beautiful maori children connor is teaching

A special surprise email and picture we received:

Dear Sister Rawle and family,

I am sending you this email with a photograph of your son, Elder Rawle and his companion, Elder Wright.

They are giving my children lessons. My children, Morgan-Leigh, Jacqueline and Ben enjoy their lessons with the Elders.

As we are coming into summer here, the elders' will find it a little different as we have very hot weather for Christmas.

It is a pleasure to have once again, the elder's in our home.

With kind regards,

Sister Joanie Pehi & Family

letter from president jolliffe

A letter that brought tears to our eyes.  We are continually humbled and grateful for Connor's service.  

Dear Brother and Sister Rawle,

I am pleased to advise you that your son has been called to serve as a Trainer in the New Zealand, Wellington Mission. This is the highest compliment the Lord could pay your son.

President Monson has said, "Always select your outstanding missionaries to introduce the new Elders and new Sisters to the field."  From the Doctrine and Covenants comes this beautiful passage:  "And if any man among you be strong in the Spirit, let him take with him that is weak, that he may be edified in all meekness, that he may become strong also."  It is for these reasons that your son has been called by the Lord as Trainer.

Thank you for supporting your son in the mission field.  It is a joy to serve with him in this wonderful work of the Lord.

Kindest regards,

Clive R. Jolliffe

Mission President  

first baptism

Meet Grant. The newest member of the church in New Zealand. Grant was baptized this week and will get the priesthood so he can baptize his wife Carolyn next week. A wonderful couple that Connor has been teaching. Congratulations Connor! Congratulations Grant and Carolyn!

on top of the world

rain and cold, but still smiling

This week we met a girl and her boyfriend and taught them the restoration discussion.  I have never met anyone, or seen anyone, who is longing for the gospel so much, but doesn't even know it.  It really opened my eyes.  People need this, that is why I am out here on my mission.  The Lord is truly preparing people for the word, but I still need to labor diligently to find those people, even when it's pouring rain and cold!   People listen a little better when it's cold and rainy because they feel bad for you! 

I really love all the letters that everyone sends me.  They make me so happy and give me extra strength!  All the mail gets me so happy and helps me keep moving along strong!

This is what I need to be doing right now, serving the Lord.  Going on a full time mission is going to help me so much in life, it's a small sacrifice.  I love New Zealand.  It's the best mission in the world!

connor being connor

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falling in love with the island

Today we drove to the beach that was right by where we were tracting.  We went to Waikuku, it's a tiny little beach town and we went to Waikuku beach.  When we pulled up I could just feel the ocean, and the beach aroma just filled my nose and I got so excited!  There is a sand hill you have to climb up before the beach, so I ran up to see the most beautiful sight in the world, the beautiful New Zealand beach and ocean with mountains on the left and the right that went out a little bit, then all ocean.  It was so absolutely breath taking. I felt the most love and appreciation for the Island.  I felt spiritually connected with the island of New Zealand.  I took some pictures of the beach and also me at the beach.  Probably the best photos that I have taken this whole time since I've been on my mission.  I really can't wait till you can come to this Island dream with me.  Mom, you are seriously gonna love it here, no joke.  You're gonna absolutely freak!  The people are so nice, it's a completely different country, everything is just so much different then we are used to.  There is no place that I would rather be!

If we reach our goal as a mission at reaching 300 baptisms this year, then President Jolliffe is renting a big bus during Christmas time and taking all of the mission (40 companionships) on a big Matthew Cowley historical church sight seeing road trip.  He did a lot for the church here in NZ.  That would be really fun.  Stay safe.  God be with you till we meet again. 

singing in the streets

Today was the most productive day we have had here.  The first street we did, we knocked on this door and an 80 year old lady and a guy in his 30's answered and the guy said, "hey we were just talking about you."  And we said, "huh?"  He said "I'm from Hamilton HZ, then I moved to Utah on a tennis scholarship to BYU, then became converted and got married in the temple to my wife who I met there.  Now I live in Mapleton, Utah.  I'm just down here visiting my grandparents and teaching them more about the gospel.  Do you want to come in?"  We said for sure!  I seriously couldn't believe that I met a member from tracting, it was so cool.  We went in and talked with the guy and his grandparents.  He wants us to come back another day and maybe teach them a lesson.  It was really so good to meet an active member.

