Blessed With the Work

October 30, 2017

Last week we were able to go hiking but it was super long and we didn't make it all the way...it goes all along the ridge line. It also started raining so we headed back down. It was fun to get out and do something but it was a little stressful because we didn't have much of our p-day left afterward.

That night we tried to visit a recent convert but the rain had gotten worse and it was pouring! We were in the heart of the storm and could hear the thunder and the lightning was lighting up the whole sky! It was really cool but also a little scary... I got out of the car to get the raincoat in the trunk for Sister Ogawa and I waited outside for her to put it on but that was a bad idea...my legs were getting soaked so I grabbed the other raincoat and wrapped it around myself. So then we headed to the stairs to go down a few steps to the housing but there was a river of water below. It looked kind of deep and was moving really fast so we decided not to go. It was crazy!

We were able to talk to a lot of people at this huge apartment building that has a lot of Chuukese people so we were able to find some new people to teach.

It has been so busy and crazy trying to visit everyone! Not to mention the Elders in this area find several Chuukese people during the week for us to visit. We are definitely blessed with the work here and there will never be a dull moment!

We were able to go on some visits with the Bishop's wife from Kahala Ward which was goo d. We met some families that she is friends with. One of them used to investigate and one of them are her non-member friends who were super nice and let us in. We were able to talk to them for a while and they gave us snacks.

After that we went to visit one of the Chuukese families that we are teaching to invite them to the Halloween party that was planned a few days earlier. We taught them a lesson and had a hard time trying to figure out how to get there because the grandma had to go to work and wouldn't be able to take them or give them a ride home. So we called the wonderful senior missionaries in our area and they said they could give them a ride. But as we went to the bus stop the grandma realized that she had work an hour later than she thought so she would be able to take the kids to the party. We were already running late so we were hoping that we wouldn't miss the party. We weren't sure how long the us ride was going to take either. 

Sister Ogawa and I got to the church and went into the gym where we thought the party was and were so hungry that we got food and after realized that we were crashing the Tongan Ward party! haha! So we took our food and went to go find the Micronesian party. It was in another room. We also invited someone else to come so we were a little stressed out looking for people but we were able to find the sisters we invited. Then after we talked to them and they were settled we went back to the gym to check if the kids were there and they were! I was so happy to see that they had made it! They were having a great time with these huge bags of candy. We were glad to see that especially because the Micronesian party was pretty much over. So everything turned out well but it was a crazy night!

We were able to teach the sisters that came to the party and they are super solid! They already come to church and want to be baptized on the same day. They need to get married to their boyfriends so we talked about the law of chastity and they said that is something they want to do. I also had a great time playing with one of the sister's sons that is like 1 year old. He was super cute and kept trying to grab my glasses and my nametag. We became good friends because when we left he cried :( It made me so sad!

Love you all!

Sister Heath

Pictures: View from the hike last week, Sister Ogawa and I soaked after the hike (Elder Blackmoore in the background), My attempt at taking a picture of the river...it didn't really work, There is a huge Banyan tree in the front of our apartment and in the morning there are tons of green parrots flying all around! (I was excited to see a blue one!), the view from the back of our apartment...the city is so pretty at night!, Same view with Sister Ogawa and I

View from the hike last week 

Sister Ogawa and I soaked after the hike (Elder Blackmoore in the background)

My attempt at taking a picture of the river...it didn't really work 

There is a huge Banyan tree in the front of our apartment and in the morning there are tons of green parrots flying all around! (I was excited to see a blue one!)

 The view from the back of our apartment...the city is so pretty at night!

The view from the back of our apartment...with Sister Ogawa and I

Welcome to the city

October 23, 2017

So last p-day we were able to go to valley of the temples which was really fun!

This week was crazy!

I had to wait for a while for Sister Ogawa's flight to get in from big island and they decided to move us to an apartment but we couldn't go to the old one to get things from there until Sister Ogawa was here.

But once Sister Ogawa came we were able to try and get everything figured out. It was a crazy week trying to get adjusted to our apartment and the area. We spent time trying to figure the area out since we don't know what's been happening.

We had some great dinners with members from the Kahala Ward and also from the Chuukese branch that we are over. Kahala is a super nice area and the members are really great and willing to help us with missionary work. The Chuukese are really nice and willing to learn. Some are hard to teach because they seem like they understand what we are saying but we aren't really sure if they truly understand. There are so many people to teach though! And since this is the only Chuukese branch we can go to many different areas to teach.

Love, 

Sister Heath

All the sisters at Valley of the Temples

Saying goodbye to Tu'i who got baptized on Saturday and his aunt

 Had to get a picture with Leitasha and our long opposite hair

Saying goodbye to the Hai family

 Saying goodbye to some potential investigators...the boy is the 5 year old that loves Jesus

Bye to the Killpack family

Transfer meeting with Sister Lybbert and her new comp

 View from member's house in Kahala

From apartments visiting Chuukese and seeing the hospital where Branden was born!

Sister Ogawa and I trying to be more Chuukese

 The Tongan ward after the primary program at the tabernacle...I had to take a picture!

Transfer news!

October 16, 2017

Last week was super great because we got to go to the temple and do a session. It was really great and felt like a spiritual renewal. We also enjoyed seven brothers afterward...they are famous for their burgers.

