Wouldn't that be a cool title if wrote for a paper? It kind of sounds like Delilah. Maybe I should go into business with her.
ANYWHO! Hey you all! I just read sumner's email and am SO SO humbled! "Our brother. OUR brother. our Brother"- (alia at 9 years old) haha. But for reals, i love sum's selfless service. I love that our family is so missionary minded. This gospel will go forth to every nation! Serious!
Well, this week was great. again. I feel like I say that every week, but it's always great being a missionary. Our heavenly father is so aware of us. Sister Soum and I were tracting and we tracted into a woman that used to be LDS. It was raining and freezing and she let us in.
We had little miracles like that all week. I love it. Our ward mission leader whispered to us and asked if we would pray for his wife to be able to get a job. haha. I was like " of course! why are you whispering??" and then he just said i feel bad asking but i know that every missionary's prayer is answered haha. It's true. I feel so close to our Heavenly Father and Savior. I'm so grateful for the sacrifice. Our heavenly father never sent us here intending for us to fail. He is so merciful and created a perfect plan so even when we do mess up, we still have a chance. How beautiful.
I second Sumner's comment on laughing. I laughed SO hard last night.
I'm so sorry for acting out in pride now or in the past. I just want to apologize now! I'm sorry if i ever hurt anyone.
I love you all and hope you have such a wonderful week! Be happy and laugh a lot!
Love , Sister Mara
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Friday, November 9, 2012
This Church is so True, It's Ridiculous!!
(I forgot to post this on October 8)
OH FAMILY! Are you as happy and ecstatic about conference as I am?!?! ahhhh hahaahahah! I'm so so so excited about the age-change for missionaries! I got chills everywhere and felt such a confirmation of the spirit. This work is about to roll forth in a way that it never has before.
Banksy and I did exchanges this week, and it was great! I could tell it was hard/sad for her to be back in Federal Way. This is where her heart is! The people love her here and she loves them so much. That's all it is about, love. People want to feel love and be loved and know that someone who loves them believes they can change. Jackie DeShannon was right on when she sang " what the world needs now is Love, sweet love" Those hippies were semi-close. Now they just need the gospel and they would make bomb missionaries!
You know, not a whole lot happened this week. We had zone conference and general conference and there were some funny stories in between. I could probably write a huge long email on all of that, but I don't really feel like it. Is that bad? I just feel so happy and overwhelmed by this gospel and the conversion that is taking place in my own life. I was talking to Banksy about how I wish that I could help more people by bringing them to the gospel and it made me sad that I hadn't had the opportunity to baptize that many people. I just am not sure what my purpose is here. And she, ever-so-wisely, said that maybe I am here for me. That sounds selfish and I would never have done this for myself. I just want to make others happy and help their lives become better, but I have come so close to the Savior and I will never ever deny that this is truly his church and gospel. It's so true, it's ridiculous. I really want to spend the rest of my life helping others to see it too!
Our Savior loves us so much. He knew that this would be hard, so he gave us the gospel to help us. Oh how glorious. I love love love being a missionary. I love our Family! and I love that sumner is living in the Philippines! hahaha CHEEEEHOOOOO!
Sorry This is Short. AHHHH! I love you alll! Never Forget it!
One Love, Sister Mara
OH FAMILY! Are you as happy and ecstatic about conference as I am?!?! ahhhh hahaahahah! I'm so so so excited about the age-change for missionaries! I got chills everywhere and felt such a confirmation of the spirit. This work is about to roll forth in a way that it never has before.
Banksy and I did exchanges this week, and it was great! I could tell it was hard/sad for her to be back in Federal Way. This is where her heart is! The people love her here and she loves them so much. That's all it is about, love. People want to feel love and be loved and know that someone who loves them believes they can change. Jackie DeShannon was right on when she sang " what the world needs now is Love, sweet love" Those hippies were semi-close. Now they just need the gospel and they would make bomb missionaries!
You know, not a whole lot happened this week. We had zone conference and general conference and there were some funny stories in between. I could probably write a huge long email on all of that, but I don't really feel like it. Is that bad? I just feel so happy and overwhelmed by this gospel and the conversion that is taking place in my own life. I was talking to Banksy about how I wish that I could help more people by bringing them to the gospel and it made me sad that I hadn't had the opportunity to baptize that many people. I just am not sure what my purpose is here. And she, ever-so-wisely, said that maybe I am here for me. That sounds selfish and I would never have done this for myself. I just want to make others happy and help their lives become better, but I have come so close to the Savior and I will never ever deny that this is truly his church and gospel. It's so true, it's ridiculous. I really want to spend the rest of my life helping others to see it too!
Our Savior loves us so much. He knew that this would be hard, so he gave us the gospel to help us. Oh how glorious. I love love love being a missionary. I love our Family! and I love that sumner is living in the Philippines! hahaha CHEEEEHOOOOO!
