April 2012 - Wagga Wagga NSW

2 April 2012
This week has been probably one of my favourite weeks of my whole mission! i am seriously the happiest I have ever been!

In reply to Dad's question, we have an older Statesmen Camery. It's done 70 000 km so hopfully it will get traded in soon but it's ok.. We meet in a really nice new chapel and the ward is amazing!!!!

My week has been a ripper!!

A bit domesticated!  Homemade pasta!!

I'm getting along so well with Elder Lambe! He is seriously the man! We are laughing all day long! I may have put a ball through a window this week (I now know why mum always says not to kick balls inside) but at the same time because we have to pay to fix it we were thinking let's do it ourselves... hahah!  So we practiced by taking another window out. haha! but at least we know how to fix it now... so we're just going to go get a piece of glass and fix it ourselves.. way cheaper!

We have been working really hard this past week and have seen the belssings of our fast and effort.

This week we found 30 new contacts which is unheard of... other zones collectivly are averaging 40 per week so we were stoked!  We are truely talking to everyone. We have got 12 new investigators

this week which has really got the area pumping!

We are teaching soo much and still have so many people to see!! It's on fire!  We have 3 baptismal dates now and our golden family, Rosa and her 4 children all came to church yesterday and they loved

it!! The branch is soo great and made them feel so welcome! Shout outs from

the pulpit and all!! so were really excited about them!

Another lady we set a date with, is a girl called Crystal who we tracted into.  It turns out, she saw

missionaries about 2 years ago. She knows the Book of Mormon is true, but never acted on it. We

have been bold with her and she is excited for her date :P

Elder Bennallack

10 April 2012 - I love My Life!

'Hangi' in Griffith

We travelled up to Griffith the other day to go on an exchange with Elder Howard and Elder Uliefu. We were really tying to help them 'find' in their area. We were able to find them 13 new contacts

which was golden! A new contact is the same as a new investigator, but it's just minus the prayer..

alot of the time it's not the right situation to pray with somone on the street, so that's the only

difference.. someone you teach doctrine to, and get a return appointment.

So hopefully the work starts to move up there, we gave them a fair boost. It was great to build unity in the District. When we were up in Griffith we got up extra early and went to some members home with less actives and cooked a 'hangi' with them.. it was awesome!!

In our area this week, the work continues to fire along! We are seeing some great miracles! We found

another 11 new investigators this week. The highlight of the week is the way some members are

progressing though! It's amazing! We're determined to baptise this transfer and we will! We're

I can honestly say that I have been working super hard and being 100% obedient my whole mission thus far, but we are stepping it up another level. Elder Lambe and I hardly eat. It is rare if we get both an hour for lunch and an hour for tea in the same day. Don't get me wrong, we're not starving ourselves or anything, but we take food with us in the car or just have one big meal in the middle of the day... Life is so busy and great! On the flip side, I literally don't have any time to write any letters!!! I have have a good 30+ letters to reply too... it's just not going to happen.. hahaha. And usually you have a spare 45 mins at the end of each day after planning and updating the area book, but I'm either on the phone to the District or to the Zone Leaders. hahah  It's so great to be asleep within a minute at night time.

Our mission president counsels us to get at least an hour of fresh 'finding' in per day, so that even though you have progressing investigators you always have new blood.  He calls it the 'escalator effect'. You always need people stepping on the escalator, so there will always be people progressing compared to the elevator effect, focusing on just one or two... then nothing.

We are truely struggling with time to 'find' each day though. As it is, we have people to go see but can't because there is no time.  We have a list of contacts we have found on the street that we can ony go see in spare time. I feel like we might be loosing a few through the cracks.. It's great problem to have though! I just wish there was another set of missionaries in the area.

As for the miracle of the week. Her name is Tiarny. We were working in the city one evening and it was 8:50pm and we were 5 mins away from the flat. (We have to be in at 9pm) Elder Lambe and I decided we would talk to one last person.. Next thing we know, Tiani is walking past. We were able to set a return appointment and we have been able to go back and teach her three times in the last week!!! She is 17 and at TAFE so we meet with her in the Park lands. We taught the best lesson I've ever taught, because we taught her, not the lesson!  Truely listening and having a written lesson plan. Putting into practice all of 'Preach My Gospel'. She is such a solid investigator who felt the Spirit so strong! She is on fire! She will be getting baptised on the 28th of this month...

This miracle goes hand in hand with our zone theme of Jacob 5:47 "What more can I do in my vineyard?"

Life is so great here in Wagga! Elder Lambe and I have become more and more unified. He has truely become one of my best friends! Such a champ!

Elder B2

16 April 2012

Beautiful country with remnants of floodwaters

This week has been crazy good! Not only super spiritual, but really fun too..

We went and saw this less active this week and had a big chat to him. He is a piliot and took us to his work where we got to tour all the planes! They're awesome! Such a neat experience being in the cockpit and having a feel for the controls...

Way better than that though, was the miracles we have been able to see this week!

I think one thing that I'm personally doing alot better here in Wagga over Ballarat, is working with members better.  In Ballarat, I now realise I was trying to do it all myself, strictly teaching or finding from 10am to 9pm. But over here I have realised that you can work with the members alot more! We have been spending quality time with them, going around to their homes, leaving spiritual thoughts and building trust so they will be able to trust us with their dearest friends. It has truely paid off.  Over the past two weeks we have recieved 9 refferals!!! This is amazing!

We had 3 investigators at church yesterday but they all had close fellowship from members, so they all truely enjoyed themselves. for eg. Tiarny, the girl I was telling you about last week. Through having members her age at the lessons, she has been able to become really good friends with them. Not only were we able to teach her twice last week but she has been with members nearly every day! The branch puts on a sports day every Saturday for investigators to come along to which they did, and tiarny stayed for hours at a members home loving life.  Tonight she will be with us again at a members FHE. This coming week we will try to meet her family :P   This is just one example, but we truely have some solid investigators at the moment.

Another is Ken.  He was also a refferal.  He has been at church the last few weeks and we were able to share the Restoration DVD with him on Saturday in Chinese.  He felt the spirit so strong and is now working towards baptism.  Not only that, but we play basketball with 20 of his Asian friends who love us! this is the opening we needed to baptise all of Wagga! haha..

There are many more also! The work is truely moving foward here. The members are so great! We had 8 members at lessons this week which is more then the expected amount for a whole branch!  I love it here!!

There was an even bigger miracle that occured yesterday though!  Here is a story for you!

Three weeks ago Elder Lambe and I started to teach 9 muslim investigators. Five from Afganistan and 4 from Iran.  They all had a huge desire to be baptised and were really excited, but we got word from the President to stop teaching them. This is because there are huge complications involved with muslims from these countries. If they were to get baptised they would not be allowed to return home otherwise they would be killed.  Not only that, but if word got back to their countries that they have joined, they would kill and torture their families too.  So it's understandable why we shouldn't teach them.  I was content with that answer from President and it seems logical.  At the present time families are more important. They will have their oppotunity later.

