Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year

Hi future missionaries,
The mission prep class has finished for 2009 but will we continue up again from 24th January 2010 5-6pm at Mortdale Chapel. Please note that we have moved the class forward by half an hour. We are going to have another fantastic year and can't wait to see many of you head out as full-time missionaries.
All the best to Christian Haynes who heads out on his mission mid-January before we resume back.

Cheers,
Nathan and Samantha Biddle

Finances for a mission

We had a question put into the class question box about what happens if you want to serve a mission but don't currently have the finances to fund it. A member of the Mortdale Stake presidency, President Davis kindly provided us with a response:

From the General Handbook of instructions.
" The primary responsibility to provide financial support for a missionary is with the individual and his family. Generally, missionaries should not rely entirely on others outside their family for financial support.
Missionaries and their families should make appropriate sacrifices to provide financial support for a mission. It is better for a person to delay a mission and earn money toward his or her support than to rely entirely on others. However worthy missionary candidates should not be prevented from serving missions solely for financial reasons when they or their families have sacrificed according to their capabilities."

Although, in some rare circumstances a missionary must rely on financial support from outside their family,
It has been my experience that when a missionary has sacrificed all they can to fund their mission they are generally more committed to the challenge of missionary life. The adage applies to a mission as other aspects in life. That which you obtain too cheaply you esteem too lightly. Counsel with you priesthood leaders and they will always advise you on the best approach to prepare financially for your mission.

THE BEST TWO YEARS!

My name is brother Aokuso Aokuso from the Bankstown 2nd ward... I served in the Australia's Best Mission... hahaha Australia Brisbane Mission. Truly the best two years of my life, serving my Heavenly Father and representing my Savior Jesus Christ. Throughout the two years i got to know my Savior more than ever... through the Book of Mormon, sharing my testimony, the hymns, mission meetings etc...
One of the best feelings i have come to recognize is the feeling of the spirit. Right from when i got set apart as a missionary, receiving my badge in the mtc, teaching people about the restored gospel etc.... I have felt the feelings of
'love,joy,peace...'(Galatians 5:22) numerous times.
I had 7 areas, and 15 companions.. all of which i loved. Every area i served in was amazing! The members were great, tracting was fun & challenging at the same time... I met so many different people going door to door, people of different faiths and also those of no faith. I found that every area was different, and that through these many experiences i have learnt that no matter what trial you are put through you can choose to overcome it with JOY!!! One quote that Elder Baxter shared with us during a mission tour with Elder Holland is that..' There's no such thing as a dead area, just dead missionaries'.
I have had so many great experiences from the mission which i will never forget. I'm so greatful to be a part of the mission prep class, i have learnt so much from the experience so far.. and it also brings back great memories. I'm looking forward to continue sharing the many experiences i have had on the mission and most importantly my testimony of the gospel with you all.

Called to Serve

One of my favourite quotes is:

"The single most important thing you can do to prepare for a call to serve isbecome a missionary long before you go on a mission".

Elder David A. Bednar

When I first decided to go on a mission, I never thought how hard it would be just getting my papers completed and sent through. It took a while for me to get my doctor's authority and not to mention the pain endured to soldier through the dental... But as we know and have been counselled in D&C 4:3 "Therefore, if you have desires to serve God, ye are called to the work" Because we each desire to serve as full time missionaries, we should not let the trails which we encounter along the way, stop our progression to the field! It is WHITE and it is ready to harvest....

5th November is the day that I had received the YELLOW ENVELOPE... I know and add my testimony to Elder Haynes of the amazing spiritual experience you will experience when you see it.

You know what it is.

You know its something that you have been anticipating for a long time.

You know it holds information that will seal your future for the next 18-24months.

When I opened the call letter - "WHOOSH!" words just cannot explain the feeling you get. I don't even know if there are any words in the English dictionary to even explain the feeling that comes over you when you read it. I was blessed to be surrounded by family and friends. I know that this will be one of the most fondest memories of being call to serve. Being able to share that experience with everyone that I love is awesome.

Auckland, New Zealand is going to be my playground starting Feburary 25th 2010.

Bring on the cold weather! Brrrrrr!!!

I am excited to be called to New Zealand as I hear it is quite populated with polynesians! Bring on the language study lessons!!! LOL!!!

The missionary preparation class has helped me loads with preparing to serve as a full-time missionary. Not only have I learned to love preach my gospel, but I have made friends with poeple whom also have the desire to serve. This has greatly increased my desire to serve and to become the best missioanry I can be.

For this, I am very thankful.

