Sunday, August 24, 2014

Moving forward‏

Hey there!

I feel like the days of this week went by like weeks but that the week as a whole went by in a day.  It's a unique feeling.  We got a call from the office this week informing us of our flight plans.  That's an interesting phone call to receive.  I'm glad Sister Faivakimoana and I are finishing together.  It's been nice to have someone who understands.  We are helping each other stay focused.  It's been hard though.  Sister Faiva is ready to go.  She moved to a new area for her last transfer and hasn't unpacked.  She's just living out of her suitcases.  She's definitely in the 'enduring to the end' phase.  I'm still just trying to wrap my head around the fact that it's going to come to an end.  I love the people here and I'm so humbled to see the growth in the people that we work with.    
 
Tuesday Sister Faiva and I were able to give training at Zone Meeting.  It is part of being a Sister Training Leader now.  Back a year or so ago when I was SLT with Sister Terry we didn't have many responsibilities.  We were mainly just in charge of doing exchanges with the Sisters and that was it.  It was different being the one giving training.  We kept it really simple.  We were training on the importance of the Book of Mormon.  We had decided to have some of the new missionaries share with the zone how a story or teaching from the Book of Mormon helped their conversion to the gospel.  Sister Reynolds went first.  She is amazing.  She is the 10th of 13 kids from Utah but she is the only member in her family.  She has only been a member for about a year and a half.  Hearing her testimony was so powerful.  Next was Elder Collings from England.  He was born and raised in the church and testified that the Book of Mormon is the center of everything else in the gospel.  I was humbled to hear their testimonies.  I was glad that we were prompted to have them share.  

This week we had 2 really good lessons with Aaron.  He had definitely felt the Spirit and he knows he can't deny it.  He shared a really cool experience with us this week.  He has an hour long train ride every day up to the city for work and the same trip back at the end of the day.  He downloaded the gospel library onto his phone so that he can put in his headphones and listen to the scriptures as he reads on the train home each day.  He said that he was having a pretty down day and got on the train not really wanting to do anything.  He felt like he should listen and acted on the prompting.  He was really reflective and said, "Looking back on it that really did give me more peace then anything else could have."  He also expressed how he was on the train one other day sometime this last week and just felt like he should pray.  He said, "I probably looked dumb sitting there.  I just said it in my head but as I prayed I could feel myself smiling."  I love hearing stories like that from people.  I love seeing how Heavenly Father reach out and touch lives.  It puts a smile on my face. :)  Fun story about our lesson with him on Wednesday night.  We asked if he had extra speakers he didn't need and he took us into his spare room with just stuff in it and got side tract and opened this box and pulled out a lightsaber!   It was amazing.  We had way too much fun at the end of that lesson haha. Faiva and Alex took turns taking photos with it. 
 
Friday we took a temple trip with the Mutus.  We were so excited for Nikau to be able to go in a do baptisms.  It's been a couple of years since he had last gone in and done work for the dead. It was amazing to be there with them.  Mum, Jordy, and Sione took us with them.  When we got there Sister Tomaki and her companion Sister Tupuna also showed up!  It was so good to see her.  She ran up and gave me the biggest hug and just cried.  We got there just early enough to beat the traffic of youth and YSA that came at 7.   Sister Mutu has been doing amazing work with her mother-in-laws family line and they were able to take 30 names to the temple.  Jordy was baptized and confirmed for the females and Nikau for all the male names.  Sione was able to be there to perform the baptisms and confirmations.  It was a beautiful sight.  As Nikau left the font Elder Meredith the Temple President shook his hand and said, "Welcome back."  I was amazed at how strong the spirit was and I was just watching.  It was such a special experience to be a part of.  Sister Tomaki was also able to do baptisms for the dead.  That was a huge thing for her.  It was only her second time in her life.  She and Nikau were just beaming when they came out of the temple.  Moments to remember for a lifetime.  
 
 Scriptures of the week: D&C 138:1-4 and 2 Nephi 10:24-25.  Some of my best studies come while I'm sitting in sacrament meeting.  I'm so grateful for the atonement and my Savior.  
Hope you all have a fantastic week!  
 
Love you heaps, 
Sister Shayne 
 
Before photos!  
Nikau
 

 Me and Nikau
 
                                                              Me, Sister Tomaki, and Nikau :)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
After photos! 
Nikau
The three of us :) 
 
The whole gang!
 
 
 TOMAKI! :) 
After the temple
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
In the car on the way home.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Photos:
Aaron and the lightsaber

 Faiva and the lightsaber :) 
 

Sunset at the foreshore.  I love this place.


 
3rd Nephi
6:14 No matter what is going on around us let us be like these Lamanite converts 
6:18 Not like these guys. . . 
7:16 This is how we feel most days
8:24-25 We can't procrastinate the day of our repentance.  We never know when our time here will be over. 
9:14-16  Wow. The light in all the darkness is Christ. 
9:20-22 Repent and be baptized.  That has always been the counsel and it always will be. 
     

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