One for the books...

April 16, 2018

This week was crazy to say the least. I went to Waimanalo with Sister Nichalson on Tuesday. 

Our first visit was with an 8 yr old girl named Dania. She is super sweet. She was raised here in Hawaii but she is Chuukese! So funny... I thought I would never see any Chuukese again but my first lesson here was with one! She is super cute and wants to be baptized. We are just waiting for her Grandma's approval.

Afterward, we went to visit an investigator and met his friend. He claimed to be agnostic and I asked him how he came to that belief and he said he couldn't explain it which I thought was kind of funny. But I guess that's what agnostic means...maybe we can help him know and decide.

Later we visited a less-active member. He has a young family. We ended up sharing the Prince of Peace video after getting to know him. Him and his daughters watched. They really liked it. We talked a little about the Book of Mormon and testified of it. The girls were excited to read and he said they would read it that night!

Our zone got to help make some health and safety videos for missionaries that will come out in about a year. They will watch these videos that are made before they come out to help them be more healthy and safe. We demonstrated how to be safe when doing service. It was a cool experience. 

That night we were going to visit someone for a lesson and it started pouring rain. She ended up not being home but her grandpa was with his 2 biker friends. We actually ended up talking to them and they invited us into the garage. We had a good conversation about religion. The rain kept pouring so much that it was coming into the garage so they shut the door. They had some other friends over and were making some food. We ended up sharing the restoration and they all listened intently. It was really cool even though they might not have been all there. We hope we can share more with them. We were able to give them a copy of the Book of Mormon. They all seem to be open too... especially the grandpa, he said he is at the age now where he just wants to gain more knowledge. They offered us some food which was good. The grandpa went to the back to get all the water out of the back because it was flooding, he used a hose. One of the other guys went too to make sure his house was okay. After a while we decided to head home too before it got worse. As we were driving home there was so much water on the road! Cars were making waves! We also drove past a river type thing and it was splashing over onto the road! Then we get to our street and the water keeps getting deeper. Pretty soon we get to this group of guys standing out in the water saying we aren't going to make it. The water was super deep I could see it just below the window! We also saw a truck driving through and it was up to the doors! So we went around another way that is perpendicular to our road but it was still pretty deep from that direction. We ended up waiting a while because we didn't want to get caught in the current... Our street was literally a river of water. We even saw a garbage can float down. Eventually it went down so we decided to drive to our house. We made it but then the garage door wouldn't open so we had no way to get into our house! We were going to try and get in through our windows but there was no way to get to the doors because both sides of the house were a few inches of mud.

So thankfully the ladies from upstairs came to help us. One of them climbed on a garbage can and through a window into the garage so we could open it...we had to do it manually and a bunch of water came out from the garage. Once we got into the house we noticed our kitchen had flooded. We kind of checked the rooms and they didn't seem wet so we just focused on trying to get the water out. The fun part is what to use? Plus there wasn't any electricity. We don't have much as missionaries. So I found a mop in the garage and tried using that. We tried sweeping the water into a our small kitchen garbage but you could only get so much in until it comes back out. Let's just say it was a long process and took the sacrifice of some towels. Once the other sisters came home from their dinner appointment we realized water had gotten into the edges of the rooms too! The other sisters were super tired and went to bed. I cleaned a little more and put stuff back and showered off. 

The next morning we went to see the damage and some other houses got it pretty bad and there was mud everywhere. We found out it happened because some trees fell and blocked the drainage right above our street so that's what caused it. We helped a non-member who got flooded pretty bad for a while. The worst thing about the mud is the only way you can really clear it well is with more water... So we spent a few hours helping her. Then we cleaned a little at our house. It was a long weekend to say the least. When we got back the house stunk! Mud had even come up a little on the carpet where the rooms flooded. Definitely grateful that we had a tile kitchen though...it would've wrecked wood. So I was exhausted all Sunday. But it was really fun to get to know the ward and see some familiar faces from stake activities when I was in Kaneohe. It was exciting too because our Bishop is super missionary minded so much that he wants the members to find people for us to teach so we don't have to proselyte! 

