Sunday, July 31, 2016

July 24th...also a little late!









Three waterfalls.

Part of the village in Uafato where we have to cross this river.
We can't cross the road because the water is way too high.

Got that Samoan hair cut baby!

This week we spent a lot of time in Uafato getting our one investigator ready for baptism this Saturday. That's about it. We tried to do some door knocking in a village but no one really seems willing to talk to us and I think a big problem is the matai's in the village. People are afraid of them. We've met a lot of younger people who seem interested in what we have to share and want to do lessons but their parents won't let them, so it's tough. We might try to start a little camp or something to try and get some investigators. They play volleyball and stuff quite often at the chapel and a lot of nonmembers come so maybe that could give us some opportunities.

This week is just going to be getting our investigator ready for his baptism.

We went to the doctor today and my companion's leg is really infected and he said we just have to take it easy this week. Hoepfully it gets better!



I've decided to start reading the Old Testament. It's long....but I came across this scripture I liked in Judges chapter 10.

 13  Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods: wherefore I will deliver you no more.

 14 Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation.

 

July 17th post... a little late!











 Takin' a niu brake. The best



Uafato


This week was good. Sorry my emails are so short there just isn't as much to talk about here. Monday we went and helped a youth in the ward with his plantation. It was fun.

Tuesday we went on a split with the kid we helped Monday. We tried to do some visits but people never really seem too happy to see us come up to their houses. We had one decent visit and we tried to visit them later in the week but no one was home. Next week......

Thursday and Friday we went to Uafato and did lessons with Faleiva and invited him to be baptized the 30th of this month and he said yes. So we just gotta help him come out of his shell a bit. It's definitely better though because the first time we tried to teach him he ran away. He's a good kid and comes to church every Sunday.

Saturday we went on another split with the same kid. We visited some houses that are right around this catholic chapel. There was an old lady (probably 70) and her daughter. The old lady was Mormon but married a man of another faith and he died so she said she'll honor him by going to his church but she knows our church is true. She said we could teach her daughter and her family. The daughter's husband doesn't go to a church so I really hope that could turn into something.



Everyday the kids are asking to use the balls we bought. It's ok, but sometimes it gets a little tiring. 




Friday, July 15, 2016

July 11 - a rainbow and my favorite meal




A Samoan rainbow



This is the meal I live for...Lu'au (taro leaves and coconut cream), umu taro and umu pig.  It's extra delicious with handy dandy BBQ sauce that you sent me in the package!


This week was pretty unproductive. We tried to find some people to teach but nothing came of it. On Sunday we decided to go to Uafato for church and it was a good decision. The kid we've been trying to visit was at church and the bishop brought him over to us and said we can do lessons with him so I'm really excited about that. Other than that not much happened this week. We just went to Apia to fill up the car and we bought a basketball and a rugby ball so we'll be getting some excercise in  with the kids every morning.




Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Happy 4th of JULY!







                                         Mutaaga and Daniel...I didn't get a pre-baptism pic


                                     
                                Our district.  My old companion is the 2nd one on the left.




                                          This is me and Elder Tiatia, my new companion



This week was good!  My companion got transferred and now I'm companions with the elder I was supposed to be companions with at the beginning of the transfer. His name is Elder Tiatia and he's from West Valley Utah. He started in January but went home for a bit because he got really sick but now he's back. It's been really fun and way less stressful, especially being able to speak English.


The baptisms went well. It was funny/embarrassing what happened. So the font we did it in, the floor was super slippery. I baptized the mom first but SHE DIDN'T BEND HER KNEES so it was kinda all over the place.  So I was thinking you're getting all the way under the water because I aint doing this again. When she came up and I looked at the witnesses they were like I guess. It definitely didn't look pretty but I got it done! Then Daniel was really easy. He reminds me of a Samoan Magnus. He's super cool. The family is awesome. I really want to keep in touch with them so when the year mark hits of their baptism, hopefully they can get sealed in the temple here and I can go.



Other than that, not much is happening. We don't have a single investigator right now but we have faith that we can find at least someone to teach and baptize. It's funny that we went and visited the bishop in Uafato and talked with him for a bit. We asked him if there is anyone to teach and he straight up told us no so....

Oh and our water tank is empty so we've been filling up jugs of water at the zone leaders' houses and filling up buckets from the pipe at the chapel to shower.  Lovin the struggle!!