is smoke-aholic and who you can tell had a really sad life, she has the same skin as micheal jackson. She asked us "Are Yous Fags" HUH??? ahhah we were so confused and then she said are you two lesbian... WHAT?!?!? Didn't really think about it that it does probably look weird two females going everywhere together haha. Her name is Louisa though and she is a Less Active member, hasn't been for 50+ years. Has no family, really does have the saddest life, she just smokes, and sleeps. We bring her happiness and hope when we come, if she is nice to us, and we felt like we should go before church, so we did, and we would NOT accept no as an answer if she was coming to church, we got her ready, brushed her hair and even put on her sandles that her cat peed in.. haha they were her only ones... and we walked with her to church. She STAYED for one hour, and you wouldn't believe the difference of personality she had immeditely of walking into the chapel. It was amazing, I know that that is dedicated building!!! I know the spirit is SO strong there!!! 

Also, I received a blessing this week by the District leader, and he just sobbed as he gave it and he shared with me about the LOVE my heavenly MOTHER has for me. I had never experienced anything like it, and he was like drained after, he told me that he has never felt that in a blessing before, I felt so happy to know that Heavenly Father and Mother really do know and love me so much. 

Miracles, and more miracles, I am trying to put our differences aside and realize we have on purpose and that is to bring others unto Christ. I am so grateful for all you all do for me. I love you so much. I received your letters mom and dad, and THANK YOU. I felt so grateful when I received those. I can't wait to talk to you all next week!!! 

Arohanui,

Sister Maddie DeLoach 

Friends 10-16-16

Hello!!!! How are you all??? Sorry I don't have much time at all, but I just wanted to tell each of you I LOVE YOU!!! 

This week was better than the last, and this week we saw so many miracles!! We felt prompted to visit this less active member and while there we could tell she wasn't herself, we offered to clean her house and she said no, we did anyways :) haha we cleaned her house and all of a sudden she started sobbing and said "right before you  came I found out I have cleaning checks tomorrow and I had no idea how I was going to do it all" What a miracle to be able to help someone who truly needed help. She just wept and her gratitiude was for her Heavenly Father, who really heard and answered her prayers. I know he hears and answers your prayers. I know he loves you. If you feel far away from him, just turn around. He is right there always. 

This area is gorgeous but quite challenging, funny how just across the road the people got a little more difficult.. haha but I do love it, and I am up for anything my Heavenly Father see's fit for me. THIS TOO SHALL PASS, whatever you are going through, be patient he does love and care about you!!

Arohanui,

Sister DeLoach 

Kia Ora 10-16-16

Hello Family!!! Sounds like from Mom's email you are all happy and well. I just wanted to write and tell you each how much I love you. I have really thought about each of you a lot this week, and the influence you've played in my life. I have learned so much from every single one of you.

Dad- I have learned to NEVER quit. You have taught me to take what life throws at me and to be happy in return that I have a life. You are such an inspiration to me. 

Mom- You have taught me to look for the good in others. To be gracious, and loving. YOU have taught me that when things are HARD they are worth it. I LOVE YOU

Josh- You have taught me happiness. You have taught me to look at the hearts of others, to see who they can become. You have taught me to love differences that I find in others, you have taught me to NEVER stop giving my very best. I love you very much.

Kurt-You have taught me to be positive. To look for ways to serve, and to sacrifice for those that I love. You are such a great example, and happy almost birthday :))) 

Jordan- You have taught me to be patient, to be kind, and to laugh. You are such a wonderful mom, and you seriously would do anything for your kids and I love that about you.

Dallin- You have taught me to work hard. You have taught me to continue doing what I know is right and I will be blessed, thank you for that!!

Devyn- you have taught me that I CAN accept change. To look for the good in others, and to accept whatever change happens with ease and peace.

Dayton- You have taught me to find common ground. To be a peacemaker, to make others feel important, and to never give up no matter how many times I fall.

Joey- You have taught me to put in the time to be my best. You are such a great student, husband dad and brother. You are amazing

Salem- You have taught me to put what's important first in life. You sacrifice a lot of your time to be  wonderful mother. You also have taught me to get out of my comfort zone, and to serve. Even If I don't want to. YOU are a beautiful mother. 

Kru- I love you bud, keep doing your best at school and football, be nice to everyone and try to make one NEW friend every single day!!

Mado- I Love you!! Keep being happy and keep smiling, do good at school and know I love you!!

Nixo- Be a nice boy. I love you so much, don't kick punch or bite;)

Coco- Hi birthday twinny!! I love you keep smiling talk to you soon:)) 

Skylar- Hi priincess, How is school? I love you heaps, keep being nice and dancing

Drew- I hope you remember me.. hahah probably not. I LOVE YOU keep sleeping

Jersey- Hi jers jers, keep sleeping for mum, keep smiling, and keep being happy I LOVE YOU

I Love you all so much, and these are just a few things I reflected on this week. I love you each so much and so grateful for these lessons I get to share with my brothers and sister here in NZ!

This week has been really hard, yet really humbling. I realized when you are with someone 24/7 and you still feel really alone, you need to really lean on your Savior Jesus Christ. It's been challenging, but humbling to know that he is there for me, he does care about me and he see's what I cannot. I know he does love me despite this hard time in my life. THIS TOO SHALL PASS has become my new mindset.. hahah :) 

This week was actually amazing, I feel like the more disobedient my companion acts the more EXACTLY obedient it makes me want to be and help her be. The other day after morning prayers she started climbing back into bed I just said "come on you can do it" she then got out of bed. I know that the Savior in my life often says "come on you can do it" So it was nice to help someone else. 

