Katherine, Fishing, Spears

Alright now email number two this week. So this week was pretty great. One of the highlights was going out bush in Katherine. Katherine is a couple hours south of us and we did an exchange there. I was with Elder Harper visiting one of their bush communities. We ran into a member there who was taken to the temple. It was amazing to talk with her and hear her story. Katherine is such a cool place and has great Elders there.

In our area we have a member Linda and her mob who we teach a couple times a week. They're doing well. They're a super keen family to listen. We also have Elwin and his mob, and their neighbor Barbra and her family. Elwin kept his promise and came to church this week and said he'd come this next week. 

Also huge miracle on Saturday. We went to visit some aboriginal members but they weren't there. But we taught a couple from the household and they also came to church. We went to wake them up in the morning but they were showered and at the gate waiting! Like what a miracle. 

Something fun, we were visiting our member Dennis and he was telling us of a gang war that happened the night before. Well when we went to leave there was a group with guys throwing broken metal poles at houses and what not. But they saw we were missionaries and respected us so that was cool.

Our member Agnes got out of hospital this week so we visited with her. She's trying to get healthy enough to fly to the temple. So keep her in your prayers.

Honestly we've only door knocked a total of 45 minutes since I've been in this area and it's super cool to be teaching so much. We'll just go to contact someone and end up teaching their whole family. Darwin has a very special place in my heart already.

Well that's all I got time to write. We've been fishing today. I've speared a bunch of crabs and a venomous snake. And I taught Elder Campbell to fish and he caught one. #proudcomp. 

Spiritual thought: “No matter how serious the trial, how deep the distress, how great the affliction, [God] will never desert us. He never has, and He never will. He cannot do it. It is not His character [to do so]."

Alright well I love you all and hope you have a great week!

Croc

District Lunches

Me, spear, snake

I'm a spear master

Cool tree in Katherine

Elder Harper

Caroline

Members? Maybe?

Almost got turned into Abinadi

I just wanna start by saying I love Darwin. It was such a great week. With that, I can also see why it took them so long to send sisters back to Darwin. But overall, this place is great. 

This was a very good week. A lot happened. First things first, Monday night. We had the Katherine Elders with us staying the night, and they wanted to see one of their new member families who's visiting Palmerston. All we knew is they were staying in Gray. Now Gray is a suburb with the nickname "sin city". It's a place where you don't visit at night. So what did we do, we walked around Gray at 8:00 at night looking for the members. We found them and had a great lesson. But after came a bunch of drunks. They just wanted a prayer and gave us sweaty hugs. So overall it was a good experience.

The next day we were in that area and while in our car one of the members from Katherine named Clay came to our window asking if we could share another message with his family. So we did, and then after played five minutes of Australian Football. After that we went to see one of our members named Dennis. We're trying to get him back to church. After that we went and saw Agnes who's a member. The senior couple was there helping her prepare for her patriarchal blessing. Then after that we went to a members house with the Darwin Elders. They were a Tongan family so that means good food. 

Other things this week, we had a great lesson with an Aboriginal family this week. We're seeing them again this week which I'm stoked about. We also had a great lesson with our friends Polly and Elwin. They were supposed to come to church but had family over. But we got a handshake promise they'll be there this next Sunday. 

Something amazing about the week was with our newer member Agnes. The Branch had one of Adelaide's Patriarchs fly out and was able to give Agnes her Patriarchal blessing. She asked my companion and I, and the senior couple to sit in on it. It was such a spirit filled event. I know that's a given but it was very special to be part of it. She has a lot of of health problems but she won't let anything stop her. She's our favorite mantanga.

Now the fun part. There's a town camp in our area that is really talked up. Let me say, it's the literal worst place I've been. Not to be rude or anything. But by 2 pm everyone is already not in the right mindset to say. So what did we do? We went around 7:30 at night. At first it was amazing. We sat around a fire talking to two people and it was great. But then drunks came. One of course approaching us with a shank. But we're missionaries so what's the worst that could happen? Answer: almost getting lit on fire! So the drunk dude's son took his shank and I got him to sit by me for a prayer. While praying, someone threw a ton of cardboard boxes on the fire. So while I was sitting there (against the fence) I was getting hot. I opened my eyes and see my legs about to catch fire. So me and another missionary moved but the drunk guy was too drunk. We literally had to pull him away. Long story short, we ain't going back.

Overall, it was a great week. I absolutely love the NT and love the work. It's now a week after my last email and I can say, I didn't win mini golf. So bummer, should’ve just written the email. 

