Happy Thaksgiving

Malo e leleli!

This week was a good week! Not a lot happened other than my companion left. :(  She finished her mission on Friday. It was sad but Im excited for her! My new comp is Sister Vakalahi and she is from Utah.  She is awesome and i'm excited to work with her!  She has been out the same amount of time as me but she went to the New Zealand MTC because she already knew a little bit of Tongan. We actually finish together so we will be going back to SLC together. 

We were so busy this week so I don't have much to say...but.... the church is true!  It was a different experience sending  missionaries  back home to their families, but next week we get to welcome the new ones! This work is amazing! I hope you all have a great week :) Keep reading the Book of Mormon! 

Ofa atu!

-- 

Sista Silivesita

After the rainstorm our car got stuck. hahaha.

This is Elder Moala. Hes 6'7 and just finished his mission and now he's going to play football for BYU. We took a picture so he will remember me when he's famous.  ;)  hahaa

Devine design!

Malo e lelei!

Man this week was a really good week! We had Mission tour and Elder Cardon the area 70 came to speak to us. On Tuesday we had it here in Tonga and then Wednesday we flew to Vavau with him. He is such a powerful speaker. He asked us to write down two questions before the meeting started and then after the meeting see if they were answered. Both days I wrote down questions and I was able to not only have answers but advice on what I need to do to keep going. Im so grateful that we are able to have called Servants of the Lord to lead and direct us in these days. I know that Heavenly Father is able to speak to us through them, and if we listen we will be guided down the right path. One thing I love about being a missionary, and that I have come to learn and gain a testimony of is Divine Design. Heavenly father knows us and knows what we need, when we need it. I strongly encourage you all to read the talk by President Rasband from this last conference. :)

This week our investigator Aisea will prepare himself to pass the sacrament. I'm so excited for him! Its the most amazing feeling to see your investigators progress in the gospel. We will also be helping him get ready to get a temple recommend to do baptisms. He told us the other day he's thinking about going on a mission. Man I just smiled because I know the blessings of serving a mission. This work is so powerful. 

I hope you all have a great week! Keep reading your scriptures EVERYDAY :) I promise you will see blessings in your life from reading everyday. Keep inviting those around you to come unto Christ. Ofa lahi atu :) 

-- 

Sista Silivesita

Pictures from Vavau

This is President Makai he is friends with Brother Tuileva.  (Who is our neighbor/friend and was Kenidees Sunday school teacher.)

I wanted to share a few things Kenidee wrote us in our personal email because it is so true!!  She is a beautiful, valiant daughter that we have been PRIVILEGED  to raise!....... "I had the special opportunity to interview with Elder Cardon. It was such a blessing for me! Not all of the missionaries had this opportunity maybe like 15 and I was one of them! During my interview he asked me about my family ( yes of course I cried) and I had the opportunity to share with him about my wonderful family. I shared with him how dad is a convert and how much it has blessed my life and the lives of others. Because of dads decision I have the opportunity to share the gospel with the people here in Tonga. I also shared how grateful I am that you guys were sealed in the temple and that I had the blessed opportunity to be born in the covenant. I think my favorite lesson to teach is the plan of salvation because Heavenly Father has blessed us with this plan so that we can all live with him again. That is our goal and purpose here. EVERYDAY we need to continually try and become like Him. 

He also asked me to share my testimony with him.I shared about the Book of Mormon and the influence it can have in ones life. 

Elder Cardon paused for a minute before he started talking again and said " Sister Sylvester I want you to know that you are a valiant young lady. You have been called here for a reason and you will be blessed so much for it." And then he said "I want you to email your parents on P-day and tell them everything about our interview,  I want you to thank them for the beautiful, valiant daughter they have raised."  She then gave us a challenge to read the Book of Mormon more...."I know you guys are busy but this book is the most important book here on earth. If you don't have a testimony of its teachings you can't progress in the gospel. 

There's and invitation and a promise in the introduction of the Book of Mormon. I know the blessings from this Book can change lives!!!  Im so grateful for you guys and I cant wait for the day I get to see and hug you again! 

We all have a purpose. :)

Malo e lelei! 

Hello this week was a good week! Not a lot happened so i'm sorry a short email again....but we did have a baptism yesterday and it was awesome! We baptized our investigator his name is Aisea. He is the first investigator I have baptized in the mission who doesn't really have a religious background. Most people here know a lot about the bible and go to church every week. Here in Tonga everything closes on Sundays and everyone goes to church. So it was different to teach someone who didn't really have a church background. We really focused on the Book of Mormon with him. We read it with him everyday and he kept all of his reading commitments. When we taught him the Plan of Salvation and we talked about our purpose here in earth we asked him what he thought his purpose was here but he couldn't answer it. By the time he was baptized he could answer it, he knows why he is here and what his purpose is. It was really cool and inspiring! 

