Feb 20, 2011

Aloha everybody! So a lot of fun things and exciting news this week! First off, just like that the Lord has given me another big calling and a challenge! As you saw in the heading! I think the family already has heard because the President called them. But he needed to find out exactly how obedient and trustful I am because I'm going to be all alone soon! So our mission covers all of the North Island of New Zealand, and a random island 1400 miles away close to Tonga and those Pacific islands.  It's a tiny spec of land and every once in a while they'll send two random missionaries there.  Out of the 200 something missionaries in our mission somehow I was lucky and blessed enough to get this call. President called me earlier this week and just started asking questions about my worthiness and how obedient I am.  He's like, “alright cause I'm going to need to know I can trust you, I won't be hearing from you for 6 months” I was like “what?!” He tells me you're going to Niue! Not only is this very rare but I feel it was very inspired. 

Growing up I always had the vision that I would serve among people like that on a small island and I kid you not! I just started crying when I heard the news.  I've never been more excited for anything in my entire life!! Not only is New Zealand amazing but to get to have an opportunity like this.. It will change everything about my life. It's still going to be hard to though.. New Zealand has come to feel like home, and now I'm leaving that too.  Background from what I've heard of Niue! Don't know much maybe you guys could tell me more.  But a couple months ago they ran out of toilet paper haha.  The van the missionaries use is one of the only vehicles on the island so people are always interested. (I get to be the designated driver by the way haha.) Only a tiny airplane will land there once every couple weeks and everyone goes to watch it.

 I'll have to learn Niuean as I go! So I do get a language! haha :) I hear they're wonderful people but it's hard to baptize there, so I may not be seeing the success that I've been able to here.  Doesn't mean anything though! I'll just go out there with the same mindset of saving souls!  There’s not much people that live there, you apparently end up getting to know everyone.  Do lots of service and you literally get to have a mission like the "other side of heaven!" haha except the island's smaller than Tonga!  It's really sad though because a lot of the missionaries I've come really close to or even President and his wife will be gone when I get back... It will be a whole different mission.  By the way we found out our new President this week! They'll be coming in July! So a lot of that will be really hard.. But I'm so excited.. Right away I got a confirmation from the Lord that this was right.. That the Lord needs me there for a reason.. I can't wait to go and be a representative of Jesus Christ on that island.. It's going to be so exciting.  My comp is going to be Elder Losalu, he's a Tongan that came in with me.  Apparently the language is really similar to Tongan so they always have a Tongan and a palangi (white person) that go.  I'll definitely be the only white person there! haha Kolipoki! haha :) It's sad I'm leaving this area so fast.  Just got here now I'll be going.  We finally have gotten the area rolling again and I'll be taking off! So that's kind of hard! It's going to be a whole new world there.  This will definitely be the furthest away from home I've ever been.. News with this area, our baptism we were going to have this week is being pushed back 2 weeks.. So I may not see one in this area.  At the end of last year we baptized weekly! But the first 2 months of my "full year" on the mission we've had nothing.. But I know my efforts haven't been in vain.  Though I don't get to see the fruit of my labors I'm satisfied and comforted with my efforts.  I truly have been giving my all, I feel I have been serving with "no regrets".  So maybe this is my miracle and my blessing from my labors is preparing me for a new adventure on Niue..:) It's hard to not get excited or think about it! Trying my best to focus!!!  I love you all and I thank you for the support!!! :) It's amazing to see the blessings and miracles back home!! I love you so much!!!

Elder Devey

Happy Valentines Day

What better way to spend the day than spreading the Lord's love to all?! So it's all good! :) Hope everyone had a wonderful week this week and hope that dad had an incredible birthday and Heather had a great one as well a little earlier!! I miss and love you all! And especially on this Valentine's Day I spread my love to you all back home!!