 

It was a blessing and it totally boosted my spirits for the day.  

On Wednesday the whole zone went into the middle of Christchurch and we all sang hymns while a few of us contacted the people around watching.  I saw a girl sitting on a bench watching us all sing and so I started talking to her and it turns out she is from England just visiting for a couple of weeks.  So I gave her a pamphlet and bore testimony then began contacting other people.  Elder Tinker was watching the girl and said that she read the pamphlet cover to cover.  Then I noticed a guy with the same kind of bike that I have so I went over and started taking to him.  It turns out he is from California doing study abroad in NZ.  We talked about snowboarding for a while and then I started to talk to him about the Bible and the Book of Mormon and I pretty much gave him the first lesson about the restoration in the middle of Christchurch.  I really like street contacting after that day. 

We went over to the Samoan family's house today and boy am I stuffed!  They sure do like to feed you.  They go over to a fish 'n chips shop and bring back this HUGE bag of them and also have sausages, bread, eggs, and all of this food for us.  So we ate tons until I was about to pop!  Then there was one more piece of fish left and I was so stuffed and then Sana says, "Elder Rawle have some more fish" and I said that I was far too full.  Then she says, "RAWLE, I said eat the fish!" really boldly, so I said ok and ate the fish.  They really want you to eat, eat, eat! 

inviting people to come unto christ

I've been keeping track of how many doors we've knocked on this week and it's around 396 and not one person has let us in!  Only one person ever has said anything more then, "I'm not interested", and it was a 16 year old and we gave him a restoration pamphlet and that's it.  

But in preach my gospel it says, "your purpose as a missionary is to invite people to come unto Christ, by helping them receive the restored gospel of Christ through faith in the lord Jesus Christ."  So all I can do is invite people to come unto Christ, and that's what I'm doing out here.  Whether people accept it or not is their decision, so as long as I'm trying my hardest to invite people to come unto Christ, I'm happy.   

We are still teaching Grant and Carolynn, and this week started teaching a  family from Texas, a single mom with 2 teenagers, and another single lady. 

Our neighbor is funny, he's always drunk and happy!  One time he called us, "God Squad!"

It was my first fast Sunday out here in New Zealand today.  I bore my testimony, the spirit was so strong there.  I love my area more and more everyday. We get rejected all day and everyday, but we have fun getting rejected and we look forward to the next house.  I love New Zealand, it is seriously the best place to serve! 

I work so hard out here it's absolutely crazy.  I'm so tired by the end of the night!  People say you'll never sleep on your mission till the plane ride home, which is so true!  My testimony grows so much, my faith in the Savior is so big.  I know this church is true.  Everything makes so much sense.  I love you all and I love New Zealand!  I'm gonna learn so much out here, but I'm the same old Connor! 

write to connor

Connor would love to hear from you!  Mailed letters are his favorite.  

Write to him at:

Elder Connor Rawle

New Zealand Wellington Mission

6 Hagley Street, level 1

Porirua, 5022

New Zealand

Cost is $.98 for an average size letter.  We usually just put 3  $.44 stamps on letters.  

the joys of tracting begin

So the first day here we went tracting around Rangiora in a neighborhood.  I had been watcing my companion do it for a while so we came to a house and Elder Tinker asked me if i wanted to talk this time, so I said for sure!  We knocked on the door and there stood this 300 pound Maori, about 50 years old, looking really mad.  I said, "hi, how is it going?"  He stood there saying nothing for 10 seconds, then he looked at his clock and says,"it's 7:30 at night,why are you knocking on my door?"  I didn't know what to say so I said, "me and my friend are with the LDS church and we are sharing a message that God has called a prophet to this earth again, are you a religious guy at all?" He says "yes, I'm Maori/Tongan and I pray to the Maori Gods", in a really harsh and rude tone.   I said "oh that's great", then told him about the Book of Mormon and he said, "where is this book?"  I took it out of my bag and showed him the Book of Mormon and he started yelling, "put that book away, put that book back in your bag!"  I was so scared I was shaking and wanting to cry, we talked for like 10 more minutes with this tired grumpy 300 pound Maori being so rude until he says, "I'm George, my wife was just baptized, we were playing a joke on you!"  

