One Year Later....

Hello hello!

Well first you better tell the boots family(brother boots especially) i say hello! i reflect back on my farewell talk sometimes and it makes me cringe. my knowledge of the gospel and the book of mormon was primary level compared to what it is now. thank goodness i have a homecoming talk to redeem myslef. haha. topher is going to be a lights out missionary! he has no reason to be nervous.

This week! another busy one. my concept of time is gone.. the days all feel the same, i woke up today and didnt realize it was p day! The mini mission ended and we all meet back up at a chapel, the mini missionaries are given the opportunity to bear their testimonies and share experiences from their mini missions. it was SO cool! all i could think about was brandon as he's about to leave, and ty as the mission is not too far off. What amazed me was the power of these kids faith to come out and give up their time to do this!

Had another great week teaching *****! teaching is my drug. im addicted to teaching! if a missionary could teach all day everyday there would be no thoughts of home, or being sad, or discouraged. the feelings that come with teaching others about the restored gospel unforgetable, undeniable, unbelievable! ahha a lot of uns.. lol but its so true. teaching is what keeps us going. we taught some important commandments this week. Chastity, tithing, word of wisdom! she understood and accepted them all. she also passed her baptismal interview yesterday so we are 100 percent in the clear ready for the covanent! cant wait till friday.

Unfortunatly we couldnt catch up with carrol this week. it bums me out because she has been prepared and is ready. she just needs us to come over and have one more spiritual experience ans she will be hooked. with new people we find and teach it takes time for them to recognize the spirit for what it truly is. we dropped by carrols place probably 4 or 5 times before she let us teach her. then she realized what we had to say was good so she let us come back. from there we have to distinguish if she is for real by chruch attendence. if they come to church they are for real! we havent been able to really reach her the importance of church and we hope to next we see her. our job is just to present them pure doctrine and truth, their job is to use their agency. we havent been able to present her with enough yet.. sometimes i want to grab people and scream saying LET US FINISH! once we have taught them the basic lessons and commmandments then they can make their choice but it doesnt make any sense to stop seeing us until weve offered all we can offer. ah frustrating! but we still are feeling optimistic about her abd hopefully we can see her this week.

Im such a sook lately and i dont know why. i think being away from my family for an entire year has something to do with it.. a year is a long time not to see family. also, im genuinly loving those I serve and its turned me into a total baby. i dont want baptisms or high numbers to look good for my leaders or to show president what i accomplished this week. i just care for these people. i love them.

i read an article in this months ensign. called BECOMING perfect in Christ. if oyu havent read it yet do it! it tells us how the savior can transform us. change our expectations for ourselves and others! perfect doesn't mean without sin or mistake. it means completion, finishing, enduring. and applying the atonement on the way.

being a missionary will test you in every way possible. its up, down, left, and right. but one thing is consistant. if you work hard, you will be happy. if you give the lord everything he will take care of you. moroni 10:32 as you love lord with everything you have you will learn to love those around you. guys like us are far from perfect but if we let the atonement become our anchor even we can become perfected in christ. i love it. and i love you all! have a great week.

-Elder Jake Guzzo

The Most Amazing Week

Hello everyone!

This has been the busiest, most overwhelming, amazing week of my mission. I'm literally tired all the time. this week was constant go go go! transfers were hectic, picking a missionary up from the airport. I dont know how to explain it all that would make sense but just so BUSY!!

They do a program called "mini mission" here in the stake where priest age guys and girls get paired off with the missionaries or 5 days! they live with us and are basically missionaries for a short week. its pretty exciting for the youth to come out and do this. so not every companionship gets to have a mini missionary but elder poai and I were chosen. his name is khaleel. super nice kid but so unbelieveably shy. we picked him up up on saturday morning and he'll be with us till wednesday night. right when we got back to our area we had an appointment with ***** who is getting baptised on the 19th. we taught her the gospel of jesus christ! we had khaleel teach the last point, enduring to the end. he was so nervous! reminded me so much of being a new missionary! but he did a great job. I'm really impressed with how many youth will come out and do this mini misison. they are on school holidays so they are sacrificing precious time. I dont think when I was 17 I would have done it... very cool of them. after we taught ***** we went to see carrol. carrol is a fijian lady we found tracting. she is the sweetest most genuine lady ever. we went in and kept the same lesson plan that we had with ***** BUT at the end of this lesson I extended the invitation to be baptized by the priesthood authority of God. she looked up, paused... and said I would. yes, I will. it was the most textbook preach my gospel video lesson I have ever taught. this lesson showed me that Im a missionary. Ive been out an entire year and it finally shows.. my skills are being refined. I would have never in a million years pictured myself being able to teach like this. Ive learned to ask questions, listen, and teach to their needs. I dont mean to sound arrogant. ammon teaches us to boast not in ourselves but in the Lord. Im boasting of my heavenly father. the Lord truly blessed us that day! the faith of this young boy to give up his school holiday and come out with us brought a different spirit to the lesson. the Lord made sure we had a great experience so that khaleel can see the amazing side of misisonary work. what a blessing!

