I have a problem...

Hi. My name is Sister Peo and I am a bookaholic....

I'm not really sure when it started but I have a fascination with books. From a young age I've always really loved them. Even if I never get around to actually reading them I love to have them sitting around, occupying space. Because I moved myself, I could take as many trips as I needed to move all of my stuff, the last time I was transferred... I have lots of stuff... but mostly just lots of books... Boxes and boxes of books... and basically I have two of everything! One in English and one in Samoan!! Good thing I wasn't transferred this last week otherwise I think I would have lost my mind!

Anyway... I have 5 more weeks to procrastinate figuring out what to do with all of my books 

This week was busy! Iona didn't get set... we are working on it! Tilomai is doing awesome!! (she is 18 by the way! she lives with her Aunty and Uncle (recent converts in our ward) while she is attending university)!!! Taua's partner's divorce paper was declined because the x-wife is not being cooperative... so that makes that situation that much more fun... BAHA!!

Sister Taugaele got super super sick yesterday!! We missed church and I almost took her to the hospital because she was just sobbing!! But we got the Zone leaders to come and give her a blessing and she started eating again last night.  She woke up this morning almost completely fine!! She just has a little cough and a sore throat now!! Much more manageable!!

I think Tausili blessed the sacrament yesterday... but we missed it so I'm not sure. But he's the man!! We are doing his follow up lessons as a role play! So I'm the investigator so he and Taugaele teach me the lessons!! Right now, I'm set for October... BAHAHA

This weekend I have been really thing about this primary song:

1. Dare to do right! Dare to be true!

You have a work that no other can do;

Do it so bravely, so kindly, so well,

Angels will hasten the story to tell.

 

2. Dare to do right! Dare to be true!

Other men's failures can never save you.

Stand by your conscience, your honor, your faith;

Stand like a hero and battle till death.

We have a hard job in these last days...

But we need to stand like a hero. Stand by everything that we know to be right and true.

We have to be as exactly obedient as we can and hold to the iron rod as tightly as possible. Whatever you believe, live it. If you don't know what you believe, find out. There is no middle ground. Do what you know to be right and never look back!!

Love you all so much!

Alofa tele atu!

Sista Peo

Sorry I didn't take any pictures this week... *fail*

Another week gone but it seems like no time has passed!!!

Lo'u aiga,

This last week was pretty challenging because EVERYONE kept cancelling appointments!! It was driving us bonkers!!! The only one who didn't cancel was Tilomai so thank heavens for her!!!

Tilomai is going to be baptized on the 17th of September!!! She only has one more lesson left: Tithing and fast offerings!! We left her a huge chapter to read before our next lesson the next day and she read the whole thing!! I love her so much! She is always willing to do everything we ask her to do!! She is a little worried about her baptism... She is really tall (probably 6'0" or 6'1") and is convinced she is going to hit her head on the wall of the baptismal font (our font is really small). So I have a funny picture of her measuring herself to see if she would fit in the baptismal font or not!!

We just finished (like an hour ago) teaching plan of salvation to Iona!! He is going to pray for a date to get baptized and we have a return appointment tomorrow where we will set a date for him!! That is so exciting too!! 

Taua is avoiding us now, I think... I say I think because she isn't very good at it if that is what she is trying to do. We don't really know what to do for her anymore... so we are praying about it... If she tries to give us the slip again, we will just give her a little bit of space for a while and see if that changes anything.. 

In other news:

Sister Hazelet cut my hair for me last week!! I took a picture of how long it was but I forgot to take a picture of how short it is now... LOL one job!!! It is just below my shoulders!

Tausili blessed the sacrament on Sunday!!

We went on exchanges with the missionaries in the mtc on Wednesdy!! That was really fun!! We door knocked the entire time!! Sister Vea was my companion! She is going to Australlia, her mission comes from Tonga!

This week I was trying to study a talk by Elder Bednar and I honestly couldn't understand what was happening... I had to use an English pocket dictionary.... how embarrassing is that? My Samoan isn't even good and my English is gone!!!

We only had 2 people in our missionary class on Sunday- Tausili and Sister Galu (Relief Society 1st Counselor)

I think that's everything... OH! and we ate kopai at the Leapai's house this week!!!

Ia!!! Love you all so much!!!

Alofa tele atu!!

Sista Peo

 Pre Hair Cut

 Peo and Vea

 Peo, Taugaele, Tausili and Vea

Tilomai measuring herself to see if she fits in the font.

Soooooooo....

Lo'u aiga!!

I SAW NORTIA THIS WEEK!!!!!!!!! Nortia is the one who was baptized the week after I got transferred out of Alema!!!! SO fun!!!! She was walking home from school (her school is in our area)!! I love her so much!!!

Taua is progressing again!!! We don't have a date for her baptism but the goal is that the week she gets the okay for the wedding, she will get baptized that Saturday! Did that make sense? My english is going down..

Our lesson with Tilomai as awesome as!!! We have another one tonight where we will teach her plan of salvation!!

We had 4 progressing investigators this week!! Hopefully we will have 2 set for baptism before I email you again... hopefully!!!

