Tuesday, December 15, 2015

12/14/2015 Report

... this week! 

We did a lot of service.

I got injured (tripped off the curb and went down...) The elders and my companion
said I airdropped :))  It's good now I can walk -- but can't run yet.  

We had some investigators show up to some Ward activities. 
The ward members are now finding people for us to teach!!..

It is third week into this transfer and time has gone by sooo fast. 

We are going to start caroling to our investigators next week and to our ward members. 

The work is going by slow, but that's just because it's the holiday season. 

We biked a lot before I got hurt. 

Found a lot of referrals for the English and Spanish missionaries.


I finished the Book of Mormon!! 
 I love this Book! 
I have learned so much about the history and personal things.
 Many questions were answered and I felt such peace and clarity while reading it.  
 I admit that while reading in 2 Nephi in the Isaiah chapters I got lost,  as well as in some chapters about the wars but I have learned sooo much by reading the Book of Mormon.   

know the Book of Mormon contains the word of God and 
I know Joseph Smith was called to translated it.  He was a prophet of God.

Reindeer? or MOOSINARIES?

"A couple of Moosinaries"

Monday, December 7, 2015

Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice greatly...

We biked a lot his week, luckily it wasn't raining and we met some people. 

One person pretty much told me through scriptures (the bible) that are women are stupid and that men shouldn't listen to them and that women can't teach the the teaching in the bible. 

I not going to lie, it was scary. He was a huge guy and he kept talking over me. So I just looked down at the scriptures read the last verse he gave me to read then I read the verse after and then I said " but the verse after that one says that men and women are equal..."  As I was saying this he hopped on his bike and yelled go home! 

I am in the worst part in Sacramento and nothing bad has happened except for that scary guy and the shooting some blocks down the way that happened a month ago.

Most everyone we are teaching do not seem to want to meet with us, but.....

There was this one man that we wanted to meet when we first came in and the people that lived there said he moved and we tried another time and the same result but a member told she had someone for us to teach and that she would take us to them. So she took us there and he was there then two days later he took the invitation to come to church.  He even bore his testimony!!  At the end of  church he told us that he wanted to come next week! Whaaaaaaat!!!

I finished 3rd and 4th Nephi.   I loved reading about our Savior and what he told those and the Americas. One if my favorite parts is when the Savior wept and prayed with the people. He loved everyone so much and that is what I love. I want to have that compassion and love that the Savior had for them. I already love everyone but I want to really see them as my brothers and sisters, children of our Heavenly Father.

I loved the new Christmas video the church put out this year.  Especially when they say... "Rejoice, rejoice,rejoice greatly...." I say those words so much that everyone know what I am going to say before I say it and beats me to saying it == but, the words remind me that I need to be joyful when I put on my name tag and talk to other about our Savior.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful Christmas season!

Saturday, December 5, 2015

Change...


11/16/2015
Hey everyone!! Wow this week was amazing! On Thursday we had a zone conference where Elder Hamula and his wife, as well as President and Sister Jardine. I have learned soo much from them. 

Elder Hamula talked about changing.  First ... we are agents and we shouldn't be someone that the world can act upon -- we must choose what we react to. 

Second .. we should fake it till we make it. We choose what we want to be. If you want to be happy -- then you smile and act happy -- Soon that is what you will become  --- happy.  

Third ... real change happens through Jesus Christ and his mercy.  When we want to change --  it can be hard, but through His strength -- all things are possible.

 I love the Book of Mormon, I am in Alma 36 and the I love Alma the Younger especially when he talks to his son about his conversion. He was in pure torment because of his sins, but just when he thought he couldn't hold on any longer -- he had a thought about our Savior and what the Savior did for us. After catching that thought and holding on to it he started to feel joy. I love that just a little thought brought him so much joy!! Imagine even a bigger thought of the sacrifice of our Savior can do for us ...for me!! I learned more too but that stood out this week. 

Another investigator, who is amazing, said "yes" to be baptized in three weeks!!!!!!! Seeing three of our investigators on date of baptism and seeing their relationship with God grow allows my testimony grow stronger and stronger.

I love being out here on the mission!!!


11/23/2015
Hey, so we had Brother Eric Shumway come and speak to 300 non-members (Tongan) at a fireside.  He speaks perfect Tongan and he is super funny!!   I couldn't really understand much of what he said, but at one point he told everyone "don't run away from the missionaries" as he pointed to us and then said "when they are chasing after you" --- everyone started laughing!!! 

