Broome

This week has been crazy! Broome is insane. It was 40° C in the shade the other day. I can smell alcohol all the time (unless I am smelling the baking trash bins) and my bike is horrible! Snap! My camera broke too - once and for all this time. It won't even turn on right because the lens is stuck open. Time for more camera sharing with Elder Ho! Elder Ho is the best. He is from Hong Kong and is Rebekah's size. His English is good, but so funny too. The way he words things is funny sometimes. I love the way he says "good morning" and "our Dear Heavenly Father" for prayer... perfectly Asian accent.

When I got here, I found the elder before me was not the tidiest. The flat was TRASHED. After I threw out all the junk, all we had for dinner was heaps of spices and some dry soup mix. Elder Ho was so surprised... he though we had straight nothing. I am getting good at eating from nothing. The next morning for breakfast I made oatmeal with sugar, cinnamon, honey, and condensed milk. All goods now though, we got some more food. Lots of chicken and rice for us... I'm getting good at that. Most of the time, I'm either sleeping eating or working here. It's not that I didn't work hard other places. I just have to eat and sleep that much more from the physical toll from the work here.

Recently, people are saying I look like the grandpa from Up as a little kid.... not sure if that is good or bad but at least it's better than the kid from Stuart Little.

Broome is cool because I feel like I've been here before. Crazy deja vu. The smell of the flat, the heat and level of humidity. I don't know what it is, but I feel almost at home here. Ha ha, I have felt so weird here too. Elder Ho is tiny and aboriginal people in general are short, so I have been feeling too big. I keep sitting down to talk to people because I feel weird being higher than everyone. A bunch of people have been surprised to find I'm American as well. People keep thinking I'm Australian from my accent. I don't know what's different, but I guess I'm integrated now.

The other night, we walked this drunk lady home. She was tripping out hard core. She kept yelling stuff out randomly and stopping to cry or kiss our hands. Her and another drunk lady got in a fight on the way and Elder Ho was trying to break it up. Also, this drunk guy asked Elder Ho if he was a good fighter. That was awkward because he is, but the answer "yes" would have been bad.

I found a cool scripture in studies as well this week. 2 Timothy 3:14-15 is Paul talking to Timothy. I often feel bad when we are talking to people because they will say stuff like I can't know the church is true because I have never known anything else and I'm too young to know anything or be a teacher. But, this scripture says that Timothy was blessed to know the scriptures in his youth and it strengthened his faith.

14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

I am so grateful to have this gospel.
I love you all so much!
Elder Jamison

Week 68

Yo,

Transfers today... I'm going to Broome. It's a small town way up north. I will be flying there on Wednesday. My comp will be Elder Ho from Hong Kong. I know him pretty well. He is cool. Way stoked, but a little nervous. Going into summer its gonna hit like 50°C there some days. I don't know if I can handle it. I might be there forever too. Elder Eti was there for five transfers. I only have six left. But I am mostly excited. It will be nice to be in a branch again. Be prepared for some good news 'cause we are gonna smash it.

This week has been rough. So much work but no success. But still miracles! Three members have bought our food for us this week - nine pizzas and eight ginger beers to feed our district twice! Man, so cool! Elder Nielsen from the First Quorum of the Seventy came to the mission. He gave a good talk about how the mission is to make us into what God wants us to be and he asked if we were letting Him do that. It put it into perspective for me, so I am done complaining and feeling sorry for myself. All these things are for my good and will make me a better son and priesthood holder.

We had a stake culture activity last week - so cool, but so lame too. The first ward was doing Filipino culture but they were pretty lame. The last dance they did was done by their Relief Society and it was legit though. Then, our ward went and did South American... guess how many South Americans are in our ward... a big fat zero. Anyways, it wasn't the worst thing ever. Then Joondalup Ward went and they were legit. They did Polynesian culture and did a ton of cool dances. Then, they taught all the white people a dumb haka and had them do it. I have a video I will try to send. If you don't know what a haka is - it is a dance they would do in New Zealand before going into battle to terrify their enemies. The words are supposed to show bravery and strength. The words in this one, though, just said what they were doing. Slappy, slappy, stompy stompy, throw out your hairy chest, etc. Funny 'cause they were all white people. I was definitely born the wrong color. I think I am brown on the inside... I hope so anyways. ;) Then, they finished off with a sick fire dance.