This last week was a good one! I feel confident with our area again.  We've been able to keep it rolling and get it back on track.  This last week we were able to set a few for baptisms, so some will be coming up here.  None for this upcoming week though.  The one we had for this week fell through on us he just disappeared! But we have solid ones coming up so that's exciting!  This last week we had heaps of tradeoffs.  We had a 2 and a half day one with our DL because he lives so far away.  Than the next day we had one with our zone leaders.  It was so funny, poor Espino was absolutely terrified to run the area! That literally feels like just yesterday when I was like that! It basically was!  Things have been going great.  We've been working hard each and every day.  We've been able to have a lot of success which has been wonderful.  The Lord has truly been providing for us.  It's amazing how he really does take care of everything.  If you but have faith and say your prayers and go to work he really will take care of the rest.  If we're obedient to God’s commandments and work hard and seek the kingdom of God all else truly will be added unto us.  We've been able to have a high number of lessons and as well investigators to sacrament meeting.  We need to just finish up and get them baptized! So this week we're going to just go nuts and literally declare repentance and baptism to everyone!  This week we're going to try our best to invite and commit all our investigators to baptism.  It's going to be so much fun! I'm excited! :) Nothing better than serving the Lord!!

Having this new calling has been a wonderful experience. Espino's great! It's been a lot of fun!! Some really funny experiences! It helps me to realize how much I've truly been able to change on my mission.  Seeing someone who just came out of the world and his testimony makes me realize how this experience really does change your life.  I used to be just like him, and now I don't even remember those days even though it was about 6 months ago! I can't believe how fast the time has gone!!! I'm already 1/4 done!! :( to fast!!!!! It's kind of scary... Of course I'd be excited to come back home!

It's so amazing here. And being this close to the Lord constantly is something I want for the rest of my life.  I've been able to grow a lot.  When we stretch ourselves is when we truly grow.  If we continue doing everything we've always done, we'll get what we've always got.  So we got to stretch, go outside our comfort zone and that's when the growing and progression takes place.  We need to continuously be looking to the next step that will get us closer to Christ and how we're going to do it.  If we're not moving we won't ever change, things won't get better! I've learned that a lot with this whole experience.  I was forced outside of my comfort zone and I've grown so much its incredible.  I feel like a completely new man.  The Lord is shaping and molding me to who he wants me to become.  All we have to be is willing and allow this change to take place and trust in the Master's hands.  These concepts have helped me so much to accelerate my growth, strengthen my testimony, and draw closer to Christ.  And it applies in all aspects of life.  So if you want something new or want to grow have faith and go for it! Act! Do something new work for it the Lord will provide!  I've definitely learned that trials make us grow so much as well.  They do of course seem hard at first or even unbearable, but in the end it is all for our own good. We're down here to grow, progress, and prepare to return back.  How are we going to grow if we don't experience hardship? There must be an opposition in all things.  That way we truly can become like our Father in Heaven!  So I've truly been grateful for the experiences and trials the Lord has put before me, it has helped me in so many ways.. All I can say is keep them coming!! I want to be the best instrument in the Lord's hands I can possibly be! So I'm excited for trials! :) Anyways hopefully these lessons I've learned will be of benefit to some of you as well! Hope you all have an incredible week!! My prayers are with you all! I miss and love you all!!! :)

Feb 6, 2011

Kia Ora once again from the land of Aotearoa! :) I hope you all had a wonderful week!! Not much happened this week! Just the first week of the new transfer and the fun circumstances in which I get to serve in! I'm definitely blessed to be here in the part of the Lord's vineyard! This week we worked very hard! Poor Espino is not used to this torture! Haha I just went hard out all week! The second I'd hit my pillow I'd be gone.  I've never worked so hard in my entire life and I absolutely love it.  It's just so rewarding.