Sorry This is Short. AHHHH! I love you alll! Never Forget it!
One Love, Sister Mara
:)
Maloi lei lei!
Hey Family! This week was an interesting one! Matty got confirmed last night. The Bishop wanted to do it at his house so that the dad could be there. So we go over at 7 and it was such a powerful experience. His dad called us afterward and apologized for being so rude and said that matty should have been his priority.
Sepe and Rimson, our little islander family that I have been teaching for 2 months now.. we had to drop them. We share a ward with the elders, so the second we dropped them, they went by and started teaching them. AH! It hurt my heart. It felt like i broke up with someone and then they started dating someone else right away. haha. They just weren't progressing. we love them so much but they weren't making and keeping any committments. one of the elders is an islander so maybe he can work some magic on that. pray for them!
We taught the Law of Chastity and Word of Wisdom so much this week. SOmething I learned is that if people feel that you love them, you can say anything.
I really love being a missionary. You never know what you are going to get. Serious. I love the people we meet each day. I love walking everywhere in the rain. I love when there is so much opposition and you don't think anyone is going to come to church and then all of a sudden a girl from sudan comes in and stays all 3 hours and wants to learn more. I love our heavenly father. so much. My heart hurts thinking that I can never ever repay him back for the blessings in my life. I am so so humbled by the sacrifice of the bishop i'm working with and the ward mission leader. They have completely forgotten themselves and just want to help others. I love this gospel. This really is the church of Jesus Christ!
Thank you all for everything!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE YOU! Happy Halloweenie!!!!
Love, Sister Mara
Hey Family! This week was an interesting one! Matty got confirmed last night. The Bishop wanted to do it at his house so that the dad could be there. So we go over at 7 and it was such a powerful experience. His dad called us afterward and apologized for being so rude and said that matty should have been his priority.
Sepe and Rimson, our little islander family that I have been teaching for 2 months now.. we had to drop them. We share a ward with the elders, so the second we dropped them, they went by and started teaching them. AH! It hurt my heart. It felt like i broke up with someone and then they started dating someone else right away. haha. They just weren't progressing. we love them so much but they weren't making and keeping any committments. one of the elders is an islander so maybe he can work some magic on that. pray for them!
We taught the Law of Chastity and Word of Wisdom so much this week. SOmething I learned is that if people feel that you love them, you can say anything.
I really love being a missionary. You never know what you are going to get. Serious. I love the people we meet each day. I love walking everywhere in the rain. I love when there is so much opposition and you don't think anyone is going to come to church and then all of a sudden a girl from sudan comes in and stays all 3 hours and wants to learn more. I love our heavenly father. so much. My heart hurts thinking that I can never ever repay him back for the blessings in my life. I am so so humbled by the sacrifice of the bishop i'm working with and the ward mission leader. They have completely forgotten themselves and just want to help others. I love this gospel. This really is the church of Jesus Christ!
Thank you all for everything!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE YOU! Happy Halloweenie!!!!
Love, Sister Mara
Aua mi oe??
Hi Family!
Ok, first off- I'm so glad Elder Mahaffey is doing well. I wasn't all that worried though. haha. no offense sumbuddy. I got the message for the family fast for sum!! I'm so happy i got it in time! I just knew that the Lord would take care of you!! I was more worried about ma. haha I bet she was as sick with worry! I'm glad you are doing better Sumner! I'm so sorry you had to go through that. It's the WORST being sick on the mission. the WORST. Your companion is so sweet. I'm so happy that he took care of you. tell him thank you for me.
This week was so slow all week. Serious. No one was home. We had like zero lessons, a couple here and there but it was so slow. And we hadn't met any of our goals! sad. But saturday rolled around and we taught like 6 lessons, found 5 new investigators and put them all on date for baptism and three of them came to church! It was such a miracle. PATIENCE y'all. patience. The good lort will provide. It was beautiful.
Halloween was fun. EXCEPT our mission president decided to have a mission fast on the night of our ward halloween party. haha. Trial of faith lemme tell ya. I LOVE food. serious. We had a lot of investigators there and some people no one knew and then our phone got jacked! haha. I was so afraid to tell president. but it's all good.
So I had been praying to be able to teach a polynesian family. I don't know why, i just really wanted to and felt prompted to. When we ask for specific things that Lord answers our prayers! It's true. So one of our new investigators is a samoan boy. He is 21 and his brothers got baptized in another ward a few weeks ago. He was so prepared. We asked him to come to church with us and he said, i don't know maybe. But then he calls us an hour later and asked if we could get him a ride the next day! So cool! haha. So he came and stayed all three hours. I love him! So humble. I asked him to stop smoking and he said it would be hard but that he would do it :)
we met with Martha, the sudanese girl that showed up randomly at church last week, and her family. Her mom and sister are now new investigators and came to church and are on date for baptism for Dec. 1!!
