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!!!

 

Lo'u Aiga

Lo'u Aiga,

Man this week was crazy as!!

I was the official driver for practically everything (but not the airport! SO thank heavens for that! otherwise I would've used WAAAAAY more K's and I have already used heaps!!)

We were covering 3 areas for a while (they stuck all the sisters who were alone in our zone together) So I taught in English lots... and also had to teach Taua this week by myself in Samoan! But it went well and the spirit was strong so that's all we need eh!!

I got my new companion on Thursday!!

Sister Taugaele!!! She is from Samoa!! She is awesome! I am pretty sure she is the tallest companion I've had so far (besides Sister Corrigan of course ) in my mission!!

The ward is really opening up, trusting us which is so awesome!! We had trade offs Saturday morning and we were met with great success!! Also we got 2 really good referrals from some of our members and upcoming lessons with them this week! I think we got three new investigators this week!! What a relief because we are hurting for investigators!!!

I want to start biking this week but my companion doesn't seem too keen... so we will see if I can talk her into it or not! But I have got her into running every morning with me which is nice.. we don't go for very long but its nice of her to do it with me :)

I had to go back to the hospital this week for one of my boils in my armpit... It got bigger from the antibiotic... So the doctor/bishop cut it open and squished all the pus out! The nurse asked if I wanted to record it (because I mentioned how my mom loves watching stuff like this) and I told her no thank you... So sorry I declined that great opportunity for all of you Now I just have to keep changing the bandages every day!! They are all just little red dots now!! Yay!!

What else?

President gave us permission to eat lunch with the Atwoods so that was fun meeting up with Aunty Ann, Uncle Warner, Mike, Hoana and their new little baby!!!

I can't remember if I mention but I got Grandpa Jeff's letter and the CA Peo's package on my birthday in America!! So that was so fun!!! Thank you!

I SAW SISTER LUALUA TWICE THIS WEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I WAS SO RIDICULOUSLY EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE HER SO MUCH!!!!!!

Our zone is almost completely different... they only kept enough people here to lead the areas!! So it will be fun getting to know everyone!!

We have interviews with President tomorrow!! Which I am so excited for!!

Ya I think that's pretty much it....

I love you all so much!!!!
I hope everyone's lives are hard and faith is strong!!! That's the only way we can improve and become more Christ like!! Love yous all!!!

Alofa tele atu!!
Sista Peo

 Sistas Lualua, Chang, Peo and Taugaele

 Auntie Ann, Sista Peo, Sista Taugaele, Uncle Warner

Sorry for the late one...

Lo'u Aiga,

Sorry for the later-ish email!! I bet yous thought I wouldn't email today eh? Hahaha!!! I almost forgot!! Good thing Sister Tehotu reminded me other-wise I probably wouldn't have remembered until 2 am tomorrow!! BAHAHA!!!

Man today was crazy!! I was the official car for everyone going home so I had to drive to the bus stop in Auckland mission (eep! had to go out of mission!!) heaps today!!! My companion Sister Puaina left, as well as my Sister Training Leader, Sister Nakagawa, Sister Freddy also finished, and Sister Ete (Sister Lualua's companion)(I GOT TO SEE LUALUA TODAY!!!! I LOVE HER!!!!! I MISS HER SO MUCH!!!!!!!)(am I using too many of these() things today?? Maybe! sorry!!)

So now I am in a trio until transfers on Thursday!! I am with Sister Urgel (sounds like your-hell which I really enjoy saying BAHAHAHA) she's Filipino and Sister Tehotu who is Tahitian!! I tried to convince my zone leaders to put me and Lualua together but they weren't game because we are in two different zones... *cry*

I have no idea who my new companion is... But both Sister Lualua and I are training so that should be very interesting! I don't know her name or anything at all actually but I will meet her on Thursday... That means we have to do 12 week again... oh 12 week...

My companion didn't let you down mom... she gave me a very special birthday!! We went to our zone games and in the middle we played "hide and go seek" so everyone "hid" and me and Puaina looked for them... Well they all hid in the Relief Society room where they had bought heaps of pizza, fizzy and chips and set up decorations, and Freddie made a HUGE cake that caught on fire and I couldn't put it out!! It was so much fun!!! I have the best zone eh??

Now I know everyone is concerned about my boils... please don't be!!! I am on an antibiotic!!

It wasn't quite enough because I broke down sobbing because they hurt so bad on Wednesday and my companion was worried about me! She wanted to keep me home!! How ridiculous! pfft! We had a lesson with Taua!! I insisted on going to the lesson (where we set her for baptism on the 20th of August!! SO exciting) which was so cool because the spirit sustained me through that lesson, and then right as soon as we left, I almost couldn't drive home!! BAHAHA!!! My companion called Sister Cummings (mission president's wife) who sent the Zone Leaders to us... they gave me a blessing and then took me to the hospital against my will! Sister Cummings called one of the bishop's in our stake and he was there and waiting for me!! He popped two of them and doubled my antibiotic for a few days (which was so strong it made my skin hot and gave me hives for a while BUT NOW I'M OKAY!!!) and then I fell asleep for the rest of the day! Now I am very much okay except for the one that is deep under my skin.. I might need to go back to Dr Maine for that one... we will see!!