Ahhh!  It turns out that the missionaries have been working with them for a while so they do that to every new missionary.  We went in and he and his wife are so nice, really poor but really rich in heart and giving.  They love the missionaries. 

We are working with a married couple in their 40's.  Their names are Grant and Carolynn.  Carolynn knows the church is true, but she doesn't want to get baptized until Grant does.  But they came to church yesterday and loved it so maybe they will get baptized soon.  We are going to challenge them on Sunday the 30th.  

Me and Elder Tinker visited a part member (all inactive) Samoan family, and we talked about culture the whole time. I talked about lava lavas and about how Kayla is Samoan and they were SOOOO stoked and it feels like they like me more because of it!!! haha. Then they gave me a red Samoan lava lava and I wear it around the house. They are so nice and giving. 

getting adjusted to missionary life

When I flew into Wellington my mouth dropped, it was absolutely beautiful!  Houses on mountains looking onto the beach with clear blue water.  I literally started crying.  When we got off the airplane we came out and President and Sister Jolliffe were waiting with 2 other elders. They were really excited to see us and were so nice.  We went to a chapel near by and got to know them.  Then after a while we went to the mission home and had dinner, and a testimony meeting there in their living room.  We slept in a big room with a lot of beds that were so comfortable it was amazing.  We were all so tired from hardly sleeping on the flight that we were all asleep by 8:00.  Then we woke up at 5:45 am with President Jolliffe blowing an air horn into the room, I literally jumped up I was so taken off guard.  

We had breakfast then go dropped off at the airport.  The flight from the North Island to the South Island is beautiful.  There were mountains with snow on top in the distance, then there was the beach and ocean right below me.  

My companion is Elder Tinker is an Aussie.  He is way cool and funny. We get along well and have common interests.  I'm 2 for 2 on comps right now with not getting gomers which is really rare.  So hopefully I can keep the streak going! 

connors first look at new zealand

he's really there

Connor's email. He was trying to answer all our many questions.

New Zealand is legit! On Saturday it was a ward party and it was cultural night and I dressed up in a lava lava and leis and did a Tongan dance. The other wards did a Maori dance and the hakka! I'm feeling a little homesick but I love you guys and you guys give me SO much support! I got a toy for Lily today! I'll be sending a package to you all this week hopefully! I found some of those cool green necklaces that are famous here. But it was at some souvenir shop and I wanted to buy it from a Maori maker so I'll wait on that.

There is nothing I really need. It's starting to warm up here. I'm in Christchurch. The food is so good in New Zealand. It's amazing. I love you guys so much. I love you mom! aah. It's safe here don't worry. Really safe.

I just saw the blog it's so cool! Thanks so much for doing that for me it means a lot to me! Yeah everything is fine, the condo is alright, it's pretty good for a missionary one. And it's got a washer and dryer which is awesome! We have a car. We can send letters and e-mails! They are both fun, but it's always SO good to get a handwritten letter. The other day I was really sad then read my patriarchal blessing and a letter you wrote me and got so happy! It made my day!

It feels COMPLETELY different here. Canada was a little different...but this is a whole new world. Sometimes it feels like people are speaking another language and I have to say what 10 times haha. It's seriously crazy. We have a couple that are working towards baptism it's great. I will write more about it in my letter.

I love letters. I would love it if I got one everyday! I love you all. You are the best parents. Tell everyone hi for me.

letter from sister jolliffe

Just a little note to let you know that we met Elder Rawle at the airport this morning along with the other 10 new missionaries. They are now being orientated and having all the admin work done and then this evening they will come to the mission home for a meal,a testimony meeting and to stay the night. In the morning he will leave for his new area on the South Island where he will be trained by Elder Tinker, a lovely missionary from Australia. Their address is: 213B West Belt, Rangiora 7400, New Zealand Preparation days are Monday and so you can anticipate hearing from him next week. We are so grateful for you lending us your son. We will strive to look after him as we would our own. If at any time you have concerns or questions, please do not hesitate to email us. With gospel love and gratitude, Sister Jolliffe

connor with president and sister jolliffe

the adventure begins....new zealand!

