No Words (friends) 2-26-17

I cannot really describe this week. I have been in the presence of an Apostle of the Lord, and it was absolutely incredible. Elder Dale G. Renlund is called of God, and I fully sustain Him. I felt his power and authority this week. As Visitors Centre sisters we had the opportunity to one on one meet elder renlund and he grabbed my hand, asked where I was from, I said Delta UT and he grabbed my hand with both of his and said "Go Rabbits" HAHAHA I about died, and then he said "You think that is good, hold on, he still held my hand and said to his wife, what is Delta UT's mascot, and she said the Rabbits of course" haha it was hilarious! We shook the hands of the whole area presidency, and Elder Hallstrom. 

Elder Renlund gave us 3 things to share. 

1- On Behalf of the Lord Jesus Christ and His Church, THANK YOU. Thank you for being a full-time missionary, thank you.

2- Because you have been called by prophesy you have the RIGHT and OBLIGATION to plead with Heavenly Father and find out why you are called here, and when you know, write it down. 

3- Your mission president has been called by revelation, HE IS CALLED FOR YOU!! 

There was a crazy experience that happened he allowed us to ask questions, and Sister Kafoa asked "How can I be a more consecrated missionary?" He looked down at the front row at us, and as an apostle of the Lord said "Don't worry about it. You already are." He then shared how when he was called into the 12 He felt so inadequate, and he felt like such an imposer to the work, he said he was talking to Elder Cook about his inadequacies, and in His words he said "The Lord rebuked me and said DON'T talk to your inadequacies to anyone but me or your wife. I called you already knowing your weaknesses and inadequacies." He then looked at us and said with tears in His eyes he read allowed the words to Hymn 60 verse 3,

In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea, with a glory in his bosom that transfigures you and me. As he died to make men holy let us live to make men free While God is marching on. 

Yesterday we were able to help this family on the side of the road, they were refugees from Sri Lanka and when we stopped the Dad said "You are Jesus" we corrected him haha and said no, just representatives of Him. He then said "Everyone else say they love Jesus, but you stop and help, you act like Jesus" That sentence really made me think, do people only know we love Jesus because we say we do, and go to church and post cute photos of the temple? Or do they know you love Jesus by your actions, your example, and your words? I hope and pray we may all become a little more like our Savior Jesus Christ. I know that He lives, I have literally felt His hand in my life, and I know that His work is continuing on. I love you all so much, hope you have the best week!!!

Arohanui,

Sister Maddie DeLoach 

NO WORDS 2-26-17

I cannot really describe this week. I have been in the presence of an Apostle of the Lord, and it was absolutely incredible. Elder Dale G. Renlund is called of God, and I fully sustain Him. I felt his power and authority this week. As Visitors Centre sisters we had the opportunity to one on one meet elder renlund and he grabbed my hand, asked where I was from, I said Delta UT and he grabbed my hand with both of his and said "Go Rabbits" HAHAHA I about died, and then he said "You think that is good, hold on, he still held my hand and said to his wife, what is Delta UT's mascot, and she said the Rabbits of course" haha it was hilarious! We shook the hands of the whole area presidency, and Elder Hallstrom. 

Tuesday we had the privilege of having Mark Lusvardi of the Mission Department come and do a training with us VC sisters and President Cummings came too. We had a CRAZY experience, and it was amazing. We were asked to role play and Sister Kafoa and I volunteered to be the missionaries and Sister Taula and Sister Hagerty were the people. We just began to get to know them, and it was honestly the MOST SPIRIT filled Sister Kafoa and I have ever been. We were able to help these people so much, and Brother Lusvardi stopped us in the middle, and he said "Wow, I truly cannot give corrections, WOW, please continue." Then the craziest thing happened, we were evaluating the Role Play and Sister Taula was supposed to share how she felt acting as a person, and she just started crying and said "I haven't told anyone but I found out Monday that my Sister had a still born baby, and I have been praying about what to share with her, and I didn't feel like a person in the role play, I felt like it was for me, I now know what I need to share with my sister". Brother Lusvardi stood up and looked at Elder Zundel, and said "Please tell us what just happened" And Elder Zundel said "That is an everyday occurrence here in NZ Temple VC." Bro. Lusvardi with tears in His eyes, said to all of us sisters "You sisters are exceptional, I have never seen anything like this anywhere else." Wow, we were so grateful that the spirit directed that conversation and that we allowed ourselves to get out of the way and to let it teach. 

