O ai lenei?

Friends, Family, Peeps in general,

Hows it going??

WE HAD A ROCKING WEEK!!! WHAT WHAT??!!!??

We had TONS of lessons and visited SO MANY less active people! We did service for Aunty Rima (less active, her husband is samoan and isn't a member) and for the Fu'e Aiga (aiga means family)(the Fu'e's are our ward mission leaders) But not many new investigators... sad face. We invited 10 people to a fireside on self reliance we had last night and not a single one came. They all bailed last minute. FA'ANOANOA!!!!!!!! (Sad). We are trying to figure out what happened. Our conclusion is that our investigators are too nice to us. They aren't really interested in the gospel, they just want to talk to us. *Sigh*. 

We got Aunty Rima to sacrament meeting yesterday though!! WOOHOO!! I also asked Taleleo Fruen if she would be baptized and she said yes!! Next lesson we will commit her to a day! We are worried about her though... we are worried that she is just being too nice to us... I will keep you updated about that!! JOE SOLO HAS BEEN READING THE BOOK OF MORMON!!!!! YESSSSSSSS!!!

The subject line is "O ai lenei?" which is "who was that?". Whenever we are walking by the road we always get honked at and waved to... But 9 times out of 10 we have no idea who the heck is in the car!! LOL!!! CAR!! THAT REMINDS ME!!!!!!! WE GOT A CAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ...... Guess who's driving...YOURS TRULY!!!!! Sister Taituuga only has to remind me to stay on the left 10 times a day ;) JUST KIDDING!!!! I am a good driver!!

OH!! Transfers were on Thursday! Neither Me or Sister Tai got transferred! I am so happy!! But one of our Elder's (Po Asaua) got transferred. So now we have Elder Moea'i (still) and Nunutau (that's not spelled right. He's togan!!! IN THE SAMOAN PROGRAM!!! Whaaaat!! so because he's tongan there's a g in there somewhere.... eh)

Is there anything else...?

I'M FAT!!!!!! welll not yet... But at this rate i will be!! GUESS HOW MANY MEALS WE WERE FED THIS WEEK!!!! 9!!!! how many were we supposed to be fed? 5!!!! THAT'S ALMOST TWICE THE AMOUNT!!! I'M GOING TO DIE!!!! Sister Fue literally bought us each a triple cheeseburger combo AND a milkshake AND an icecream ONE HOUR BEFORE OUR FAFAGA ON WEDNESDAY!!!! I ABOUT EXPLODED!!!!! Not to mention the fact that because Sister Tai hates ice cream, I have to eat the other half of hers whenever a member gives it to us.... We've had ice cream three times this week... .___. AND KFC!! The KFC count for this week is 4. Have I mentioned that I'm going to die? LOL!!!

I LOVE MY MISSION!!! AND THE PEOPLE ARE AMAZING!!!!! AHHHH!! I AM SO BLESSED!!!

Manuia le Vaiaso!!! ( blessed week... that's a bad translation... eh)

Alofa tele Atu!!!!!

Sista Peo

Service with Rima!! (Rima and Tai)

 My sweet as tan!! ;) be jealous!!

manuia vaiaso

Family, Friends, Missionaries,

How's it going?

It's been a wicked good week! We got to teach lots of lessons (all how to begin teaching but thats good!)! We also had exchanges this week! I went with our Sister Training leader (Sister Page) into her area (hillpark), and her companion (sister Green- who was in my sociology class at the U) came to our area with Sister Tai! So i was in the palagi program for the day, which was very fun! It was fun to be able to understand exactly what was happening during the lesson and be confident with my words. We taught the plan of salvation to a young family with  5,3,and1 year old boys so that was really fun ;)

For personal study I read preach my gospel in samoan. It is very slow going. But i am getting much better!! I can really feel myself improving! Sometimes there will be whole paragraphs i can understand! Speaking is still a struggle though, I get very nervous around people and in lessons and basically just become mute. It frustrates Sister Taituuga so much. Lately she has taken to just being silent during our Fafaga (feeds) so that i will be the one that drives the conversations with our members. But I am improving.

Our progressing investigators are: The Solo brothers, Alesana family (we soft set them a couple of weeks ago but the struggle to understand the need to be baptized "again" when they were already abptized in their church) and Lagi Tusa ( a very nice lady who we started teaching last week! She works at night so its tricky to get a hold of her but she's great!)

I feel so inadequate constantly. I almost never do anything correctly. I can't imagine my life without the atonement of Jesus Christ. I use it constantly. Heavenly Father loves you. Your savior loves you. You can do hard things.

Alofa atu,

Sista Peo

Alofa Tele Atu!!!!

Friends, Family, Faifeautalai, Random people I don't know,

How is everyone?? :)

I had a good week!! We contacted HEAPS of people this week... but only have 2 new investigators... Also we only have 2 progressing investigators (neither of whom are ready to be baptized). We taught the Solo brothers this week when their mom was gone (they still wanted to take lessons even though she didn't approve) and we are hoping that their mom won't get too upset.

