18 months in the Outback!: Transfer #13

G'day everyone!

Well this was one interesting week. The week of transfers is always exciting and sad at the same time. We don't know what is going to happen until Monday morning and then we all get moved on Wednesday morning. We made plans for Monday night and Tuesday night as if everyone was going to be transferred out of the ward. Monday morning we got the call and 4 out of the 6 of us got the boot. Elder Hereaka is staying and training a new missionary. His trainee is Elder Daniel from North Carolina. I'm staying here in Golden Bay. My new companion is Sister Faivakimoana. She is from Sydney but was raised in New Zealand and her family is Tongan. She is the 6th of 12 kids. Her oldest sister is adopted but the other 11 are all biological siblings. All of her biological siblings have served missions. There are 10 girls in her family and 2 boys. In order of missionaries in her family they have served in Missouri, Hawaii, Philipines, Melbourne, Perth, Auckland, and England. Her sister in Melbourne finishes next week, her sister in Auckland has been out for about 3 months and her sister in England just left for the MTC last week. 4 missionaries out at the same time! She is amazing. Another cool fact about her family is they have different tribes in their family. Sister Faiva is from Joseph but some of her siblings are from Ephraim and others are from Manassah. This was definitely an inspired companionship. She came out with me so we will finish our missions serving together. We are loving it. Elder Maughan and Elder Teuria got put together down in Bussleton, Elder Wihongi got sent up to Gosnels in the same district as Sister Tomaki. She got sent to the Thornlie area. I was sooo gutted to have her leave. She was ready to spread her wings though. I had several members come up to me at church and tell me how they saw the inspiration of having her serve with me. I was humbled to hear all of the nice compliments from the members on our companionship. I was touched to see the change in Sister Tomaki over the last 4 and a half months. She went from a little seedling to a massive tree. I learned so much from her. We will be friends for life. No doubt about it.

Monday night we had a fantastic FHE with the Mutu family. All of the missionaries came and the whole Mutu gang was there. Elder Teuria and Elder Wihongi were in charge of our lesson. They gave an incredible lesson on eternal families, temples, and the power of the sealing covenant. The spirit was sooo strong throughout the whole lesson. You could have cut it with a knife. After the lesson and family council, which is actually like family testimony meeting in this family, we played games. Everyone was supposed to bring a different game to play. Oh man I have videos and pictures that will bring me to tears by laughter every time I watch them. I'm excited to teach all of these new games to you all when I get back.

Tuesday night we had a feed at the Mandin's. It was fun to get together with all of them and just enjoy the night together. We laughed, played games, and just relaxed. No one was ready to have the district be split up. We had to keep ourselves talking or doing something so that we wouldn't get sad.

Sister Tomaki cried the whole way to the Mandin's house. It was a hard night but great to have a last party all together.

Wednesday was transfers. The Elders came to our flat in the morning to drop off some luggage because it wouldn't all fit in their car with the 4 Elders in the car too. Elder Wihongi said one last district prayer for us and made us all cry. I'm going to miss these missionaries so much. On to another chapter though. We will still be in touch and friends for a lifetime.

Wednesday night we went to the chapel to play games with the Young Women. While we were there Nikau had an interview with Bishop. When he came out he came right up to me and held up two pieces of paper. In one hand he has his temple recommend and in the other hand he has his paperwork signed by Bishop in order to receive the Melchezidek Priesthood at Stake Conference in two weeks! I let out a squeal and did a little happy dance. We were like to the moon and back. He went and showed Sione and Jordy who were there for youth and we all just had ear to ear grins across our faces. Then we followed them back home so we could see mum, dad and Ally's reaction too. Lots of tears of happiness. We are soo stinkin proud of this kid. I told him that I'll fly back for his mission farewell. At church on Sunday we were out shaking hands with everyone and Mum came up behind me and said, "Look who is sitting on the stand!" Nikau was up at the sacrament table with Sione and another priest to help bless the sacrament to the ward. Nikau is my little brother. We've decided that we are brother and sister. We've already planned that we are going to Skype for his birthday because it's like 10 days after mine. Man I can't express how much I love this family. I'm so excited to be able to go to the temple with the Greentree kids and with Nikau soon. I'm grateful that I got to stay here for my last transfer. Sister Faiva and I have decided that we aren't going to let anything slow us down. We are going to leave our mark here in a good way. Golden Bay won't know what hit it :) Scripture of the week is D&C 42:61.

Hope you all have a fantastic week! Love you all and I'll see yous before you know it!

Much love, Sister Beckstrand

Helaman

8:15 Look upon Christ and live

9:2 What would it take for you to believe the prophet?

10:4-5 I love that the comfort and advice in the scriptures fully applies to us today

11:4 Sometimes we are given trials because God can't get through to us any other way.

11:37 The beginning of the chapter they were doing so well and by the end they were ripening for destruction.

13:29 What are we choosing daily?

14:30-32 Agency = greatest gift ever!

16:4 Missionary work = Coming of Christ

3 Nephi

1:24 Do you understand the scriptures?

1:30 We can change the raising generation from wickedness to righteousness. It only takes one person to change a whole group.

2:7 Within 9 years they began to forget and ignore the signs that made them believe. It's been roughly 9 months since Christmas when most people think about Christ. Is Christ a part of your everyday life?

4:33 Swollen hearts and gushing tears. Mate I've felt that waaay too much the last couple of weeks.

5:13 I am a disciple of Jesus Christ

5:24-26 The gathering of Isreal

Nikau! We were just a little excited :) Can you tell?