27 March 2013

Yay!  Finally, I get to write to you all about my week!  It's awesome that we have 2 hours to email because I need every minute of it.  Thanks to those who wrote to me - you know who you are!

Well, as you know we had transfer Conference last week Monday and received our new assignments.  The conference was held in the Tabernacle Building around 7:30 a.m. and my new companion is Sister Whaley from Nevada.  She returned home shortly after she arrived in the mission due to health problems but she is a trooper and a great example to me because she came back out.  It was sad to say goodbye to Sister Stolp but she is doing great and her new companion is Sister Lupashko who has just returned from her outbound experience.  Sister Lupashko said she served with one of Jenna's MTC companions. Small world aye?  Apparently, she heard the other sisters talking about a, "Sister Chadderton" and she was like, "Wait!  What? We have a Sister Chadderton in our mission who is also from NZ!"  When she saw a picture of Jenna she said, "They must be sisters because they look so much alike!"  Haha.  I love it - sorry sister I can't remember where she went outbound to.

Anyway, so this past week we have seen a lot of changes take place and while change can be a little unsettling at first, you soon get use to it.  We are all gearing up for General Conference which is fast approaching and Temple Square is getting busier and busier each day.  I'm not sure how my companion will cope during Conference due to her health but we are mentally preparing ourselves for it and we will do our best.  Mum and Dad, you can decide when we can meet for the tours.  I may or may not run into during Conference because there will be over 21,000 people on the Square during that time and it may be better that we meet up after Conference.  Exciting times!  I am praying that there is an announcement at General Conference for a new temple to be built in Auckland, New Zealand - so know that my fingers and toes are crossed.

Last Saturday we had a General Conference, "Pump-up" meeting and it has inspired everyone to get excited.  At this same meeting President Gillette talked about a special field trip that we as sister missionaries would be going on.  I don't know if you've heard of, or watched the new Bible Videos on lds.org.  The set that these video's are filmed at is located in a small place called Goshen in Utah.  Well, our Mission Presidency have been working for over a year to have us visit the set.  It's a little tricky to have visitor's at the site because the people at the set in Goshen are always filming so they don't allow tours during that time.  However, there is a short gap during the build up to General Conference where they are accepting tours.  So, guess what?  We got to go!  My zone and another zone went yesterday (they split us up so their were still sisters on the Square).  We were given a packed lunch (yippee) and rode in a bus for about an hour and thirty minutes before arriving at Goshen.  It is a very small town and it looks like a farm and as we drove into the tour area  we saw this HUGE film set.  I know I was expecting a tour of the grounds but I was overcome even more to feel the spirit so strong at this venue.  Honestly, it was amazing!  Our tour guide explained to us that Elder Bednar and Elder Scott oversee the Bible Video filming and Elder Bednar had dedicated the ground especially for filming.  So, it was any wonder that we could feel the spirit so strong.  It was such an incredible place to visit and to me, it looked like a replica of Jerusalem that has been built out of Styrofoam, carved and then had stucco cement applied and then painted.  It's pretty hard core.   We knew it wasn't Jerusalem but this place had a reverence about it as you reflected on what happened in Jerusalem during the Savior's time.  We went down to the area where they filmed the Garden of Gethsemane video and we saw how they had even made their own Olive trees.  We looked up the hill and saw three crosses which is where they shot the Crucifixion at Golgotha.  What a humbling experience it was for me and I felt the spirit of that very tragic but sacred event.  The church is true and I don't need to say anything else!

I hope you all enjoy reflecting on that story and if you get a chance, watch the Bible videos because I went to the very place that they were filmed at and it was powerful.

Here's one to enjoy entitled, "He is Risen!":  http://www.lds.org/bible-videos/videos/he-is-risen?lang=eng

I'm excited for the chance we have to hear from our beloved Prophet and the apostles next weekend.  Make sure to spiritually prepare yourselves for Conference and listen and wait for the personal revelation you will receive for yourselves.  Write down that question list again and all your questions will be answered by the various speakers.

