We were walking....forever walking!

July 31, 2017

So this last week we went to Lanikai Pillbox again with the Elders...it was nice weather, not hot and windy like the last time. But once again the Elders just kind of left us in the dust on the way up and the way down. We also were able to go to Boots and Kimo which is a really popular restaurant. They are famous for their pancakes with Macadamia Nut sauce. So we got banana panckes with the sauce and an omelet because Sister Tailleur said the omelets are good too. And she wasn't lying...it was really good. I don't think I've ever eaten something so fast...haha oops! We also went to Lanikai Juice and got a Pitaya bowl which was super good!

This week has been interesting as I mentioned we are running low on miles so we are walking more. And this was probably the work week to walk...this week has been the most humid and hot this summer! But we made it through and our love for our car has continually grown...haha

This week we weren't able to meet too many people sadly but one gentleman was outside in his yard with two puppies so we started talking to him. It sounded like where he was living the family actually took him in and he helps with their child that needs constant medical attention. He was really kind. It was interesting because he didn't know much about religion and at first and he didn't seem to know about God. So that was kind of a first for me but we were able to share that there is a God and He is our loving Heavenly Father. We invited him to church and the fireside we are having this week about the Book of Mormon. We were able to pray with him as well.

Another lady that was a former investigator we called a few months ago to see if she wanted to meet with us. But she was just heading out on a vacation so she said she would call us when she got back but she never did. We called her and she was super nice. We were able to set up an appointment so that was a blessing. So we will see how that goes this week.

We were also able to help with the house again and we were there for several hours this time. It flew by...the family is so nice as well as the other workers. And a lot of the floor was put in which was cool to see. Everything in the kitchen was gone as well except for the hood that goes over the stove and that was a hazard. There were many close calls. Sis. Tailleur and I both hit once...haha

This week is transfers and I am staying and Sister Tailleur is leaving to serve at Pearl Harbor hickam. We drive to the tabernacle tomorrow to meet our new companions. I'm a little nervous to take over the area because I don't want to screw things up. But things will work out.

We spoke in Church because here every 5th Sunday is Missionary Sunday so we spoke on member missionary work. It went really well and I hope the members can now see how important they are to this work. We also sang Aloha Oe to Sister Tailleur which was sad and everyone came and said their goodbyes.

I know this gospel is such a blessing when we follow the counsel we are given and as we share it with others. And I know that the only way the work can progress as much as it needs to if we have the help of others. We need members to help us find people to teach and help fellowship. We can't do the work on our own. Those that are brought in by members are way more likely to stay active in the church because they have constant support. 

Love,

Sister Heath

At the top of Lanikai with Sister Tailleur

Boots and Kimo

 Lanikai Juice with our Pitaya Bowl

some of the beautiful green area we serve in

Pray, Act in Faith, and Miracles Will Happen

July 18, 2017

Sorry I forgot to let you know last week that P-day was going to be on Tuesday because of our temple trip.

Last week we hiked Likeke Falls again but this time we took a different path to see where it led. After some really steep hiking we made it to the freeway! Woohoo! We were so bummed that we hiked all that way just to get to the road...haha But now we know and there is one more path that we can try out. We talked to some members and they said it goes to the back of the waterfall.

Later in the day we played chair soccer with other Elders and Sisters. It was really fun and guess who won? That's right I did! But we did have a fatality...the dvd player we were using for music got pelted in the face (the screen) and no longer works :(

We had an appointment with Ron last week and Sis. Wright was able to come interpret (ASL). She is amazing and we were able to communicate and teach a lot more effectively. Sadly our lesson was interrupted by a phone call so we had to stop where we were at to pick up the next visit. We went back a few days later with a lady named Sister Parker who is also wonderful. It is interesting teaching someone about the gospel and reading the scriptures with them because the vocabulary is so different. And its completely new to Ron. But Sister Parker did a great job of explaining. We were able to find out more about his story too. Apparently he went deaf after Hawaii was bombed! So sad! He is such a wonderful person though.

We went on exchanges this week and it was really great! Sister Sorenson and I were companions. I was a little nervous to take over the area for the day but it went pretty well...it just took me forever to plan who we were going to see...I usually get help from Sis. T. because she pretty much has the area memorized! But it was a great day. 