I hope you are all doing good and are happy. I have never been so tired but so happy in my life. I love being a missionary and I want you all to know that. As much as I want to continue with my life, nothing is better than serving the Lord here and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

I love you all,
Elder Jamison

The drought is over!

Elder Poole and I found a new investigator that is so solid! Her name is Tenika. We were tracting and we knocked on her door. We shared a few basic beliefs and asked if she would want to learn more about how she can feel her Father's love in her life and she said, "Yes."  Supes awk though because we did not expect that at all. So, after the initial stunned silence, we taught the first lesson at the door. She said she wanted to learn more and to come back later when her boyfriend would be home. So, we will be seeing them tonight and hopefully will be able to continue teaching them.

I went on exchanges this week... finally. It's the first time in like three transfers. Anyways, I went with Elder Trego. He is the man. We had so much fun! We talked to heaps of people too. This one Asian girl we were talking to was awkward. Anyways, we were talking and I asked if she went to uni. She was all, "No, I'm in year ten." My jaw dropped. She looked like she was our age so I asked and she said she was fifteen. Then, we asked how old she thought we were and she flipped out too when she found out we were both twenty. So funny.

We had stake conference this weekend... so weird to see so many people I know. I have been in this stake too long. I really don't know what's gonna happen to me anymore. I'm good with anything I think. I'm hoping for country again though. I'm not much of a fan of the dramas of ward life... I miss the branch.

I love you all! If I think of more to write I will, but I hit a mind blank...

I love you!
Elder Jamison

P.S.  I thought you might like to see some sweet Michael Jackson dance moves.

A little Down Time

Week 66

Dear Family,

This week has been tough. I have physically worked harder this week than in a long time, but nothing has happened. It has been discouraging, but Elder Poole and I have faith in this coming week. We will be fasting on Friday for miracles. I am not supposed to ask you to fast (see white handbook) so I won't. I'm just letting you know that my faith is not diminished. Expect an awesome miracle filled email next week!

I made some fried rice last night... so good. Man, if all my other career choices fall through I will definitely open that noodle shop... with fried rice... Asian food in general I think.

We are gonna give Hannah and Alex a bit of a break. They haven't been progressing very well. Even though I know they will accept the gospel someday, they need some time. We will still see them at English class and stuff and at all the activities we invite them to. I hope we can help them see that they aren't just potential converts to me but that I sincerely love them.

All that has been happening with crazy people challenging us lately has made me reflect on what I believe. I am so happy to have been so fortunate to be born into the true and restored church of Jesus Christ. I literally know that this is God's church. There is no doubt in my mind and there never could be. If you know of anyone in the ward or area that is struggling with their testimony, use the Book of Mormon. If you read in Preach My Gospel, Chapter 5, it says how to. But honestly, nothing is better than the Book of Mormon in helping people believe in Jesus Christ. For studies now, I'm exclusively the Book of Mormon, New Testament, and Preach My Gospel. Some missionaries like to study the crazy points of doctrine in D&C and stuff, but I have found that nothing makes me happier than learning more about the basic doctrines of the gospel.

So, I freaked out when I realized this but here it comes... I left for the MTC just before Rebekah's graduation. Since then, Michael has graduated and Rachel has entered high school. Three days after I come home, Elizabeth will graduate too. School just started last week and ends when I finish my mission. So, all that's left is one school year and there will be four Jamisons on the prowl and one awesome Jamison tearing up LOHS. Cray cray, huh? In five years, mom and dad will be in Wyoming huh? Ha ha, just kidding, but time really does fly. Don't let any opportunities slip by or you will regret it.

I love you all so much!
Elder Jamison

P.S.  I found this cute blonde.