Kiwi Katy - Serving in Hamilton

Kia Ora! Last week I got to skype my family! And that was so much fun! I got so see their cute faces! But this week some of my plans have changed. I have been sick for the last few weeks and went to Hamilton last week for get some tests done to see if we can figure out what is happening. But after a week of doctors visits and tests, they haven't been ale to figure it out so, unfortunately, I am going to be going home for the time being. But that's okay because as soon as we figure it out I will be right back here in NZ! This week I have had to realize that our plans don't always turn out the way we would like them to but Heavenly Father has a plan for us, and this will all work according to His timing. I am so gutted to be leaving, but so excited to see my fam!  Pictures: 1. Me and some Christmas gifts we got! (look at the tiny Nutella!) 2. Sister Scherer and I 3. A crack up dry cleaning sign I saw in New Plymouth 4. The temple! 5. Our view of the templ...

Katy put off talking to family until her 26th but Christmas Day for the family. This made it possible all of us, including her sister, Adri, serving in Cleveland, Ohio, to join and so the entire family was "together" for that brief moment. It was a very sweet moment. We were surprised to see that Katy and her companion, Sister Scherer, were in Hamilton and staying at the "nunnery" next to the temple. She has been ill, and true to Katy form, has not complained about it, so we were quite unaware. But, she looked happy and good. She has told us she was "fine" and "all is well." She was funny and we had a delightful visit with her. We are anxious to find out the results of medical tests that she has had done and are praying that all is well. That is about all a family can do when they are so far away.

Kia Ora whanau!  How are all yous doing? This week was really good! The flat I first moved into was the nicest in the mission! It was so nice! I had reclining chairs!! But... we sadly had to move out of it this week. That's okay though! The APs came and helped us move and it was really fun!  We didn't eat at the Swansons because I was confined to my flat on Sunday . I didn't tell you last week because I thought it would go away, but i haven't been able to keep any food down since last Saturday. So I need you to transfer money from my savings into my checking because I need to pay for the visit (and any tests they might do ) and then the mission will pay me back.Sister Cummings says they will do probably do some blood and stuff. The good news is that I fit in all my clothes again.  Not much happened this week. I did get a new SD card so next week you should get some pictures from me! I love you all! Sister Grant

Kia Ora whanau!  How are you doing? I'm doing great here is Hawera! It looks like it's getting pretty cold where yous are, but here is is heating up! (I have a watch tan line!) I don't really have much to say this week but I'm happy!  In our zone we are doing a proselyting challenge thing and we get points and we get prizes and stuff but I lost the card so I can't tell you what they are. It will be fun. Unlike Gizzy, we don't get fed as much here. We have one set dinner appointment with the Swansons on Sundays. They are interesting. They are the most interesting people I've ever met! Can you help me set up my Skype account? I can skype on the 26th. Can we skype with Adri? We've had a couple offers from members to skype at their homes. We can get the details next week. Love you all, Sister Grant

Hello everyone!  This week was transfers! So I am now serving in the Hawera Branch in Taranaki. I went from one side of the island to the other!  I had to ride a bus about 6 hours to Hamilton and then I went like 4 hours to New Plymouth and then we had to drive like 45 minutes to Hawera. M y comp is Sister Schrere (she's from Scranton, PA!!) She is really sweet! She goes home in April. My area is huge! It covers from Normanby down to Waverly (the bottom of the Hamilton mission). So its really different from Gizzy! But its good. And, we don't do any singing. Yesterday, because it was Testimony Meeting, a little boy got up (he's American and I love their family). He gets up and says, "Today I'm going to talk about looking for the good things in life." Then he goes on to say when he grows up he wants to be a miner and he says, "And one day I was just thinking about mining and I thought 'you just gotta mine for the good things in life'"....

This is a little message that was posted onto my (Mom's) facebook page from Debs McClutchie, a sister in the ward Katy has been serving in Gisborne. "We are so Greatful for the Sister whom served in this part of the Lords Vineyard and taught amongst our people we are so blessed to have her in our Stake she has been transferred to Hawera on the opposite side of the North Island of NZ on the coast."

Hi everyone! I hope you are all well!  This morning we went and took Sister Mavae to the bus stop because she is finishing her mission! So I'm in a trio right now with Sister Baylosis and Sister Joyce! It's really fun! I should find out tomorrow if I;m transferring or not!  I think I'll be okay if I stay. If I leave I will be sad, but I'm ready to go. I' m sure when I go to say goodbye to Debs McClutchie (if i leave)  she will tell you what happens haha.  Don't have a lot of time because we went to Talaga Bay and stuff.  I'm a little sunburned! Today we had to go take our car to the tyre place because 2 of our tyres were flat.  but it was a good day! Arohanui, Sister Grant

