15 Weeks (friends) 5-28-17

Hello everyone, I hope and pray you are all happy and well. I love you so much, and hope that you feel the spirit as I share some very special experiences with you!! I swear I am NOT trunky, time is just flying, and it's SO crazy to me. Please everyone move here so that I don't have to come home!

Yesterday before church we were visiting Investigators inviting them to church, we got the prompting to look on the ward list, when we went through about 20+ pages, this one name kept standing out, we decided we would go see this man. As we got to the house, we walked down this long as alley way, and saw this house near the back, right as we got to the door, literally about to knock, this man came out holding his chest, half bent over, we asked if he was Brother Bains, he said no, but he said, "I just called a taxi, I am having a heart attack, I have so much pressure in my heart, please help me." We were able to run to the street, and flag down the taxi, we were also able to help him walk to the car, and wish him well on his way. Leaving this situation really made me reflect on the importance of following the spirit. It was such a subtle prompting, it wasn't even the man we were looking for, YET Heavenly Father knew that one of his children was in need, and he really needed us to help. It was such a tender mercy to help out a brother who we will most likely never see again, but to help him on his way. I am sure to him it was a tender mercy that in his time of need, two representatives of Jesus Christ show up at his door. Tender Mercies of the Lord.

We haven't been able to meet with Andre and Carla for 3 weeks, they postponed lessons, and FINALLY yesterday we had a lesson with them. We followed up on how their fasting went from when we all fasted together and he said, "I don't even know why I fasted, I already know that the church is true." WHAT!!!!!!!!! Seriously He was ANTI Mormon his WHOLE life, he is 28, and within the month of taking the discussions, feeling the spirit, he knows it's true. He told us, "I want to dive into the waters of baptism, I know that it will be a leap of faith, but it's the right path for me." WOW, seriously we sat there in awe, we have seen someone completely change. The first time we met him he told us that he knows that we worship and pray to Joseph Smith, we asked him why he though that and then he said, "Everyone told me".. We quickly told him that is all FALSE, and through asking US who are representatives of the church, and not his friends, and not the internet, he was able to find truth. He is amazing, I love them so much. He got a little shocked when we told him that church is 3 hours, hahah you should have seen his face, luckily he knows that it's a test of his faith, and he is a man of great faith. If I served here in Red Hill to help or meet no one else, seeing him change has changed me. He has helped me to see that ANYONE can change, but to know truth, you must go to the source of all truth, Heavenly Father. I do know that the church is true, it scares me to death to come back to reality and to have so much opposition, but I just hope that others will respect what I know and testify to be true, and I continue to love and respect them as well. As I read Elder Renlunds talk from conference he shared how Christ LOVES sinners, he loves everyone, and that is our duty too. We must love everyone, and in turn, we should expect that they too will love us, and respect our beliefs. Teaching him makes ALL of the struggles we go through as a missionary SO worth it. 

Arohanui,

Sister Maddie DeLoach 

p.s. we got a new couch in our flat, and it came from the CELESTIAL ROOM IN THE TEMPLE. WE call it our celestial couch, it's amazing the spirit it brought into our flat!!

15 Weeks 5-28-17

Can't believe how fast time is flying, I swear I am not trunky! I never want to leave this beautiful country, so I must ask, will you all please move here?? :) I love you all so much, this week was great, I got quite sick, went to dr's after not being able to hardly breathe all night, and I have a chest infection, and asthema, I guess a lot of Americans get it in the Winter here because it's a humid cold?? I am feeling much better now that I am on meds! So nothing to worry, about went back to work asap, even though I was told to rest... no time for that... :)