We were instructed to just leave them with a Book of Mormon and ask them to pray about it, but leave it at that. 

Ok,  so after that background information, yesterday were tracting and we saw this man on the street that we approched.  As soon as he realised who we were, his whole face lit up!!  It turns out that the Book of Mormon we left the Afgans in Arabic was lent to this man which was one of their friends. He continues to tell us that he has been reading it every night before bed and absolutly loves it and the feeling he receives when he reads it!!! He then went on saying that he has been trying to get in contact with us the past three weeks and wants to know everything and come to chruch!!! ... a full on 'How Rare a Possession' story...

Wagga Wagga NSW

So as crazy as this story is, we are now stuck in a sticky circumstance... I had a lengthy chat to President about a few things last night, but after talking it over with him we came to the conclusion that we will teach him a little and let him come to church, but help him realise that he won't be able to be baptised at the moment and that soon his time will come...

True miracles though! (D&C 130:20-21). I have a strong testiomny of this scripture!  We are truely being belssed so much every day! Elder Lambe and I were talking about it yesterday. The Lord is helping us with the work and we love it! For example, yesterday we decided to go tracting. The first door we knock on, we are invited in and end up teaching a family.  We were able to set a return appointment with their friends who come in at the end of the lesson...

I could go on and on but let it suffice to say that life is good... life is great!

Elder T. Bennallack

23 April 2012

It has been another great week in Wagga! We only had a total of 9 members at church yesterday though... hahaha it was crazy! That's beacuse we actually had our General Conference broadcast this week, and yeah there were 9 people total watching it at the chap.. haha 

Conference was awesome! The Branch didn't show the Saturday sessions so we were able to watch them in our own time at the chapel on the projector.. soo good! The Priesthood session we saw at a members home with four other priesthood holders and then the sessions yesterday.

Conference is so good as a missionary but also hard at the same time. It's awesome because I believe I'm more in tune than I have ever been, so alot sticks out, but also hard because as a missionary it's go, go, go. When I hit my pillow at night, I'm out in a few minutes. Actually we often go to bed early after all is done. So sitting to watch conference was the first down time I've had for ages so it was hard to stop yourself from constantly drifting. It was awesome though!!

This week we had a lesson with a less active and her partner. He had been taught alot in the past and has heard it all before. He's what we call a 'dry member'.  After alot of prayer we decided to teach him about the Temple.  It was such a spiritual lesson as we were actually able to show him HOW the gospel blesses your life.  You always hear that it does, but being able to show him how he can be sealed with his family forever and the end goal was what he needed to hear...

Another highlight for the week was Tiarny.  She is getting baptised this Saturday on the 28th.  This weeek she has been able to continue to progress so much! I have gained such a testimony of having the right members at lessons.  We have had a member at every single one of her lessons besides the very first.  As a result of this, she is getting baptised.  Before she even came to church she was very comfortable with alot of members. I truely feel that we could just walk out the back door tomorrow and she will be perfect and super strong in the gospel. This past weekend she was actually invited by her fellowship members to go with them on a road trip down to Melbs for a Stake YSA dance!!! This makes me so happy! We spoke to her last night and she thinks she has just had one of the best weekends of her life. She loved it! Yesterday, she went to church in a big Ward in Melbs which is great for her. Fellowship is key!

Elder Lambe is going to be baptising her which he is truely excited about. He has never baptised anyone so he is stoked!

We were also able to set another date with a guy called Ben this week. He is also golden! He has been to church three times now and his countenance is truely changing. He is also a YSA.

We are actually really targeting the YSA program at the moment. It is on fire! We have all these young investigators that love the gospel! We hold a sports day every Saturday and a FHE every Monday night which they all come to and keep busy! This branch is great!

Rosa and her children were at church again yesterday which was also great.

We actually have transfers this coming Sunday,  so I'm fairly sure neither of us will be moving. Well I hope not, but if there is no email next Monday you will know why. I truely want to stay here in Wagga with Elder Lambe. We get along so well and have really built some strong unity when it comes to teaching. We have been working very hard this past transfer. 

Elder Bennallack  B2

30 April 2012 - What a great baptism!!

This week has been an amazing week! For starters, Elder Lambe and I are both still here in Wagga for another transfer! We're so excited because there is going to be a lot that is going to happen this transfer... Loving life!

Elder Bennallack, Tiarny and Elder Lambe

Tiarny's baptism went really well! All week were focusing on getting her ready. She was interviewed on Thursday and she was really excited.

We were so pleased with the baptism! So many people from the ward came. Around 30 or 40! Some people drove an hour and a half in to come! We had 5 investigators there and they all said afterwards to me that they felt the spirit as Elder Lambe baptised her.

Elder lambe was so nervous but he did such a great job! Well I knew he would, seeing that he practised on me 100 times before hand! But I was so happy to see my 'son' have his first baptism! He was so excited! We both were.

I was asked to confirm her on Sunday which was another very spiritual experience.

Actually this whole week has been a huge missionary affair. The members must be sick of us!

We had the baptism on Saturday where Tiarny made us sing at.. (It actually went really well. Elder Lambe and I borrowed two guitars and we both sung a really nice version of 'Our Saviours Love'. Bought tears so we were happy:P)

Then on the Sunday, I was asked to pass the sacrament, then I conferred the Holy Ghost upon Tiarny, then Elder Lambe gave a 15 minute talk and I ended the meeting with a 20 minute talk.  I was actually happy with my talk. I spoke on the 'pride cycle' found in the Book of Mormon. I truely am grateful for the talent that the Lord has given me with public speaking. Being able to go up to the pulpit with half a page of dot points and being able to produce a talk.

We then taught the gospel principles class and then in the third hour, taught the combined Young Mens and Young Women’s which turned out to only be Young Women. It was a little weird  being invited to take the Young Women’s lesson but I think they got alot out of it as we discussed the new 'For Strength of Youth' and how that booklet is literally the modern 'armour of God' and how we need to always be wearing or living the armour of God. It went well...

Tiarny (centre) and the fellowship YSA's who have helped us.

I’m really happy with the relationship we have with the members in the Branch at the moment. We truely have their trust as we continue to receive their referrals of their closest friends.. We had dinner last night at a members home where we had four of their non member friends there.. It was so powerful! We were able to get return appt with all four of them.

Honestly if there is anything you can do back home, it's invite your non member friends over for dinner when the missionaries are there..  It’s always so powerful!

Last night we had our investigators at an YSA FHE at the Bloy's too... life is great!

The news gets even better! We received the monthly mission newsletter this morning and I was truely happy when I saw that my investigator  from Ballarat, Sean got baptised in Geelong on the 21st of April. He was the man! Elder McNeil and I taught him all the lessons and I actually set his date and then we palmed him off to the Geelong Elders.. It made me so happy to see that his baptism went through! He is another YSA.. hahah!

Another cool miracle before I head out..

We met this really cool girl called Jess (who is of YSA age) at Coles the other day when we were buying our food.. We were able to set an appoinment and go and teach her and her room mates this week. She is golden!

