Talofa,

The greeting has changed because I'm serving in Samoa parts now. My
first non-New Zealand baptism in two weeks. I'm so excited! His name
is Fa'asaigatai. I know right. But it's okay, I call him Tai. He is
18, and he knows that Joseph Smith is a prophet. He's coming to play
sports with us today for P-Day. It will be so fun!

Some things that have happened...

- Door knocking this week:
Me: We're here to share a message from God!
Him: I'm sorry, I am an atheist.
My wonderful Samoan companion: Oh that's okay. Did you grow up in that church?
Him: *Boggled*
Her: ...So, are your parents brought up in it too?
Bahaha.

- We've started doing spelling tests to help Sister Feomaia during
language study. And we always end with a round of hangman. In Samoan.
Because I'm learning it. O Le Tusi a Mamona!

- I have mastered islander foods. I can slay anything now --- taro and
coconut cream, chop suey, pork crackle, prawns. I will eat it. The
best is cocoa alisa, which looks like a bowl of mud. It's white rice
covered in chocolate. Hahahaha. Samoans are geniuses.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is the truth. John 7:17, if any man will do
his will, he will know the doctrine. If any person has just a sliver
of faith enough to live a commandment, any commandment, he will know
of the truthfulness and divine origins of that commandment through his
own experience. I know that is true.

Faaa! Fa soifua!

10/12/10 Letter

Hi,

I can't believe it. Today, I got transferred out of the Gold Coast.
What! To a place called Park Ridge! With a flash flat with three bedrooms, and a full-time car, and my own bathroom. What! I can't believe I won't be biking every other day.

My new companion is Sister Feomaia from Western Samoa. I get to do English language study with her in the morning! Yes! The work is wonderful, and the gospel of Jesus Christ is true. We got to see General Conference this weekend, and I just thought it was phenomenal.
Saturday morning's always the best. Here are some things I think:

- We're cherished and prayed for by the presiding authorities of the Church. What!
- "The world will teach our children if we do not." Sister Wixon, what a lady.
- "...Reject him and suffer." Bold. Back to basics: follow the prophet.
- Time and agency, our two most precious gifts. Whenever we disobey God, we become captive to our choices. "God will force no man to heaven."
- "Honest toil gives rest its sweetness."
- Life on earth will be long enough for each person, no matter how long or short it is.
- "We are responsible for our own faith." It is not a free gift. Choose faith.
- Whenever we reach out to a child of God, we reach out to all their ancestors, and also to all their posterity after them.
- Character is made up of countless correct decisions.
- Acts of wickedness will never result in a feeling of peace. John 14: 27.

9/27/10 Letter

Kia Ora,

I still haven't managed to baptize an Australian in Australia yet. I may as well be serving in New Zealand. This past week, I learned to bike with no hands. And it was my birthday. And we went to a restaurant called Sushi Train (all aboard?) which means there's sushi that comes to you on a conveyor belt. And then, I played rugby all day long. That night, me and Sister Le'au'anae set a baptismal date with Erana --- best gift. Thanks Heavenly Father!

Kimberly, I got your letter, and your pictures, and man, that dress makes me happy. I'm going to write a proper letter back.

9/14/10 Letter

Kia Ora,

I've been getting fed twice at night most of these past couple of weeks. Serving in Coomera is a real killer, but it's worth it. Go ahead, give me the steak, taro, potatoes, and white bread. It's on.
And it's finally happened, my accent is getting Poly-fied--- most people we meet just ask me what part of New Zealand I'm from. Awhi got baptized, I couldn't control my crying for the whole service, and we got her baby blessed, and then she moved to an obscure town in New South Wales to shear sheep. I miss her so much.

Hey! Serve a mission! Okay? It's the best life decision you could ever make.

Oh hi,

- Awhi is getting baptized this Friday night and I'm making a binofie pie and it's going to be a wonderful experience for everyone. I love her so much!
- Family home evening tonight with ten kids. What?
- Our Argentenian recent convert Gladys teaches us to make meatballs and I eat 12 of them in one fatal swoop.
- I've learned a new sport these past couple of months and that sport is rugby. Have you ever played? Amazing. Just amazing.
- Taught a Restoration lesson to a Japanese exchange student and a Korean exchange student. At the same time. Meaning, watching the Restoration DVD in Japanese with Korean subtitles. Asians!

Have you ever read 2 Kings chapter 6? Elisha, the prophet, prays for God's help and protection against his enemies. God then opens Elisha's spiritual eyes, and allows him to see the concourses of firey chariots and angels that are surrounding him (verse 17), ready and armed to protect him from his foes. I'm sure we'd all be surprised if we knew the divine protection that God has given us and our families at many points during our lives. How lucky we are!

Hi All,

Today was transfers, and I'm transferred, for the first time on my mission! I spent 5 months in Helensvale. Here's the real kicker. I live in a flat with the neighboring ward's sisters, Coomera. And I packed all my things, and we all went to transfers. And I got transferred to Coomera. And Coomera's sister got transferred to Helensvale. So all the way back to the flat, same bed, same room. The Lord! The AP's! President Langeland! Goodness.

I finally get a Poly companion, Sister Shum. She's Samoan. TALOFA! (HELLO!)

For my last day in Helensvale ward, I sprinkled manure in the vegetable garden of my old man friend Orazio. He's Italian, and he's old, so I pray every day for the gift of tongues to communicate with him. And it works! I can now understand him and we've taught him two little lessons. I read to him from his Il Libro de Mormon. After our lesson on the Word of Wisdom yesterday, Orazio made us a margherita pizza from scratch, with tomatoes, basil and parsley from his garden.
And proposed marriage to me. Yesssss. I love him so much.