It's these little experiences that make missionary work so amazing! It was a really good busy week. Next week we have mission tour with Elder Cardon the area 70 so that will be fun and exciting! Also I hit 9 months this week. Man time is going by so fast. Missionary work is the best! I love you all have a great week :) 

Ofa atu! 

-- 

Sista Silivesita

Note from Mom......While briefly emailing back and forth with Kenidee today  I asked her if there was anything she needed me to send with her Christmas package.  She said...."Could you send me something for my hair to leave in  it at night to help......refresh it....I guess??   I don't know how to explain it or say it in English anymore!  Hahah!"  

I think she was trying to say a leave in conditioner!!  This made us laugh, I wonder if her dreams are on Tongan now?!?!  😂  She also said "Could you send me some toothpaste? I bought some from Costlow😃  (Tonga's Costco) and it is SO OLD I almost threw up!"  😳 😷  haha.. Real problems! :)

Aisea our investigator.  :)

Christmas lights!! Our neighbor used to live in the states and they go all out for Christmas. We turned the corner in our car and we both got SO excited because we were so happy to see Christmas lights!! 

Our Chapel. :)

Cleaning our shoes. Haha!

Baby John: This is the little boy of the house we stay at.

Pineapple is expensive here so we had to keep it safe hahah.

But its pineapple season now. Yay!

Man me and my comp got stuck behind this car on the road and we were laughing so hard! 

This is how a lot of people drive here.

Half way!

No email from Sister Sylvester today just a few cute pics. :) She finally received her Birthday package!!!  YAY!! I chatted back and forth with her briefly and she is doing good just super busy!  She told me that they have changed the clothing guidelines in the mission and they now have a choice to wear either Palangi clothes or Tongan clothes. She has one dress that she wore on the plane there, but the rest she sent home when she left the MTC.  She said "my comp and I tried it out and it really felt so good.  I was able to put on a little makeup and wear my hair down!  I will probably still wear the Tongan clothing most of the time but it is nice to know we now have an option".   :)  "I love being a missionary!"

She hits her half way mark this week!  We miss her like CRAZY but of course we are so happy she is serving the great people of Tonga!❤️

"It depends whos hand its in...."

Malo e lelei! 

This week was a good week! Its starting to turn into summer time here so it is getting really really hot! Yesterday we had a baptism and we baptized the cutest 19 year old girl. Her name is Fusi and I have never met someone so ready to be baptized. It was such an amazing opportunity to watch her be baptized :) Those moments make the hard days disappear and you just feel so grateful to be a missionary and to be serving the Lord. 

A couple of weeks ago the Tongan rugby team " Mate maa Tonga" came to Tonga and one of the players, his name is William Hopoate, is a member. They had a big fireside for him and President let us go. He decided to serve a mission even though he had many offers to play rugby. He shared with us his experiences. He talked a lot about the savior and how important it is to make the Savior the foundation of our lives. "And through the small and simple things we are able to make great things come to pass". He shared sort of an analogy, I guess you could call it, about the importance of making our hands just like the Saviors. "We need to put our hands in the trust, love and hope of the Lord". 

You put a basketball in my hands and its just a ball, but you put a basketball in Michael Jordan's hands and its worth thousands. "It depends whose hands its in." You put bread and fish in my hands and you can make a fish sandwich, but you put it in the saviors hands and he can feed millions. "It depends whose hands its in" You put nails in my hands and it makes a wound, but you put nails in the saviors hand and it creates the only way for us to return to live with our Father in Heaven. Again... "It depends whose hands its in." 

Its so important everyday that we are putting our lives in the saviors hands and that we are trusting him that he will lead and guide us. Because of his hands we can try to become more like him each day. We have the beautiful opportunity to repent and give ourselves to him. Strive each day to put your lives in the saviors hands. Give thanks to him for all he has given us. I love my Savior Jesus Christ. I know he lives and loves us too. Im grateful for his atonement and his everlasting sacrifice so that I can try my best each day to be more like him. 

I found this while reading the other day. They are the best scriptures if you need a boost of faith :) Love you all have a great week ! 

Ofa atu :)  

22 And now, after the many testimonies which have been 

given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give 

of him: That he lives!

23 For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we 

heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten ofthe Father—

24 That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten 

sons and daughters unto God.

❤️~Sister Silivesita

The Plan of happiness :)

Malo e lelei! 

Thanks again for all of the birthday wishes. You guys are the best! This week was a good week! On Monday we had transfer day and me and my comp were transferred from Kolomotua to Matangiake. We live just around the corner from Presidents house and right across the street from the temple. They call this area "LA" (Little America) because a lot of the houses look American. We were moved here so we can be closer to the mission office because we work so closely with President and we are in the office a lot. Also every single house in our area are members. There's not a single house that doesn't go to the Mormon church. I thought this would make work hard but the members are so good about fellow shipping investigators for us and we actually have two investigators who are wanting to be baptized they just want a little more time. So thats awesome! We are just praying that there time will come to be ready to be baptized. 