We went to the health clinic twice this weekend... Sister Taituuga has bronchitis (but wont admit it), and I had another attack. Dang, I wish we could just be healthy!! We have to go to the health clinic again this week as a follow up for me... they aren't quite sure what to do with me and how to keep me better I guess.

Conference was ROCKING!!!!!! WOOHOOO!!! there were heaps of amazing talks and i recieved some amazing personal revelation! Elder Lawrence is da man!! Loved his talk!! It is so important to keep the holy ghost with us and be able to receive revelation through him!! Also what scripture is everyone ponderizing this week?? I am going to do Alema 34:32, It's a great scripture for extending commitments to both members and investigators :)

I was very frustrated this week with my language abilities (surprise, surprise i know). I had a day where i was so frustrated it actually made me unable to speak Samoan at all. That's not cool!! I have decided that I'm done being frustrated with myself. I'm not done pushing myself to improve, but i'm done expecting perfection now. I am done being so pessimistic about my abilities and skills. By being negative we are basically telling Heavenly Father that we aren't greatful for the gifts he has given us. That's no good!! I have been focusing on the things i can say rather than the things i cant. AND ITS WORKING!!! Yesterday there was a significant increase in what i was able to understand during our fafaga (Feed). I am so excited!! 

Miracles happen every single day. Be sure to acknowledge them and thank your heavenly father for them!! I love you all so much!!! HAVE AN AMAZINGLY SPECTACULARLY PRIME WEEK!!! aaaaaaaaaaaand Happpy Canadian thanksgiving!!! 

Alofa tele atu!!!!

Sista Peo

Mai

Friend's, Family, Faifeautalai (missionary)

I hope everyone has had a wonderful week! I have heard about everyone watching conference the last couple days and my heart is melting!! We are watching it next weekend! :(((((

I AM SO EXCITED THOUGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There is not much to report this week. My Soa (companion) got the flu this week (mai=sick) so we were flat bound for 3 days. So sad!! I used all of that extra time for language study! So I got a few days of study!! And That's exactly what I had told my MTC teacher I needed last week when I emailed him!! SO funny!!

The day we went proselyting after our sick days was SUPER good!! Heaps of people talked to us and we got heaps of potential investigators!! It was sweet as!! Most of our conversations were in English, so I was actually useful in the conversation! And I finally was feeling like I was fulfilling my missionary purpose!! But at the same time I felt like I was such a cheater for speaking English.

We had an activity with the youth where we took them out proselyting with us. BUT THERE WERE TOOO MANY YOUTH!!  They had to split companionships up!! So I took two laurel's proselyting in my SAMOAN area BY MYSELF!!! I WAS TERRIFIED!!! But it ended up being a great experience! Everyone we met with and taught spoke to us in English so that worked out great!! I'm such a cheater. I JUST WANT TO BE FLUENT!!!! IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK!?!?! ;) Yes Sista Peo... Yes it is!!

I've been studying in Alma lately and all the amazing missionaries that reside in those pages! I've been taking notes on ways I can improve my missionary abilities! Right now I'm in Alma 19 but there is something really cool in Alma 4 I'd like to share! In verse 3 it talks about how the people are suffering because of their "abominations" and "therefore they were awakened to a remembrance of their duty". I love the wording in that verse!! Remembrance of their duty!! As a missionary we talking about always having our purpose in mind so that we remember our duty and what we need to be doing. Fun thoughts!!

I love you all so much!! Thank you for your love and prayers, they are deeply felt!!! Remember your duty this week ;)

Alofa tele atu,

Sista Peo

Fgamanu Fulu ma Malumalu

Friends, family, missionaries, strangers,

It Has been one heck of a week!!!

We went to the temple which was so awesome!! We did initiatories and a session!! The New Zealand temple is so beautiful!!! 

We also had our baptism on saturday!!! WOOHOOO!!! So exciting!!! It was so cool!! While Fagamanu was getting changed back into his clothes we had to give a presentation on the restoration. I was terrified!! But the Holy ghost helped me, and Sister Taituuga told me she didn't know i could speak samoan like that! I can't... the spirit can ;)

The struggle has been real this week with learning samoan! In the beginning of the week i was to afraid to even speak. Now i will speak, but i over think what i am trying to say. BUT I AM TRYING!! Everyone told me there would be lessons where i wouldn't understand the investigator, but i didn't realize i wouldn't understand my companion either!! In the instances i dont know what to say!! Baahah!!

Sister Taituuga and i have worked out a plan this morning that we think will help immensely with this situation. We breakdown everything we are going to teach that day into parts and divide it, that way i know exactly what to study. I will have to let you know how that goes!

Have i mentioned lately that sister Taituuga is an angel for being so patient with me??

SHE IS!!!! Oh my goodness I am so lucky!!!!

Padre asked me if I covered the whole zone by bike. Yes We do, but we never bike because sister Taituuga doesn't like to bike in sunday clothes, so we walk! The members are so nice and if ever they see us walking they will pull over and give us a ride!! The members are great!! They are constantly feeding us!! I didn't eat breakfast yesterday and i didn't even notice until 5 minutes before our feed (faufauga)...

