Ua Toetu o Ia

 Talofa lava, o'u 'āiga ma uo! I hope yall had a blessed Easter Sabbath and strived to learn the reason for the season: our Lord and Savior lives! 

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I love my brother, Jesus Christ, and I know that He lives. If not, I wouldn't be serving a mission.

Honestly, everyday, I'm scared to go out. I sometimes think to myself, "I need more time inside to study. I'm not prepared enough." Or, "How can I follow the Spirit if I still struggle speaking to people in general?" Countless thoughts like these swirl through my mind as me and my companion head out the door of our MQ and start walking to wherever we have planned.

When I get overwhelmed with thoughts like those, I have to stop and remind myself of the reason why I chose to serve in the first place. I chose to serve so that others can know that there is true joy, love, hope, peace, justice, and mercy through Jesus Christ and His true church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The moment I remember my purpose for serving, I remember what the Lord has done for me in the past, in the present, and for those I read in the scriptures. I have my weaknesses, yes, but Jesus Christ is my strength that pushes me to go out everyday.

John 14:27 - Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Ua toetu o Ia 

Ou te fai atu nei mea i le suafa o Iesu Keriso, 'amene.

Arohanui&Alofa Atu ♡

- Sister Wihongi

Fasi oe?

 Talofa lava, o'u āiga ma uo! ♡

This email will be highlights of the weeks I missed and this past week. I'm realizing how fast time is going.  I just got started! 18 months is too short.  Anyways, I'm gonna scratch my last email format because it lowkey stressed me out for no reason, lol. I'll use it to catagorize the highlights though.

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Spiritual

• Sister Kiso and I were able to teach Pupula (Grace's husband) all the lessons, and I was given the privilege of asking him to be baptized. Grace and Pupula were baptized this past Friday!  After a few challenges of walking through pouring rain for their interviews and pushing the scheduled baptism back due to personal issues, they finally reached the waters and made their first covenants with God. I had the honor of sharing a spiritual thought for their baptismal service. So I shared with them 2 Nifae (Nephi) 31:5-12 along with my thoughts and testimony. I was teary eyed while preparing it, but luckily I didn't cry while I shared.  They are such a nice couple and I can't help but imagine them being sealed in the temple to each other and to their children in the near future.  They had been coming to church the past few Sundays and it always makes me so happy to see their faces.
• We had zone conference recently. The highlight was singing time with Sister Reid and Sister Taleni's testimony. We learned how to sign Scripture Power! I was reminded of the fact that I'm where the Lord needs me to be from Sister Taleni's testimony. I've had and still do experience many feelings of inadequacy in certain aspects of the mission. But, knowing the Lord sent me here at this point in time encourages me to try my best because He will make up for my shortcomings.
• I went on a split with Sister Loulanting in her area in Fusi. Much respect for STL's because they do a lot.  It was a much needed exchange. We visited a nice lady who showed us a cool view of the ocean behind her home, and sang a few songs for a man who couldn't talk and a near-deaf old man. Sister Loulanting remembered how to sign the primary song "I Will Go I Will Do" from one of Sister Reid's past singing times and did it for the man who couldn't talk because he knew how to sign. It was heartwarming to see him trying to learn it too. We were about to have a break when Sister Loulanting just continued walking to a blind-ish man's home as she said "We're gonna be rejected, I can feel it." Next thing we know, we're teaching him about the plan of salvation and the temple.
• We are currently teaching two kids right now. Vaoese (teine) and Jay (tama).

Social

• The members celebrated the 183rd Birthday of Aualofa (Relief Society) with food, games, and a dance party, lol. YSA also had a dance, but on another day. A councelor in the Sili 2nd Ward always comes in clutch with his giant speakers with music so loud, you could feel the vibrations from the MQ (aka Missionary Quarters aka our little home which is right beside the falesa (church building)).
• The greatest blessing here in Sili are the members. They have a close relationship with us and they give us many referrals. They treat us with the utmost respect that it's almost frustrating because it should be the other way around as we are here to serve them as missionaries. I love having fafagas because I get to see the many different families in all the wards.
• The past pdays consisted of baking apple crisps at the Wrights home with all the Sister missionaries of Savaii, a zone bbq in Vaitoomuli, and eating at Adria's Café again.  The apple crisps were so good with ice cream. The Elders did a great job at barbecuing the moa (chicken). And at the cafe, I just had a fruit smoothie, but it was good. Oh yeah, and pdays are moved to Mondays now. 

Physical

• Some families have plantations and some have their own little shops. They grow their own stuff and everything. Very convenient but also a lot of work. Being here has increased my admiration and gratitude for our bodies and also for women for all they do to nurture and care for their children. It's so crazy to think that we're made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27).  No wonder we can do such amazing things when we put our heart and minds to them.
• Sister Kiso re-injured a past injury during a district meeting game, so that week was spent caring for her, lots of chores, and fafagas dropped from RTV!  She was in a lot of pain and it broke my heart. The ZL's gave her a blessing and it was Spirit felt.
• Transferrrrs. Sister Kiso left me and went to Upolu in Pulaele.  The title of this email is in tribute to her. Sister Solovi is now my soa.  Sister Solovi is Samoan too, but from Upolu. She's never been to Savaii until now. I'll do my best to lead here in Sili. 
• Sili 2nd had a devotional based around the 3 kingdoms of glory: Celestial, Terrestrial, and Telestial. Everyone had to choose a food: popo (coconut), apu (apple), or vi (a green fruit I didn't even know existed until I came here). Depending on the food they chose, they went to a classroom which represented a kingdom. Many people chose apple, then vi, and less than 10 people chose coconut. Before I tell you which food is which kingdom, tell me honestly, which food would you choose? 

 (vi) = Telestial |  = Terrestrial |  = Celestial

Intellectual

• Sister Kiso is better now after listening to careful instruction from the Mission Health Advisor over text and a few fofō (Samoan massage for pain).
• Aafiaga = experience
• The sign for "repentance" is the same as the sign for "change" plus the sign for the letter "r".
• Diligence = Filiga
• I've heard about mini missions in district meetings, but I had no idea what those looked like. So before transfers, Sister Kiso, Elder Hemmert (DL), Elder Meli Folasaitu, and I were able to participate in Sili 2nd's YSA mini mission. The YSA were split in 2 groups and us missionaries were split into each one, Elder Meli Folasaitu and Sister Kiso in one group and Elder Hemmert and I in the other. We then visited the families of the YSA in our groups and shared scriptures and our thoughts to their parents on why they should serve missions. It was fun and I felt the Spirit at times.

If you're wondering why General Conference isn't up there, it's because I only got to watch one hour of one session and it was in Samoan.  So I'll be catching up on it on my own time. Anyways, it's been a transfer of growth and I've still got a long way to go. My love for the people here in Sili and my Savior has been growing more and more as I lose myself in the work, and it makes this new transfer a little less intimidating... just a little.  The Lord has comforted and supported me in tough times through the members, other missionaries, and through His words in the Book of Mormon as I've been striving to read it every day. I know He can do the same for you as you pray daily, read the Book of Mormon daily, and serve your brothers and sisters around you.

Alma 5:60 - And now I say unto you that the good shepherd doth call after you; and if you will hearken unto his voice he will bring you into his fold, and ye are his sheep; and he commandeth you that ye suffer no ravenous wolf to enter among you, that ye may not be destroyed.

Ua ou fai atu nei mea i le suafa o Iesu Keriso, 'amene.

Arohanui & Alofa Atu 

- Sister Wihongi