This week started off so well. I had some greenie fire I guess or I have just grown a lot since I was in Kaneohe. I was excited to talk to everyone and share a message with them. We met some great people and I am excited to see what happens! I love this area already!

Aloha, 

Sister Heath

Our street we were waiting to drive on

Our kitchen

super mud how high the water got +

interesting tree in Honolulu

Bye to Sister Eberhard 

ister Tailleur and I (I gave her a gift since shes my mission mom and going home next transfer)

Sisters cleaning up the mess!

Dinner with Aunti Momi and Helen

goodbye to the Anser family

Time for the next adventure!

April 9, 2018

Last week we had MLC again. It is always uplifting and motivating to hear training from our mission President and his wife and how we can do better and help the missionaries in this mission do better. 

Something that we focused on was personal testimony and also personal conversion which I thought was interesting because that seemed to be highlighted in conference as well. President Nelson said the greatest gift we've been given is personal revelation. In which we can have our own testimony and conversion. I know that this is so important because we can't rely on each other for our testimony. When we stand in front of God to be judged He will wonder what we did to have our own strength and testimony. That is why the Book of Mormon is such a wonderful thing. We each can read it and pray to know if it's true to gain our own testimony of the truthfulness of this gospel. I encourage you to read the Book of Mormon and pray to know if it's true and wait for the spirit to tell you in your mind and heart if it is. 

Tuesday we had P-day. We had a cool experience when we were shopping at Wal-Mart. We always seem to see Chuukese people but as we were walking down an aisle this family walked passed us and saw Jises Kraist on our nametag and started talking to us. They asked where our church is and what time it started. We were able to get their address. It was really awesome. [Sadly they didn't come to church this week and they moved from the address they gave us. But there is hope for the future! ]

Wednesday we had interviews and we checked the Elders phones to make sure they are planning and updating their area books. It went well. 

We were able to teach one of investigators named Mercy. She is such a sweet lady. We taught the restoration and invited her to be baptized. She said she already was baptized so we figured she doesn't completely understand priesthood authority. But she is willing to read the Book of Mormon and pray about it. I'm sure there is a little bit of a language barrier. It is pretty cute sometimes she will speak in Chuukese and I will recognize a few words and be able to figure out what she is saying but other times I don't know what she's saying... 

We had a cool experience on Thursday as we were walking around trying to contact a few people here in town. I decided to say hi to this guy that was walking by and started a conversation. He was willing to talk to us as we walked. It was really cool. He was super nice and open. He met missionaries a long time ago and said he even took a guy in a white shirt and tie to Laie and fed him lunch but doesn't remember more than that. We shared a little about the temple and the importance of the Book of Mormon. Hopefully he will want to learn from the missionaries again sometime soon. 

On Friday we went to a house with a lot of people that we have met at different times. We met this lady named Vanilla that I have seen but not talked to very much. She really opened up to us. I didn't realize she met with missionaries in Chuuk and has heard about the Book of Mormon. She said that her and her brother and her niece read it together sometimes which is super awesome. We shared Alma 7:11-12 in Chuukese and I guess she liked it so much she wanted us to read it again. We are excited to see her again this week!

Saturday we had the opportunity to attend a baptism in Laie from someone in our district if we could find an investigator to go. So we spend a few hours visiting and calling people to see if they could go but sadly no on could. So we weren't able to go. But the good news is that we were able to see a lot of people!

Saturday night we awaited the transfer news call. Sister Eberhard is staying and will be with my MTC companion, Sister Bowen. I will be going to Kaneohe in the Olomana ward with Sister Nickelson. I did not expect to be going back to Kaneohe. I thought I might go off island but the good news is I will be on island for when President Nelson comes and Elder Holland! I don't think it will hit me that I'm leaving the Chuukese until I'm in Olomana. It's going to be an adjustment! But im excited for the new adventure in store and what the Lord has in store for me there. And for the people I am supposed to meet.

