Friday, April 27, 2018

James 1:5


Malo e lelei!!

This week was a good week! We finished up zone conferences this week here in Tonga. I say it all the time but I love being a part of zone conferences. I learn so much from them! This week president gave all of the missionaries some commitments for them to take back with them to their areas. One of them being to put 4 Book of Mormons in their bag every single day. We usually keep one or two in our bags but we've made it a goal now to always have 4 Book of Mormons in our bag. Another commitment he gave us is at every members house and every less actives house we go to, role play our lessons with them. Although they are already members its a great way for us to practice and also a great way to invite the spirit into their homes. As you know the area I’m in they are all members and only a few of them are less active. We also cover a small little area down the road from where we live called Makapaeo. I consists of about 5 houses and they are non members. They all go to the Wesilian Church and their church is right in the middle of all of their houses. We go there at least once a week but no one will accept us into their homes and most of the time they are not home. The do have a missionary who runs their church and he lives their too, but does not like it when we come there. Anyway, we took up Presidents advice and yesterday we visited almost every house in our area. We taught a lesson at every house and it was awesome! We really had to listen to the spirit to know what things we could share with them. We also spent some time in Makapaeo the little area we cover down the road and yesterday we were able to give out 12 Book of Mormons!!!!!! Man it was so great! Every was willing to listen to our message and they all accepted to take a Book of Mormon and read it.  It was such a great experience and we can’t wait to go back and visit those who we were able to give a Book of Mormon to. We didn’t have a chance to go to the missionary's house but we have a Book of Mormon saved just for him :) 
This week I’ve been doing a lot of thinking and reading about Joseph Smiths First Vision and the Restoration of the Gospel. We are so lucky to have the restored gospel here on earth. If it wasn’t for him we would not have the blessings of the Book of Mormon. I challenge you all to read from Joseph Smith History this week and think about all of the blessings you have in your life because of the Gospel. 
I hope you all have a good week! I’m doing good and I just love being a missionary! Remember who you are and keep reading the Book of Mormon.
Ofa lahi atu :) 

-- 
Sista Silivesita









Friday, April 20, 2018

Kuli Fiekaia :)


Malo e lelei! 

This week was a good week! We had the opportunity to go to Ha'apai and Vava'u for zone conferences. We left for Ha'apai last Saturday so we were there for their stake conference. It was a really great conference! An area seventy came and joined in their conference. He taught some really great things and really brought the spirit to the island of Ha'apai. We also had the opportunity to take the elders back to Ha'afeva, a smaller island off of Ha'apai. Usually its like an hour and a half boat ride there and back but the water was so bad we were going so slow and getting soaked so it took like 3 hours instead. 
Tuesday we were planning on going straight to Vava'u but our flight got cancelled so we came back to Tonga. Tuesday evening my companion and I had the opportunity to go out and visit with our members in our area. The very first house we went to their dog bit me! Hahah I'm laughing now but in the moment it hurt so bad! The past couple of days I've been going around with a swollen ankle and so the nurse made me rest for a bit. I guess now I'll have a pretty cool scar and something to remind me of my time here in Tonga. :) haha 
Wednesday morning we flew to Vava'u to have zone conference and it was a really great conference! Im so grateful for the opportunity I have to go to the conferences with President and Sister Tuione because I learn so much every time. We also took the missionaries back to the islands but this time the water wasn't too bad. 

I want to share some things I learned this week from all of the conferences we went to. The area seventy shared with the members in Ha'apai the importance of repentance and the many steps of repentance. One thing I loved that he shared and its something that I've struggled with before is once you feel forgiven of your sins its important to forgive yourself :) I've never really thought of that before. When we do something maybe we shouldnt have done but we feel sorry and ask for forgiveness, if we truly repent with a sincere heart Heavenly Father has promised to forgive us if we make that change in our lives. We will be reminded of the things we've done in the past but when we forgive ourselves we are able to feel peace and comfort. We read in the book of Enos when Enos prayed to God and asked for forgiveness of his sins. Not only did he pray but he Prayed Mightly to God and was forgiven of his sins. Verse 5 and 6 Enos is told that his sins have been forgiven and he knew that God could not lie  and therefore his guilt was swept away. After learning this and then reading in Enos I can just feel Gods love for us when we repent. When we show God our desire to make a change he will bless us according to our faith. 