Elder Renlund gave us 3 things to share. 

1- On Behalf of the Lord Jesus Christ and His Church, THANK YOU. Thank you for being a full-time missionary, thank you.

2- Because you have been called by prophesy you have the RIGHT and OBLIGATION to plead with Heavenly Father and find out why you are called here, and when you know, write it down. 

3- Your mission president has been called by revelation, HE IS CALLED FOR YOU!! 

There was a crazy experience that happened he allowed us to ask questions, and Sister Kafoa asked "How can I be a more consecrated missionary?" He looked down at the front row at us, and as an apostle of the Lord said "Don't worry about it. You already are." He then shared how when he was called into the 12 He felt so inadequate, and he felt like such an imposer to the work, he said he was talking to Elder Cook about his inadequacies, and in His words he said "The Lord rebuked me and said DON'T talk to your inadequacies to anyone but me or your wife. I called you already knowing your weaknesses and inadequacies." He then looked at us and said with tears in His eyes he read allowed the words to Hymn 60 verse 3,

In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea, with a glory in his bosom that transfigures you and me. As he died to make men holy let us live to make men free While God is marching on. 

He gave us 3 Apostolic blessings and the first was to feel the Lords love for us, that as we serve him we will truly feel that love.

The second was that as we served the Lord we would have a Bubble of Safety round about us, and the Lord will bear us up.

The third was that our families were being blessed by Him who called me, He blessed us to not worry about them, they are well and guarded, that through my service there will be miracles in my home, and through my family they will see miracles. 

My week ended with Interviews with President Cummings, and I will say it again, I LOVE THAT MAN. I know that I was called to serve with him. I know that he is called of God. Sitting in His office looking across to Him, I imagine How I feel in that moment is a lot how I will feel in the presence of the Savior. I know that this church is true, I know that I am supposed to be here right now, I know that the Lord understands us perfectly, and because of that he allows us to meet and be surrounded by those will uphold and help us. I know that is why you are my family!!! 

Yesterday we were able to help this family on the side of the road, they were refugees from Sri Lanka and when we stopped the Dad said "You are Jesus" we corrected him haha and said no, just representatives of Him. He then said "Everyone else say they love Jesus, but you stop and help, you act like Jesus" That sentence really made me think, do people only know we love Jesus because we say we do, and go to church and post cute photos of the temple? Or do they know you love Jesus by your actions, your example, and your words? I hope and pray we may all become a little more like our Savior Jesus Christ. I know that He lives, I have literally felt His hand in my life, and I know that His work is continuing on. I love you all so much, hope you have the best week!!!

Arohanui,

Sister Maddie DeLoach 

HELLO (friends) 2-19-17

Rainy RAINY week here in NZ! It was a great week though. Something I always ask return missionaries when I see them, is what lesson they still apply today that they learned on their missions, and I had one ask it back to me, weird hey? They asked what are a few of the greatest lessons I have learned on my mission, and so I thought I would share a few with you today!!! 

One lesson I have learned is the lesson of perspective. I think that we can grow so one sided our whole lives, for instance, I feel as though I only grew up thinking that driving on that side of the road was correct, or that there is only one right way to do things, but I think I have learned that if you just listen to someone, you can see their perspective, it doesn't mean you have to change your views, but it's nice to see the world as it really is sometimes, and I am grateful I have been able to see more perspectives on my mission, it's made me more humble I believe, and for sure more kind.

Another lesson I have learned is that EVERYONE is going through SOMETHING! No matter who you look at, they are struggling with something. I have learned that we are all a bunch of ducks, and when you see ducks sitting on water all you see is this peaceful little animal with a beautiful view, but if you could look under the water you would see that the duck is kicking very hard to stay afloat. Another lesson I have learned is to love everyone. I hope and pray the rest of my life I can see people how I see them now. I feel as though it's such a blessing to see people this way. I have strived my whole life to see people this way, but I now fully can. I truly believe that everyone is SO loved, I know that we are all children of God, and I love seeing people who need help either physically, spiritually, or mentally, because I KNOW they can receive that help. 