This week I went on an exchange with Sister DeGuzman, she is Filipino also, and so cute. I love Filipinos. We saw so many miracles, it literally felt like wherever we walked someone there was prepared for the gospel. I love seeing the change in these sisters, last exchange I went with her, she was so quiet and timid, and this time she talked with everyone, waved at everyone, and seriously has grown so much, what a blessing to see these sisters improving. I hope I am improving too. We had 9 lessons back to back, literal lessons, I have no idea how we even did that, it was crazy, but such a blessing. One stood out to me was this Fijian Indian woman who said, "I have seen you".. We thought "Oh yeah, the preexistence" HAHA, we asked her how she knows us, and she said, "Ah thats right you go to my Methodist church!" We assured her that we did not go there but would love to come share our message, she allowed us in and just kept saying, "I really do know you." I guess we will see as it continues to progress, it was hilarious though, she insisted it was from her church.. hahahah. Who knows maybe Sister Ticong is sneaking away to that church on sundays.. hahah

Yesterday before church we were visiting Investigators inviting them to church, we got the prompting to look on the ward list, when we went through about 20+ pages, this one name kept standing out, we decided we would go see this man. As we got to the house, we walked down this long as alley way, and saw this house near the back, right as we got to the door, literally about to knock, this man came out holding his chest, half bent over, we asked if he was Brother Bains, he said no, but he said, "I just called a taxi, I am having a heart attack, I have so much pressure in my heart, please help me." We were able to run to the street, and flag down the taxi, we were also able to help him walk to the car, and wish him well on his way. Leaving this situation really made me reflect on the importance of following the spirit. It was such a subtle prompting, it wasn't even the man we were looking for, YET Heavenly Father knew that one of his children was in need, and he really needed us to help. It was such a tender mercy to help out a brother who we will most likely never see again, but to help him on his way. I am sure to him it was a tender mercy that in his time of need, two representatives of Jesus Christ show up at his door. Tender Mercies of the Lord.

We haven't been able to meet with Andre and Carla for 3 weeks, they postponed lessons, and FINALLY yesterday we had a lesson with them. We followed up on how their fasting went from when we all fasted together and he said, "I don't even know why I fasted, I already know that the church is true." WHAT!!!!!!!!! Seriously He was ANTI Mormon his WHOLE life, he is 28, and within the month of taking the discussions, feeling the spirit, he knows it's true. He told us, "I want to dive into the waters of baptism, I know that it will be a leap of faith, but it's the right path for me." WOW, seriously we sat there in awe, we have seen someone completely change. The first time we met him he told us that he knows that we worship and pray to Joseph Smith, we asked him why he though that and then he said, "Everyone told me".. We quickly told him that is all FALSE, and through asking US who are representatives of the church, and not his friends, and not the internet, he was able to find truth. He is amazing, I love them so much. He got a little shocked when we told him that church is 3 hours, hahah you should have seen his face, luckily he knows that it's a test of his faith, and he is a man of great faith. If I served here in Red Hill to help or meet no one else, seeing him change has changed me. He has helped me to see that ANYONE can change, but to know truth, you must go to the source of all truth, Heavenly Father. I do know that the church is true, it scares me to death to come back to reality and to have so much opposition, but I just hope that others will respect what I know and testify to be true, and I continue to love and respect them as well. As I read Elder Renlunds talk from conference he shared how Christ LOVES sinners, he loves everyone, and that is our duty too. We must love everyone, and in turn, we should expect that they too will love us, and respect our beliefs. Teaching him makes ALL of the struggles we go through as a missionary SO worth it. 

I love you each so much, and I am so grateful for a family like you. You make me want to give 100% every day, you make me want to be my best and push through hard times. We are so lucky to have the family that we do!! 

Arohanui,

Sister Maddie DeLoach 

p.s. we got a new couch in our flat, and it came from the CELESTIAL ROOM IN THE TEMPLE. WE call it our celestial couch, it's amazing the spirit it brought into our flat!! The Elder (sr couple) in the Mission office sent it to us, because they want me to date their son when I get home.. hahah

Winter is Here 5-21-17

This week is FREEZING!!!! It's Winter here in NZ, and I have definitely acclimatized to becoming a Kiwi!! 

