It's Raining, It's Pouring...

G'day!

Hi everyone! Hope you are all well. Things over here are splendid except for the weather. It is officially winter now and it is windy and wet. Which means every day we are soaked from head to toe but there is not that much we can do about it since we are on bikes. While I type this it is pouring right now and you can hear the rain crashing against the windows of the library. Hopefully we will get a teaching space in the City soon because there is no way we can teach in the parks anymore.

bike accident

This week was a pretty good week, despite the fact my companion sprained her ankle! She had a bike accident. We didn't even leave our street we live on and she crashed, hit her head against a parked car then fell to the ground with the bike on top of her. Of course I ran to the rescue like the hero I am, haha just kidding. But I did help her up and we needed to call the Sisters to pick us up because she couldn't walk without me supporting her, so we spent all Friday in the flat with her ankle elevated. She is doing a bit better now but still limping. I have given her the nick name "Sister Limpy" or "Sister Gimpy". She still loves me, haha.

  

On Pday I dragged my companion to the South Australian Museum which was so cool! It was awesome to see some of the Aboriginal history here in Australia. I see some similarities between them and the Native Americans.  In the end she thought it was all very interesting.

critters

art

I really enjoyed skyping my family for Mothers Day as well. It is the last time I get to Skype.. Scary.

We received transfer calls last night and Sister Siale and I are remaining, which I am really happy about. She finishes her mission in 30 days because she extended her mission. So I have no idea what will happen to me the last week of the transfer because I will have no companion.

This week we had a special lesson with an investigator who is really struggling personally with depression and things and wants to get better but doesn't have the motivation to do anything. We told her that Christ can heal anything but she has to open her heart and let Him in. Just like that picture of Jesus Christ knocking on the door with no handle. We need to open the door, he won't force Himself in. We also told her that she needs to do her part, she cannot sit back, not pray, not read the scriptures, not come to church and expect things to change.

So we asked,

"Emily (name changed for privacy), do you want the peace and joy that comes from the gospel of Jesus Christ?"

"Yes I do!"

"Then you need to decide today to change. Start now, pray every night, read the Book of Mormon and come to church tomorrow. Otherwise things will stay the same." She nods like she is understanding. "Then lets start today, today is a new day, a new beginning for you, the start of a happier more meaningful life!" She was so excited and promised to do everything we asked. She did, and told us all about it the next day at church with a huge smile.

We can do all things, through Christ, who strengthens us.

contacting

Love you,

Sister Coultrup
--

Sister Bethany Victoria Coultrup

Australia Adelaide Mission

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Candy gets Baptized

G'day everyone!

Soz about the short email last week. So many things were happening. It has calmed down a bit now. This past week has been really busy, with lots of success. We had a baptism! Candice (Candy) got baptized. She is wonderful. She wanted to completely renew her life so she got a haircut as well, haha. Bless her heart. It was a great service, Candy asked me to give a talk. So I talked about Baptism. It went well and also Sister Siale and I sang Brightly Beams Our Fathers Mercy. Sister Siale has a beautiful voice so I am pretty sure I sounded like a frog next to her but that is okay. President and Sister Parker came to the baptism as well. Along with Candy one of the Elder Companionships also had a baptism. David, he is chinese as well, I have had the chance to talk to him a few times when I see him in the City or at church. After the baptism service he came up, shook my hand, and tried to HUG me right in front of Sister Parker! Haha, I was like, "Oh no no no, sorry I cannot hug you!" and he looked so sad and offended and asked why! I felt terrible and just explained how it is not allowed since I am a missionary. Sister Parker was laughing and said she wished she had gotten it on film. He turned around and hugged an Elder instead.

This past week we found 7 new investigators. Which is great. We are not allowed to teach in the library anymore due to complications so we have to teach in the gardens around the City. One evening we went to teach a new investigator and it started RAINING! Our investigator was told us we can just have the lesson another time. I said, "No, if we say a prayer the rain will go away." As soon as we started praying, the rain stopped.

