25 December 2012

Merry Christmas world!

Oh my goodness, what a week filled with many different experiences. I will try and focus on the positive this week because it's Christmas and we are meant to be happy!

Well, I have been really grateful for my leaders and fellow sisters in my mission. I have really felt the love of the Lord and his strengthening arm holding me up when I've felt a little down.

On Friday my companion had to go to physio so I went on exchange with another sister who is from the Dominican Republic and we had to take a group of Spanish people on a tour of Welfare Square.  When we arrived at Welfare Square the sisters that were already there said that they had just received a phone call to say the tour was cancelled.   That was sad.  Anyway, there were soooooo many people in the Bishop's Storehouse waiting to get food and as missionaries that is something we get to help them with.  The lady who was in charge was feeling a little stressed because there were so many people to attend to so Sister Silverio and I jumped in and helped out.  It was such a humbling experience for me.  What we would be doing is called, "Hosting" and it is where you have a clip board with a list of items people can choose from to take home and its all for free.  We take a person with us and we walk down each aisle with them and tell them how many cans of stew etc. they can put in their cart/trolley.  It was incredible to see how many people receive help and how it's for free.  I helped this one person and the second time I helped two boys - the older boy was probably about 14 and the younger one was probably 5.  I was so humbled by these two boys and wanted to start crying because the oldest boy looked like Buddy and they had come without their parents to get food to take home. They got soooooooooo much food and I was just wondering if they were going to be okay. They were really humble boys and I just wanted to hug them as they left but honestly it was the best service I could have done as a build up to Christmas.  I needed to have that experience to remind me of my purpose as a missionary and to be grateful for everything the Lord has blessed me with throughout my life.

Sure, I have had a few trials, but I am learning some new skills or what I like to call them, "Christlike attributes" that are helping me to become a better person. This season has been really crazy and physically demanding as we are required to be on the Square until 10:00 p.m. each night this week and some mornings we wake at 5:50 a.m. for basketball/volleyball but its great!

On Friday night we had our dinner appointment at the Glade Family's home and it was so good!  They are the sweetest couple and Sister Glade is a vocal teacher and she had invited one of her students to come and perform for us and it was so nice. It was the best, first experience I've had of having dinner at a members home as a missionary.

Tonight we have a mission Christmas party at 4:00 p.m. and we don't know what we are going to do and tomorrow night we will attend another party.  It will be a week from today for transfers and more changes as a result of that. The time on a mission is so short and I know I have to make the most of every minute.

I love you family and I'm very excited to talk to you soon.  I know some people have been trying to find me this week and for those who didn't find me, I appreciate your efforts and determination.  Thank you!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year everyone!  Be grateful for what you have been blessed with.

Sister Chadderton

18 December 2012

Hi Family,

Surprise!  I've moved on to my third companion for this transfer and we are just over half way.  I don't think I'm cut out for these kind of surprises.  My new companion was having some issues with her last companionship so an emergency transfer was the solution.  President Gillette called my trio in on Thursday morning to tell us the news.  I was so sad to be leaving my trio because I loved them so much. The first few days with my new companion was fine - the usual awkward adjusting period - but today we have had a few trials creep in so I am trying to remain positive in overcoming them.

Thank you family for your prayers and the love that I have received from you through other people.  Not to be rude or anything, but I am looking forward for this transfer to be out of the way and I'm looking forward to the New Year so I can make some New Year resolutions.  Thanks for the words of wisdom that you all gave to me, I really needed them.

I'm learning that Mission life has it's ups and downs and it's because the Lord is shaping me to be the person he knows I can become.  I just need to endure to the end and everything will be okay.  I'm looking forward to those Vitamin D tablets because I feel like I'm definitely lacking in that department.  I am really mourning the summertime and despite the cold, the snow is beautiful but I just miss the sun. Sometimes its hard when  you have problems with a companion because I feel like there is no one I can talk to and if I do talk to someone else then I feel like I'm gossiping.  I will work it out.  Keep me in your prayers please.

Oh, I loved the photos of the family.  Thanks heaps.  The babies are growing up way too fast, especially baby Rawiri.  He's going to be running around before you know it. 