I know it’s nothing huge, but its moments like that that I really love! Just those tender mercies that the Lord gives us when we just open our mouth everywhere we are...

Well that about all for the week! Life is great here in Wagga and we are truly seeing the fruits of our labour. The field is white and we are harvesting.. I fell like the seeds have been planted long ago and we are just walking through with our sickle reaping with our might.

Love Elder T Bennallack

March 2012 - Gold in Ballarat!

5 March 2012

On 'exchange' with the Melton Elders..

Has it been raining heaps in Adelaide?? It was like flooding here!!!Tracting for hours in the rain drenched!! Love it! So much better then the heat..

This week has had it's highs and lows. But on a whole, it was a great week becuase I  had a lot of time to reflect and try to improve in my own Chistlike attributes.

This week we had an exchange with Melton which was all right.  I was quite saddened with some news this week.  Our golden investigators, Jordy and Larry have moved!  I saw Jordy at the 'Helping Hands' service project on Saturday and he was telling us how they suddenly had to pack up and move for work.  Worse than that, is that they have moved to Ararat!!! So that's like an hour and a half away from us, and an hour from Horsham.  Even worse, Horsham is closed now and so they are out there by themselves.  There is not much we can do, because even if we travelled out theret o see them, it's not practical for them to travel to church each week seeing that Jordy was riding his push bike.  I was shattered because we were just preparing to baptise them... ahhhh... it really gave me a time to reflect.

I guess somtimes we're just put into people's lives to help them through difficult times and maybe not to baptise them? I don't know, it's way sad.  On the flip side, I guess I am sort of succeeding at loving my investigators.  It's just having that Christlike love, but now we don't have anymore dates at the moment :(   It's ok though..

Down time at the flat with the Elders from Melton. 
We're trying to do our 'pukana' (the scary voice you do at the end of the 'Hukka')

I'm really trying to work on selflessness.  Deep down you try to set dates within the transfer so you will be able to be there for the baptism, but it truely dosent matter.  And this is what I'm trying to work on.  Instead of rushing dates, having dates when they are ready.  We have been teaching this guy called Shaun that comes to church each week all the way form Geelong because he has a friend up here.  He has felt the Spirit and knows the church is true and is working towards baptism, but he will need to be baptised in Geelong.  But it's ok, I don't mind, it doesn't matter if we baptise him or if we hand him off to Geelong - it's all the same work.  I'm really trying to have that focus of working for the whole mission and not for my own satisfaction.

This week will be a great week! were off to Werabee for a zone P-day today and then we're going to the Temple as a zone on Wednesday, so I'm really excited about that!!

Elder T Bennallack (B2)

14 March 2012

Sorry the email is a bit late, we have had a crazy but an amazing week.

Monday, we were in Werabee together as a zone again for P-day.  We travelled up there because on the Tuesday, there was a leadership meeting which Elder McNeil had to go to being the District Leader of us and Melton. So I was on trade-offs with Elder Strackie in Werabee.  Elder Strackie is a new missionary this is his first transfer. He is the MAN, I was so happy to spend a day with him.  He is still fresh which I love because he is still 100 percent obedient and has the same desire that I have. We had a great day and although we lack in experienc,e we were able to set a date and all.

As for news about here in town in Ballarat, this week has been an absolute ripper! We were able to go to work with unity and on the same page.  This week was awesome! We have found a few golden families, found 10 new investigators, taught 25 lessons and the biggest miracle of them all caught up with Larry and Jordy!!!

 

 

I was really excited as Jordy came to church.  He caught a bus down from Aararat.  We were able to have a really good lesson with Larry, his strict catholic wife Sally and Jordy.  We talked about the importance of church and the parents were both super supportive of letting Jordy catch an hour and a bit train down each week for church.  Because that is the case, we then extended a baptismal invitation to Jordy because he truly desires to be baptised.  He is getting baptised this coming Saturday the 17th.  It's really exciting.  We need to find a place for the family to stay here in Ballarat over the weekend, for they are now in Aararat for Larry's work but it should be great.  A true miracle. I know that the character that Jordy is, he will be able to continue to work with his parents. It's amazing how its only after a trial of your faith that you see these tender mercies.

 

 

I wish Jordy's new best friend in the ward, Owen could baptise him but he is too young and both parents laid down the law and said that one of us missionaries had to do the baptism as a sigh of respect. And that was the last word, so Jordy has asked me to baptise him.  It should be a great day regardless.

The Australia Melbourne Temple

Our District at the Temple

The temple trip on Wednesday was amazing!!! It was by far the best experience I have had at the Temple.  So much was revealed unto me!!  It's so true that we learn line upon line, precept upon precept.  To top off all of the amazing experiences at the Temple, we went to 'Grill'd' at Knox City :P yummmm!

A pic especially for Elder B1 in France!!

There is so much happening in Ballarat. We have families we are teaching with others that are golden.

We will find out about transfer news on Sunday. I'm good either way, if I stay in Ballarat, there is so much work to do! And if I leave, well then I'm happy and blessed to say that I believe I've left it in a better state than I found it. It's booming at the moment!

This is the way we take photo's,
with Elder Strackie on the right.... good guy!!

I am really at a high in my mission right now. I truely feel blessed to be out here as I feel like I'm succeeding in loosing myself in the work. We were on the treain the other day and just overhearing this teenager on the phone, all her problems. I'm so glad I have no worries in the world. I just get to loose myself in the work. I love it!!

Elder Bennallack

19 March 2012

I have found out I'm getting transfered.  I need to go to the transfer meeting tomorrow in Melbourne to find out where I'm going to be serving.  Even craizier news, I'm training!!! hahaha! So I'll be picking up a new missionary on Wednesday.  I feel way humbled but at the same time really excited and a little nervous to think that President has put trust in me to train one of his missionaries.  This means because I'm being transfered, that I'll be doubled into an area as well!! (doubled in with a new missionary ie both new to the area) Way to throw me in the deep end President! na! I'm really excited for the opportunity though. I cant wait to see what we can do with the Lord's help in this new area.

I don't want to let President down!

 

 

As for the week in Ballarat.  We had exchanges on Friday with the zone leaders because they were down to interview Jordy for the baptism on the following day.  He passed with flying colours no dramas, and because he was down from Ararat, we got his best mate at church and his family to put him up for the night. Anyways we get a call at 9pm at night and there was a bit of a hiccup which resulted in us calling off the baptism ony hours before it.  It was quite disappointing, but at the same time, it's good there is an opportunity to sort all issues out before the baptism.  We told him were just postponing the baptism for a couple of weeks so we'll see.

 

 

Elder Bennallack and the Blake family

I've been really trying to focus on what Dad told me about the 'circle of influence and circle of concern' this week.  I guess it is what it is, and all we can do is focus on the things that we can influence.  Having said that, we have had a ripper of a week for finding!  We have found 23 new contacts to teach for the following week with 23 return appts for this week already set up.  This place will go off!!!  There is so much teaching as we have really been focusing on finding.  So there is some fresh work for the new missionary here, alongside with the golden progressing investigators that we have.

