AHHH DANGIT! I just remembered that I was planning on saying happy birthday to jenn and technically it would have still been her birthday if we had emailed yesterday but it was a public holiday yesterday so our pday changed to today (tues). And now its not jenn's birthday anywhere in the world...So happy late birthday Jenn! Also next week is temple week so we won't be emailing until wed.

Good to hear that the internet is still junk...jk, was it a problem that the snow caused? Anywho there was a tsunami warning on the east coast for like sydney and melbourne but not for here at perth. I don't think there was even a small tsunami wave that ended up hitting. Its good to hear that Hawaii is okay.

Well not much has happened this week. the first week of this transfer is over. There were 8 new missionaries who came in, only 2 of them are from the U.S. the others are Aussies. 2 of those newbs are in our district...I'm finally not the newb anymore. So the new elder that is in the other ward is Elder Campbell, which is funny cause the elder he replaced was Elder Campbell. But he is from Ogden Utah and we pretty much don't know any of the same people. The other new Elder is up in geraldton and he is from melbourne and he is just a crackup, but a really good missionary...and he looks like luke wilson....oh and he is engaged, we'll see how long that lasts.

about shoes, the ones i told you to put in my room, the black and gray plaid circas...those were the ones i was talking about, if there is room go ahead and send them if not don't worry about it. But like those shoes here would probably cost like $119. the pricing on stuff here is whacky...like the exchange rate doesn't even compensate for it, it doesn't really make sense, but then again i'm no economist so maybe it does...i hope it does.


Well the photos still haven't finished uploading and I only have a few minutes left, i guess some of them will have uploaded. But not much else is going on. We are going to Yanchep national park again for elder campbell and doing some shopping after this so love you all, and take care.

Elder Salakielu

Okay...I think it worked, i uploaded about 3 test photos to the costco website and now the others are uploading as i type. It takes forever to upload and i can only upload 12 at a time but i spent half the time figuring out how to work this. but good news is that i can write while its uploading so next week i'll upload a lot more photos to good ol costco.

Sorry this email is going to be a little rushed. So yeah we can go fourwheeling...as far as i know. We just can't drive i don't think. That is a lot of marriages going on...pretty crazy. Awesome so you saw Elders richards business card...did it have an address on it? Also i think i should get cards as well...would you like to make a design for me and you could just email it or something...if not thats cool, don't worry about it.


well i only have like 1 min and the photos might not finish uploading so i don't know what is gonna happen but love you all.

Elder Salakielu

Well another week come and gone. I say that like nothing happened...but in fact the greatest thing happened. Adam and Anahera Wairepo got baptized on saturday!!! God: 13 millionish + 2 Satan: 0....unfortunately thats a jk because really he is like 6 billionish...but that doesn't matter cause Adam and Ana got baptized! Saturday was a good day. the other elders had a baptism as well and then there was a hangi (still don't know how to spell it) after and there were a bunch of maori's from another ward and they got up and did a haka don't know which one exactly but it was one about the plan of salvation i think...don't ask me, i couldn't understand it. The spirit was really strong that day during the program and during the actual baptism. I also had to speak about the Holy Ghost and that went alright. Anyways this family is a miracle, how they were found, how receptive they were/are, and that they were baptized. The first time we went over there Adam didn't seem to interested at all and Ana was all like "lets go to church!" and he was all like "good luck," but he has been to church every sunday since. I love this family and they have been a great blessing and an example ( in addition to my many other blessings and you guys) as to why i am out here. Everytime we leave their home I leave wanting to be a better missionary, wanting to find more people and it doesn't matter how many "no's" there are, one "yes" is always worth it, and we've been blessed with three, and they are all proof to that.

