Hastings

My travels to Hasting were great.  I got to ride the bus!  It was a three hour bus ride.  I sat next to this wonderful old lady on the very front row of the bus and she gave me a tour the entire way telling me what the names of all of the rivers are, what places were and why they are named what they are. For example, Porirua means 2 harbors in Maori.  I never knew all of these facts until I jumped on the bus with her!  So, the route we took took us up to Paraparaumu instead of Featherston so I got to see all of the east coast.  I was able to talk with her the entire way about the church. Come to find out her brother married a Mormon, then converted and moved to the states.  I asked if we could come and visit her and she said yes, and gave me her phone number.  I plan on looking her up this week.  It was a good trip.

Our flat is sort of rubbish! I did not get to take any pictures this week because I have been so busy cleaning. So many nasty Elders have been here.    I got a whole tub full of dirt out of the vacuum today.  

Being back up here in the north has been good,  it has just been a flood of memories.  At first I was kind of dreading it, but then I counted all my blessings and all of the people that I would be able to see and everything.  I am hoping to see some of them soon.

My companion is Elder Ingles and he is from the north of Australia.  He just came from Queenstown where he was trained and has been out for 8 months,  he is still learning how to work in a hard working missionary area.  It is very different than what he had in Queenstown. He is from a really small branch in Australia with only 70 people, so this ward is massive to him.

The very first day I was here we were able to set a baptismal date with a 15 year old boy.  We are planning on setting 2 more this week too!  I really am excited to be in here in Hastings in a large ward.  The members have so many activities and I feel like that is why they are so successfully with missionary work here.  

How awesome is this?  Do you remember me going to a basketball game with Ryan in Napier?  Well, this is the famous basketball player we saw, and he is in the Hastings 1st ward and they organized this fireside.  He is the 2nd counselor in their ward.  (I'm in the Hastings 2nd ward). But.... This is happeed this weekend.  He did  the fireside. We showed up Saturday and had a hymn and a prayer and then had basketball games.    In the morning we and a few other missionaries did a short MTC thing.  We taught them how to door knock, and teach.  Then after that we went and invited all of the boys to come to the fireside. Yesterday, church was all about missionary work.  It was an awesome experience for them and they sort of saw what we go through each day.  Then we all went to the Hastings 1st ward. So I haven't even been to my ward yet.    We also had a preach my gospel study night with them.  We studied from it and learned the importance of the Book of Mormon, then they had a fireside to end it all.  It was really busy, but it was just great!

This is beautiful Hastings!  We share a car with the sisters, and we usually don't need it, so I have mostly been biking. I can't believe this is my last transfer!    

I love you so much!

Ofa Atu

Elder Tuckett

This is Elder Lawrence.(on the right)  Do you remember him?  He was in my intake.  He has 2 more transfers.  He is the only one that is not going home early.  I can't stay until the next transfer at the end of January though because not only do I need to be back for school, but sadly, my visa will be expiring before that transfer is over.  

Back Where I Began

I am being transferred to Hastings.  It is up in the area where I started my mission so I am excited to see some of the friends that I made up there.  Elder Richardson (who I trained) will be my zone leader so I am excited for that.  I can't wait to see him!!!!  I don't know my companion, but I know it is going to be a great 8 weeks.  I will also be back in a car! 

I can't believe you went to the Phoenix temple open house again!  We are going to go to all of these temples when I get home, right?  The Phoenix temple looks beautiful!  

I got your package.  Thank you so much!  The big bag of sweet tarts are already gone.  And of course I loved the pens.  Thanks for the shirt and socks.  I am going to give several of my shirts to Elder Machee as well as socks.   He really needs them.  Thank you so much.  I forgot to ask for some space bags.  Mine are worn out but if I give away a bunch of clothes, then I think I can come home with only one suitcase.  We will see.  I am scared that I will have no clothes that fit when I come home, or have you sold them all?  

We had a surprise mustache party for this guy at district meeting today.  It was his birthday a couple weeks ago, and we forgot, so we wanted to do something fun today... So mustache party!  It lasted for 10 minutes, then we got straight to the district meeting. 

We had a great exchange this week in Johnsonville with this guy -- Elder Hamilton.  Got to see lots of friends that I met when I was in that area with Elder Holladay.  

Here we are at a recent converts house!

An amazing thing happened yesterday.  There is a recent convert in our ward that said to one of members that she didn't think the church was true any more and she was never coming to church again.  Then, she showed up yesterday, and said that she was sorry and confessed that she knew the church is true and the Book of Mormon is true.  It is great to see her come back to the church.  And even better that she invited us over before I left!  

D & C 88:104

"And this shall be the sound of his trump, saying to all people, both in heaven and earth, and that are under  the earth -- for every ear shall hear it, and every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall confess, while they hear the sound of the trump, saying: Fear God, and give glory to him who sitteth upon the throne, forever and ever; for the hour of his judgement is come."

I love you all and I know this is the Lord's work!

See you in Hastings!