Another tender mercy I want to share with you. since i have been i the jandakot ward i have taken it upon myself to change the attitude of this ward in the mission. as you know last week was transfers and a new sister came into the area. she said to her companion. "Im so excited to be here, Ive heard amazing things about this ward and this district" WOW? two transfers ago people were dissapointed when they were called to come here... now its the place to be! and its nothing that specifically Ive done, but things heavenly father has shown us we need to do.

The assistants called and asked if we would be in their video for zone conference this week! haha we are supposed to give them a few video clips of us talking with everyone, a principle in preach my gospel. so we've been talking with everyone! one example today we pulled up to the drive through at mcdonalds and the lady took our order and asked anything else? and I asked have you ever wondered why you are here? where did you come from? and where are you going? hahhaha the lady didnt even respond it was so funny. so weve been doing goofy things like that hopefully it turns out good!

elder eti is from tuvalu! i do know that the fiji mission covers tuvalu. sounds like a fun week back home! oh and you know in sacrament meeting(fast and testimony meeting) i got up and went on a little rant about how proud I am to be American and how the independence of a free nation was a vital part in the restoration of the Lords kingdom here on earth. I tried not to be too loud and proud USA but i had too. hahah over all a great week. so so so busy i think when i sat down just barely it was the first time i though about home all week. Not that i dont miss all of you and pray for you all. my mind is just sinking deeper and deeper. i love you all.

-elder jake guzzo

Grilling at a ward party :)

Great week to be a Full-time Missionary

HELLO HOME!

What a great week to be a full time missionary. This week in the jandakot district we set two additional baptismal dates! the murdoch sisters and elder poai and I. We are so excited! The district is just flowing with energy and a desire to teach and serve. Her name is *****. She comes from a part member family and her parents aren't fully active. Brother reedy, myself and my companion went to their home to have a discussion with the father of the family about being the patriarch of his home and needing to lead by example. While there his 18 year old daughter came out and joined the discussion. We had a long talk about baptism and the blessings that come with being obedient. The father, with emotion, expressed to his daughter how he has been praying for an oppurtunity to tell her she needs to be baptised. I asked her how this made her feel and then followed up with a baptismal invitation for the 12 of July! Soon, but definatly possible. Exciting things are happening over here!!

 

I was studying this morning in Alma when he is giving advice to his son Corianton and he's telling him not to worry about the things he's done. Not to dwell on the past but to move forward. Then he goes on talking about crossing yourself or cross yourself of your iniquity. I had a little study on that and what exactly it means to cross yourself. What I came up with is self mastery. The Lord doesn't expect us to be without sin and mistakes but he does expect us to learn to overcome them. Easier said than done right? But its true. The mistakes we make can ultimatly become our greatest blessing. This family the ***** are great people but they have let laziness and pride distance themselvs from the Lord! I think last night the spirit told the father that what's done is done. He hasn't always been the best example to his family and hasn't been a preisthood leader. BUT he's ready to change and get things in order. THAT'S WHAT IT'S ABOUT! We didn't teach that lesson last night, the father did. We just invited the spirit with good questions. That's what the power of a priesthood holder in the home can do. Change hearts.

 

my ankle is getting better slowly but surely. sister davis came but and brought us food! but yeah still a little tender in the mornings but the swelling is going down. my range of motion is coming back as well. trying to still be careful with it but its feeling a lot better. I never got in to see the doctor. this hospital is a complete joke everytime I call to schedule it(exact time they tell me to call the previous time) they give me a new story about how I need to call a different day. WA truly does stand for wait awhile! all good I'm over it. Its healing.

 

sounds like some exciting things are happening. I'll for sure have to send brandon an email to congratulate him. I wish I understood back then how big of a deal becoming an Elder is. I just didnt get it.

 

aww tennis with gram very fun! tell her i love her. haha yeah soccer is pretty lame but the world cup is a big deal! go USA. 

 

Overall it's been a really great week! I love you mom.

Remember I'm Happy

HELLO MOMMA!

Sounds like quite the week back home! My cute baby sister is 15.. wow! I hope she had a great day. AND brandon!! wow I cannot begin to express how excited I am for him. There is nothing greater than being a full time missionary! he will see. Is he speaking spanish?

