Letter from Elder Shaun Flakemore - 26 March 2010

"Hobart Stake YSA,

How is everyone?? Are you all managing to survive without me there? For those that are struggling, it's ok, just write me a letter and you'll feel fine.  I promise, that as you do this, your blessings will be great! I testify of this truth, so, Hobart YSA, will you continue to write letters to all missionaries that are out in the field? - Sorry, just thought I'd throw in the commitment pattern.

So far my mission has been great! I've been in contact with Sis. Kathryn Yost, and Elder Michael Watson and they seem to be doing really well also.  I'm still in Feilding, Hatchard's last area, and I've seen 6 baptisms here in my first 7 weeks, 2 of them I was privileged to perform myself.  It is truly amazing to see people's lives change and to see the joy that the gospel brings into their lives.  I'm starting to get used to door knocking, we did 7 hours of finding a few days ago.  The very first door we knocked on, we got a return appointment, and then the very last door! The longer I'm out here, the more I wish I had of done it earlier in life, but I tend to procrastinate everything in life.  At least I'm out here now!  I miss everyone of you guys and the good times we all have.  Right now I'm thinking of the ANZAC day camp last year, and I can't believe that was nearly a year ago!  At least this year I'm in NZ and it's on a Sunday so I won't get the chance to ride my motorbike and hurt my foot again.  I've only crashed my push bike once so far, hit the brakes too hard and went over the handle-bars, it hurt, but it was funny as!

Well, all is sweet aye bro, it's all choice as here cuz!  I'm slowly learning Kiwi, but people love my thick Aussie accent, so I'm trying my best not to lose it.

Everyone keep safe now!  Remember, the church is TRUE!  I thought I knew it before I came out here, but now I do know it! Pray ALWAYS! As much as we like to think we can do it on our own, we can't! Rely on our Lord and Saviour. Elder Flakemore."

Wholesome, yet not-so-clean, fun

There may have been a time in your life when you have thought to yourself, "I wonder what it feels like to wear jelly?"  Well on Saturday some brave souls from Hobart YSA turned up at Risdon Brook Dam to find out.  After a week of beautiful weather, there was only one cloud in the sky....one very big, big cloud, extending as far as the eye could see and blocking out all the sun.  But it did not rain at our lovely location, which included scenic views of the famed Risdon Prison.  And so, after a brief photoshoot, the game began.

Two teams. Two "flags". Two jelly colours.  With a few simples rules each team had to try to capture their opponent's flag and bring it back to theirs, risking being hit with a jelly-filled waterbomb with either red or green jelly.  Oh and there was one more thing - some of them were actually  filled with custard ...not jelly.  The jelly-throwing at last ended when the supplies had run out, and I think a flag may have been captured, but to be honest I was too distracted trying to avoid the jelly.

The "after" photos exhibit some of the general damage done (more photos are in the slideshow at the bottom of the page)

After some hosing-down of those who needed it (and some who didn't), we headed to Geilston Bay for a speedy BBQ to replenish our energy supplies until next time...

Well done Lewie G for dreaming up this sticky (yet tasty) event =D

Aussie Aussie Aussie!!

OI! OI! OI!

The traditional multi-stake "Australia Day" camp was held by the Devonport stake in Port Sorell last month.  At a place called Camp Boomerang we shared some fun times over the weekend.  Activities included cricket, watching Astro Boy (the multi-lingual version it seems!), service projects, the beach, an Australia-themed dance, church with Devonport ward, some workshops including Question & Answer time with President S. Prebble, and an testimony meeting.  In attendance at camp were a few "Returning Hobartians" who were back visiting their native land, as well as a couple of "Honourary Tasmanians" from Melbourne.  I think all would agree we had a great time, so a big thanks to Gemma and the Devonport stake!

Belated Christmas Greetings

This week we received a very artistic 3-D Christmas-tree-shaped letter from Sister Kathryn Yost who is currently serving as a missionary from our stake in the Brisbane mission:

"Dear YSA!

