This week has been great! We were able to meet with former investigators, Mirian and Stephanie, and we taught them the restoration and invited them to be baptized. Mirian said yes and Stephanie said that she had the concern of wanting to hold onto that faith that she already had. We gave them a passage of Christ speaking in 3 Nephi 27 and we set up a return appointment. It was wonderful.   The ward is great and Bishop Mahanga looked like a true bishop last night when we went to an inactive's house. That was a cool experience.

 
In my Book of Mormon reading that I read this past week, I've been reading of the Zoramites who left the Nephites and went to another place to worship according to their desires which were wicked. Alma the younger was able to see the humbled people because of their lack of money and such, and spoke unto them, teaching them how to truly worship, and that worship is done beyond the walls of the synagogues. I loved that because it shows that our worshipping God and showing our love to Him should be beyond the walls of the church, and it shouldn't just be on Sunday. All the time we should do that which we'd do in His sight, and each day we should praise Him in prayer and action.

Also, for my reading of the role of the Holy Ghost in conversion, it is amazing how much the Holy Ghost is involved in missionary work, and the more we prepare ourselves to have Him with us, the more we will be tools in God's hands.
 
Finding is a challenge here, but hey, room to grow eh? The miracle about being here in Macarthur is how nice the people can be here, so the need to extend invitation to those you walk by is huge, and will definitely get you out of your comfort zone.

Love you all,

Elder Cederlof

Hello brothers and sisters,

This week was a great week. We have had great blessings in finding new investigators. A miracle Elder Coats and I had this week involved us going to a former investigator's house. We knocked and asked if the person lived there. It turned out that the last missionaries might have accidentally put the wrong address. The former investigator wasn't there and the man living there had been at the house for a long time. Nonetheless, we asked him about his religious background and his beliefs. He believed in God and read many books. We shortly told him about the Book of Mormon, gave him one, and are going back to meet with him to talk about it. That was a great miracle.

This week in the Book of Mormon I have been reading about the Anti-Nephi-Lehi people and their conversion. It's amazing to think that a people can be so ready for the gospel, even if they are the enemies of the people that currently had the gospel. We cannot judge those who are ready or not as missionaries, but must give each person the opportunity to learn. I have had experiences where the person that doesn't look like they'd want to learn turn out being very receptive and even wanting to learn. That's the amazing thing about the gospel: it's for everyone. It's also so admiresome to see those righteous former lamanites willing to die than slay their brethren, and even more wonderful is the scripture declaring that surely they are with God because of their righteousness, and also about how God brings about salvation to His children. It's a wonderful chapter.

This week with studying about the Doctrine of Christ, I have seen how I should be relating each lesson that I teach to the doctrine of Christ, and by doing so, I will be helping my investigators and less actives to see my purpose as a missionary and what the gospel does for us.

Love you all heaps,

Elder Cederlof

Dear people,

 

This past week in Macarthur was great. We had a wonderful miracle in finding an investigator. Elder Coats and I were walking somewhere and we passed a bus stop that had a covered sitting area. A young girl, looked age fifteen or sixteen, was sitting there by herself. We walked past but then I felt like we should go back and talk to her. At first I was thinking that it was just me, but then I really felt like going back, so I took that one as being from the spirit. I walked over and said hello, introduced myself as a missionary, talked a little about the gospel and what it could do for her, and invited her to learn more about it. She said yes without hesitance. It doesn't end there however. As we were about to resume walking, some little kids and their mother with a friend walked over to the bus station. The mother, Shamsa, we talked to and then I was able to learn about her past and her being around mormon friends before and how she enjoyed them. I testified that the gospel would help her in her circumstances, and asked if we could share more another time. She said yes, gave us her information, and we are looking forward to seeing her Tuesday. That was a great miracle.

This week, my studying is when the sons of Mosiah have left for their missions with the Lamanites. I really enjoy the courage, calmness, and faithfulness of Ammon when he serves King Lamoni, and especially his humility when King Lamoni calls him the "Great Spirit", of which Ammon humbly replies that he's just a man. I also loved the simplicity of Ammon's teaching, and relating it to King Lamoni's knowledge about diety. Very good example of how missionaries should act.

Also this week, I studied in preach my gospel about repentance. I love the whole idea of repentance, when sincere, changing your outlook on your life, God, and your outlook on the world. It truly is vital for all of us, and something that we should shout praises for. What a great blessing to be ever changing, for then we can change more and more to be like Christ. Repentance is a gift, not a punishment.

 

I love you all!

