Tonga! Oh the Blessings!

Hello Family!!

I am finally in Tonga and let me just say this place is amazing. Ive never been so sweaty before in my entire life and I don't think I've ever eaten so much either! haha. The members love the missionaries here so I don't think i'll ever have a problem of not being fed (which might be a problem) good thing my companion likes to workout! :)  My trainer is Sister Palenapa. She's from Tonga and she is awesome! Im grateful to have her because she's really helpful with the language. The area we are in is called Havelu. Its on the main island and its just a little village. We cover two wards and surprisingly there are a lot of members. In this particular area our best way to find investigators is through the members, because we are so close to town no one is ever home. We have three investigators right now. Emeli is on date to be baptized on Saturday so we are praying everything goes well. Faleta is 20 and he's still unsure if he wants to be baptized. He comes to church and does everything we ask him to but he still hasn't decided if this is for him. We taught him on Friday and my companion had me ask him to be baptized. It was a little scary but I did it. He wants a little more time to think about it so we are praying for him and the spirit to be with him. We are also teaching a priest. We have yet to find a good time to actually sit down and talk with him but he enjoys hearing our short messages.  

The bugs LOVE me here. I have 23 bug bites just on my legs and they are not normal bites....they look like bruises. Good thing our uniform covers our legs because I look like I have a disease haha!!

Anyways the work is good here! I honestly love being a missionary. Its been a pretty challenging week especially with the language but my testimony on faith and trusting in the Lord has really been strengthened. I love you all! Sorry this weeks letter is a little short. Have a great week! 

OFA ATU!

SISTA SYLVESTER

My trainer Sister Palenapa

our apartment

Bug bites!!

Dinner our first night at the mission home.

Become a little more like him each day

This week was a really good week! On Sunday Gary Hutchings spoke to us. He talked a lot about basking in the spirit. When we bask in the spirit it creates muscle memory and then we are better able to recognize the spirit when we feel it. I love that! 

On Tuesday we were able to hear from Linda K. Burton the general relief society president and her husband. They talked a lot about "Becoming as He is." They related most of it to missionary work but we don't have to be missionaries who wear a name tag to bring others unto Christ and become as he is. Jesus Christ has the ability to share his own gospel. He could do it and  baptize millions (2 Nephi 27:20-21) But he allows us to do it so we can become as he is. "Becoming" is a process. I know I will learn a lot out here on my mission but I will have to continually serve him even after my mission to allow myself to receive the blessings that are waiting for me. All of us can reach Heavenly Fathers great expectations he has for us but we need to put in the work. 

There's a Mormon message you guys have probably seen it but a gardener cuts down his bush because it was no longer growing. After sometime the "Bush" thanks the gardener and says "Thank you for loving me enough to cut me down." Sometimes we might not fully understand why we have to go through certain things, but Heavenly Father knows us best. I have a strong testimony that he loves each and everyone of us no matter what our situation may be. As we yield our heart to God we will "Become as He is."

Each week our branch presidency has us pick a Christlike attribute to study and work on the whole week. This week mine was patience. Its hard to be patient with  yourself when you are  learning a language and trying to study this gospel the best way possible so that you can teach by the spirit. What a blessing it has been for me to be able to learn and study attributes of Christ to become more like him. There's a video I want to share with you guys and maybe you could watch it for a FHE, but its about the attributes of Christ. I want to challenge you guys to each pick a Christlike attribute to study (maybe one you need to work on) and for the next week pray about it, study it, practice it, and i know you will see a difference in your life. Everything good comes when we are trying to be more Christlike. 