This week we were able to work with the members a lot.  Great ward! I feel like we're picking up the area decently and carrying on where the last missionaries left off.  We had lots of lessons this last week and caught up a lot.  It's finally not feeling so stressful! Still so much work to do But I'm feeling really good about everything.  I feel like I'm doing all I can at this point.  I've never been so consecrated to anything in my entire life.  I have such a passion and desire as of late.  Just been doing all I can for the Lord and I've never been happier... I hope all of you back home are keeping your chins up and working hard as well. The Lord is always there for you and he knows what you have been through.  Alma 7:11-12.  He went through all of that so that he could know how to 'succor' you individually.  He knows how to comfort you he knows how you feel.  So if you turn to him, he will always be there for you, he keeps his promises!! I love hearing from you all! Thank you for your prayers and support!! :)  I pray for you all and wish you the best! :)  Have a wonderful week everybody!!! And shout out to Big Pop!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!!!!!!!!! :) He deserves it!! Everyone give him a big hug and kiss for me!

 Love you all!!!! :)

Hey everybody!!! :)

 Well from last week I'm a completely different person! haha Glad things are going good with everyone! And those whose trials are seeming harder and harder of late just think of the promise in Ether 12 verse 6 and 12.  Remember that the miracles come 'After" the trial of our faith.  Keep that in mind! Everything is for our own good and benefit! The Supreme Creator of all knows what he's doing and trust me with that! :) Well it's good to be back here talking to you all again!! I've missed you all very much!! So this week has been one of the craziest but most beneficial times of my mission thus far! So I'll start from last Monday!

So last monday when we went to go get our convert, the man, Eddie to cut our hair Baraniko got back on the bike! yay! The first time of the transfer! We walked that whole transfer and there were definantly many trials! I learned so much how to serve others and have charity, Bman definantely had to learn to be humble with two broken arms! haha Crazy experience but it definantly happened for a reason!  I love elder Baraniko so much.. From the "island in the sun" Kiribati! So that was good to see him back and ready to go hard.  And that's exactly what we did our last week together! We just went crazy! Literally declaring repentance and baptism to everyone! But than we got transfer calls the day before transfers.. And originally i was to go down to the southern most part in our mission called Tekawiti in South Hamilton in a 3some! I wasn't all that excited about it and it just didn't feel right.. I wanted to stay in rough South Auckland.  I loved it there so much.  The people were so humble and loving.  And if you gave your all there you honestly could be baptizing weekly! Me and Baraniko saw that together! With the few months we were together we were able to see 7 souls saved and beginning their sojourn home.. I would be happy to serve in that area the rest of my mission I loved it there.. Except they feed you way too much!! But it was such an amazing area.  I've learned so much from my experiences and journey there.  Who I am today is a lot because of everything I learned there.  So I packed away my things.  Said last goodbyes to some of the people in the area and our sets.  And said the hardest goodbye with Eddie and his family.  I love that family so much and grew so close to them it was really hard.. They were crying and stuff and so was like the young girls it was really sad! I was surprised with how close we all really became!! I'm definantely going to miss them.. In the morning about to leave to transfers our zone leaders came and picked us up and literally 5 minutes before we left the flat we got a call and it was President.  So I talked to him.  And he's like Elder Devey what did they tell you about transfers?! I told him what I heard.  He's like that's false doctrine my friend, the Lord has something bigger in store for you.. So I got a little nervous not gonna lie! He's like first off you're gonna be Senior companion.  I already was like whoa that's fast! I've only been out 5 months! I just got out of my diapers how am I gonna be senior companion!? Than he's like you're gonna be double shifted into an area, or where we're both new to the area! I was like oh my! Than he said last and not least youre training!! I was just stunned! haha He was just laughing on the phone! He told me how he has a plan for me and I need to start accelerating quick.  Trainers in this mission don't usually train until they're about over a year! And I just told him how I'm ready and i will NOT let him or my lord down!! So change of plans we're going to Tauranga! Which is a beautiful area! :) So we went to transfers and heaps of missionaries at transfers heard the news about how basically  a greenie is training and getting double shifted so everyone was just excited! haha Atkin definantely was proud! He's training someone again, he's trained 4 i think.  And me his most recent brought him his first grandchild! haha it was funny he was just beaming with pride!  My new comp's name is Elder Espino and he's from gold coast Australia.  He's a good humble missionary.  Really tall and has lots of questions! When they had the new missionaries announce to everyone who their trainer was president turned to me and was like what are you doing?! haha :) So we're definantly excited! Things got funner too! When we got to our area the last missionaries thought that they were closing the area so they took all the food the area book all the info EVERYTHING out! So we got there had no food and had no clue who the people they've been teaching were! So I was like well lets just go out there and find and talk to everybody! Later the Sister missionaries brought a map and the old area book over so that helped.  But we had to go buy some essentials so we could survive.  Only a few sisters are semi close to us.  We're pretty far away from everyone. But it's a beautiful city here! Bays on both sides and Mt. Manganui, it's absolutely stunning here.  The drive over was incredible it looked just like Lord of the Rings! So now i finally know what everyone's talking about when they say how beautiful New Zealand is.  I didn't know cause I've been in south auckland the whole time basically! :) But I can testify to you all.. No matter how hard life gets or how difficult something may seem.. If you just have faith and trust in the Lord and his saving grace and in Jesus Christ and how he's already gone through it all.. Heavenly Father WILL raise you up to accomplish the thing in which is before you.. Just like in classic 1 nephi 3:7.  He prepares a way for us all to accomplish the things he's given us.. And I've seen that first hand.. I'm now doing things I never thought I could do.. I'm now being more bold and courageous than I ever have been.. I'm now working harder than I ever have in my life.. And it's not stressful.. I feel at peace and comforted.. The Lord is there for me and he's helping me every step of the way.. He really is carrying me.. Never have fear, just know the Lord will take care of everything.  Do the best you can and after that "trial of our faith" he'll do the rest.. one of my favorite scriptures Joshua 1:9 paints it perfectly! Know that I love you all and that if things are hard in your life just think of the Savior Jesus Christ.. That's what has been getting me through my trials.. Remember he's already paid the price, he knows how you feel.. And I know that with all my heart.. I love you all have a wonderful week!!!!! :) may God be with you til we meet again!!! :)