We had 10 investigators at church yesterday including this family with three YW girls.  It's great!!

Elder McNeil and Bennallack with a champ called Billy

I'm excited for the new challenge that lies ahead and to hear about these golden families and investigators progressing here, including Sean's baptism in a few weeks! He is so golden!

Elder T Bennallack

 

 

26 March 2012 - WAGGA WAGGA!!!

So I'm in Wagga Wagga in NSW!!!!!   hahahaha it's crazy!!!  I drove up here on Friday, a 7 hour drive from the Melbourne Temple.  I'm closer to Sydney now than I am Melbourne.   I was so shocked when they read at the transfer meeting that I was off to Wagga! (so excited though!!!) Even more shocked when they read that I am a District Leader now too!! Wow! President has thrown me in the deep end, not only doubling me into a new area, in a different state, in the middle of Australia but also a District Leader!  I'm the Distict Leader of us and Griffith and a senior couple.  Even more hilarious and ironic, is that I'm now Eder Howard's District Leader! hahaha He's in Griffith.  We had a good laugh about it!

After transfer meeting, I went and hassled the office and got hold of a bike rack and picked some bikes up form the repair shop so I could drive them up to Wagga, because the missionareis being doubled out of wagga told me that they weren't teaching anyone.  So we have no investigators to start with, so I thought bikes would be a good idea so we could be out and seen.  We will have our lines in the water. 

Elder Bennallack and new 'golden' Elder Lambe from England.

I spent the night in Elthem and on Wednesday morning went to President's home to greet the new missionaries.  I'm sooooooo stoked with my new companion!  His name is Elder Lambe and he is from England!!!! He is the man!!! He is a convert of only two years and is the only member in his family.  His girlfirend of 5 years actually introduced him to the missionaries and now he's out serving and she's waiting... waiting with a ring on her hand actually.  They're engaged.  He is a really great guy and we get along sooooo well!!!! I'm sooo happy!

 

 

On Wednesday night we actually were invited to stay at President's home with President and Sister Liffereth. It was also really good spending quite a bit of time with them. They are truly amazing! I love them both dearly!

Thursday morning we hit the road after studies and Sister Liffereth packed us a lunch (you could tell she missed packing school lunches) haha and I drove the 7 hours up the Hume Highway to Wagga Wagga.  I'm the only one that can drive, becuase 'goldens' (new missionaries) can't drive in their first transfer...

 

 

We got to Wagga and sussed out the town, where we could GQ and then went to the flat. The flat is awesome! It's a whole house and garage! It was completely trashed and still is a fair bit of work, but it has so much potential and even better, we have so much stuff here!  I'm soo happy, we have a whole gym at our house! A bench press, an incline bench that we use for fly and stuff, my chin up bar, and heaps, heaps more! We have resistant bands that we have set up, and we have a boxing bag that I put up outside with golves! It is amazing! My dream!!!!

Anyway, when we first got in, went straight to the phones and called the Branch President and the Branch Mission leader who was just set apart yesterday.

 

 

The Branch is actually amazing!!! They are a young branch and are constanly hanging out together during the week, having weekly sports nights and weekly FHE's.  We were able to meet half the Branch before Sunday and the other half yesterday. We are making a hugh effort to remember names, writing them down in our planner to build trust.  I'm so excited to work with the members, they're great!  There is an average of 50 at church each week including Isacc Bloy and his wife... Small world! We're actually off to his home for tea tonight, then FHE.

 

 

On Saturday the YM had a service project already organsied at our house.  So not only were we able to meet them all, but they have planted a huge veggie garden in our backyard! Loving life!!!

We have seen so many miracles already up here.  We have truly had to start fresh because there was nothing at all happening here, it was like opening a new area.  On our first proselyting day, we hit the streets and went Downtown.  I was praying so hard to see miracles in finding, to get a nervous Elder Lambe stoked for finding.  We went out and literally talked to every single person, even getting people to wind down their windows at traffic lights!  The first person we talked to, we got a return appointment and then 10 other return appointments followed that day!!!!  We have found all these new people to teach and aleady have a fairly full week with teaching this coming week.  We were even able to have a really spiritual lesson yesterday and set solid date with an aborigonal mother of four.  She was nearly bashed to death two years ago by her ex and has to learn how to walk and talk again. She thanks God for her life and has been praying the past few weeks for God to come back into her life.  She is really excited about the work and it was a great experience for Elder Lambe. We are both sooo excieted for Wagga Wagga, miracles are happening daily here!

 

 

When we first got here we fasted to be able to find those families and people that can give leadership to the Branch.  I'm so greatful to be all the way out here in NSW in Wagga.  There is so much potential here, it is rediculous...  North Wagga is starting to get sorted after those floods, so it's all good!

I love this work and am truly on top of the world right now!!!

Elder T Bennallack xx

February 2012 - Busy in Ballarat!

6 February 2012

Allen Clissett and us..

This past week has been a great week for me too.. We had a Baptism on Saturday of Allen Clissett.. It went fairly well. He asked me to baptise him but I shrugged it off to a member in the ward.  I've realised it's alot more important for members to baptise investigators than us. Missionaries come and go, but members stay and that fellowship is key.  So a man named Craig Manning baptised Allan.  He was so excited to do it, as it was his first.  I think he has some challenges so it actually took four attempts to baptise him by immersion, but he finally got there.  It was a really spiritual expeirence for him.   I was able to confirm him yesterday as a member of the church and give him the Holy Ghost. It was a really spiritual experience.  I always love using His Holy Priesthood.  It's always so spiritual and uplifting.  More importantly, he felt the spirit really strong during that blessing which is key because he will still need alot of fellowship.

As for the Blakes they are really solid.  John blessed the sacrament this past week! A great sight!

As for transfer news.  I'm staying another one in Ballarat with Elder McNeil which is great. I'm no longer officially training.. haha! but im excited to see what else we can do for the area in the next six weeks.  This area is really coming alive with missionary work, but alot of our investigators have become stale, so it's back to the streets to sive the wheat from the tare.

I rolled my ankle fairly bad this week as I was chasing down a couple on the street.. It was really brusied.  I couldn't walk on it for a few days but I've been taking really good care of it, and pressed on.  We're all sweet now, still tender but I can limp around...

P-Day, couldn't resist!!

Yesterday in sacrament meeting, we only had a few investigators there.  We had alot committed to come, but not too sure what happened.  It happens though. It all comes back to that circle of concern and circle of influence that Dad talks about.  Great advice!  

Ummm, so as for my cooking.. I must admit I've had highs and lows this week with cooking. On Tuesday we had a District Meeting and I prepared a honey glazed turkey roast for the District for lunch. It was looking amazing, and I remember mother always use to leave it in the owen when she went to church. So I left it in the oven while I went to district meeting at the chapel. I came back to open the oven door and smoke was pouring out! Everything was so black!  Food catches alight when all the moisture is gone, and I think give it another 10 - 15 mins and our flat would of been gone.. lucky on that one! Lesson learnt. Keep the oven at 140c degrees not 180...