Well I love you all! Next time I email you I will be in Tonga! I cant wait. I hope you all have a great week. I love you!! Cant wait to call you on Monday :)

Here's the link for the video. If it doesn't work its on the front page of LDS.org and its called Christlike attributes :)

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2014-01-001-christlike-attributes?lang=eng&cid=HP_MO_13-3-2017_dPFD_fMLIB_xLIDyL1-A_

Week 4

This week was a really good week! On Thursday we Skyped with a Tongan lady and taught her a lesson. She was so cute! I've noticed when we talk to older Tongan people they talk a lot slower and we are able to understand what they're saying. Most Tongans speak so fast and so it makes it difficult to understand them. I can pick out a few words from their sentences but by the time I understand what they're saying they are already finished with that topic and moving on to something else! haha. Its kind of frustrating... but thats why this week has been so good because I've finally been able to understand people when they talk. Im still nervous for when I get to Tonga but I know the language will come.  :)

Our teachers took us outside yesterday and they wanted us to practice street contacting. It was a lot harder than I thought it would be. They were our investigators but it was way different than preparing a lesson. They were asking us questions we had never heard before and Sister Egan and I would just stare at them because we had no idea what to say or what they were saying!  They love to joke with us and watch us struggle. Im just glad we were able to practice it here so I know what to expect when I get to Tonga. They also had us bear our testimony to one of the missionaries walking around. I asked this sweet girl if I could bear my testimony to her and she let me but I'm pretty sure she just thought I was swearing at her.!  :)  She seemed so confused haha. 

I cant believe next week is my last full week here at the MTC. I love it here but  Im so ready to go!  Sorry I dont have a lot to say this week. Im praying for you guys always! Im so glad shaylor's surgery went well. Im praying for a fast recovery. Have a great week. I love you all! 

    -- 

    SISTA SYLVESTER 

Week 3

This week was a good week! Me and my companions were asked to be the Sister Training Leaders for our zone. Its been fun interviewing all of the sisters and really getting to know them. President told us that he knew from the first day when he interviewed us that we would be the STL's for  the last three weeks to bring everything home and to finish off our time here at the MTC successfully. On Sunday I was asked to give the lesson in Relief society. My topic was enduring to the end. They've asked us when we teach to not make it a lesson but to make it a discussion so that everyone has a chance to participate. In my group I was teaching were all of the island sisters. They're all from Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, and Papa New Guinea. They are the Sweetest girls but they are all so quiet and never really talk when we have group discussions. I was kind of nervous that my lesson wouldn't really go anywhere but it was one of the most powerful lesson I have ever been in. The island sister have the most powerful testimonies and they are all so filled with the light of Christ. It was awesome!!

On Tuesday Brent H. Nielson and his wife came and spoke to us and it was amazing. Elder Nielson talked about our mission call and how we've all been called by a prophet. There’s not many times in your life that you will be "Called by a prophet" so we need to cherish the time that we get to be a representative. He also talked about our mission call and what it says and means. He put up a copy of a mission call and read it to us. It was really cool because I don't think I actually read the whole thing when I opened my call because I was so focused on seeing where I was going to go. haha  He pointed something out to us and he said " You are called as a missionary and assigned to Tonga. Not called to Tonga and assigned as a missionary." That was a really powerful statement. It reminded me that I am called as a missionary!  No matter where I go in the world I am called to teach Heavenly Fathers Children about the truthfulness of the gospel. Another thing he said was "You will leave behind all personal affairs" and if you do the Lord will bless you "with increased Knowledge and a testimony of the restoration of the truths of the gospel." I really needed to hear that because sometimes I let things from home distract me but if I put them all aside I will be blessed. 😊

Sister Egan and I taught our investigator Lopeti yesterday and it was like our fifth time teaching him. This time we decided to put our lesson on note cards and just have the main points of what we were going to teach. Usually we write out the whole sentence because we’re still not comfortable with the language. We wanted a challenge this time and I'm so glad we did. The spirit was so strong in our lesson!  Lopeti asked us a couple of questions that we didn't quite understand but we listened to the spirit and we were able to find answers to his concerns. After the lesson Lopeti who is also our teacher talked to us about how the lesson went. He told us that he was able to understand everything we said. He also said that it was our best lesson yet. That was so reassuring because we were so nervous to challenge ourselves but we did our part and the Lord blessed us and did the rest.  Missionary work is hard but its so rewarding!

I cant believe I leave for Tonga this month! Thanks for all of your prayers and support I can definitely feel them. I love you all! Have a good week!

   ❤️ --

  SISTA SYLVESTER 
 

  

Week 2

I hope everyone had a good week! Im glad Shay is okay and it wasn't anything more than just a broken arm. Ive been praying for you!