Oh and our assignment this transfer is, "Visitor Center Contacting Co-ordinators!"  This means that we have the opportunity to take Sisters from the MTC (that are going to serve in a Visitor's Center) around our mission and share with them what its like to serve at a Visitor's Center.  I am getting excited for when it's my turn to go outbound, but this week I have had fun being an airport Sister where I've picked up sisters who have returned from outbound, including my mission mum Sister Calderwood who just returned from serving 3 transfers in Louisiana.  She said she had so much fun and is really looking forward to meeting you Mum and Dad when you come for Conference.

Hope you all have a great week!  Oh and Sister Bunting was right, our Sound of Music performance went well and the spirit was powerful and there were a lot of miracles that were a result of the performance.  The performance was open to the public and there were a few people who wanted to learn more about the gospel because of it.  The sisters are so talented and the recording is, "Sound only" so when I get a copy I will definitely send you one.

Love you heaps,

Sister Chadderton

P.s  I've lost my camera cord that connects  to the computer but I will try and find another solution.  Dad, if you can, could you please bring that little device that I can put my memory card in to link it to the computer.  My camera is dead so I have been using my fellow missionaries camera's. Will send pictures as soon as I can.  Sorry!

14 March 2013

Hey everyone!!!! 

Wow what a week and it sounds like you are all having too much fun in the sun! We actually are experiencing 16 degree Celsius weather outside and its so nice and warm and later on we are going to the beach - no just kidding- there are no beaches here at Temple Square. But I'm glad it’s a lot warmer today then it has been!!!

Last Wednesday we went to Red Robin and Burger restaurant for our zone activity and it was great fun.  Our Zone leaders Sister Armstrong and Steenblik are the best and it was Sister Armstrong’s birthday celebration.  It was really good food and just fun spending time with everyone.  I can't believe we are at the end of another transfer okay maybe this one was only 5 weeks but still if you don't hear from me next week its because my P-day would've changed and I may or may not have one. It's scary not knowing what is going to happen because companions rarely stay together for 3 transfers in our mission but all goods the Lord knows best.

The square has been humming with so many people here to ski or to sight see.  Every Tuesday we meet lots of pre-MTC missionaries who go in on Wednesday so it’s really cool to see the huge influx of missionaries.  My companion and I did MTC contacting and then took 6 Elders around on a tour.  One was Elder Gemmell from Hastings and his brother went to BYU-H and worked in the MTC so that was pretty cool and if I remember from our genealogy chart we are distantly related to that family so small world.  The rest of the Elders were 4 from England and 1 from Finland and they were great Elders.  A few of them were the first 18yr olds going to the Alpine Germany mission. We took them to the conference centre and then on our way out one of the sisters called out to me and pointed to someone who was half way down the conference centre and who was waving at me.  It was my mate Tim Mahoney who I always forget works there and it caught me off guard so the Elders were asking me questions like “who is that?” and more probing questions. Nosey Elders aye? No they’re okay. 

We have been busy practicing our for our performance on Friday and its going to be so great the whole thing is I mean. We start at 7:30pm and the opening number is “Called to Serve” where we all march in with the flags of our country. We practiced the whole thing this morning and I am excited for Friday night. We have had a lot of early morning meetings and what not so it'll be nice to start the next transfer without a huge performance in the middle of it. Then after that it will be CROM. This is a nickname that some of the sisters refer to Conference as being the sister missionary’s form of Prom. Kind of ridiculous but they are starting to look for their 'CROM' outfits.  Oh the unique things our mission of all sisters brings!

Also this morning when we were practicing our island’s performance President & Sister Gillette were there watching us in the audience. I didn't know but President served his mission in Hawaii when he was 19 and the last number we close with is “Aloha Oe” and he had tears streaming down his face (both of them did) so it was special and I'm glad we end with that number for our performance.

Today is “East High School day” or so we are calling it. We are going to visit my beloved Zac Efron’s old filming ground – and in his honour we all wore red, white and black.  I'm sure we are going to get a lot of special looks today. It's great having friends on the mission that you can do fun things with.