This week Sister Kafoa gifted me with a Kiekie which is a Tongan traditional belt. This is the belt her great grandmother hand weaved, and when she died, left it for her. Sister Kafoa said her whole life she knew she would give it to someone who has changed her, and I FEEL so privileged that she gave it to me, it's gorgeous!!! I LOVE HER!

Arohanui,

Sister Maddie DeLoach 

Hello Fam 2-19-17

Rainy RAINY week here in NZ! It was a great week though. Something I always ask return missionaries when I see them, is what lesson they still apply today that they learned on their missions, and I had one ask it back to me, they asked what are a few of the greatest lessons I have learned on my mission, and so I thought I would share a few with you today!!! 

One lesson I have learned is the lesson of perspective. I think that we can grow so one sided our whole lives, for instance, I feel as though I only grew up thinking that driving on that side of the road was correct, or that only republicans were normal people, but I think I have learned that if you just listen to someone, you can see their perspective, it doesn't mean you have to change your views, but it's nice to see the world as it really is sometimes, and I am grateful I have been able to see more perspectives on my mission, it's made me more humble I believe, and for sure more kind.

Another lesson I have learned is that EVERYONE is going through SOMETHING! No matter who you look at, they are struggling with something. I have learned that we are all a bunch of ducks, and when you see ducks sitting on water all you see is this peaceful little animal with a beautiful view, but if you could look under the water you would see that the duck is kicking very hard to stay afloat. Another lesson I have learned is to love everyone. I hope and pray the rest of my life I can see people how I see them now. I feel as though it's such a blessing to see people this way. I have strived my whole life to see people this way, but I now fully can. I truly believe that everyone is SO loved, I know that we are all children of God, and I love seeing people who need help either physically, spiritually, or mentally, because I KNOW they can receive that help. 

This week it seemed like everyone we met was struggling with something. We went to our Less Actives house, and she has been struggling with depression, and then we went to our part member families and she too has been struggling, this alone caused me to study in 2 Nephi 2, which talks about opposition. I learned this week something that is so obvious, but really stood out to me, which is "Unless we had more than one choice we couldn't choose." I truly understood opposition in that moment. We HAVE to have more than one choice in all things. I love too how if we didn't have any bad things we would NEVER have any good things. This morning I studied Moroni 7 which is about having charity, but it's also about evil and good works. Something that stood out to me was that evil things cannot give good gifts, and good things cannot give evil gifts. I know that as both evil and good are required in our day to day lives, that we must see we can't have one without the other. I know that life is hard, I also know it's hard to have good and bad things in life, it would be so much easier to just have the good, but I have really learned this week that we would never appreciate the good if we didn't have the bad. This is why I think my mission has helped me so much, I think that I never appreciated things (my family) as much as I should have, but being away has truly touched my heart on the small and simple things I need to be grateful for. 

This week Sister Kafoa and I set a goal to give a service every single day, it was incredible how when we prayed about it instantly we were able to give. One that stood out to me, and it's become my new favorite hobby is giving away umbrellas. I encourage you all to keep an extra in your car, and when it's raining to see someone on the side of the road, and give it to them, you have NO idea the way their face lights up. Anywho we were in like a tropical storm the other day, and we saw our Less Active with her two little girls walking home, so we pulled over the car, sprinted to them, gave them our umbrellas and coats. We ran back to the car, and saw a man in a wheel chair so we grabbed another umbrella and walked him home, getting like 5 steps away from our car we saw ANOTHER man in a wheel chair, so we walked him home also, we were SOAKED, yet it was so worth it. We got to meet people, who were struggling, yet sons and daughters of God. We got to give charity-which to me is doing something for someone who can do nothing for you in return. We then got back to the car and we were going to wish this single lady in our ward a happy birthday and went to her house and she wasn't home, so we got back in our warm car, and said a prayer of where the Lord would like us to be at this time specifically, and immediately of opening our eyes we saw this woman down the road struggling, walking bare foot in the pouring rain, and I mean pouring, the fastest windshield wiper was slow, and so we decided to run to her and help her, when we got there we realized it was the member whom we were going to see. We were able to carry her home, and it was such an incredible day. We froze to death almost, but the lady who we originally let borrow our coats and umbrellas for her kids, when we went to pick them up made us a warm milo, gave us her warm clothes, and it was incredible to see that the Lord really is in charge, he knew that is what we needed to do that day! 