This week was a really good week and I learned a lot. In class we've been talking a lot about The Gift of Tongues. We watched a video and something that really stood out to me is "Its not about learning the language but its learning to love the people." Ive never thought about it like that before. Each night I pray for the people of Tonga. Thats something I've really tried to focus on these past couple of days. I already love the people of Tonga but i do have my worries, like the food haha and the language. But I've realized Heavenly father didn't give me this language for myself. I was blessed to learn this language so i can bring the message of his gospel to the people of Tonga. Ive stopped worrying about the little things and I've really focused on my love for the people and each day I'm learning something even if its small. On Tuesday night we had a devotional and Gregory A. Schweitzer spoke to us. He talked about the 3 talents a missionary should have.One that really stood out to me was "The Nephi" principle. He said " God will give us challenges to help us do what is improbable so that later on you will be able to do the impossible." Theres a lot of things in the MTC that seem impossible at times but really they are just the improbable and they are preparing us to face the impossible. He also talked about harkening unto the lord before you pray. Something I've never thought of doing before but I've been doing it every night before i pray. I ask myself what things would me Heavenly Father want me to pray for to better myself as a missionary and then i sit there and think for a little bit before I pray. I've noticed a huge difference in my prayers and my days.

Wednesday was kind of an emotional day for our zone. Two of my favorite Elders left to go home. They both had some things they needed to figure out before they successfully finish their mission. Im really grateful for their examples. Its a reminder that we don't only need to repent for the "big" sins but we should constantly be repenting everyday. That night we had FHE as a zone and sang hymns and bore testimony about the Atonement. It was a huge testimony builder for me. On Thursday we all fasted together for the two Elders. I know it was so hard for them to do what they did and go home but I think we are all grateful for their examples and we pray everyday and hope they will be able to make it back out in the mission field. 

Thursday was our first day doing TRC's and it was terrifying. Me and Sister Egan taught together and we had our whole lesson all planned out and we got in there and couldn't understand a single thing they were saying! Ive realized that my teachers use the easy broken Tongan when they speak in class so we can understand them. The spirit was still there and we were able to teach them and get our point across we just didn't quite know how to answer their questions haha. It was a really good week! I don't think its hit me yet that i'll be gone for 18 months! I kinda feel like I'm at a glorified EFY.  The days are so long here but the weeks go so fast. I cant believe I'm already into my third week. Thats crazy to me. I love you all! Im praying for you everyday!!! 

SISTA SYLVESTER

Sister Kinikini. We went to High School together. I just love her! 
She leaves for Guam on Monday

Sister Kolo. She's from New Zealand but lived in Tonga. She will be serving
in Fiji but lost her passport so right now she's in SLC

My class and I playing a memory game we made to help us with the Language

Here are some more pictures she sent to mom! :)

Her good friend Ganton Horsley from elementary all the way up!
He just came in on Wednesday and she was so happy to see him!

Her roommate from college Megan.❤️

Her companion Sister Egan from Australia.
She will be the first ever Indian to serve in Tonga!

You know enough!

I first want to wish my sweet Nana a Happy Birthday! I love you and I hope you have an amazing day!

Well I've officially finished my first week here at the MTC. Its been a week of a lot of ups and downs but they've all been very powerful experiences. Last Saturday we taught our first investigator and it was terrifying. We didn't know anything and the questions we did know how to ask we didn't understand when he responded. When we came back to class he showed up later and he is our teacher!  We have two Palangi (white) teachers and one Tongan teacher. His name is Brother Tautuaa. He is one of the most intimidating/spiritual guys I have ever met. We taught him again on Wednesday and this time we really prayed to know and understand what to teach him. It wasn't perfect and we still didn't know a lot but we were able to use the words we do know to get our point across to him and understand what he was saying. That same day he gave us a lesson in class that was SO powerful. We all left class crying that day, even Brother Tautuaa. 