Well the year is moving faster then I think it should, ridiculously fast oh and by the way we talked to Abigail today and she and her 18 year old daughter are getting their Patriarchal blessings woo hoo! Great family! Definitely going to visit them after the mission.

Hey Mum – so Sister Matautia (who is Jordy's mission preparation teacher) is a legend here on Temple Square! Seriously if only every missionary had the conversion story like she does and the power in her testimony. She trained Sister Vaivai and I love her so much. Jordy has no need to fear with her for a teacher I think she’s the next MTC President.  She was such a powerful missionary but can you believe that she was a devout Jehovah's Witness when she was 16 and her dad was a Bishop for our church and she would try and tell him why our church was wrong.

In the end he said to her "Why do you think you're special? 14.5 million people have read the Book of Mormon and have prayed and know that is true. Why do you think you are so special that you won't even read the Book of Mormon to know for yourself." So after reading and praying she knew it was true. Moral of the story - Read the Book of Mormon and Pray and you'll know its true.

Mum Sis Jardine says hello and is really excited to meet you next month and Jenna she said you need to email her!

Hope you have a great week, be happy and remember - God loves you! 

And I do too Sister Chadderton xoxo

P.S.  Summer is just around the river bend!!!!

7 March 2013

OH MY GIDDY AUNT!!!!

I even screamed out loud when I read that mum!!!!  Oh my goodness, I don't feel like emailing for very long because I am just so excited!  Of course it's up to President Gillette's discretion but this wouldn't be the first set of parents to see their children on Temple Square.  Oh, I am so happy even at the prospect of seeing you both! Ahhhhh!   But, it does all come down to whether President plans on sending me outbound on my next transfer or not .  We will wait and see.  But my fingers are crossed and I'm just excited that you get to come here and spend time at my mission.  Yay!!!! I love, love, love it!!!

Well, besides all that fun news I am sad to hear about your leg Joseph and hope you feel better soon!!! 

Our practices for our upcoming performance next week has improved so much and I know the Lord is helping the sisters with their poi because, boy, they have learnt so much and so fast! Seriously, it has  only just been over a month that we've been practicing and they are already for the village at PCC.  Haha.  I can't wait until next week to come even though I am getting burnt out by all the training.  But, the Lord is helping me to know where my limits are.

One of our investigators - Steve -  from England was doing so well and was on track for his baptism date but wanted to wait for his dad to be their so he pushed his baptism back. Well, we hadn't heard from hime for over a week and it wasn't like him.  We finally made contact and learnt that he has clinical depression and was in hospital. He told us that he is now an Athiest because he doesn't believe that if there was a God that he would be so cruel to anybody.  It was a hard thing for us to hear because my companion and I both care about him so much and I know that it's his depression that is speaking.   I have never felt so heart broken as I did when we hung up the phone and my companion and I had a little cry and the other sisters from our district were giving us hugs.  The hardest thing was that we know he has a testimony and he needs to rely on God the most now, especially during this trial but he is pushing him away.   We assured him that God loves him and that we would still be here.  We were so depressed after the conversation and we are not the first or last set of missionaries to have this happen to us. In the end,  the church is still true, I believe in Christ so what else matters?  We will trust that the Lord will watch over him and help him.  We wrote to the wonderful Evans family in England asking if they would write to Steve and share their testimonies to him and they are so sweet.  They said they would fast and pray for him too. Great family!  Abi is now the 2nd counsellor in their Young Women's presidency and Daniel is up there passing the sacrament. Tender mercies of the Lord.

And thanks heaps sister for this inspired excerpt:

Just when all seems to be going right, challenges often come in multiple doses applied simultaneously. When those trials are not consequences of your disobedience, they are evidence that the Lord feels you are prepared to grow more. He therefore gives you experiences that stimulate growth, understanding, and compassion which polish you for your everlasting benefit.

-Elder Richard G. Scott

It was just what my companion and I needed because there has been a lot of trials with our investigators this week and more specifically this transfer. Nice to know the Lord is helping us grow!