Our flat is leaking... that is fun.... There is a leak somewhere and it is slowly making us fall through the floor!! BAHAHA!!! Poor Elder Templeton is sick of our flat!! Our property manager is over seas right now for two weeks... BAHAHA!!!

I'm trying to think of something else to tell yous...

We have a missionary activity!! The first one this ward has had in nearly a year! It will be on the 10th and 11th of September! We are getting the ward back in the swing of missionary work! So much progress and so many miracles!! It makes me so happy

We are working hard, trying to get a bigger teaching pool.. Not heaps of success but I know as we continue to be obedient and work hard the Lord will bless us!

Alofa tele atu!!

Sista Peo

What is a missionary's favourite car? ~a convertible

Why did the Mormons cross the road? ~ to do the missionary work for the people on the other side!!

BAHAHAH!!! Courtesy of Sister Hazelet my sister training leader!!

Me and Nortia (Nortia is 10)

Me and Ka (Tausili's sister) (she is 14)

Papatisoga a Tausili

Lo'u Aiga,

Tausili was baptized on Saturday, received the holy ghost and the priesthood on Sunday!!! It was so amazing!! I couldn't have been happier... well actually if our building was warmer I would've been a little happier ;) it was wicked cold in there!!! We had the water piping hot but Tausili said by the time he got to it an hour later it was freezing!! Poor guy...

It was 0 degrees this morning when we tried to wash the car... That was fun!! We used the water to melt all of the frosty ice of the car!! New Zealanders are kinda of panicking abut how cold it is right now!! BAHAHA!!!

We found out on Sunday that Taua can't be baptized on the 20th.. They waited to long to pay a fine for the divorce papers... they are planning to pay it on Thursday and then they can't get married for 28 days... *headaches*.. hopefully we will re-set her this week and get her another date. She came to church but I didn't count her as progressing AGAIN last week... hopefully this week will be better!!

My Soa invited another new investigator of ours to be baptized! His name is Iona (which mean Jonah)! He accepted but is concerned that he has word of wisdom problems!! Oh man I almost started crying right there, I was so happy!! Someone that knew their inadequacies but wants to change!! I told him not to worry, we were going to help him build his faith and when the time comes to stop those things he can use his faith and the Lord will help him!!

We have another new investigator who also seems pretty keen! She ran away from Sister Puaina and I a few months ago, but seems open to us now! They came to our missionary class on Sunday and said she'd like to join the church some day... My thoughts: "yup no worries! we got you covered!" Her name is Tilomai. AND Maria always come to church, her uncle is the ward secretary, and she told us she loves the way it makes her feel but she "wants to figure it out" for herself first before she has lessons... BAHAHA She will be baptized one day I can feel it! Just in her own time!

Basically this area is on the verge of another baptism even though we don't have anyone set right now! It makes me so happy!! :)

Hope everyone is doing well this week!! Love you all lots!!

Alofa tele atu!

Sista Peo

Oh the other picture... I thought I'd be a really cool trainer and that we'd do our 12 week training (for new missionaries) by the beach!! FAIL!!!! My poor Samoan was freezing to death and there was a GIANT DEAD CAT that someone put by the trashcan!! LOL... only in south Auckland!!!

Tausili

Lo'u Aiga,

This week was awesome!!!!

Little to no door knocking this week which is optimum!!!

Heaps of referrals which we contacted and got lots of new investigators, many of whom like coming to church, which is basically a dream!!!

Taught an awesome lesson yesterday to a Tongan guy named Jason (the lesson is in English)(his partner is in our ward so he comes to our ward every week) The lesson was amazing!! His partner was crying the whole time!! He accepted a Book of Mormon and said he would be baptized if he came to know it was true!! The only problem is he lives out of area... so we see him once a week!

Taua wasn't able to come to church again on Sunday... 2 weeks in a row... Satan is pushing them hard with emergency hospital visits and such... She didn't progress this week.  Her lessons are done though, so hopefully she will still make the 20th!!

Tausili Is the man!! He told us that he wants to go on a mission!!! YAY!!!!! He is ready for his baptism on Saturday and I just finished the program like 10 minutes ago *killing it*!!

We have appointments every day this week, which hasn't happened since I left Alema Ward in Redoubt!!! ITS BASICALLY CHRISTMAS MORNING EVERYONE, I'M SO EXCITED!!!!!!!

I'm trying to think of anything else I can tell you... I dunno!! Our obedience and dedication is paying off... we are finding the people prepared for us which is such a miracle! The days are sliding by so fast.. I feel like as soon as one day starts the next day is beginning already. I was so sad that I hit my year mark in the mission this last week... I feel like I just got here and I just barely figured out how to do things properly... The last 6 months will be a blink of an eye I think and I'm not too happy about that... I love my mission.

Hope all is well with yous!!
Alofa tele atu!
Manuia tou vaiaso!!
Sista Peo

Mom can you please add these emails to the list please?? Thank you!! alofa atu!!!

Me and Sis Taugaele
How Tausili dressed from his program picture!! LOL that kid!!

Tausili's program picture