Kia Ora Friends 11-30-16

HELLO all!

Hope you each had a Happy Thanksgiving. I just wanted to share a tender mercy that happened to me yesterday! Well today in the states is My Mum's Birthday, which was yesterday here in the promised land;) and anywho we went out tracting and the first two peoples houses we knocked on their names were CAMILLE. That is my mums name and it seriously was such a sweet tender mercy from heavenly father that he DOES love me, he DOES hear my prayers. Later that night sitting at the Visitors Centre, her EXACT car drove by, and once again, I felt the simple nudge from my Heavenly Father that he was aware of me, he loved me. 

As you all know I am sure, but #LIGHTTHEWORLD is now released, and so GO NOW to Mormon.org and check it out. We had training on it from SLC and they said that as a church they feel that this is the best video they have ever released.. AND I AGREE!! Also today being december 1 here, the theme today is Christ lifted others burdens and YOU can too! Today I will lift others burdens, and no that doesn't mean I will go and pick up another sisters companion even if they are their burden;) I will just do something simple like the Savior did. I know you can do it too!

I told you a few weeks ago, that we were online teaching and a lady came online and told us how she took her name off the church records because of Anti Material she read, but that SHE knew that this was the true church and was trying to come back, well.. SHE GOT PERMISSION TO GET RE-BAPTIZED!! This weekend one of our investigators all the way across the world, in California will be entering the waters of baptism. So grateful to online teach, and for the blessing of social media. The work truly is hastening, I wish you could be on the other side of Mormon.org and see all the questions and many places people are calling from, it's truly a testimony to me that this gospel IS right now reaching every kindred, tongue, and people. I am so grateful to be apart of GODS ARMY! I love you all heaps, and I pray literally for you all every single day! 

I hope you know how much you mean to me, I LOVE YOU!

Arohanui,

Sister DeLoach 

Kia Ora Whanau 11-30-16

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MUM!!! Her birthday was yesterday for us in the Promised Land;) BUT I just wanted to share a tender mercy that My Heavenly Father gave to me. I woke up so happy that it was Moms birthday and we went out tracting. The FIRST two houses we went to the persons name was CAMILLE. AND they were both SO nice. I just got a tear to my eye and felt that Heavenly Father did know me, and he does hear my prayers. Later that night we went to the Visitors Centre, and moms EXACT car drove by and again, I felt that he loves me and blessed me with a tender mercy.

I am so glad everyone had such a great thanksgiving, I hear you laughed about my bagel and my laugh attacks, and I am sure you will miss me on Christmas at 5 a.m.... haha BUT nonetheless, I am so grateful you all got to be together. This week we decorated for Christmas here at the VC, and it took about 4 hours, we had to do 4 HUGE trees, and MAN was I a great help, sorry mom for all the past 19 years of my life for being useless at helping, haha I promise I will be better!

Well right now in our area we are working with the Tumai family, they are less active and have a daughter who is 10 who isn't baptized. Her name is Atawhai and she is beautiful. We have been able to teach her these past few weeks, and this past week, her Dad said he is willing to go through any process to be able to baptize his daughter!!!!! YAY!! I am so excited and happy to see heavenly fathers hand in so many peoples lives. It's seriously amazing to see people soften and see their hearts change in a matter of a few weeks.

 Another great thing is the woman I told you about that came online and her name was Bon, she left the church a few years ago because of anti material and she was trying to come back, well SHE GOT PERMISSION TO GET RE-BAPTIZED THIS WEEKEND!!!! She is getting baptized on Saturday in California, and it's been so humbling to see the power of online teaching and social media in allowing us to teach her this far away. She is so nervous yet so excited, and I am so excited for her!! 

Well, I am sure you have seen #LIGHTTHEWORLD but I challenge each of you to go to Mormon.org, and to watch the short video the church just released, we got training from Salt Lake a few weeks ago and they said as a church they feel this is the best video ever released. There are also 25 days and 25 ways little things we can do daily to be more christlike. December 1 is Christ lifted others burdens, and YOU can too. Today I will lift anothers burdens, try my best to follow my Saviors example!! Don't chat with a representative on the page though, because that could be me.. hahaha or maybe do;) 

Anywho, I just wanted you each to know that I am happy! Life isn't or this mission isn't what I expected it, but it's the beauty of it. I am loving being here at the Visitors Centre, I love the family unit here, and I love seeing the HASTENING of the work, I promise if you could see how busy mormon.org and chat are and from the DIVERSE places these are coming from and the questions these people have you could see that the work is progressing, it truly will meet every nation, tongue and people. And I am EXCITED to be a part of it. 