Connor is there!  He was allowed to call us from the Salt Lake City airport and he sounded really good.  We tracked the flights all night on the internet and his plane arrived safely in New Zealand today.  We can't wait to find out where his first area will be.  It was really hard saying goodbye to him on the phone, but now he is there we are so excited!  Let the adventure begin! 

Item of slight interest:  Did you know they say Maori different in New Zealand?  In New Zealand, the Maori's themselves pronounce it Mow-dee (with a long 0 sound, and a d sound inplace of the r).  Connor corrected us on the phone yesterday.    

last mtc letter

Family! I'm doing way good I have had a lot of cool experiences at the RC(referral center) this week it has been way cool. My home used to be my comfort zone, now here is my comfort zone and so I'm scared to leave to New Zealand. haha. It will be way fun though I'm super excited. We had an awesome devotional from Lowell Snow from the seventy. I really enjoyed it. He said, "God is anxious to give power to you." It really affected me. I want that power!

When I look back on my life, there are hardly even 2 years of my life that I can even remember anything that really happened. Do you remember exactly what you did between the years 1991-1993? But if I asked Dad if he remembered the 2 years of his mission, he would know he went on a mission those years. So even if a mission is hard, it is something I will remember for the rest of my life without a doubt. Besides it's not about me, it's about the Lord.

The other day in class everyone had to tell a story about when they felt the spirit really strong and I talked about how the night before Lindy had her baby, me and Dad gave her a blessing and the spirit was overwhelming.

I'm so happy that you are proud of me being in the service of the Lord on a mission. It makes me happy. I'm happy to go to New Zealand! That will be so exciting, getting off the plane.

here comes new zealand

Connor received his flight plans today. He leaves on Monday, August 17 at 5:55 pm.  He flies to Los Angeles and then takes a 14 hour nonstop flight to Auckland, New Zealand.  From there he takes a quick flight to Wellington, New Zealand, the mission home.  The entire journey takes about 20 hours. 

mtc pictures

Connor's first pictures.  It is so good to see his smiling face.  He looks like a real missionary, it still kind of shocks us!   

connor and his companion. they get along great.

best letter yet

As parents, we are already learning the deep joy of having a son serving a mission.  It has only been a week and what a difference in Connor's letters.  We are already asking ourselves, "who is this boy, is the son we dropped off at the MTC a week ago?"  In Connor's own words...."The Lord is molding me into a great missionary right now."  This is completely out of our hands, we now just get to sit back and watch the growth.  We are so grateful!

Today was awesome.   We all took one portion from lesson 1 (the restoration) from Joseph Smith's first vision and had to teach it to the class.  It was awesome and I learned a lot about how to teach.  

So we taught it to the whole class then he had us do it again and perfect it.  I did it so much better and the teacher whispered, "good job".  I felt so good.

Joseph Smith could have never written the Book of Mormon.  The church is SO true.  Wow, I love it. And I LOVE the MTC.  Everyday my testimony grows and my knowledge of the gospel grows tons.  I knew you guys would want to know I'm doing awesome and I love it here.  

I've been having so much fun now.  I'm gonna throw down in NZ.  I'm so excited!

new letter

Highlights from Connor's 2nd letter:

Family,

I can't express my appreciation to you guys right now.  I love you all so much and I'm so happy you raised me so well and a firm member of the church. 

I am learning how to teach a lot better and having fun in classes.  The lessons our teachers teach us are absolutely amazing. The teachers are really in tune with missionary life and know exactly what we are going through.  I love my district and have been blessed with the coolest companion. He has the best sense of humor and we always joke around.  

I got all your letters and packages from Karen and Katy.  It was the biggest blessing ever getting all of those letters from you guys.  It made me feel loved and it gave me so much strength and inspiration.  It truly makes my day when I get letters from all of you guys.  

Last night I could hear stomping and screaming and all the poly guys were doing the Haka.  It was great. There is really a diverse culture at the MTC.  We can eat all we want, but they ask us to take only one entree at a time.  All the big Polys walk back with four entrees on their plate to eat.  haha.  They get to eat whatever they want. 

Keep me in your prayers.  I have been praying a lot and I know they are answered.  I'm doing awesome here now.  I love being a missionary.  Sometimes I will take off my name tag and just look at it...Elder Rawle, then I get so excited, I'm a missionary finally!  The spirit is so strong here everywhere I go it's just flowing.  I feel it literally all day!  I realize how blessed our family is and how close we are and everything.  I think about the families in NZ that I am going to be teaching and how awesome it's going to be to see them have what our family has, that genuine happiness and closeness that comes only from the gospel. 

