Lo'u aiga,

This week is awesome!!!

We were so crazy busy getting ready for Iona's baptism!!

Heaps of people came to his baptism on Saturday!!

We also had our ward missionary activity on Saturday, which was also super awesome!! It was just volleyball, basketball and a BBQ because it was so stormy outside but everyone really enjoyed it!!

Also we had a missionary meeting with the Stake President on Saturday! Oka oka busy as!!

Napolean and Beverly came to the missionary activity, and we recruited Napolean to play the piano for our missionary presentation while Iona changed his clothes after his baptism!! So that was awesome to have our investigator help us with our missionary presentation!! :)

This week is super busy as well! We are having Zone Conference tomorrow, so President will come up and be with us for that! Our numbers are slowly turning from all member present lessons to less active/recent convert lessons... Napolean is our only investigator right now! We are trying to do heaps of finding right now... yay for door knocking And we are helping the ward missionaries do follow up lessons for Iona (Tausili is done with his!!) and the Folasa family! They were baptised in December but no one ever did their follow up lessons so we are also going to help them with that, as they prepare for the temple!!!

Man I feel tired even writing this letter...

Cool things have been happening in this area and I know its because of the obedience of Sister Taugaele and me... Every blessing we receive is because we obey the commandments of God!!

Oh! I forgot to mention!!! FAGAMANU IS LIVING WITH A FAMILY IN MY WARD!!!!! Fagamanu is my first baptism with Sister Taituuga!!!! He doesn't remember me or Sister Taituuga, and is back to being loku pope (catholic?) right now. But all goods! Now I get to work with him again!! Miracles!!!!

Alofa tele atu!!!

manuia le vaiaso!!

Sista Peo

`pi sua (DELICIOUS Samoan food!!!)

~us and Iona!! Notice his gangsta shaved eyebrow... LOL!!

~me Taugaele, Beverley, Napolean, and our ward missionary at the baptism eating yummy food!!

~me and Fagamanu

 

 

Sooo this week happened...

Lo'u Aiga,

This week has been epic!! Epic-ly what I'm not quite sure but all I know is that it was definitely that!!

Tilomai never came back from Hastings... She got in a fight with her family that lives here and decided not to come back! We tried to call her to ask if we could send the Wellington missionaries to her and she started avoiding our calls.... so sad.

So she is not getting baptized on Saturday but Iona is!!!! Iona is the man, he has changed so much!! His interview is on Wednesday with the baptism on Saturday!!! What a blessing that he is working so hard to change his life! We are so proud of him! He has taken the lessons many times from many other missionaries!

There were a few days this week that were  SO BITTERLY COLD we almost died!! We had planned to do 12 week and language study in the morning, but were sick of the flat, so we decided to go out and knock doors instead.... so cold!!!!! We lost feeling in our arms below the elbows and our legs below the knee!! I was wearing my ugly shoes (they aren't broken in yet) and when we got home I discovered that not only had they given me blisters on my heels but had ripped off and were bleeding way bad!! LOL!!!! So that was not very fun as I got feeling back!! So I've been alternating between ugly and worn out shoes for the rest of the week, waiting for my heels to heal! They are healing way fast though so that's good!!! Miracles!!! Miracles happen every day!!

We have had some cool referrals that we have been working on turning into investigators!!

Napolean asked us to come back and teach him lesson 1!!!!! Tomorrow!! I am so exctited!!!!

We also had two services on Saturday (potential investigator family and Napolean's family), we took the Leapai family (and their lawn mower) me and Tausili took turns mowing the lawn while everyone else chatted with the family!! Yessss! Missionary work!!!!

Sister Taugaele and I are so exhausted... the plan was to sleep today, but we had to take other sisters to a car dealership.. (I'm always the guide because I've spent my whole mission up here!)... maybe we will try to catch a few zzz's before we have to take them back!!

Alofa tele atu!!

Sista Peo

Oh and I've eaten heaps of kopai this week!! everyone keeps making it for me because they know its my favorite!!!! That's what that big empty bowl was!! LOL!! And that was a funny bumper sticker I really liked... sorry its blurry!!

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.

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

Miracles

Lo'u aiga,

Oh man this week was the best!!!

I don't really remember all the details... everything that happens in the week goes into a blender and gets all mixed up inside my head until I'm not sure when things happened... but I'm vaguely certain they happened this week.. 

We have two baptisms set for August!!!

Taua- We taught her the law of chastity this week and then she still want to get married to her partner after her baptism... so that was a fun conversation!! But all goods we sorted that out and now she's on track again! We are just waiting for her partner's divorce paper to go through so that they can get married BEFORE her baptism on the 20th!! BAHAHA!!

Tausili- he is the man! He is 18 and he is basically a member already. His family adopted him from Samoa and he comes to church and activities regularly. He just got back from a .. kafau.. sorry!.. in Samoa so that's why he wasn't baptized before now! So his baptism is on the 6th!

We had interviews with President which was nice! It was nice to have the opportunity to talk to him! He gave me some advice on my area -talk to ward mission leader and bishop about ward mission plan- in order to help us out some more and then we closed with a prayer where he thanked Heavenly Father for my diligent hard work and obedience... which touched my heart that he knew that about me, even though we only talked for a few minutes.

We went and did what President suggested and after talking to Bishop, we were invited to ward council on Sunday!! The first time in over 9 months for missionaries to be allowed to go!!!

In the council they emphasized the ward mission plan and pushed the work!! I was so happy!! And then Members of the ward have been working hard on giving us referrals!! Most of them are out of area.. but I am thrilled we are getting them!!! We are working on having people invite them to their house so we can meet with them!

The working is good... filling the whole day is hard because we only have 2 investigators... so we are door knocking... *sigh... hopefully it won't be for too long and then the referrals will help us out!!

My new companion is the best!!!! I love her so much!!! The second she got in this area, miracles started happening!!!!! SO awesome!!!

This morning I got a powerful reminder of how much Heavenly Father loves us! During my personal study this morning I had a question I was trying to answer for myself... nothing important or faith shaking... just something I didn't fully understand. I read a scripture that I knew had the answer for my question, but I didn't understand it. So I prayed and asked for help to understand the answer to my question. Immediately I tried to read the scripture again... And my eyes of understanding were opened and I understood the scripture and the answer to my question. I think Heavenly Father is dying to help us... dying to bless us... but he can't unless we humble ourselves and allow him to do so.

Ask and ye shall receive, knock and it shall be opened unto you.

Love you all so much!!!

Have a great week!!!

Alofa tele atu!!1

Sista Peo

we saw a double rainbow this week

 a member made us orange skirts for a ward activity.... I was SOOOO excited!!!