August 30, 2015

We finished up the MTC last week and left at 6:30 AM on Tuesday to fly out to Wellington. I met President Hudson and his wife in the airport and they're super nice people. We went to a chapel (none of the buildings here have central heating so they're all freezing) and we had an orientation about the mission I guess. They told 4 of the 16 in my intake that we're expected to drive from day one. So, they took me out driving in Wellington that day and it's all screwy because it's on the left side of the road. I've been driving around every day. It's honestly kind of scary. But, I haven't been on the right side of the road more than once or twice.. :)

My companion's Tongan. He was born in Tonga but he moved to Auckland when he was 7 ish and so he speaks English and he's super great. He's really helpful with answering my questions and making me feel loved and accepted. Like I seriously couldn't have asked for a better companion. He said his name actually means bad day which is awesome because his name means bad day. AND. He likes running. So that's cool. 

We live in a pretty big flat with just the two of us and I super like it. I don't actually have any pictures though because I just figured out how to use the camera yesterday and we couldn't take any in the MTC. 

We've done a lot of service already which is cool because service. We did some at the Salvation Army which is basically DI, New Zealand style. One of the things they had us do was break down furniture with a sledgehammer to fit inside the garbage so that was pretty neat. :) 

We spend most of our time going and visiting people. There's about 200 people in our ward, but only about 40 of them are active in the church, so we have a lot of work to do. The ward seriously is tiny. They had me introduce myself and bear my testimony, we blessed the sacrament, and then we taught two boys Sunday school. After church, the bishop invited us over for lunch and his wife asked us if we could teach primary in a few weeks so it looks like I'll be plenty busy in this ward. Plus, I offered to the bishop that I'm willing to speak any time and I'm hoping he doesn't take me up on that..

We've spent a few hours knocking doors and street contacting and it's kind of really intimidating to introduce myself and the gospel to people I don't know, but they're all really nice, even though we get turned down by almost everyone. 

I'm really grateful to Heavenly Father for taking such good care of me. The members feed us about 5 times a week, the food is way better than the MTC, my companion is such a big help, I see prayers getting answered all the time, I feel His love when we go and visit people, and I love my time studying in the morning. 

Thank you all so much for the prayers and support! 

Love, Elder Benjamin 

PS They're making a Tongan ward and since my companion speaks Tongan, we might be assigned to work in that ward. This is 100% speculation, but it could possibly be a thing.