I hope you all have a great week! Keep reading your scriptures :) Ofa atu! 
-- 

Sista Silivesita



Friday, April 13, 2018

Cyclone Keni?

Malo e lelei! 

This week was a good week! I'm so happy that I finally had a chance to watch conference and I have to say it was one of the best conferences I have seen. I'm so grateful for a living prophet and with all of the changes hes made you can see the Lords hand in His work and how fast His work is going.
This week we had MLC haha and it was a different meeting. On Tuesday the missionaries from motu ( the smaller outer islands) came by boat so we could have our meeting on Wednesday. I forgot to mention this a couple of weeks ago but it has been raining like crazy here. So bad that the roads were flooding and some houses were flooded and destroyed from the rain. Well the rain finally stopped but then started up again this past weekend. By the time the missionaries got here on Tuesday there was another warning for a cyclone to hit early Wednesday morning. So, Tuesday evening we had to make sure all of the missionaries were at the chapels and everyone was safe. It was said to be a category 3 storm so smaller than the last cyclone but we still need to be ready. Wednesday morning the rain had picked up and the wind was pretty strong but people were still outside driving their cars and walking around hahah. We had planned to have MLC on Wednesday but president wasn't sure if we should have the missionaries drive to the office in the storm or not. When the wind slowed down we texted them to come meet at the office. Two seconds later the wind picked up and we had to text them again and tell them to stay hahah. I swear that happened like 3 times. Finally president told all the mission leaders to come to the office so we could have our meeting. Even though it was raining and the wind was picking up everyone made it safely and we were able to have our meeting in a category 1 cyclone hahaha. Thankfully the storm took a different course and we only got the outer edge of it. I say this all the time but I have one of the BEST mission presidents. He has such strong faith and trust in the Lord. I have learned so much from him and his testimony. I feel s blessed to work with him. 
Today we are headed to Ha'apai and then next week we will go to Vava'u and maybe Eua to have our zone conferences. I always get excited to go visit and see the missionaries in motu. 
I want to share something's I loved and learned from conference. One of my favorite talks was by Massimo De Feo. He talked about the pure love of Christ and how a true sign of a true disciple is the Pure  Love of Christ. I love the new changes with Visiting and home teaching. We now all have the opportunity to Minister just like the Savior did when he was here on the earth. It gives us a chance to pray more for the opportunities to serve others. It was a good week! I love being a missionary. Have a great week! Ofa lahi atu! 

----
❤️Sista Silivesita

This is a picture I tried to get to show you the flooding hahah. This is someone's yard after the rain for 3 straight days. 

This is a car of one of our members hahah every weekend they go out to town and "Pisituki" which means they just go out and play their music really loud for everyone to hear. hahah but my comp was telling me how its like a completion who has the best pisistuki haha. Whats funny is they put the speakers on the outside of the car for everyone to hear. They put as many speakers as they can. So I took a picture with our members car because every Friday he just drives a round to play his music really loud haha


Saturday, April 7, 2018

We thank thee oh God for a prophet

Malo e lelei!
Sorry this email will be short this week but I hope everyone had a great Easter and Conference week! I have only seen the Saturday morning session because weve been waiting for the conference to be translated in the Tongan language. Thats why my email is short because im going to see conference right now!  :) 
This week we had transfers and im staying here in the office and working in Matangiake  with sister Paletu'a :) I love being companions with her! Although Ive been in this area for 4 transfers already im ready for another transfer here! I know there is still work for me to do. 
We welcomed 9 new missionaries this week! And this intake had such a special spirit with hem. I always love welcoming the new missionaries and hearing their testimonies. They come with a big motivation to work and I learn so much from them. 

Picking up the new intakes from the airport :)

Introductions, early morning devotional and breakfast at the Mission Home

The new intakes  :)


Breakfast





                  AP's                                                                          STL's

Im grateful for the Saturday session of conference I have been able to watch and I cant wait to finish the rest. Im happy to say I sustain President Russell M. Nelson as a prophet. I know he has the keys to lead and guide us in these last days. Im grateful for his words and testimony and for the opportunity I had to stand and support him. I know if we listen to his words and follow his counsel we will be able to overcome the hardships we face in these last days. I love this gospel! Love being a missionary!!! Continually listen and read the words from conference and read your Book of Mormon!! Ofa lahi atu! 

-- 
Sista Silivesita