Jan 23, 2011

Hey everybody!!!! :) I'm sooo excited to talk to ya'll once again!! I can definitely say my heart is full this week!! It was a really good week!! :) I loved hearing from you all last week! Once again thank you for the support and the love and prayers! You all help me so much in ways you couldn't even imagine! So thank you!! I'm glad everyone's doing good! Hope it continues to be that way! My prayers are always with you all!! As I have been able to see the Lord truly does watch over those families of missionaries who are serving.. Sounds like everyone I love is just getting blessings poured down upon them! So I'll just work harder for you all!! ;)

My testimony this week has grown immensely.. Maybe one of the quickest and greatest growths of the mission thus far.  Not only does every day build your faith in Christ and strengthen your love for him and his incredible sacrifice.  But this week it just took leaps and bounds my friends! :)  So I'll start off with one of the single moments that I truly received revelation from the Lord.. And it was through one of the mouths of his beloved apostles, David A. Bednar.  One of my favs! So like I said last week he came this week!! We had a conference and it was just the missionaries in the city areas so I was very blessed and fortunate to be able to go! Feel bad for Elder Atkin and others that missed out! Haha Anyways so we had a usual mission conference with our mission president and his wife and all that good stuff! So Gordon B. Hinckley awhile back implored the world that "with concentrated effort we can double our baptisms." That's just what this mission did. What a miracle that is. To answer a prophet's call and to give it their all and actually double their baptisms! That's HUGE!! So to double the mission needed 1600.  We got 1730ish around there. I was just so blessed to be able to come in at the end of that success and effort.  But this year they're even raising the bar even higher as always.  Going from multiple souls a month now it's weekly!! So that's what's going on with this mission! And this 2011 will be my one full year in the field so it's going to be fun!!! :) Can't wait to just give it all I've got!!