It rained a lot this week, on our way home one night on bikes it was pouring down and so we had to pull over and find shelter. It is not safe biking along main roads, in the dark and the rain, so we had to wait it out so we could get home. It is also raining all today :(

Yesterday was Specialized Training for the City Zone. We are the only Sisters in the Zone. (Ps the zone is also our district, it is quite small). We had the APs and President and Sister Parker come and provide us with a training. It was focused a lot on roleplays and perfecting our teaching. I prayed beforehand for some information on how I can improve myself as a missionary in anyway and I got my answer!

This weekend is Mother's Day and I am looking forward to skyping my family. That evening I will also find out about transfers too, so next Monday you will find out the deets.

Love you all heaps!

Ps. The last picture of three Chinese and myself is Candy, David and Mark(at the bottom), 3 recent converts.

--

Sister Bethany Victoria Coultrup

Australia Adelaide Mission

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Emergency Transfer

Hello Everyone,

Bethany didn't have much time to write this week, so her mother (me) will be writing her blog.

Three weeks into her new area a shock came one night when she and her companion were informed that Sister Taufa was to be emergency transfered to Golden Grove the next morning.  Sister Siale from Golden Grove would be moving to the city to take her place.  They were all more than a little upset and emotional as the work was going great and Bethany and Sister T had become fast friends.  Bethany was also very nervous about taking over the area after only 3 weeks and not knowing it very well yet, and she doesn't know anyone in the Ward yet.  However, duty calls.

The reason for the transfer is that Sister Siale had a stalker.  The office had to find a new flat for the sisters in the Golden Grove area and get Sister S out of there quickly.  That's all I know about the stalker situation.  Bethany says the first couple of days were hard but a week later they are adjusting to the situation and she gets along well with Sister Siale.

Personally, I think she will be just fine. She's pretty resilient.  Get the map out and find and teach, find and teach...

ANZAC Australian Remembrance Day

New Companion

My District

Jedi's are Just Missionaries in a Galaxy Far, Far Away

G'day Howyagoing?

So it has been a good couple of days.

We have done mainly a lot of contacting and door knocking. Yesterday evening we spent hours in our suburbs which we haven't done because we are always in the city. We door knocked into this guy and he said:

"Sorry I am watching a movie."

"Oh cool, what movie?" I asked.

"Star Wars."

"THE NEW ONE?!"

"Yes."

"I love Star Wars, I am so jealous!"

"Yeah, maybe I should believe in Jedi's instead of Jesus." *Door slams*

supplies

We also were walking down the street in the city contacting and some high school girls that have obviously seen the Book of Mormon musical started singing one of the songs, "Yes I believe in God the Father..." as loud as they could to bother us and get our attention. The mission is definitely teaching me patience and humility. Sister Taufa is really funny because she gets frustrated and when we approach people and they just say, "NO" and nothing else. She says, "No to what? Be specific. What are you saying no to?" I have to turn away and try not to laugh.

  

For good news our investigator Candy is really set on her baptism. She was telling everyone at Stake Conference yesterday that she will be baptized in two weeks. We are so excited for her.

On Wednesday this week Sister Taufa and I will be giving a training in district meeting. We prayed a lot about it in the temple and were able to receive the same revelation. We received UNITY. So that is what we are focusing on in our training. I am pretty nervous because I haven't given a training before and it is also infront of 3 of the Assistants and the Zone Leaders as well. But I FEAR NO MAN!

You're a Mormon aren't you?

We also attended a baptism for the Sisters that live in the same flat as us. Their investigator got baptized and we got to go and bring some of our investigators. It was beautiful, as baptisms always are. Their investigator bore her testimony and told her journey. She is in her 50s and talks about how she remembers the missionaries coming over to their house once in the 70s and saying a prayer. She said she remembers how that prayer "really worked" and she has never forgotten it. It confirmed to me that the work I am doing now will continue to impact many generations down the line and continue on for years. Even if people may not be jumping into the waters now, so to say, they may be touched and will enter in by the way later on.