Despite all that ,we were able to have a really wonderful last week and were able to have heaps of lessons for my companions last week!! Which is so good!! Sister Puaina's 21st birthday is next week and for New Zealander's when you turn 21, you gt a KEY! so I got her a key and did Samoan drawings on it!!

Uggg I feel out of breath!! Sorry for the long letter!!

Bottom line:

 ~I'm "healthy"

~We worked way hard this week

~We have a baptism for next month

~transfers are on Thursday

Se that was way easier... maybe I will just do that next week eh?!?!? BAHAHA!!!!

Love you all so much!! Keep looking for miracles!! Choose to be happy~its the only logical thing to do !!!

Alofa tele ia te outou!!!

Manuia lou vaiaso!!

Sista Peo

P.s. I taught gospel principles yesterday... by myself... in Samoan!!! I'm so cool!! ;)

I'm laughing not crying in the birthday cake picture!

Lots of pictures!!

Oh man and we met the Cummings which is so cool! They are awesome!!! We will have interviews in 2 weeks!!!!  We went on exchanges with sister Nakagawa and Sister Urgel!!! It was so foggy that day!! Man heaps happened this week...

I would send a picture of my boils but.... alas they are not in very good places for pictures...

 Birthday Party for Sista Peo with The Zone: Ma, Freddie, Peo, Puaina, Urgel, Mias, Nakagawa, Hazlet   Front:  Tehotu and Vailea

 In the car: Peo, Puaina, Nakagawa and ?

 Key for Sister Puaina's 21st birthday

 This little boy who thinks he's Elsa the Disney princess and likes my braid

 Peo and lola sa'u

 Peo and Freddie

 Peo, Nakagawa and Freddie

Peo and the foggy day

Goodbye to Sisters Nakagawa and Puaina who are headed home.

Manuai lo'u'aso fanau (from July 4th)

Lo'u aiga,

Thank you so much for the birthday wishes!!!

I painted some jumpers for me and my companion that we are going to wear and take pictures at the beach, so yous will get pictures of that next week probably!!! Then we are going to go have a zone basketball game I think!!! Yay!!! My zone leaders and my sister training leader called me and sang happy birthday to me which is impressive because I didn't tell anyone when my birthday was.... someone in my companionship must be leaking information... PUAINA!!!!  All goods... she made me breakfast this morning!!

The baptism was awesome!!! It started island time- 20 minutes late- and had heaps of food afterwards!!! The zone leaders were muttering to each other about how grateful they were for not being in the Samoan program after our members forced us all to get seconds!! LOL!!! 

I finished read the Matthew Cowley book this week!! That was really fun!! In one of his talks he spoke about how he had boils for 7 months of his mission... The very next day I started to get a boil on my side!! Now I have two on my left side and they are HUGE!!! I am really sad I can no longer sleep on that side... but all goods!!! I also have a big lump under my arm (in my armpit but that sounds so gross so I didn't want to say that but there you go) that is also kinda painful!! for a few days I think I probably looked like a duck.. walking around with my arms slightly up so they weren't touching my sides!!! BAHAHAH!!!! My companion told me if they get any worse she is taking me to the doctor... I told her no... We will talk to Sister Cummings tomorrow!!

Which reminds me we are meeting The Cummings tomorrow!!!! So exciting!!! We talked to Sister Cummings on the phone a few days ago and she sure sounded really nice!! I'm excited to meet them!!!

I think that's pretty much it.... 

I love you all so much!!!!!

Thank you for the birthday wishes and presents!! I really appreciate it!!!

Alofa tele atu,

Sista Peo

Pictures to show mom that everything she sent me fit! Thank you so much!!! and the cup a cupa cupa is delicious thanks!!!

 Sister Peo, Silivelia and Sis Puaina

Birthday Girl and her gifts

 Fish for dinner!

ou te le mana'o tusia lenei imaili

lo'u aiga...

I don't want to write this email...

I don't have much to say...

Sister Puaina sprained her jaw (in basketball.... someone hit her.... we were having a zone basketball game..) last p-day and it swelled up really big... so we weren't able to work hardly at all this week. It keeps giving her these killer headaches... I'm worried about her but the doctor doesn't care... BAHAHA!!! 

So I've been cooped up all week. I wanted to die. But I've had lots of really good studies!!

