Foreign Correspondance

From Elder Michael Watson

"Hello Hobart Stake YSA,

Thanks heaps for your letters or notes, it feels good to know more than my family think about me every now and then.

I have see Elder Docking a few times since being here but missed Sister Gresswell by 3 days, she had already left for Sydney when I went to the temple, the MTC missionaries are usually there on Mondays when we go as missionaries once a month.

Keep that flamin' Sam Watson under control, cause I ain't there to do it.

Well how is everyone, you all sent a lot of love but not much info on what's crackin down there. From what I received I can see everyone is alright and there's a new family in the legendary GLEN HUON ward. I got a little letter from a girl of the member of the family, but it had no name, all I know is they're trying to buy my old house.

Today me and Elder Stuart (Melbourne) went into Hamilton and met up with 10 other missionaries and two sisters as well, we all played ten pin bowling and The Little Tassie Devil beat everyone, closest was 32 points away from me - 145. Anyway after that we had a go at Laser Tag. In the first couple of mins I ran around a corner and ducked to dodge any incoming laser beams and in the process ran straight into Elder Stuart and headbutted his gun and vest. Put a big old shiny & cut lump on my forehead, but I was alright, kept playing the game dazed out of my mind, just following these pretty blue and red lights haha darn classic. We then headed off to the chapel for some sport. More people got hit in the head there, one got a fat lip from a frisbee too LOL I was having a good laugh when I seen these things happening LOL. That's just some of the stuff that happened!! Some of the other stuff youse don't need to know LOL.

Well it's winter time now, are youse planning a trip to Mt Field this year?

Um I know Brodie sucks at getting dates with girls, but what about the rest of you, what's happening in this area of YSA? Has that crazy little girl named Elle got a boy yet? The little nut case she is, at least she is good for a laugh.

Man you guys I am pretty trunky right now, my comp is going home next Tuesday, I got letter from you all so I'm totally flabbergasted, my comp is always talking about home. Your letters make me think of home and I ain't allowed to drive a car yet so I'm having major withdrawal symptoms from that!!

Next week I have to take over two areas, one area is dead and the other is booming, so I have to keep that area booming and fix the other area! Well my mind is all over the place.

The gospel is true and that's all that matters! Jesus is the Christ, saviour and redeemer of mankind, the only way back to heaven. He is a perfectly purified resurrected being who leads and guides this one true and living church on the earth today by revelation. Of that there is no doubt in my mind. No other church has the priesthood nor the Holy Ghost gift of! to head the church. Pray always and never cease, especially in this time of your lives in choosing an eternal companion. Do so wisely and wisdom is to have the spirit with you.

See look at that, my testimony don't even make sense, my mind is scattered all over the place. Well I might finish there before I confuse y'all.

Man I love you guys, keep doing good.

Elder Watson."

Foreign Correspondance

From Elder Scott Docking

"Myself and Elder Watson"

Hobart Stake YSA

It's great to hear from all of you, it makes me feel loved to open up a letter and have many letters fall out onto the desk.

Things are going great here in New Zealand, there was a baptism a few weeks ago, in the ward I'm serving in. Hopefully there'll be another one in a couple of weeks.

I've served in 4 areas now and they are: Hamilton Glenview Stake, Paptoetoe Stake in South Auckland, Manurewa Stake in South Auckland, and the Tauranga Stake. I'm serving in a little town called Whakatane at the moment. Note: The WH in Whakatane is pronounced as an F.

Every day my companion and myself meet a lot of crazy people, and a lot of hot chicks I mean nice people. The mission is going really good, I'm learning heaps about the gospel that I didn't know, and things I never would've thought of. I've been blessed to see 2 apostles; Elder Cook & Elder Scott Docking I mean Elder Richard G. Scott.

Anyway stay strong in the faith. Fight the good fight.

Cheerio. Elder Scott Docking.

Alma 57:27

"Now this was the faith of these of whom I have spoken; they are young, and their minds are firm, and they do put their trust in God continually."

"Burning a shirt at 1 year"

"Having some fun"

"Having some more fun"

Stake/Ward website

For those of you who have not heard of the Stake and Ward websites which are now up and running, here's the spill and the instructions.

The church has developed a website system for keeping members informed of information and events in each stake and ward. What this means for our stake is that this website will replace the traditional hardcopy Stake Calender which previously has been the means of distributing scheduled events for the year and leaders/members directory.

To access the website you will need to create an LDS Account, which is pretty easy. All you need is your member number (you can find this on your temple recommend or from your ward clerk) and your confirmation date (can get from your ward clerk). You will also need to think of a username and a password.

Go to https://secure.lds.org/units/login/ and click "Obtain an LDS Account." Follow the steps listed, and once you have your LDS Account you can sign into the website. You will be taken first to your ward website, which includes a ward calender and leaders and members directories. There is also a link to go to the Stake Website at the top left, which includes a stake calender and stake leaders and members directories.

Our Stake leaders strongly encourage us to begin using this new resource to keep informed of stake and ward events and information.

Foreign Correspondance

Well Perth is pretty foreign for us here in Tassie! The first lucky missionary to make their mark on this wall is Elder Brett Docking, originating from Rosny ward. He writes the following in response to the letters of encouragement that we have written to him:

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"Hi everyone,

As you all can probably tell I'm not the best at writing letters, but I try sometimes anyway. I have served in 4 areas now, in Thornlie, Port Headland, Kwinana & now I'm in Midland, I've been here a little over 2 weeks now. So far the mission has been good filled with highs & lows, but more highs. I've been lucky enough to have had a car for the first half of my mission, however at this current time I am riding a bike, which could be a good thing for me.
I have had a mixture of the good & the bad when it comes to companions. I've served with 3 Americans, 2 Samoans, 1 Australian & am now serving with a German. I've spent most of the time serving with Americans.
My mission has given me some good experiences, some of which I wish I hadn't had & others which I am grateful. I've seen the growth in me, even how small it is.
Well that does it for me for now, I'll see you all next year.
Elder Brett Docking."

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Thanks to all those who have taken time to write to Elder Brett so far :)