G'day family!
This
has been a week unlike any other on my mission thus far. Transfers
always bring about a crazy week but I am still trying to just get my
head wrapped around it all. Monday we had a great family home evening
with the Mutu's. I love this family. They are full of love and fun.
Sister Mutu is a solid member. She is definitely my mission mum of this
area. She and her daughters go to the temple at least once a month.
Both daughters are sealed in the temple and her son Nikau is preparing
for a mission. Her husband isn't a member. Nikau shared a lesson on
gratitude. It was really good. It opened us all up for a mini
testimony meeting of the things that we are grateful for. The spirit
was soo strong.
Tuesday was gone in a blink of an eye and we were on the highway
Wednesday morning at 7am to get to the temple in time for my trainers
meeting at 9am. The meeting was great and after shuffling suitcases
from car to car for Sister Murray she was off and I was with my
temporary companion Sister Brown for the day. We were able to go back
to her area of Kwinana for the day to work. A highlight from that day
was teaching this lady named Pam. Pam was contacted once but then the
sisters had struggled to get a second appointment. Well we talked with
her for a bit at the door and then asked if we could come in and share a
the Restoration with her. She agreed and we had an incredible lesson!
The spirit was so strong. She had golden questions and situations.
She said that she has been looking at different churches but they all
seem to be missing something. (Sound familiar?) I asked her if she
would like to know what was missing and she said yes. I told her it was
the priesthood and we invited her to come to General Conference and to
read the Book of Mormon. She said she would do both! Our jaws just
dropped as we got in the car. The spirit was great and we offered a
humble prayer of gratitude before we called in our miracles to our
leaders. 1 hour back in our area and Sister Brown had invited someone
to be baptized :) That is how we make it happen here in the APM.
Thursday we went to the temple to pick up our new companions! My
new companion is Sister Marie Tomaki. She is 21 and the 2nd oldest of 6
children. She is straight from Port-Vila Vanuatu. Her English is
pretty good for not knowing much before her 2 weeks in the NZ MTC. She
is really shy during regular conversations with people but when she
opens her mouth to share a scripture or testify she is powerful! Since
she is being trained and learning a language our studies start at 8am
and don't end until noon. I definitely needed this. I have been
looking back on the stuff that I am supposed to teach and I've realized
that I have gotten into a pretty set routine of how I teach. It isn't
bad but I know that we are going to grow and learn a lot from each
other. Sister Tomaki has only been a member for just over 2 years. She
was the first to be baptized in her immediate family. She joined,
then her dad (who passed away last year), her sisters, and then her
mum. Her older brother has yet to join the church. We had made a plan
that she will baptize him and then take her whole family to the temple
in Fiji to be sealed after her mission. That left a big smile on her
face. She is just precious. I already know that by the time we are
done with her training that she will be a powerhouse and I will probably
cry when we have to be transferred in like 3 months.
We had a whole new district here in the Mandurah ward. Elder Eti
and I are the only ones that stayed in the ward. The new Mandurah
Elders are Elder Teuira from Tahiti (Elder Teuira has been out for a year and a half the same as Elder Eti) and Elder Cook. He has been out
for 6 months and is from Wyoming. Elder Eti is training a new missionary as well. His
name is Elder Maughan. The first time I asked him how to pronounce his
name he said, "Have you seen Cool Runnings?" I said yes and he
replied, "Ya man! (in a thick Jamaican accent)" I think we will get
along.
General Conference was amazing. I can't even begin to explain the
thoughts and feelings that ran through me as I watched and listened to
those inspired speakers. The whole week prior to Conference we told all
of our investigators, members, and less actives to prepare questions
that they wanted answered and to take them to Conference with them.
Well Friday rolled around and I realized that I had questions but I
hadn't really meditated on them or wrote them down. I said a prayer and
decided to write them on a sticky note and put it in my planner for the
next day. Two questions I want to share with you and the answers that I
received.
Question #1 How can I increase my faith? In Christ and Self?
Answer
#1 Elder Nelsen's talk. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ comes from
living His gospel. He meantioned searching for truth. I wrote, "What
am I learning? Am I searching for truth in all that I do?" I loved
when he said, "Those who face their fears with faith have courage also."
I loved his talk.
Question #2 What does the future hold in store?
Answer #2
Elder Gary E. Stevenson's talk. This life is my four minutes. As he
talked about the Olympians I just cried. He was speaking to me! All of
the things that I've been through in live, all of the dreams, all of
the blessings that God has orchestrated into my life this far. All of
it is a part of my four minutes. I am in charge of what happens next.
As I continue to live the way God wants me to live, as I obey his
commandments with exactness, and as I continue to progress the work of
salvation He will help me accomplish anything else I desire to do.
Isn't that a beautiful promise? That is how I will find my next medal
:) As he got in to his talk Sister Tomaki just looked over at me and
pulled out a tissue for me. That talk really hit home.
I hope you all enjoyed General Conference as much as I did! I
really look forward to taking President Monson's advice and being able
to study the words that have been spoken. It is such a special blessing
to be able to listen and apply the words from God through the leaders
of Christ's true and living church every 6 months. I love this gospel.
I love that we can continually change, repent, and progress towards our
ultimate goal of the Celestial Kingdom. I love you all and hope you
have a faith filled week!
Much love,
Sister Shayne
Picture: Me and Sister Tomaki :)
Before I got Sister Tomaki I spent Monday and Tuesday preparing our flat
for her :) I made her a new planner, put up some signs and topped it
off with balloons. She loved it :) Her planner has a sunset from here
in Golden Bay (her first area), Perth city, the mission office, and of
course pictures of the Savior.
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