Due to being cooped up I've noticed that we are loosing our war against the mogamoga (cockroaches). They are definitely taking over our flat. Probably because it is warm inside and we seem to have more holes in our flat than actual walls.. LOL!! not really... but kind of!! BAHAHA!!! I think they are basically another plague of Egypt...how many have I had? 1) fleas, 2) Maggots,

3) styes 4) Mogamoga.... just 4? dang... 3 more to go!! (there were 7 plagues of Egypt right??)

Silivelia Is ready for her baptism on the 2nd... Saturday!!!! That has been crazy trying to work out how to do the baptism in a different ward... yikes!! Bishop Taupau (from Manurewa 2nd) has to come and translate for Silivelia in the interview for her baptism on Wednesday!!

It has been raining cats and dogs this week!!! It has been crazy as!!

What else? everyone keeps making me kopai... its delicious...it's my favorite Samoan food (made from koko samoa, coconut cream, flour, water and sugar).

Hopefully next weeks letter will be more interesting!!

Love you all so much!!!

Alofa tele atu!!
Sista Peo

 Sistas Freddie, Puaina, and Peo

 kopai

 Sistas LuaLua, Ete, Puaina, and Peo

 Sista Peo and Puaina

 Sista Peo and Puaina

Peresitene

Lo'u aiga,

This week was awesome!!

We had lunch with President (peresitene) and Sister Rudd!!

They are finishing their missions on the 30th of this month! Hard to believe!! So they came up and had lunch, we got our pictures taken with them and they shared their testimonies with us!! A Maori Stake President down in Hamilton came with them and gave us a presentation about how the Maori's link into the tribes of Israel and it blew my mind!!!

President Rudd gave us some great advice for the rest of our missions and for after we finish our missions. He said that when we go home we should set goals and make plans to be somebody, to make a difference and change lives. We should prepare to become that person by being that person today! He said some other really great things as well but that was one thing that really stood out to me!

Silivelia is wonderful!! We taught her the word of wisdom, law of chastity, and tithes and offerings this week!! She has no concerns and is ready for her baptism!!! YAY!!!! Since her family lives in our area but goes to Manurewa 2nd ward, she will be baptized in Manurewa 2nd ward... our ward is disappointed... that's why fellow-shipping is so important eh? 

Hopefully we will begin Taua's lessons this week!! That will be awesome!! She has AWESOME potential and will be baptized as soon as her husband's divorce goes through :)

Thank you so much for your prayers, love and support!!

I love you all so much!!

This gospel is true. Jesus Christ is our Savior and clears the way before us!! All we have to do is want to follow him!! We always get credit for trying!!

Alofa tele atu,
Sista Peo

Sister Tanuvasa (member) is in red

Silivelia is in grey

I am white

My comapnion is young ;)

Sista Peo <3

THIS WEEK WAS THE BOMB!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lo'u aiga!

Okaoka!!! THIS WEEK!!!

WE HAVE A BAPTISM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Silivelia Asiata!! She is 71 years old!! She is visiting her recently converted family (Sa'u family... Sister Taituuga baptized them in her time in Manurewa 2nd) from Samoa!! She goes to church with them every week and asked us to give her lessons!! We have taught her every day since then!! After the second lesson, Sister Puaina asked her "will you follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized?" and she gave a really long complicated answer... I thought she was expressing a concern or a question or something...  Puaina asked "will you be baptized by someone holding the priesthood by authority of god?" and she gave another long complicated answer... Puaina then asked it again but relating to the celestial kingdom... and we received another long complicated answer..

I was trying to figure out what her concern was... from what she was saying she didn't have one... so why was it so hard to answer the question??

Puaina and I looked at each other and I shrugged my shoulders... Puaina turned back to her and said the Samoan equivalent of "look... d

o you want to be baptized?"

Silivelia immediately answered "yes!" and then we said "great let's set a date!!"

We were laughing so hard afterwards!!!! Sometimes we make things too fluffy and complicated and we just need to cut down to the core and go from there!!

No rest for the weary for us today! We were hoping to take a nap for our p-day  (we are such exciting missionaries huh? ) But instead we have two appointments!! One with Silivelia (we are teaching her word of wisdom... she drinks coffee... this will be the hardest one for her I think..) and a lesson with one of our new investigators!!

More good news ! I got the virus off my memory card for my camera!! YAY!! Bad news... it deleted half my pictures that I had taken after I got the virus... Boo!

But all goods! I can send pictures now!! Yay!!

Here's a picture of Sister Puaina playing with my hair last night...

Love you all so much!!! If you're stuck in a rut always remember that that means Satan is trying to prevent you from receiving the next great gift Heavenly Father has waiting for you!!! And that after you have a spiritual high, Satan always tries his best to discourage you!! Don't let him win!! Everything is in our favor to win... all we need is faith!!

Manuia le vaiaso!!

Alofa tele atu,

Sista Peo