Last Monday President and Sister Tuione invited us over to have a FHE with a family they have been working with and they asked us to teach the lesson we taught them "The Plan of Salvation" and it was probably one of the best lessons I have ever had. The spirit was so strong. The dad is a single father and they actually had a child pass away a couple years ago so the message really applied to them and you could tell they understood and accepted Heavenly Fathers plan. We taught them again last night and extended the invitation to be baptized and all of the kids accepted but their Dad was having a hard time accepting it. He works at a catholic school here and he is very well know. So his thoughts are if he joins the church he will loose his job and maybe some of his friends. We talked with president last night after the lesson and he said "Its interesting to see what the Lord wants us to do. " Man President is so in-tune with the spirit. He is definitely a man called of God. I hope and pray that their dad will come around. I know the blessings the gospel will bring to him. I know his children being baptized will be a great example to him and maybe he will understand the importance of being baptized. Man I love being a missionary! This is the best work and gift ever! This week we welcomed 20 new missionaries to the mission and half of them were new Palangi (White) elders. It was fun being able to share my struggles and experiences with them. I was able to look back and see how far I've come and testify to them that the lord lives and he loves them :) 

Kou fiefakamo'oni kiate kimoutoulu. Kou tui oku ofa a Tamai Hevani kiate kitautolu. Koe uhi oku ofa ae Tamai Hevani kiate kitautolu na'a ne omai ko Hono alo ko Sisu Kalaisi ki he mamani ke pakia maa kitautolu ke tau lava o ma'u ha moui ki he ta'engata. Ko e Fakalelei a Sisu Kalaisi ko e faingamalie fakaofoofa ke tau lava o liliu eatu ngaahi moui ke tau lava o hoko hange a Sisu Kalaisi. Kapau oku tau fai ae ngaahi me'a oku hala oku tau lava o kole fakamolemole'i mei Otua pea liaki leva ae ngaahi me'a na'a tau fai ke hoko atu ae ngaue oe Eiki ke tau lava o ma'u a moui ki he ta'engata. Ofa lahi atu kamoutolu!!

Work hard everyday to become who Jesus Christ wants us to be :) 

-- 

Sista Silivesita

Malo e lelei!

I first want to thank everyone for all of the kind birthday wishes. It made my whole week so thank you! This week was a good week! A busy week getting ready for transfers and everything next week but a good week! Last week we had the opportunity to watch conference and I cant even begin to explain how grateful I am for the leaders in the church who are so  inspired by the spirit to help guide us each and every day. Im sure you have all seen conference by now...we are a little late to watch here in the islands but its so cool that no matter where you are in the world the gospel is the same. :) 

A couple things I learned from conference.  First is the importance of service. Not only serving others but focusing on those around you. I don't have my notes with me but someone shared how important it is to look out for those around you. Heavenly Father puts them close by you because they are the ones who need you the most. So serve those around you! Not for praise but for joy and happiness. When we serve and strive to be like our savior we will understand his plan and everlasting atonement for us.  

I also loved how much they addressed the Book of Mormon and the importance of reading it everyday. Again, I dont have my notes and im not sure who said this, but a quote I loved is.... "If you read the Book of Mormon everyday, you will make better choices everyday." And I can testify that that is so true! Continue to read the Book of Mormon everyday! Also if you are not already doing it read the Book of Mormon as a family. Looking back as much as I didn't really enjoy taking time to read as a family I am SO grateful for what it prepared me for!  Im grateful for the spirit that was felt in our family and home and the things I was able to learn from reading together. 

Quick story....The other day me and my companion just got home after a long day and we were getting ready for bed and I walked into the bathroom and there was a HUGE spider probably the size of the palm of my hand and it was just just chillin in our shower!  Man i screamed so loud hahah because it was just sitting there staring at me. My comp came running in and then ran right back out  when she saw the spider. We both hate spiders especially
BIG ones. Anyways I sat there with a shoe in my hand with my comp behind me holding bug spray and for 30 min I told her "Okay I'm gonna do it" but I was too scared I wouldn't hit it. Finally I hit the spider and it didn't die, so i hit it again and it just kept running towards me and finally the third time it died. After screaming and running around with the bug spray me and my comp finally were able to kill the spider!  After I said my comp "man its crazy how something so small can have so much control over us."  I wanted to share this story because we all have those little things in life that hold us back because we feel like they have so much power over us. Maybe we have tried before to kill it off, and maybe it didn't "Die". Sometimes it takes 2, or 3 times to finally overcome it and have faith and trust in the lord to help us with what ever is holding us back. Since that day we have had 5 of the same spiders and although I'm a little hesitant at first to kill it, I just remember that I've already done it before so I can do it again. Keep working hard, keep trusting in the lord. He will bless you I know he will. He loves you and trusts you. Continue to read the Book of Mormon and serve and love those around you. Have a great week! Ofa lahi atu! 

Sista Silivesita

Mission Leaders at the Nuku alofa Temple! ❤️