Cyclone Gita

Feb ll, 2018  2:11 pm

Dear Parents / Guardians,

RE: CYCLONE GITA

Update in regards to your missionary: 

As you are aware of the cyclone Gita coming our way and directly to Tonga and she is expected to arrive later this evening. We wish to inform you that we have contacted all our missionaries and couple missionaries in the Nuku’alofa Tonga Mission and have made necessary arrangements to ensure their safety. We have also given them instructions to:

1. Secure and lock their Mission Quarters and head out to the nearest Chapel

2. Take 72hr packs including medications, first aid kids, torches, enough food items and water and leave to the nearest chapel for shelter well ahead of time before the cyclone hits and remain there with other members/ non- members until further instructions.

3. Make sure their phones are charged and standby for further instructions.

As of right now they are preparing to leave to the nearest chapel and they are all safe. We will keep you informed of their safety for as long as the Internet and power is available.

We ask that you continue to pray for us and for our safety.

Kind Regards

President and Sister Tui’one

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Feb 13 2018  10:31 pm

Dear Parent/ Guardian, 

We do apologize for the delay in communications, which were a result of a power outage and subsequent internet failure.

Cyclone Gita has been an experience to remember and something that we will be talking about for a very long time. For some of us it was the longest night of our lives. The Cyclone has left our Island Kingdom of Tonga, and although much foliage, many trees and various houses were destroyed, I’m please to let you know that all the missionaries in the Nuku’alofa Tonga Mission are accounted for. Each of them are safe, healthy and pleased to be serving the people of Tonga in this time of need. 

It will be a very busy week and month for us as we will take part in the cleaning up and giving of service to others in need. This will also be an opportunity to build our love for the Lord and others. Due to the major destruction caused by Cyclone Gita, the power on the entire Island has been shut down so please expect some delay in communications for the time being. 

We will do our best to keep you updated as long as we are connected to these services.

Kind Regards,

President and Sister Tui’one

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Feb 13,  10:26pm

Hello Family!!!!

Im writing you a quick email to let you know i'm okay and i'm alive :) All of the missionaries are okay and now we are just working hard to help all the families here in Tonga. Please keep Tonga in your prayers. I don't know when we’ll get power or water but i'm learning to live a life of sacrifice. The storm was scary and I have never seen or experienced something like that. Every house has been damaged and there is  LOTS of work to do,  but thats why we are here to serve others! I love you so much! I’ll talk to you when I can :) 

Ofa atu!!

It was a long night riding out the storm

But but they made it!  These are pictures that members 

and senior couple missionaries sent us after the storm.

He knows you better :)

Malo e lelei!

Man what a week! This week was a good one, it felt kind of long haha but there was a lot accomplished this week.  It still raining a lot. Everyone's been saying theres a hurricane coming but who knows. Someone asked me last week what we are supposed to do if something like that were to happen, like what to do and where to go and to be honest i'm not sure! I guess we'll just have to wait and see what president says. :)

We had the opportunity this week to do some companionship exchanges with some of the sisters. Its always been something I love to do!  Its a great opportunity to learn from the other sister and we get to work together to help each other. 

Wednesday I hit my year and that was a crazy day! hahah My poor companion was sooo sick so we stayed inside the whole day. In the morning we had a meeting with president and when we came home and my companion knocked out and fell right to sleep. I was up doing some studying and I had to get something out of my suitcase.  I walked over and there was a HUGE spider by my bag. I think this one was way bigger than the one last time. I screamed to myself and had to sit and breath for a sec. My companion was dead asleep so this was all on me to kill it!  Last time it took me and my comp like 45 min to  kill it but I was not about to have that happen again. Anyway, long story short I was able to kill the spider by myself. Again...I felt like it was a reminder to me from Heavenly Father that I can't let the little things take control over me. Sometimes we get so caught up on the little things that don't matter and they hold us back from what we can do and be. So this week I was reminded to let go of the little things and to keep moving forward :) 

I was reading in the Liahona about how to teach more like the savior. I was asked this week what my favorite thing about being a missionary is and I would have to say teaching.  l love any opportunity I have to share a message with someone!  I love that everyday I get to wake up and all I have to think about is the gospel and what i'm going to do today to help someone! Its just so awesome I cant even explain it! I also love that time I have to study my scriptures. I could spend hours just reading the scriptures, and before my mission that was not like me! hahah. It was really hard for me to have the motivation to read them.  I've come to gain such a great testimony of the doctrine in this gospel and I have seen it change lives.  Its so important to make sure when you are teaching to teach how the savior would teach. 