I love you all heaps, please watch the christmas video. YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF MY WORLD!!

p.s.. everything I eat my lips have an allergic reaction and I look like Kylie Jenner.. hahah

Arohanui,

Sister DeLoach 

Hello Friends 11-20-16

I'm alive, and so I won't complain. What a trying week, but I know that means they should look up from here. :) I am still in Sunnyhills, with Sister Hekau!!

SISTER TAULA IS BACK IN THE VC AND IT MAKES ME SOO HAPPY!!! 

This week I had the sacred opportunity to learn a lot. I learned a lot this week that you can't help others change if they aren't willing to. BUT I have learned that you CAN change yourself. You can learn to be patient, humble, and teachable and you can try to be like Jesus.

We had a fireside last night that us Visitors Centre sisters put on, it was called testimony of songs, and we sang 4 songs and each bore a simple testimony. I can honestly say I felt the spirit so strong, as I bore my testimony to 100+ people. One of the songs was I'm Trying to be like Jesus, some of the words say "I'm trying to be like Jesus, I'm trying to love my neighbor, love one another as Jesus Loves you TRY TO SHOW KINDNESS IN ALL THAT YOU DO." The words so hit me and I felt that I can finally say I am honestly trying my best to be like Jesus, I am trying to show kindness in all that I do. Grateful for the added word of TRYING. 

We are expecting 21,000 people for Christmas lights so I will get to bare my testimony to that many people. OH HOW GRATEFUL I FEEL!!! 

I'd super appreciate the prayers for all missionaries over the holiday season. I hope you each have an AMAZING Thanksgiving. I am thankful for each of you!

Arohanui,

Sister DeLoach 

Hello 11-20-16

I had a really trying week. On the plus side I've lost like 5 lbs! This week was really really hard for me. I hate emailing these type of things, because I don't want you to be worried about me. I really am perfectly fine, just going through a growing period, and growing often requires an amount of pain. I feel in life it is impossible to help people who aren't willing to change, because change has to be something that we decide for ourselves. I have learned that I cannot change others, BUT I really can change myself. I can have joy every single day of my life, and I can always be happy. I have studied and learned HEAPS about Patience, and I am slowly starting to feel it be an actual factor in my life. 

Besides that, I really felt the spirit really strong this week. Particularly one day at lunch, when I just wanted to give up. I wanted to find an escape from my companion and I just went outside and prayed. I literally felt the warmest feeling and I felt Heavenly Father give me a hug. I know he loves me, and I know he is there for me. I feel such a personal connection with him. We had a fireside last night that us Visitors Centre sisters put on, it was called testimony of songs, and we sang 4 songs and each bore a simple testimony. I can honestly say I felt the spirit so strong, as I bore my testimony to 100+ people. One of the songs was I'm Trying to be like Jesus, some of the words say "I'm trying to be like Jesus, I'm trying to love my neighbor, love one another as Jesus Loves you TRY TO SHOW KINDNESS IN ALL THAT YOU DO." The words so hit me and I felt that I can finally say I am honestly trying my best to be like Jesus, I am trying to show kindness in all that I do. We are expecting 21,000 people for Christmas lights so I will get to bare my testimony to that many people. OH HOW GRATEFUL I FEEL!!! 

Oh coolest thing happened, on one really bad day, this man walked in and said are you sister deloach, I said YES he said here is a letter from Sister Hayley Sorensen, she is in my ward in Denmark. He was on a business trip here and came out of his way to deliver me a letter from Hayley who lives halfway across the world. TENDER MERCIES

Craige received the Melchezidek Priesthood AND spoke at Stake Conference. I love that man. He truly is a CONVERT!! Our stake president, President Sutcliff, talked about choices. He talked about there are three choices, one is a good choice, one is a bad choice, and one is inert. He said people who don't come to church is because they are lazy. He said another word for being lazy is a LACK of Faith. I invite you each to think about your life, and if you feel intert or lazy in anything to begin to read Alma 32. You will LEARN that faith can start just by having a desire. I know that as we read the scriptures though, we ACTUALLY have to apply them to ourselves. Nothing is more frsutrating than to see people pretend and read something and then not follow and become. I know that the Lord will help us in our efforts. I hope that you each know how much I love you. I know this week is Thanksgiving, and I am so jealous you each get to be with family. I know that time is going so fast, and I hope you know most of all I am THANKFUL for YOU. And for my Savior Jesus Christ. I feel his love, and I feel your love. I know that I can overcome this, but it will take the prayers of the righteous!!! I love you all HEAPS!!! 

Arohanui, 

Sister Maddie DeLoach 

Kia Ora (Friends) 11-13-16

I OPENED MY MISSION CALL A YEAR AGO TODAY!!! Time is seriously going SO fast. This week was amazing, I finally began to feel my purpose for being here in the Sunnyhills area. 