I am so grateful for this blessing of serving my savior with all that I have and all that I am. I am grateful for missionaries as well because if it wasn't for them I would not be here today.

Lots of love,

Sister Coultrup

--

Sister Bethany Victoria Coultrup

Australia Adelaide Mission

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

City of Colour

G'day!

It is autumn and all the leaves are changing and falling, it is so beautiful here! The mornings are starting to get chillier as well, which you would be surprised to hear since it is Australia. But South Australia is actually the coldest state I have heard.

Autumn in Australia

This week has been really great. We got to see General Conference. I loved it! We had a few investigators come as well. I loved to hear from Thomas S. Monson, our Prophet, even though it was short. I love Alice in Wonderland, it is one of my favourite books and children's stories. I love how he related Alice's conversation with the Cheshire (Did anyone notice President Monson said Chinese?) Cat to our lives as members. Unlike Alice we know where we are going and we know which path we have to take. I also loved Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's talk about fearing tomorrow. That really hit home for me as I feel like those children running away from the tomorrow dinosaur in that picture. A scripture just came to mind: "Therefore, let the morrow take thought for the things of itself." - D&C 84:84. I tend to worry to much for the future, (like what to do after the mission) but I just need to trust in the Lord and worry not because He has everything under control. Life is but a weaving.

 

Nightime contacting

We had a little miracle this week. While walking around talking to people on North Terrace by the library we found this lady from South America. After a bit of talking to her she said, "You know I am actually baptized into your church." She went on to explain how she got baptized for her Mormon boyfriend about 6 years ago, since then they have broken up and she had moved to Australia by herself. She told us we have perfect timing, but wouldn't tell us why. We just told her the Lord knows HER perfectly and we are just His servants. She will come to church this Sunday for the first time in years.

My district

No, I don't think I'd rather be anywhere else

Today we went to the temple, which is why I am emailing on a Thursday and not a Monday. The temple was gorgeous and spiritually uplifting as always. I will include some pictures of the temple today with some of the new district I am in.

Love you all so much. I hope you have a wonderful weekend :)

 Love,

Sister Coultrup.

Sister Bethany Victoria Coultrup

Australia Adelaide Mission

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

The City Never Sleeps

On Mon, Apr 4, 2016 at 12:55 PM, Bethany Coultrup <bethany.coultrup@myldsmail.net> wrote:

G'day!

Hope everyone is well! I am exhausted!! I was thinking of the song "The City" by Ed Sheeran and changed the words a bit. There is no time for breaks with City Missionaries there is so much to do we barely get time to eat. We skip lunch a lot and dinner now and then too. The bikes are really hard, I feel like I say that every week, must mean I am really out of shape. But it is getting easier, so that must mean I am getting stronger! Sister Taufa is a biking machine!

  

Some more info about my new area: I am in Prospect ward, it has about 160 active members. It is very diverse in culture, lots of Chinese (which are pretty much all recent converts). There are 16 missionaries in the ward (8 sets). I have never heard of a ward having that many missionaries before. I was shocked. It is a really great area. I am loving the City. The City area basically means we are always downtown, we proselyte all around the universities and around the big business buildings, just like Calgary. Adelaide is very similar to Calgary.

Wish we had a library like this in Calgary

 This Sunday one of the Elders had a baptism of a Chinese man. He told a really cool story. He went to the USA about a year ago and had no idea where he was, all he knew was where he needed to go. He was walking around aimlessly completely lost. Until a man pulled over and told him to get in the car and he can trust him. He got in the car and the man said he would take him where ever he needed to go. The Chinese man was very grateful and asked how he could repay him. The driver said, "You don't need to pay me anything. Just remember that I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints." He remembered and got baptized this Sunday.

The Sistas

I do not have that much time left. I will talk more next week and I don't think I can send pictures this week either because these library computers don't work well.

Hope you all have a great week. I love you!

Sister Coultrup