Lo'u aiga peleina,

We are so tired this week!!!

Lots and lots and lots and lots of door knocking in the hot sun!!!

We would go home for lunch and not end up eating... just taking a shower and a baby nap and then going back out again!!! YAY FOR MISSIONARY WORK!!!!! Haha!!! I am so dark right now... I don't know if yous can tell because I'm always around Samoans and they just make me look pink!! HAHA!! But we have been working so hard, both in the area and for the other sisters I cover!!! It feels like we have been running around like crazy this week!!

Exciting update!!! Vavau is soooo close to getting baptized we are just waiting on the confirmation paper for their marriage license!! So they should get it sometime this week!!! Which means Vavau's baptism we are aiming for the 21st!!! WE ARE SO EXCITED FOR HIM!!!

So big week this week preparing Vavau for his interview and trying to visit Jackie daily until she is ready to start lessons!! Jackie is soooo cute, I love her!!! I don't know when she will be ready for lessons but I know she will love the teaching of the gospel and the feeling of the spirit that come from it!!  (From Mom: I asked her who Jackie is and this is what she said, "Jackie is the secretary for Relief Society's daughter!! I thought I mentioned her before??

She came from Samoa while Sister Seiuli was here!! They are a super busy and active family so we have been trying to set a time with her for lessons!! But we had an FHE earlier this week and we did a fun game with the 10 commandments!! It was way fun!!! She is catholic but loves church and loves YSA!! She is awesome!!!")

I love you all so much!! I hope everyone is staying warm over there... it sounds like everyone is basically just living in igloos right now!! Have fun with that while me and Sister Taugaele sweat to death over here ;)

I've been doing lots of thinking this week, and I just wanted to share how grateful I am for my mission. If nothing else, I have learned that if you trust in the Lord everything else will work out. And that is the most remarkable thing. How lucky we are to have someone so trust worthy, someone of perfect character to love us so much and be so willing to help us at every point in our lives. All we have to do is accept him. Accept his atonement and then everything else falls into place! How blessed are we to have challenges and struggles thrown at us, so that we can learn what really matters!!

Alofa tele atu!

Manuia le vaiaso!!

Sista Peo

Also elder Reid from the MTC is serving in Sister Taituuga's (my trainer) ward in Samoa!!!

WHAAAAAAAAT!!!!

 Our District

 Seuili and Taugaele

 Taking a "short cut"

One of us was tired and one of us was a spaz!

Look who got her ears pierced...hahahaha

 

 ...........hahahahaha

There they are!  Look so cute!!  <3 She said it didn't hurt but the lady who did it for her was laughing because Sista Peo kept asking if it was going to hurt so much!

ua ou galo mea uma

Lo'u aiga,

I just forgot everything. (That's the title.)

Smooth. I really did just forget what happened this week.

OH! I remember a funny story!! The Elder's baptism was on saturday!! The bishop said he'd fill the font!! He showed up 5 min before the start time of the baptism and couldn't find the key to turn on the water!! OH SOLE!!!! So the Zone leaders called another bishop and he came and saved us!! The baptism eventually started at 6 instead of 5. Lualua and I will call the Zone Leaders to fill the font for Julia this Saturday!! LOL!!!

Lualua and I did the missionary presentation at the Elder's baptism... It was good until I tried to do a paper activity about the Book of Mormon... The tape I brought wouldn't hold up the pieces of paper so everything just fell apart!! BAHAHA!! Oops!! All goods! repent and move on right? ;)

There is a family who lives in our area but goes to the other Samoan ward. This is going to be confusing I'm so sorry! Other sisters referred them to us because they are living with non members. We went and visited and the non members aren't interested yet, which is all goods!! But the daughter keeps wanting to come out proselytizing with us which is great since no one in our ward wants to!! Then we discovered that they are related to one of our family investigators!!! SO we did fhe with them all last night and taught the plan of salvation and played the snoring game!! So that cool!!

Ya that is pretty much it!! I hope everyone is doing well!!! I love you so much and Heavenly Father loves you even more!! Look for miracles!!! Manuia lou vaiaso!!

Alofa tele atu,

Sista Peo

Here's a pic of Julia again!!

Peo and Lualua

Pictures from last transfer when Sis Taituuga (trainer) finished her mission last transfer (April 2016):

  Peo, Taituuga and Lualua

 Taituuga and Peo

 Taituuga getting on her plane (haka face)  :(

 <3

Today will be interesting

Lo'u aiga,

Faafetai i ke atua mo lenei avenoa mo imaili!! 