13 February 2012

This week has been a really great week!!

We have been hard at work finding new people and helping others progress..

This week we were going through the ward list and realised we have 177 families on our ward list with only 33 active... not the best, but at the same time the ward is growing.  We had 113 people at church this week :P

 

 

So I had a really sacred experience this week.  One morning this week, I was praying to see a miracle. The whole day appointment after appointment fell through and it was a fairly rough day. Our last appointment of the day, we went to go see this guy called Larry.  This is the guy I was writing about a few weeks ago, how I'm in over my head and I can't relate to his problems in life.  When were there  he was telling us that if he had a gun he would end his life right now, and don't be suprised if next time we come to see him there is police tape around his house. I really had no idea what to say? I really was searching for a heaven inspired question or comment.  The spirit hit me so strong.  I promised him that if he got baptised that his life will improve... We continued and the Spirit hit me even stronger. I asked him as inspired, if I could give him a comfort blessing!?!  We hadn't even been able to teach him the restoration too well, so we quickly explained authority and how we hold that authority of God and explained a blessing. The Spirit was so strong.  I then proceeded to give him a comfort blessing with Elder McNeil.  I was really seeking the Spirit.  As inspired, I was able to bless him that 'as he comes unto thee, he will reach the highest of heights' and that his Heavenly Father loves him.  After the prayer his whole face was lit up.  He was so confused.  It took him about 5 minutes to ask what just happened?? He was overwhelmed. He then asked us 3 times each if we both had both our hands on his head. We told him we did.  He then started to breakdown.  He asked "If both your hands were on my head, then who was holding my hand? !!"  The Spirit flooded into the room!!  He continued to breakdown as we hugged it out.  What a miracle! I feel so humbled to be able to be found worthy to hold His Holy Priesthood and to be able to preform through faith what we all call moden day miracles.  We were able to go back the next day and were able to explain to him the role of the Holy Spirit and the miracle that happended the night before.  We still don't know who was holding his hand whether it was the Holy Ghost or an angel or ?? but this sacred experience has strengthened my testimony and changed his life!  He now has a light of hope in his eye! He wants to know the soonest date he can get baptised.  We were able to set a date with him and his son.

 

 

View from the top of a hill we hiked on P-Day

This Gospel has been restored with that authority and power that Jesus Christ gave his apostles!

  

As for your questiones. We found Allen on the street. He lives by himself divorced, but we are teaching his step-son at the moment.

  

All is well! I love this work! Moden day miracles are performed each day.

Elder T Bennallack

20 February 2012

Well this week has been a great week, where do I start??

Tuesday was Valentines Day, so us being the geniuses that we are, and being inspired by Elder B1's boarding finding techniques, we went to 'Office Works' on Monday.  We both bought a white board that we can fit in our big suitcases to take with us. I've been thinking about getting one for ages. I also bought some magnetic strips as well.  Now I can make more effective lesson plans. You don't need to construct a lesson plan from scratch every time, but you just need to personalise it to fit the needs of the investigators.  So now just like father use to with his magnetic football field he used while coaching, I can now have all these strips with scriptures and what not, and really personalise lesson plans quickly..

But as for Tuesday, I used my board as a sign.  Elder McNeil and I went down to the mall (it's like Rundle Mall) and we took our signs and put 'our rods in the water'.. my sign said 'No Valentines? Me Neither... sit down lets talk about GOD'... hahah! everyone thought it was hilarious and we got new contacts out of it too... it worked really well!! I love preach my gospel. It tells you to really look for new ways to share the gospel and it's great how you can use your strengths and personality to share the gospel.

On Wednesday, we had a zone conference down in Deer Park. The whole zone loved my sign.. haha!  Especially the assistants :P

Zone conference went for 4 hours but it was great.  F.Michael Watson was presiding.  I'm not sure what was better, the conference or the lunch afterwards!!

We walk into the rec hall to find that the tongan ward had put a lunch on for us.. We walk in and there is a whole roasted pig lying on the table!!! Next to that ,was a fruit basket, 6ft long with whole pineapples, mangos, figs and everything amazing! There were 10 of the church tables together with no room at all on any of them! It was all meat! It was like I had met Willy Wonka's cousin that has everything meat! haha!  But honestly, the nicest thing was some pork wrappend in taro leaves, cooked in a coconut cream! sooo good! We didn't even dent the food!

The rest of the week has been ok.. We have had a lot of appointments fall through all over town, it's a little frustrating but its ok.

The miracle of the week was this young man named Jordy.  He is Larry's son and is 14. He came to the youth activity on Tuesday and he got on his bike to ride to church yesterday! He loved it. The youth loved it too because there aren't too many!  He was asking us when he could get baptised.. hahah good times! We will continue to teach Larry and Jordy! They will both get there!

Allen received the Aaronic Priesthood yesterday which was great! He has been asked to pass the sacrament next week which he was a little nervous about, but we saw him last night and taught him all about it, so he's excited..

27 February 2011

Some weird looking fruit! This is Australia!
(I think it's a Lychee)

This week has been alright.  I'im not going to lie, it was a little slow with alot of appointments falling through with the heat, but we has 10 at church yesterday which is a record so I can't complain...

So, hmmm the heat.. Well our Zone Leaders this week decided that they wanted to hold a 'car fast' day, and what better day to have it than last Saturday when it was 40c degrees outside!!  I wish I had sunscreen :( I got roasted! I was drinking so much water,  I think I drank at least 8L. We didn't have any appointments set for the day as well, so we were out on the streets for 11 hours finding.  It was not fun! We rode out to the airport, which is out of town. (look it up on google maps).  From 'Brown Hill to the Ballarat Airport', and that was only the start of the day.  I was sooo dead by the end of the day. The zone leaders promised that the heat was a trial of our faith and that we would be blessed if we tried. And it was a real test..

We also had a really spiritual lesson with an investigator called Matt this week.  He is really progressing and has a great understanding about what we teach.  We taught him the Word of Wisdom and we took his smokes, coffee and tea, but he did relapsed after two days.. and now he has given up, so not too sure what to do.

As for Jordy and Larry. They are going great!  Larry still didn't come to church because he was throwing up, but Jordy came, and he is solid! He has his 'Duty to God' book and he is signed up for 'trek' in a month too, so thats really good!  His dad is supportive too. We were hoping to baptise them together but we will see how this week goes with Larry.

I know that the Lord gives us trials to teach us things and I am really learning a lot about myself! I'm learning alot of patience and always looking at myself in these situations and seeing how I can improve... Missions are great like that, your really learn what it is like working with others, and living with others.

I know the Lord knows best and that all my companions and areas were pre-ordained and that if I work with all my heart, might, mind and strength I will become who the Lord would have me be.