Well, we got some cool news today in that our Mission President read a letter from the First Presidency allowing all the missionaries around the world to email friends and family on P-Day's and we have been given up to two hours of emailing time if we wanted to use it. How cool is that??? So friends of mine if you are reading this you can now email me and I will email you  back so please, "Go for Gold!"  I will try my best to email you back.

Love you all family,

Stay safe in Aussie mum!!!  Can't wait for the phone call to go to President's office this week! Haha.

Sister Chadderton xoxo

No pics this week but watch this uplifting Mormon message!

http://youtu.be/xdN8rfwW3SI Enjoy love you's!

28 February 2013

Hi Whanau!

Wow!  I cannot believe that it's already been a week since I last emailed, and yes dad I've hit my 8 month mark and its terrible.  Sorry!  When they say a mission goes by fast ,they are not kidding and now I'm thinking that possibly as women we get jipped 6 months of serving, but all goods, the Lord has a plan for me and I will obey.

Well, get this,  as you know, on Thursday mornings we have Relief Society and last week we went to the Relief Society Building and we had a guest speaker by the name of Sister Carol M. Stephens who is the 1st Counsellor in the General Relief Society Presidency.  Yay!  The lesson she gave was so, so, awesome.  My companion and I are in charge of the music for Sacrament meetings,  we often we are asked to lead the music for other meetings.  We were asked to do the music for our Relief Society meeting and it was just the coolest experience.  From what I wrote down in my planner, Sister Stephen's covered material in her talk taken from the book,  "Daughters of My Kingdom."  She talked about how the church wasn't organized until the Relief Society was organized and that there were servants of the church that were women during Christ's time.  We were encouraged to read Romans 16 about Phoebe.  She wanted to let us know how much Heavenly Father knows us individually and she shared some cool experiences about when she was called into the Relief Society General Presidency and how she was set apart for the world.  It was so cool.  She gave us a hug and it was so sweet.  So, I took some photos with my Mission Relief Society Presidency.  They are, Sister Carter (CA) Relief Society President, Sister Ince (Canada) 1st Counsellor, Sister Vaivai (NZ) 2nd Counsellor and Sister Creal is our Secretary. 

Oh, I'm glad everyone liked the picture with Elder Leota.  That was cool and I can't help but think of him as Kendall.

Anywho, I had an interesting experience last Friday when I was in the Teaching Centre on the phones and I receive a call and it's from a missionary who is serving in the Virginia Mission.  He called in just to make sure that the phone number on the pass-along-cards that they hand out, works.  I just laughed when he said that and responded, " Elder, oh ye of little faith!"  Turns out he is from Utah so I asked him if he knew anyone that I could call and share the gospel with.  He said, "Yes, my mum!"  Wow!  I was surprised and then he told me that his mum is less active and hadn't been attending church for a while and gave me her number.  I was excited to call her after we hung up.  I learnt that she became engaged on Valentine's Day and will be married before her son returns home.  I invited her to the Square with her fiancee so that I could show them around, but also to share a lesson and help them commit towards getting sealed in the Temple in the future.  Her fiancee is not a member and I'm really glad the missionary that called in allowed me to call his mum.

So, this past week has felt like we've had a lot of anti's visit Temple Square.  I shouldn't be surprised as it happens a lot here.  There was one strange guy in the Beehive house who kept asking hundreds of questions, like, "Is this original or is this original?" "Where did you get your facts from?" " Where is the manual?" " Can I have the manual?"  Sadly, he didn't want to listen to any answers so our friends in security came over and told the man it was closing time.  Turns out, the next day he came back and did the exact same thing to some other sister missionaries.  Yep, exactly the same thing!   We have a lot of wonderful and interesting people come to the Square and it really is a great place to teach, especially when you have amazing tours where people are willing to listen and be taught.   Yesterday, we went on our first motor coach tour meaning, we have a big bus filled with a group of people arrive at the Square for a tour.  I hope to go on one of these tours one day.  The company is called, "The Moostache Joe Tour Bus!"  Epic!  We had 33 sweet, elderly people arrive to take the tour but they all needed to go to the restrooms first.  We then started the tour at the Assembly Hall, and then onto the Tabernacle where we did the pin drop.  The flag pole was next and one guy asked some great questions so we showed them the Temple Model and then ended at the Christus.  They were so cute and most of them kept saying, "Speak up Love!"  I guess it's because they are elderly but the spirit was so strong and when they asked questions and it was great to be able to answer them.  But, the worst thing happened at the end of the tour.  So sad!  We were taking them back to their bus and one of the ladies had dropped a $5 note and it was flying along the ground so one of the old men started chasing it and he ended up tripping over and landing face first in the snow with the rest of his body on the concrete floor.  The part I saw was him ricochetting off the wall with snow on his head, holding the $5 note tightly in his hand.  Firstly, I nearly had a heart attack and secondly, I thought I might have to call an ambulance.  Well, other than being a little embarrassed, he stood up, dusted himself off and walked towards the bus.  I was so glad he wasn't hurt.