Love, Elder Tuckett

Perspective

The Phoenix Temple looks so flat to me.  I know you say that it is an hour away and you will probably not go to that temple.  But Mom, an hour is not far at all, it seems really close to me.  Right now I would give anything to be able to go to a temple that is an hour away.  I guess it is how you look at it.  We are so blessed to have 5 temples in Arizona right now.  And before we know it, it will be 6.  

This week was so great with the exchanges that we had.  I got to be with my best friend, Elder Christensen.  I am sad it is over.  It is amazing that we have known each other for almost 2 years now. [they got to New Zealand at the same time, and will leave together, Elder Christensen is from Spain, and could hardly speak any English when he arrived] This is a picture of us in Titahi Bay.  Lots of missionaries here draw on the sidewalk the plan of salvation, and teach people like that.  Here in the bay, there is not a good place to do that, so we decided to draw it on the beach. I forgot to get a picture of the whole thing when we were done, but it turned out really awesome.  We got to talk to heaps of people, and we had a great view while doing it.  I  just wish we could take our shoes off while doing it.  Anyway, it was a great exchange.  I love the beach now more than ever!

So.... General Conference!  We got to watch it this weekend.  Elder Christensen and I kept saying that General Conference is right up there with Christmas for us!  So true!!!!  I just love how conference always answers questions that I have.  I feel like it was all on the things that I have been studying in the scriptures!  I really love how Elder Bednars talk was totally devoted to our investigators.  This week, I am totally sharing his talk with at least 2 of our investigators.  I am going to let them know everything they missed.  I also loved the talk by President Eyring.  I have really have learned how God reveals things to us and to our leaders and anyone who needs revelation.  I have the responsibility to receive revelation for my district and my investigators and if I ask The Lord , then I will hear the words that they need to hear to grow.  And I loved Elder Callisters talk on moderation and reading a book.  I am so grateful, for books now and not for mindless TV watching that does nothing for us. 

This week I read "But I have commanded you to bring up your children in light and truth." D&C 93:40. I am so grateful for everything my parents have done for me. I remember one time, I was being a butt, an I made you cry and you said "Sorry for being a bad parent", I know that you and dad were not being bad parents,  but you just loved me enough to rebuke me (D&C 95:1-2).  I am so thankful for everything that you and dad have done for me.  You have raised me and Mary in the light.  I can't wait until we can all be in the temple together.  I love you so much!

About "Meet the Mormons"....  We haven't heard a thing about it.  We did read about it in the Ensign though.  I hope I can see it when I get back.  I haven't got my package yet.  The Zone Leaders told me that I would be moving next week so I hope that I get it after I move then I won't have to carry it to my new area.  We will see what happens at transfers.  

There is a quote that has been on our staircase since the day I moved in that says "Serve everyday as is if is your last". That just keeps getting more and more personal everyday.  

I love you all,

Elder Tuckett 

This is a "Lion King" rock that is here in the bay.

This is the Maori flag.... And me and Elder Christensen with our Maori faces!

A walk along the beach

We had a great week!  It started off when we had a super fun P Day last week.  We went to Paraparumu with our disctrict.  We took a hike along the beach.  It was so fun just walking along with our district.  

Yep, this is life on the island..... Relaxing in Paradise.

This is St. Mary.  Some of our district and a random member from Paraparumu.  

Today, we are going to play basketball with President Hudson and the Zone Leaders and then hopefully get a quick hike in.  Today we have been blessed with great and perfect weather.  However, last night at exactly 9:00 pm it just started pouring and was so windy, so I thought it was not going to be good for today.  In fact, this morning when I woke up, there were rain drops hitting my face.  (My window leaks). Then when we a started personal scripture study this morning it like magically disappeared and cleared up in 5 minutes.  We got cleaned up and ready, got on our bikes, and it is just the most beautiful day!  I love it!  

So here is the spiritual part of my week.... you know you can't just pull out your camera for the spiritual stuff.  But it was a great week for us spiritually too!  Anyway, a less active family we visit had their newborn baby blessed this Sunday so the entire family came to church.  (I have never seen them even once at the church the whole time I have been here).  It really shows that the Father who is a Returned Missionary still knows the importance of the church and that it is true, so that was cool.  I just really wish that the father could have blessed the baby, or at least the son who is our age.  So, we still have some work to do!  

This week I have 2 exchanges!  I will be in Pararumu this Tuesday, then on Thursday, Elder Christiansen and I will be in Titahi Bay!  So it will be a really fast and fun week ahead!

I am still studying the Doctrine and Covenants.  This week I studied about the Word of Wisdom.  I have enjoyed studying the D&C and seeing what the Lord has revealed through his prophet Joseph Smith.  Even though he had trials, he was able to receive revelation for the church.  It is amazing everything that he went through to restore this church.  Then, I think about his family and all that they went through as well as the other saints at that time.  They did so much, it makes me realize how easy our day is compared to them.  These are the last days though, and the Lord is "coming quickly" and I am looking forward to that!  I am so grateful for the scriptures and the knowledge they give us.  