Spiritual thought: "With all the energy of my soul, I invite all of us to learn, live, and love principles of righteousness. Only gospel truths can enable us to “cheerfully do all things that lie in our power” to press forward on the covenant path and to “see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed.”"

-Elder David A. Bednar

Alright I love you all! Have a great week!

-Elder Kapp

Member dinner

How many Elders do you see?

Driving to appointments

Up to Northern Territory

So, from the title of the email you might’ve guessed that I'm going to be serving in the Northern Territory. Well let me say, you're correct! I'll be serving in Palmerston as a zone leader in Darwin. I am very very excited. This is the area I wanted to serve in most. We get to go to Aboriginal communities, and get the true Crocodile Dundy sort of vibe. I'll be companions with Elder Campbell who I know well and get along with. I'm excited for this new experience and for everything the Lord has planned for me.

Okay now my week. So this was a pretty good week. We had an exchange in Whyalla which was great. I went with Elder Orr in Port Augusta. We were able to teach a lot and visit heaps of people. It was so good being back with Elder Orr. He's a super stellar missionary. It's crazy that I was with him almost a year ago. Love that Elder. 

Throughout the week we were just trying to teach and visit people like crazy. It was the last week of the transfer so we had to end on a high note. Then Thursday night was transfer calls. And Friday was mostly just packing. I went and said goodbye to Julie-Ann. She was a beast person to teach. I'm super excited to see what she does in the church. Then later we went and saw Ben Laing. He's such an amazing member with such a great testimony. Really gonna miss him.

Saturday was transfer day. So I was dropped off at the assistants flat and then went to the airport with two other Elders. There we met up with the four sisters going up and we hopped on the flight and were off. Let me say, I was so excited. It hit me hard while on the plane. Four hours later we landed and then my time in Darwin starts. Elder Campbell and the other Palmerston Elders picked me up. We dropped Elder Carling's stuff off at our flat (he flew up with me and stayed with us until his companion drove up to pick him up). Then we went and moved the other Palmerston missionaries. Now Sunday was so amazing. We had church for the Palmerston branch which was good. It seems like a pretty good branch, so I'm stoked. After that we went to Humpty Doo to give the sacrament to a new member. Pulled out some camp chairs, got a boat and did the sacrament on the dirt road. It was pretty sick. Then after that we saw one of our friends and then went to our mission coordination meeting. After that we had to film a video for the mission Facebook page. Then we called the Maningrida members and did sacrament over the phone. Seriously, it's the greatest place on Earth there. Prove me wrong. You can't. 

After that we just called a bunch of people and members. Then the Katherine Elders came in.

This week was pretty solid. I'm super excited for this next week. The zone is pretty lit, we played football today with the Zone and it was lit. 

Well family, love you all, have a great week, and I'll text you next week.

Julie-Ann

Moving Beds

Flight to Darwin

Darwin

Whyalla

Facebook Video

More Darwin

Nothing is Stopping the Work

So you know how last week was super awesome? Yes, well this week was good but not as awesome. But, still good, so we'll focus on the positive. For starters, I ran over a screw and got a flat. And turns out our car doesn't have the things needed to change the tire. So we had a call road side assistants and then have the sisters switch us cars because we wouldn't be able to drive to Kersbrook on a spare. Also we're finding people, but our teaching pool is shrinking. Like the math isn't adding up. But, the people we do have are super awesome so that's good.

To start the week we had a combined zone conference with all South Australia. It was mostly for missionaries to meet our new mission president and his wife. It was a very good meeting and their family is the best. We sat by their three sons at lunch and it was honestly awesome. It was good to connect with their family, it helps us as missionaries feel part of their family. Super excited to serve with them as the mission leaders. 

We had a couple of super stellar lessons with Julie-Ann this week. On Tuesday we went to the Bramford's house in Morialta and they had Sister Cowdrey over as well. It was a super great lesson and it was so good being back in Morialta. We also had a lesson Saturday with her which went very well. Her baptism should be Sunday, fingers cross that all goes well. 

Some others who are doing amazing is Ethan and Jeffery, the university students from China. We had an amazing lesson with them earlier in the week and then had another lesson with Ethan on Sunday. They said after they finish their exams they want to come to church and be baptized. So we're praying they pass and get done soon. 

This week we had some good visits in Kersbrook. We saw our friend David and our friend Leah. Both went well. Leah has a most adorable dog who is very playful. After that we door knocked a little and headed back to the city. Let me say, the drive is absolutely amazing. Lots of turns and has a fast speed limit, but it's such an amazing drive. 