Sunday we had a few investigators show up to church. They were late but we were glad they came. We were excited to see Steve, the Lukas' grandson who we haven't been able to see in a while. So we asked him if he wanted to take the sacrament from another ward and he said okay. We just barely missed the doors closing so we had to wait through a brutal Sacrament hymn of 4 verses because the doors were locked. But it was still good. We talked to him about what the bread and water meant. It was really good.

We were able to briefly meet The Lukas' daughter who just got back from her mission in Chicago last week. She is super awesome. 

I said a few goodbyes.

We had dinner with the Bendixens which was great.

All in all, I would say it was a pretty good last week here in the Honolulu 2nd Branch! 

Aloha and Kenenom (goodbye) Honolulu, 

Sister Heath

with our investigator Mercy at church

With Geraldine and the skirt she gave me

Excited for what is to come...

April 3, 2018

Last week we went on a hike called Manoa Falls. It was a little muddy but a good adventure to a little waterfall.

I also finally got a haircut (I've been meaning to because of my split ends) I don't remember the last time I got it cut.

Sister Eberhard and I had our first lesson using technology. We Facebook called one of our investigators and had a lesson. It went really well.

We met with a family we found that we had a referral for the grandpa. He wasn't there but the daughter and others were. We got to know them and share a message. It was really good. 

We had one last exchange for the transfer. I stayed here in town with Sister Ngatuvai who is from Utah but she is Tongan. She is so much fun! We had a good time singing and playing the uke.

We had a great day. We had an appointment with Samery that went really well. Sister Ngatuvai is really good at focusing on the spirit to understand others. We read the Book of Mormon together and talked about how we can apply it. We also taught her how to pray in English an it was really good because she was willing to pray with us. She was afraid it wasn't good but it was a really good prayer and the spirit was there.

As we tried to visit another family they weren't home but we were able to talk to some other guys a long the way. One of them was super nice and told us how he met the Elders last week in town but wouldn't give them his address. We asked where he lived (assuming it might be in town) but he was like no I live here and gave us his address...so funny. We invited him to watch conference and didn't expect much out of it. He found me on Facebook later that day which is convenient so we can keep in contact. 

We had some other great appointments with some other new investigators. I hope we can help them progress!

Friday we had zone conference which was super awesome just like always! 

We also had general conference this weekend which was also wonderful. We had some exciting things happen. 

It was wonderful to hear the messages that were prepared. Some of the things that stuck out to me were the importance of a prophet today, listening to the Holy Ghost, and having a strong personal testimony. 

I know that these messages were prepared for us so we need to listen to them. We can watch the talks on lds.org.

Aloha,

Sister Heath

getting my haircut

Short Hair

Technology!

Chicken!

Elder Klassen, Elder Owens from MTC, Sister Bowen from MTC, me, and Sister Eberhard

  

 Manoa falls

white cockroach  

Add caption

He is Risen (Easter Sunday)

Another week has flown by!

March 26, 2018

Met with some investigators this week that we haven't seen in a while which was great.

 

We had dinner with one of our members, the Lukas' on Tuesday night and their grandson happened to be there. He is 11 and the Lukas' said they asked permission from the mom for him to be taught and prepare for baptism and she said yes. We weren't expecting that. It was wonderful!  

Wednesday I went on exchanges with Sister Fitisemanu in Aiea. We had a good day. We were busy with activities and our one appointment cancelled so we weren't able to teach a while lot. But we were able to contact a few people they have been trying to for a while. She is a wonderful missionary!

Thursday we had a return missionary from Chuuk that goes to BYUH but was in town for the day so he offered to come out with us. So that was super great! We visited the Kisins who speak very little English and it was great. He got to know them, prayed, and bore his testimony in Chuukese. 

Friday Sister Soga came to town with me for exchanges. We had a great time and she is such a good missionary. 

That's most of the exciting things this week!

Oh also, the theme of morning exercise this week: ultimate frisbee! Good workout and fun!

It will be great hearing from our prophet and apostles this weekend. If you haven't already I would encourage you to pray about and write down some questions. This will not only help you pay better attention but I know you will be able to receive revelation from Heavenly Father about what he wants you to know!

I am also grateful for this Sunday where we are able to remember the miracle that the Savior performed of being resurrected and the joy and happiness that can bring to our lives. Imagine all the things that are possible because of Christ!

