Elder Caden Kapp: Birthday in Maningrida

Hi everyone! What a roller-coaster of a week. It started with us having an amazing lesson with Derek and Mavis, and then the next day their family kicked them out, so they moved back to community. We'll see if we can teach them over the phone. Then Elwin and Polly got back but they moved to Darwin, so sadly we won't be teaching them. But enough of the frustrating things.

This week we made a proposal to go out to an Aboriginal community called Maningrida. They have about 50 members and President wants us to strengthen the members and support them. And we have heaps of friends we teach over the phone. We put the date for two weeks but the office couples misunderstood and got our plane tickets for Thursday to Monday. So we quickly got permits to go on Aboriginal land and packed.

Before Maningrida we had MLC Wednesday. Northern Territory had to zoom which was ok. Would definitely prefer to be in person but we work with what we got. But it pays off because of Maningrida!

Our flight was Thursday morning, so we got dropped off at Darwin airport and we got on our bush plane. We made a stop at Elcho Island and then flew to Maningrida. We stay at a lodge that provides breakfast, lunch and dinner. The food was pretty good. We went out the first day to visit Tommy, Michelle, Pansy, grandpa Jackie and then Lyle and Mia. So they are family and the super strong members (except for grandpa Jackie, but I'll make sure he gets baptized soon:)). Lyle is the unofficial group leader and then Tommy is the other Melchizedek priesthood holder with Lyle. This trip we were focused on getting the members focused on church. So that's what we did as we went out.

We went one morning fishing with Lyle and Ben. They speared a stingray and a crab. We went back to the lodge for lunch and next thing we know they're pulling up in a car with a pot. They saved us some stingray to try. It was pretty good. On Friday we were able to visit Ezekiel and his family. They're doing pretty good. Their dad is bringing up a bunch of anti questions to them so we spent a while clearing those. After that we visited this family who aren't members but came to church with Lyle a little while back. The parents are Sam and Carissa and they are all super keen. We then visited heaps of members like Barnabus, Carol, Matilda, Latisha and her family and so many others.

A couple of friend visits I was stoked for were our friends Patricia and Ziggy, then Beth Stewart, and also Sharona. We were able to watch the zoom for church in the morning with Patricia and Ziggy. They absolutely loved it. Then we were able to have a couple of lessons with Beth. She is doing amazing. She loved watching church and our messages. She is very humble and really wanting Jesus to help her life. Then Sharona is the daughter of Dennis back in Palmerston. We had a message with her and her partner. She's doing good and she has a pet pig. So that was cool.

So, every other week here they have a shipment of alcohol get delivered Saturday. So, Saturday and Sunday are drinking days. What's nice is the whole shipment of alcohol is gone by Sunday. A lot of people hate these days. While we were leaving for a movie night some people at the lodge didn't want us to go because it was unsafe. But everyone here knows the missionaries and would never mess with us. So, all was good.

Sunday we had Sacrament at Tommy's house. We had 17 there in person. Carissa, Sam and their family came and then also came to movie night. It was a very special sacrament meeting. Seeing Lyle and Tommy bless and pass was just amazing. The saints here are like none other. There is no greater faith out there. They are truly blessed and prepared. Another amazing experience was being part of a blessing that Tommy gave to his wife Michelle. He did the start in English but the blessing part in their language. We couldn't understand the words but the spirit was so strong. It was so amazing. Maningrida is such an amazing and special place.

A spiritual thought comes from the talk by Elder Donald L. Hailstorm titled: "I Am a Child of God." The part I liked was, "A correct understanding of our Heavenly heritage is essential to exaltation." Knowing we are a son or daughter of. Heavenly Father is one of the most important truths for us. It's been one of my favorite things as a missionary is to share that with people.

Well today our flight is in the evening, so we've been at Tommy's with his family just sitting and sharing stories. This morning Lyle wanted to say goodbye, so we went to his place and walked to his work with him and talked a bit. What a perfect way to end a trip to Maningrida.

Well I love you all and I'm so happy to spend my birthday in Maningrida. It'll definitely be one I'll never forget. Well, I'll talk to you all next week!