This is going to be fun... its a national holiday so everything is closed except the hospital and airport, so we received permission to email at a members house.. so here we are at Kalala Chan's house... I let my soa use the computer and I'm using her tablet... so if my English is worse than usual we are just going to blame it on the tablet eh?  

This week has been... interesting.

Sister Taituuga (my trainer) finished her mission and flew back to Samoa on Wednesday!! But she got to stay with us Tuesday night and we drove her to the airport on Wednesday afternoon!!! I don't know if yous know this but I LOVE SISTER TAITUUGA!!!! I HAD THE BEST TRAINER IN THE WHOLE WORLD!!!!!!! It was so nice to see her again and hug her and hear her voice!!! Not only that but she served in this area before she came to train me so she was able to give me and LuaLua some advice about the area! 

Sister LuaLua and I are both staying in Manuwera 2nd ward (much to LuaLua's dismay! She wants to go back to the English program) which I am very happy about!! 

Julia is doing well!! She came to church yesterday!! She is very excited for her baptism on 14th of May and we are going to try and get her to come to FHE with the Tuilimu Aiga tonight (shes busy today because of the holiday but we are trying). 

We are still struggling a lot in this area.... how badly do we need a miracle on a scale of one to ten..... 100000000000000000000000000000 

But we are pushing forward with faith!! The Lord put us here for a reason!! He knows his people and he knows what we need to do to help them!! All we have to do is have faith and stay worthy to receive that revelation!! 

I hope everyone is doing well!! Thank you so much for your love and prayers!!! They are very much needed and appreciated!! Sorry for the lack of pictures. ... I'm on a tablet...

Alofa tele atu,,,

Sista Peo

I know this is late! I'm sorry!

Lo'u Aiga,

I'M SORRY I'M EMAILING LATE!!! 

We had a ward activity from 10-2 for our investigators to play volleyball and faamasani (get to know) the ward. But it was kind of a flop... Our investigators came! That part was good! But too many YSA came, and were playing too aggressively so our investigators wouldn't play... Sad face!!

GOOD NEWS!!! Nese is set for February the 14th!! YAY!!!! Yes, that is Valentines Day, no we didn't remember that when we set her ;) Also we have ward conference that day, and tons of activities that whole week building up to ward conference! So everyone is so excited to polish it all off with a baptism!! Yay!! But satan is throwing lots of trials in her way! So we are praying for her heaps!!

Vavau (have I told you about him?) was refered to us. A lady was paying tithing and said her husband wanted to talk to samoan missionaries, so Morgan Potoa told us and we went and visited. He has read the book of mormon and believes it true and that Joseph Smith is a prophet! WHAT?? He is a slam dunk! BUT! (theres always a but eh? ;)) he is living with his partner and can't get married until March because of his divorce. (this is feeling familiar, did I tell you this last week?) we taught him the restoration and they told us that they wanted his baptism in March to be a wedding baptism whaaaat? that will be awesome! Too bad I will probably be transferred :(

We had a conference with the Auckland Mission with D Todd Christofferson on Saturday! I got to see Sister Taituuga!!!! And Sister Howell!!!! (Sister Howell and I went to High School together! She is in the Auckland mission, Mandrin speaking!! I have learned heaps from that conference and have set new goals to help me progress! I'm excited to see how it goes!

umm what else?

 I dunno... its been hot as.... Hamilton had a heat wave so its been way hotter down there than up here but still! AND its been raining heaps! My hair has been very excited ;)

I think that's it by way of news. We had lots of progressing investigators this week, hopefully they stay progressing ;)

Love you all!! Miracles happen every day! Thank heavenly father for them!!

Alofa tele atu,

Sista Peo

 Curly hair, don't care!

 Sisters Peo and Howell (they went to High School together, Sis Howell is in the Auckland Mission and speaking Mandarin) met up at a conference with Elder D. Todd Christofferson

Sis Taituuga and Peo together again!!

Visit from Elder Christoffersen

At a Conference in Auckland with Elder D. Todd Christofferson and Alley was able to see Sister Taituuga again!  Happy reunion!!

 left to right: ? not sure (Sis Fredricks--Tai's companion?), Sis Taituuga, Peo, Ulu and Puaina

Transfers

Lo'u Aiga,

It finally happened. We all knew it was going to happen eventually.. 

Sister Taituuga got transferred down to Hamilton. Temple view. She didn't go back to the Visitor's center, she's just in the palagi program. How depressing.