The mission conference was amazing with Elder Bednar.  At the end Bednar came with a couple quorum of the seventies members. As he walked right by us you could just feel the spirit of the Lord. He then told us all we'd be receiving revelation this day. It's not a mission conference it's a revelatory experience.  How exciting does that sound! My heart was just pumping! So he didn't teach us anything, which is amazing.  He allowed the spirit to do it all just by asking us inspired questions.  So in preparation he had us read some talks he did previous about faith.  And after he outlined how we were going to do this he asked does anyone have something they want to share that they learned from reading and studying those talks.  My hand shot up. No one else’s did. I wasn't even ready for that; I had no clue what I was going to say!! It honestly just shot up by itself! He says Elder! Stand up! So I did, my hands were shaking a bit not going to lie! He's an apostle of the Lord and he was going to use me as his first victim! So I told him what I learned and what I enjoyed.  About in Alma where it talks about how we as missionaries take the message and the spirit unto the hearts of the lord's children.  Not into! That depends on their faith.  But I just discussed that with him for a second and then he just simply asked may i ask you a question?  (Letting me act and learn by faith) I was like of course!! So he asked me a question, i answered.  Than he asked another question.  This was all in front of tons of missionaries and it was frightening not going to lie but a lot of fun!! And in that single moment with his inspired questions I learned a very valuable lesson about learning by faith.  It was amazing!! The whole experience with him was just incredible that day! Probably one of the best learning experiences I may ever have.  To have an apostle in that personal of a setting was just so humbling and amazing! That was defiantly one of my favorite things this week!! :)

This week something happened that was really hard as well.  Because transfers are coming up this Thursday and it's defiantly possible I'll be leaving this area.  Who knows of course! But we've been trying so hard for miracle baptisms at the end of this month and Lavinia, Eddie's sister's daughter who we always hang around with.  She's been to church heaps and her Nan, this mean old lady has finally softened her heart and has allowed us to teach her as well.  So we taught her and set her for baptism.  Than we came later to talk to the Nan again and give a spiritual message and proceed to talk to her about Lavinia's baptism.  This would have just been the cherry on top for Eddie and his family! They would all be members!  This is one of the powerful moments on this mission that I have felt what charity feels like..  The mom refused.  And as the mom was talking I just looked at Luv and she looked so sad.  She's only 13 but this is her salvation! This lady doesn't understand!! I did all I could with the Lord's help to try to penetrate this hard heart.  But it came to nothing. She wouldn't budge. As I looked at Luv I just felt it tear at my heart. Since the day I've been here I've given everything to this family and the Lord has wrought such a powerful change on them all. Seen so many miracles with Eddie, Pa, Deija, Casarni, but we were stolen Lavinia's eternal progression. I can't tell you how bad this hurt.  I truly love this family like part of my own. I've been honored to share the gospel with them.  Before we left we sang some songs and I offered a prayer with the entire family which is the first time we've done that with them all and especially the Nan.  And I just broke down.. I felt like I gave my all for them and felt like this may be the last time I'd have a moment like this with them all and I just couldn't hold it together.  I truly felt that pure love from God.  I've really come to love the people here so much. But Eddie and his family are very special.  They've been the fruit of our efforts!! :) So that was a really hard experience but also I felt so close to the Lord.. But can't get discouraged! That's opposition to faith so must press on!! :) We're still praying for a miracle from there of course! 

A lady in our ward who has helped us out like no other and is such a sweet loving old lady had to go into the hospital this week for a heart surgery. We'd see her a lot and she'd have us over all the time.  How things are looking this may have been the last time we'd see her.. We had a really good talk with her, but it was so sad. Our prayers are defiantly with her, I know that the Lord will take care of everything.  We had training with a senior couple this week as well! That was really fun! Elder and Sister Brasheir.  I learned a lot from them it was great! 

Baraniko just has trial after trial I swear! Not only have we been walking this whole transfer because of his arms but now he's really sick and can barely talk!! There's always an opposition in all things!! Haha :) So ya this week was a great one!! Joy's been doing great! Her baptisms looking solid.  Jamaine and Disinda are looking good, we're looking to get them married and baptized soon as well! So things are going good! The Lord is so merciful, though I have many weaknesses and imperfections he is still providing for us and paving us the way and preparing his children for the message of the restored gospel!  This week had its up and downs!! But I figure rollercoasters are fun! So this is too!! Just as exciting and a huge adrenaline rush as well! This mission is honestly just the best thing that one can possibly be a part of! :) I've loved every moment of it all!! I'm so thankful for you all and your support and love!! I miss you all sooo much and wish you all the best!!!! :) Ofala Atu!! Arohanui!