This week while teaching our investigator she accepted to be baptized next week! We also have an investigator that will be baptized Sunday morning! He's one we've been working with for awhile and he has now stopped smoking. He's finally been keeping his commitments and is ready to be baptized. We are so excited for him. 

I just want to thank you all for your love and support :) Being a missionary is not always easy but its definitely worth it! I love this gospel. I hope you all have a good week! Keep reading your scriptures :) This week I challenge you to seek for an opportunity to to share the gospel with someone. It will make your day/week so much better! The gospel is the best gift you can give someone! Ofa lahi atu !

-- 

Sista Silivesita

Sister Fa'aui and I on our exchange.

This little old lady is our favorite in the ward. We visited her the other day and she was playing 

her little card game with her friend :)

The spider 

Malo e lelei!

I first want to give a big Birthday shout out to mom! I hope you have an amazing day and just know ill be thinking about you this week :) Thank you for all you do. Im so blessed to have you as my mom! I also cant believe I hit my year mark this week! Time is going by wayyyyy too fast! I hope this year mom you will have something planned for your birthday because you wont have to worry about sending me off to the MTC hahah! 

This week was a really good week! Its been raining all week and i love it! Haha I didn't think I would miss the cold weather but now that its been cold and rainy i'm enjoying it. Its hurricane/tsunami season and so there have been some crazy rain storms. No hurricanes or anything yet but its rained for like 5 days straight and the roads and stuff were flooding. This week we finished the rest of the zone conferences here on the main island. It was really good! On Thursday presidents son came home from his mission and they invited us to go to the  airport with them. It was really cool! It was kind of weird though because my time as a missionary is starting to count down and just seeing how happy he was to see his family but when the time came for him to take off his pin it was so sad to see. Its so true when they say appreciate every moment that you have and I can say it makes it so much more fun when you do, even the hard days :) 

This morning we had a baptism! We were supposed to baptize her last week but something came up so this morning she was baptized and tomorrow she will be confirmed!

Being a missionary is the best! I hope you all have a great week! Keep reading your Book of Mormon! 

Ofa lahi atu :) 

-- 

Sista Silivesita

 The office crew

 Me and my comp :) 

Our baptism we had this morning

Ha'apai and Vava'u Zone Confrences :)

Malo e lelei!

This week was a really good week! On Monday we flew to Ha'apai for zone conference. It was another good conference. We had the opportunity to take the elders back to the tiny islands off of Ha'apai ('Uiha and Fakakai). Man it was so fun being on a little boat in the middle of the ocean. The waves were crazy at times and we got pretty wet hahah but it was cool! Ha'apai is a really cool island. Its very long but not very wide. Theres not a lot to do there, everyone that lives there just relaxes and chills at home. They are just livin the life hahah! 

On Tuesday we flew to Vava'u...my favorite island!  :)  We got on another boat in Vava'u to go pick up the Elders from the tiny islands off of Vava'u (Hunga, Niuapapu, Otea).  The ocean out here is so beautiful!  Once again we were literally on a tiny little boat in the middle of the ocean! There are so many little islands out here with resorts on them and thats it. We Picked up the Elders from Niuapapu and they were saying that every weekend families from the smaller islands come on there boats to spend the weekend there just to go to church. It just amazes me how the gospel is all over the world even on these little tiny islands. I just get so happy talking about it because being able to share the gospel and watch it grow and progress here in the middle of the ocean is so cool. It is such a blessing!

Tonight we are baptizing our investigator and I am so excited for her! Her name is Lina and she has such a desire to be baptized. The work is going so good here. We should hopefully have another baptism next week as well. 

This week I want to challenge you guys to go to the temple with a family name :)  I've come to realize how important Temple work is and not only that but Family History work. We have an opportunity to give others the same joy and happiness we have and not only that, the Temple is a place we can receive guidance from our Heavenly Father. 

I love being a missionary! I cant say it enough! I cant believe I hit my year mark in like 2 weeks...it's so crazy to me! Keep reading your Book of Mormon!! Keep inviting and keep being an example to those around you! 

