Life's the same here, more food, more work, and more blessings! I started to get a little lazy in my workouts and gained five pounds, so I kicked it up and lost seven... My body doesn't know how to work normally. It's great though, I'm still keeping tone and everything! I'm eating more than the islanders, but my waistline is just getting slimmer! I guess my metabolism is going crazy from all of the food! I'm watching what I eat, and not going to fast food places, no fizzys (soda), and tons of abs! It's made my studies more meaningful and I have actually been learning a lot more than I did when I first got out here! I'm getting a deeper and stronger understanding of the gospel every day! I've been reading the Book of Mormon for the last two weeks, and I'm only to 1 nephi 20! I've been diving in like crazy! I know the stories, and I know the characters, now I'm finding all of the little overlooked details that really sets it apart from a story book with doctrinal details. An in-depth study of the Book of Mormon really increases your testimony of the power of the priesthood. How Joseph Smith was able to translate the golden plates without even looking at them at times and come out with a book that has so much depth and so many meanings to it only shows that we are just instruments. It isn't how fast I can run, high I can jump, or even how much I have read that can convert somebody. It can only be the same spirit that told Joseph Smith the right words to say that can speak to any kind of person through print on a page. The answers are all found in 531 pages, you just have too look deeper some times more than others. It's a simple testimony of the Book of Mormon that I have to give, but I don't need any more than that.
This week we set three people for baptism in February! This area hasn't had any baptisms in over 4 months, and we got three! I have a great companion, and he is leading the area and district amazingly! We were able to speak with President Rudd this week, and he told me that he saw us as a very powerful and effective companionship. This week on Thursday is the transfer meeting, and we will get a call Tuesday night if we're going to be transferred out of the area. We have had so many great things happen to us here, it would be sad to leave, but it would also be exciting to see what else there is out here in Aotearoa! It's a beautiful country, and I'm stuck in the city, but it's alright! I'm loving it here!
The mailing address that I gave you goes to the mission office. The mission office then gives the mail once a month to the Zone Leaders and they give it to the Elders in their zone. It takes a while for the mail to get to us, so don't be surprised if you don't hear of me getting any for a while. I haven't gotten any pictures through email yet though! I don't know why you're not sending them! Oh, and I bought a new camera. It's a sony... I like cannons better. I wont break this one though...
I'm loving it out here! Everything is great! I wouldn't want to be anywhere else! The people are amazing, and the food just follows after! Thank you for everything, and I love you all!
Elder Lukens