Our practices for the March 15th performance are slowly getting better.  We have two hour choir practices on Sunday nights and during the week we meet with the Island performers to practice Pokarekare ana, Poi e, a Samoan Siva and Aloha Oe.  We're getting there!   The stage that we will perform on is so tiny but we are working around it.  We had a two hour practice this morning and now I'm wasted.  Lucky for me it's P-Day and I can sleep.

I've had a great week family and on Sunday we had Elder Richard G. Hinckley and his wife speak in our Sacrament meeting.  They were great and I enjoyed listening to Elder Hinckley share stories about his dad.  Oh how I love President Hinckley!  His wife spoke about the importance of keeping a journal and he talked about the sacredness of the Sacrament and how many people take it for granted.  He also talked about the pure doctrine that we have about the true nature of the Godhead.   It was so cool.

I love the mission and I love you all.  Be safe!

Sister Chadderton,

P.s. Keep writing to me.  I love your letters!  My address is below:

Sister N Chadderton

50 NW Temple St Rm BSVC

Salt Lake City, Utah 84150

United States

   

   Picture 1 - Performance practice

   Picture 2 - Place mats we made

   Picture 3 - Sister Gillette, myself and my companion

   Picture 4 - Me with my Mission Relief Society Presidency

21 February 2013

Hi Family & friends that read my Blog,

Glad to hear you're all doing well despite you all being incredibly busy.   Mum, that is so cool that Sister Wixom - General Primary President - was in New Zealand doing training.  Do you remember me telling you about her earlier on last year.  She was the sister who attended our missionary Thanksgiving dinner.  I couldn't be bothered waiting in line to have a photo taken with her but she is really lovely!  Her son married one of the full-time senior missionary couples daughter's in our mission - Elder & Sister Creer.  When Sister Wixom learnt that her son and his family were coming to our Thanksgiving dinner she asked if she could come too.  It was awesome.

This week has been good, but I wish there was more that I could report.  We have been working hard everyday.   One of the highlights of my week would definitely have to be seeing my mate Elder Leota last Friday.  The international missionaries came for a tour around Temple Square and I had a thought that he might just be in the group, so it was awesome when I bumped into him.  I took the opportunity to have a photo taken with him too.  He seems really happy and I know he'll make a great missionary.  My zone leaders took the Leota family for a tour of the Beehive House yesterday and I was a bit sad that I didn't get to see them again but it was good to know they're still in town.  I don't think they're going to make it back to Aussie! 

Well, we haven't had any funny weather this week but we have had a lot of POI!  It has become quite stressful finding time to practice and I know I will be happy once we've performed.  It will be a great night and I'm excited to see all the other cultural performances. 

