Week 5 - Kalgoorlie, Australia - September 14, 2015 - KAAAALLGOOORLIE

The super pit 

Kalgoorlie is a gold mining town.  This is where they do the mining.  Looks a lot like Kennecott here in Utah.

Well family, it has been another great week here in the desert of Israel. We have been finding a lot of people to teach and have picked up like four new investigators this week. That's pretty good for here and some of them are progressing! I read Davis' letter with all the people coming to church and on date, haha! Man that is so awesome!!! BTW, can someone tell Davis and Dallin to email me just so I have their emails?

The flies are picking up here. The locals hate them more than anything! There is quite the infestation here! They go up your nose and in your mouth and buzz down your throat....when your back is sweating they think it's some sort of tropical oasis so they chill on your neck and back until you WHACK them off and stain your nice white shirt with blood haha. I am loving the work here! I could say my eyes have definitely been opened to the outside world! haha. We walked over to an old aboriginal man drinking his lagger on his porch and he told us to come in and talk to his son. So we walked into their home and the smoke was so thick you could barely breathe. haha! The drugs and alcohol are definitely the biggest problem in Kalgoorlie because besides working in the mines there is nothing to do so everyone just gets WASTED and goes to the pubs and smokes all kinds of things. There are a lot of pubs here haha. We aren't allowed to even look inside... but we walked into his son's room and he was gaming away on his playstation he was about 30 years old.  After listening to him mumble for a while I said to him..."Well, we know that god loves you." This INFURIATED him and he yelled at me as we walked out of the house. haha Then he said sorry...as we left... We smelled like smoke for the rest of the day.... anyways the biggest problem here is the drugs and alcohol. People just don't know how to deal with life so they all drink until they collapse. We helped a collapsed man get out of the road and laid him on his bed at his house and left him with what me and my companion call a miracle card...haha! I made it up.  It is just a pass along card with a written message on the back and our number we call them miracle cards because they all have different messages and we KNOW that God gives them the card with the message that they need. haha!

Well, I know that The Book of Mormon is the Lord's gift to us in these latter days. I know that it is true and the promises held within are promises from Heavenly Father and if we apply them to our lives we will literally receive what is promised. Have faith, for God is with us.  I see miracles daily. This is God's work and it is our privilege to be used as an instrument to further his work. Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He forgives us. The path is before us and we just need to exercise faith in the one who gave us life and created the earth for without him we are nothing. Believe in all things, believe that man doth not comprehend all that God comprehends. Quite literally, without God we are lifeless and we are nothing! Take the narrow road. It is harder than the common road but if we are comfortable then we are not growing so get uncomfortable as soon as possible and see what God can make out of you. 

Sorry, most of this letter was dumb. I love all of you! Thanks for all the letters.

Love, ELDER CORDNER

PS The Australian sun bakes my innards.  Elder Matthews and I get along good.  We laugh so hard at some things that happen...btw we had a meeting we skyped in to from Perth with training from President Fife.  He changed the policy of attending the temple. He wants us to develop a pattern for life. So as long as we live within 2 hours of the temple we get to go once a transfer...so obviously it doesn't change things for me yet but some day. It will be on Wednesdays and Thursdays so that might become my p-day once a transfer in the future.  Anyways all the elders were super excited about that.

What are some traditional foods that you eat?  Stews with like lamb and dumplings in it.

What city do the zone leaders live in?  Zone leaders live in Bunbury.

Have you tried vegamite yet?  I refuse to try vegamite it. It is everywhere tho. 

What is the ward like?  The ward is good they are all kiwi.  I am good friends with all the brothers. 

How are you handling the heat?  The heat is bearable but everyone has been warning me that it is gonna get really really bad. haha There is a fly infestation.  They are everywhere.  It is one of the biggest trials jk but it is so annoying i have swallowed several. 

This is a Huntman spider. They are not poisonous, but the members have been telling me that as summer approaches I need to be careful because things that could kill are everywhere...they say lots of people get bit by spiders and snakes once the heat comes.  Nice to know.

                         

These are my favorite kids.  They are so funny!

Me during the skype conference.