Really looking forward to Elder Renlund coming this week, this is supposed to be top secret, but between us, we found out he is coming to the Visitors Centre and would like a tour by 2 companionships, AHHH should be crazy. Really looking forward to it. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!

This week Sister Kafoa gifted me with a Kiekie which is a Tongan traditional belt. This is the belt her great grandmother hand weaved, and when she died, left it for her. Sister Kafoa said her whole life she knew she would give it to someone who has changed her, and I FEEL so privileged that she gave it to me, it's gorgeous!!! I love her!

Arohanui,

Sister DeLoach 

Temporary Pain for Eternal Gain 2-12-17

Kia Ora, my beautiful Whanau!!!! **Pday Next week might be on Wednesday for us because of Apostle coming** I miss you all so much!!!! Transfers happened this week, and I stayed in Sunnyhills with Sister Kafoa, and still in the Visitors Centre, I know that obviously there is a reason that the Lord needs me in Hamilton, and I am grateful and happy to stay as long as he needs me. This transfer will mark a year on my mission which is CRAZY AS!!!! 

The beginning of this week we had another lesson with Luke who is a minister for his church. The lesson was really going no where he was trying to argue that you don't need faith and how he is saved already in the Kingdom of God, I have no idea what came over me, but I felt this warmest strongest feeling, and I said, "Luke being representatives of Jesus Christ we invite you to repent, you are not saved in the Kingdom of God unless you are baptized by someone who hold correct priesthood authority, you need to repent." It was absolutely crazy, I have never born a testimony with more power and Authority and I know that it wasn't me. Sister Kafoa after said that she felt like the whole building shake, she said anyone in the building could have felt what the spirit portrayed at that time. It's not always easy being the trainer, I do have to do the hard or dirty jobs, but the spirit directed that so forcefully, I knew I had to. After he just shrunk, we knew that he was at a lose of words, and it was crazy to first hand see the power and authority of our calling. 

Tim Amai's funeral was this week and it was INCREDIBLE. The strength of some people absolutely blows me away. His Dad spoke and started by saying "Shaken, but NOT stirred." He then had all the full time missionaries in the audience stand and said if they wanted to be shaken but not stirred, they needed to talk to us. He then said how this is only temporary pain, for eternal gain. He then had the stake president give a complete talk on the Plan of Salvation. IT WAS INCREDIBLE. I have never ever experience people like this, they are unreal. After the funeral they had all the men outside, probably like 300+ doing a Haka around his casket, and it was the most spiritual and emotional thing I have ever seen. I will tell you now, that at my funeral I request a haka around my casket, it was seriously incredible. haha seriously though. 

Yesterday Sister Kafoa and I were asked to bare our testimonies to the 8-9 primary class and it was so incredible. While we were talking this young girl raised her hand and said "Why do you both have this white circle around your head?" We just sat there unsure how to answer, and the spirit was so strong. It was crazy, the rest of the time she just stared at us. It was such a spiritual experience to have and especially crazy because she was so little. We know that we have angels round about us bearing us up, we know that we aren't in this work alone. I know that I have my grandpa, my uncles, my brother miles round about me, I know how they help me to keep going, and I know that they are on the same work as I am. 

I know that this church is true, I know that the struggle is necessary. I was reflecting in my journal this week how hard this mission is, BUT it is required. It has to be hard, I am a representative of Jesus Christ, if it weren't hard, I should have that title. I love my mission, I know that I had to come here, I didn't realize how broken I was before, but my mission truly has healed me, it has helped me to know the truth, to know what is important in life, and to know that there is NO other way, other than Jesus Christ. I love you all, so much. I pray for you daily and hope you draw strength from that!!!

