Video Chat - 21st March 2022 - The Borders Start Opening Up

Another P Day chat with Elder East. Transfers was coming up the next day (22nd Mar) and the big news was that the borders are starting to open up. The AAM would be losing three missionaries as they proceed to their original assignments in Perth.  

There would also be three missionaries going home this transfer including his former companion Elder Nalesoni and Sister Ip. 

There were several new missionaries coming into the mission. One would be arriving on Thursday (24th Mar) and staying overnight with the APs until Friday when his trainer would be arriving. Then on Friday another missionary would be arriving. This one was coming from America although he holds an Aussie passport. He was going to be staying with the APs until Monday (28th Mar). Elder East joked that he should probably count both of the misisoanries who'd be staying with them as additional companions and trainees of his. 

A quick photo of Elders East & Ma'a eating out last week.

A few updates on events during the week:

• They went street contacting in the CBD during trade-offs with members from the City Branch on Thursday.
• On Thursday evening they had dinner and did a lesson with Sister Johansson and the Johnasson family.
• On Saturday they had an appointment with an investigator fall through. It was the same person that Elder Lekias had accompanied them to fellowship with the previous week.
• We commented about how two girls Elder East knew had both just been set apart for their missions - Utopia Kikkert and Emma Davison.
• The APs attended Firle Stake Conference over the weekend. (19th & 20th Mar.) We had Stake Conference in Canberra as well, with Elder Lekias in attendance. We were planning to catch up with him to chat about Elder East, however, we ended up being in quarantine with Covid, so didn't get the chance. We did learn whilst watching the Stake Conference broadcast that Elder Leakias and President Johansson had been mission companions serving in Christchurch together.

Elder East shared with us several photos during our chat.

Elders East and Ma'a joined Sister Bridge and her trainee, Sister Denton, to help provide some service on Saturday morning. They joined in with some members from Onkaparinga Ward that Elder East knew in helping somebody to move house. The other three missionaries apart from Sister Denton are all in the last few months of their mission and Elder East said they were joking with Sister Denton about the fact they were all going home whilst she's only starting her mission.  

There were also several photos from a District Meeting during the week. A member who runs a donut shop had provided donuts for the missionaries.

The final photo he sent us was of a waterfall and lake. The APs were doing some location scouting for a video to be made around the "Waters of Mormon" and this looks like a candidate to be used.