The missionary work right now is going about the same as always, so nothing new to report on!  I will tell you for sure if something new and exciting happens!!!

I love you so much!

Elder Tuckett

On the train ride home on P-Day -- It was so beautiful...

And.... this is Bob Marley.... He eats all the bugs outside our windows.  They are an accessory to every house here....  UGH!

Machete Mowing

Why are you getting so much rain?  That is crazy!!!!  I thought that God promised that he would not flood the Earth again!  It  has been rainy here too, but today it is going to be a sunny spring day.  

The time is flying by.  Rebecca wrote me this week that I have less than 80 days.  I can hardly believe that!  It is crazy.  Shannon sent me some pictures of Maggie and it reminded me how much I miss her. I wish I could take her to school with me.  

This week is Temple week for our stake.  Everyone is going to be gone for the whole week while they are gone to the temple.  I don't know what we are going to do without them!!!  General Conference is coming up too, so it is going to be a really spiritual couple of weeks for our ward.  

This week we were helping an older lady with service and I was just thinking about you!  I was hoping someone was able to help you too this week somehow.  [I love how he equates me with the old people]. We were able to pull all of her weeds and move some wood for her.  This is a picture of Machee with the machete, he says that is how they cut the lawn in Samoa.  He has some crazy machete skills.  

We had heaps of miracles this week.  Since the transfer ended this week I have been really pushing Elder MaChee to lead the area more and do what he wants to do.  It has been cool to see him follow the spirit and see him do all of these miracles.  So last night, I asked him what he wanted to do and he said to visit this one guy that I would have never thought of visiting and so we went there.  He had a friend over that used to meet with the missionaries but had stopped.  So we met him and he said that he really wanted to be baptized.  We had a great lesson with him and his less active friend that we went to see.  So, we got another new investigator.  I love this work so much, and the spirit that God has given us to guide us in these last days!

I love you all so much!

Elder Tuckett

I got another lava lava.... I love them!!!!

Bipolar Weather

This week's weather has been bipolar.  One day it is spring, and then the next we are back to cold rainy winter,  it is no good!  And.... An Elder took my nice rain jacket, so I am wearing a crappy one that just barely gets by.  It is all good though... 3 months.  I am away staying here in Porirua this transfer.  This transfer is only going to be 4 weeks.  I am staying with Elder Machee and I am still district leader.  I like being district leader.  I have it figured out now pretty good.  We are also getting 3 new elders in our district which will be fun.   The other benefit of not getting transferred is that you don't have to pack up.

This week I learned a lot about repentance (it wasn't for me, I promise, it was for one of our members). I am just so grateful for the tender mercies of The Lord that he shows on us.  We get to repent for things we do every week when we partake of the sacrament.  It is the whole reason we go to church to show humility to The Lord that we will remember him and follow him.  

I also found out that's one of the recent converts from about a year ago went to the temple this week and got sealed to her husband.  (I think that this was the sister he baptized in Queenstown) This was the greatest news to hear.    This reminded me of how grateful I am for this gospel and that I am sealed to my parents that I love, and my sister too.  

Well, we are going to play basketball today at the chapel.  We are going to play against the other district.   I love basketball so much now,   It is a good game!!!!

We go on daylight savings time next weekend, we lose an hour of sleep.  I really don't like all this changing of times every season.

I love you!!!

Love, Elder Tuckett

Changes!

This week has been Mission Changing!  We had Zone Conference and were able to meet with President Hudson!  It was so great to see everyone again.  So, at the meeting President Hudson announced that we can teach girls now as long as a responsible adult is there.  This means that the sisters don't get all the baptisms and aren't having to travel everywhere to teach everyone!  This was so great to hear, and we are really excited to see this change the mission and see more baptisms!  We are able to teach everyone that is in our area now and we know that we will be able to get more members involved in teaching too as we use them to help teach the sister investigators.  Already this week, we have been given 2 new investigators and a couple of other potential investigators that the sisters were never able to catch up with.  I am really looking forward to this week.  

Elder Christensen and Vimahi had a baptism yesterday and we got to go because one of our investigators said he was coming, however, he didn't show up though, even though his wife sounded so excited for it... UGH!!!  So this baptism was a wife getting baptized by her recent convert husband who got baptized about 2 months ago.  It was so spiritual as we got to see this recent convert baptize his own wife.  Their two children were sitting and watching.  It was so cute!  Plus, his brothers came and it was just so awesome,  I love to see families enter the gospel!  

There are also two 9 year old girls that we are going to start working with that we can teach now!  They are both so awesome!  I just had this great idea for them to become friends and we can teach and baptize them at the same time,  they both have great families to help them but they are both on the edge of whether they want to be baptized,  so, lots of work to be done with the members and less actives.  I love these new changes!!!!

Love, Elder Tuckett

 More from Zone Conference

Elder Machee holding the full moon this week!

Have a great week!!!