Still really hot

Hey everyone! Another couple solid weeks. Nothing new recently, just going to work!

Most of our investigators have been busy recently with summer courses. There are tons of international students who come into Melbourne who take intensive language courses for a month or two to prepare them for English university classes. Because the majority of the students in these classes are Chinese they just use their native language to chat whenever professors turn their backs, and very few of them practice outside of classes so it's still a little rough communicating in English. But we love practicing with them when  they come into church.

Besides that, not too much is new. We're working hard and loving these people. These next few weeks should be a blast with Chinese New Year so be prepared for some fun stories in the next few weeks!

Love you all!

Elder Blackhurst

Australian Open

G'day, everyone! I'm writing this from my seat at the Australian Open! It has been a great couple last weeks, we're happy and working.

Elder Gao and I have been spending every spare minute out on the streets and we're starting to have a really full teaching pool. Lots of new friends meeting with us regularly. Not much is better than meeting with an investigator who really studied the Book of Mormon during the previous week and is ready to learn more. We've been meeting with a pair named Emma and Zoe and they're the best. 

Elder Gao and I decided to get hair cuts last week. I played it safe and spent $10 dollars to get it cut at a barbershop near our own. Elder Gao decided to cut his himself. The clip fell off his razor as he took the first chunk off so there was a large bald spot. So he shaved the rest of it off. Elder Gao is now mostly bald. 

Right now in Australia it's really hot. I feel like I'm back home. Doesn't stop us from going out contacting all day every day. Hot and tired but happy - we're grateful to be here, doing the work of the Lord.

Love you all! Have a great week!

Elder Blackhurst

新年快乐

A happy new year everyone! We've had a wonderful time celebrating the 1st day of 2019 eighteen hours ahead of my American friends. It was an eventful week to say the least. Time is really short, so I'll share a thought and throw on some pictures and call it a week.

I've been thinking a lot recently about the spirit in the work. There are days without lessons where you just want to get to work, and you can get out without really even thinking about the Lord. Yes, we're thinking about God. But I'm at the point where I can go and do missionary work on my own, but if that's what I'm doing, what's the point? If we're relying on our own abilities, we will reach as far as we can reach. Jacob, in the Book of Mormon, teaches about relying on God in the 9th chapter of 2nd Nephi:

28 O that cunning plan of the evil one! O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men! When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. 

With the Lord, we go so much further. So much further. I want His spirit to always be with me, guiding me, teaching me. If my friends I'm meeting out here can feel the spirit, my job is done. And honestly, it doesn't just apply to missionaries - that's everyone. We need to seek His will and put it first. 

I love you all and wish you the best for the new year. Set some goals, write them down, and counsel with the Lord in all you do! Happy 2019!

Elder Blackhurst