Week 41 - Fagamalo, Samoa
Malo le Soifua ma le palagi e le mama,
The missionary life is amazing! I am still loving it out here in Samoa. I loved American Samoa as well but coming here to Savaii has been like the real culture and it's been so fun. I can't remember if I wrote last week but my soa (companion) Elder Sauni got transferred and my new companion is Elder Sauvao from Australia. He used to live here in Samoa so his Samoan is like straight mastaaa so I am learning a lot of respectful language and stuff from him and it's just super exciting. This week was awesome! on Saturday we had a great baptismal service for one of our friends named Kalone who is like 60 years old. He has been a friend for a while but finally got the strength to give up his smoking, so it was an amazing experience to be able to baptize him.
We have another baptism this weekend for our other friend named Lasi. We met last at a member's house for dinner and he has been married to a member for a long time but has literally hated the church and he and his wife have broken up and gotten back together like soooo many times--all over church problems. But one day he got injured and then received a blessing from a priesthood holder and was miraculously healed and his heart immediately changed. We showed up to his house that night and he was just prepared. He shared us his story and for those of you who know me know that I am not a crier. But in all honesty for only the second time on my mission I cried along with everyone else in the room. To add to that experience, the day before we were just praying and fasting and praying for new people to teach because we just didn't have much of a teaching pool and God blessed us with Lasi to teach. I hope I will be able to go to the temple with them and see them sealed before I leave Samoa.
Our baptism next week is a 13 year old boosss named Moevao. One day me and my companion were walking on the road and we see the 1st counselor of the bishopric walking toward us. We stop him and he had bought us some drinks but after chatting awhile we asked him, "who can we visit? We are dying for new people to teach!" Boom he answers and tells us to go to Moevao's house because his mom was baptized back in the day but doesn't come to church anymore. We contacted them that night and he was just ready! Our member who was supposed to pick him up for church totally dropped the ball and bailed but the man literally walked to church by himself and he comes to choir practice every tuesday and wednesday. He is the GOAT! he has two younger siblings too who really want to get baptized but we will just have to work out some family issues first and we hope to see Ropeka and Mataio baptized as well this next month. I feel like Ammon in Alma 26:11-12:
The missionary life is amazing! I am still loving it out here in Samoa. I loved American Samoa as well but coming here to Savaii has been like the real culture and it's been so fun. I can't remember if I wrote last week but my soa (companion) Elder Sauni got transferred and my new companion is Elder Sauvao from Australia. He used to live here in Samoa so his Samoan is like straight mastaaa so I am learning a lot of respectful language and stuff from him and it's just super exciting. This week was awesome! on Saturday we had a great baptismal service for one of our friends named Kalone who is like 60 years old. He has been a friend for a while but finally got the strength to give up his smoking, so it was an amazing experience to be able to baptize him.
We have another baptism this weekend for our other friend named Lasi. We met last at a member's house for dinner and he has been married to a member for a long time but has literally hated the church and he and his wife have broken up and gotten back together like soooo many times--all over church problems. But one day he got injured and then received a blessing from a priesthood holder and was miraculously healed and his heart immediately changed. We showed up to his house that night and he was just prepared. He shared us his story and for those of you who know me know that I am not a crier. But in all honesty for only the second time on my mission I cried along with everyone else in the room. To add to that experience, the day before we were just praying and fasting and praying for new people to teach because we just didn't have much of a teaching pool and God blessed us with Lasi to teach. I hope I will be able to go to the temple with them and see them sealed before I leave Samoa.
Our baptism next week is a 13 year old boosss named Moevao. One day me and my companion were walking on the road and we see the 1st counselor of the bishopric walking toward us. We stop him and he had bought us some drinks but after chatting awhile we asked him, "who can we visit? We are dying for new people to teach!" Boom he answers and tells us to go to Moevao's house because his mom was baptized back in the day but doesn't come to church anymore. We contacted them that night and he was just ready! Our member who was supposed to pick him up for church totally dropped the ball and bailed but the man literally walked to church by himself and he comes to choir practice every tuesday and wednesday. He is the GOAT! he has two younger siblings too who really want to get baptized but we will just have to work out some family issues first and we hope to see Ropeka and Mataio baptized as well this next month. I feel like Ammon in Alma 26:11-12:
"Ammon said unto him: I do not boast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God.
"Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever."
"Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever."
Something that my mission president promised us is that if we do the small and simple things (obedience, have humility, faith, hope, charity, and work diligently) we will have no problems in our areas. It really is true. I am literally just trying my best. To see all the miracles that God is doing is so humbling and is truly a joyful experience. I hope you all are doing well.
Elder Love
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