We started off with an appointment with an investigator in the morning. Our relief society president was able to come with us and it was amazing. She could have taught by herself. She talked about gospel topics and asked our investigator Molly many thought provoking questions. She shared that she doesn't know what her purpose is and how she is not sure about baptism because she doesn't really know what it is. So we taught about faith, repentance, baptism, the holy ghost, and enduring to the end. When she learned about the symbolism about baptism and the gift of the holy ghost she was like wow that's really interesting! The spirit was so strong and we committed her to baptism on August 26th!!! (It was crazy because I was telling Sister Sorenson earlier that Molly brought up in the last lesson how she wasn't ready to be baptized because she isn't ready to quit smoking) Miracles do happen. She also shared during the lesson that she has cut down from 2 packs a day to 1/2 pack a day which I think is huge. But anyway that was the highlight of the week!

On Saturday we were able to go to the Visitor's Center with our investigators Nichelle and Tyler. It was a really good experience. We saw the video about God's Plan for His Children and then we watched the new Joseph Smith videos (Days of Harmony and Eternity) They are so good. Afterward we walked around the temple and talked about the videos because we were freezing inside. Tyler shared how he felt something which was really awesome. I love going to the visitors center with investigators...the spirit is so strong. It was a great visit.

On Sunday a less active family came which was awesome as well as a brother we have invited to church that hasn't been for like 40 years. It was a great sacrament meeting...and there were a ton of members too. The benches were pretty much full for once!

Thanks for all the love, support, and prayers!

I know that Christ is our Savior and He suffered for every single one of us. He not only suffered for our sins so we could return to live with Heavenly Father. But He suffered for every sorrow, every pain, and every affliction we would ever go through in this life. He did this so we don't have to suffer, He is always there for us no matter what. I know He loves each of us and knows us perfectly. If we turn to Him always I can guarantee more happiness and peace than you have experienced before. I know this because as I strive to become more like Christ everyday and I use the Atonement, repent, and rely on Him for everything I've been able to experience more happiness and peace than ever before. 

Love,

Sister Heath

On our hike...in a nature made shelter

With one of the members from our ward that we visit weekly...she is so wonderful and always gives us food

with Nichelle and Tyler at the temple

Grateful for the wonderful people that surround me

July 10, 2017

Since I didn't say it last week... Happy 4th of July!

Last week for P-day I played volleyball with the Elders and some members while Sister Tailleur watched...she didn't want to get killed..haha It was pretty fun.

We had dinner that night with some members at Denny's and we got breakfast. I had Cinnabon pancakes and they were so good and we had a banana split for dessert. It was great!

Later Sister Tailleur felt like we needed to visit a less active family I didn't really want to but we did anyway. It is a man that is in his 50s or 60s and he lives with his Dad. Come to find out that the Dad had been admitted to the hospital because he swallowed a toothpick while sleeping. Luckily he is okay. But I'm glad Sister Tailleur is in tune with the spirit. I don't know what was wrong with me! I was definitely humbled!

 On Tuesday Sister Tailleur and I were feeling patriotic so we were singing great songs and we wore red, white, and blue. After district meeting we headed to our ward picnic in Waimanalo. It's called Sherwood Forest. I think that's the closest we will ever come to the beach. It was really fun to eat food and talk with the members near the beach. Then we headed home and tried to talk to people but there wasn't much time from travelling because then we had to head to Kailua for dinner. We got permission to have dinner as a zone at the Burnsides (the senior couple serving here who are also leaving in 2 days...but they are coming back in a month to serve 6 more months!) It was really fun to be with the whole zone. We had some patriotic trivia and we could see the airshow going on in the distance which was cool. We also played the game where each person writes a name on a paper. All the names are put together and read aloud. Then you just have to guess what each person's name. If you guess it right, they become part of your team. It was pretty fun!

Then we had to head home because we were supposed to be in by dark. We were able to see the sky light up from the firework show in Kailua but we couldn't see any fireworks. And sadly there wasn't like anything in Kaneohe. But since we couldn't proselyte it was nice to just have some down time.

We were able to meet a really kind man last week. We got a referral to go to this house because he chatted online or something but when we went there it ended up being someone else. But he was really nice. He's 80 years old and has his own little shop where he makes Ukuleles. It was interesting to communicate though because he is deaf. Sister Tailleur knew a little sign language but I know nothing. But luckily he would speak while signing so I could understand a little.

We also had Zone Conference in Laie which was great as always! The emphasis was on the Book of Mormon and the power it can bring to our life which I strongly believe. President Bekker also showed videos of Moroni traveling through the wilderness on his own and then burying the plates. He also shared a video of Joseph Smith's first vision that's suppose to be the most realistic. The part where darkness/satan's influence came over him was intense. But then Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ came and how glorious it was. We talked a little bit about how dark times and challenges come before miracles. So when we are going through hard things we can be excited about what's going to come next.