On a more positive note, we were lucky enough to be surprised by our Mission President to attend the Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert and it was AMAZING!  So inspirational and I was so grateful for our President's thoughtfulness in allowing us to attend.  Yesterday, at church we found out that Sister Gillette and one of the full time missionaries serving here - Sister Creer - have organized a dinner appointment at one of the members homes for all of the Temple Square missionaries!  Woohoo!  This means that we get to go and experience what it's like to have dinner in a member's home and it was touching to find out that there were so many families that had volunteered to have the missionaries over.  So, we are blessed to go to the Glade families home on Friday night for dinner and each missionary is to share a family tradition.  So, I received Hina's postcard in the mail this week with the Maori version of, "Silent Night" so I am hoping to learn it on the Ukulele this week so I can play and sing it for them.  It might turn out tragic but we'll see.  If all else fails then acapella it is.  But tonight is the last night that our Temple Square Choir will perform and its been so good singing in the Choir for everyone that comes to the Square on Monday nights.

Oh, bytheway, I saw Brother Carter the other day and it was so good to see him and he told me that his family were coming the following night to the Square and to wait for them at 7:00 p.m. Unfortunately, that was the night I was going to the Tabernacle Choir Concert and my trio and I tried stalling but by 7:10 p.m. my companions wanted to go so I missed them by 10 minutes. Tell them I love them!

It was especially sad to hear about the cyclone in Samoa and also the shooting in the USA.  I hope that all the people are able to feel solace and comfort from God at this time of year. I know I have really appreciated learning about the true meaning of Christmas this year instead of all the hustle and bustle of shopping. 

I'm sorry family if this email isn't my usual upbeat email, but I am really looking forward to calling home in 7 days and talking to you all.  I have felt the tender mercies of the Lord this week and although he gives us trials that we sometimes feel are too hard to overcome I know he helps us.  I'm grateful for the Saviour Jesus Christ and knowing that if I am true and faithful I can be together with my family again.  I cannot believe I'm almost at my 6 month mark - but who's counting? Haha....

Love to you all and thanks for being the bestest family in the whole wide world. Wish everyone you see a Merry Christmas and set some New Year resolutions. 

Sister Chadderton xoxox Merry Christmas!!!!

12 December 2012

Familyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy,

Well, Winter is here and I wish I was more excited, but I don't like the cold so I'm coping good enough and am just going to tough it out. Thank you for the emails, I love the pictures but mum and dad you still have to send some pictures of the both of you! 

So much to tell you about this week. It has been a great week, no worries, and I keep seeing miracles happen.  I am so grateful for my companions and being in a trio is fun.  It's nice to have both of them as a support network for me.  Christmastime is great and I love thinking about the Saviour but I just keep seeing families around and missing my own.  It was so good to talk to you mum, dad, Hina and Rawiri and I wasn't sad at the time.  I'm just looking forward to calling you in less than two weeks.  I was also thinking that the next time I get to call home will be Mother's Day so I might ask President if I can call a few weeks later so I can talk to Buddy as well because he will be home in May.

Thank you for the sacrifices you make mum and dad to help us kids on our missions. I know it musn't be easy and I hope that because of our service you continue to be blessed.

Well, I talked with President this week about Sister J Chadderton coming to Temple Square and this is what he said:  "We can eat and visit together for an hour and the rest of the time we will be proselyting until she is to leave." He said he wants to meet her and that we can enjoy being missionaries together. So, I'm excited to be able to show my sister around my mission and enjoy being with her before she goes home to you all. I will send the Christmas presents home with her to save money. I also saw Aunty Niva and Ashevonne this week and Aunty Niva asked if she could bring me some food on Christmas day or pick me up and take me to her house.  I told her I couldn't call her and let her know what I can or can't do but I did ask President what he thought and he said if we meet at the Square and she wants to bring me food then thats fine with him.  So, Hina can you call Aunty Niva (your mother-inlaw) and see if she can meet me at the Flag pole at 12:00 noon on Christmas day and if that's a good time for her? If its not, that's okay.  I got excited when she offered to bring me some of her amazing cooking.

Amidst my, "pity party" as Sister J likes to call it, where I was feeling a little sad and didn't feel very loved (whichI know is Satan trying to discourage me from focusing on my mission), yesterday we had a mission tour with Elder Evans of the Seventy and he gave a great talk and the spirit was so strong.  I really felt like his talk confirmed that I am exactly where I'm meant to be and that the Lord is  helping me along the way.  Then, last night after contacting a family, a lady and her children stopped me and said that they were friends with you mum. The Kilts family, I'm not sure where they travelled from but Sister Kilts said that her son was serving a mission in Guatemala and she couldn't take him anything so she wanted to bring me something. Boy did I feel humbled to feel the love of the Lord from the members.  She didn't know that I was experiencing those feelings but it really made my day and helped lift my spirits.  Thank you so much Sister Kilts!!! & family.  Her other son is leaving for his mission soon to the Philippines and its just exciting to see how many more children of God are going out into the field. The other day there was a huge gathering of girls who received a Facebook invitation to meet at the front of the Reflection pool on Temple Square to have a photo. The girls were all those who had recently received there mission calls and they were to come holding the flag of the country they were going to serve in.  There were over 300 girls that turned up for the photo and it was so touching to see so many girls soooooooo excited to be serving a mission. I talked to two of the girls who were called to Australia - Melbourne and Perth Mission's - and I helped them get even more excited. So, so, cool.