Yesterday, we took some primary school children on a tour of the Beehive House and it was so much fun.  The bus had pulled up out the front and the teachers and some of the parents were trying to help organize the children into lines, so being the ex-pre-school teacher that I am,  I went to suss out the number of children in line and there were these two children hitting and pushing each other.  My first instinct was to go over and tell them to stop hitting and pushing each other, but there were four teachers with the group and once they noticed these two having a go at each other, one of the teacher's told them to stop.  Well, knowing who these two were, I thought, "Please, I don't want them in my group!"  Wishful thinking!  "Guess whose group they were in?"  We had a group of six children and their teacher that we escorted around the Beehive and the children were hilarious and would not stop talking the entire time.  They asked the most hilarious questions but I had so much fun with them.  The teacher was great and it is a little different to take children on a tour because we can't teach about gospel principles and invite them to learn more because they are children so we shared lots of facts and pioneer stories.  It was really cool to share the great stories of the pioneers because the spirit testifies to me once again of their great sacrifices.

We had a really amazing tour last night where we had three people visit Temple Square.  These people are in Salt Lake for a work conference and they are all Catholic.  During the tour they asked some of the best questions I have ever had as a missionary, so as we walked from the North Visitor's Centre to the South Visitor's Centre there is a model of the Salt Lake Temple located between these two building so I was inspired to share the story of Joseph Smith's First Vision with them.  Honestly, whenever I share that story I really feel the spirit strongly and it was a neat experience to share it as I know they felt the warmth of the spirit while we walked outside into the cold to get from one building to the next.  They then asked a lot of questions about the Temple before it was time for them to leave because they were already late for their work dinner.  The good thing is that they are going to come back on Thursday to listen to the MOTAB practicing.  It's hard having such an amazing spiritual experience and then to have the visitor's leave when you feel you may not see them again.  I know that the Lord will continue to guide them to the truth whether it be in four months or four years.  I am positive that they won't forget how they felt while they visited here.

Well, our investigator Steve is still going strong and today we shared with him a lesson from Alma 47 where it talks about Lehonti and Amalickiah.  This is a really powerful story in the Book of Mormon and the lesson here is how important it is to not lower your standards and to recognize that Satan is very subtle in his temptations and he will try to get you do things at first that may seem harmless, but later, he has you in his grasp.  For example, it maybe that we choose to not read our scriptures one night because we're too tired, or we might miss church on a Sunday because we finished work late the night before, or we may go shopping just once on Sunday.  By and by as we allow these temptations or excuses to creep in, before we know it we've stopped reading our scriptures altogether, we aren't attending church at all and we continually shop on a Sunday.  And why?  Because we decided to allow Satan to subtly worm his way into our lives and finally, he's taken over.  Just as Amalickiah slowly had Lehonti poisoned until he died, Satan is slowly enticing us away from following the basics.  

I love this gospel and the knowledge I receive when I exercise humility and allow the Spirit to teach me.  I am constantly learning new things every day and hope to be able to continue to share what I learn with those around me.  I love you family and friends.  Don't forget to read your scriptures daily and to truly study and apply the things you read in your daily lives.

Be safe and know that I pray for you all each day.

Love Sister Chadderton

P.s Channie, don't give up my friend.  Everything happens for a reason and I know the Lord is preparing someone that you need to teach in six weeks time.  True Story.

14 February 2013

Hi Family!!!

How's everything going?  As you may have noticed I've sent photos before my email (sorry for the weeks without pics, I am repenting!).  There is a picture of me with Sister Walsh and it's for her dad, "Hi again Brother Walsh!!"  Sister Olden is going outbound to Louisiana Baton Rouge for three transfers and I won't get to see my mate until who knows when because she doesn't return until June.   I may be outbound by then and that makes me a little sad because I will miss her lots.  While sisters are outbound we are not allowed to write each other.  It sounds a little strange but oh well!

Any who, transfers went well and Sister Stolp and I are staying together YAY!!!  I was so happy and very relieved. Transfers can be stressful so to have little or no change - same zone, same p-day, same apartment - I'm so happy.  There were two sisters from my class who have gone outbound and three other sisters from my class are training already.  I thought I might train this transfer, but I'm grateful for another transfer with Sister Stolp to learn from her.  So, I still get to be with my mate Brigham in the Beehive.  I'm going to be pro-Brigham knowledge for the future and I can't wait to meet him in the next life!  Haha!

