Week 68


Kia Ora Whanau

This week we went on exchanges twice. It was funny because Sister Gudegeon and I are companions but have only spent 6 days together total and she went home on Sunday haha. 

On Tuesday I was in my area with Sister Su'a and Sister Vanu. We did alot of finding because we don't have any real investigators at the moment. We were contacting everyone on our map and it felt very directed by heaven. We went to contact a member who has apparently moved, but the new owners of the house were really nice. We started talking to the person living there, Ben, and apparently he was coming to church for 7 years over in Australia along time ago but never got baptized. It kind of seemed like he wasn't interested but I decided to invite him to learn more anyways and he said yes! He invited us over on Sunday to teach him and his family! It was really cool because normally he isn't home at that time of day so Heavenly Father for sure made it possible for us to meet that day. He ended up cancelling on Sunday because his family was busy but he rescheduled for next Sunday so we will see.

On Wednesday the only person that we are teaching that's progressing dropped us so that was no fun. He just didn't understand the necessity of baptism and didn't think he needed it. We had dinner with a less active - part member family. It was a cool experience because the entire time we were there I just felt this overwhelming amount of love for there family and I just met them for the first time that day. That's probably one of my favourite parts of  being a missionary, getting to feel of Heavenly Father's love for everyone! 

On Friday we had another exchange. We walked to the park and talked with everyone. As we were walking there someone stopped us and told me that I look too happy haha. I wanted to tell him that it's because of the gospel of Jesus Christ, but he walked away before I had the chance. Then when we were at the park we walked around and talked to heaps of people. We saw one man taking a nap and so we placed a book of mormon next to him to find when he woke up. Who knows what happened to it. Then on our way home I saw a man eating chips on a bench and I knew I had to talk to him. As we talked we found out he used to be taught by missionaries and he would be interested to learn more! He lives in Timaru so we passed along their contact information to him.

Saturday morning we went to a baptism that was happening in the Avon River ward. It was so spiritual and such a great service. It was done all in Tongan so I didn't understand most of what was said, but I understood the spirit that I felt. Later that day we had a lesson with the Ching family. We taught them the plan of salvation and they pretty readily accepted it! They've got heaps of potential, the only struggle though is that they are super busy these next two weeks which makes setting a return appointment a struggle. 

Sunday was a good day. It was fast and testimony meeting and so I had the opportunity to bear my testimony which is my favourite thing to do. I bore it on how the gospel and missionary work bring me so much joy! Because honestly I have never before felt so much joy before my mission! Missions are the best thing in the world! After church we took Sister Gudgeon to the airport to go home. It was weird because I only spent 6 days with her because of exchanges. Then in the afternoon we went and contacted a bunch of people, trying to build relationships and find people who are prepared to accept the gospel. Sister Su'a and I are so motivated to work hard and to find at least one person who can be baptized in the next 6 weeks. We are praying and fasting and working hard for miracles this transfer. 

Also on Sunday we found out that the Christchurch stake is forming a Samoan language unit on February 16th and Sister Su'a is the only Samoan missionary in our zone so that means that we will probably end up covering it which is so exciting! Stay tuned to find out with happens! 

This week my spiritual thought comes from Moroni 9:25 which says "may Christ lift thee up, and may his sufferings and death, and the showing his body unto our fathers, and his mercy and long-suffering, and the hope of his glory and of eternal life, rest in your mind forever." I love this because the last line says "rest in your mind". To me this means that the atonement isn't just to help us overcome physical trials but to also help us overcome our mental trials, the things that weigh heavy on our minds. I pray that this blessing giving from Mormon to his son Moroni will also be upon you and that the things that Christ did for us may rest on your minds and ease the burdens that may be there and give you peace. He is after all the Prince of Peace. 

Ofa Atu

Sister Olson 

Pictures: 
- Sister Siale and me living it up in the same zone! Thanks Heavenly Father for answering our prayers  
- The zone
- Me and my Soa, Sister Su'a
- Ice cream on exchanges with Sister Vanu 
-Sister Gudgeons last day







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