Lots of LOVE, THANKSGIVING, and JOY

I love my Heavenly Father soooo much!
**Note -- We just noticed Sister Hyde and Sister Lavea's name tags are in different languages
Alot has happened this week of Thanksgiving!Thanksgiving Day was interesting.  
We had THREE Thanksgiving dinners!  

By the end of the second I felt like throwing up each time I put the fork to my mouth. Something cool happened at the second one though... 
There was a older couple walking outside and it was really cold outside --  
so Sister Lavea and I -- with Elders Toki and Langi  -- 
went outside to talk to them, give them some food and share a message. 
They said that we were kind BUT our message was not correct and then they scolded us.
  

Transfer calls came this week.  GUESS WHAT... I am sooo excited.....I get to stay with Sister Lavea!!!!!!!!! It doesn't happen very often that you stay with your companion in the same area  --- but we do!! I am so happy!!! 

I am done with the 12 week missionary training now!! I loved that too!

We have a new investigator and she said yes to baptism!! She is amazing!! 

I love this Ward too!! My Tongan and Samoan are getting a little better.. 
I don't know how to say a lot of words but when someone else says them --  I understand it!
  

We went to the temple today(I loved it!)and took along another sister who had transferred to our area.


If you get a chance -- watch the new Christmas video.   I love it soooooo much!  I love how excited all the kids are about talking about our Savior Jesus Christ.

I have decided I am going to be that joyful
 when I share the news of our Savior's birth to everyone.


I love you all -- 
HAVE A GOOOOOOOOD WEEK!

Sista Hyde



Antics of Sister Lavea

Scary? Shealyn says Sister Lavea LOVES to scare her.

SPITBALL PAYBACK
"Sister Lavea loves to spit spitballs at me but what comes around goes around... KARMA "

Beautiful Language


Enjoying the beautiful language of dance!
Sorry .... the video didn't auto correct position when the recorder was turned.

Nooooooo

 SOMETHING NEW

RANDY
 ... a new food option?
Uuuhhhhh...

Sunday, November 8, 2015

Some random & not so random comments

Soo much is happening-

I am not one of the new missionaries out now!! 

Marcia is going to be baptized this Saturday!!! I love her soo much. She has come a long ways but it is amazing when you can see the Lords hand throughout the day and the lives of others and me. I love him soo much for helping me.

We biked this week and it was amazing.  Met a lot of people which gave us a lot of appointments this week! One day when we biking we say three helicopters circling around the area where we were and they were saying to look out for a man wearing a black shirt riding a bike and Sister Lavea was a wearing a black shirt we booked it to the  car so she could put a white jacket on so they wouldn´t confuse us for him. Also the cars were not being nice because we´re in California and they go really fast.

I love my companion soo much she makes me laugh and makes me smile. Everyday she gives me a scare and then we laugh... she knows when I need to have a laugh. She has taught me soo much.  And how do I thank her ---  I felt soo bad --- I had to speak in front of the ward and I accidently said Sister "Valea" instead of Sister Lavea' -- so I called her "sister dumb" -- oh how embarassing but I quickly said her real name.  I was soo nervous -- but, she started to laugh and the Samoan members in the ward did too.

I had to say the opening prayer in sacrament meeting (that was interesting) and I had to say the last in english I only know a little bit. 

I know our Savior lives and that we are truly blessed to have a living prophet today.

I know that reading the scriptures helps us come closer to Christ and that families can be together forever. 

Oh, and carve a pumpkin for me! 

Long prayers use to annoy me but now they are growing on me.

I got my hair cut! It is shorter now and they say it looks nice.

I want to hear CC- I miss her shrills and how she says some words.

I love the Book of Mormon soo much I can´t wait to the next moment that I can read it .

I am learning soooo much.

I miss you alot and I pray for everyone back home. 




I love the costumes! My companion thought my twin was in the pic. Hahahaha.

Twin?
(I have thought Emily Rusch and Shealyn look enough alike to have been related. 
Truth be told as we walked up to the door for the Hickman's Halloween Celebration
Emily was behind us... John turn and did a visible double-take
He had to take a moment to calm his heart... he didn't know if
it was leaping for joy ... or racing with fear
So I guess, if she's willing -- 
we have our stand-in for family pictures... :)


Happy Birthday Leavitt
 from (his) Sister Shealyn Hyde


(We have watched this over and over.  Leavitt teared up with each time and simply said "sure do miss Shealyn")

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

I love being here...



This week has been amazing!