With Love Elder Devey

Jan 17, 2011

I can't believe that it's January the 17th already! Feels like I just got my call yesterday! I can't believe how fast time goes here on the mission! It's unreal! Almost scary!! Well hello once again everybody!! :) Hope everyone had a wonderful week!! Mine was pretty good.  There were some big disappointments this week though.. But for the most part it all went great! I'm pretty down about our performance here in January.  We could have done so much better! The months not over yet so of course we're hoping for miracles! But so far projected for this month were not saving a soul. Not how I wanted to start out my one full year on the mission.  So I'm pretty disappointed with myself! A lot of repenting! Haha :) But it's all good! We pick up and keep moving forward! I know that with our faith the Lord will provide a way! But this week still brought forth many wonderful opportunities to serve! I got to be a part of some powerful blessings this week so that was incredible I saw blessings where some of the people truly had nowhere else to turn but to the lord.  So that was all a good experience and it built up my testimony a lot as well :)

We had one pretty funny situation.  So apparently this is one of the roughest parts of New Zealand.  And they have gangs and all that ridiculous stuff here.  Anyways one of our investigators Jamaine had a lot of problems apparently! He's actually set for baptism in February.  Great kid but he had this huge thing with gang violence and his older brother is some wanted criminal and guys came to his house and it's this whole story.  But Jamaine was gonna go to jail this week! Would have been an interesting drop on a set " Oh, he's in jail!" They were thinking like 8 years i guess so it was a pretty big deal what he did! But I guess he got bailed out and we went over there and saw he was still home! His crime they said was self-defense so he's good now.  So we're still teaching him but he's defiantly going to need the atonement in his life now.  So that was a pretty funny story, our set almost went to jail. haha We had some funny lessons this week.

  It was getting late one night and it was absolutely pouring.  So we said a prayer hoping we could get a walk in lesson somewhere.  All of the sudden this guy was yelling at us across the street to come inside.  So of course we did.  We got the answer to our prayer, kind of! They were just two completely drunk guys and we had a lesson with them.  It actually was really sad. Just seeing how some of the people in the world are living. Sharing with them and listening to these guys just made me realize even more how "literally" God wants us to save every SINGLE one of his children. He's not going to be satisfied until all his children return to home. I love this area though! This week made me realize it is a little rougher than I thought it was.  Still nothing to be worried about.  But the people here just need so much help.  So I'm willing to do all i can to keep the Lord's great and glorious work moving forward! It was a harder week than most. But still the most worthwhile thing I can possibly be doing.. I know the Lord needs me here now and I'll give every fiber of my being and every ounce of my heart to him and his children.. That's why I'm here!! I know without a shadow of a doubt that what I'm doing is truly the Lord's work.  This week and month I'm not going to lie had a lot of disappointments.. But all I can do is just become stronger and rise higher.  "You cannot lift another soul until you are standing on higher ground than he is.  You cannot light a fire in another soul unless it is burning in your own soul." So that's what I got to do.  Focus on my own testimony and faith and strive to strengthen it more and more each day.  Then I'll be able to benefit and uplift others.  So we all press on!! Ever Onward!  There wasn't much to report this week! Just here in Aotearoa giving my all to the Lord!  Hope everyone back home is doing well!! I miss and love you sooo much!!! :) Elder Devey

Aloha!!