Funny story! We were going to go say goodbye to our old Ward mission leader the morning of transfers and we were both crying as in the car together. I was waiting to turn right onto their street when I look up at the review mirror and a car is zooming at us from behind! Before I can respond she rams into the back of us! LOL! Terrible timing! We probably scared that poor lady that hit us! She probably thought we were crying because she hit us! There was no damage to our car! But her car had a giant indent from the hitch thing where we hook up our bike rack! The funny thing is our hitch thing is super loose, so it shouldn't have been able to stop her car. Miracles! They happen every day!!

Sister Puaina (Sister Corrigan [my companion in the MTC's] Trainer!! and Sister Taituuga's companion before me!!) is my new companion. Sister Ulu is also still my companion! Sister Puaina is training Sister Ulu, and I'm basically their Chauffeur around the area ;) (Note from Mom: She said the chauffeur thing was a joke...)

I'm not going to lie I was terribly sad when Sister Taituuga left. Maybe a little depressed. I dunno how that feels but maybe you could call it that. For a few days I wasn't able to read my tusi a mamona (book of mormon) because my brain wouldn't understand. I am disappointed in myself that I allowed Satan to have that tight of a hold over me. No worries, I cast him out and can now read again. I miss Sister Taituuga but I am holding my sadness in check. There is work that needs to be done. Not my work, the Lord's work. And if the Lord saw it fit to give me a new companion, so be it. That is his choice, it's his work! He knows what I need more than I do!

Miracles have been on my mind a lot. I know that I say miracles happen every day. They do! But I am thinking about big miracles. I read that if we are doing what we are supposed to be doing, we are worthy, and we have the spirit, we should expect miracles to occur. I want to become a missionary that can expect miracles to happen every day. That's a little insight into my brain I guess for you ;)

I Love you all so much!! Thank you for your love and support and PRAYERS!!!! They are deeply felt!! Your Heavenly Father loves you!!

Alofa atu,

Sista Peo

Malo soifua

Lo'u Aiga,

I feel like I just wrote you yesterday... Is it already Monday again? I don't see how that can be possible...

Anyways, it's transfer week this week and no one knows whats happening! We got an email saying that there will be no transfer meeting in Hamilton, so people being transferred will take the bus (rather than being driven by their companion to the meeting). Transferring missionaries will not be able to take their bikes or blankets on the bus with them  :'(  They will need to use the ones at the flat in their new area. .... Hopefully I'm not being transferred ;) Optimally that will never happen because all the Samoan wards are in South Auckland... 

Other than that I'm trying to think of new news to share... It seriously feels like I just wrote yesterday.

Our Relief Society 2nd counselor came with us this week, but since there are 3 of us we had to split up (its rude to go to house with 4 people). So I went with her and Sister Ulu and Sister Tai went together. That day it was POURING RAIN. And when I say pouring I mean POURING rain. SO I was thinking that Tai and ULU would be sopping wet because they were walking and we would stay dry because of the car. NOPE. ONLY 3 PEOPLE LET US IN ALL DAY!!! 7 hours!!!!! ONLY 3 PEOPLE!!! We were drenched! One of our less active members gave us towels to sit on in the car (Mara... bless her!!)!! So we go pick up the other two and they are DRY AS!!!!! YOU ARE JOKING!!! Everyone except 3 people let them in!! What the heck!! LOL!!!! 

We got a new investigator! We were contacting a referral and Sister Taituuga and I turn around and a house jumps out to us! She points at it and says we need to go to that one! We were halfway across the street before Ulu noticed what was happening! LOL!  Her name is Mercy! She is way cool! We had a SUPER long first lesson where she agreed to read the Book of Mormon and pray about its truthfulness. She told us to come back Sunday  night because all of her cousins we be over and they would want to talk to us. So we went last night With Vaai (YSA who always comes with us) (Its Vaai's birthday today... Happy birthday Vaai), her cousins talked to us and asked us tons of questions but have a firm belief in their own faith. One of the questions they asked was why was Joseph Smith so special that he saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ when the other prophets weren't able to see them? The closest prophet was Moses. Interesting question! And he also asked how Joseph Smith was able to see God when in the bible it says that no man can see God. That makes it seem like they were bible bashing... They weren't! They were just curious on our views. They invited us back next weekend to discuss it more!

Wow. That was a long one! Sorry about that! I love you all! Heavenly Father loves you the most! Look for miracles! 

Alofa tele atu,

Sista Peo

It was raining so please excuse my crazy hair... No amount of hairspray can tame the mane (there's not a lion emoji...)

Extra photos that have been posted on the mission facebook page

These are from Sister Peo's first moments in New Zealand, 

fresh off the plane where she had asthma troubles almost the entire flight :(

 Everyone kept getting these two mixed up.  The other sister is serving in the visitors center at the temple.