So Marcia--- she is the one who committed to be baptized on the 31st of October -- we took her on a Temple tour on Saturday and we had a lesson with her yesterday.  She said she wants to be baptized sooner! It makes me soooo happy to see the light of Christ shine through her eyes! 

She had been prepared.



I am so thankful for what Our Heavenly Father and our Savior does for us each day. 



We have another investigator- Ercia and we invited her to be baptized and she is thinking about it more. While she talks about what she knows and feels -- we know she wants to say yes but does´t because she is afraid to be labeled "Mormon". 


I love member work and I really love it when we go to a Family Home Evening and they have a referral for us --- I love that!!


I almost ran over a dog yesterday- but in my defense it it ran right in front of the car... it is alive.

I also am getting really good at touch rugby.  

My Tongan is coming along slowly -- but surely!

I love being here -- serving Heavenly Father, seeing my testimony grow and being able to see those around me grow. I know my Savior lives and that our Heavenly Father loves us. 

Taking up the challenge...

Sister Shealyn Hyde took up the "PONDERIZE" challenge.  
"I am trying to memorize this..."
Shealyn's mom comment insert -- 
"Looking at it just made me want to cry -- OH how my prayers will be filled with pleadings for the Lord to help her!"

District Photo

Shealyn's District 
(09/2015 thru 10/20/2015)


Thursday, October 15, 2015

Parrrrrtay!

Hey Dad!!

My companion is scarring me! Since it is Halloween month she is funny
but loves to scare me. Love her so much.

I hope you can see the video.
 https://drive.google.com/file/d/0By_zyE036gGqdlBSMHZWUzdNQVZZeXZlaHI1WlIyaEdFQUFN/view?usp=sharing

Watching the Native American dancing reminds me of when we went to Little Big Horn -- you did a rain dance 
AND THEN a few minutes later it poured down rain. 
That is one memory that I can not forget!

Some of the bishopric found out that I liked the Bulldogs and they
have been making comments about how they are doing and the Braves,  They are having fun. 

My Tongan is getting better too.



This is what I have almost every weekend at a members home... They

can't wait to feed me horse?! This was at a missionary return party
--- AND PARTY MEANS PARRRRRTaY. 
There were 16 pigs, a lot of crabs, huge lobsters, and tons of traditional food. 
(guess I don't have to worry about her being fed)
They had my favorite Oi Tai-mango -etc.




The power of a song...

So we are trying to reactivate members and trying to strengthen members
too and have them become familiar with our investigators.. So we are
setting appointments with everyone for family home evenings through out the
week and it has been amazing. We are gaining so much trust with them!!
Member work is so important!!

This clip of the video is just a taste of what this one family can do.





I am trying to memorize it! Love At Home! 
Being there,  with this huge family, 
made me remember mine and reminds me that I know families can be
together forever because of the knowledge restored through the Gospel.





We have a brand new investigator! She is a single mom of six and such an amazing lady. 
Her husband past away last year and she said that even though she is going
 through this trail she knows that our Heavenly Father loves her- 
that why we were sent to her!  Hearing her say that meant a lot and reconfirmed
why I came out here.  To share the happiness I have in my life from the Gospel to 
those who don't!  I love it. 


General Conference was amazing, I keep reading and thinking about
Elder Utchdorf's talk "It Works Wonderfully".  The gospel really does... work  -- 
I don't know who I would have been without it in my life.




I have been reading about our Savior's life in the New Testament and a
few days ago I read in Matthew 26 how before Jesus Christ went into
the the garden of Gethsemane he and the apostles sang a hymn.
I love singing hymns it really does bring the spirit. We were out trying to 
find this former investigator, they weren't home and we do not get back 
in to the car unless we get a referral or we talk to someone. So we went 
to a house couple a doors down were thee two teen girls were playing 
volleyball- we beat them.  They wanted us to sing, and so we sang a 
song that Sister Lavea remixed and they loved it! Then we sang a hymn 
and that really brought in the Spirit. We have a appointment this Wednesday 
... and we came to find out that that former investigator we had been looking
for... he is their grandpa!



We were in this one part of town  -- trying to see someone -- and there
were tons of high school students all around.  We couldn't drive

on the street! A man and a women told us to get out of the area -- 
They said there was a drive by shooting just a few hours earlier
and all the gangs are out fighting.  
(an answer to numberless prayers for her safety)
They said we looked really nice and
had seen our tags so they told us to go. 
They watched as we turned around and seemed
nice so... We are going back to their house on Thursday
 Its a small world --
He is from GA and used to live off of Stone Mtn Blvd! So Cool.