The Lord has a plan for each of us. We should know though that:

"It is not WHERE you serve but HOW you serve that counts"

I know that I have a Loving Heavenly Father, who has blessed me with a wonderful family. I learnt that he planned a way in which I can return to live with him someday, even before I came to this Earth. I know that I can one day be reunited with him if I am righteous in the choices that I make in this life. I have the power to help others come to this understanding, because I know when I am serving others, I am showing my Heavenly Father that I love him. This is made easier when I learn to love the people in whom I serve and teach.

I know that in the Spring of 1920 a young boy prayed to know of the truth and did see a pillar of light exactly over his head, above the brightness of the sun standing above him in the air. I believe that one of them spake unto him, calling him by name and pointing to the other proclaimed: "This is my beloved son, hear him!" I know all this to be true! AND because faith leads to action. I have chosen to serve!

Romans 1:16

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth...."

PEACE Y'ALL *ILY*:

Sister Masoe

Why I'm Going

When i Got my call i was so excited, every morning i would check with letterbox but when i got the package addressed "Elder Christian Paul Haynes" i just couldnt explain the emotions. I got really excited and happy and started running round like i had eaten too much suger. It is an amazing experiance to get a mission call, the spirit is with you and you know without a doubt that the next two years will be the best of your life. I hope you all get the chance to experiance it in the near future, it is amazing. I couldnt open the package fast enough and i didn't even read the letter all i saw was "New Zealand Wellington Mission" and "Thursday, January 14, 2010."

So many people have told me that a mission is like living 20 years in 2, i know its not gonna be easy and it wont be all fun but its definately worth it. I have a testimony that a mission is the best thing i could be doing with my life and im sure as you read the scriptures you will come to a similar conclusion. This Gospel brings me great happiness , i always feel awsome when reading the scriptures with the spirit, but what is the point of all this happiness and joy we have if we dont share it with anyone. That is part of the reason why families are so important, it is in families that we share and grow in the Gospel, how great shall be your joy if you bring a family together through the Gospel it is my hope to do so.

The other reason is becuase of the saviour, i hope that one day i will be able to stand before him unnabashed witha high head knowing that i have done all that i could to show that his sacrifice was not in vain. With that in mind as i was reading a scripture touched me, its Mark 8: 34-38

34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his Life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.
36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

There are a couple of relavent points but to know what i know and have felt what i have felt i will never be ashamed of Christ, i know him and i know what he has done for me. So my mission i dedicate to him in a way to say thanks, i love you.

The greatest advice i could give is to first convert yourself, convert is a verb it means listening to your leaders and heeding to there words, reading the scriptures everyday and praying morning day and night. When you are converted you will be ready to be a strong missionary.

I know this church is true and the president monson is a prophet called of God to lead his people. I Love my Saviour and i have faith in our Heavenly Father.

Elder Haynes

Farewell Sister Allen

Farewell to Sister Allen who is currently reporting as a missionary to the New Zealand Missionary Training Centre (MTC) today. Sis. Allen will be at the MTC for a few weeks before reporting to the Australia Melbourne East Mission on the 2nd of December. We wish her all the best as she devotes 18 months to the Lord's work. If you wish to write to Sis. Allen, please see me (Samantha Biddle) for her contact details.

Photo: Sis. Allen on the right outside the LDS Sydney Temple.

Lesson 7- Commitment

Thank you to our teachers for a wonderful lesson on Sunday about making and keeping commitments. I hope we've all been seeking missionary experiences through our day to day life. As I mentioned in our last class, please put to practice inviting people to make commitments, whether it be inviting a non-member friend to Church or inviting an inactive friend to attend a YSA fireside. I know that as we practice the techniques taught to us in 'Preach My Gospel' we will become more effective missionaries and tools in the Lord's hand.

I'd like to share a paragraph from PMG and I hope you too can feel the importance of extending commitments whether it be to a friend or to yourself.

"Commitment is an essential part of repentance. It is the act of obligating oneself to a course of action and then diligently following through on that decision. When people are genuinely committed, they have real intent, meaning that they fully intend to do what they have committed to do. They make an unwavering and earnest decision to change. They become devoted to Christ and dedicate themselves to His gospel. Keeping their commitment is how they "truly manifest by their works that they have received of the Spirit of Christ unto the remission of their sins" (D&C 20:37). When you ask for commitments as part of your teaching, you are inviting the investigator to repent." PMG pg 195

Waiting in patience :)

Well, i've finally put my papers in =D And i'm so very grateful that i've made the decision to serve.
I remember while preparing to recieve my Patriarchal Blessing that i was hoping for a definite 'You are going to serve a mission..' It didn't say, so i knew then that it was a decision i had to make on my own, and ask it of the Lord if it was right. And it is the right choice for me, immersing oneself in the service of the Lord, gospel doctrine and inviting others to come unto Christ...what could be more special and important? Especially one to look forward to in determination and faith?

M.