Picture of Sister Peo and Sister Taituuga at the font for Fagamanu's baptism

 After a mission conference--in the van

In December 2015, the New Zealand Hamilton Mission did a mission Haka.  Here they are performing it.  Sister Peo is right behind the last row of Elders in a dress with black and white triangles.  

The Missionary Haka which is called “Tiororangi” meaning the piercing cry from heaven.

   Here are the words and meaning (in Maori and English).    When I asked Sister Peo about hakas in general, here is what she said, "They are used to unify the members and intimidate everyone else. It is disrespectful to smile during a haka. Boys make their eyes big and stick out their tongues, girls make their eyes go wide and do a dramatic frown. We do it in pictures all the time so if i sent you a picture and we were doing that, that's what it is! It is called pukanah (spelled wrong! Sorry!)"                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

 

Here is a youtube link to 2 missionaries performing it for their families on Christmas Day, there is supposed to be a professional video coming out and I'll post that when I find it. 

Elder Egbert and Timu performing the Hamilton Mission Haka 

New Zealand Christmas Day 2015

Preparing for the barbecue at a members house

 Skype photos of our Christmas Day 2015, Sista Peo's Boxing Day

Such a happy time!!

Sister Sogialofa posted this picture on facebook, my favorite surprise of today! Jan 2016

"Love her smile"

 Sister Tuimalatu posted this picture--Jan 2016

The new Trio, Sistas Taituuga, Ulu and Peo

Whazzzzzzzzz uuuuuuuuuuuuuuupp?

Lo'u Aiga,

Very exciting news!! WE ARE A TRIO!!!!!!!!!!! 

I had a feeling last transfer that we'd be in a trio! Nailed it!! ;) 

I know what your thinking: was it transfers already?

Nope! Transfer is on the 14th!

Our third soa (companion) is sister Ulu from the MTC we went on splits with them a few weeks ago! She finished her six weeks in the mtc and is in a trio with us until she gets her trainer at transfers!! Exciting stuff! So we've had fun guessing who her trainer could be (she is called to the Samoan program, so we have a 1 in 6 chance of getting it right ;))

We SMASHED it this week numbers wise!! We had Sister Tui (member from the ward) come with us, so Sister Tai and Ulu would go together and I would go with Sister Tui! It was so effective! We got so much done!! Sister Tui and I visited lots of less actives! It was so good! Sister Tui doesn't really speak english... I mean she does... but doesn't..

So initially I was a little worried. But my Samoan has vastly improved!! We were chatting away the whole time! Yay!!! Mind you there were lots of hand signals involved, and we could only talk about little things, but still! It was good!! I imagine from her perspective it was probably like talking to a giant toddler BAHAHA!! ;) 

Miracles happen EVERY SINGLE DAY!!!!!!! Don't forget to look for them!! Follow the spirit! Remember who you are and what you stand for! Thank you for your prayers and love!! 

Alofa atu,

Sister Peo

PS from Delise: I don't know how to turn these upside down pictures around, sorry!!  :(

l to r: Sistas Tai, Peo and Ulu

sooo...fleas are a thing

Aiga (family, because we're all family right??)

How are yous??

Just forewarning: this keyboard has no letters on it... so we are relying on Sista Peo's memory... we all know how that is ;)

I bet you're all thinking this email will be boring because we just skyped on Saturday... WRONG!!!!

When we came home for the day on Saturday night Disaster struck!! I was wearing a bright yellow skirt that I got for Christmas, and I was preparing to get in the shower when I saw a black dot on my leg.... FLEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I quickly caught it with my ninja powers and killed it in the sink. Then I actually looked at my skirt.. FLEAS EVERYWHERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHH!!! 

There was like 5 but i only caught and killed 3.... Sister Taituuga found 1 and disposed of it...

I am sure there are lots of others... I can feel them,,, with my flea senses...

So today we are de-fleaing everything... yay!

In actual news we have a new investigator: Alietta!! She is so good!! We are just doing how to begin teaching but she texts US first almost everyday!! We are so excited!! 

Love you all!!  Hope you had an awesome Christmas!!! If there is snow on the ground where you are, play in it for me ;)

Alofa tele atu!!

Sista Peo

 In Christmas Eve Pajamas

During Mission Conference

After Mission Conference

Pinata they made for the District

Photo Sister Taituuga sent but I don't know who is in it 

Dead flea

5am Christmas morning (Alley told us when we skyped with her that they woke up to open their gifts at 5am so they could still go play basketball with the Tongan Sisters)

Santa Tai

District in matching outfits