Ty the delinquent priest lol! goood for him such a big step. looks like you all enjoyed the simis pool for the last time? :( crazy

Well this week was good! to start off my district meeting went really well. i LOVE my district! the sisters are so gun and make things happen and the elders are solid! we had group p90x exercise last night which was awesome! a district that works out together, saves souls together! hahha also our district had the best numbers in the zone last week so thats always good when we are performing. you always say I'm only as happy as my saddest child, well I'm applying that to my district. In the sense that our district is only doing as well as the most struggling companionship. so when they arent doing good we all get together and work in their area to help them out! pretty good stuff!

Best- probably just how busy we were in general this week. it was stressful at times but way better than being bored. and the fact that we are doing so well is great!

Worst- so we set up to do a FHE with a part member family. the father is a less active member and his wife and three kids are not members so we had scheduled to do a fhe with them and they cancled an hour prior to the lesson. some times people just dont understand how much time and effort we put in to lessons. I'd rather them straight up tell us they arent interested than tell us to come and than cancel last minute.

Silliest-this didnt happen to us but the sisters in my district sisters hancock and tukuafu. so sis tukuafu is new and she was stressin about her appointment and remembering this ladys name so before the lesson she said it over and over again so she wouldnt forget. the ladys name is ashlee. so they get to the appointment and sister tukuafu shakes her hand and says "hi, I'm ashlee" hahaha the lady looks at her and is all you are ashlee too?? haha how funny is that?

another funny thing, also sad. I was working out with those exercise bands that have the handles and all that and so the band was hooked behind the door. so I was doing an exercise and the band stopper (like a baseball size ball that goes behind the door so you can pull it) anyway the door gets pulled open and the ball comes flying at me and just hits me square in the chest and takes me out. it hurt so bad but also was so funny i didnt know whether to laugh or cry ahahahaha! so yeah funny week.

so yeah thats that! but I love you so much mom. I hope you have a great week. and remember I'm so happy!

-elder guzzo

Elder Guzzo in Success

Hello! Seems like so much has happened since we last talked!! Sounds like you guys had a great time in Vegas! And so much is happening.. cant believe its already lake time again.. So jealous.

K so things are good over here in the Success area! First thing is our flat. Oh my gosh it's crazy. So we literally live in an office building.. like we share a flat with this Indian lawyer. Our area is secluded but his bathroom to his office is in our flat. Very strange. We’ll be in there studying in the morning and some random guy walks buy?? hahah crazy. Its a nice flat but super super small.

Elder ***** is the man. He is the most stereotypical missionary. Innocent, obedient, and happy! haha, which is soo good! It’s refreshing to be with someone who wants to be here and work hard! He's an Idaho farm boy :) Our area is massive!! And I'm right in the city so its different than what I’m used too. Traffic all day, people everywhere! merriwa was far from the city and really laid back. I feel like I'm in salt lake or even Vegas some times! But it’s a great area. I haven't heard good things about the ward and didn’t get to really meet them cause it was conference.. So I'll meet them next week I guess.

Conference was unreal. I genuinely loved every talk! Priesthood is always my favorite! President eyring talked about priesthood heroes and how we naturally copy these priesthood men we look up too. I have so many solid priesthood heroes in my life! Naturally I instantly thought of my grandpa. And elder oaks boldy and lovingly explained the priesthood in a way that shows men and women how vital it is in our lives. I also think there was a talk in the Sunday afternoon session where someone, I don’t quite remember who, talked of living close with his family and the importance of staying close with the family! Made me think of out family and how much we care about one another!!

We have done quite a bit of less active work this week, which is always great. Flying around inviting everyone we could to come watch the living prophet speak to us! Only had one lady turn up but that’s okay! It’s all about that one. We have a busy as week coming up! heaps of dinner appts:) missed that. And investigators we will be seeing! So good to be busy again.

Mom, you are going to kill me. We stayed the night at the other elders flat in our district and so I don’t have my camera.... I know I promised and I seriously feel horrible about it. I don’t have as much time as I did in geraldton cause I'm back at a library. So email back quick! I love you!

Busy Week

Hey! 

been a hectic week over here! we had branch conference so the stake presidency came up with a bunch of other stake leaders and it was crazy.

