Week 2: Aug 8

Hey everyone!

This week has been so awesome I seriously love being a missionary so
much! We have done a lot of contacting this week and we have been able
to teach a few lessons which is good. We doubled our TWE goal from
last week which is awesome! I'm loving the work even though it is
pretty hard and we get rejected all the time, it's still amazing to
share our message. 

The biggest lesson that I've learned this week is
how lucky I am. I get to represent Christ to everyone in Greenville,
and it's so humbling to know that God trusts me a punk kid to teach
these people. Their salvation and eternal destiny is literally in our
hands! It's unbelievable and humbling to know that! Luckily it's not
even us really haha it's all the spirit. It amazes me how the spirit
works. 

So Friday and Saturday we went on exchanges with the zone
leaders. Which means I went to Newburg Indiana and worked with Elder
Riphenburg. While we were there we got to teach one of their
investigators. The spirit was so powerful and we went in thinking we
were going to teach her one thing, and then we taught her something
completely different because we followed the promoting of the spirit.
I could see the spirit touching her right before my eyes. She shared
with us some things that have been going on in her life and the lord
has truly prepared her for baptism and it was so amazing to see that.

I also have learned that it's not even about the lessons, it's about
helping others feel Christ's love for them. How we accomplish this is
by doing as he would do. I don't mean big huge things, but as we do
simple things like smiling at someone or complimenting someone, when
we do these things it allows the spirit no matter how small to touch
them. I believe that whenever we do something Christlike that the
spirit is there.

I've learned too another reason why missionaries grow
so close to God. When we're out here we don't have anyone. When we get down or
are having a hard time the only thing we have to turn to is God, we
don't have anything to turn to like family or friends and because of
this our relationship with Heavenly Father is increased 100 times
over. And that's how we should all be. We don't need anything to
comfort us other then Christs atonement. 

I'm sorry if this seems super scrambled or hard to follow, I'm just pouring out my heart and it's

all over the place haha. Anyways during our exchange Elder Riphenburg
and me talked for along time about a lot of things. I shared with him
my concern that I want to "hit my mission full swing" as soon as
possible, because most people say that it takes about year before you
do but I want to do it as soon as possible. He told me that since I'm
trying to be better everyday and working at it so hard, that it's all
I need. Which really helped me out, because it's true I just need to
realize that God has a plan for me and as long as I do my best that's
all that matters. I am progressing everyday and that's all I need to
worry about. I have become so much better at street contacting I even
have placed a few Book of Mormons! 

The highlight of my week and the absolute most amazing thing in my mission so far has been skyping in on Said's lesson. It was so amazing to see him and see how much he has
grown. I can't believe I was able to be apart of that. The spirit in
that lesson was so unbelievable! I cried my eyes out haha. Said is an
amazing guy and I'm so happy he's taking the steps to come unto Christ
it was amazing to see. The happiness that the gospel brings can't be
described and I'm so happy Said now has that in his life. I'm so
grateful for the opportunity I have to help others do what he is doing. I
feel so inspired out here. I'm so happy and so lucky to be able to
serve a mission it is truly changing my life.

Much love,

Elder Taeoalii

Sent from my iPad

Hi!  It's Kelly.  Wow.  My mom heart is full.  These letters are so fun to receive!!  I just wanted to butt in and share a few things with everyone.  Moses referred to Said in the last part of his letter.  This is our very own, Said Huante, from Murray High School.  He has been learning from the Elders from the YSA stake in our home and it's been amazing.  This young man is on fire!  Moses got permission from his Mission President to Skype in on Said's lesson on Sunday.  Moses and his companion even got to teach part of the lesson!  I think we all bawled.  It was pretty awesome! Even if you don't know Said that well, I encourage you to come to his baptism this Saturday, August 13th.  It will be a very neat experience.  It will be at the church on 5750 S Nena Way, Murray, Utah at Noon.  Text or call if you have any questions about that.  801-209-4885.  After the baptism, we will be coming back to our home for an open house for Said.  He is moving down to Cedar City to attend SUU on Monday and you can come wish him well, eat some good food (his mom is cooking. mmmm), and hang out for a bit.  Our address is 5492 S White Springs Drive.  

Moses didn't send pictures again, so I will fill in some I have.  hehehe.

 

Moses on Skype.  What a cool, unique experience!! I cherish that hour we spent "together".

A recent convert, Jerry Dickenson, in the ward Moses is living takes really good care of the Elders (he's the one on the couch with the elders in the Skype photos).  They are in a rural part of Kentucky and to get anywhere usually takes about a 30-40 minute drive. Jerry watches out for them, feeds them often, and drives them places and also keeps sending me photos like these.  hahaha!!!  I love it!! Those long car rides in the heat make him sleepy, I guess!  You can see Moses' new bike on the back of the car in the third picture.  He just bought it today.  :)

I also asked him some candid questions and I will share a few responses.  He is eating a ton of pasta and a lot of chicken and rice and says it's amazing.  haha.  He usually has a protein shake and cereal for breakfast.  He said something funny that has happened is a few people think he is from the Middle East and someone asked if he had a bomb in his bag.  hahaha.  He has seen a few lightening bugs (Grace asks every letter she writes him.  hahaha) And, he says it rained last week but then it hasn't rained for a bit so he hasn't had a real good southern storm yet. :)

xoxox until next week!  (or Saturday at noon, if you can make it!)   

-Momma Shmo