Matty is doing well. Still by himself all the time, but he is in the scouts program now and our ward mission leader is taking good care of him!! I love that man. He is awesome.
We get to go to the temple today! So excited!! i love it there. I love you all so much!! have a good week and "live after the manner of happiness" like nephi!!!
Love, Sister mara
Ok, first off- I'm so glad Elder Mahaffey is doing well. I wasn't all that worried though. haha. no offense sumbuddy. I got the message for the family fast for sum!! I'm so happy i got it in time! I just knew that the Lord would take care of you!! I was more worried about ma. haha I bet she was as sick with worry! I'm glad you are doing better Sumner! I'm so sorry you had to go through that. It's the WORST being sick on the mission. the WORST. Your companion is so sweet. I'm so happy that he took care of you. tell him thank you for me.
This week was so slow all week. Serious. No one was home. We had like zero lessons, a couple here and there but it was so slow. And we hadn't met any of our goals! sad. But saturday rolled around and we taught like 6 lessons, found 5 new investigators and put them all on date for baptism and three of them came to church! It was such a miracle. PATIENCE y'all. patience. The good lort will provide. It was beautiful.
Halloween was fun. EXCEPT our mission president decided to have a mission fast on the night of our ward halloween party. haha. Trial of faith lemme tell ya. I LOVE food. serious. We had a lot of investigators there and some people no one knew and then our phone got jacked! haha. I was so afraid to tell president. but it's all good.
So I had been praying to be able to teach a polynesian family. I don't know why, i just really wanted to and felt prompted to. When we ask for specific things that Lord answers our prayers! It's true. So one of our new investigators is a samoan boy. He is 21 and his brothers got baptized in another ward a few weeks ago. He was so prepared. We asked him to come to church with us and he said, i don't know maybe. But then he calls us an hour later and asked if we could get him a ride the next day! So cool! haha. So he came and stayed all three hours. I love him! So humble. I asked him to stop smoking and he said it would be hard but that he would do it :)
we met with Martha, the sudanese girl that showed up randomly at church last week, and her family. Her mom and sister are now new investigators and came to church and are on date for baptism for Dec. 1!!
Matty is doing well. Still by himself all the time, but he is in the scouts program now and our ward mission leader is taking good care of him!! I love that man. He is awesome.
We get to go to the temple today! So excited!! i love it there. I love you all so much!! have a good week and "live after the manner of happiness" like nephi!!!
Love, Sister mara
Matty's Baptism!!!
Hey all! Matty got baptized :) haha. it was great! this week was so great and so full of miracles. let me just say that faith truly and really precedes the miracles. miracles don't bring faith. Wow.
So we went to matty's house at 9am, the font was filling and we had everything ready. well, he was still sleeping and his dad wasn't there!! gosh. so we rang the doorbell like 12 times and then i finally threw a penny at his window and he answered. we called the ward mission leader and he went over and got him dressed and drove him to the church. we were waiting on the "ok" from his dad and FINAlly he said yes. but he wasn't able to make it ;( my heart!!! Oh Family, i love this little matty more than anything. it's crazy how you can love someone so intensely and then 20 minutes later go to another appointment with someone else, with different problems and circumstances and love them just as much. it's a beautiful thing!!
Sister Soum is great. I feel like i'm living in Cambodia haha. her experiences, humility, faith, charity, could rival a giant. she is amazing and so intense. haha. she was the first convert in her family and they didn't talk to her for a month. She prayed for 11 years to be able to come on a mission and finally she was able to come. i love her so much. we taught a Cambodian family this week. well... she did and I listened and smiled. we taught them for 2 hours because the girl was supposed to get baptized that night. man, i felt like Sumner haha. the people would look at me and say something in Cambodian and i would just smile and bow at them and say " jah bon' haha which means 'yes' and then they would laugh. she didn't end up getting baptized ;( it's ok.
So on sunday we drove around for an hour waking up all our investigators and getting them ready for church. only one came and it was kind of dissappointing but not discouraging. We knew that we did all we could and the Lord would provide. and He did. we showed up at church and 3 investigators came! out of the blue! it was crazy. and 5 less-actives. my heart was so so happy to see them there again. I wanted to hug them all and jump up and down. how great.
an elder just returned from the philippines and talked all about the people there. he talked about his experiences and how their main efforts were to reactivate the less-actives. Sum- don't be discouraged about your investigators, reactivation is JUST as important. they are all God's children. success is measured by how much charity we feel for the people. serious. i felt so close to Sum as he was talking.
A lot more happened. i feel like it has been a month!! but i don't know what else to say haha. i love you all. thank you for your prayers and support. it's almost the end of october already. cray-cray! what is erybody going to be for halloweenie/!?!
love love love you!!!