Elder T Bennallack (B2)

January 2012 - 'The Fruits of Our Labours'

2 January 2012

This week has been a great week!! First things first.  We went down to transfers on Tuesday and Elder Howard has been transferrd to Hampton Park in the Samoan program.  So he's now learning Samoan! I'm happy for him, that will be exciting!

My new companion, new District Leader and new trainer is Elder McNeil form Utah!!! HE is the man ay! I think we get along so well because I get to reminisce about America.. hahah

President has put alot of trust in us both becasue he is only six weeks ahead of me!! He has only been out one transfer longer then me! Together, we only have 3 transfers of experinece.  Although we are lacking in experience and skills we both have a huge desire to work hard and be exactly obedient! I know that as we do this, the Lord will make up for the rest! I love it!!  The other missionaries in our District are nearly going home, yet our Dstrict Leader is a missionary that has only been out six weeks longer than myself! I love the trust that President has put in the both of us and we will not let him down. We have been thinking how we can best help the District, because they might not like to listen to us fresh 'goldens'.  I know that we can lead by example though. Actions speak louder than words.

 

Elder Bennallack, Marie & John Blake, Elder McNeil



The baptism was amazing on Saturday!! John and Marie were so prepared!! I had the privilege to baptise them both.  It was the first time I have ever baptised someone.  Their testimonies are so strong, which they both shared after the baptism.  We had about 40 people there and about half were non members!! It was awesome to get them to see the baptism...


It was just a miracle to be able to see their countenance change as they become closer to Christ.  I know that  baptism was only just the first step through that gateway.  I'm excited for the family to progress and hopefully in the not so distant future, be sealed as a family.  John was interviewed yesterday for the Priesthood and we were able to help Rebecca, their daughter, really gain her own testimony this past week, and set a date with her for the 14th in a couple of weeks.  It would be amazing if John could baptise his daughter... So all went well with the baptism!

This week has been an amazing week, we have been working so hard! We have found 8 new investigators which is great because the investigator pool was starting to get a little stale.  It was also the first New Years since I was about six that I didn't see the New Year come in, and although it was just another regular day, it was a great opportunity to make some 'new year' goals to help myself become closer to the Lord and personally progress throughout this next year.  With one goal of mine being able to do 35 chin ups :P

The miracle of the week was church yesterday.  We found out that the average attendance for the past year was 86, with past averages only between 60 - 70 people.  Yesterday we had 140 people at church! The chapel was full!! It was a great testimony meeting centered around missionary work. It's great what we have been able to do with the ward. They are all so excited for the work. We do have dates for baptism with investigators for the next 4 Saturdays.. but I don't know how many will go through? We have made a transfer goal to baptise six this transfer... We felt the Spirit when we were making this goal and we know it's possible. So hopefully the rest of the tansfer goes well! I'm excited for the area, I'm excited for my companion and I'm excited for the work!

I love this gospel!
(Hopefully Nana is ok? I pray for her everyday!)
Elder T. Bennallack B2

9 January 2012

This week has been a great week! We have spent alot of the week going through the ward list and updating it all.  Most addresses we go to, the less actives have moved out 3 or 4 years ago. So it's good to put all this information down, even through it's not showing much success towards missionary work, we're here to serve the ward, so that's what we're doing.

We have still had a great week though, finding some new solid investigators.  We haven't recieved a referral from anyone, but we're working really hard on changing that.

Yesterday was really awesome, John Blake recieved the Aaronic Priesthood and was ordained to the Office of Priest.  He asked me to do that, which was really awesome for me to be able to do that! I love using the Priesthood, you can just feel the power of it everytime you're asked to use it.  We're waiting on a calling for John soon, so all should be good! The Bishop has plans for him, and they continue to progress and love coming to church...

We are continuing to teach their daughter now.  She will get there, whether it's this Saturday the 14th, or later this transfer, she will get there.  She wants to get baptised, she just wants to make sure she knows everything, so we're working with that.

We taught a fairly bold lesson this week. It was the first time we have taught this lady, however she rocked up to the appointment with hickies all over her neck. Following a prompting, the first thing we taught her was the law of chastity. It was straight up, but it was awesome! And we now have a baptismal date with her. It's February 18th, but that's beacause we need to organise her to get married first.  They both walked a good 10kms to get to church yesterday. Committed..

Elder McNeil and I continue to work hard. I've never been shy talking to anyone and I'm really good at just having a conversation with somone.  But it's when you have to talk about the gospel, that's when I loose them.  But the Lord needs to have His hand in all things, so the fact that I'm a little shy talking about the gospel with some people is a good thing, because that means I get to pray to the Lord for confidence and rely on him.

On other news, my loaves of bread ar getting better and better!  The bread maker has a timer on it too, so we wake up to the bread maker going off in the morning.. it's awesome!! I also brought a pasta maker this week.. (I'll be taking this one home with me) Gotta love fresh pasta! Sooo good!                               

We have interviews with President this week, so it will be great to be able to chat with him.

Love Elder T Bennallack  (B2).

16 January 2012

This is our flat in Ballarat..

This week has been a great week...

We're flying through investigators like none other.. The Mission President introduced a new stat for the mission called 'New Contact' which is the same as a new inestigator, but you don't need to say a prayer with them.  So it's really good just talking to people on the street, teaching a principle of the gospel and getting a return appointment to go back and see them.  By doing this, we got 19 'New Contacts' this week! It was a miracle!

We have done alot of testing, and it's all about finding what 'finding' methods work in your area.  We have found that contacting people around the mall (a bit like Rundle Mall in Adelaide or 16th Street in Denver) and also around the main lake is alot more effective than door knocking.  So the work is booming!  It's still a bit hard though, because we're getting to the point that we are having to drop investigators that are still progressing but just not as quickly as others.  I feel bad because they are still solid, but we are blessed with a lot of investigators...I guess reading that, that's not the worst complaint, maybe one day we might need to have another set of missionares here in this huge area to help us.  We find ourselves teaching all day on most days, struggling to find time to eat and to get our hour of fresh finding in. It's good that there is much to do.

As for baptismal days, we were supposed to baptise Rebecca and Bella this week, but they have all come down with gastro, so we couldn't see them all week.  They weren't at church on Sunday and this Sunday they're all away on holidays, so we will have to push it back until the 28th or 4th of Feb?? It's ok though.

As for our other dates, we continue to set some each week but some fall away just as quick. We had 7 at church yesterday but not not one of our investigators that we were expecting!  It was a little frustrating. We organised for members of the ward to pick up our golden investigators and we were waiting for them, only to find out that our members forgot to pick them up.  Ooops.. the other one of our investigators was sick.  I guess this happens, church is always a little stressful, but at the same time I try to really think about that thing that Dad told me, about not worrying about things I have no control over.

Elder McNeil is great! We both get along really well. We both work hard and laugh even harder...

It was great having an interview with President on Wednesday, and then I saw him again on Saturday for a Baptism in Werribee that we travelled to via Geelong and Footscray. But it's always great to see them both! I have such a love for them, they both are a perfect example of quiet dignity.

