This past week we had exchanges with the sister training leaders, attended the church Valentines Day Dinner/Dance( '60s themed), and watched a regional broadcast for church on Sunday. And yesterday was President's Day, so we're writing today since the library was closed yesterday.

During the week, we invited less-active families to the Valentine's party so they could have more incentive to start coming to church again haha. But also because it ended up being a lot of fun, and everyone dressed up like it was the '60s. On the days that we planned to visit someone and we couldn't catch them home, we ended up having really great conversations with the people around. We did a survey approach where it only takes like a minute and we would ask questions about the family and church, and it brought out discussion about our beliefs. It's so interesting how Heavenly Father has prepared people in our paths when we do the work and are guided by the Spirit. We're going to see a guy named Travis this afternoon we found that way :)

Sunday was Valentine's day and we had church at 8 am to watch the broadcast! I loved the speakers, which included Elder Hamula from the General Authority Seventy, and Elder Renlund, one of the Twelve Apostles. They talked about how the way we live the gospel, like obeying the word of wisdom, or why we believe family is so important, all relates back to the restoration of the gospel. That revelation, receiving direction from Heavenly Father to a modern day prophet, is real and the key to our whole religion. And Sister Oscarson shared that we should always be living as a disciple of Christ, and not be ashamed of the standards set. If someone was observing how we acted for a few hours, would they think we were disciples of Christ? Their talks made me think about how easy it is to "chuck religion at the door," but that happiness is only found when we are always obedient to the standards of God. We should live the gospel proudly! :) I love listening to the general authorities because everything they say to us helps us grow, and learn to be better.

We continued to visit people, and one was a super less active family that were never baptized actually. We had a lesson with Sabrina, the oldest daughter (17) and found out her other sister Jocelyn was super interested in learning more about our church because she learned so much from Young Women's Camp last year. Their dad is just satisfied with life right now I guess, and had a nonchalant attitude about prayer and church almost. But the miracle was he volunteered to say the closing prayer! And when we left he said something like "don't believe you can convert me now" haha. Funny how seeds of faith are planted but people don't even realize it. His daughters are super busy because they're really involved in sports, but we're praying for them to have some time so we can teach them more.

Recently I've been praying in my heart for opportunities to practice my Mandarin now that I'm out of the VC. A lot of people in Kaneohe have Chinese ancestry but don't actually speak any Mandarin. Right after we left Sabrina's house, we said Aloha to an old Chinese couple, and they said "no English, Chinese" so of course I started talking with them! Hahaha they were really sweet and I got to know them and about their family and what they believe about religion. They didn't seem interested in learning about the gospel, also because if they did go to church, they wouldn't understand anything. They reminded me of my grandparents, and I loved them so much haha. They're retired but said we could come by again. Sister Blackner had so much fun listening to us talk haha, and we're thinking of introducing them to family history next time.

Okay lastly! The Aunty that lives downstairs who owns the house has agreed for us to teach her the lessons! Grandma Martinsen is her really close friend (member) and, Aunty Diana is a very devout Catholic that's bedridden pretty much. Since Grandma's birthday is coming up, she said the best gift would be if Aunty Diana would learn of the gospel. And the elders before us have build such a good relationship with her by serving her a ton, and since we're sisters, she'd rather have us teach her. AND! There's already a perfect fellowshipper, a sister who was converted from Catholicism, who Aunty Diana wants to sit in on the lessons. She says she's just doing it for the learning, but we'll see. ;) Time and time again I've learned that when we do our best to stand as witnesses of Christ in word and deed, and do our best to find people to teach, He prepares the way.

I hope you all had a good day on Valentine's Day and day off yesterday. :)

Scripture of the week: Mosiah 4:27

And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength. And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize;therefore, all things must be done in order.

Happy Chinese New Year! :) 

...maybe we'll eat some Chinese food today haha. I can't believe that it's February what!