So mary's baptism is this saturday, Feb. 20, 2010, at 11:00 am and she is still holding strong. It is really hard for her to make it to church because her daughter and her two grandchildren. Her daughter doesn't feel worthy to come back to church which is a shame because thats what church is for but we are working with her to go see bishop, which she wants to. Mary's two grandchildren are little troublemakers. Like last week we had to babysit the 11 yr. old at church and he was misbehaving and swearing up a storm. The 6 yr. old got glue and glitter on my pants yesterday which adds to the long list of other stuff she has done like sticking gum on my pants, spitting food on my arm, and spitting on my cheek/ear area...she's CRAZY!!!!!!!
So my camera is kind of pretty messed up. It has a hard time focusing and zooming in/out. It did have a bunch of sand in it but not anymore and for the most part it works but acts up from time to time. I'll also be paying that stupid parking ticket today say goodbye $100.

I got your Valentines day card (mom and dad....thanks everyone else....jkz). Thank you, it is always good to get mail....especially when it is unexpected. So it turns out that missionaries love stickers. So if you guys or anyone who reads this are sending any paper mail/envelopes my way just go ahead and include any cool stickers you may have come across. Also there's about 4 or 5 letters that i may be continually sending home for you to distribute throughout the states, i hope that is alright. Although i will need your help obtaining an address for one of those letters. There should be a business card for an Elder Spencer Richards in my room on my dresser serving in Virginia and that should have his address on that there is a good chance that it may or may not be there anymore though...check it out though and if you find it email it on over. It turns out business cards were a good idea. I thought about maybe getting some when he gave me his but was like nah....and then stupid elder hampson and every other missionary in the world had to have them as well and now i regret my poor judgement call. I guess i'll get some eventually.

Anywho I've come up with a little list of lollies (australian for candy....stupid aussies...jk i love them...cause i have to....jk cause i want to) anyways, candies that they don't have here. Reese's: check, along with every other chocolate mixed with peanut butter candy, like peanut butter eminems. They don't have airheads or big hunks or corn nuts and that i know because i had them left over from the mtc and since i haven't served with or been around an american the other missionaries where like whoa what are those. Also they don't have twizzlers or jolley ranchers and that is my amazing list so far. I mention this just for future reference and for something to think about when sending something next time. I know the box isn't very big either so its not like you have to include all those, but anythings good, just something to give to little kids.

Well that is my amazing letter for this week, full of amazing, incredible, entertaining information. I haven't mentioned anyone specific in these letters for a while and group the whole family into one conglomerate and have mom be the representative and althoug i don't mention you all i do think of you all and love and miss all of you, Mom, Dad, Randy, Meliss, Jenn, and Mele, and Nia and Noa and Jared and Carson as well. I love you all.

Elder Salakielu

Well another pday in the works. The day has gone pretty good so far. We went off roading at 7 with a member who has a land rover and it was pretty fun. We got stuck about three times but thats part of the fun. I actually got some pretty good pics but will have to send that next time ( I say that all the time but never actually do anything about it). Although i did get some sand in my camera and it kind of broke so i'll have to try and fix that.

Ok so we now have three baptismal dates set. Two for Adam and Anahera because they couldn't find Ana's records so both of them will be baptized this saturday, the 13th. The third date is for Mary who we finally got to church for the 2nd time yesterday, its actually pretty funny like we went and saw them (mary and her less active daughter and two grandchildren) an hour or two before church started and then church started and they still weren't there and they called us like 5 min into sacrament and asked for directions, but they eventually got there so thats good. And Mary will be baptized on the 20th (knock on wood). Other than that we still do not have any other people really progressing. It's pretty hard and lame...but the work must go on.

Also I mass mailed some letters home for you to send out if you could do that for me. One is to conner, another to mason, and the other to austin. I've actually gotten two letters from mason so thats pretty cool, but it took me forever to write him back...or to write anyone really. There is always something to do. So missionary culture is pretty weird. Like you start liking things you probably wouldn't have liked before, or buy stuff you wouldn't have bought before, or pick up stuff from off the side of the road you normally wouldn't have. also everyone is into scrapbooking, like they refuse to believe and deny that it is scrapbooking but it is and its pretty gay but like that is what happens. Like missionaries like to decorate stuff..like their planners, preach my gospel, binders, and especially sign journals but i guess if anything needs to be scrapbooked its your mission right? the best two years of your life? right?...nah just kidding.

So how is the superbowl going. Is it over. I hope the Colts win/won. I like the Saints 0%.