Dad, thanks for your letter.  I use the hallmark pen you gave me everyday, all day.  I love it so much.  I keep it on me at all times and use it for everything.  It makes me feel like you because I remember you used one on your mission and I want to work as hard as you did on your mission.   Mom, I miss you so much.  I miss your tender love.  I'm doing awesome here though. 

There is literally no free time.  Like none! So have everyone read this, all the family and friends because when I write them I won't go into this much detail. 

I'm glad I am going to NZ.  I already love the people and I haven't even met them yet. In my opinion to convert someone you need to become their friend first so they trust you.  I'm going to try to be so friendly and always have a smile on my face so they know that the gospel makes you happy.   There is so much stuff waiting for me in NZ.  I don't know what it is yet, but I want to find out and that's what gets me up everyday!  I love the gospel. It makes me so happy!  

I love you guys so much!  Don't worry about me, I'm doing so good.  I love missionary work and it is such a blessing and a privilege.  This is where I need to be. 

Love you,  Elder Rawle

amazing photography

A big thank you to Connor's aunt Susan Hayward for the missionary photos.  Susan is an amazing photographer who captured Connor perfectly.  We will have Connors pictures all over our house as a special remembrance while he is gone.  Susan's talent has helped fill the void in our hearts. What a gift.   

  

website:  www. susanhaywardphotography.com    

blog: www.susanhaywardphotography.typepad.com

maori whale bone carving

Tracy and I went to the Park City Arts Festival on Saturday and met an artist from New Zealand who made the most incredible hand carved whale bone necklaces.  He was Maori with the most radiant skin and smile, but what warmed our hearts was when he spoke to us.  Have you ever heard a true New Zealand accent?  It is beautiful!  I wanted to buy one of his amazing carvings, but held off because that is something that Connor wants to buy us while he is in New Zealand.  As we walked away, we felt an overwhelming love for the warm people of New Zealand.  We are so grateful for Connor's call to New Zealand.

we got our first letter!

We received our first long anticipated from Connor today.  It was so wonderful and exciting!  Here are a few highlights:

7-29-09  9:30pm

Family, What's up guys? I just finished my first day.  So much stuff went on.  It sucked saying goodbye to you all.  I was trying so hard not to cry saying goodbye to you mom and dad, even like 15 minutes later I was holding back tears.  We went in, some goon showed me to my room, then we had a long orientation thing. 

I met my district today. Everyone was way cool. My comps name is Elder Spampinato, he's a white kid from Carlsbad California.  He is way cool. We joke around a lot.  He is way normal.  I got really lucky with my companion.  My companion is also going to NZ and also 4 other kids from my district are going to NZ, but my comp is cooler then them.  Some are gomers. 

Today I realized how hard it's gonna be here, I already know that the mission will be SO hard. Everyone says tomorrow will be hard but they say if you make it till Sunday, you're golden. Not that I would ever come home early.  Don't worry.  The food for dinner was pretty good.

Tell Tyler and Kayla and Lily I'm doing good and I love them.   Tell Matt, Lindy, and Babes the same thing.  Everyone in our branch has to prepare a talk for Sunday.  They may call you to give it.  You never know if they are gonna make you give it.  You just randomly get asked to stand up and give it, so maybe I'll get chosen. 

Tell Carson I love him and miss him so much.  I already miss you guys. I love you mom and dad, thanks for raising me right, I love you, keep me in your prayers and keep writing me and send me packages.  Can't wait to hear from you guys.  Every missionary that I tell that I'm going to NZ gets so stoked and say they are jealous.  It's so funny.  So we pretty much just had a lot of orientations today.  My butt started to hurt.  I will tell you guys more what happens in a typical day tomorrow when I have a normal day.   

Love you all so much, Elder Rawle

P.S.  I leave August 17

elder connor rawle-new zealand wellington mission

Great news!  We get to start a blog to document Connors mission to the New Zealand Wellington Mission.  We hope to fill it with the  letters, emails, pictures, and experiences of Connor's mission.  Please forward anything you would like to share to this blog.  The more posts the better!