I am so happy Hinalei had a great birthday!  I love her to pieces and the photos are beautiful.  To my parentals and sistra and brother-inlaw, "Happy Wedding Anniversary!!!"  Oh the joys of, "Single Awareness Day!"  Haha!   Last week P-Day we went to Walmart and the red love heart stuff was everywhere.  After Walmart we had to pick up some sisters from the airport who were returning from their outbound assignments and their was so much affection.  I haven't been around that much affection for so long.  It's weird but great!   Oh well, "Happy Valentines Day" everyone!   Mum, isn't Sister Bunting awesome?  I love her so much!  They are the sweetest family!

So, after transfer conference we were invited to a special performance in the Conference Center Theatre with Michael McClain - the genius who composed, "The Forgotten Carols" and directed, "Mr. Krugers Christmas."   It was so, so, cool and he is so talented and the spirit was so strong.  The performance really helped the sisters appreciate who they are and what we do because we tend to be quite hard on ourselves.  Great man!  Wonderful concert!  Great spirit!  I also heard that he had just returned from touring New Zealand!

This week my companion and I did some indexing and we found out that we can start doing Family Search.  So, I logged into my Family Search account and found some ancestors names that were reserved since the last time I did family history (back in October 2012 at BYU-Hawaii).   I decided to submit the names to the Temple because I had been feeling like I needed to find them for that reason.  I saved a few of there ordinances so I can do the work for them.  Moral of the story, "Do!" 

Well, there was one tiny little thing that I wasn't excited about regarding transfers, "I'm still in charge of conducting the music for Sacrament!"  We have some special guests attending our Sacrament meeting on Sunday - Elder Hinckley (son of the late President Hinckley) - who is coming to speak to us and Sister Vaivai and I might be doing a musical number.

Our practices for our New Zealand performance is going great and we've managed to recruit 10 more sisters to join us in the long poi.  These sisters are from all over the world and are so excited to learn poi. This morning Sister Vaivai was helping them make their own poi's while I went off to the airport with my companion.  When I returned, most of them had finished making their own set of long poi.  I was so proud of them!  All their long poi were so beautiful and I had to chuckle because their poi making skills ranked so much better than mine.  Good on them!  Haha!  Apparently, we may or may not have our March 15th performance recorded as previously indicated, so when I do get a copy I can send it home.  At the moment, I am performing the poi,  Pokarekareana, I am, You are, We are Australian, and Aloha Oe, as well as two choir numbers and it's legit!, the whole mission will be singing, "The Sound of Music" and "Called to Serve." I can't wait and I know it's going to be a ton of fun.  Well, this transfer is only a 5-week transfer and then it's General Conference.  CRAZYYYY. Who knows, I may or may not be going outbound next transfer.  But I am in my fifth transfer so next transfer I will be half way through my mission.  Ridiculous right?

Well, family thank you for your prayers and love. Until next week, God be with you 'til we meet again!

Love Sister Chadderton xoxo

P.s. So awesome to learn that Tynan is married and Little Dan has his mission call!!!! So exciting!

7 February 2013

Hi family,

Sounds like you've had a few trials creeping in and I know that the adversary will try to hurt the ones you love the most.  I am certain that the Lord is watching over the family.  He has a plan for each of us as we do everything to line up our will with His so that He can guide us in the right direction.  Know that I do pray for all of you and this past fast Sunday was really great.  There is a Mormon message by President Uchtdorf that I love and would encourage you to watch.  It is entitled, "Moments that Matter Most."  I know that sometimes in life we have to experience trials to appreciate the blessings, but we also need to focus on the positive.  These positives could come in the form of a few moments of silence when the kids are sleeping, or reading your scriptures at the start of your day.  However they come, look for the good in each day and you will be surprised what will happen.

Thank you to all my fans, I received two letters from my sister Hina this week and it made my day.  Thank you so much Hina!