We felt as though we should visit this less active lady the other day with 5 small children. As we got there she had her walls up in the sense she wasn't being super friendly, we kept talking anyways and just offered to help her clean her house, she said no, but we insisted. We cleaned her whole house and she just started sobbing and said "Right before you came I got a call that I have cleaning checks tomorrow" Her baby was sick, and she had no idea how she was going to do it, and then we came:) and cleaned her whole house. "He answers my prayers, I am so grateful." she said. What a blessing to be able to warm others before we warn them.I know that He does care. I saw it first hand, and it's humbling to remember he doesn't just love you, but he ALSO loves your enemies (or your hard comps;) ahahha 

I hope you know how much I love you each. Thank you for helping me to be happy from thousands of miles away. You are my happiness, and so is this gospel. Thank you for all you do for me!! 

Arohanui, 

Sister Maddie DeLoach 

Hello Friends 10-9-16

I've been transferred to Sunnyhills Ward, in Hamilton still and I am still serving at the Visitors Centre. It was really hard to say goodbye to my Family in the Lake Ward, I literally just moved across the street, Sunnyhills is still in the same chapel, ahah but I really miss those people I have grown to love the past 6 months. My companion is Sister Hekau, she is Niuean and is from Auckland NZ. She is quite different from all my other companions, but I know with time we will be able to connect better...

We have been double shifted in and into an area that hasn't had sisters for ages, so it's kinda like starting from scratch, but I know the Lord will help us!! We had our first miracle at a less active members home, we went to visit her on request from the Relief Society president and when we got there there was a big gate covering her house, luckily and miracle she was coming to unlock it for her daughter and we happened to just be right there. She talked with us and gave us her number. Well, we went to Bishops house after, and told him and he was in SHOCK he said she hasn't let anyone in or talked to anyone from the church in 10+ years. She is the bishops neighbor and won't even let them come deliver a Christmas gift. MIRACLES 

Well, please pray for my companion and I, and this area. I really love you all so much, and am so grateful to be a missionary! 

Arohanui, 

Sister DeLoach 

Hey Fam! 10-9-16

SO good to talk to you all, I really needed this today. 

As you know I got a really hard companion, her name is Sister Hekau, I am just transferred across the road to Sunnyhills Area, and still in the Visitors Centre. Can't believe I am still here I reckon I will be here(in the VC) for 9 months straight of my mission which is pretty crazy. 

Well, I had a really hard time saying goodbye to the Lake Ward, I really became family in that ward, and I am so eternally grateful for the experiences I had that shaped who I am today. I feel really grateful. I also really miss Sister Gurney, luckily I still get to see her everyday, and have someone normal to talk to!! 

Well, Sister Hekau and I got double shifted in which means we are both new in the area, and we are new sisters into this ward, and so we basically are starting from scratch, I have no idea how the Lord has this must trust in me, but I won't let him down. I feel really inadequate, but I know I can do it. 

General Conference was really good, I loved Elder Bednar's talk about believing Christ and Believing in Christ. I do know that there is a difference and I am personally still trying to work on that in my life. I am so grateful for the inspiration we can receive from God's living prophets and apostles.

Last night the 70 over New Zealand came and spoke to the VC, his name is Elder Thompson, he told us after hearing the words of a prophet and apostle we need to make an action plan of how we will implement them into our lives. He talked about listening with our heart, and not just our ears. I hope that whatever the spirit whispered to you to fix in your life to become more inline with the teachings, I hope you will do it. I am planning on doing it my life too. I love you all, I really need your prayers at this time. I am having a hard time. I know that I can make it. No doubt. I love you all and am so grateful for you in my life. I love my family!!!

Our first day here, we went to this referrals house we got from the Relief Society President, and she is Less Active member named Kathleen. When we went there she had a fence in front of her house, and there was really no way to get in and right then she just happened to be coming to open the fence for her daughter, and we were able to talk to her and able to get her number and then we went to the Bishops house and told him and he said that is a complete miracle, that no one in the past 10 years has got past that fence, and that they don't even open it for Christmas!!! 

MIRACLES 

Arohanui,

Sister Maddie DeLoach 

Kia Ora (friends) 10-1-16

Grateful and Humbled. 

This week is transfers, and I have no idea if I'll get shifted or not, I am keen for a change, but I do know that the Lord is in charge. Please read "Fourth Floor Last Door" By: Uchtdorf, I promise it will touch each, girl or boy I promise it will have an effect on you!! 

Well I just want to share a part of a man's testimony that he bore in testimony meeting yesterday, this man is named Brother Salima, and he is Samoan, is probably in his 50's and has a few children. He bore his testimony and said,

 "Today I am grateful. As you all know I am looking for a job, and I will continue to look. But today I feel grateful. I received a text this morning that said "today at noon your power will be shut off" I called the lady and she wouldn't answer, I really will pay my bill he thought to himself. He texted the lady back and said "Today is my Sabbath Day, I cannot break the Sabbath, so I cannot pay today, please I will pay tomorrow if you will please extend my payment." He said he got a text back and it said "your power will be cut off tomorrow at noon." He just wept as he said, and today I am grateful. Grateful that Heavenly Father answers our prayers that he loves us and he loves me."

How humbled and grateful I feel to be a full time servant of my Savior Jesus Christ. How grateful I feel to be on God's Army, at the front line for these people here in New Zealand. I feel humbled and grateful for the kindness of the people of whom I serve. I want to bare you EACH my testimony that I know this is the only true church on the Earth. I know that Thomas S. Monson is called of God to lead and guide us in the last days. Most of all I want you to know that I love my mission, I love the people here, and I will forever feel gratitude for my Savior Jesus Christ who allowed me, and imperfect being, to be able to help bring my brothers and sisters back to our fathers presence. I feel so much happiness. I know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ know and LOVE you. Keep doing what is right, I promise you, that Lord knows and LOVES YOU.

Arohanui, 

Sister DeLoach