On Sunday I got called on to speak in church and thankfully I had my talk prepared. Tuesday we had a devotional and Elder Ballard came to speak to us. The spirit was incredible. He talked a lot about attitude and not waiting to be great. Since sister Egan is an international Sister we get to sit in the front section for every devotional!  Even though she can speak English we sit up there anyways haha. Its pretty cool!  We play volleyball as a Zone everyday for gym. There are a lot of Poly's in my zone so the games get really intense. Lets just say my volleyball skills have gotten a lot better since I've been here haha.  I guess in Tonga they play Volleyball every P day so I'm just preparing myself for the field. :)  This Sunday me and my companions and some other sisters in our Zone are singing a Tongan song in Church.  I've learned to love  a lot of things here that I never really did at home. For example singing in church. I would have never done that in our ward or any other ward! 

I titled my email "You know enough" because Shaylor sent me a letter with a conference talk titled that and it has helped me a lot this week. We all have been feeling like we've hit a wall this week. A spiritual block. Within the first few days we all were feeling really good about the language, but as we've been studying and learning more this language seems to be a lot harder than we thought. There are so many words with multiple meanings and the sentence structure is so confusing. There have been so many times where we've just wanted to give up. After reading that talk from Shay and I had the opportunity to fast on Tuesday. I've noticed and learned that I do know enough. I may not know the language perfect (because its only been a week and thats not normal) but I know that my Heavenly Father loves me. I know that the blessings I will receive while I'm here will help me to progress and become a better missionary.  It may not come when I want it to but this a learning experience and it has strengthened my testimony so much.  I love being a missionary!! I don't think I can say it enough. Its definitely one of the hardest things I've ever done, but I've grown so much in just one week I can only imagine what it will be like in 18 months. Im praying for all of you every day! I miss you guys so much. Thanks for being so great!

Love,

-- 

SISTA SYLVESTER

Week One!

                                                                                                                              Feb. 10, 2017

Malo e lelei' Family!

Well, I've only been in the MTC for like two days but I've learned more in these two days than I ever thought was possible! I love it here! I think the MTC is fun and my district is amazing! Im with all of the Islanders. Fiji, Marshall islands, Samoa, Australia and we also have the American sign language group with us too. I was fortunate enough to get two companions!!  I love them! Sister Egan is going to Tonga with me. She is from Australia and she will be the first ever Indian to serve in Tonga. Sister Mauinatu is from Orem and she will be serving in San Jose California Tongan Speaking. Elder Cox is the other missionary going to Tonga. He’s from American Fork and he’s hilarious. He always quotes Nacho Libre and it makes me laugh. Its weird I don't feel like I'm in Utah! haha!  The MTC feels like a different world here. I’ve seen a lot of people I know and it was really comforting because I'm not going to lie the first day I kept asking myself "What the heck am I doing here?"  But I’m over that now and I’m ready to serve!

The first and second day of class was really intimidating. We walked in and our teacher was only speaking Tongan and he just acted like we knew what he was saying. We learned how to pray in class and he had us all write down a prayer and then he asked me to say the closing prayer in Tongan. I said a little prayer to myself and then I just went for it. I know I definitely said some words wrong but I was able to read the whole thing confidently. The language has a lot of F's and K's so a lot of the words sound like we are swearing. Haha  At first we all felt a little weird pronouncing those words but now its normal. For example the word "Fakalakalaka" means to progress. Me and my companions have set goals for us to help us learn the language.  Every morning and night we say a prayer together and recite the missionary purpose all in Tongan. We also read at least two chapters from the Tongan Book of Mormon everyday together. Yesterday was our first day doing it. We studied the language SO hard yesterday.

This morning when we woke up we got right on our knees to say our prayer and it was my turn again to say it and the words just came to me and it was one of the most heart felt prayers I have ever said and it was all in Tongan. THE GIFT OF TONGUES IS REAL. My testimony has grown so much in just two days. I know this is the true Gospel of Christ and I cant wait to share it with the people of Tonga.

I don't have a lot to say because I haven't been here that long but I miss you guys and I’m praying for you everyday! I wouldn't be out here if it wasn't for you guys! Thank you for making me the person I am today. OFA ATU! 

Oh Dad…. There’s a sister in my district and she was like "Your dad is Todd Sylvester? His video is the reason I’m out here! He changed my life!" I wanted to cry, one because I miss you Dad and two because you are changing so many lives its incredible!
Love,

--  

SISTA SYLVESTER