We received a referral from a lady in our ward that we have been doing service for, she wanted us to visit her son, but she didn't know his address at all, so she said is maybe the first or second right off of saxby's road and house #24. Well we went there and there was no house 24 so we decided to knock house 22, and this lady came to the door, opened it and said "SISTERS" We were so confused and she ended up explaining to us she is a Less Active member with two daughters and just moved in. She has been praying for the missionaries to come around because one of her daughters is of age to get baptized, and she is ready to come back to church. She was so nice. She is a white Maori, and her husband is American(they are split us so he lives in America) She just looked at the two of us, one islander and one American and she just cried and said "I know that you are the missionaries for my daughters, I know it." I really felt the love of the Lord at that exact moment, and I felt the spirit touch my heart, that yes. HE NEEDS ME HERE right now. I know and trust that. I believe he can see all that I can't. We invited them to church, and they didn't come, but we had a fireside at the VC last night and THEY RANDOMLY showed up. They were the cutest girls, and I felt like they were my little sisters. I feel so happy to know them, we are having a lesson and dinner this week with them!! 

There has been a huge Earthquake here in NZ and many people felt it, all of our neighbors did. All that I can say is I AM GRATEFUL. Last week, randomly President called all the Zone Leaders and asked them to dedicate each of the mission flats, and they did. We honestly had the best night sleep last night, and not a thing happened to our flat. We knew that is because the power of the priesthood, and that the Lord is watching over us. I am so grateful today!!! 

I love you all. I know thanksgiving is coming up. TELL those around you how grateful you are for them, I miss being able to tell you each that. I am so grateful though, and I love you each. YES I heard about elections, people here care more than the people there. I always tell them "you can't complain if you didn't vote, plus we are in NZ why do we even care" ahhaha LOVE YOU HEAPS!

Arohanui,

Sister Maddie DeLoach 

Kia Ora 11-13-16

I OPENED MY MISSION CALL A YEAR AGO TODAY!!!! CRAZY. Also yes I have heard about Donald Trump, I swear people here care more than people there.. it's crazy how much they care, haha I always have to remind them "We are in NZ and if we didn't vote we can't complain" hahaha Huge Earthquake happened here last night, and quite a few people were effected, we didn't even feel it. It's actually amazing, because last week randomly, president cummings asked each zone leader to dedicate each mission flat. We knew that the Lord watched over us and our dedicated home. We actually both had the best night sleep we have had in a while. What a miracle! Transfer Week, and I reckon I will stay! Elder Zundel told me that President said I will most likely be in this same area and with the same companion for at least 2 more transfers... It made me quite sad, but then the very next day I realized one of the reason that I need to be in this area....

That reason happened when we were looking for a referral. The referral was given to us by Sister Lilley, and it was to go see her son who is Less Active, Adrian. She didn't know his address all she said is maybe the first or second right off of saxby's road and house #24. Well we went there and there was no house 24 so we decided to knock house 22, and this lady came to the door, opened it and said "SISTERS" We were so confused and she ended up explaining to us she is a Less Active member with two daughters and just moved in. She has been praying for the missionaries to come around because one of her daughters is of age to get baptized, and she is ready to come back to church. She was so nice. She is a white Maori, and her husband is American(they are split us so he lives in America) She just looked at the two of us, one islander and one American and she just cried and said "I know that you are the missionaries for my daughters, I know it." I really felt the love of the Lord at that exact moment, and I felt the spirit touch my heart, that yes, it's really hard here right now... BUT he has the overall plan. HE NEEDS ME HERE right now. I know and trust that. I believe he can see all that I can't. We invited them to church, and they didn't come, but we had a fireside at the VC last night and THEY RANDOMLY showed up. They were the cutest girls, and I felt like they were my little sisters. I feel so happy to know them, we are having a lesson and dinner this week with them!! 

The other day we got invited to FOUR different families homes on Christmas. WE ARE SOOOO LUCKY!!! So many people are taking such great care of us, the other day we didn't have a dinner appointment and we were at Aimee's house, she is the Less Active with a daughter on a mission, and she asked where we were going for dinner, we said to our flat, she literally pinned us down and gave us a $50 and said to go out to dinner and spoil ourselves. She also is one of the houses that invited us for Christmas. SHE IS AMAZING. We felt so humbled, and she made us take it, we got Indian food:) 

Online this week, we had a chat with a lady named Bon, and she was asking us how to not feel uncomfortable at church, when you don't fit in. I really felt so connected to her, and felt that we needed to keep comforting her, we did, and she then opened us and told us that she is a convert and that 3 years ago she took her names off the records of the church, but she is now coming back and is wanting to get re-baptized. We called her and were able to teach her over the phone, in California, and I literally made a new best friend. SHE IS AMAZING. She has been going back to church, and we are having weekly lessons, I feel so grateful to get the opportunity to teach the WHOLE world!!!! Such a blessing!! 