Sister mara
So we went to matty's house at 9am, the font was filling and we had everything ready. well, he was still sleeping and his dad wasn't there!! gosh. so we rang the doorbell like 12 times and then i finally threw a penny at his window and he answered. we called the ward mission leader and he went over and got him dressed and drove him to the church. we were waiting on the "ok" from his dad and FINAlly he said yes. but he wasn't able to make it ;( my heart!!! Oh Family, i love this little matty more than anything. it's crazy how you can love someone so intensely and then 20 minutes later go to another appointment with someone else, with different problems and circumstances and love them just as much. it's a beautiful thing!!
Sister Soum is great. I feel like i'm living in Cambodia haha. her experiences, humility, faith, charity, could rival a giant. she is amazing and so intense. haha. she was the first convert in her family and they didn't talk to her for a month. She prayed for 11 years to be able to come on a mission and finally she was able to come. i love her so much. we taught a Cambodian family this week. well... she did and I listened and smiled. we taught them for 2 hours because the girl was supposed to get baptized that night. man, i felt like Sumner haha. the people would look at me and say something in Cambodian and i would just smile and bow at them and say " jah bon' haha which means 'yes' and then they would laugh. she didn't end up getting baptized ;( it's ok.
So on sunday we drove around for an hour waking up all our investigators and getting them ready for church. only one came and it was kind of dissappointing but not discouraging. We knew that we did all we could and the Lord would provide. and He did. we showed up at church and 3 investigators came! out of the blue! it was crazy. and 5 less-actives. my heart was so so happy to see them there again. I wanted to hug them all and jump up and down. how great.
an elder just returned from the philippines and talked all about the people there. he talked about his experiences and how their main efforts were to reactivate the less-actives. Sum- don't be discouraged about your investigators, reactivation is JUST as important. they are all God's children. success is measured by how much charity we feel for the people. serious. i felt so close to Sum as he was talking.
A lot more happened. i feel like it has been a month!! but i don't know what else to say haha. i love you all. thank you for your prayers and support. it's almost the end of october already. cray-cray! what is erybody going to be for halloweenie/!?!
love love love you!!!
Sister mara
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Korea, Kiribati, Tonga, CAMBODIA
Hey Family!
Well what a week. There is never an uneventful week on missions. haha. Matthew's dad texted us an hour before the baptism and said that he wasn't going to get baptized today. Oh my goodness, I was laughing so hard because that WOULD happen. So we went right over and rang the doorbell like 12 times and then he finally came out. His dad got called into work last minute and didn't want to miss the baptism!
Anyways, that kind of broke Sister 'Ate and me. We just cried and our district leader came and talked to Matthew's dad. but he didn't budge. It was a good lesson to learn though. I am learning to just keep the faith! Faith is not to only believe in things that you can't see, but to still believe that you will have success and happiness when nothing works out. No matter how many times things don't go your way. lol. I really am learning just to take the good with the bad and grin and bear it. I love the lessons we learn on missions!
Ate was so funny this week. We got some helium balloons and she had never sucked them before. This balloon was like the size of my torso haha and she did the whole thing and was just laughing and singing. Then, she laid down and was like oh no, my head really hurts haha. I will miss her. She got moved to the Tongan ward and probably will be there until the end of her mission.
Sister Saum is from Cambodia. She has a really cool story and has had a rough go. It will be a good transfer though. I am excited to work with her!! And learn about her and her culture.
I really love this ward. I just want to help the bishop and the ward progress as much as possible. They are all so wonderful and I want to give back to them. This is the true church!! I love it. Yes, life get's hard but if we dwell on that, it will only get it down. The only thing to do is to rely on the atonement, smile, and just keep going. That's the only way!! I'm so happy. So happy. Life is a wonderful thing :)
I love you all so much. Have a happy week :)
Love, Sister Mara
Well what a week. There is never an uneventful week on missions. haha. Matthew's dad texted us an hour before the baptism and said that he wasn't going to get baptized today. Oh my goodness, I was laughing so hard because that WOULD happen. So we went right over and rang the doorbell like 12 times and then he finally came out. His dad got called into work last minute and didn't want to miss the baptism!
Anyways, that kind of broke Sister 'Ate and me. We just cried and our district leader came and talked to Matthew's dad. but he didn't budge. It was a good lesson to learn though. I am learning to just keep the faith! Faith is not to only believe in things that you can't see, but to still believe that you will have success and happiness when nothing works out. No matter how many times things don't go your way. lol. I really am learning just to take the good with the bad and grin and bear it. I love the lessons we learn on missions!
Ate was so funny this week. We got some helium balloons and she had never sucked them before. This balloon was like the size of my torso haha and she did the whole thing and was just laughing and singing. Then, she laid down and was like oh no, my head really hurts haha. I will miss her. She got moved to the Tongan ward and probably will be there until the end of her mission.