Aloha, 

Sister Heath

Sister Eberhard and I

Sister Soga and I

The Lukas' and I after dinner...they got me a few gifts..so sweet!

Temple trip last week

Trying to be like Rapunzel 

Times of trial bring miracles... I hope!

March 20, 2018

So after responding to everyone's emails I didn't really know what to say about this week so here are Sister Eberhard's thoughts and I feel the same:

"This morning was so perfect because we were able to go to the Laie Temple, and the Temple is the single greatest place on Earth, and I was just so happy to be there. It was also the one place I wanted to be after another long week of growing! The last few weeks in this area have felt a bit like a tornado, and after getting knocked around a bit, it was nice to feel so at peace within the walls of the Temple. I am so grateful to have one on this island!

Quite honestly, as I reflect on this week, I don't really know what to share. I feel like I am just learning how to be more like the Savior. Like, learning how to be more faithful, more diligent, more consecrated, more hopeful, more willing, more loving, more forgiving, more of just about everything that is good. It makes me think about the hymn "More Holiness Give Me". If you haven't taken the time to sit down and read the lyrics, I highly recommend it. Plus >>> I believe that it speaks the same message which I am feeling today. (Go read it right now!! And try to learn something from it :)) 

As far as our investigators go, we aren't seeing very much progress, sadly. Sister Heath and I feel like we are trying everything.. but we have to leave things like "personal agency" up to the investigator. We want so badly for them to continue learning and growing, but it takes effort, and often times it is hard for them to see the rainbows beyond the rain. We have really just been focusing on what we like to call Spiritual CPR:

C= Church
P= Prayer
R= Reading

So often we use CPR to save lives, but aren't souls worth saving too? We have been trying to help each person we meet see how important their spirits are. Our bodies are for this life, but our spirits are eternal, and we had them before we even got here. Shouldn't we take care of the gift that has always been with us? We teach them that just as our bodies require food, water and air, our spirits need "feeding" too. I believe that it is beginning to "click" with more people, so hopefully they start to actually do the things that the Spirit directs them to!

Overall, the work of the Lord is indeed progressing. Maybe not so much in the progress of investigators or our area, but definitely in the hearts and capabilities of His servants; the Missionaries. I know that the Lord is working on me to make me a more valuable instrument in furthering His work. I know that He is working on me so that we can accomplish greater things, and help more people to do the same. I am grateful for the opportunities I am having to grow, and I know that we each can, if we be willing.

Have a wonderful week and remember to find ways to GROW !"...Sister Eberhard

..........................................................................................

I hope you know that no matter where you are in life you can always turn to the Savior for strength, comfort, and guidance. He suffered for everything we would go through in this life so he knows exactly how you feel. You can turn to him by studying the Book of Mormon, participating in Church, sharing what you know with others, and by sincere prayer. I know that what he did for us is real. I've felt the power of change and comfort and strength. I have also seen it in others lives. All we need to do is act and the blessings will come!

Aloha!

Sister Heath

Sister Eberhard and I

Rain

At one of our investigator's house...at least someone wants to read the Book of Mormon! Haha

Banyan tree in front off the tabernacle...pretty cool, the kids have a good time swinging on the branch vines 

 The little boy who asked us to come visit his parents. He's so cute and really excited whenever he sees us!

 Exchanges with Sister Pressley

Faith+Works=Miracles

March 12, 2018

Last week we had Missionary Leadership Council (MLC) and it was really good to receive training from President and Sister Bekker and the Assistants on how we can improve. We also were about to talk about how we can motivate the missionaries so it was really good. I love hearing advice from everyone and the experiences that they have had.

That night we were able to stop by an investigators house and set her with a baptism date so that was exciting. We hope that she will be baptized at the end of April!

The Sisters from Maui needed to stay the night so they stayed with us so that was fun especially since one of them is Sister Bowen my MTC companion!

We had a condensed P-day on Tuesday because of District Meeting and a lesson we had but we made the most of it. We were able to play Ultimate Frisbee with the Assistants and our Zone Leaders. It was really fun!