We had a ward missionary fireside yesterday and it was soooooooo gooooood!!!!
This Ward is going to do great for missionary work. The spirit was so
strong when we were teaching the Restoration. I love serving a mission
here in Sacrament California. It still is hot here but the night is
cooling off. I love reading about our Savior and what he did for us!!



Thank you everyone that emailed me this week it was super busy and
tiring- sepia ally Tuesday and Wednesday because last Monday, P-day I
got hit in the head three times- a football, basketball and a rugby ball. 
It was hard to read and stay awake 
(Rebecca insert) Can you say concussion?  
Again, I guess this is another reason why we pray for her safety.) 
but with the strength of Lord and words form home I feel tons better. 
So thank you! Hope you'all have a blessed week!

Love, Sister Hyde

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

Doing Great!

I am doing great!!

It rained this week and it was general conference!!!!
(Shealyn singing in the rain -- click below to see)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0By_zyE036gGqVzU2QWNSeExwRVpFaXpvSHVhczFuZkNPU1k4/view?usp=sharing


I am starting, ... well.. Sister Lavea is having me lead and start discussions and everything. We have this amazing investigator, Erica, and she is awesome and wants to learn more, making and keeping
commitments but we felt like we needed to pass her off because she isn't Tongan but is dating one... 
(Shealyn speaking Tongan -- click link below)
 https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwupY-_Ncq41Sl80bDBKUkx6QVYyV21ZbnliVlZLLThWUFRz/view?usp=sharing


We have been having a lot of Family Home Evenings with members.  They are going great.  A lot of them are about the gifts that we are given (Matthew 25) and the greatest gift he gave us was being grace. We related it to the piano story  -- read the talk His Grace is Sufficient https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/brad-wilcox_his-grace-is-sufficient/

I love that talk. 

How can we say we're thankful our Savior for providing our gifts?  I thought about this a lot.  

I am getting so much from this talk as well as reading about our Savior's life in the New Testament. 

For some P-day fun, we bowled today.  It was soon much fun!!! 
(Twinkle Toes -- Getting her Flinestone on -- click below)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0By_zyE036gGqaUJmM1FvUHNLLU5iTUlXbjVOd0pLT1dVbVBN/view?usp=sharing

We found another investigator!!

Love ya'all and hope you all the best.
Oh by the way,  the Tongans give us a lot of food to eat.   I love Sapa Sui,

 Otai!!

 I am sorry that I have been goofing around sorry, my emails will be
better. The week has gone by so fast we are trying to meet or see all
the investagors that the elders haven't seen in along time and it is
sad when we knock on their door and we hear people in the house but
telling people to quite down or when less actives tell us their
baptized and want to to come back so we check up on them and their
doing bad things. My heart drops. I want to share this winderful
gospel but all they wan to do is do their thing and just play games
with us because that is what the elders were doing. Dad I love working
with the Tongan and Samoan people they are the friendliest.
 I had my first whole roasted pig yesterday 
and they said just wait till you try
horse.....???? (Say WHAT?)

We have been working hard to to have less active families come back,
it is taking a lot and we just wonder what is making them not to
come.... Some the Lovedays say oh we're just lazy and it's too early
to get ready to go to church.... Church starts at 2 and ends at 5...
We are also trying to visit part-member families and try to have them
all come to church and deactivate them. Sometimes during the day it
can get long, and not hard but on a level like that but when Sunday
comes I feel that it wasn't too hard and that I can get through
anything with the Lords help.

Through teaching these families and our investigators I am able to see
how the Holy Ghost and the Gospel can change lives for the better. I
tried to imagine my life without it and all I could feel was confusion
and being lost. Knowing that I came here for a purpose with a family
who loves me and knowing that I am a child of God makes me fueled
loved and definitely not lost or confused ...Oh my Tongan is getting
better. All I really know introduction sentences, Heavenly Father,
beginning and ending in prayer. It is really hard but my spelling is
getting better and my pronunciation when I read out loud. The Bishop
asked me to memorized 2 Nephi 31:20 in Tongan.

Send me pics I would love too everyone!!!!!
Oh so since we are in a car we can listen to music and I got a ok to
have some of the songs from Jospeh and the tecni- coat of many colors.
And efy songs, mo-tab,the modish, instrumental ( cello would be nice,
piano.... Etc)  can you put a cd together for me. Or a flash drive...
There isn't a lot of music to listen to.
I live you all and I want to know what you're favorite talks were on
General Conference. 
I'll tell you mine next week because I am out of time.
Nofa ( goodbye) love, Sisita Hyde