Thats stupid about the truck getting broken into....that WOULD happen to jenn. But sounds like work is still going well with this conference and all. The place you are staying at sounds amazuhzing....why do you guys do all the cool stuff once i leave...geez...jk. We've actually seen a school? pack? swarm? family? of dolphins pretty close up that was pretty cool...but we weren't on the beach or anything...really we weren't....cause there wasn't a beach we were driving on the road right next to the ocean and it was like a little rocky cliff dealy instead of a beach, but it doesn't matter, what matters is that we saw dolphins.

Well I should have starting doing this a while ago but will hopefully start soon and that is to start kind of prewriting my letters or at least what to include in them at the end of everday. Dad already suggested that but I was in denial and didn't think i needed to but hopefully my emails will start to be better. But for the meantime deal with it...jk...but seriously you'll have to settle for this...jk. Love you guys and miss you all and i will talk to you all next week.

Elder Salakielu

Well pday again. We had service at 6:30 a.m. though with the elders from the other ward. We went and helped this guy move a pile of sand from his backyard. We had to shovel it into a wheelbarrow and then put it in a trailer and go dump it out in the boonies and we did like 4 trailer loads. Now we are emailing.

So...what is a miser? I don't know what that is. But I haven't taken any money out cause i haven't really needed to, although i have lost weight which is probably from not eating enough, although there is enough food, and biking around. My pants are a bit big now and sometimes the belt has to go pretty tight and so the pants and kind of just wrinkle in around the waist..ya know what i mean, but good think i kept that kind of small belt. I may be taking some money out soonish though possibly...did i tell you i got a parking ticket a week or two ago? 100 bucks for parking facing the wrong way!!! Our ward mission leader said that like in the 80's or something the city council took a vote and people voted that cops can't give tickets or something i didn't really understand what he was saying but the point is that he said i could probably get out of it somehow. So he sent a letter to try and fight it i guess, he also mentioned that i was american and that i was confused and ignorant...jk about the confused and ignorant part. But it actually was pretty stupid on my part, i knew i shouldn't have done it and was debating it in my head at the time but i ended up just going with it and failed...but learned a very valuable lesson. So yeah might have to take some money out for that. Also I really wish i would have brought my other shoes now...shoes are way expensive here for some stupid reason, and i'll probably need another pair done the road some time. My church shoes are great though and not having any comfort issues or anything with them (knock on wood).

So my blog is alive and hip hoppin along. Don't think i'm that interesting, but sweet. I guess if my emails are going in it i better start writing better emails, and not mention breaking the law in them. I still have yet to send you guys any pictures, sorry. I guess there's not that many and i keep forgetting to bring my camera/sd card. But one day...one day.

So last week was a pretty good week, except that mary didn't come to church. Like she has a crazy strong testimony and wants to get baptized but her two grandchildren are a handful and she is always busy taking care of them...so the next time she comes to church she'll probably be baptized the next saturday. Adam and Ana are good...adam is still the man...he tried to give us $50 but he got very denied. We still need to teach him one more lesson but Ana is in brisbane for the time being and we are going to wait for her to get back. but yeah so he has come to church every sunday since we first visited them. And he is already talking about how and when to bare his testimony, and he wants to have a hangi (don't know how to spell it but it is like a maori barbecue i guess with a special barbecue thing that cooks the meat...you know anything about that dad?) after his baptism, and they've been having family home evening, and its amazing how much he loves the gospel after such a short time. Also Ana might have to get baptized again cause they can't find her records and she has been less active for like 13 years. but so adam's baptism is on the 13th and so they want to get sealed in the temple on valentines day next year, that'd be pretty cool. Oh and we went to a baptism with matt, adams brother-in-law, that our zone leaders had at the stake center so that was pretty cool. I reckon he'll get baptized too (knock on wood) because he lives with matt and ana and has been coming to church with them every week as well. other than that everyone else has kind of stayed the same or aren't progressing, so i guess we need to work harder.

