June 26 - Doing the dab...

Apparently this is the new dance move called the dab so we did a dab zone picture. This is the old zone though when I was in Faleasiu.

There are countless waterfalls in our area. Below it is the school and that's what most of the schools look like. I'm sending more pictures because we're emailing in the office and I can take advantage of the free internet.

I have the biggest crush on this little girl. She's very cute!

So this week was good. We had good lessons with Mutaaga and Daniel (our baptisms this Saturday). District meeting went well this week. The lesson turned out a lot better than I thought it would be. I talked about Luke chapter 15 which teaches about the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the prodigal son. I focused on the part that happens after they find the thing that was lost...that they rejoice and party and even kill the fatted calf. I connected that to D&C 18: 15,16 and D&C 15:6 about how missionary work is the best work to do on this earth.

On Sunday we went to church in Uafato where the chapel has no walls. I got distracted watching the ocean because it backs up right to the ocean so that was cool. The church is so strong in Fagaloa. There probably aren't over 150 people in that village and over 100 attended church. Two youth also received their mission calls to Hamilton, New Zealand and Melbourne, Australia.  I just think it's so awesome how strong the church is in a place like this.

We have two baptisms this week and the branch doesn't have a baptismal font so I was thinking (hoping!!!) we might do it in the ocean.  That would be my dream but I think we'll end up doing it at the other chapel where the ward is so I was kinda bummed to hear that.

I've had to do my laundry out of buckets since being in Fagaloa but it's not that bad. My clothes aren't as clean but it'll get me through.

I have no time cause were busy in the office again so have a great week!

This is the car we drive...of all times and places to become a soccer mom I never thought it would happen on my mission in Samoa...ha! ha!

8 day sinus headache...& going to Uafato

My Samoan driver's license....

This week not much happened because I was sick but it was still good.  I had a bad sinus headache for about 8 days and it's finally better...

The new thing we have to do if we're sick is call straight to the mission president. Tuesday had been about day 4 with the headache and it wasn't getting any better. So I called predsident and told him what was going on and he said he was going to come out to us. We're about an hour and a half away from the office. It was funny because then he called and asked if I wanted anything, like McDonalds or anything like that and I said no thanks because I wasn't hungry. Then my companion asked who it was and I told him and then he grabbed the phone and called president and said he wanted some Burger Bills (a fast food place here in Samoa that is NOT good.) The mission president, President Hannemann and his wife got to our house around 9 and gave me some medicine. They had to stay and wait to see if I had any bad reactions to the medicine. Sister Hannemann insisted on having my feet rubbed. She said it helps with headaches. So she made one of the AP's (Assistant to the President) rub my feet.  President was on the phone outside and then came in and then he rubbed my feet too. Not what I was expecting to happen but it did... The APs also gave me a blessing. I may not have gotten better from the blessing but I definitely felt peace and comfort and knew things would soon get better. I'm so grateful for the priesthood.

Wednesday and Thursday we didn't do anything because my head still hurt really badly.

Friday my head wasn't feeling any better but we had zone conference so we went and it was good. We talked about different things from "Preach my Gospel" that I think will really help us.

Saturday the headache was finally gone!! We went to Uafato. When you think about the ends of the earth, Uafato is that. It is a tiny village so far from everything but there are people there and almost all of them are members of the church! We went with a kid who is waiting to receive his mission call. He is super cool. It took us about three hours to visit all the families in the village. We have one investigator there and we met him and set a time to meet with him this week. 

Sunday we went to the branch for church and taught a lesson to our investigators who attended church that day. They got married on Friday last week. A big challenge here in Samoa is when we have a couple that wants to get baptized but they aren't married.   Now that they are married, it makes things so much easier. They will be getting baptized on the 2nd of July which is so great.  Time goes so quickly and I can't believe it's almost July!

Everything is great here on the lava rock!   Miss you all!!

alofa atu

-elder tana

Elder Tuimauga, Elder Anderson who just went home (his sister is the one married to Coach Littlewood's son), and Sister Hannemann. Good times trying to get better and getting  my feet rubbed.

This is where they have church in Uafato. I think it's sweet!

June 12th - first week of transfer in Fagaloa....

 The village we haven't been to yet because it's so far away...

It's so beautiful here....

I have no time again to email.....

This week was pretty hectic again.

Tuesday I got my companion but he is just a temporary companion because my real companion isn't here yet. He's a native and its been really tough but its been good at the same time. NO English is spoken but man does he snore....

Wednesday we went and got familiar with one of the wards we cover.  Everyone is members except for two families and they're the pastors for the other churches. We still haven't had time to visit one of the wards we cover. It's soo far away...

Thursday I woke up with a horrible headache. I think it's because I haven't been able to get any sleep because my companion snores soo loud.

Friday we had zone coference. One thing was pretty funny. President came up with a new thing that if the church is paying for your mission and you're disobedient, he'll cut your monthly pay. Then all the natives started asking how much he would take off... Just be obedient and you won't have to worry about it!!!  That made me laugh.

Saturday and Sunday we had stake conference. An area seventy came out both days to speak and he was really good. He talked about a lot of things that will help Samoa and the Samoan people.  It was really great.

I have to go!! Everything is great! I love and miss you all!

Fagaloa!

The photo is the one village we haven't been to yet. It's pretty small and far. I've heard the chapel is just a faleo'o (the one with poles and no walls) so that's pretty cool!

June 5th - transfer to Fagaloa...northeast side of the island

                                                             Fagaloa....beautiful!

hey i have no time to really email because i'm emailing in the office on the AP's computer. i just got my license and learned how to drive stick in 10 minutes. we get this huge van so it should be fun.

i got the package but just about everyhting was moldy. can you send me a backpack, more little towels cause those were un-savable and put more money on the card? I took out 300 tala to pay for the license but i got reinbursed.

This week was crazy!

Tuesday- said goodbye to everyone which was really hard. I'm going to miss Faleasi'u so much. they did a dance thing for the Samoa indepedence day on tuesday night so that made it easy to say goodbye to a lot of people

Wednesday- I went on a split with the zone leaders cause Elder Fifita had to go to the office to train a new missionary. It was fun being with them for the day.

Thursday- we had to get up super early to go do some marching thing in Apia. it was ok. there weren't a whole lot of people there. it,s always fun though being around other missionaries. My companion isn't here yet so I've been with Elder McMichael from my intake. Thursday night we slept with Elder Anderson from my intake as well and his new trainee. It was really fun.
Friday- the AP's picked us up in the morning and took us to our area. It is flippin amazing and I love it.

Saturday- we live at the branch chapel. It's so small and cool. we went out with a kid who is preparing and he showed us around

Sunday_ we went to church and there were about 40 people. two investigators were there, we taught them lesson one and invitied to them to be baptized on the 18th and they said yes so lets hope everything works out!!

That's all i have time for. I can't guarantee i'll have email every week because i'm in the boonies. I love you!!!