We had such a unique experience the other day, we found a Fijian Indian family, and they were so kind to us. They not only invited us in, but they asked us to come and say a prayer with them. As we went in, we literally like jumped into the house, it's very rare that we get invited in haha, especially for non-members. We asked them why they invited us in, and they said how they felt around us. It truly was such a blessing to hear someone vocalize the spirit that we can so easily forget that we carry as members of the church. We had a very sad experience with a member in the ward who is splitting from her 20+ years of marriage, and from her husband, we just sat and cried with her, and then she looked at us, staring us in the face, and said, "Don't you ever forget the spirit that you carry, don't you ever underestimate the actual power, and hope that you take into others homes, I could not make it through this if I could not feel that immense power the second you two talk in the home." I truly know that we each carry that immense spirit, we each carry the love of our Saviour Jesus Christ, and we truly have no idea how it could effect someone. 

Something that has really been on my mind is a talk called "Latter Day Saints Keep on Trying" It's by Elder Renlund, and I hope that each of you can read it. Specifically one part in there a phrase from Hamlet, and he says, we can look back on our lives and truly think, "Twas I; but Tis not I" How big of a blessing it is that we can look back on our lives, after we have accepted, and followed Jesus Christ, and say, "That is who I was, but that is NOT who I am." I do know for sure that Heavenly Father cares a lot more about who we are becoming, than who we once were. I know that His Atonement is real, I didn't come on my mission hoping to baptize heaps of people, I didn't come out here expecting to have the best 18 months of my life, but I did come out here knowing that I have felt my Saviors love, and forgiveness, and that I would have the ability to help others who feel imprisoned, or stuck to find hope, to find freedom, and to find happiness, to find Jesus Christ. I truly love this calling, that is why I think it's so important, because this gospel is freedom, this gospel is peace. I have seen it change the impossible, and I have seen it change me. 

I love you each so much, I hope that you know that. I am very grateful to be out here, and to be serving these amazing people here in NZ. I truly want you to know that the Atonement is for you, I have loved studying about Faith in Jesus Christ, and to me that is the problem we all have. So many people think the problem is Joseph Smith, or lack of doctrine, or too many rules, but truly as I come to understand having faith in our Savior I see that is the problem. I know that no matter what knowledge we feel we lack, or what more we would like to know, I promise you as you continue to build you faith more strongly in Jesus Christ, you will be able to know for yourself, I promise that it all boils down to where our faith is at. I know that as we each strive to grow our faith in Jesus Christ, we too can feel that immense love that comes from following, and doing as our Saviour would do. He doesn't wait for you to be perfect, he knows that we cannot be right now, but he hopes that we will try our very best so that we can have all those blessings that await us. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH.

Arohanui,

Sister Maddie DeLoach 

MY WHANAU! 5-21-17

Hello family!!! How are you all doing? This week is FREEZING!!!! It's Winter here in NZ, and I have definitely acclimatized to becoming a Kiwi plus you all think I have the craziest accent, haha wait till you get here!! I am frozen, haha but I do know that Utah is much colder!! This week Sister Ticong and I were both sick for a few days, so we weren't able to go out for a day or so, but it was really a blessing that we were both sick so that one person didn't have to be bored out of their mind!! 

We had such a unique experience the other day, we found a Fijian Indian family, and they were so kind to us. They not only invited us in, but they asked us to come and say a prayer with them. As we went in, we literally like jumped into the house, it's very rare that we get invited in haha, especially for non-members. We asked them why they invited us in, and they said how they felt around us. It truly was such a blessing to hear someone vocalize the spirit that we can so easily forget that we carry as members of the church. We had a very sad experience with a member in the ward who is splitting from her 20+ years of marriage, and from her husband, we just sat and cried with her, and then she looked at us, staring us in the face, and said, "Don't you ever forget the spirit that you carry, don't you ever underestimate the actual power, and hope that you take into others homes, I could not make it through this if I could not feel that immense power the second you two talk in the home." I truly know that we each carry that immense spirit, we each carry the love of our Saviour Jesus Christ, and we truly have no idea how it could effect someone. 

