Trunky 4 Celestial ✨

 "Trunky" means wanting to go home. Who else is trunky for the Celestial kingdom? 

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•GALUEGA (WORK)•

Will and Diploma entered the waters and received the AP! (Agaga Paia -> Holy Ghost) I'm so happy for them!  To give background, Diploma and Will are cuzzies and they have family who are members. Diploma has been through a lot, including jail. While in jail, she met Elder and Sister Hyer, which is where she was introduced to a bit of our church and what we believe. Her daughters were already baptized by the time she got out, so she just had the mindset of changing her life, especially for her kids. While we were still teaching her, she wanted to return to the jail with the Hyers to help share the gospel to people and her friends! Elder Hyer baptized and confirmed her as well as Will. He was so happy and honored to do so.

For Will, he's been through a lot of faiths and was even taught all the lessons and was nearly baptized into the church! He just had family that held him back from doing so. So he joined a different faith. Years later to present time, he wasn't going to the other faith anymore, so his cousin told him to take the lessons again, and bing bang boom, he's a disciple of Christ now. I love Will, he's so funny. He would take notes during the lessons, ask questions, and share his thoughts and all. As we've been preparing them for the temple, Will said something that's stuck with me. It's in my own words since I don't remember exactly, but it goes, "We usually get excited for the baptism and all, but the temple and eternal families is where it's at."

On the day of their baptism, the font was prepared before hand by the branch president the night before, but once we checked it, it was empty. We were stressed, but also confused because the plug was never pulled. So the baptism started late, but we managed to have a big baptism together with other wards that also had baptisms. Branch President called it a miracle needed for us to be lotogatasi (united).

Hamen and Iyvahronze also had the privilege of entering the waters of baptism and got the AP! These 2 boys are so funny and cute. They're cuzzies from a part member family as well and they were so fun to teach. I love them so much! 

•VAVEGA (MIRACLES)•

Sooo many times we have had miracles, most of them being with dogs. For instance, we were visiting houses with a youth named Apo who is from the Mapusaga Fou 3rd Ward. We headed towards a members house who happened to be Apo's teacher in school and they had 2 dogs outside. According to the member, these dogs are feai (will bite you), but just one dog was barking before sniffing us and let us get to the door. The dog nearly bit me after we knocked on the door, but Apo pulled me out of the way. I'd say it was a tender mercy because we got to share a nice spiritual thought that the member loved so much and shared it on Facebook. It was sweet.

Another time was with a few visits to a different home with a lady named Jeanette. We missed her the first time, but the second time we visited, we were able to share a message. She was shocked that we were able to get to her house without her huge feai dog (which we didn't know existed until she brought it up) barking to alert them. She said they had to tie that dog up to a tree because it would break anything else they tied it to.  She also warned that he's not always tied up, so I was amazed we never ran into this dog the times before.

Another instance is when we went down a road we've never been with tons of dogs. Two dogs walked beside us while barking at the other dogs, almost as though they were protecting us. Once we got away from the dogs, they all got in a fight and also later attacked a passing car, which shows how crazy those dogs are and what we were somehow protected from. Down the same street, we got to share half a message with a young woman who was curious before getting interrupted by her grandma who said "We're not interested in being converted." ... But, we still gave the girl a Tusi a Mamona (Book of Mormon) before leaving!  When heading out, a man said to watch out for the dogs, and literally right after he said that, a dog comes running and manages to scratch my leg as it took a bite of my skirt. But then another guy comes and throws a huge wooden stick at it so it would let go.  Then a palagi (white) couple from Utah pull up and say "You 2 look like Mormons. You need a ride?" I look at the horde of dogs barking up the road and the dogs that just attacked me before looking back at the couple and saying, "Yes please. " Angels sent from heaven.

•KA ILO ()•

- Zone pday with the Reids! Sister Reid led us in Step, then we played games.

- Arabellaaaa (our friend Laei's baby)

- I rolled my ankle from walking down 3 steps! 

•MAFAUFAUGA FAALEAGAGA•

Recently, I read Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's talk titled "Songs Sung and Unsung". My favorite quote from it states, "It is by divine design that not all the voices in God's choir are the same. It takes variety... to make rich music. Believe in yourself, and believe in Him. Don't demean your worth or denigrate your contribution. Above all, don't abandon your role in the chorus. Why? Because you're unique. You're irreplaceable."

Often times I doubt my abilities to serve the Lord as a missionary. But, time and time again I am reminded by Him that I may not be as skillful in one aspect or another, but that doesn't mean I don't have what it takes to do His work. This applies to you, too. We all have our strengths and weaknesses, and they're all unique. This is why we have a Savior to make up for our shortcomings and each other to lift and support one another. That's what makes God's choir so beautiful.

I invite you to give Elder Holland's talk a read/listen and I promise you will find your voice in God's choir. 

Arohanui & Alofa atu ♡

Sister Wihongi

S.A.M.