Week 36 - Gosnells, Southern River Zone, Western Australia - April 18, 2016 - HOWDY!

Good to hear from all of you!!! I loved seeing all the pictures of the twins looking top notch for the night of all nights! haha. Elder B and I were laughing about that picture that woman sent you mom. That guy was the first ever on my mission that actually chased us down to talk to us! haha It was hilarious!

Some cool things happened this week. We have been seeing a less active family for a while now. We have a really good relationship with them they have a huge piece of land and R parks all his big semi trucks in his backyard. We were helping him feed all his pigs and everything. We had an awesome lesson with them and they came to church for the first time in so many years it was SWEET! They came on the perfect Sunday too! The talks were pretty much speaking directly to them...  

Big R!

Earlier this week I was tracting with our District Leader Elder Arieta from Manila and it was super late, like 8 o'clock, but we had nothing else to do. After tracting, we started biking home and a house just caught my eye for some reason so we stopped and we knocked on the door and this Asian guy answered and we talked to him for a while then we just asked if we could introduce ourselves to anyone in the house (because we heard people joking and laughing). He agreed and we went in and shared the restoration with like 8 university students from Taiwan. It was awesome! We are looking to go back soon and continue to help them develop a faith in a true and living God.

So we met these kids outside of their house and we were talking to them for a while. We ended up going in and teaching them a lesson but they were just smoking pot the whole time. It was just a house filled with kids our age just going hog wild. Funny enough tho -we got a ride for two of them for church and we actually got them there for the full 3 hours! We were nervous because they are such a hostile bunch haha! One of them started blasting his rap out of a big old speaker in his backpack in the middle of church.....but (VISITORS WELCOME) is plastered on our front door so no one was too mad:)  We went to this house last night that was just like those houses on "Horders Buried Alive" I kid you not, no exaggeration....there was crap piled up in every inch of the house with parrots flying around and dogs rummaging through everything. When we got home a cochroach fell out of my shoe when I took it off. Haha!

I love you all! I won't be emailing you until Thursday next week because we are going to go to the Temple.

Every morning when we wake up we are influenced by two Forces, One of those forces deliberately wants to murder us spiritually and physically. He entices us with lies and half truths. He wants all men to be miserable like unto himself. The other force is Our Loving Father in Heaven who influences us through the Holy Ghost. He wants us to grow and develop to become like him. He wants us to have Peace, Confidence, and Happiness in this life and in the life to come. He desires to give us ALL THAT HE HAS. Choose which FATHER will be yours. If we constantly become entangled and lost in the distractions and sins of the world then we are listening to and have chosen the wrong DAD! Invite the Holy Ghost to be your constant companion by the way that you live so that you can listen and obey his loving voice:) I Know That we are all Children of God, but Satan desires to sift us as wheat and have us as his children, tell him to go to h#%$...(oops! -had to edit that.) HAVE A GOOD WEEK:)

ELDER CORDNER

These guys are from India. They told us they came across on a boat and they were the only survivors.

Week 35 - Gosnells, Southern River Zone, Western Australia - April 11, 2016 - Holiday's Over!

On the mission General Conference is such a nice little break and a time to spiritually FEAST. I loved it so much! I know that the prophets and apostles direct Christ's Church on the earth today. I know that they have been called of God. If you deny that, I would suggest the spirit has ceased to strive with you....haha just kidding! but idk how people can deny such up front truth and heart-felt testimony! I know I cannot. I'd say my top 3 favorite talks were 1. Elder Hallstrom's talk about the saints in Africa singing 'How Firm A Foundation'  2. Elder Eyring's opening address and 3. of course, Elder Holland's, but I loved all of them so much! It was just the best weekend.

So, things have been going good out here in Gosnells! We are teaching a part member family from New Zealand. We are going over tomorrow to share the Restoration. One of the big stumbling blocks is that no one gets married here. They just call each other "partners" so often times we have to help them understand the law of chastity - which is a toughy haha.