We also attended the baptism of the Skoneki family and it was really great. The Dad baptized the mom and the daughter and the two sons. Such a cool experience especially since I knew them a little from one lesson I taught with Sister Ogawa during exchanges.

I know this gospel is true and will bless our life if we live it!

Love,

Sister Heath

Driving Back from Zone Conference

Matching at Zone Conference

The Week of Community Service

July 3, 2017

Aloha!

This past P-Day we were able to convince the Elders to go on a hike with us. We went to the Kaneohe Pillbox. It was actually really steep and there was very little breeze so it was very hot. But it was great except the Elders think they are too good for us so we got left behind. The view was beautiful. 

We were able to clean the U.S.S. Missouri again which was fun. I was with Sister Cannon and we were singing disney songs as we were sweeping and mopping. It was a zone activity so it was fun to see everyone and we were able to go to Wend's for lunch with a few of them.

We also went to the community garden and helped with a lady's plot that had been neglected for a long time so it was a lot of work but it was cool to see the transformation. I found a lot of interesting bugs, more huge spiders, some huge centipedes (a few of them I killed...a few of them Elder Taka (from Tonga) played with after taking the stingers out), and some new geckos I've never seen (they were super cool).

We also did a service project for a member in another ward with quite a bit of land. A lot of his trees were being taken over by the vines so we got rid of them and man was that hard work! The vines are wrapped on tight! Luckily the Elders were there and they loved using the Machetes! We also had a golf cart to take the vines to a specific location on the property. It was really beautiful and they had a big grass area. We had a good time but it was tiring.

I saw my old boss from Pounders in Laie which was super crazy! I also saw one of my co-workers at the bus stop when I was driving.

We were able to try something new this week. We drive to visit people but a lot of times no one is home so we get back in the car and drive somewhere else. But our zone leader had the idea of trying to talk to someone before getting back in the car and it worked pretty well. We were actually able to find a new investigator because of it! It was a neighbor to a recent convert we visit a lot. She said she usually ignores people when she doesn't want to talk to them. But she said she had a good feeling about us (I was like woohoo) so we talked with her and shared a little. We asked if we could come back and talk to her more about the gospel while showing her the restoration pamphlet. She said sure and asked if we had an extra one so she could look at it before we came to visit...we were like of course! So we set up an appointment to come back. 

We were also blessed with 3 referrals this week which was awesome! One of them we were able to meet and she was really outgoing and awesome (the zone leaders actually set an appointment with her). It was funny though because she thought we were Jehovah's Witness. But she ordered a Bible and supposedly a Book of Mormon so we brought her both. And we talked about the Book of Mormon and Christ's church being restored and she was really intrigued. We were able to set up a return appointment. We contacted one of the referrals but it wasn't the right address. But we met this super cool guy named Ron. He is deaf so we couldn't communicate super well but luckily Sister Tailleur knew a little sign language and he could speak so I could understand some things. But he said the guy we were looking for lives in Kahuku, not in Kaneohe anymore. But he is awesome because he has his own Ukulele shop. He makes Kamaka Ukuleles and repairs them. And let me tell ya, Kamaka is not a cheap brand! We felt bad because we were late for dinner though. My first time eating at a Mexican Restaurant here. I wasn't really in the mood but I got fried ice cream for dessert and it was great!

On Sunday, one of the less active families we visit every week and never comes to church showed up while we were singing How Great Thou Art. Sister Tailleur and I got a little emotional. It really was great! Sadly they left right after sacrament but it was great that they came. And their oldest son who is like 17 helped pass the sacrament. It was great! Testimony meeting was really spiritual. A lot of people said they felt like they needed to get up even people who were just visiting. They spoke on the spirit and I felt like it was for one of our investigators. A few sweet boys bore their testimony and got really emotional. One of them invited his friend to church and was so happy and felt the spirit really strong...he made me cry! There has also been a lot of loss in our ward but some very strong testimonies were shared about the plan of salvation. It was so good.

The other couple that we teach comes for 2 hours but never all 3 but guess what?! They stayed all 3! Such a great day! 

We had dinner that night with a family from the Mainland. The husband served his mission in Mississippi so he made us a nice stew and it was great for a change. They have a really cool condo too that reminds me of Spain.

I know this gospel is true and I'm so grateful to be sharing it with others!

Aloha,

Sister Heath

Pictures: Kaneohe Pillbox, U.S.S. Missouri, Plot before pic, Plot before pic, Plot after pic, fried ice cream with Sis. Louis, Kaneohe Pillbox