Well, another great week being a missionary! I can't believe how fast time is going. I hope you know how much I love and care about each of you. NEVER QUIT. YOU KEEP WALKING. YOU KEEP TRYING!!! 

I "goat" someone to read the scriptures with me. Sorry for being so dumb;) hahahahah bye for now!!! 

p.s.. goat's don't like flash on the camera, it tried chasing us after this hahahahahah funny story 

Arohanui,

Sister Maddie DeLoach 

HELLO (Friends) 11-6-16

Another Week!!! Time is flying. I hope you each had a great week. Can you believe it's already November? 

This week we had interviews with president cummings, and WOW. I know he is one of the reasons that I was called to this mission. I know that he is someone I am supposed to learn and grow from. He gave me such wise council, and he just listens so well. I feel the love Christ has for me as I talk to him. He is amazing!!! 

Well, that boy Jahkana who came in a few weeks ago who was Less Active  and asked us to teach him how to forgive, he comes in like 3 times a week now, and it turns out that his WHOLE family is going back to church, just because of him. It's been amazing, he keeps saying "if I never met you two, my whole family and I would still be less active." It's been amazing to see the changes he's made in himself, and this week his mom went and bought her garments again. She was endowed, and now she is working towards the temple again. I truly know one person, CAN make a difference. Why don't you be the difference?? I love you each so much.

It's rainy here in NZ, and Christmas is coming up. It's also Summer, and it's really hot out here. I guess there is a hole in the ozone layer and so the sun really beats upon you here. It's hot as! I know this is the true church, and I can never deny the feelings and peace I have felt as I kneel down and pray to Heavenly Father. I promise he will answer you, and if you don't feel good enough or worthy enough to pray, KNOW those feelings don't come from your loving father in heaven. I know if you reach out to him, and the second you say Dear Heavenly Father, that he is listening to you. He does love you, and I LOVE YOU! 

Have a fabulous week! Also, PLEASE WATCH THIS!! https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2016-03-0020-is-there-a-place-for-me?lang=eng

Sister Maddie DeLoach 

HELLO:) 11-6-16

Another week!! YAY! Time is going really fast. This week was great again! This week was different, but still good. 

This week we had interviews with President Cummings, he does them every few months. It was amazing. He gave me some amazing council, I really love him. He told me to kill my companion with kindness, he said "If I had a companion that didn't like me, I'd wake up every morning and shine their shoes, so they know how much I love them." He is so wise, he is so in tune with the spirit, and when I talk to him, I feel the love of Christ. I know he is called of God, and I know I am supposed to be here with him. 

This week I felt like I had one of the best days ever on my mission. I feel as though I have liked my mission and loved parts of it, but this week, I really felt that I loved my mission. I love this sacred calling I have, it's NOT easy, it's actually really hard, but I feel so grateful I get to literally help people all day. This week we did service for a lady in our ward who has a walker, and can't really walk on her own, we went and helped move boxes and sweep her garage, and after, she made us come to her fridge, and she literally filled up two grocery sacks with ALL of the food she had in her fridge. All she left for herself was a milk. She gave us EVERYTHING. I wouldn't accept it, she insisted. I was truly so humbled, that she gave ALL she had, because of her gratitude. It was a surreal experience, and makes me realize how great I truly have it. I have SO much to be grateful for. 

Well, that boy Jahkana who came in a few weeks ago who was Less Active  and asked us to teach him how to forgive, he comes in like 3 times a week now, and it turns out that his WHOLE family is going back to church, just because of him. It's been amazing, he keeps saying "if I never met you two, my whole family and I would still be less active." It's been amazing to see the changes he's made in himself, and this week his mom went and bought her garments again. She was endowed, and now she is working towards the temple again. I truly know one person, CAN make a difference. Why don't you be the difference?? I love you each so much.

Well, it's great to be a missionary. I am telling you all of this so that you can keep tabs on her, but don't let mom open her Birthday Gift until she is around all of you. I am sending it today, it's for mom, but I think the whole family will like it. I hope you can all see it even if it's on facetime. I love you each so much. I think about you often, I expect to have a great week, and I know that this time is so precious to the Lord. I LOVE YOU!

Have a beautiful week. Please EVERYONE of you, watch this video. It's only 4 min. 

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2016-03-0020-is-there-a-place-for-me?lang=eng

Arohanui,

Sister Maddie DeLoach