Something that has really been on my mind is a talk called "Latter Day Saints Keep on Trying" It's by Elder Renlund, and I hope that each of you can read it. Specifically one part in there a phrase from Hamlet, and he says, we can look back on our lives and truly think, "Twas I; but Tis not I" How big of a blessing it is that we can look back on our lives, after we have accepted, and followed Jesus Christ, and say, "That is who I was, but that is NOT who I am." I do know for sure that Heavenly Father cares a lot more about who we are becoming, than who we once were. I know that His Atonement is real, I didn't come on my mission hoping to baptize heaps of people, I didn't come out here expecting to have the best 18 months of my life, but I did come out here knowing that I have felt my Saviors love, and forgiveness, and that I would have the ability to help others who feel imprisoned, or stuck to find hope, to find freedom, and to find happiness, to find Jesus Christ. I truly love this calling, that is why I think it's so important, because this gospel is freedom, this gospel is peace. I have seen it change the impossible, and I have seen it change me. 

I love you each so much, I hope that you know that. I am very grateful to be out here, and to be serving these amazing people here in NZ. I truly want you to know that the Atonement is for you, I have loved studying about Faith in Jesus Christ, and to me that is the problem we all have. So many people think the problem is Joseph Smith, or lack of doctrine, or too many rules, but truly as I come to understand having faith in our Savior I see that is the problem. I know that no matter what knowledge we feel we lack, or what more we would like to know, I promise you as you continue to build you faith more strongly in Jesus Christ, you will be able to know for yourself, I promise that it all boils down to where our faith is at. I know that as we each strive to grow our faith in Jesus Christ, we too can feel that immense love that comes from following, and doing as our Saviour would do. He doesn't wait for you to be perfect, he knows that we cannot be right now, but he hopes that we will try our very best so that we can have all those blessings that await us. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH.

Arohanui,

Sister Maddie DeLoach

I Love MUMS 5-14-17 (friends)

SO AMAZING to skype my family today, I LOVE and miss them so much. I hope each of you had a beautiful mothers day, and I hope that you are all doing well. TIME IS FLYING!!! 

We had a beautiful Family home evening with Teera and Karipwa (the Kiribati couple). It was amazing, I seriously love them so much. We were able to do the Restoration with her this week, and it was amazing, because her English isn't very good, yet it seemed like through the spirit she really understood what we were saying. She really began to understand a lot more about Joseph Smith, and she loved that he too had parents that were going to two different churches because she really felt like her children could relate to that. That is something I love, and often think people miss about the Restoration, Joseph Smith did not go to the grove of tree's to pray to become a prophet... He went to the grove of tree's to pray because he was humble and confused. He had two parents going to two different churches, and thought "If there is one God, why is there so many churches" He followed the council he received to pray and ask God, and he did so, and they told Him to join none of the churches, and in due time they restored, AUTHORITY to him, they didn't have him create a church, they didn't have him do anything other than prepare himself to hold correct authority. It's such a blessing when we truly understand the importance of that simple event, and as we to follow his example, all He did was pray, one boy and now there are 16 million living members of the church, one person really is important to Heavenly Father.

We had interviews with President this week, and he gave me some great advice. I asked him how I could become a better missionary,  really really love him, he is incredible. He gave me two things, he said to continue to set an example, and he also said to gain a testimony of EVERYTHING that I teach. For instance if I teach about Word of Wisdom, to study it out and strive to apply it in my life exactly, so that when I teach I teach with power and authority. I think this is such great advice for each of us in our lives, as we share our beliefs and strive to be good examples we too must be striving to live them. President Cummings in MLC shared a quote that has changed my life and it is, "Loving others more than God is inverting the first and second great commandments." We must love others, but we must never love others, or put their actions before loving and following God. 

