Aloha!

Elder Dallin H. Oaks, an apostle, came to visit BYU Hawaii to speak for commencement on Saturday! And Elder Swinton asked if he would visit us sisters at the VC for a little. So we were privileged to meet him in person and listen to his words. Sister Andrus is helping us prepare a few songs for the upcoming missionary musical fireside, and I've been playing accompaniment on the piano, so we sang for him as he walked in. 🤗 The Spirit just filled the room whenever we meet an apostle of the Lord! He shared a few experiences with us, and I learned from him that the Spirit is what makes our words perfect for the people we talk to. When we are led by the Spirit, it's not the words we say, but how the Spirit helps others to interpret those words to exactly what they need. God knows everyone perfectly, especially their needs, and desires. I know that Elder Oaks is a chosen apostle of the Lord, and he's expressed such great love for missionaries all over the world, as head of the missionary executive committee.

Elder Oaks also came with Elder Kim B. Clark, the commissioner of the Church Educational System, and previous Dean of the Harvard Business School. He happened to preside over our YSA Sacrament meeting yesterday morning too! And shared two experiences that his oldest daughter had. He talked about how God has been preparing people their whole lives to be answers to another person's prayer. It is no coincidence how people are placed in our lives, or how miracles are brought to pass. When we keep the commandments and place our trust in the Lord, He will always provide a way! Heavenly Father is in the details of our lives. 

VC:

1) Went on my last exchange ever with Sister De Leon last Tuesday! But this time I'm not the STL! Haha. It was a fun day and we met a really sweet Vietnamese couple from Australia who had many questions about the temple and our beliefs. They filled out a guest card and were really open to meeting missionaries!

2) On Saturday morning, we had five Chinese buses arrive at approximately the same time, so the VC was full of Chinese guests, probably about 70 people in total! It's a little rough when there's only 3 sisters who can speak to them, but at least they felt the peaceful spirit here. I talked to a few women who were really respectful of the Christus statue. We played the short narration and I shared my testimony of how Jesus Christ's Atonement is for every one of us! They took a Book of Mormon and took pictures with me :)

3) There's a girl named Naomi from Scotland who requested for missionaries on Feb 11, but due to the time difference between Hawaii and the UK, I never got ahold of her! But this week we did! We had a great conversation. When she was in high school, she went on an exchange program and lived with a host family(members of the church) in Utah, where she attended church and seminary and loved it! She's now a teacher for special needs children in Scotland, and her mom was recently diagnosed with terminal cancer, and she wanted to feel peace and talk about God's plan again with someone. So we sent her the missionaries and they're teaching her now! Seeds of faith are planted and they sprout when life circumstances change. We testified to her that everything will be OK, because God has a plan so she can be with her family forever. And that she can experience peace through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I love that the gospel reaches people all over the world!

4) We gave a tour at the Visitors Center to some elders and their investigator they brought in. Andrea and James are both in the military and have a cute 6-month old girl named Teagan. Sister Domingo and I played the narration for them, watched God's Plan video walk-through, and "The Horseman" video segment. It was just such a joy to see how James (preparing for baptism) has gained a testimony of the power of the Atonement, since it's helped him to overcome Word of Wisdom problems, and how they want to strengthen their family and prepare for temple sealing. Andrea was inactive for a few years, but now, they both have a vision to raise their family in the gospel!!! 

5) I shook Elder Oak's hands. TWICE. Once at the Visitors Center, and yesterday morning before he attended the sacrament meeting right beside our's ! 😎 He said, "Good morning sisters!"

6) Sister Domingo is such a fast learner! She has 3/4 of the tram tour script memorized! And we're working on continuing conversations on tours and being bold!

I know my mom's probably counting down days, but for reference, I have 4 weeks left on my mission. So unreal!

Scripture of the week: 1 Nephi 17:13

"And I will also be your light in the wilderness; and I will prepare the way before you, if it so be that ye shall keep my commandments; wherefore, inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall be led towards the promised land; and ye shall know that it is by me that ye are led."

Just a cute picture of our name tags haha.

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The Moss's fed us lamb chops for dinner! We felt like we were at a restaurant! 👌

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​Our supply closet with the materials in different languages organized! Book of Mormon, pamphlets, etc.

​Sitting at the back of the tram after we've invited people to take the tram tour, pass out reminders for two hours! Called "tram scouts." Sister Domingo on the front right with Sister Allen (exchanges).