I also met a lady last night who came to the Square with her family and turns out her sister was mission companion's with Aunty Tiff.  Her name is Melanie Anderson and her sister said to say hi. Small world right?

Well, its been a great week and health wise and physically I've felt better this week. The Kilt family were so sweet and brought me a big bag with hot chocolate, marshmallows, chocolate, vegetable thins, mandarins and peanut butter. So good and so sweet of them! Thanks for joining the blog mum because I have felt the love.  One of the Sisters here - Sister Walsh - said she wants the link to send her mum to join so when you get a chance could you do that.  I know her dad reads my blog to so, "Hi Brother Walsh!"

Oh, can you ask Julia Colling's for her home address please because she sent me an email and I want to reply to her but I need her home address. 

Hope you are all well and healthy and are enjoying the warmer weather for me!

Favourite scripture of the day:

Alma 26:11-12:

 11 But Ammon said unto him: I do not boast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God.

 12 Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.

Love you all, keep the faith and this week smile and say hello to everyone.  Oh and I heard Channie put her mission papers in (via my friend Amanda Raybould). Tell her congrats from me and tell her I'm so happy for her!!!! YAY for missionary work. I can't wait to be a mission prep teacher when I get back.

Picture 1:  I went to Music and the Spoken Word.

Picture 2:  I saw my friend Amanda afterwards.

Picture 3:  Opening my present from the Kilts Family

Picture 4:  My MTC District - we are all grown up.

Hi Brother & Sister Walsh,

Here is the link to join the ldsmissionarymom's group.  The dad's can join to if they wish.

http://www.ldsmissionarymoms.com/

Kind regards,

Ra Chadderton

6 December 2012

Hi Family!!!

Well, what a week I have to share with you. I apologize if this email is a little choppy because there is so much that has happened since my last email and I only have 30 minutes left to get it down.

My companion Sister Fialho is incredible and we have had so much fun and have really worked hard. When we have our companionship inventory we have no problems or issues to discuss and it is so lovely.  The day after inventory we received a phone call and it was from our Mission President asking if we can go and see him… like now!   So, as we walk over to his office, I'm starting to freak out a little because usually you meet with President if something tragic has happened at home and yup anyway.  So, he tells us to both come into his office and sit down and tells us that a Sister that had just gone outbound a week and a half ago wasn't doing so well dealing with her phobias so she is coming back to Temple Square.  President was wondering how my companion and I felt about becoming a trio.  "Whew!  That's it?"  I was genuinely excited because I know my twin Sister Vaivai was in a trio so I would be following in her footsteps being in a trio.  I was really excited and the sister was coming back the next day.  That night we rushed home to move things around in our room to fit another bed some where and to get it ready for our new companion.

The next day (Saturday) we meet up with our new companion - Sister Chen - and it was really good to talk to her. I hadn't really talked to her much before and she is in her 5th transfer.  She is from Taiwan and went outbound to Salt Lake City and had a really hard time.  I think it wasn't what she expected and felt she was wasting her time because she said some days they would only teach one person the whole day and the rest of the time they were either biking or knocking on doors. Okay, so it was then that I realized how much we really are spoilt here on Temple Square.  We teach almost all day and we don't have to knock on doors or ride a bike with our laundry hanging off it. We are definitely blessed. Don't get me wrong we have our unique challenges here but after her experiences, I appreciated my mission more.  It did not deter my enthusiasm for going outbound because I want those struggles. They will be hard but thats life and if every other missionary can do it then I know with the Lord's help, I can do it too. 