We joke that we could not buy groceries and be fine because we get fed so much! We are buying more food though because not doing so could lead to some uncomfortable mornings ;)

Funny stories:

We walked past a street called arnwood, and my soa started singing "onward ever onward..." LOL!!!!

My Soa Doesn't have an accent except on the 'g' sound. So I always tease her about the cold and gold... or as she says: cold and kold. 

I LOVE YOU ALLL SO MUCH!!!!! THANK YOU FOR YOUR LOVE AND PRAYERS!!!!!!!

Alofa tele atu,

Sista Peo

P.s. I received two letters and a package this week!! How blessed am i??? THANK YOU SOOO MUCH!!!!

 Fgamanu's baptism

 Hospital Selfie (from 2 weeks ago)

 First Temple Trip in Hamilton

Sister Peo

Kia ora!  Greetings from the New Zealand Hamilton Mission.

Sister Peo arrived safely to Hamilton, and is already labouring in her new area. Her companion is Sister Taituuga.  They will be serving in the Redoubt Zone, up in south Auckland.   I have enclosed a picture of them, one of the entire group that arrived the same day, as well as a picture with us.  We love Sister Peo already!

We look forward to serving with Sister Peo in this wonderful work as the missionary wave floods this great country of New Zealand!  We need her and are excited to serve together!  Her testimony will grow as she helps others receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and his atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end.

Arohanui,

President and Sister Rudd

Papatiso

Family, Friends, Everyone else,

I ASKED SOMEONE TO BE BAPTIZED ON WEDNESDAY AND THEY SAID YES!!!!! HE WANTS TO BE BAPTIZED THIS SATURDAY!!!!!!!!! We are working so hard to make sure he will be ready!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH I am so excited!!!

His name is Fagamanu, he is 63 and has been going to church for 3 months now! It's kind of a long story, BUT he was being taught by the elders then something happened and was referred to the sisters. But the previous sisters lost his referral or something because they never contacted him! We Found him through a family in our ward: The Tui's!! He is living at their house! We taught the 3rd lessons because the Elders taught the first two, and I asked him to be baptized and he said yes, next week!!!! I am sooooo excited!!!

We are also teaching 3 brothers who live in a flat next door to us. Their Mom just came back from samoa and isn't interested in learning from us and doesn't approve of her sons taking lessons while she was gone. We tried to go over and meet her but she wouldn't let us in! The Brothers talked to us yesterday and apologized! Then straight up told us they wanted to be baptized but their mom would be furious. It's very sad! We are praying for her heart to be softened so that Joe, Harold, and Toloa can be baptized. (Just a funny side note Toloa asked me if I had a boyfriend!! BAHAHAHA!!! I about peed my pants I was laughing so hard!!)

I haven't had any asthma problems this week!! I am much better!!! I am still on the inhaler!! WOOHOO!!

you pronounce sister Taituuga (tie-too-oon-ga)

I realize my letter last week really sucked. I profusely apologize!! I will try and fill in some of the gaps I created!! 

I am serving in the Alema ward, Redoubt Zone. Because we are in the Samoan program, we cover the WHOLE ZONE!! It is Giant!! We are praying for a car ;) There are only 3 wards in my mission that are Samoan speaking. So there are only 3 sister companionships that are Samoan speaking in our whole mission. Because of this President Told me I will not be in the Samoan program for all of my mission. I will we switched eventually to the palagi (English) program. I WOULD RATHER DIE THAN BE SWITCHED TO THE PALAGI PROGRAM!!! President assured me that i will still use my Samoan in the English program, just not for teaching.... -.- 

I don't want to be switched. SO! That just increases the pressure i put on myself to learn Samoan as fast as humanly possible!

That is not going so well. I am very frustrated with myself. I WANT TO BE FLUENT NOW!!!!! Bahaha! Sister Taituuga just keeps telling me that i have a long journey, and i need to be patient with myself. The struggle is real. I am working very hard though!! 

Yesterday was especially rough! We taught 3 lessons and i butchered all 3 of them. My words wouldn't come out. Sister Taituuga has to pick up so much slack because of me! my part in lessons right now is mostly double testifying and sharing scriptures. I try to do more but i mess up BIG time. I was very frustrated with myself. Sister Taituuga thanked me for my hard work and told me i said exactly what heavenly father needed me to say at that time. she said that, maybe he didn't want me to say any more. Bless her. I cried and when i thought about why I couldn't tell if they were frustrated or grateful! That surprised me! Why grateful? I was grateful that this is so hard for me! I have been looking forward to doing this for so long. I am so glad this is so hard for me! I m so glad Heavenly father gives me such challenging things to do, and that he trusts me to do my best! I was at peace after that.

Miracles happen every day. You just have to look for them!! When you find them, thank heavenly father for them and then he will give you more!!

I Love you all so much!! Have a great week!!!

Alofa ia te oe,

Sista Peo