This week we've been trying to visit members of the ward to meet them, as well as part-member families to introduce ourselves. The funny thing is how everyone is surprised to see us because they're used to seeing elders from the ward. On Wed we were able to go out with the Relief Society President, Sister Meyer, to pretty much do visiting teaching, but seeing less active sisters. She called it "Heart to Home", which is pretty cute haha. I've realized that it's so important to just listen, even if they talk for more than an hour long(it's hard to take control of the conversation sometimes without being abrupt), and these sisters have opened up their lives to us. By the end of that afternoon, I just felt overloaded a bit, but have been strengthened by their experiences. Sister Meyer is so awesome because she knows all of these sisters so well and built a trust and friendship that developed over time I'm sure. Some of them have gone through experiences that I think would be SO difficult to handle, but the knowledge of the gospel and the plan of salvation really helps us have peace. It's so sad to see families that have stopped going to church for many years just for no particular reason besides being "busy." Slowly we get comfortable and the Spirit just doesn't dwell with us anymore. And we forget the importance of taking the sacrament and going to church :(

Yesterday was our first Sunday in the ward since last week was Stake Conference (several wards gather). In Gospel Principles we learned about the Creation and how this beautiful world we live in was created by our Savior, Jesus Christ, and it's the physical manifestation of His love for each and every one of us. How it takes a more special meaning because He was both the Creator and the Savior of the world. He could have just given us the bare minimum to survive and live here, but He gave us so much more to appreciate and marvel at. That never really dawned on me until now, but I have a new sense of understanding. Brother Hirokawa also mentioned (not really a part of the lesson) how the symbolism of the person baptizing represents the members of the church lifting and supporting the person being baptized. That's how important fellowshipping is when we invite investigators to church. Bishop Chun is really awesome because he's always thinking of how we can fellowship less-active families or investigators with active families that they would relate to. At the end of the day, church should feel like a family and place to be uplifted and remember the Savior's Atonement.

Anyway, we were able to hike up to a beautiful waterfall this morning with some other missionaries and I was reminded of our lesson at church yesterday :) I'm really excited to teach with Sister Blackner because this ward is like a goldmine, with people to visit and less-active members to re-activate. And teach new investigators of course. Salvation isn't cheap and we have to continually strive to progress and show our obedience and love to Heavenly Father. The gospel is the greatest gift that we can share with others and I'm so privileged to be here to share it. It's funny how some people don't believe us when we share our beliefs just based on what they've heard...but their loss.

Scripture of the week: D&C 4:7

"Ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you."

*My next preparation day will be on Monday!!! (and will be for a while)

Every transfer(6 weeks with your companion) goes by so quickly. I remember when I first found out I was going to be in a trio haha. This week was full of tender mercies from Heavenly Father that it's hard to choose what to write about haha. We had a worldwide broadcast training from the General Authorities last Wed morning and it was all about "Teaching Repentance and Baptizing Converts" and the important role of the Spirit when we teach. It reminded me of how as missionaries we say the Spirit is the teacher, not us. But we are actually being vessels for the Spirit to teach through us; which means we should always prepare for the lesson, and be worthy and receptive to the promptings of the Spirit. And not be afraid to be bold! To be honest, it's not that easy sometimes, especially when you just have to say what's wrong is wrong in the sight of God. But we just have to remember that counsel and try our best.

We got a new investigator last week! Her name is Brady and I remember one of my first weeks here in Laie, Sister Buday and I visited her and she was so not interested in the gospel. I saw her at church two weeks ago because her Grandma-in-law was giving a talk. But as we were walking to the VC one day, she was coming out with her cousin (who is a member) and said she really wants to know more now. They just watched "Meet the Mormons" and loved it. We were able to teach her the restoration and committed her for baptism and she had such a strong desire because she wants a better environment and future for her little boy Kash. Her husband is a super less active member, but he's coming to church now too! This is probably Heavenly Father's way to remind me that just because someone rejects the gospel once doesn't mean they won't be receptive later. I know this gospel blesses individuals and families both, and people want that, whether they know it or not. :)

On Sunday we brought Win (our investigator from the Marshal Islands) to attend a Return Missionaries Fireside. After they shared their mission experiences and testimonies, we had some training from Bishop Rogers. He's trapped for a living since he was young (don't think he does that now though) and caught many different animals to sell their fur/skin. He shared with us how to trap coyotes and it's by using a small mouse hole under the dirt rather than a huge trap which they can detect right away. When the coyote thinks they're comfortable, that's when they get trapped. Sorry I suck at explaining the details... but he compared it to how Satan gives us excuses to make us feel comfortable with the small "sins" or mistakes we make, but that's how we slowly get trapped. I love learning through analogy because it gives me a picture. We have to constantly think of what is right and avoid making excuses for doing seemingly small things. E.g. skipping church if you're feeling so tired. As missionaries, we're set apart from the world, and surround ourselves in an environment where it's easy to make good decisions. I want to keep these good habits and characteristics I develop here on my mission for the rest of my life.