Sunday morning we had a really nice Fast and testimony meeting and President Gillette announced that we will now be having Relief Society classes on a Thursday morning. I was so, so, so, excited because I have really missed it. We aren't able to have Sunday School or Relief Society on Sunday's due to Music and the Spoken Word finishing at 10:00 a.m. and other assignments that we have to cover.  But, the mission department really wants us to have it so we are trialling Relief Society on Thursdays.  President also announced that we had been invited to the First Presidency Christmas Devotional and that a Student Ward was coming to Temple Square from Provo to cover us while we attended the Devotional. Again more excitement!!!  We were a little bit too excited after that announcement and President had to remind us that we were still in Sacrament! "Whoops!"   Such great blessings of serving on Temple Square. The day passed quickly in anticipation for the Devotional and it was just amazing.  I hope you all get a chance to watch it because the personal experiences that were shared about Christmas are truly inspiring. 

Oh, before I forget I got my Christmas package YAY!!!  So funny though, yesterday Sister Smith got her Christmas package from home too and we decided to swap packages and open each others to check to see if the presents were individually wrapped or not.  We did it back to back so all I heard while my companion was looking through my package was, "WOW! WOW! Ohhhh, your family really loves you!"  The box is deceiving because it makes it look like its got a lot less then what was inside. I did see that there was a stocking and Sister Smith stuffed some unwrapped stuff in there so I am excited for Christmas.  Thank you family for sharing your love with me. For many sisters here on Temple Square this will be their first Christmas in a different country as some of them know that in their home countries they do not celebrate it.  It's so cool helping them to have such a great first experience.

We also found out like Elder Chadderton that our ending transfer dates will be changing but mine will be coming forward one week so its about a year exactly after Sister Chadderton the first gets home that you will be seeing me. Strange how fast time goes.

Today for P-Day we went shopping and I printed off some Christmas cards and they will be in the post tomorrow. My sad attempt at being cheesy but know that I love you and gave up my nap so that I could send you photos.  Mum I might see if Sister J can bring the Christmas presents home if they cost too much to post when I go to the Post Office. 

Michel and Gem congratulations!  Michel, you looked so beautiful and congratulations to Steven John and Jas on baby number 2.  How exciting and lucky Uncle Jared as he will be home soon and won't know what's hit him with all the babies every where...so cool.

Choir last night was fun, I sang a few times throughout the night with different groups. The Polynesian sisters (13 of us I think) we sing, "Little Drummer Boy" and I stand next to my twin in almost every song.  Funny story - We were contacting these 2 bus drivers the other night and they weren't really interested in learning about the gospel, but then last night one of them walks up to Sister Vaivai and said, "Hey its good to see you again."  Well, she's like umm....yeah its good to see you again...uh sorry when did we meet? Lol Glad to know its not just happening to me.

On Saturday we were assigned to take a group of Young Women around Temple Square and amongst them were non members and less actives. It was the most powerful teaching experience I've ever had. It was the first time our trio taught together. The Lord helped us to teach with unity and it was so good. The spirit was so strong and I know those young women were able to feel the spirit.  We shared our individual stories about how we each came to serve a mission and how we prepared and I loved looking back on my life and seeing how the Lord has led me to this point in my life so that I could really be a missionary for him today. So great. 

This week I saw one of my friends - Dave Young - and he's almost on his way home to Sydney after he stops off at Disneyland for me and my MTC teacher Sister Lim.  She is so great and I loved seeing her.

Well, some of our sisters are getting hit with lots of illnesses this week - the flu has been taking out a lot of them - and because we don't get a chance to sleep it off, it stays around longer and I currently have a sore throat.  I went to the pharmacy to get some medicine to help fight it off before it gets worse and I bought some E-mergen C that Sister Chadderton recommended I get for Winter.

This morning we went to the Temple because I kept having promptings that I needed to go to the Temple today and it was wonderful. I have carried that peace that comes from being in the Temple throughout the whole day. I love the Temple and was able to receive some answers to questions I had.  It's hard sometimes to be in a trio because we have to respect 3 opinions instead of 2 and when we teach, we teach shorter but powerful statements and the spirit helps.

Please tell Hillary I said hi mum and I'm so happy she is home and I know she will adjust fine. I miss her though and look forward to seeing her when I return one day.

Crazy how fast Sister Chadderton finishes but I can't wait to spend time with her and I am meeting with my Mission President to talk about what we can or can't do during her layover.

Oh and guess what?  I get to call home for 5 minutes tomorrow to set up a time to call around Christmas.   Unfortunately, family I'm sorry in advance because we don't have Skype so it's just a phone call from me but President has allowed us to call for 1 hour instead of 45 minutes, so blessings!

Love you all heaps,

Please keep doing your missionary work because you are withholding blessings from the Lord when you don't.

Love Sister N Chadderton

Picture 1 - At Christmas Devotional

Picture 2 - Our trio