Since I'm the branch clerk I had to go to all the meetings and all that good stuff. we went on rescue visits as well, and I went with one of president lindsays counselors in the mission presidency and of all the people we went to see, not a single one was home and it was a disaster haha! but he served a mission, so he understands how it goes.. then we had a branch valentines party after the visits which was fun! bro ferris from merriwa ward is in the high council so he came up with them and I got to see him. We talked about **** and **** and he said they are still solid and go to church every week! he said **** has a calling! I cant exactly remember what it is, but that's pretty great. 

this next week is going to be wild too. we have to get everything ready for ****** baptism and unlike normal wards we dont have a ward mission leader or a relief society to help us plan things.. so we'll be doing it all as usual. should be pretty great though! as of right now **** isnt going to be baptised this week, but who knows. shes 13 years old which is a tough age, all she wants to do is fight with her mom and do the opposite of what her mom wants her to do just because. its killing me. but I know..

the Argyles are going to take us to this place called kalbarri this week. its like an hour and half drive north of geraldton and its supposed to be so pretty! big diffs into the ocean and kangaroos and so we're pretty excited about that! I wish I had a pic to send you of the Argyles! they are seriously my favorite people. they remind me a lot of grandma and grandpa. they have been married for ages but they still laugh at eachother and love eachother so much! hahah but they really like elder eti and I and so we spend a lot of time with them. great people! and why I'm telling you this is because I know you and dad talk about it but you two have to serve a mission. HAVE to no option. whatever you need to start doing to get yourself ready, start doing it! senior couples have such a great impact. think about it, you and dad could be serving in some small town in who knows where, running this little branch. dads the branch president you're the relief society pres and you two make things happen there. if this branch didnt have the Argyles it would fall apart! I'm serious guys. You HAVE to.

Best- after a long branch conference of meetings and stress! the stake president came up to me and took me by the arm and said, you are doing an amazing job up here. I'll make sure president lindsay knows about all the hard work you are doing up here!!

Worst-definately when I was with one of the mission presidency on less active visits and no one was home... so bad.

Silliest-when I'm at the flat I put on those nike sandals cause our floors are gross.. any way the Argyles were coming to pick us up to go some where and I was all ready walked out, got in the car, we drove to our appointment and I look down to get out of the car and I'm still wearing the sandals.. ahahah all my church clothes with the sandals on! haha so funny

so its been a great week! busy and that makes the time fly. these past few weeks have been on fast forward I swear. this is the last week of the transfer! I don't think elder eti and I will be going any where but still! cant believe this transfer has come and gone. cant wait to hear all about the family this week. 

love you all.

-elder guzzo

Book of Mormon Challenge

G'day everyone!

So it's been a great week here in Geraldton. First thing our baptismal date... ****** is back in town and doing great! She called us to come see her the day after she got back and she was kind of a mess at first. ******* battles with depression and is all over the place some times. Her partner left her with three kids and wants nothing to do with them and from the way she tells the story, he's been a pretty bad guy to  her and the kids (granted there are two sides to every story... but still) so that is really hard for her. She doesnt usually trust men anymore and her self confidence is gone! poor girl. So we start talking to her and she is clearly having a down day, she invited us over to come talk with her but we were doing all the talking.. elder eti and I were really struggling as to how to help her. Luckily we had the senior couple, Elder and Sister Argyle there with us and they did a great job talking to her in a way that helped her open up to us. ****** said she still really wants to be baptised and really believes that the church can help her! which it will! so this is good. She came to church and brought her oldest daughter with her, and now her daughter is interested so that's good too! ****** is having a house inspection this week and so we asked her if she needed any help because the house is pretty gross. So we came and cleaned and mowed her lawn and edged and made it look really good! She was so happy. So thats it with ******* for now. We have a few more things to teach her but I'm very confident that she will be baptised on the 8th of February as planned.

So the pacific area president Elder James Hamula is coming to speak to our mission in March and he has challenged the entire mission to read the book of mormon cover to cover by the 7th of March. WHAT THE?? It's gonna be crazy. Pres Lindsay is making a schedule and we're looking at a solid 15 pages a day! gonna be nutz. But as we read we highlight any reference to the gospel of Jesus Christ. so..

Faith in Jesus Christ

Repentence

Baptism

Revieving the gift of the holy ghost

Enduring to the end.

Finding these things shouldn't be hard at all. In fact, we might spend more time highlighting then aacctually reading but hey it should be sweet! So I'm challenging all of you who read this to get yourself a paper back copy of the book of mormon and read it by the 7th of March with the australia perth mission! I can promise it will change everything. 

So that's about it for this week. Elder Eti and I are having a great time up here and never want to go back to the city! hahaha. love you all!

elder guzzo 

Gone Country

hey mom! 