The Gisborne Zone - otherwise known as the greatest zone in the world! Hi everyone!  This week was really good! On Tuesday  we had district meeting at the Kartchners' flat because Elder Ellsworth (Elzy) was sick and we all thought he would feel more comfortable being at the Kartchners'. We also had exchanges and Sister Mavae was with me in my area. On Wednesday  (HAPPY BRITHDAY GRANDMA!) Sister Mavae and I went and had lunch with Lisa and we had KFC (I love KFC!) On Thursday  we walked to appointments in the morning because it was such a nice day. On Friday (HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY!!) we had a Thanksgiving at the Kartchners' flat. It was really fun! Everyone brought food and it was fun as! Saturday  we had an activity out at Browns Beach and we had a pioneer trek. It was so much fun! It was cold as though! We had handcarts and everything! It was so cool. Here are six strange things about New Zealand: 1. They call dinner tea here. 2. ...

Kia ora everyone!  How are yous doing? This week was really good! We had zone conference which is always really fun! We stayed in Tauranga with Sister Brothers!! It was so good to see her again! I forgot to take pictures though... what an egg... It was fun though!  I'm sorry I can't really remember this week really well. Oh! So yesterday I was supposed to give a talk in sacrament meeting but then right before it started I was told my talk is postponed until next month so I was like sweet as! But I was also confused as to why it was postponed, but I soon found out! We got a new bishopric! So our bishop was Bishop Hayward, but now it is Bishop Brown, and the 1st Counselor is still brother Enoka. But the 2nd was brother Pihama, but now it's brother Lauti! So that was pretty crazy! It was a good week though! All of our appointment that were set got cancelled, but thats okay. On Saturday  we were supposed to have a pioneer trek activity that Brother McClutchie w...

Hi everyone!  Sorry about last week's email. It was lame as. But this week was good. I can't believe it's November! Its crazy! Time flies. There is Christmas stuff up in stores now but it's weird because it's getting warm and doesn't seem like November at all! I have lost the cord for my camera somewhere, but when/if i find it ill send pictures.  This week we did service for an investigator. We mowed her lawn and pulled weeds and stuff. We did it as a district so that was heaps of fun! Halloween was also this week, but it isn't as big here as it is in America. Also is it getting cold? It's getting hot as here! It's the World Cup for rugby league and New Zealand is hosting it. But the other day Tonga and Samoa played and they are rivals. We got a text form the APs telling us not to go out on busy streets because there would be fights and stuff. Not so much in Gizzy but in the bigger places like Tauraga and Whakatane and Hamilton and South Auckland...

Kia Ora!  This week was transfers week. On Tuesday we had to wait ALL DAY LONG for the call but we finally got it at  10:30 ! I am staying in Gizzy and my new comp is sister Baylosis. She is from the Philippines. She is so cute! Sister Brothers went to Tauranga (so I'll see her at zone conference yaa!) Our whole zone changed though! Everyone changed comps! Elder Ellsworth is now zone leader with an elder from Australia named Elder Alovili. Elder Benson is getting follow up trained by Elder Ete from Australia. Sister Mavae is training a sister from Australia! Our district has been taken over by Australians!  I've been working  to introduce her to everyone but its been hard meeting with people. I'm now a District leader. I don't think I like it. All the changes have been so hard and stressful. SO MANY CHANGES!!! What hasn't changed is the work lately. So,  I don't want to talk about our investigators this week because they are never ever home when we try to ...

Kia ora whanau, This week is transfers! Transfers happen every six weeks. We get the call  tomorrow  and will see what's going to happen. I'm pretty sure that I will stay in Gizzy and Sister Brothers will leave.  I am almost done training! YAY!! I'm too impatient with transfers news. On  Thursday  the people will leave and new comps will come.  We will find out   on Tuesday   though. We already know the Elders' transfer news because the Zone Leaders both left! Elder Van Hauwart has finished his mission so he left and flies home   tomorrow,  and his comp Elder Latu is transferring to Hamilton so he left this morning, too, with Elder Van Hauwart. So Elder Ellsworth (our current district leader) is going to move to the other ward (I think) and become Zone Leader. T he Elder he is training right now will have a follow up trainer. Some crazy stuff is happening, aye!  All is well with teaching. We have some people we are tea...

My dad, Elder Ellsworth; my brother, Elder Benson; me; and my mom, Sister Brothers Kia Ora Whanau, This week we had zone conference up in Tauraga and it was amazing! I drove there and we got there safely! :) But zone conference was so good. President gave a training on agency and I learned heaps. Then the AP's gave a training on the Book of Mormon and it was really good! Conference was amazing aye!? I felt like heaps of the talks were on the Book of Mormon and it has really made me desire to have a stronger testimony of the Book of Mormon. I really liked how Elder Nelson asked if we had the choice between diamonds and the Book of Mormon what would we choose. I learned so much.  Just so you know, the gas and break pedals are in the same place on our cars, thankfully! Driving is going well. I drove through the Gorge to Whakatane on our way to ZC. It was good. We followed behind the senior couple here in Gizzy. Oh my goodness they drove SO SLOW! The speed limit was 100 and w...