I love you all, and I know as we continue to Love and put God first in our lives, that others in turn will love us so much more!! "It's better to be trusted; than loved." -David O. McKay

Arohanui,

Sister Maddie DeLoach 

Mother's Day 2017

SO amazing skyping you all today. I love you EACH so so much. I am so grateful to have a family like you! I basically told you all about my week, but I will feel you in a little more!! 

Time is going so fast, it's really hard to believe. This week went really fast, and it seems like each week gets faster. Tomorrow we have Zone Conference, and I am so excited. MLC was amazing this week in Hamilton, and it was such a blessing to go back to my home town!! I loved seeing the VC and all the sisters, yet it still felt right leaving there to come here!! MLC president cummings talked about a quote, "It's better to be trusted than loved" I love this quote, and he then expounded on the more trusted we are, truly the more loved we will become. He shared about being a good example and always standing up for right. Sister Cummings gave a beautiful training on Patience, something I struggle every single day with, so it was such a blessing to hear the inspired training. Something I love about Patience is, it's something that we have to strive daily for, not something that we just wake up with. 

Part of the quote I shared in skype about mothers is, "One cannot forget mother and remember God, and one cannot forget God and remember Mother." I truly love this, I think that there are no more Christlike people, than mothers. I am eternally grateful for the MANY sacrifices each mother figure in my life has shown. I truly love you all, you not only sacrificed your life for others, just like our Savior, but you do everything for others, just like our Savior did. You are Heavenly to me, and I hope to someday be a mother like you all are!! 

We had a beautiful Family home evening with Teera and Karipwa (the Kiribati couple). It was amazing, I seriously love them so much. We were able to do the Restoration with her this week, and it was amazing, because her English isn't very good, yet it seemed like through the spirit she really understood what we were saying. She really began to understand a lot more about Joseph Smith, and she loved that he too had parents that were going to two different churches because she really felt like her children could relate to that. That is something I love, and often think people miss about the Restoration, Joseph Smith did not go to the grove of tree's to pray to become a prophet... He went to the grove of tree's to pray because he was humble and confused. He had two parents going to two different churches, and thought "If there is one God, why is there so many churches" He followed the council he received to pray and ask God, and he did so, and they told Him to join none of the churches, and in due time they restored, AUTHORITY to him, they didn't have him create a church, they didn't have him do anything other than prepare himself to hold correct authority. It's such a blessing when we truly understand the importance of that simple event, and as we to follow his example, all He did was pray, one boy and now there are 16 million living members of the church, one person really is important to Heavenly Father.

We had interviews with President this week, and he gave me some great advice. I asked him how I could become a better missionary, and he said "Sister DeLoach you are a great missionary" I really really love him, he is incredible. He gave me two things, he said to continue to set an example, and he also said to gain a testimony of EVERYTHING that I teach. For instance if I teach about Word of Wisdom, to study it out and strive to apply it in my life exactly, so that when I teach I teach with power and authority. I think this is such great advice for each of us in our lives, as we share our beliefs and strive to be good examples we too must be striving to live them. President Cummings in MLC shared a quote that has changed my life and it is, "Loving others more than God is inverting the first and second great commandments." We must love others, but we must never love others, or put their actions before loving and following God. 

I love you each so much, it was such a beautiful day today. I miss you all so much, but am so grateful for the blessing to have a family like you, I truly am the luckiest person in the whole world. I hope you know every single day that you are being prayed for, and loved so much!!! 

Arohanui,

Sister Maddie DeLoach

Never Lose Hope 5-7-17

I stayed in Red Hill, WITH SISTER TICONG!! YAY!! It's freezing here, Winter is coming!! This transfer we have hopes to go through the ward list, and to find part member families, we have about 600 on our ward list and only about 100 active. It's been a lot of work, but we have seen so many blessings. This one families name kept standing out, and we looked up their address and it's only complete opposite side of our area, it was 30+ min to drive there, but we really felt like we needed to go. When we got our there, there was literally only like this one block of homes and we found the house. The family no longer lived there, but at the door we found a woman who had completely lost hope. She had lost her daughter, husband, son, and grandson to death and was very bitter to the Lord. After we introduced ourselves, she began to say "WHY WOULD GOD DO THIS TO ME, If there is a God" We testified and bore testimony of the Plan of Salvation, and the reality of God, and slowly this woman began to gain hope. It was unreal to see her change of heart, to see hope come into her heart, she wasn't interested yet in another visit, but we were able to help her find a little hope, and it was such a miracle. As we drove away we thought truly how the Lord leaves the 99 so often and goes and rescues the 1. It was such a blessing to be able to find His one lost daughter without hope and to help her even just a little, she was such a beautiful woman.