My interview with persident wasn't anything what I was expecting. We ended up talking about the Young Single Adults (YSA) in Melbourne. He's very concerned about them and he knows I know a few. He was sort of suggesting to move me into the city? Maybe I wouldn't be surprised if I leave next transfer? He wants to work with the YSA alot more because youth and YSA are struggling over here.

Here is my growing library... it's getting bigger and bigger!

All is well here in Ballarat, the work continues to move foward. I have been able to help two people stop smoking now, as they prepare for their baptismal dates, so we have alot of lighters around our home, which knowing me is not a very wise thing.. haha

We have Elder Cook coming this week with a few of the Seventies, so I'm really looking foward to meeting him for the second time at our mission conference this Saturday.

Elder T Bennallack B2

PS. The best memory I have of Nana was at my baptism. She gave me a card and accidently put two 20 dollar notes in instead of one. I remember both Mum and Dad encouraged me to be honest and tell her, and return one 20 dollar note. I will always remember the look on her face when I told her.  She made me feel so special and loved! I love her dearly!


25 January 2012

I have actually been out of my area for 5 concecutive days this past week.. I've travelled to Werribee, Geelong, Footscray a few times, Aararat, Horsham for a day and Wanterna for the conference. So I've just been exchanging like mad and just spending alot of time travelling. The life of a missionary! I left last Thursday and got back Monday night...

(Elder Bennallack's Nana passed away on 18 January 2012).  Thanks for calling President about Nana, Dad. I love that man, he game me a call that night and we had a good chat. Honestly, I thought I would feel sad, but I was quite at peace. Like you said Dad, there is minimal mourning in death, only sin. I felt quite peaceful to know that she loves us all and is now in a better place. You have all been in my prayers because I know the Holy Ghost is a great comforter. It is one of his main roles. I hope plans all go well with the funeral.  It will be a great time to reflect her life!

We have been going through soo many investigators. It's like sand slipping though our hands. They come and go. We dropped alot because they weren't progressing and a few dropped us.  This made me really think. There is something we can do as missionaries to minamise this. I love preach my gospel, and the 8 fundamentals. They have answers to any question. With the guidance of the Spirit, you can always find where you're lacking and how to fix the problem. It all comes down to keeping commitments. Investigators won't progress and show true repentance if they don't keep their commitments. So this leads to inspired questions.  We need to make sure we are focusing on asking inspired questions, but not only that, inspired promises.  This is where I was lacking. Making inspired promises. As missionaries, we have been set apart and have the authority to promise blessings. We have really been trying to implement this into our teaching. People are not going to keep their commintments if there isn't a benefit for them. By asking inspired questions, to help them relise why it's important to find out for themselves and promising bold SPECIFIC blessings to them, they will want to keep there commitments. We as missionaries need to have faith that God will have our backs as we make inspired promises directed by the Spirit.

This has been the focus for me the last week. Keeping this in mind, yesterday we were able to set 3 new baptismal dates and move 2.  Miracles left right and centre yesterday as we followed the promptings of the Spirit.

One that I'm really excited about is a girl called Teagan.  Have I told you about the chef people yet?

Well that's what we call them. We tracted into this house, it's like a huge party frat house.  There are alot of YSA living there and they are all extreemly worldly.  I was excited about these people because they are exactly the same as my school friends. I know these people, I know how they work and can relate to them.  It's so true that every experience before your mission helps you for your mission. Anyway, although it is a hugh slow long process working with these people, we have been able to really gain all their trust as we be oursleves. after several visits over the past few weeks, we now have 9 new investigators that are all young YSA's.  We have been able to turn athiests to Christians and yesterday, we were able to set a date with one of them!! Two really opened up to us and told us how they feel guilty, and how this isn't really making them happy and the rest of it.. one is moving to QLD today, although but the other, we were able to set a date with for next month. Such a Miracle! I really feel like I've been given a second chance at High School.  During High School, I had alot of respect from the rest of the grade/school, they all knew I was a member, but I never acted upon it or used it to build the kingdom.  Now as a missionary, we are able to do this. The ward had no YSA program. There is no active YSA. It's just what the ward needs, a bunch of cool YSA.  There is alot of less active YSA, but I'm hoping and praying we can get a 'domino' effect happening now as they can all continue to progress! (we call them the chef people because they're chef apprentices by day and party by night).



President Korte (Firle Stake President) with Elder Bennallack
at Wanterna for conferences with Elder Quentin Cook.

 On other news, it was really good meeting Elder Quentin Cook again for the second time. The whole conference was just inspirational.  It's really fueled my fire and makes me really excited about the work.  This happened often at zone conferences and district meetings as well.  It's important to not let that fire die off a day later, to continue to work and keep feeding that fire.

Soo funny story. I was on exchanges with Horsham on Friday and the Elders told me I was talking in my sleep... Bad side of it is that I talk in my sleep. Good news is, that they said I was bearing my testimony in my sleep. hahah! well at least I'm trying to keep and eye single to the work.

 Haha! that's actually alot of what Eder Cook talked about. You're going to be a fustrated missionary if you have one foot in, and one foot out the door. You need to loose yourself in the work.

Elder T Bennallack (B2)

December 2011 - Ballarat

5 December 2011

Seriously, when I got off the plane, I couldn't understand some people!  I guess it doesn't help being in the country where it's so thick, but still I have to really focus to understand people! And I didn't think I had an accent at all! But I guess I was wrong.. everyone I talk to thinks I'm American??? whaaaa?? I say I'm from Adelaide, and they're like, but you have an American accent? hmmm I'm not sure how I feel about this... secretly I miss America alot! I love it there aye... but shhh..

This week has gone sooo fast! It's crazy!!

We had 5 at church yesterday with the sixth coming after Sacrament meeting so we couldn't count him. Our two baptismal dates aren't that strong, but it's ok, we set another 3 this week for the Blake family! They are solid!! They are soo excited! The father and mother and ninteen year old daughter.  Plus they have two younger ones, so I'm really excited for them! They are going to be baptised on the 31st of December. They have been at church the last two weeks and love it!  I'm so proud of the ward for embracing them!!   I was so nervous yesterday, because one of their daughters, who is 8, has a mild case of autism, her name is Bella.  During testimony meeting she was running around the whole chapel being so loud! Her parents weren't doing anything, as well.  I was praying so hard that no one would offend them.  It was amazing though! An older man took her, loved her and then took her up to the pulpit where she told her parents (our investgators) she loves them! The spirit was so strong, I was so glad! They are seriously so excited for their baptism!  They were sussing the font yesterday.. We were also able to give them a blessing yesterday!

We are getting more and more organised here.  I have learnt so much from the Assistants!  It was so good to go out with them!  The biggest thing I learnt was in Preach My Gospel (PMG) under 'Finding People' chapter 9. It talkes about talking to people.  Now, I feel I'm good at teaching 45 min lessons and really helping people understand, but I need to work on my 5 and 15 min lessons.  As missionaries (from PMG) "we are to teach simple restored truths".  I always thought because it's our unique message, but its "so the Spirit can testify that we are servants of the Lord".  It doesn't matter if people understand our message or not, that comes over time, but we are to testify of restored truths so the Spirit can work.  If people feel the Spirit and have a positive experience with us, they will invite us back and then we can work on helping them understand.  I thought it was awesome!  I'm really excited about implementing the things I learn!

