Week 12

Kia Ora Whanau 

Man this week so much stuff happened. This was a learning week for sure. 

On Tuesday we had an appointment with Seiara's parents. We had planned to share a condensed version of the restoration but when we showed up, our plans had changed. Seiara seemed very nervous and all she said was "Are you ready? Good luck." I was like what the heck is going to happen, like why do we need luck. Then her parents came into the room with a fat stack of papers full of questions. The stack was at least 1.5 cm thick. I was like wow okay these people have done some research. We were planning to spend and hour there max and we ended up taking 3 hours to go through and answer all of their questions. It was actually a really positive experience because we were able to clear up some misconceptions and concerns that they had and build a good relationship with them. Seiara was so relieved when it was over haha. We had a good little chat with her after and she was so determined to get baptized and then she said that she wants to serve a mission when she's 19. She is so inspiring. I love her to death.

Thursday was a super awesome day! We had another lesson with Seiara that was really powerful. We taught her about prayer and why it's so important and powerful. She really got it and the spirit was so strong. The prayer that she said to close our lesson was powerful. You could feel the sincerity and the genuine desire she has to come unto Christ and strengthen her relationship with Him and Heavenly Father. After our lesson with her we went on exchanges. I was with Sister Tui'onetoa and Sister Mamea. We had a lesson with our investigator Martin, and we taught him about the gospel of Jesus Christ. Going into the lesson, I told the Sisters that we weren't planning to set a baptisimal date with him, but then during the lesson I got this undeniable prompting to invite him to be baptized. He was so excited to be invited to be baptizd and he said yes! So February 23 Martin will be getting baptized!! It's so cool to recognize how God knows His children and what they need and how it's often different from what we think.

The exchange was an odd one because Sister Barao and Sister Jones, who were suppose to spend the night at the other flat, ended up spending the night at our flat for saftey reasons. We are all safe and protected but the office is working on getting another flat for the other sisters. 

Friday we did a lot of walking and a lot of contacting. Most of our appointments fell through which was a little frustrating. It was just an average missionary day. Still a good day though.

Saturday we went through the Come Follow Me lesson for the week with Seiara and her member friend. I am so excited for this program because it is going to help us all become more converted. It makes us accountable for our own learning and prevents us from being passive. I'm excited for it for me because I will become more converted to the gospel, but I am so excited for new members because it will help them establish good study habits that willl help them be truly converted and help them endure to the end. 

It is such a blessing getting to witness the conversion of others. Coming on a mission was not in my plans, it was in God's, but I am so grateful He prompted me towards this path because it has been such a priviledge getting to come unto Him every day. 

My spiritual thought this week comes from Alma 40:11. Here, Alma is teaching about what happens after we die, and he says that we are "taken home to that God who gave [us] life." The word home really stood out to me. Being a missionary, I am so far away from home. I miss it everyday and I am excited for the day that I get to return home. I know when I do go home it will be such an exciting and happy day. If it is going to be so amazing and bring me joy to go back to my home in Canada, then imagine how much happier and how much more exciting it will be to get to go back to our Heavenly home. It just motivates me to do all I can in this life so that I am able to go home. A place of familiarity, security, and peace. Even when it's hard, just remember how wonderful it's going to be the day that you get to go home to your Heavenly parents. 

Ofa Atu

Sister Olson


Me and sister Barao and sister Mamea and some girls that are in our ward that are moving

All the sisters in the ward with a family that's moving

Pampered myself spiritually through scripture study and physically through a face mask

Sister Jones and I got this stinking delicious gelato

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