Sister Ticong and I had some crazy experiences this week. We got called some of the most vulgar words we have ever heard, one lady was going to call the cops on us, and another screamed the nastiest things in our face. We were really not trying to be discouraged, but it was so hard. Satan was really working through all those that we work with, and it seemed like this week all of our investigators either dropped us, or went MIA... We tried keeping hope, but we could both feel a little diminishing. We went to church, we decided to fast, and we fasted specifically that we would find a new investigator that would be sincere and progress towards the waters of baptism. We were sitting at chruch, and teaching gospel principles when Bishop came in and said "Sisters I need you to come with me".. We followed him into his office, and he said there is someone I want you to meet. In His office stood the CUTEST Kiribati family I have ever seen, the Dad is Less Active the mom isn't a member and they have two children. Bishop said, "This family came to church for the first time, and the mom would like to take dicussions and get baptized, and their family would like to be sealed someday." WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sister Ticong and I literally had tears in our eyes, had God truly heard our prayers, had he answered our fast?? YES, he had. He truly had manifested himself, and we had in front of us a miracle, a golden family. The father was recently in a car accident, and he said God saved his life, so he promised God he and his family would do everything they could to be an eternal family, and that started with his wife getting baptized. I felt my Saviors love yesterday, I truly had lost a little hope, YET he knew me, and he knew Sister Ticong, and he knows that we try our best, Strive to anyways, and because of that he truly blessed us. It was such a unique feeling, feeling so much joy, for someone else. 

I know that this blessing came because we fasted and prayed. If you feel like you have lost hope in whatever it is, work, school, family, life, or the gospel. I promise as you sacrifice for a short time something that your body needs to survive you are showing God that you would do anything to receive his help. I have the strongest testimony of Heavenly Father knowing us personally. I do know that he is aware of you, if you don't know, test his love. Ask him, and I promise you he will answer you, WHY? BECAUSE HE LOVES YOU, and YOU are His child. I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!! 

Arohanui,

Sister Maddie DeLoach

HOPE 5-7-17

Transfer WEEK!! I stayed in Red Hill Ward, with Sister Ticong! YAY! Another transfer together and we are really excited for it!! I WILL SKYPE YOU SUNDAY NIGHT AT 5 (Utah time). I am so excited that I get to talk to each of you!! This week was crazy as, far out we are experiencing some unreal miracles. 

This transfer we have hopes to go through the ward list, and to find part member families, we have about 600 on our ward list and only about 100 active. It's been a lot of work, but we have seen so many blessings. This one families name kept standing out, and we looked up their address and it's only complete opposite side of our area, it was 30+ min to drive there, but we really felt like we needed to go. When we got our there, there was literally only like this one block of homes and we found the house. The family no longer lived there, but at the door we found a woman who had completely lost hope. She had lost her daughter, husband, son, and grandson to death and was very bitter to the Lord. After we introduced ourselves, she began to say "WHY WOULD GOD DO THIS TO ME, If there is a God" We testified and bore testimony of the Plan of Salvation, and the reality of God, and slowly this woman began to gain hope. It was unreal to see her change of heart, to see hope come into her heart, she wasn't interested yet in another visit, but we were able to help her find a little hope, and it was such a miracle. As we drove away we thought truly how the Lord leaves the 99 so often and goes and rescues the 1. It was such a blessing to be able to find His one lost daughter without hope and to help her even just a little, she was such a beautiful woman.