We found an awesome Chinese family with 1 little girl. They are Christian and are looking for a church. We spent some time with them yesterday and they have a lot  of questions but they are very open to attending our church next Sunday. We have 1 Chinese family in the ward so we will be looking to fellowship with them as soon as possible. 

We had Zone Conference this last week. President Fife is the absolute best. He is such a beast! He talked a lot about faith and how we can pray effectively with faith. He also (being a former institute teacher) taught us a lot of doctrine that missionaries normally don't understand properly. Anyways it was a good zone conf.

I saw all the pics of the hike. (Mitch's dad and siblings went hiking in the Grand Canyon for a few days during their spring break) It looked like so much fun! I know that before I know it I will be back with all of you, so I need to give everything while I still can! I love you all thanks for the prayers you offer in my behalf. Have an awesome week back to real life after your break:)

Elder Cordner

Mitch answered some questions I asked him.

We are in one ward.  Western Australia is very wide spread.  In fact, it is the largest constant span of people and homes in the entire world (land mass wise) but we are in one ward of like 200 members with 3 other sets of missionaries.  The members here are very warm and good.  We take members to the lessons with us.  I am sorry my letters are not too descriptive.  A LOT happens that I don't say anything about.  Sorry!  It is fall now and it is cooling down.  We love it so much.  It's been raining the past few days.

Elder B going ANIMAL!

                                 

Week 34 - Gosnells, Southern River Zone, Western Australia - April 4, 2016 - Life's Good - God's Good!

I heard Conference was GLORIOUS. WE are pumped for it down here! Can't wait! Could you imagine if everyone in the world knew of the true importance of General Conference? A ticket to the conference center would cost 500,000$$$. We are going to try to get all of our gators and less actives to at least come to a Sunday session.

We made a little progress with E this week. He told us that he might just decide to be baptized anyways despite what his uncle said. We had a good chat with him, but then we went by to wake him up for church and he said he had to go pick something up for his mom. But we are doing well. We did a lot of tracting this last week.  Got some new people to go follow up on so we will see how that goes!

I don't have much else to say. The work keeps going and so do we!

I want you guys to know I love being a missionary...I know it is what I need to be doing right now in my life. I can't imagine what I would be like if I never came out here....God is so GOOD:)

Elder Cordner

Be careful Elder Cordner!

Australia in one picture.

Our neighbor ran over our beloved little garden gnome.
This is all we found of him the next morning.  He left this paper.  Haha!

Perth has cool art on a lot of the buildings.  This one is sweet.

Week 33 - Gosnells, Southern River Zone, Western Australia - March 29, 2016 - Kenzie's Home!

Man, it was sweet to look at all the pictures of everyone gathered together to welcome Sister Cordner home! I watched the video of her seeing everyone for the first time and it made me smile HUGE. Happy for all of you but I am glad I am out here:) Heard from several people Mckenzie gave an awesome talk and shared some cool experiences...well done.

This week I don't have heaps to say cuz I just wrote a few days ago but, we had dinner last night with some people from New Zealand.  They are actually Seventh-Day Adventists so we will see how things go but Elder B and I made some mean bbq wings and took them over to add to the FEED that they had prepared. They LOVED our chicken I made some spicy ranch dip for them just like at buffalo wild wings haha! They just kept saying over and over "Cuz this Chicken Gangsta G' haha they LOVED it - gobbled it all up. But it was good! We talked about our beliefs and we have a good relationship with them now so we are planning on inviting them to church...

Easter has been good here.  We missed our ward gathering because we had to deal with missionaries who were acting like punks. Elder Brinkerhoff and I are staying together another transfer! haha We thought for sure he was leaving! We are happy tho! At the end of this transfer he is going to have been here for 10 and a half months lol. We have work to do!

The other day during studies I was reading in the New Testament (which I am trying to finish) and the thought just came to me to read Ether 4...I didn't even know what chapter that was but I turned to it and God just spoke to me through the Book of Mormon...It was a neat experience. It would be nice if I could always follow those quiet little promptings. I love all of you! It was great to see all the pictures! Have a nectarizing week.

