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.