 

Elder Justin Cederlof

Dear fellow citizens,

This week has been an interesting week for me. As you may have known, I was transferred to a new area. Now that I have been here a week I can tell you how great it is. The ward, Macarthur Ward, is fantastic. They are very welcoming, even the little ones are--they will go up to the missionaries and shake their hands. It's great. I have been fed heaps, and the food is fantastic. I will definitely be gained some Ks.

We've sisters in our ward, and they are awesome. They give Elder Coats and I rides heaps because we've not a car. For this area, I am really working on memorizing the streets and such, and getting to know the ward so that we can get them involved with the people we are working with. My companion is great. He actually is a whole lot like Elder P.J. Tanner, a member of my prior Utah ward. It's funny how people on the mission resemble people from home.

Being on foot is going to have its challenges, but at the same time it'll be awesome to have such. Members here also, when they see you walking, will lots of times give you a ride, which is very nice of them too.

On Saturday, at night, elders, members, and nonmembers played rugby, me included, on a cricket field in the rain. It had been raining all day so the field was soaking and you'd slide all over. There was a tarp covering the middle of the field for the cricket, and we'd put soap on our bodies and would slide like a slip-n-slide. It was raining the whole time. Fantastic!

A miracle this week was when my companionship went on splits with the zone leaders. Elder Katane, a zone leader, and I went to a member's house in the afternoon. The member had just gone on a late lunch break, and so was home. We were able to visit and share a message about enduring to the end. He then told us how he had needed to hear that and that he never takes such late lunch breaks. That visit was inspired. That was a great miracle I had for this week in Macarthur.

Thanks for all your support, and I'll be trying to learn some Samoan since there are so many Samoans here, so wish me luck. Amen

 Love,

 Elder Cederlof

 

 

Tranfers!

Dear many people,

 

      This week was transfers. I am no longer in Camberra nor close to it. I am by Sydney. It was very sad to leave the ward. That final Sunday, I was asked to bear my testimony. Tears were shed, and I was able to realize how much I love the people. It came truly when I knew I was to leave them. It's interesting how that is in life. What great blessings we have, and sometimes we don't acknowledge them or undervalue them until that day when we no longer have them. I now feel far more grateful for that opportunity and I will remember them and love them always. I also learned that I need to take more pictures.

      My new companion's name is Elder Coats. He's from Riverton, Utah, and has been out one transfer longer than I. We get along very well. We share a flat with two Samoan elders. It'll be interesting.

      The area I now serve in is Macarthur, which is close to Sydney. I haven't been able to meet any members except for a couple named the Warwicks. They are very nice. The ward is mostly non white, so that'll be a new experience. I am going to need to work on my Samoan now.

     My final lesson that I had in Tuggeranong was Sunday night. It was with Maria, an investigator. I was on splits with Elder Grant. We had a member, who was a less active that became active again, come so that we could teach her and to fellowship. It was an amazing lesson. We found out deeper her concern--if she believes in the gospel, her friends and family will not agree and she may lose friends and such. We were able to teach about God's support and love that she will feel as she strives to know if these things are true. What a great lesson to end my time there.

      There were some good things about moving to another area. I was able to see how wherever I am sent, it will be okay. I am in His service, so wherever I go, it is home to me. It also allowed me to see even deeper how it doesn't matter what we have, but who we are. The things that are forever are the things that matter: family, faith, testimony, etc. and so I was able to see that when I came to Macarthur. The Lord has been so wonderful to me.

     Many things change, but some things don't. My testimony of the Savior and this gospel will never go away, but will grow ever more, and I am so grateful for that. I am happy, and when I serve, I feel like I am achieving my purpose, and serving has no regrets. It is lovely here in Australia and the work is being done. I love you all.

 

Elder Justin Cederlof

Dear Yous,          This week was fantastic with the zone conference and stake conference that I was privileged in attending. The zone conference is done by the mission president and his assistants, who are missionaries. Camberra zone had this conference on Friday. Stake conference was on Saturday for two sessions, and one on Sunday. Elder Pearson from the Quorum of the Seventy spoke in all three sessions. He was fantastic. He really emphasized on members "awakening" and stepping up in missionary work. He spoke of the opportunities for members to get involved - not just going to friends, but even strangers. He spoke of the need to take opportunities in the general places, such as a shopping mall, the park, and such. He also spoke of the constant need for members to be looking for those opportunities for a person "cannot see what they aren't looking for" and so by putting missionary work as a member as a priority, a member can fulfill their missionary duty. It was truly an inspired stake conference.         This week we had a focus on going through our phone and calling those names that we weren't familiar with. Miraculously, many of them were good with having us come over, such as potential and former investigators. I was amazed at the finding on the phone that we were able to do. It also helped me get out of my comfort zone, because I didn't ever like calling people on the phone, especially non members, and I have come so far now.          Transfers are coming up. I think that I will be leaving Tuggeranong and Camberra to head up to the Sydney area. Hopefully during that transfer I will be able to go to the temple. I haven't been so far.         I studied chapter 10 from Preach My Gospel, which is all about teaching skills. I never realized the amount of teaching skills beyond knowing the doctrine and having good social skills. There is so much in there, and the more I study it, the better I teach and have the spirit and have the guidance of the spirit. It's marvelous. I've also been studying a talk called "The Fourth Missionary" which is all about how to become the true servant of the Lord. The biggest thing in there is the need to give up your will. What a ponderous idea that just amazes me. That is what I will be shooting for this next transfer. This talk also showed how we should follow the Lord's will and not our own because "it's the intellectual thing to do" which is quite humbling. So those days that I do not want to be diligent or whatever, I must do it anyway because it is the intellectual thing to do, because the Lord would have me do it, and I trust Him and want to do His will, not mine. That was really profound to me. That strengthened my testimony and forever will.     Love,   Elder Justin Cederlof