Sister Saum is from Cambodia. She has a really cool story and has had a rough go. It will be a good transfer though. I am excited to work with her!! And learn about her and her culture.
I really love this ward. I just want to help the bishop and the ward progress as much as possible. They are all so wonderful and I want to give back to them. This is the true church!! I love it. Yes, life get's hard but if we dwell on that, it will only get it down. The only thing to do is to rely on the atonement, smile, and just keep going. That's the only way!! I'm so happy. So happy. Life is a wonderful thing :)
I love you all so much. Have a happy week :)
Love, Sister Mara
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
God is a God of Miracles!!!
Oh family! How humbled I am to be a servant of the of the Lord. I glory in it. This week was miraculous. We began the week at 67 baptisms and needed 100 to reach our goal, that the Lord commanded us to get. I can’t quote the scrip verbatim but The Lord said whether it is by my mouth or by the mouth of my servants, it is the same. It is true. Our President is a servant and instrument for the lord and he knew that we had to get 100 baptisms this month. Never before , in the history of the Washington Seattle Mission, have 100 souls been baptized in a single month. This week, we came together as a mission and prayed, we sacrificed everything and were exactly obedient and the Lord blessed us with 101 souls who were brought into the waters of baptism!!
It was such a trying and testing week for Sister Ate and myself. Our investigators weren't keeping commitments or they were ignoring us. Rude. Haha. But our zone leaders were so faithful and kept us going! Last night we attended a baptism at 5pm. We had only 99 baptisms as a mission. Our zone leader came up to us and said “Sisters! Let’s go find the one!” So we all went to this woman’s house and asked if her daughter could be baptized in an hour. AND SHE WAS. She had been to church 3 times, no commandment issues, etc etc. It was a HUGE MIRACLE. I am so grateful I was able to be a part of it. It’s funny, this week I wanted to just sleep or give up on our investigators. I was getting frustrated with them for not doing what they were supposed to be doing, but I was humbled and reminded that Love is the motive and power. These are children of God and I must love them and help them keep their commitments. We all have to help those around us! They don’t know what to do with the agency they have been given, so we need to show them through the gospel!
Oh my, I love this gospel. I KNOW that this is God’s true church. It is not a belief anymore. I am not walking by Faith. It is knowledge. There is no denying this. We have to help God’s children.
We were teaching the plan of salvation to our micronesian investigator and she almost started crying. She humbled me so much! She was worried that she couldn’t live with her Heavenly Father or go to Heaven because she was having a hard time forgiving someone. Oh my goodness. Why aren’t Americans more humble like that? Hahaha.
Elder Sum- go get em’. The field is white and ready to harvest! Keep the faith! The God of Israel leads this camp! You never cease to amaze me!
Always and forever,
Sister Mara!
It was such a trying and testing week for Sister Ate and myself. Our investigators weren't keeping commitments or they were ignoring us. Rude. Haha. But our zone leaders were so faithful and kept us going! Last night we attended a baptism at 5pm. We had only 99 baptisms as a mission. Our zone leader came up to us and said “Sisters! Let’s go find the one!” So we all went to this woman’s house and asked if her daughter could be baptized in an hour. AND SHE WAS. She had been to church 3 times, no commandment issues, etc etc. It was a HUGE MIRACLE. I am so grateful I was able to be a part of it. It’s funny, this week I wanted to just sleep or give up on our investigators. I was getting frustrated with them for not doing what they were supposed to be doing, but I was humbled and reminded that Love is the motive and power. These are children of God and I must love them and help them keep their commitments. We all have to help those around us! They don’t know what to do with the agency they have been given, so we need to show them through the gospel!
Oh my, I love this gospel. I KNOW that this is God’s true church. It is not a belief anymore. I am not walking by Faith. It is knowledge. There is no denying this. We have to help God’s children.
We were teaching the plan of salvation to our micronesian investigator and she almost started crying. She humbled me so much! She was worried that she couldn’t live with her Heavenly Father or go to Heaven because she was having a hard time forgiving someone. Oh my goodness. Why aren’t Americans more humble like that? Hahaha.
Elder Sum- go get em’. The field is white and ready to harvest! Keep the faith! The God of Israel leads this camp! You never cease to amaze me!
Always and forever,
Sister Mara!
Sister Ate burning some clothes to celebrate 100 baptisms in the Mission!! (Yes, I'm aware the "100" is backwards haha)
Miracle baptism! Lateisha with our zone leaders!
Small and Simple Things
Mayong Butong Pamilya!!! That could be lyrics to a rap. Seriously. Haha. So I drove by a Philipino restaurant this week called “manila pride” and I really wanted to try some. But I didn’t. Good Story huh?