Last Wednesday we had a Zone activity and watched the movie, "Amazing Grace" then we had a potluck with the sisters and it was great.  Sister Vaivai, Sister Elliot and I are practicing hard out for  our cultural performance on March 15th.  We are performing, "Pokarekareana" and "Poi E" from the movie, "Boy" and it is heaps of fun learning new dances and songs because I feel like I'm back in the village.  It's good fun!  Oh, and guess who I saw on Friday?  I thought you may have emailed me about the Leota family being in Utah.  Well, they walked into the North Visitor's Center while I was at the desk and it was soooooooooooooo good to see them all!!!  They spoilt me and gave me some Tim Tams and Boost bars!  Yum!  My companion was so happy for Tim Tam slams when we got home that night.  The family looked really happy and after I said my goodbyes, I received a letter from Elder Leota.  I had written him a letter so he'd get it when he arrived at the MTC and he responded.  He sounds like he is having a blast.  I loved the MTC while I was there and I hope to work there in the future.

My companion and I had a little scare this week because we felt like someone was following us home the other night.  We have the best security here at Temple Square so I just called them and told them that I felt like someone was following us but wasn't really sure.  When our roommates got home they said, "There are heaps of security guards out making sure the sisters get home safely."  Well, the next morning I was still a little worried because my companion and I do the music for church and have to leave the house around 7:00 a.m. and usually most of the sisters don't leave until 7:10 a.m.  It's pretty dark in the morning when we leave, so I decided this morning to take my torch with me - you know just in case - and possibly protect me and my companion.  Well, I felt a sense of relief when I saw another two companionships walking down the stairs too.  One of the companionships just happened to be Sister Olden and Sister Rakatovao.  I was talking to them about our experience and Sister Olden thought it was the funniest thing since, "Home and Away" ahahahaha.  I laughed and said, "At least I would've been able to protect myself, you never know!"  She laughed some more.  It's cool having so many friends on the mission.  But, with transfers on Tuesday, I hate saying goodbye to the sisters.  It can sometimes be scary finding out who your new companion is too - especially after having such a great companion in Sister Stolp.  Who knows, we might even get to stay together.  So, FYI, I may or may not have a P-Day next week because if it changes from Wednesday to Monday you won't hear from me until the following week, so keep that in mind. 

Our mission is really blessed in that we get to do something called, "Temple Service."   This is where we go to the Temple for three hours and help clean.  It is currently closed and undergoing a few renovations so it was our turn to give service and it was AMAZING!  There were heaps of workers in the Temple and while I'm not sure about all the renovations they are doing, having the opportunity to help clean the carpet and vacuum the stairs and other things was great.  Honestly, the Temple is already really clean but we were helping to make sure it was perfectly clean.  Only the best for the Lord!   One of the housekeepers was so nice and showed us the Sealing rooms (there are more then two floors) and he even showed us the basement/storage area which I thought was pretty cool too.  I got to see more of the Temple cleaning it, then I would have if I'd come to do a session.  It was the best feeling ever being back in the Temple even if it was only to clean for a few hours.  We had a 10 minute break in the cafeteria and it was a little strange talking with the temple workers - without my badge on - and explaining to them that I was a missionary.  I was definitely relieved when I put my badge back on after we finished.

But, "Wow!"  Where has this transfer gone?  We called Abigail today and she was telling us that on Sunday her son Daniel received the Aaronic Priesthood.  That was incredible!  Steve is still hilarious and I didn't realize how much I'd missed English humor (especially from when I lived with the Collings family).   Steve told us the story of when he was banned from his School Library. He said he did something terrible and proceeded to tell us that when he was in Year 7 he was a strong believer that God DID NOT exist so he took all the Religion books in the Library and put them in the Fiction section.  My companion and I couldn't stop laughing while he was sharing and we could sense that it was definitely in his personality to do that as a 12 year old.  Turns out that the Librarian was a Christian and didn't think it was funny at all so he has been banned from the Library ever since!

Well, thats me for another week family.  Thanks for your prayers and fasting.  Keep the faith and trust in the Lord and if your wondering why certain things are happening, pray and ask God for understanding and then read your scriptures!  Love you heaps and I'm very excited for the letters on their way.

Sister Chadderton xoxoxo

P.s  Sorry, no pictures again.  I forgot my camera cord.  I'm turning into Buddy aye!  I'll remember it next week!