OTHER EXCITING NEWS! We had transfer news on Saturday night, and I'm going full-field/full-proselyting!!! I wanted to go later on in my mission because I heard transitioning back to being a VC sister is difficult...but oh well :) So starting tomorrow pretty much, I'll be moving to Kaneohe (south of Oahu) and serving with my new companion Sister Blackner in the Kaneohe 4th Ward. This means I won't be at the VC, but we'll be outside sharing the gospel with strangers, teaching less-active members, etc. I'm excited but I'll miss everyone here for sure. Usually sisters stay out for two transfers, so I'll be there for 3 months (maybe longer too). Sister Castaneda went full-field her third transfer here too. Wish me luck! Every transfer is an adventure with a new companion :) I love serving in the Hawaii Honolulu Mission.

Scripture of the week: Proberbs 3:5-6

"Trust in the Lord with all thing heart; and learn not unto thine own understanding. In all ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

Authentic Mexican dinner with the Lapense family!

 Selfie with Win!

 It's hard smiling when you have to say goodbye :( Aloha oe to Sister Latu

 We planned to go on tram ... but Sister Ng had to steal Sister Yeung >:(

Aloooooooooooha!

Last week we had Zone Conference, where President Warner and Sister Warner (mission president and his wife) gave us some training. One thing she shared was an article about some of the most successful business people in the world today and 5/50 (10%) of them are LDS! And when they interviewed one of them, he said that serving a mission is equivalent to a 5 year internship in the best consulting firm in the world! Which I've never thought of, but sounds about right. There are so many experiences in our mission that help us gain such important life skills that I can't even write it all down haha. We know how to live on our own, with another person 24/7, use our time effectively, set goals and plans to meet those goals, etc. It's all about of our routine now, but if I had to describe the mission experience, you just can't explain all the work and dedication that it takes! But I love it :)

Another thing that President Warner counseled us on was using family history as way to open conversation in others since family is so important to everyone. On Saturday, Sister Castaneda and I had an miracle experience. A man named Fred came in with his old father named Henry and we gave them a tour of the visitors center. Fred is a member from Nebraska and was planning to take his dad back to live with him. We showed them the Book of Mormon table and talked about how much it has blessed our lives, about the importance of temples, about the living prophet and his apostles, and the restoration of the gospel. The whole time, I felt the Spirit so strong as we shared our conversion and testimonies. His dad isn't a member of the church, and Fred later told us that they were separated for about 50 years! He found his dad again through doing family history and they reconnected. His dad has dementia so they were looking for a legal guardian to take care of him and Fred found him just in time. The Lord's timing is so perfect!

We talked to them for over an hour and Sister Castaneda was prompted by the Spirit to ask him to learn more and follow in his son's example. He accepted so happily and he said he was looking for "something of value or to hold on to" at his age. I was amazed because he had this light in his eyes that I've never really seen in visitors here (yet), and we knew Heavenly Father prepared him his whole life so he could be ready. And that Fred was guided to do family history! Henry was in the Air Force for almost 30 years before he retired and he said he was always impressed by Mormons and their discipline. I know that they will probably never know the impact they had on him, but we can always live by example, and that will plant a seed! We are so excited to call him up and he's already decided by the end of our tour that he wants to get baptized. I definitely have a testimony that the field is white and ready to harvest and Heavenly Father truly prepares His children to receive His restored gospel. We are so so happy that they found each other and I know that President Warner is inspired by God to help us be better missionaries. Who would've guessed how powerful family history would be? I sure didn't. But I definitely want to try using it more often.

Miracles happen every day if we just pay attention and count our blessings. But this one is one I'll remember forever probably (I'm so behind on my journal writing...). This week our new director and his wife came! Elder and Sister Swinton are the sweetest couple, and I know that their leadership will help us improve as VC sisters. Sister Swinton actually wrote President Monson's biography! Elder Swinton was the mission president in the London England mission (not sure when) too. Super cool. I'm excited to get to know them and learn from their examples. We already love them so much and feel their love for us as well.

 Scripture of the week: John 8:12

"Then Jesus speak again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."

Last Wednesday I was able to go serve with some other sisters at the Pearl Harbor site. I remember learning about it in history class, but it's definitely cooler when you get to see the ships in person. We helped clean different parts of the U.S.S. Missouri ship and Sister Miao and I and our zone leaders helped set up some wires for Wi-fi. The missionaries get to go help clean once a transfer (6 weeks) and it's such a neat opportunity to serve at such a monumental site. We got a mini tour from a guy named Kevin who worked there for many years, and history means a lot more when you get to touch and feel the ship haha.