Yes the IS THE AWESOMEST!! card you have ever seen!! Why?! Because I made it!! Your letters/notes were awesome to get! I ♥ being on the receiving end of them!! Well the heat/rain of Brisbane is AWESOME!! I'm in an area called Coomera which is on the Gold Coast and to top it off I go past DREAMWORLD EVERY DAY!! And Movie World and Wet & Wild each Thursday for District Meetings!! It's weird you can hear them scream on the rides it makes me laugh! I want to yell at them to join the church and BE BAPTISED!! But that wouldn't look good! So being a missionary is awesome! I fell off my bike twice, took a chunk out of my hand helping my flat mate - other sister missionary - learn to ride a bike, haven't been chased yet! But we got yelled at by some lady! She wasn't so happy having us knock on her door!  It's raining and I am excited! We got caught in a mass down pour of rain while we were tracting which was random.  We ran to our members home which was so amazing!! Blessed! Excellent! I've run out of things to say and I still have 2 more sides...so I might write things back personally...who shall I start with?!

NESS: The rock paper is really cute! Hey I saw Olan in the 3 simple ways for a happier family pamphlet, I was excited!! So tell her she's famous!

JESS K: I do remember that tin! I ♥ Mr Bean!  I'm not sure what the spit thing is... or why you were pointing to the cloud... but thanks and YOU ARE COOL!

JESS B: I ♥ COLD ROCK! My fave is Peanut Butter in a timtam& MnM's so good! yes I ♥ the sun I'm not pastey!! Should see my tan!
CAMPBELL: So true you do only think of water when your tracting... We're tracting at night some days so it's more wishing we had aeroguard! Elder Berquist is giong good he's awesome as AP!! President & Sister Richards are awesome and have only 6 months left-ish-! Sad =( Sis Richards went to USA for a wedding I think...yes she did!  I ♥ OUR AREA BOOK!  Never thought I'd love forms as much as I do now!!
LEWIE G:  It's ok I don't actually remember much about my F.Book page... so no dramas!  My wardrobe is coping well but thanks to my handy family I am not doing too bad!  There is a lady in my ward that reminds me of you! Sorry to call you a lday! REPENT SISTER YOST!!
BEK:  HEY BEK!! All is quiet and hot!! I am excited to be here! I ♥ it!  There is a lady in our ward who always say "Girlfriend" makes me smile!!
ELDER FLAKEMORE:  YESH SHABANG A BANG!!!  Totally got my MTC district leader looking out for you!  His name is Elder Cobbett!  He's awesome!!  Just think ok dong all you can!  I hope to hear from you soon oh so awesome!! Be prepared to EAT!!
CALLIN:  Thanks Caillin! How's your Masters robot thing going??
CAMILLA: LOL I had poached eggs and thought of good old Benny!! Oh so good!! But it's worth the sacrifice as a missionary.
ELLE: Yes time flies crazy!! But I am so excited to be a missionary. It's way fun! Never want to stop!!
CHLOE: YES! It's like 30 C all the time, if it's not hot it's raining, if it's not raining it's muggy! It's great!! :| Happy 18th by the way!
LISA: Brisvegas is great hot fun! And I'm trying to not have too much fun...?! LOL! How's Rhys..?
MD: HOW ARE YOU?! I'm bad at writing too!! LOL! Oh well yay for Christmas day to write letters!! From 3 months ago...? LOL! Amanda... we aren't weird...just amazing!!?
MAZ: Well I was quite exciting to get mail so don't feel too bad...as it was my only one...LOL nah it's ok! Thank you for your advice! It's coming in handy!!

Well before I stop, thank you to all who support us missionaries! It's the best getting letters! Sorry for seriously late replies...work is busy!!

I would like to share some of my fav scriptures with you all!!
Helaman 12 - the whole thing! Trust the Lord! He has a plan for you!! Have faith in His power! There is reason for all!
Mosiah 2:34 - "...render to Him all that you have and are..."!!  I've come to realise how important gratitude to Heavenly Father is!  He has given me more than I to Him! Stop and think what he has given you!
1 Nephi 11:17 - Heavenly Father DOES LOVE HIS CHILDREN! Do not forget your divine purpose!! Become who the Lord wants you to become!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS - "my soul delighteth in fatness..." - 2 Nephi 9:51.

Love Sister Yost
P.S...Be excited to share the gospel!!!"

The Changsta Speaks Out

If you haven't yet read on http://www.lds.org.au one of Hobart Stake's Young Single Adults, Chang (aka "The Changsta") has shared his conversion story in a video now available on youtube.  Chang was baptised in May this year.  The link to his video is below.  Good on ya, Chang!

Chang's conversion story