I was thinking this morning about how much I Love being so close to the spirit and how I didn’t want to miss that when I got home. So I don’t want to watch bad movies haha. Then I thought about your example of keeping anything that wasn’t virtuous, lovely, or of good report, out of the home.
I am in love with the gospel and am so grateful to be a member of this church. This week was so eye-opening and a little faith-testing. Debbie is doing great. She has been clean for 8 days now and today she started her very first day of work in her whole life. We called her before she went and she was nervous but excited. I’m so proud of her for the changes she is making! It is going to be a long road but at least she has started it. It’s the small and simple things that matter most. She came to church yesterday and participated in all of the classes. God loves her and so do we! There is so much to learn from these people we are working with! She talked all about how she used to babysit and how much she loves kids. Her insights were inspiring actually. Haha I love her. I hope you can all meet her one day!
We tracted into a family that just moved here from Louisiana. Hallelujer! Looking for a church to go to :) Selma is the mom, kenyarie is 16, antwan is 6, and ladarius is 8. I love them! We found them tracting and they all came to church yesterday! We haven’t found their concern yet and I kind of feel like we are just reciting lessons. I want her to open up to us so we can show her how this beautiful message can apply to her life and help her!
Oh my heck. Why aren’t we Tongan?? Fo rills? Haha. Sis. Ate taught me how to say “I’m starving do you have any food” in tongan. So one day we were STARVING. So I went up to a tongan and said it haha. And he handed us 20 dollars each! Then another day I was just showing a tongan what I knew what to say and they took us out to lunch right then to this really nice restaurant! Haha. They are so giving! You have to be careful what you say to them!
Oh! So this week we met a former investigator this week named Matthew. He is 11. And I adore him with my entire heart. Serious. He is all over the place and it’s hard to feel the spirit when we teach but something got to him because he came to church for his first time in 1 year! We sat by each other during sacrament meeting and I just love him! He is qualified to get baptized, so we are going to try and get him baptized this weekend, if it’s the Lord’s will and timing. PRAY PRAY PRAY for him! I love this little kid.
I wish my thoughts and ideas flowed together while I was writing emails, but this little time I am given gives me a heart attack haha. I could tell in Sumner’s email that his was kind of the same. I’m glad I’m not the only one! Haha. So many experiences in one week, it feels like a month! Gosh. We met with a woman last night who had been married in the temple and had 5 children, all members of the church. Due to some bad choices, her and her husband got divorced and their lives have just gone downhill. Her daughter is prego. Out of wedlock and only 18. The mom was just crying to us. My heart went out to her. I just kept thinking, “ This is why we have commandments. If we just listened, we could be so much happier” Gosh. I’m so grateful for my life and this gospel . Serious. Today I was reading in Alma and he is addressing his sons, Shiblon and Coriantun ( I think) and it really is the small and simple things that matter most. I can’t say it enough. If we just “look and live” we will be alright. Our Heavenly Father’s plan for us is so much greater than we can fathom. All we have to do is hold on a little longer and do our best. Now she can fully experience the Atonement. I hope she does.
The gospel is true. Keep the commandments and trust the Lord with all your hearts and ask Him what His will is for you… then act in all diligence to do so!! I love you!!!
Love, Sister Mara.
I was thinking this morning about how much I Love being so close to the spirit and how I didn’t want to miss that when I got home. So I don’t want to watch bad movies haha. Then I thought about your example of keeping anything that wasn’t virtuous, lovely, or of good report, out of the home.
I am in love with the gospel and am so grateful to be a member of this church. This week was so eye-opening and a little faith-testing. Debbie is doing great. She has been clean for 8 days now and today she started her very first day of work in her whole life. We called her before she went and she was nervous but excited. I’m so proud of her for the changes she is making! It is going to be a long road but at least she has started it. It’s the small and simple things that matter most. She came to church yesterday and participated in all of the classes. God loves her and so do we! There is so much to learn from these people we are working with! She talked all about how she used to babysit and how much she loves kids. Her insights were inspiring actually. Haha I love her. I hope you can all meet her one day!
We tracted into a family that just moved here from Louisiana. Hallelujer! Looking for a church to go to :) Selma is the mom, kenyarie is 16, antwan is 6, and ladarius is 8. I love them! We found them tracting and they all came to church yesterday! We haven’t found their concern yet and I kind of feel like we are just reciting lessons. I want her to open up to us so we can show her how this beautiful message can apply to her life and help her!
Oh my heck. Why aren’t we Tongan?? Fo rills? Haha. Sis. Ate taught me how to say “I’m starving do you have any food” in tongan. So one day we were STARVING. So I went up to a tongan and said it haha. And he handed us 20 dollars each! Then another day I was just showing a tongan what I knew what to say and they took us out to lunch right then to this really nice restaurant! Haha. They are so giving! You have to be careful what you say to them!