You are hereby called to serve..

I have just received my call to serve in the Melbourne East mission.
It had been a very long and trying 9 months before I received my call. I had experienced much adversity and discouragement but I was able to turn to the Lord for comfort and guidance in this trying time.
I never quite felt the need to pray about the decision I had made to serve a mission. From the moment I decided that I wanted to be a missionary, I knew it was the right thing. Heavenly Father had blessed me with such an amazing and overwhelming desire to become his servant. As I continued on my journey to complete my mission papers I began to grow spiritually and emotionally in ways that I never thought possible. Though the preparation and time leading up to receiving my call was extremely difficult and at times seemed very dismal, I was able to turn to my Heavenly Father for strength and patience.
I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve my Heavenly Father and to spread and teach his true gospel. I am grateful for the answers to my prayers and for the divine inspiration that was received so that I am able to serve in a beautiful city in my home country. I love my Heavenly Father so much and I am so grateful for the Atonement and the way it has blessed and healed my life.
I am grateful for the opportunity that I have to serve a mission and I pray that the same desire and opportunity will be given to my fellow students in the missionary preparation class.

Class Advisor: Nathan Biddle

I served my mission from Jan 2006 - Mar 2008 in the Sapporo, Japan Mission which encompasses the whole of the north island of Japan called Hokkaido. We were affectionately, though not enviously known as the 'frozen chosen' as temperatures could drop below even minus twenty degrees Celsius.

I love the people I was called to serve, and the members and missionaries I was called to serve with. I had so many unforgettable experiences ranging from seeing the people we were teaching enter the waters of baptism to being rushed to hospital in the back of a Japanese ambulance.

I am so glad I answered the call from the Lord to serve a mission because it's made such a difference in my life. There is not one day when I don't think about my mission and experiences in Japan. Although it did require a sacrifice on my behalf, I got so much more out of serving than what I put in.

3 Nephi 13:31-34
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 For your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.
34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow, for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself.

Taking each day as it comes..

The day i knew i was going to serve a mission, i was doing the most mundane thing.....washing dirty dishes. This, after three weeks of fasting, prayer and contemplating whether or not i should do it (plus being asked by my Bishop if i could think about it ;)...then letting go of the worry and putting my faith in Heavenly Father.
It has been a long year...but am very relieved that they're 'almost' in, "almost" meaning that i'm handing them in to Bishop this very sunday! =D now only to pick up that passport...isn't there always something to be done?
It the meantime, i enjoy attending Preach My Gospel classes, doing the homework and keeping up to date. It really does help me see how much i already know, suprising myself, and what more there is to learn.

Others Have Passed the Same Way

“Whenever we are inclined to feel burdened down with the blows of life, let us remember that others have passed the same way, have endured, and then have overcome.”

Thomas S. Monson, “Look to God and Live,” Ensign, May 1998, 52

Meet one of the Teachers

Hi Everyone,

I really enjoy teaching the mission prep class. It helps me remember many special missionary experiences and the joy that comes from missionary service.
I served in the Marshall Islands Majuro Mission 07-08. I learnt to speak Marshallese and served in the Marshall Islands on Majuro and Ebeye (and also for a short time on Tarawa, Kiribati). I know that 'God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in' (Alma 26:37)....and that he 'remembers those who are upon the isles of the sea’ (2 Nephi 29:7). It was a true privilege to serve a full time mission and meet such wonderful people!

I hope that I can share some of the joy I felt as I help teach the Preach My Gospel class each Sunday. Susie Croker

Formula for Choices

“May I provide a simple formula by which you can measure the choices which confront you. It’s easy to remember, sometimes difficult to apply: You can’t be right by doing wrong; you can’t be wrong by doing right. Your personal conscience always warns you as a friend before it punishes you as a judge.”

Thomas S. Monson, “Decisions Determine Destiny,” CES fireside for young adults, Nov. 6, 2005

Welcome!

Hi Guys,

Welcome to the Hyde Park / Mortdale Stake Mission Prep Class Blog. Just like 'Preach My Gospel' our class is there to help you become a "better prepared, more spiritually mature missionary and a more pursuasive teacher" (PMG Pg.6).

This Blog is a chance for you to share some of your thoughts and experiences about the class, your own missionary experiences and anything else that you might think will be uplifting to another. Any sharing of experiences regarding the process of deciding to serve a full-time mission, preparing to serve a mission and receiving your call will be greatly appreciated.

This Blog will also be an opportunity for us to keep a pictorial history of the class. If you have any photo's that you would like to include just let us know. We definitely want a photo of your faces as you recieve your call!

Please feel free to add to this Blog and share it with your friends.

Love your friends and Mission Prep Class Advisors,

Nathan and Samantha Biddle