With the member part of the work, probably the biggest miracle was getting a lesson with Ashley Blackmore. We worked a lot with the family the first time I was in the area, and this last week we sat down and had a lesson with him about the First Vision and the spirit was so strong. We were able to see his testimony and the light he has for the church. I'm very excited to see what happens in the future. Another great member visit was the Grangers. Some of their kids aren't baptized and we had such a great visit Sunday. Such a nice family and I'm excited to work with them and help see the importance of eternal families. Then after that we saw Ben Laing who is doing amazing. 

A lot happened this last week, just not a lot of growth in our teaching pool. Which is frustrating but also ok because it's not about numbers and I'm grateful for the people we do have to work with. 

Spiritual Thought:

Moses 1:4 "For my works are without end, and also my words, for they never cease." The poor people in the world who don't have a belief that God is still God. If God didn't speak today then he changed from his old self, and if God changes, he ceases to be God. So therefore God speaks today, and what a blessing it is. 

Here's to one more week in the transfer. Love you all, have a great week.

-Elder Kapp

President and Sister Standley

Flat Tire

Kersbrook Footy

Ethan and Jeffery

Some Missionaries

More Missionaries

Peppers, Baptisms, Cow

Okay let me say, this week was very good. There were a lot of miracles and so a lot of things to talk about. First things first, we had a baptism on Sunday and another one in two weeks. The baptism Sunday was probably one of the most spirit felt baptisms I attended. Our friend was prepared and had his eyes centered on Christ. For safety reasons we aren't aloud to talk about it too much or our friend who got baptized but it was amazing.

Then in two weeks our friend Julie-Ann is getting baptized. Her story is amazing! She's been taught by missionaries in other areas and kept not getting baptized. Well she moved into our area and the sisters started to teach her. While she came to church there was a comment said in sacrament in someone's talk which shouldn't have been said and it didn't sit right with her. We later in the second hour tried to clear it up with her. She then texted the sisters after she would look for the true church and stop attending ours. A cool fact about her, she's related to the Bramfords from my first area who I'm super close to. So I talked to Jayden and he said that side of the family was broken apart and he hasn't seen Julie-Ann in years. So we reached out to her and got a lesson set where we brought Jayden and his wife. And dang did the spirit work. Julie-Ann finally got the support she needed. She asked us about baptism again and we set a date, then later in the week I asked what happened when she said she was going to find a different church. She told us the second she said that, the spirit told her she already found it and to stop running. She said nothing will stop her from getting baptized. We are so excited for her and her future.

Okay, that was a lot, I apologize. But hey I said there was a lot this week. Another amazing thing this week was we had a lesson with our friend Ethan, who is one of the college students from China. He had exams coming up so we taught him how to pray. I don't think I've ever seen someone so excited to pray. We said a prayer with him before we left and after he just gave us the biggest hugs. He later told us he was nervous for his exam, but then he prayed and felt calm. God answers prayers! 

This week when we went to Kersbrook we had another lesson with our friend Justin. He's pretty cool. He had us come in because it was cold as heck. They had a real fire furnace which was cool and we talked with him about the Book of Mormon and the restoration. He asks amazing questions but his problem is history doesn't support the Book of Mormon. So I lay on him how it does but it won't matter about how much evidence he gets, he just needs to read it. So that's what we're helping him with. But again, he's the nicest guy and his family is super sweet. 

Something else that happened this week was President and Sister Johansson finished their mission. So Sunday we had a MLC meeting with the new ones. Let me tell you, they are absolutely amazing. They are super young and have a family of five kids. I'm very excited for the future of the mission. 

Some random things this week, on exchanges I ate a Carolina Reaper pepper. Let me say, it was probably one of the dumbest things I've done. It was a horrible experience that I'm glad is over. We also saw a cow while door knocking, that was a very fun surprise. Overall this week was really good. We had lessons throughout the week and were able to visit a good handful of members.

Spiritual Thought: "Lord, I Believe" by President Jeffrey R. Holland; "In moments of fear or doubt or troubling times, hold the ground you have already won, even if that ground is limited." It's so important to rely on our growth, our faith, to help us get through hard times. A lot of times we may think we lack, or don't know enough, but it's an important reminder that God takes the broken, and forms them into something great. 

Well my family and friends, I love you all and am grateful for you. I hope you all have such a great week!

Sunset

Cow

Kersbrook

The pepper got us

The main man himself