This week we were able to do better about talking to people and sharing a message with them. We even found a super nice chuukese lady that said we could come back. We went back on Saturday and found out that her husband is a member and they have 3 kids. We were able to teach all of them about the restoration. They also speak and understand english really well. So we got 4 new investigators which was really exciting after not really having any the past few weeks.

We also were able to participate in a Just serve project. We helped with the land they had for the Haiau. There were a bunch of taro patches in water, logs to be moved from a tree that was cut down, and mulch to be moved to different areas. We mostly helped with scooping the mulch and putting it into the wheelbarrows...it was hard work! We also helped organize the logs that were moved that they put around an area or palm trees. It was a great experience!

We received transfer news this week and I am being transferred to Honolulu! I have mixed feelings... I didn't really tell anyone except Bishop and Bro.Long before sacrament. But they ended up singing to me and of course I broke down after standing up by the pulpit for like 2 seconds! But it was cute because some girls came up and gave me a lei and a hug. Bishop also talked to me a little and told me to come back and marry a local boy! Then a bunch of the ward members came up and said bye. It was so sad! I'm really going to miss them! And somehow a lot of them had leis... But it was really sweet. I love the hawaiian ways. I was able to take a few pictures with members after church.

It was really cool after church because we were able to visit quite a few people that we haven't been able to see in a while.

My new companion is Sister Ogawa. She is from Japan. I went on exchanges with her my first transfer here. It will be awesome. She has served in Honolulu before so it will be great!

Aloha,

Sister Heath

Temple day with Kaneohe Zone

Driving back from the temple with Sister Kwok and Sister Mousley

With Sister Sampaio

With Brother and Sister Davis

With the Brother and sister Long

with Ola

I love Kaneohe!

October 10, 2017

Well this week was pretty good!

We went to Boots and Kimo's last p-day...a restaurant that is famous for their Macadamia Nut sauce on their Banana Pancakes. It was pretty good!

We were also able to play glow putt with some of the elders. I had a good time but a few people got a little frustrated...haha

We were able to meet with an investigator after like a month and we were able to teach him longer than 20 minutes like the last time. He is very intelligent. It went well but he likes things very planned out so he wouldn't be able to come to church but he said he will read the Book of Mormon and pray to know if it is true. He also shared something what Sister Lybbert and I liked: No one wants to die young, no one wants to die old, the trick is to die young as old as possible.

We also had the opportunity to do service at Pearl Harbor which is always a good time and it is interesting to learn about what some of the people went through!

We were able to finally see some less actives members that I haven't seen in a long time or met since I've been here so that was really great!

We also had an activity where we did a walk through teaching about the Plan of Salvation. Sadly no investigators came but our stake president spoke about how the members need to do better about helping with the missionary work so that was nice.

I have a testimony of prayer especially this week where I encountered things that I realized I couldn't conquer on my own. As I prayed for help and strength I knew my prayer was heard because I felt help right away. I know that we can pray for help no matter how big or small. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are there to help always.

Love,

Sister Heath

Glow putt

 Sister Lybbert and I in the jail on the Missouri at Pearl Harbor

 The view after our morning run...I love Kaneohe!

My cool walnut I talked about a few weeks ago...can you spot Buddha?

End with a Spiritual High

October 2, 2017

Last p-day was really fun. We went to sea life park with some other missionaries. We were able to enjoy the sea turtles, sea lions, feeding the birds, and watching the amazing dolphin shows! We had a blast!

On Wednesday after we had interviews we took our car in to get our oil changed so we didn't have the car for an hour and a half so we walked. It turned out really great. We met this guy that just broke down when we started talking to him. He is having a really hard time and doesn't feel like he has any true friends. So we shared our testimonies especially about how God loves him and gave him a restoration pamphlet. He didn't want to give us his number so we gave him ours. But he lives in a different town and says he sees the Elders so hopefully they can start teaching him! But it was definitely a tender moment. We were able to talk to quite a few people walking around which is something that we have been struggling with hence the plateau of missionary work...so it was nice for a change.

We also had zone conference this week which was really great as always. We had some great training from President and Sister Bekker and our Zone leaders. I also had the opportunity to give the talk that I wrote about strengthening the level of our faith. I spoke about how we need to always be doing things that will exercise our faith and pushing ourselves. Like praying for opportunities to share the gospel and then acting on them.

We also had exchanges which was really fun. I was with Sister Sperry and she is great. We got to watch conference at the stake center and some wonderful ward members provided breakfast and lunch after each session! I really enjoyed conference! Especially President Nielsen's talk on the Book of Mormon. If presented with the Book of Mormon or rubies and diamonds which would you choose? The man in the story he shared said the Book of Mormon was worth more than rubies and diamonds. I love the Book of Mormon so much and the knowledge we have because of it!

We also had the opportunity to attend a Musical Fireside where a very talented family performed beautiful Hawaiian songs and hymns. It was really special.

Love,

Sister Heath

Sister Lybbert and I after Zone Conference (can you spot the temple?)

Green Sea Turtle at Sea Life Park

Penguin named Walter

 Feeding and talking to the birds

 It's on my head!