Hey everybody!!! :)

 Kia Ora as always family and friends! I just know how excited you all are to get this email! I know it's the highlight of everyone's week! haha not really!! But it's good to be back talkin to you all again! I hope everyone had a wonderful week! And once again thank you for the support and the prayers from all of you! So this week was pretty good! We worked hard.  Paora has been coming out with us all the time lately, it's so funny.  He's kind of a scary fellowship but he's willing so of course we accept! The other day he was with us for like 8 hours, and we had two dinner appointments so we had him help carry the load with us! But he's the man! Lately the ward has just been awesome with helping us out because of Baraniko's accident.  Maybe it happened for a purpose so we could get this ward excited about missionary work again.  They haven't been too good in the past but now they're contributing so that's wonderful! This wednesday was just amazing! We got to have our interviews with President Porter.  It's always so uplifting and inspiring.  I got all those letters from everyone in the ward, so thank you all! It's great to hear from everyone back home.  President and I had a great conversation.  It made me realize his expectations of me and where he wants me to go in this mission field and this part of the Lord's vineyard.  I just hope the Lord can raise me to the levels that President wants me to go.  I know he will, but by myself I have so much weaknesses and imperfections I don't know how I can accomplish these goals.  But I'm excited to give it the best I've got.. He told me that from the moment he met me he knew I would do great things in this mission so he says he's got plans for me in leadership roles.  He wants me to train and get all the fundamentals down as fast as possible so I can become a big role in this mission.  But he said the second i let my head get big God's gonna kick me! haha I'm not saying these things to be prideful or anything I'm just trying to relay how our interview went but it probably sounds pretty over confident so I'm sorry!! haha but he said that he's sad he's gonna be leaving halfway through my mission.  But he said I should become a superstar.. He said that if he doesn't hear about me when he's back home in Colorado he's gonna fly back out here and beat me up! haha :) He has high expectations of me and I know that the Lord does as well.. I don't know what that is, but the Lord will show me.  I might not even get any roles in the mission field, it may just be my efforts as a servant of the Lord I don't know!! But it was a humbling experience, because I don't feel worthy at all to be spoken about like that! But I'll do whatever the Lord wants me to do! So we'll see what he has in store! I'm excited! Just gotta have the faith and do all I can now with what I've got so I can prepare for the future.  So that was a lot of fun to be able to talk to President and also his wife as well.  She was asking all about the family and especially the new additions that are gonna be coming in the family and who have just arrived.  She's such a funny lady! But my mission mom is nothing compared to my real mom!! :) haha brownie points!!  Oh ya we found out on a conference call with our Zone Leaders that David A. Bednar is going to be coming soon and only the missionaries in Auckland area get to go!  How amazing is that gonna be?! He's already one of my favorites and he's gonna be with us in a personal setting training us!! I'm just absolutely pumped!! :) I'm tellin ya this truly is the best mission in the world!!!! Everyone is trying to raise to the next level with their faith and efforts so that we can answer President's call of baptizing weekly, or getting 4 a month.  That's where this mission is heading.  The new horizons are promising.  But it's gonna take so much hard work.  Baraniko and I have been doing that, we had 4 last month.  I've had 8 so far so we just gotta step up and keep rolling! The Lord has prepared these people.. I'm so blessed to be able to be out here and be serving here in New Zealand.  It truly is the promised land here in the Pacific.  So I'm just so excited for this year and being a part of the New Zealand Auckland Mission!  But Satan of course is trying to answer back to our efforts.. We've seen him intervening and using his tactics to withold our progress.  But we know whose strength is mightier and that's our Lord Almighty! So it's possible! Gotta just have that faith that it is and Go and Do! Just like Nephi!! If any trials seem to big or too difficult to overcome, there's one solution and that's faith..Have faith and trust in the Lord's hands and do everything in your power and he'll lift you and carry you the rest of the way.. And i know this will all my heart.. So I hope you all strive to have greater faith in your every day life and all the things your doing so you can overcome and be able to feel the Lord's peace and happiness he'll give us at the end of our "trial of faith".  The Lord is there.. I know this with every fiber in my being.. He loves you all and wants the best for you all!! So have faith and do what is right!! The Lord provides!! :) Like always I love and miss you all very very much!!!!!! I pray for you all constantly!! Have an amazing week!!!! :) I love you!!

With Love Elder Devey