Te Aroha (love) (tay a row ha)

Te Whakapono (hope) (tay faka po no)

Me Te Rangimarie (peace) (may tay rongi mod e ay)

Tatoe Tatoe E (for us all) (ta toe ta toe aye)

Arohanui,

Sister Maddie DeLoach 

Shaken but not Stirred (friends) 2-12-17

Transfers happened this week, and I stayed in Sunnyhills with Sister Kafoa, and still in the Visitors Centre, I know that obviously there is a reason that the Lord needs me in Hamilton, and I am grateful and happy to stay as long as he needs me. This transfer will mark a year on my mission which is CRAZY AS!!!!

Tim Amai's funeral was this week and it was INCREDIBLE. The strength of some people absolutely blows me away. His Dad spoke and started by saying "Shaken, but NOT stirred." He then had all the full time missionaries in the audience stand and said if they wanted to be shaken but not stirred, they needed to talk to us. He then said how this is only temporary pain, for eternal gain. He then had the stake president give a complete talk on the Plan of Salvation. IT WAS INCREDIBLE. I have never ever experience people like this, they are unreal. After the funeral they had all the men outside, probably like 300+ doing a Haka around his casket, and it was the most spiritual and emotional thing I have ever seen. I will tell you now, that at my funeral I request a haka around my casket, it was seriously incredible. haha seriously though. 

Yesterday Sister Kafoa and I were asked to bare our testimonies to the 8-9 primary class and it was so incredible. While we were talking this young girl raised her hand and said "Why do you both have this white circle around your head?" We just sat there unsure how to answer, and the spirit was so strong. It was crazy, the rest of the time she just stared at us. It was such a spiritual experience to have and especially crazy because she was so little. We know that we have angels round about us bearing us up, we know that we aren't in this work alone. I know that I have my grandpa, my uncles, my brother miles round about me, I know how they help me to keep going, and I know that they are on the same work as I am. 

I know that this church is true, I know that the struggle is necessary. I was reflecting in my journal this week how hard this mission is, BUT it is required. It has to be hard, I am a representative of Jesus Christ, if it weren't hard, I should have that title. I love my mission, I know that I had to come here, I didn't realize how broken I was before, but my mission truly has healed me, it has helped me to know the truth, to know what is important in life, and to know that there is NO other way, other than Jesus Christ. I love you all, so much. I pray for you daily and hope you draw strength from that!!!

Arohanui,

Sister Maddie DeLoach 

FRIENDS 2-5-17

Hello my friends!! It's been a crazy week, I am sure you all heard the news about the schedule change for missionaries, and it's SO NICE!! I love it. We were able to have Zone Meeting to be able to watch the missionary fireside, it was absolutely incredible. 

This week we had exchanges, and I stayed in Sunnyhills with Sister Maire. We had MIRACLE after MIRACLE. The one I wanted to share was about this woman named Lisa. Lisa has has brain surgery a few times and she is so nice. Just that day we went to see her, she told us how her family was going through some really difficult times. We sat and talked with her and tried to comfort her, the conversation went from Plan of Salvation to the Atonement, to prayer, and all over the place. She was sharing with us how it's been 16 months since her last surgery and she has her second headache which is REALLY bad. She just kinda sat there grabbing her head, and we felt like we should ask her if she would like a priesthood blessing, we did, and she said YES! We called the Elders, and they came immediately. It was such a beautiful blessing, and the spirit was so strong, after we asked her what she thought or how she felt. She said "when they put there hands on my head, I FELT POWER." She said she literally felt power run through her body and she knows that we are called of God. She then said "I Promise you with my whole life, I DO NOT HAVE A HEAD ACHE RIGHT NOW." She was in shock, she said, it's literally gone. She then asked what she can do to have this feeling all the time, we gave her a Book of Mormon, and talked a little more with her. It was absolutely amazing. What a crazy experience to literally before my eyes to watch someone be healed by the power of God. So grateful for priesthood holders in my life, that I know I can call upon whenever I need them. I am so grateful every single day for that special gift we all have access to!!!

