Easter

P-Day

Flight Plans

We received a surprise email today....Connor's return flight plans! He will be home August 4th!

His Smile Says it All!

This picture brings tears to our eyes. The smile, the happiness, the pure joy! Words can't even begin to describe!

Miracles in Napier

Kia Ora,

Well I basically can't even explain my feelings this week in words, but I will attempt to do so. First of all, I try my best but I have so many pitfalls in my life, and in my missionary work. The Lord with his love always seems to bless me and fill in the gaps of my imperfections. The work has shot up the roof this week and I've seen so many blessings. I was able to see a family come into the waters of baptism this week. Four souls were baptized, I baptized two, and Elder Sharkey baptized two. They are the Tonga family. Hynda, Tilini, Sala, and Paul Tonga. They have been so excited, but scared to get baptized for the past few weeks as we have prepared them for it. Their Mom is a less-active member, she went less active quite a few years ago, and is coming back into re-activity. Elder Sharkey and I have truly come to love this family and built a bond and a friendship that will last the rest of our lives. The baptismal service went perfectly as planned, the ward showed up and showed their support for them. After they were baptized I walked into the bathroom and it may seem a little cheesy, but I just started crying, and saying thanks to my Heavenly Father for helping this family and helping them along the way. I just said thanks for everything, and I knew even stronger, that God exists. I was thinking about how grateful I was to make the decision to serve a mission and change the lives of people along the way. The night after the baptism we went to the Tonga families house and the Mom just said thanks to us for baptizing her children, she was saying and she's going to come back to church strong and change her life as well.

We also got a text from one of our investigators that's been to church 2, institute once, and a baptism. She said that she wants to get baptized this saturday so were working hard to prepare her for that! It's been pretty crazy here.

I'm doing good, I'm happy, actually I've never been happier. I love you all. -Crawle

5 More Months and Loving it!

Doing So Good!

Kia Ora,

This week has been another awesome one. It started off with a few day exchange with a new missionary straight from Germany, Elder Windhausen. It was really cool to be able to serve with him and see his great faith, and cool accent. We've been focusing a lot on Denise, who is Lotu, the girl who just got baptized Mom. I'm pleased to announce that Denise was succesfully baptized this last saturday!!!! Wooohoooo!!!!!! It was an awesome experience. She's had a lot of fellowship and has enjoyed church so much. It was so good to see Denise arrive at the chapel for the baptismal service with a huge smile on her face. The ward showed so much support for Denise, and there was a big feed afterwards as well.

New Zealand is a cool place to serve, I love the people. No one wears shoes. It's really funny. It's not like New Zealand is this total island style place, it's really civilized like any other country, but it's just funny to see all these people at the grocery store wearing no shoes. Last p-day we walked to the grocery store and I wore no shoes just for the fun of it, no one even gave me a second look at the grocery store. There's no such thing as no shirt, no shoes, no service.

Things have been great, I love my companion from Orderville, he's pretty funny. I reckon that I'll leave Napier in a few weeks, my work should be done here by now. I want to baptize 7 people this month, it shall be done!

I miss you all, I miss snowboarding, my cars, my shoes, and sundance! I love you all.

Elder Rawle