Peace (Week 16)

Hello Everyone,

Well this week went by really fast for me I can't really remember what happened this week! Lets see, I promised that I would take pictures, but the moment we left the library it started to rain super hard the whole day, so I wasn't able to go out and take photos! I then planned to do it today, but it is raining again. Hopefully it will stop before P-day is over, but no promises ha ha!

We attended Elder Sennett's funeral service this week and it was really positive.  I am grateful for the knowledge of the Plan of Salvation, because it helped not only bring peace for me, but for everyone that attended! The city branch baptizes on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month, so we  had to push back our investigator, Francis to the 8th of April! Francis is doing great, he is keeping his commitments and he is excited for his baptism and wants to learn more! We didn't attend the city branch yesterday, but Francis did and he sent us a text after church saying that he learned a lot.  He set up his own appointment with us because he wants to continue to learn. His desire to learn and grow in the gospel is so strong it is a miracle and a blessing from God!

Other than that we have just been teaching our investigators and trying to find more people to teach.  Last Monday we attended the city branch family home evening and it was great! There were around 50 people young and old. We did a fun quiz night and minute to win it games.  There was lots of food and a great spiritual lesson before the activity. It was great seeing so many young members of the church and investigators attend the activity, having fun and growing closer as a church family! We are planning to attend again tonight and it is Olympic night, that should be lots of fun! I hope that you are all doing well this week and I hope you all have great upcoming week! I Love you all!!!!!!

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Sincerely,

               Elder Ethan Salcedo

New City Branch (Week 15)

Hello Everyone,

This weekly update will be a little bit shorter since our last P-day was a few days ago, but it was still an exciting last few days! It was the grand opening of the new Adelaide City Branch yesterday! They were expecting 20-30 people, but there was over 120 people that attended! The area seventy Elder O’Riordan was there and President and sister Parker were there, as well as the stake presidency.  It was such a great 3 hours of church! The new branch offers classes in English and in Chinese.  It was amazing to see the recent converts of the past couple months all participate in the sacrament service.  The whole sacrament service was run by the recent converts, they blessed, prepared, and passed out the sacrament it was so amazing! I was able to attend the Mandarin Sunday School class and it was very interesting and exciting! It was awesome to see all of the Chinese investigators laugh and participate because they are able to understand what is being said! Everyone was so happy and excited and it definitely lit the fire within a lot of the investigators!  Hou received the Aaronic priesthood this past Sunday, so that was great as well!  Other than that Elder Shortland and I have just been working hard still  helping prepare our 2 new investigators for baptism on April 1st.

 I hope you all have a good week and I love you all!!!!

I also found this body wash and had to get it :)​ It smells really good!

A Roller Coaster (Week 14)

Hello Everyone,

I don't even know how to begin! This week has been a roller coaster! Regarding the Lord's work it has been a great week, Elder Shortland and I have been working hard together and we have two people on date for baptism on  April 1st (Hopefully it isn't an April fools joke ha ha) which is super exciting. We have been smashing and finding people in the city! The City branch officially opens this week and we will attend the opening.  President Parker and the South Pacific Area seventy will be attending so it is an exciting time!

 I also had the opportunity to confirm our investigator Hou a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and gave him the Gift of the Holy Ghost! It was amazing to see how much the spirit directs you! I was nervous about what to say for the blessing, but during the prayer the spirit took over and guided me through the prayer.  I said things I didn't even think of, it was a great experience! I also had the opportunity to go the temple this week which is always great and I felt the spirit so strong there today.  I never want to leave the temple when I go because I feel so good and clean. That it is a feeling I can not get anywhere else!  

Those were the good things about the week..... Unfortunately, our senior Missionary couples took a big hit this week in the mission. Elder Zorbrist had a stroke and was in the hospital, he has fortunately recovered and is out of the hospital but if you could keep him and his wife in your prayers that would be great!......But unfortunately we also lost an amazing senior elder this week, Elder Sennett was in a terrible car accident and has passed on......please keep his wife Sister Sennett in your prayers! It was really tough to hear what happened and especially hard for me because I had the opportunity to serve with Bro Sennett in the Prospect Ward.

 

Elder and Sister Sennett

  I am grateful for the knowledge of the Plan of Salvation and knowing that he is in a better place and that he is happily living with our Savior. He was a true servant to the Lord and the mission and I am eternally grateful for all that he has done for the Adelaide Mission. I am also eternally grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ, because I know that I will be able to see Elder Sennett again and that this life is not the end, because Jesus Christ overcame death and was resurrected, because of that we can be resurrected as well! It has been a crazy week with lots of blessings and trials, but I know it is all part of God's plan for us! I hope you all have a great week as well and I love you all!!!

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Sincerely,

               Elder Ethan Salcedo