Elder Cordner

Week 32 - Gosnells, Southern River Zone, Western Australia - March 21, 2016 - RE-United

Hello family:) I looked at the pictures of you guys in Brazil with Kenzie and I was just smiling huge! You all look so good and Kenzie looks soooo happy! Haha Sounded like to me that it has been a very fun trip....It actually just motivated me to work harder because I am not ready for that day to come for me...:) The pictures of dad with the families he baptized were so awesome. I wish I could have been there to meet them. I bet the kids at home are anxious for you guys to get back!

We find out about transfers this Sunday...anything could happen! Elder B has been here ages so I am thinking he will leave but who knows.

I do not have long....It has been a hectic week with a lot of random things going on so we still have a lot to do today. We aren't really taking a full p day.  President Fife randomly showed up at our Zone Meeting. Elder B and I are giving a training in front of the stake/ward mission leaders and ward missionaries tonight on how a correlation meeting should look like so that should be good:)

I love all of you thanks for the letters and all the pictures!

We are all children of a Father in Heaven who loves us more than our mortal minds can comprehend. My love for Him is growing each day as I serve and lift those whom I am able. I promise you all that not for one moment of your life has Your Father turned from you. Put him first in your life and watch in amazement as your heart is transformed. I love Jesus Christ. It is because of him that I have a chance at becoming something. I am SO Weak but through Christ I can be perfected. My hero in the Book of Mormon is Nephi. I pray to become even in the least bit, like he is.

This mission here in Perth Australia was the one for me! Have a good week and enjoy the company of the returning sister MAMMAL. haha

Elder Cordner

Week 31 - Gosnells, Southern River Zone, Western Australia - March 14, 2016 - BUZZY

When something is true but hard to believe they say..."buzzzzzzzy" here.....It is buzzy to think that you guys will be going to pick up Kenzie just in 2 days! That is soooooo cool! I am so happy that most of the family will be re-united! haha Don't worry about me. Just send lots of pictutres of Brazil and all the people you guys meet! Can't wait till next Monday to see everything! Cool also to hear all the hullabaloo that is going on back home. Seems like things are quite busy. I was really happy to hear Jake baptized Bennett. That brought a smile to my face! He beat me to his first baptism. haha!

Well, E came to church yesterday. He always loves it and he still wants to get baptized but it's still the same old problem. His elders of his tribe need to grant permission....We talked straight up with him and he called his uncle again to talk to him.  Apparently he won't know for sure until his uncle comes to Australia sometime soon.....Who knows when that will be...so we are praying and fasting for a miracle! J and M are doing well. They are sincerely investigating and they said when they come to know that it is true for themselves they will be baptized. M is having a little bit of a hard time just because her whole family is very dedicated to Catholicism and her brother is a priest....They are reading the Book of Mormon though and they are coming to a small ward gathering tonight so I hope all goes well there. Elder Brinkerhoff and I are sharing a spiritual thought at this gathering so we practiced a little skit we made up. haha I'll film it and try to send it to you guys.  It should create some laughs.

C is doing alright. He is still toughing it out with his smoking habit. We are working as close as possible with him. This morning we went over and read Alma 32 with him and watched all 3 patterns of light videos by Elder Bednar. It was very good. He will be baptized if he can kick the smoking but he needs Gods help...that is where we are at with him...

We found a couple from New Zealand who are keen to hear our message so we are seeing them tomorrow. We met her walking home from the Chemist (a store) and we talked to her for a while. She needed a vacuum but she didn't have one so we biked ages home and got her one and drove back in the car with it. She was super grateful and maybe something good will come of it....:)

Elder Brinkerhoff and I keep super busy with all our various duties.  It's good since some of our district leaders are struggling. We might start going on even more exchanges to try to help them out....That means we are going to have a pretty dirty flat if we don't keep on top of things haha. Anyways, things are good here in Perth...I saw the weather on C's tv today and Perth is the hottest this week in all of Australia BY FAR....so we are in for a treat:)

Congrats to Nelson....he sent me and email and informed me all about what went down...love ya brother and Hello to his new Woman you will be seeing me a lot in the future haha. S/O to Rio also...idk quite whats up with him but they are engaged ehhh???  idk haha love those 2.