On Wednesday we had an appointment with someone that came to church for the first time. We probably drove and walked around for an hour trying to find it but it's like it doesn't exist and sadly we didn't get her phone number. However, we were able to talk to some people on the street. We asked this guy if he knew where it would be and he didn't know. We found out he was from Kosrai which was cool! I thought he was Hawaiian! haha His english was really good. He said that he organizes sports for all the Micronesians on the island to help them have a better reputation which is super cool! He was also really nice and we gave him a Book of Mormon which he was really grateful for! We referred him to the Elders since we are only over Chuukese but hopefully they can visit and teach him!

Friday we were able to meet a member's step daughter that he told us to go visit. She is really sweet and she just moved from Chuuk. But she understands a lot for only being here for a month. Luckily one of her friends was there too that could help translate a little bit. We just shared the Book of Mormon with her and invited her to read and come to church. She told us that she came last week which is awesome! She ended up coming this week for a few minutes which was good too. We will bring a translator with us next time and it will be really good.

It's been interesting with technology and awesome too. One of out investigators calls us on Facebook to talk so that is great to have more contact with him. Their family really wants to meet with us they have just been super busy with sickness with their kids. But I am excited to see what will happen with them!

That's about it for this week!

I know that this gospel is true and can help you have the spirit more abundantly in your life which is such a great thing to have!

Aloha,

Sister Heath

With Sister Bowen and Sister Fifita

Sister Eberhard and I trying not to get blown away in the wind

With our new investigator and her cute son!

On the Nasty couch with the Book of Mormon just because I can...one of the places that we walk by often

Busy, busy, busy

March 6, 2018

This week was crazy! 

Last week we did some errands and we were able to go to the institute building with the Elders to play some games. I played ping pong and Sister Kwak played pool. We had a great time! 

One of the members wanted to give Sister Kwak a lei so we stopped by to get that. It was so sweet and our first time seeing a Chuukese lei!

Then we had dinner with a family from Halawa. They took us to an Indian restaurant and we has really good curry and cheese flatbread (I can't remember what they call it)

Tuesday I said goodbye to Sister Kwak and got a really good hug from her which is special because she HATES hugs. Sister Eberhard and I went right to work because we had an appointment not to long after transfer meeting. The family forgot we were coming and said they were busy cleaning but I was like we didn't come here for nothing so I was like do you have a few minutes? So they let us in. The wife wasn't in a great mood but that just motivated me to be more bubbly and try and help her have the light of Christ. So we shared 2 Nephi 25:26. It was good except we read it in Chuukese and she was saying it's hard to understand because there are different dialects. I wish I would have read it in English too but oh well!

We had a good lesson with a couple (Siten and Faithful) we haven't been able to see in a while. The husband seems interested so hopefully we can help him learn more.

 

We did home evening with a less active family for the first time on Friday evening. It was really fun and they enjoyed it even though everyone wasn't there but we are hoping to help them build their testimonies. They want to do it again so we are excited.

Saturday we were excited to meet with Antonia and Chris so we could teach them a solid lesson and set them with baptism dates. But sadly Chris had to work. But we were able to talk to and teach a little bit to Antonia. This was a blessing because I know her English is limited and we didnt have anyone to translate. But I was pleasantly surprised with what she understood. And we were able to set her with a baptism date! Woohoo. Also she wanted us to go to her husband's work so he could feed us. So we went to the Mexican Kitchen and it was really good!

Church on Sunday as great. Antonia barely misses the sacrament even though we called her in the morning to see if she would make it by 9. But I'm still impressed because she has 3 little kids and one of them is sick. She even stayed the whole time! 

Also, I bore my simple testimony in Chuukese during sacrament meeting. This lady came up and started talking to me in Chuukese after sacrament. But I don't know enough to talk to her so I started speaking English haha. Luckily she spoke English too. We found out it was her first time and she was just dropping off some friends. So we are excited to meet with her this week!

Aloha!

Sister Heath

Transfer meeting with Sister Kwak

Transfer meeting with Sister Pressley, Jeffrey, me and Sister Eberhard!

 Mexican food!