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.