Kia ora! How are all of you doing? This week was really good. On Tuesday we had MCM which went for 2 and a half hours. Sister Brothers keeps telling me normal MCMs don't last that long, but our ward mission leader, Brother McClutchie, talks HEAPS! He is a good guy.  Then, we had a lesson with Losi and her family took us to McDonald's. Then, we had FHE with the ward and Losi's family brought pizza haha!  Wednesday was so wet! It rained all day long. But the senior couple in Gisborne got back from Hamilton and they brought letters and stuff. I got Erin's wedding announcement (so beautiful!) I got a letter from Adri and a package from mom and dad! Thank you for the Reeses! Lisa loved them and wanted me to tell you thank you! L isa is awesome! Right now she has kidney stones on top of her kidney disease. She is in so much pain but she is so happy through everything!   Thursday we had a lesson with a referral from the Visitor's Center. Her names Kristin. She...

Kia Ora! This week we had exchanges and they were amazing! I was with Sister Mavae in my area. It was really good though. We decided to go and see this lady, Nicole, who is a former investigator who we haven't been able to catch since like my 3rd week in Gisborne. We went to her house and she was home so we got to see her! She said that she had to pay a bill recently that made it so she didn't have money for food. She also mentioned that she and her daughter shared a bed and that if we knew of someone with a single bed that would be good, too. So I texted our ward mission leader, Brother McClutchie. That night he got a bed and food for her! It was so amazing and she was so thankful for us. It was really cool to be part of a service like that!  On exchanges Sister Mavae went and visited some Tongans in our ward. She went and spoke in Tongan and I just sat there because I don't speak Tongan (yet) but it was really cool. I could feel the spirit when she spoke even...

Kia Ora!  This week on Pday we went to the glow worm caves! But unfortunately we only remembered to bring one flash light and I was sick. So we were trying to decided if we should keep going of if we should turn around and go back. We were laughing because it was like the start of a Mormon message! But fortunately we decided to turn around and go back because the flash light was dying. So we turned around and went back to the car.  Also this week we we went and visited a Tongan family in the ward. But whenever we leave there we never leave empty handed because they always give us food. This day we left with Big Macs and fries! But right after we left there we had a dinner appointment. Then, we went and visited a family in the ward and they fed us dinner, too. Mom, you don't have to worry about me. I'm getting fed well!  Also on Saturday we cleaned two peoples' houses. I have decided I will never let me kids eat gum. I found too man...

Kia Ora!  I seriously can't remember what happened this week. It went by so fast! I feel like I was just here emailing yous! I can only remember Thursday  because Thursday  was transfers! Oh! on Monday I was certified to drive! Then the next day was my first real day of driving and we were on our way to the chapel for singing practice and I GOT PULLED OVER! But I didn't do anything wrong. The cops were just out pulling people over randomly. But my first time being pulled over and it was in NZ. so that's pretty cool!  But Thursday  we dropped Sister Kearon off at the bus station and then we were in a trio with sister Schwendinger all day because her new comp didn't get here until like 7. Oh! and every single companionship in the zone changed except for Sister Brothers and me! Even the elders out in Nuhaka and Wairano. But there are two new borns in our zone so that's cool! One is from Idaho so that was exciting! The new STL i...

Kia Ora!  This week was a wonderful week! Every week is wonderful though.  On Monday  after we emailed, we went on a hike to this place up the coast by Taloga Bay. It's called Cooks Cove, I think. It was really fun! It was actually closed for hiking because of lambing, but we went anyways. It's this really cool hike and you have to go through sheep fields and cow fields. It was also really wet and raining a little bit, but it was still really fun! At the end it was the cliffs that were by Taloga bay (where I went a few weeks ago for pday). I wish it hadn't been so foggy and cloudy because we would have been able to see more, but it was still good. I wore my Chacos and I stepped in this mud spot and my feet got stuck! It took a little while to get unstuck.  On Wednesday   we had exchanges and they were really good! Sister Schwendinger and I get along really well so it was so much fun being with her! It's funny because she's a twin, too, and her...

Kia Ora!  This week was great! On Pday we went to this museum but I didn't take pictures because I couldn't' find my camera, but don't worry I found it. It was just in my coat haha! It was a pretty cool museum. There was a lot of like Maori history and stuff! It was really neat!  Then  on Tuesday  we were supposed to leave for zone conference but it got changed to  Thursday . So  on Tuesday  we just went and visited people and hung up some peopl'se laundry and stuff. Just the usual.   On Wednesday   we went and visited a member at Kiri Te Kanawa. She has brain tumors and stuff, but she is the most positive person ever! The only thing she complained about was one of her neighbors who always cries so she doesn't sleep very well. She is such a positive person! Then, we went and cleaned our flat a little bit because we had flat inspection (we got a 10/10 woohoo!) Then we left for zone conference!  We met at the c...