We had another great week this week! We taught 12 other lessongs and 23 in total :P The zone is doing great!  I want you to know all is well!  I'm loving Ballarat and Elder Howard! He's the man!

Elder B2


12 December 2011



Our zone at the Australia Melbourne Temple



So glad to hear things went smoothly with leaving America... This week has been another super quick but awesome week! As much as I love exchanges, I hate them at the same time.. We were only in Ballarat 3 1/2 days this week because we had exchanges with the Zone Leaders in Footscray, a Temple trip and a follow up training with the President! All were awesome and it was cool to sorta see what the Adelaide Temple is like inside because its the same as Melbourne right?? But I have such a love for my investigators and we need to be in Ballarat too.  This coming week we are out of town two days with another two exchanges, one in Horsham and the other in Melton...

Going back to that exchange with the Zone Leaders in Footscray. We stayed there the night. In the morning we had some service planned but before that we had an hour of contacting. Miracles ayy! We spoke to 5 people plus chased down the postman on his little motorbike and got three return appts from it! Man I should be in Footscray.. haha jokes, but the work is pumping over there.. The other day I was at the Footscray station and has some spare time so I was just talking to people who I referred to the local missionaries, which resulted in them going to church yesterday in Footscray! loving life..

One of the miracles during the week:

We tracked into this lady called Ray Rumble. She has really strong beliefs and strong ties to the Church of England.  We have been able to teach her twice now. The last lesson was a really bold lesson and we were talking about authority.  We did it really well though as we asked her alot of questions about her baptism 67 years ago. We helped her realise that her authority has just come from man and wasn't valid.  This was a really huge pill for her to swallow though, as her husband and a lot of her kids had passed and she thought they were all saved beacuse they were all baptised.  Obviously we taught her Gods plan but she got way defensive as you would.  I was able to hold my ground though and relate it back to the Book of Mormon, saying she can find out if these things are true by reading and praying. We came back yesterday and she has read... but she was too scared to pray because she didn't want to know.  We were able to really soften her heart as we both were prompted by the spirit.  I said and did some crazy things that I never would of dreamed of doing if it wasnt for the spirit. But I was able to pray for her and then got her to pray after. It was such a solid lesson as she knew everything was weighing on this one prayer... the Spirit was so strong! About two seconds after she said 'Amen' the Sirit just peirced all of our souls! It was sooo strong! maybe evern stronger that when I prayed for myself?? It was such a testimony builder for me! she was nearly bourght to tears as your could see it in her eyes! but you gotta love prideful Australians.. She was trying to deny it... we helped her realise that was the Spirit. She just kept saying 'I dont know, I dont know'. She then said 'hmmm I'll get there, I'll get there'.  We left her to have a big think about everything and we're going to go see her again. We have a prefect fellowship person who is also a convert from the Church of England who will help us reassure her of this huge step in her life! We are really looking foward to seeing her this week and hopfully setting a date!



Things you see in the Australian bush!!

 We have a few we are hoping to set dates with this week.. the work is exploding here!

Ballarat.... they've found gold here before and were finding gold here now!!

All is well with Elder Howard! we are both working so hard right now are really earning our pillows each night!

Love Elder T Bennallack B2

PS. I've been reading the war chapters in the Book of Mormon lately with Alma and Helaman.. What's one of the biggest Christlike attributes? Personally I think its humility.. there are chapters and chapters in the scriptures repeating this over and over again! That whole pride circle! When we are humble, we are blessed and when we are prideful we are destroyed! My patriarchal blessing backs this up! The first and last paragraph warns me to stay humble! I need to continue to work on this, being humble... we read that there were hundreds of records kept in America let alone the world, but we have 531 precious pages of the Book of Mormon... Think about it, like a 5th of the book is dedicated to being humble as we read that pride cycle... Anyways, I thought it was cool.  That's just the biggest thing I get out of the scriptures at the moment.

19 December 2011
It saddened me to hear about Nana! I love her so much! Please send her my love!! She has been an amazing, positive infuence in my life! My prayers and thoughts are with her and you guys..



4-Wheel Driving whilst on exchange in Horsham



This week has been super fustrating.  We have a possible 9 baptismal dates that are slipping through our fingers because we don't have the k's to go visit them and we have been out of town... It's challenging having a limit on k's.. Ballarat is super big and hilly too, so it's just not effective to ride our bikes everywhere.  But we can drive to an area and then ride around the area. Also, we were only in Ballarat 3 days this week due to exchanges to Melton and Horsham!

Miracle of the week. 97 people at church yesterday!! That's a miracle! This week we have really focused on visiting less actives beacuse we realise that we need to strengthen our own members before reaching out.  Just like Nephi in Helaman taught his own people before converting the Lamanites.  Alot of less actives came! It was great, but at the same time there are huge issues in the ward... It's just an old ward and there is a bunch of clicks, but we're working on it.



I found a bread maker and a crock pot in the flat.. made a mean kangaroo pot roast last night and made my first loaf of bread.. it was sooo good!!



We have been getting really organised this past week with pin maps and we just finished going through the whole area book which hasn't been looked at for years. It's full of gold with investigators being dropped for no reason, just because missionaries were transfered.  We read through hundreds and have a lot of people to visit now. We have it all worked out in areas so if an appointment in an area falls through, we have someone we can see in the same area. (save on km's)

We are so looking foward to the next week...

honestly I know it's bad, but I couldn't care less for Christmas like I usually do, presents etc. like it's just another day out here in the mission.  It dosen't even go through my mind, but it is a great time of the year to teach about Christ...

Elder T Bennallack (B2)

25 December 2011 - Merry Christmas Elder T Bennallack:

Skyping with the whole family including Elder J Bennallack in
Besancon, France Lyon Mission.

Special Christmas phone call from Elder T Bennallack to his Nana to say a last goodbye to her..

26 December 2011

Heeeeeeeeeeeee's the birthday boy!!

50... That's awesome! I hope you have an amazing day! And an awesome party!!

BIG NEWS my companion has been transfered!!!! Well he's still here, but he got a call last night at 10:30 pm telling him to pack his bags. So it's crazy! We are way busy today packing then we're off to Wanterna again in the morning for transfers. I wonder who my new comp is going to be?

Exciting times, but at the same time I feel bad because he won't get to see the Blakes baptised. We saw them today and they told us there conversion process.  They are so solid! They have asked me to baptise them which is a real privilege... It looks like for this Saturday only the parents will get baptised because we want Bec, the 19 year old  to really have a firm testimony before she makes those covenants with God and as for Bella who is the 8 year old with mild autism, they want her to be able to understand better whats she's doing. So in time.  But the parents are really set and stoked.

Talk to you next week with my new companion... 

B2