Sister Ticong and I had some crazy experiences this week. We got called some of the most vulgar words we have ever heard, one lady was going to call the cops on us, and another screamed the nastiest things in our face. We were really not trying to be discouraged, but it was so hard. Satan was really working through all those that we work with, and it seemed like this week all of our investigators either dropped us, or went MIA... We tried keeping hope, but we could both feel a little diminishing. We went to church, we decided to fast, and we fasted specifically that we would find a new investigator that would be sincere and progress towards the waters of baptism. We were sitting at chruch, and teaching gospel principles when Bishop came in and said "Sisters I need you to come with me".. We followed him into his office, and he said there is someone I want you to meet. In His office stood the CUTEST Kiribati family I have ever seen, the Dad is Less Active the mom isn't a member and they have two children. Bishop said, "This family came to church for the first time, and the mom would like to take dicussions and get baptized, and their family would like to be sealed someday." WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sister Ticong and I literally had tears in our eyes, had God truly heard our prayers, had he answered our fast?? YES, he had. He truly had manifested himself, and we had in front of us a miracle, a golden family. The father was recently in a car accident, and he said God saved his life, so he promised God he and his family would do everything they could to be an eternal family, and that started with his wife getting baptized. I felt my Saviors love yesterday, I truly had lost a little hope, YET he knew me, and he knew Sister Ticong, and he knows that we try our best, Strive to anyways, and because of that he truly blessed us. It was such a unique feeling, feeling so much joy, for someone else. 

I know that this blessing came because we fasted and prayed. If you feel like you have lost hope in whatever it is, work, school, family, life, or the gospel. I promise as you sacrifice for a short time something that your body needs to survive you are showing God that you would do anything to receive his help. I have the strongest testimony of Heavenly Father knowing us personally. I do know that he is aware of you, if you don't know, test his love. Ask him, and I promise you he will answer you, WHY? BECAUSE HE LOVES YOU, and YOU are His child. I love you so much family, I can't wait to see you all next week. YOU are incredible, and I pray for you everyday. Have hope for tomorrow, and be happy always. 

Arohanui,

Sister Maddie DeLoach

May Already (Friends) 5-1-17

KIA ORA!! I LOVE AND MISS YOU ALL. Can't believe it's May. Time is going SO fast. The funniest thing EVER happened, I was on exchanges with Sister Logie, and brought her to my area, and I was so excited to do the work with her, when this cop stopped us, and said, "I have a weird question." Our missionary minds thought, he is going to ask something about the church, and he then said, looking at me, "Would you like to go out for drinks sometime?" HAHAHA I was sooo awkward, I looked at him like a deer in head lights, and just said, "I am so sorry as missionaries we cannot date, but I know cute girls I would love to set you up with" hahahah it was so awkward, he kindly declined, and went on his way. 

We were driving to an appointment, and drove by this girl carrying groceries, she smiled at us as we drove by, and she had the BRIGHTEST countenance about her. We were on our way to our appointment and so we kept driving, and as we drove on, we both looked at each other, and said, "We need to talk to that girl." We quickly turned the car around, not wanting to scare her, and decided we would drive up to her and ask if she needed help. When we got up to her we remembered our window was broken, so Sister Ticong opened the door and asked if we could help her, she said she was close to home, but we were able to introduce ourselves, and we told her what we do as missionaries. She looked at us and said, "This is exactly what I need in my life right now." She gave us her address, and we went the next day. When we went back, we found out that she is only 17, and she lives with her nan. The reason why she was carrying the groceries is because her nan has an amputated leg, she is such a beautiful girl, and that is why her countenance was so bright. We have a lesson with them this weekend, and we are sooo excited to share this message with them!! 