Oh! So this week we met a former investigator this week named Matthew. He is 11. And I adore him with my entire heart. Serious. He is all over the place and it’s hard to feel the spirit when we teach but something got to him because he came to church for his first time in 1 year! We sat by each other during sacrament meeting and I just love him! He is qualified to get baptized, so we are going to try and get him baptized this weekend, if it’s the Lord’s will and timing. PRAY PRAY PRAY for him! I love this little kid.
I wish my thoughts and ideas flowed together while I was writing emails, but this little time I am given gives me a heart attack haha. I could tell in Sumner’s email that his was kind of the same. I’m glad I’m not the only one! Haha. So many experiences in one week, it feels like a month! Gosh. We met with a woman last night who had been married in the temple and had 5 children, all members of the church. Due to some bad choices, her and her husband got divorced and their lives have just gone downhill. Her daughter is prego. Out of wedlock and only 18. The mom was just crying to us. My heart went out to her. I just kept thinking, “ This is why we have commandments. If we just listened, we could be so much happier” Gosh. I’m so grateful for my life and this gospel . Serious. Today I was reading in Alma and he is addressing his sons, Shiblon and Coriantun ( I think) and it really is the small and simple things that matter most. I can’t say it enough. If we just “look and live” we will be alright. Our Heavenly Father’s plan for us is so much greater than we can fathom. All we have to do is hold on a little longer and do our best. Now she can fully experience the Atonement. I hope she does.
The gospel is true. Keep the commandments and trust the Lord with all your hearts and ask Him what His will is for you… then act in all diligence to do so!! I love you!!!
Love, Sister Mara.
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Happy Day!
What a week! I didn't fall through a bamboo bridge... but I still had some good experiences. Man, first i want to say that I am so humbled by sumner's service. really. Elder Ma'afe! These are the days to be remembered!!! Gosh.
It was a wonderful week! I am so tired every day haha. Like soooo tired. It's crazy. But I just run faster and work harder so the feeling goes away. Side note: don't challenge your tongan companion, who is extrememly competitive, but looks tired, to a race when you are wearing a pencil skirt. oh my gosh. I said " ok, last one to the door has to give the lesson" haha and then she TOOK off!.she almost ran over an old lady hahah. My dang pencil skirt... my legs could barely move.Dumb. I gave the lesson.
We found 9 new investigators this week and put them all ondate for baptism. BUT i have realized that numbers mean nothing if they don't come to church. If they don't come to church then they can't get baptized :( They are all reading and praying and searching... but if they don't come to church they won't get their answer. it's as simple as that!
We had the most spriitual and amazing experience with a new investigator veronica! She said she had been praying and searching for truth and none of the other churches felt right. Oh man, she is amazing and has already been reading and praying. Pray for her. she is amother of three!
The bishop of our ward is awesome. He has so much charity..
This area is not maple valley. so different but so humbling. Our church parking lot has to have security during church hours lol.
Ok, I gotta run. I love you all so much. So MUCH. I pray for you all the time. This gospel is true. I love being a missionary and wouldn't trade this experience for anything in the world. I love our savior and heavenly father. What plans they have in store for us!! Just hold on :) I love love love you!!!
oh! Brandon, tabby's bro got baptized last night!!!! CHEEEHOOOOOO!!!! hahah!
love, Sister Mara
It was a wonderful week! I am so tired every day haha. Like soooo tired. It's crazy. But I just run faster and work harder so the feeling goes away. Side note: don't challenge your tongan companion, who is extrememly competitive, but looks tired, to a race when you are wearing a pencil skirt. oh my gosh. I said " ok, last one to the door has to give the lesson" haha and then she TOOK off!.she almost ran over an old lady hahah. My dang pencil skirt... my legs could barely move.Dumb. I gave the lesson.
We found 9 new investigators this week and put them all ondate for baptism. BUT i have realized that numbers mean nothing if they don't come to church. If they don't come to church then they can't get baptized :( They are all reading and praying and searching... but if they don't come to church they won't get their answer. it's as simple as that!
We had the most spriitual and amazing experience with a new investigator veronica! She said she had been praying and searching for truth and none of the other churches felt right. Oh man, she is amazing and has already been reading and praying. Pray for her. she is amother of three!
The bishop of our ward is awesome. He has so much charity..
This area is not maple valley. so different but so humbling. Our church parking lot has to have security during church hours lol.
Ok, I gotta run. I love you all so much. So MUCH. I pray for you all the time. This gospel is true. I love being a missionary and wouldn't trade this experience for anything in the world. I love our savior and heavenly father. What plans they have in store for us!! Just hold on :) I love love love you!!!
oh! Brandon, tabby's bro got baptized last night!!!! CHEEEHOOOOOO!!!! hahah!
love, Sister Mara
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Faith is the Power, love is the motive, and the Savior is the reason.
Talofa!