Hello Everyone,

 

This week has been wonderful. There were many points of growth that I saw. Firstly, our zone leaders gave an excellent lesson.  They told a story where a man was out at sea but saw an island far away, and he wanted to row there to survive. He aims in that direction, puts his head down, and rows with his might all through the night. In the morning, he stops, puts his head up, and realizes that he is in the same place. He had left his anchor down. The zone leaders told us about those "anchors" that are preventing us from getting closer to our end destination.  These would be those things that are impeding our growth. Under that could be diligence, a need of a change of heart, or many things that are getting in the way of us becoming true consecrated missionaries. We also discussed finding out people's personal concerns, which was great. It's amazing how sometimes I don't even see any concerns that would impede an investigators progress, but now I've been able to see how we must follow the spirit to help these people because there are mostly always concerns of some type. It was fantastic.

 

There were a couple wonderful miracles that happened this past week. One was when Elder Howse and I went to a less-active named Maria. We didn't exactly know what we were going to be teaching and inviting her to do. We got there and talked and then I recalled how she should have the commitment extended to make it a goal to go to the temple. That commitment would help her to attend church and overcome coffee drinking. So that was in my mind when we started. Elder Howse took out the "Proclamation to the Family" and we started reading that. The temple is mentioned in there a few paragraphs in. Elder Howse had us stop and not finish the whole thing, but rather started talking about the temple. I knew that this message that we were going to share with Maria was inspired because of our unison in what we wanted to teach her. It was a beautiful lesson with the spirit. Maria felt that and got a desire to go to the temple. We'll be excited to help her along the way.
Another miracle was when we had a couple of options of people to visit in the evening. We ended up choosing a husband and wife that were members and we hadn't visited for quite the tad. We went, talked, asked how they were, talked about coming to know God and how that brings joy and is what eternal life is about. We then told them how we felt like we should have come but did not know why. Phil, the husband and a recentish convert, then said that he knew why. He told us how he had been going through a rough patch and us coming over was helping him. That strengthened my testimony of being guided by the spirit, even when you don't fully understand.

This week I also enjoyed studying chapter 10, teaching skills. It was even better when the zone leaders had touched on that in their lesson. I think the big area for me to improve is found in the "Help People Resolve their Concerns" area because I feel that when we teach with that in mind, we aren't teaching a lesson, but rather a person; and when we are teaching with the spirit and with love, their concerns will be met and the spirit can testify. What an area for great improvement and an area that will definitely help me be a better missionary.

Also this week with my studying of "Teach People, Not Lessons" I enjoyed the "District" clips, especially the one involving Jynx with the two Elders, who focused on her needs, and helped her understand how she would feel when the spirit would testify to her. I think this also ties to helping people overcome concerns completely, because people are so unique and special, that each lesson should be that special. The investigator, or less active, or whoever you are teaching, if taught with true care, consideration, and with the spirit, will feel the love from the missionaries and the love from God.

 

There is one other important thing that I learned either this week or last: when it comes to patience or growing in confidence, it is absolutely your choice whether or not to have it. I was at a point of the day where I was getting perhaps a tad impatient. I sat there for a second, and realized, I absolutely get to choose whether or not to be patient.  Fortunately, I chose to be patient, and so it was. I learned this past week the same about confidence. It is my choice. I may not be the best at talking to people, or have amazing talent, whatever, but I get to choose whether or not I have confidence. It was an amazing eye opener for me, and I hope it can help any of you.

 

It has been wonderful out here in Camberra, the capital of Australia, and I am fortunate to be among such great missionaries that share the same goals and desires that I have. Truly the work is moving forward.

 

Elder Cederlof