Finding Myself

So the work here has been really slow but now it is starting to pick up! 

We have two investigators who are going to be baptized this next month! 
Zake and Pio! 
They are both doing really well.  Each have things to work on but who doesn't.  
I am so glad I have gotten to know them because they have taught me so much. 

Working in the Tongan Ward boundaries has been a challenge.

There are not a lot of Tongans or Somaons who are ready to leave their church 
and their culture to join ours.  

Those that are "ready" --  are the sons or daughters of pastors from other churches, 

soo.... since there are only a few people to teach we have been working hard

with the less active members and the youth. 

The ward missionaries are such a huge help --  when they help us.

It seems to work that when they are involved with our investigators -- their families start to help 
and then our investigators want to get baptized! 

We have been teaming up with the young women of the ward who have just graduated -

(same year as me, CRAZY! RIGHT!) to come out with us and teach.

Since the beginning of me being here -- 
FOUR young women have decided to go on missions! 

 They are incredible women who are ready to serve the Lord. Wow!! 


Now we are trying to get the young men just as excited to serve, but they are more trickier.

The picture above is Aluxus, who helps us when we go teach Zake.  

 We had a missionary broadcast this week and it was amazing! 
I love Elder Bednar and Elder Oaks!

I loved how Elder Oaks said - don't go home realizing that you had missed opportunities. 
That really struck me.
 I have made a goal to be being more confident in the Holy Ghost, 
Heavenly Father and in our Savior.   All the time.
I have been seeing that if I really rely on them everyday then I

won't have those missed opportunities.  
I try to talk and smile at everyone.  
I realize that I've been sent here to give them a chance to have

the Holy Ghost teach them about our Savior's love.  

From one of the last conferences, I heard it should be like I am a doctor 
working as hard as I can for my dying patient -- 
to give them the chance to live.  

 I decided that -- Yes! I want to use all of those doctor's tools to have this person live! 
The funny thing is that as I have been so much more confident in them -- 
I am more confident in myself!   I am finding and fixing myself in the process.  
I never imagined this... I mean, before coming and since being on a mission
 I often heard the secret to fix all on the mission was 
 "just forget yourself and go to work". 
I did and now I see why. 
When I do all I can to help others -- 
 to know who they are and why they are here -- 
I am find myself! 

Sorry to be preachy. I just thought that would be really cool to share.

We played a mix game of dodge-ball and baseball today! 
It was so nice to get my hands on a bat and gloves!

Love y'all and hope you have a great week!

Fool me once...but twice....REALLY!

Jump -n- Shout

2015 California Sacramento Mission Photo

It is good to know...

Soo much has happened this week. Went to the temple today, went to DI

and all the workers said Hi Sisters! , transfers came and I get to

stay in the Tala Ofa Ward and still get to learn Tongan and Somaon !!,

I had two great lessons this week

We went to go see a potential investigator but instead of seeing

her we got to see her sister, Irene! She said, while smoking and escorting us down the drive way, "we're kinda busy right now so can you come by another time?"

I had been wanting to speak to someone the whole day -- so I whipped out my iPad and said 

"Oh,  sorry.   But,  hey...  so there is a new video that came out.  We are asking people to see it and give us suggestions about what could make it better.  Can you watch it and tell us what you think?"She said, "sure, ok."  and then asked, "are you two in it?"

I said, "nope, but that could have made it even more better, I'll write the person and tell them you suggested it -- but, I think this video is just about perfect." then I pressed play... 

( the video was - A World Without a Savior) 

When the video finished she was crying.. I asked her, "What do you think right now and how do you feel? She said, " I feel reminded of my purpose to remember that a savior really did come for me and that you two are sent here to help me. "

We talked some more and as I was talking, I saw the Book of Mormon in my companions hands and said ... "One way that we can come to know more about our Savior and what he has done for us is in this book, ... your book. This book will help you make the decisions that will direct you in times of need and right now."   She looked at it and I said "this is your book --  sooo" .... I opened it up grabbed my pen and wrote - "for Irene G. From the Sister missionaries".  My companion for the day(exchanges) - Sister Clark grabbed the book

showed Irene, the passage she should read and bore her testimony.  Then, I bore mine. 

After that she said, " thank you" and she said, "she felt different ... a good different."

  So of course she will read it! 

She then turned to Sister Clark and said, "can I have my book back." 

She said "MY" book not "the" book. 

 It got me thinking -- 

The Book of Mormon IS... HER book 

.... and it is MY book 

... IT IS EVERYONE'S book!

.  

I know The Book of Mormon is true.

  I know it is another testament of Jesus Christ. 

 It will provide you with peace and direction in times of need!

OH, I don't have time to share the second experience, 

so I guess I will save that treat for the next pday !

Love you all and hope you all are doing great!

Happpppyyyy NEW Yearrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

01/04/2016

Hi everyone.!!!! Happpppyyyyy New Yearrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you to those happy new year wishes! 

New Years was great.  

Got to see some of our investigators that we haven't seen in a long time. 

The  missionary work is going slow because it is the holiday season, 

but

that is ok 

because it shows that they are spending time with their families 

and that is what this holiday season is all about --  right?!

Oh!

And of course our Savior! 

We had a Ward New Year's Day party and a lot

of nonmembers came to it and it was great to meet them. They laughed

when I tried to speak Tongan to them 

but... that is one of the best conversation starters. 

The member make us do some crazy things, like

eating some strange things... I had mana poa's -which are turkey tails... 

It was alright ...... but, I played volleyball in a skirt and that was fun.

We went biking this week.  It was cold but we got to meet a few

people. We did a lot of service this week too. 

I love serving others and the Lord!

I bore my testimony this week at church and I also started the Book of

Mormon again.  I am just finishing the Book of Mosiah.   I love

King Benjamin's counsel to the people

 and it was perfect for this time of year.  

Love you all and hope this year will be one of the best!!