Oh my wordy word this week I spoke in russian, spanish, korean, tongan, samoan and english! haha. There is SO much diversity here! It's insane but I love it so much. I feel like I have been here a month already. I was so exhausted this week. Body, Mind, Emotions, Spirit. Everything was tired. Poor Sister Ate, looks the same as I feel haha. We were so tired. BUT, i don't have trouble sleeping anymore and I love my bed! The housing coordinators bought us new blankets and pillows and i feel like a queen ( except for the fact that my mattress is on the ground and there is mold growing on my windows) Haha. It's great here. We got lost so many times! But we experienced a beautiful miracle!
So it was 8pm and all of our plans had fallen through. Since we are both new to the area, we didn't really have an idea of where to go. We parked our car and then just walked up and down the streets talking to everyone we saw. We met some realllly interesting people. haha. We had prayed and we knew that someone was waiting to be baptized. The Lord has promised that there was someone prepared, so we were determined to work until we found them. Well, it was time to go home and we had prayed with people and shared our testimonies but no one accepted the baptismal challenge. We got home and were a bit disappointed, but then the Elders texted us and told us they ran into someone in our area who was a former investigator and just moved here from another city and they want to be baptized in October!!! Holy smokes! The Lord works in mysterious ways.
Can I just say that there is no better feeling than following the promptings of the Holy Ghost and then letting the spirit speak through you? Oh my goodness, it's like a high! haah. (Is that sacrilegious to compare it to that?) haha. Last night it was really late and we met this old guy named Anthony. He had a masters in theology and was coming at us from all different angles. I finally just said (with charity) "Either I'm right and your wrong or vis versa. The only way to find out if there really is a prophet on the earth is to pray. I know this is the true church with the full restored gospel. I know because i prayed and received and answer. Will you do the same?" Then he just paused and looked at me and said "Yes, I will pray. I promise you I will pray". haha it was so cool! It wasn't even me talking! We are going back tonight to see if he got his answer :)
Sister Ate is great. We have had some funny experiences already.
The first counselor called sat. night and asked me to speak on sunday morning. LIke I wasn't stressed Enough! haha. HOly smokes. I was so stressed. But it went well! IT's allll good.
I love you all. I love this gospel! There is nothing truer than this. I know we are HAPPIEST when we aren't thinking of ourselves. The moment we start thinking of ourselves, everything goes downhill. haha. I love you guys so much!
To Zion!
Love, Sister Mara.
Oh my wordy word this week I spoke in russian, spanish, korean, tongan, samoan and english! haha. There is SO much diversity here! It's insane but I love it so much. I feel like I have been here a month already. I was so exhausted this week. Body, Mind, Emotions, Spirit. Everything was tired. Poor Sister Ate, looks the same as I feel haha. We were so tired. BUT, i don't have trouble sleeping anymore and I love my bed! The housing coordinators bought us new blankets and pillows and i feel like a queen ( except for the fact that my mattress is on the ground and there is mold growing on my windows) Haha. It's great here. We got lost so many times! But we experienced a beautiful miracle!
So it was 8pm and all of our plans had fallen through. Since we are both new to the area, we didn't really have an idea of where to go. We parked our car and then just walked up and down the streets talking to everyone we saw. We met some realllly interesting people. haha. We had prayed and we knew that someone was waiting to be baptized. The Lord has promised that there was someone prepared, so we were determined to work until we found them. Well, it was time to go home and we had prayed with people and shared our testimonies but no one accepted the baptismal challenge. We got home and were a bit disappointed, but then the Elders texted us and told us they ran into someone in our area who was a former investigator and just moved here from another city and they want to be baptized in October!!! Holy smokes! The Lord works in mysterious ways.
Can I just say that there is no better feeling than following the promptings of the Holy Ghost and then letting the spirit speak through you? Oh my goodness, it's like a high! haah. (Is that sacrilegious to compare it to that?) haha. Last night it was really late and we met this old guy named Anthony. He had a masters in theology and was coming at us from all different angles. I finally just said (with charity) "Either I'm right and your wrong or vis versa. The only way to find out if there really is a prophet on the earth is to pray. I know this is the true church with the full restored gospel. I know because i prayed and received and answer. Will you do the same?" Then he just paused and looked at me and said "Yes, I will pray. I promise you I will pray". haha it was so cool! It wasn't even me talking! We are going back tonight to see if he got his answer :)
Sister Ate is great. We have had some funny experiences already.
The first counselor called sat. night and asked me to speak on sunday morning. LIke I wasn't stressed Enough! haha. HOly smokes. I was so stressed. But it went well! IT's allll good.
I love you all. I love this gospel! There is nothing truer than this. I know we are HAPPIEST when we aren't thinking of ourselves. The moment we start thinking of ourselves, everything goes downhill. haha. I love you guys so much!
To Zion!
Love, Sister Mara.
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