I hope and pray you are all happy and doing well, a special person passed away in NZ this week, and it really made me appreciate the relationships I have with all of you, you each mean so much to me. I hope and pray this email finds you happy and well. I miss you and love you all!! 

forgot to tell you Elder Dale G. Renlund is coming to our mission and to our stake and we are getting to have a conference with him on thursday the feb 23!! SO EXCITED!!! 

Arohanui,

Sister Maddie DeLoach 

Kia Ora 2-5-17

Schedule CHANGE!!! 

I am sure you have seen and heard on the internet, but we got a schedule change as missionaries!! Changes are that we basically plan in the morning now rather than night, we can do companion study whenever we want during the day, and now we get 2 extra hours on P-Day! It was amazing we were able to watch a Missionary Broadcast, and we were basically like sitting on the board with Apostles, just causally Elder Bednar gave the opening prayer, it was amazing!!! They really focused in on teaching ALL aspects of the gospel, not just focusing in on one. They emphasized how important all the fundamentals are and to skip one is just silly! 

This week was quite sad, there was a kid named Timothy Armi who just returned back to NZ from serving his mission in Fiji. He has been home for 4 weeks, and he actually served with Trace Willoughby from Delta, so when he got home he came to the VC to say hi to me! He was so nice, and anyways, we got word the other day that he and his friend had been in a car accident, and both died immediately.  I know I didn't know him too well, but it did quite effect me, just 5 days before he came to the VC because he just got here a little late for a temple session so he asked if we could give him some spiritual enlightenment. I learned a lot from him, and I knew that he was a great missionary. He told me "Sister DeLoach, serve hard every single day of your mission, you won't even believe the blessings you receive when you go home." I will definitely live to that advice, I have felt so heartbroken for his family, and the whole country seems to be pretty effected by it also. It really put into perspective for me the things that are important, and the things that really matter. I realized how precious families really are, and relationships with people. I am grateful that I knew him, he was such a nice boy. 

This week we had exchanges, and I stayed in Sunnyhills with Sister Maire. We had MIRACLE after MIRACLE. The one I wanted to share was about this woman named Lisa. Lisa has has brain surgery a few times and she is so nice. Just that day we went to see her, she told us how her family was going through some really difficult times. We sat and talked with her and tried to comfort her, the conversation went from Plan of Salvation to the Atonement, to prayer, and all over the place. She was sharing with us how it's been 16 months since her last surgery and she has her second headache which is REALLY bad. She just kinda sat there grabbing her head, and we felt like we should ask her if she would like a priesthood blessing, we did, and she said YES! We called the Elders, and they came immediately. It was such a beautiful blessing, and the spirit was so strong, after we asked her what she thought or how she felt. She said "when they put there hands on my head, I FELT POWER." She said she literally felt power run through her body and she knows that we are called of God. She then said "I Promise you with my whole life, I DO NOT HAVE A HEAD ACHE RIGHT NOW." She was in shock, she said, it's literally gone. She then asked what she can do to have this feeling all the time, we gave her a Book of Mormon, and talked a little more with her. It was absolutely amazing. What a crazy experience to literally before my eyes to watch someone be healed by the power of God. So grateful for priesthood holders in my life, that I know I can call upon whenever I need them. I am so grateful every single day for that special gift we all have access to!!!

We had our missionary fireside finally last night in our ward that we had been planning for a while, and it went pretty well. We were pretty bummed none of our investigators showed up, but a lot of our less actives did so that was amazing, it wasn't until we were having dessert, OUR INVESTIGATOR FAMILY showed up. 5 of them came, they were just a little late because they were at the beach all day (we will talk next about keeping sabbath day holy;) hahah)  BUT THEY CAME!!!! It was seriously such a miracle, and it was amazing too because the Tumai's sang at the fireside and they are just flourishing!!! It was absolutely amazing to see someone you love progressing as a family in the gospel. It was such a great Sunday, I really am so grateful to be here, it feels like home. I know that Utah is true home, but I do love that here I feel so much love and peace and happiness. I miss you all so much, and I cannot believe this week I have been out 11 months. TIME IS FLYING. See yous all so soon, I love you heaps!!! !

Arohanui,

Sister Maddie DeLoach