So some crazy things have been happening over here. Turner went home on Friday, so I've been in a three way with Elder Shinn and his companion. But I got a call from President Lindsay this morning and he told me that I'm going to my new area tomorrow... and the crazy part is I'm goin country. Remember how I explained country on the phone? Just me, my comp and no one else for miles… I'm excited but at the same time not. Ha! I've been here for so long and I have a day to say goodbye to everyone and pack. I'm pretty stressed!  ahh I don't know what to think, like literally I will be away from everyone! all the missionaries say that when you go country and then come back its never the same. hahaha! It should be cool but just not what I was expecting right now ya know? I think there's only one branch in the area, not even a ward, so we'll be busy. I just hope I get a cool companion! The library is closed today, so we're emailing at a members and I don't have a ton of time. Are you online?

I have to go mom. I love you have a good week!

** I just received this message from a member of Elder Guzzo's ward. This family, and many others, have taken such good care of my boy! I'm so grateful for the awesome members in Australia!!

hey sister Guzzo and family just want to say that Elder Guzzo had be transferred to the country and were so sad feels like there's a part of my heart that is missing and it has been such an amazing pleasure having him in my house and serving in our ward, next holiday destination is Provo in the new year for sure so great how I have family living there and NOW extended family (The Guzzo Family) that I can visit/stay at while over in your guys area haha so we shall keep in touch!!! Such an amazing son/Elder you guys have!!! What an amazing blessing!!! sad to see him go

Not much to say today… Just can't wait to Skype!!

What up dad? yeah! That would be cool if you got them a leg of lamb, either way I think they will be pretty stoked! have you sent it yet? It would be easier if you just ordered it cause its a struggle to get rides places and chucking a 5 kg leg of lamb on my back and riding my bike home doesn't sound that fun! haha. you know me! not gonna let people see me with lamb on my back, especially riding a bike! Ha! It's felt different here because the christmas traditions are totally backward since its so hot! It's so weird that Christmas is in two days…  it feels like its the middle of July right now! the work is good.. it's been slower during christmas time. no one is home or no one has time for us, but it's all goods!

Mama, Will you check my account and see if I have any money? I don't know where my money goes. I've spent a lot of money on public transportation going to meetings since being DL. I'm sorry that I've needed extra, I'll be smarter with my money. There is this microniesan girl in my district that has absolutely no money from home.. and living off of what the church gives us is really hard. Anyway, her family cant afford to send her stuff for christmas so I went a little crazy on her.. like I bought her a couple cute skirts from kmart and then a few shirts and some candy!! I can't wait to give it to her, she's such a sweetheart. 

Blake sent me the best email ever! hug him for me please and tell uncle rick I miss him! Ty sent me a pic of all the boys at wingshak and it about killed me. haha! I miss everyone so much!! So let's talk Skype. I'll call you on your Christmas Eve, it will be christmas morning for me which will be sweet to talk! Then we can set up Skype on your Christmas Day, Boxing Day here. I'm sending a few random photos...

(The Elder on the left is the son of a friend of a friend. I just heard about him serving in Perth this week, so it was funny when I noticed that this was him. I told Jake about the connection and here's his reply)

hahah Elder Rigby is the man! he is elder turners intake! I wish I would have trained him lol. he's a cool kid! well I have ten minutes left.. anything else before we talk in two days??!! ahhh. And what is going on with gay marriage in Utah??

I love yous so much! Can't wait to talk to you all in 2 days!!!! BYYEEE -elder guzzo

The Fourth Missionary

Hello family, sorry it's been a busy day. I had to go to the mission office this morning.. so yeah I just got to the library. but while I was in the office I got one of my birthday packages!! the one with the pants and the ties!! I loved them so much, thank you mommy!!

With everything going on with my comp it's been a stressful week, but I'm doing fine mom. I don't take this lightly when I say this. I LOVE my mission!! I want you to google something called The Fourth Missionary. I read this and it changed my mission. I'm doing all I can to be the fourth missionary. I miss home but don't want to be there! I miss all of you but I know I'm not going to see you for 19 more months and I've come to peace with that. My mission is going to change who I am. I've bludged my way through life but I'm not doing that out here. Don't worry about me mom! I came here to struggle and I'm learning so much. okay? okay.

9 more days I cant WAIT! I'm going to call you on christmas eve to tell you details about when we are skyping and all that! but we still have one more p day until then so we can cross that bridge when we get there. my b day was good! des and hiri threw me a bbq and a few members came and it was chill. I'll send you a bunch of pics right now. The sisters in my district threw me a little party too and bought me that shirt and shorts I'm wearing!

momma I got to go. I love you so much! thanks for everything. I wasn't able to write all the family but tell them I love them and read the fourth missionary. have a great week!