Also i mentioned awhile back about the parata's and how they are cousins to the taurima's and i met another one, jarom parata. and i guess he met jenn at pcc. Like he went with his family to hawaii and utah and stuff and so while they were at pcc their mom was like "oh so you're dating paxman" to jenn and so yeah, i guess jenn never really said anything back to me when i last talked about the parata's...thanks jenn. or maybe she did say something and i just didn't catch it.

We don't have much going on this week except for zone conference, or so i think...i'm sure the Lord has a lot planned for us this week as he probably does the next two years. But I guess we'll find out next week. Well love and miss you all.

Elder Salakielu

well family sorry this email is a bit late, its temple week this transfer so today (wednesday) is our temple day. its about 11:45 a.m. and we will be going through the temple at 2. then we have a dinner appointment with some members at 5:30. so thats whats going on for today.

Man there was some stuff that i was going to say but my mind just went blank and i can't remember anything.

oh yeah another thing was that i totally never mentioned earlier about the visit from elder cook from the quorum of the twelve...or at least the time leading up to it. we had a meeting with him just this last saturday with just the missionaries. it was sweet. he gave an apostalic blessing that serving a mission will bless not just our investigators, or families, or are friends, but everyone we come into contact with and our future spouses and families. Although that may have already been a promised blessing it was good and comforting to hear it coming from an apostle...one of the people on this earth closest God and the savior (one way one of the other elders described it).

well my mind is kinda blankish now, but i'll be back in a couple of days since we'll have monday pday again next week so i will talk to you then. love you all.

Elder Salakielu

I gave Sis. Tata your email but i guess someone was talking to her on my facebook which i guess was jenn so i guess thats how that happened. Also the Tata's are an awesome family, as well as sis. Tata's parents...as well as this whole ward. everyone is just so awesome. It reminds me a lot of the ward in hawaii and there are just so many people that i think you's all would get along with very well. Especially the family we're teaching, adam and ana wairepo i can see the girls being best friends with ana and their 5 kids. they are just the best family ever i'll have to send a picture. also i can never remember what i've said before, so did i tell you that adam has a baptismal date for the 13th of february. and ana will probably have to get baptized as well, they can't find her records from over in sydney.
Well thats sad about the puppy...foolish foolish mele...no jk. anyone could have seen that coming from what i'd say as quite a few miles away. maybe when she moves out oh say in the next 10 years she can have a puppy. but maybe it will be sooner than that since she will soon be the only one left at home...besides mom...who usually not there anyways...oh haha and roger i forgot about him still being there (sorry roger if you read this).
So elder leota is from New Zealand (Aucklandish),but his family lives in brisbane now. He is a pretty big fella, but he is also a giant marshmellow. except for when little girls stick gum on his shirt (and on my pants and wipes her dirty chocolate grubby mitts on my white shirt)..just kidding we didn't care. but really that little girl, chloe, is pretty off the wall crazy shes an investigators granddaughter (mary's granddaugter did i tell you about her, she had the baptismal date for 2 days ago but never came to church so its been moved) anyways the good news is that they came to church yesterday.
I remember dad showing me a pretty big lizard/chameleon one time just this last summer and i was thinking about keeping it but let it go instead. but haha Cecil thats a pretty sweet name, i don't know about bernard though i hope its not tainting to the bernard family name.
Well i have a really big favor to ask. I was wondering and hoping that maybe you could gather together some like lessons i guess...like object lessons/family home evening lessons/home and visiting teaching lessons/ fun and creative little thoughts and ideas. and maybe even some ideas of how to thank members for when they help a lot. sometimes its the same members who help with over and over again with lessons and fellowshipping and stuff...and just for being awesome...like the Tata's (you know they fed us 4 times in like a 10 day period) But so yeah just something to keep your eyes open for and to think about. Like there's already a bunch of ideas and stuff that go around and throughout the mission but more never hurts.
Well this is some pretty hard work and had one of the hardest days so far this last week but the Lord helped me through it and I know he wouldn't have me any other place even at my sisters wedding so i guess i'll have another brother when i get back. Well congratulations Meliss (despite my other email). I'm happy and glad for you and i have 5 min lefts so i better finish up. I Love and miss you all and will talk to you next week.

Elder Salakielu