King, Nana, and Maddy, I am sure you guys will have the time of your lives spending the week with Aunt Jayne  I am sure Maddy is very excited! Love you all! Thanks so much for writing me and have a fun adventure in South America!!! Welcome to the SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE:) 

Elder Cordner

J, M, and M. J actually played college bball in the Phillipines. They are doing pretty good. 

They have real intent to know the truth. They read the Book of Mormon in Tagalog every day.

                                

                                

                             

Week 30 - Gosnells, Southern River Zone, Western Australia - March 8, 2016 - Never let a Poly in your kitchen

Elder Ramsey from Tonga....in the back is M the Filipino who came to church!

I'd say 70% of the Elders in our Zone are Polynesian and their is a new way we do exchanges where they actually come to our area and stay the night and work for a day instead of us going to their areas. But this is starting to pose a slight issue...THEY EAT LIKE HOGS! I am not kidding unless you specifically tell them to stop eating, I promise they never will. I am about to print out a paper to put on our fridge that says "NO ISLANDERS" on it.  haha I have no problem sharing food but when it gets to the point where we are wondering how we are going to fill our stomachs....that's an issue. Imagine. 2 cartons of eggs, 2 cartons of milk, 3 loaves of bread, a carton of chocolate milk, a tub of cookie dough, 6 packages of noodles, a tub of peanut butter, a box of cereal, 4 avocados, all the butter etc.... Elder B and I were just stunned when they left....its ok  tho we are putting together a future plan of action. From now on they will not be allowed to enter the kitchen. It will go as follows. 1. They will say that they are hungry 2. Either I or Elder B will enter the kitchen and serve up a plate with an appropriate portion size 3. They will eat. 4. They will ask for more. 5. We say no...no more.
That's simply how it is going to go. haha.

ANYWAYS, I had an experience this week that I always knew would come but never quite thought through how I would handle it....but we went to L's house this past week to visit her.  We ended up helping her and her partner D from Ethiopia around the yard. Afterwards, they kindly offered us lunch and we sat down and awaited the food. I was not nervous at all.  Elder B and I were just pretty calm just sitting there...but if we knew what was in store we would NOT have been calm whatsoever.  L places before us a giant helping of this green goulash on rice. Elder B asked "What is this???" She just responded "meat" haha ohhhhh it was much more than just that and to make a long story short we spent the next 15 minutes absolutely fighting our way through chunks of raw fish and goat and who knows what else....I am going to be honest. Elder B was being such a little girl about it so I was having to HOG down HUGE helpings and since we were eating from the same plate HE EASILY MADE ME DO THE HEAVY LIFTING... haha! As I was feeding and gagging like crazy I just chuckled to myself as I imagined Nelson battling down his Ukrainian food  and all the other stories I heard of missionaries eating disgusting meals but I guess the day of reckoning comes for all of us...I'm probably just wimpy because I am in Australia -  but it was DISGUSTING! haha.

So we found a new family! They are Filipino and their names are JAND M. They have a daughter named M. We have HIGH HOPES for them! They came to a baptism on Saturday...loved it....and came to all 3 hours of church on Sunday...They are a miracle! We are going over tonight to teach the Restoration....Pray that they will feel the Spirit very strongly. E and C are still a work in progress we just found out one of C's dogs died today so we will go over to see how he's doing. He LOVES his dogs.

I know we aren't allowed to chew gum...that was a one time thing...This is C.

 His dogs are Pucks and Ali...Pucks died today :(

Love all of you! The work is good!  I UTTERLY love serving the Master. I love the mission and I LOVE AUSTRALIA. Have a good one MATE:)

Elder Cordner

An Aboriginal decorated my scriptures... SO SICK!