Ofa lahi atu :) 

---

Sista Silivesita

On our way to the small islands of Uiha and Fakakai

President and sister Tuione  :)

President is a little wet!!  :)

The Elders were happy to see us!

Tuesday we arrived in Vava'u!

Sis Saulala came to visit :) 

I saw my "daughter" in Vava'u....Sister Fotu!

On our way to the small islands of Hunga, Niuapapu and Otea

This is a cave on the side of Otea.  The big clear circle in the water is a jellyfish!

Eua Zone Conference:)

Malo e lelei!!

This week was a really good week!  We had MLC on Tuesday and Wednesday and it was really good. We went to the temple on Tuesday and it was awesome. Im so grateful for the opportunity I have to go to the temple every couple of weeks. It definitely is a place to receive help and guidance. Also this weekend we went to Eua for a zone conference. Eua is the closest island to Tonga. Its a 7 min plane ride in the smallest plane I have ever seen hahaha and a 2 hour boat ride. Thankfully we took the plane and got there in just 7 min. It was so quick!  Eua is a beautiful island! i I kind of has a country feeling to it. I saw lots of horses there and most of the roads are still dirt. This is the island my trainer is from and I hope I have a chance to serve there :) President shared some really good things at this conference.One thing I loved is we talked a lot about repentance and how repentance is a blessing. Its so true! Repentance is one of the greatest blessing we have been given. Im reading in Alma right now and it shares a lot about the Plan of Redemption. Our Savior came to earth to be our Redeemer so we can be free from our sins. I really can't explain in words how grateful I am for the opportunity to better myself each day to become more like our Savior Jesus Christ. I love being a missionary! 

I hope you all have a great week! Remember to keep reading your scriptures and inviting others to listen to the missionaries :) 

Ofa lahi atu!! 
-- Sista Silivesita

The Airport in Eua...

The plane

Despite the heat and the humidity and this tiny plane, we were still excited to travel to Eua to meet with the Missionaries. President is crammed in the back!

Pictures from MLC: 

My MTC comp, Trainer, and current companion. We are all STL's and it's so fun to see them.

Heres the resort we stayed at called Deep Blue. This was mine and my companions little house.

Our view at the resort

The AP's. We rode around Eua in the back of a truck.

Heading back!  Me and Sister Tuione ❤️

Its REALLY hot!!

Malo e lelei!

This week was a busy but different week! We had all of the new missionaries come in this week which is always fun to see! Also that same day president got a call that 12 visas waiters would be coming to our mission the next day while they wait for their visas to go to their missions. So after we had just finished transfers we had to do another quick little transfer to find areas for all of these missionaries to serve. It was a long week but also a good one!

We are supposed to baptize our investigator this Sunday, but we have a feeling he's not telling us the truth about smoking. He has told us that he's stopped but there have been little things that have made us question it so we might just wait and see. 

I don't have much to say today but I hope you all have a great week! Thanks for all of your love and support! I hope you all had a chance to see the funeral of our dear Prophet. Im grateful for him and his example to us. Im grateful that we have someone to lead and guide us in these latter days! 

Ofa lahi atu! 
-- Sista Silivesita

It is soooo hot!!

Welcoming the New Missionaries :)

And then to the Temple!! :)

Package from two of my favorites......Karen and Jenna Kunz!  ❤️ ❤️

Malo e lelei! 

I don't have much to say this week, but it was a good week! Last Sunday we were able to baptize two of our investigators and it was awesome!  This week we committed one of our investigators to be baptized next week! :) 

This week we had lots of teaching and lots of new potential investigators. The work is so good here right now and its all thanks to our members and their desire to help us find people to teach. 

It was sad news to hear our dear prophet passed away this week, but what a blessing it is to know the plan Heavenly Father has provided for us. Im so grateful to know that we have a prophet here to lead and guide us. Someone who has the authority to work in gods name so that we can know the things we need to do to return to live with our Father in Heaven:) 

I love this gospel and I love being a missionary :) I hope everyone had a very happy new year! Keep reading your scriptures :) ofa lahi atu !

We got chocolate cake from the members

one of our members just got done cooking his dog and invited us to eat with him! hahaha😫

Baptism