We decided this week to fast for our investigator, Andre. We really want him to receive an answer and so we decided if we sacrificed on our side, that the Lord would hear his prayers. We went over for our lesson yesterday, and during our lesson he said, I know that this is the right path for me. Sister Ticong and myself could not stop smiling, I literally have NEVER felt so much joy, and love. I love them so much, the reason why he was so anti mormon in his life is because he never felt love from mormons, and now that we came in and just tried to love him, he knows that it's true. I am SO grateful I seriously can see them in white, I couldn't stop giggling all night. I felt like it was a dream. It's such a blessing to help others find joy and peace. Seriously something we all desire in life are those things, and I love that as members of the church we have that to share with them. It's such a blessing, and I understand the true joy that comes from loving and sharing with others. I love this gospel, I love it so much. 

Arohaui,

Sister Maddie DeLoach 

May Already??? 5-1-17

Kia Ora, my beautiful family!! I am so grateful to email you this week. This week I focused on finding joy in the work, and on really being happy, IT WAS BEAUTIFUL!!!!! The funniest thing EVER happened, I was on exchanges with Sister Logie, and brought her to my area, and I was so excited to do the work with her, when this cop stopped us, and said, "I have a weird question." Our missionary minds thought, he is going to ask something about the church, and he then said, looking at me, "Would you like to go out for drinks sometime?" HAHAHA I was sooo awkward, I looked at him like a deer in head lights, and just said, "I am so sorry as missionaries we cannot date, but I know cute girls I would love to set you up with" hahahah it was so awkward, he kindly declined, and went on his way. 

We were driving to an appointment, and drove by this girl carrying groceries, she smiled at us as we drove by, and she had the BRIGHTEST countenance about her. We were on our way to our appointment and so we kept driving, and as we drove on, we both looked at each other, and said, "We need to talk to that girl." We quickly turned the car around, not wanting to scare her, and decided we would drive up to her and ask if she needed help. When we got up to her we remembered our window was broken, so Sister Ticong opened the door and asked if we could help her, she said she was close to home, but we were able to introduce ourselves, and we told her what we do as missionaries. She looked at us and said, "This is exactly what I need in my life right now." She gave us her address, and we went the next day. When we went back, we found out that she is only 17, and she lives with her nan. The reason why she was carrying the groceries is because her nan has an amputated leg, she is such a beautiful girl, and that is why her countenance was so bright. We have a lesson with them this weekend, and we are sooo excited to share this message with them!! 

We decided this week to fast for our investigator, Andre. We really want him to receive an answer and so we decided if we sacrificed on our side, that the Lord would hear his prayers. We went over for our lesson yesterday, and during our lesson he said, I know that this is the right path for me. Sister Ticong and myself could not stop smiling, I literally have NEVER felt so much joy, and love. I love them so much, the reason why he was so anti mormon in his life is because he never felt love from mormons, and now that we came in and just tried to love him, he knows that it's true. I am SO grateful I seriously can see them in white, I couldn't stop giggling all night. I felt like it was a dream. It's such a blessing to help others find joy and peace. Seriously something we all desire in life are those things, and I love that as members of the church we have that to share with them. It's such a blessing, and I understand the true joy that comes from loving and sharing with others. 

Leonie got brain surgery so she is now cleared to be baptized, it should be within the next week or so, YAY!! She had a brain tumor and they successfully removed it!!

I just wanted to share with each of you that I know that the church is true, not from anyone else but Heavenly Father, if you want to know for the 100th time, or the first, I promise he will let you know if you sincerely ask. Elder Peterson shared with me from his Stake conference that a 70 told them to all repent. He said that repenting means becoming closer to Jesus Christ and depending on him, and when we think of it that way, it would be silly not to repent. I promise you that this gospel is PEACE and HAPPINESS, and if you can't feel that... I promise you will be able to as you continue to come unto Jesus Christ. I love you so much, I promise you that you are loved by the Savior and Redeemer of the world, HE DOES NOT WAIT FOR YOU TO BE PERFECT, HE LOVES YOU NOW!!! Don't quit, I can't believe I talk to you SO soon, I love and miss you heaps, please keep on going. 

"Keep on keeping on"

Arohanui,

Sister Maddie DeLoach