Last week was also a really weird week because there were three funerals that were conducted in the community. I've never attended a funeral before so it was kind of depressing to know three people passed away in the community recently...but we are all so grateful because the plan of happiness gives us hope and peace. One of the men who passed on was such an example of quiet, selfless service, and even though I never talked to him before, he's already motivated me to become more Christ-like.

On a happier note, on Sunday we were able to go to the YSA Devotional given by Elder Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles at BYU Hawaii! We didn't go early enough so we had to sit on the side and in the dark haha, but I tried my best to write notes still. I love hearing from the general authorities because everything the counsel us is what we need to hear. He talked about how experts have very differing opinions on us "millennials" compared to what Heavenly Father thinks of us.

1) Learn who you truly are - we are elect children of God

2) Expect and prepare for the impossible - because life isn't always how we expect it to be, but we can overcome all trials through Jesus Christ

3) Learn how to access the power of prayer - prayers are so powerful, especially when you are sincere

4) Follow the counsel of the prophet!

I'm so grateful for the leadership of a living prophet today and for all the general authorities in the church, because I know that God is the head of the church and He is the one that inspires them to guide and teach us :)

One of my companions, Sister Castaneda, has been feeling really sick lately and the doctor said she has tonsillitis. Some of the other VC sisters had that as well, so I'm trying to stay clear of it... By the end of this week, our VC Director Elder Priday will be leaving and our new Director will be here! It's so sad to see them leave because they really do act as our parents on the mission and take care of us whenever we have problems, feel sick, etc. But I know that everything is assigned in God's timing and the new Director will be just as qualified to do the work and help us :)

I love my two companions! Usually we all work together, or if we do have a tram shift, Sister Castaneda is always there. Yesterday it was just Sister Yeung and I (both of us have been out 4 months now), and we prayed for the Spirit to give us guidance. Everything worked out but it definitely wasn't by our own ability haha.

Scripture of the week: Mosiah 14:4-5

"Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."

Happy 2016!

I know I've said this before, but it never feels like December or January here because the weather doesn't change much in Hawaii. But either way, happy belated new year's! On New Year's Eve, we got together with all the missionaries in the zone (sisters and a few elders, senior couples) to watch a movie called Cokesville Miracle(approved by the mission president, don't worry). It's based on a true experience that happened in the 1960s in Wyoming. The first half of the movie was really weird because the main guy is psycho and he's planning to bomb an elementary school so he can rule over all the townspeople (he thought he could be reborn from the explosion). But the second half had all of us in tears because of how the survivors explained their escape from the explosion. I won't say much because you should watch it if you can, but the experience left such a profound influence on everyone involved, and reminded me of the power of prayer. Of course there was a disclaimer at the end of the movie that said not all tragedies end up this way. We were all in tears by the end because no matter what happens in life, Heavenly Father is watching out for us and we can reach out to him. There were just too many coincidences that happened to be "just coincidences". You have to watch it to understand what I mean haha. I highly recommend it!

It was such a great way to end 2015 because I've been reminded of how powerful prayer is, especially when people are united in prayer. I'm so grateful to know that we can pray to our Heavenly Father and receive answers from Him. I'm grateful that I know this for myself and that we can teach others how to pray. Because I know that Heavenly Father gives us strength and peace, in any circumstance.The worst part about watching this was hearing the fireworks outside the VC while we watched the psycho in the movie prepare the bombing...

Our general message that we shared with members this week was about new year's resolutions. We were able to visit the Nihipali family and they have two daughters with really severe disabilities. As we shared how preparing goals for the new year for all aspects in our life, like spiritually or in the family, we can feel more happiness and united as a family. The Spirit was so strong when Sister Nihipali shared her testimony and how her daughters, despite how difficult it is on the family to take care of all their needs, remind her of God's love. I'm deeply touched by her experiences and testimony, and also her daughter Moani's example to us. She also gave her testimony on fast Sunday, about how our message was exactly what she needed. Since we visit a lot of members and sometimes less-active members if they're even home, I don't feel like I'm doing much in the community. But her testimony really helped me understand that when we're guided by the Spirit to know what others need to hear, we are doing our part as missionaries. I love this community so much because the people here are so humble and giving.

On the other hand, did I mention how fun it is to pick up calls online? I had the chance to talk to a guy who called in about the Book of Mormon. He was arguing about a scripture and how racist it was, and we did our best to explain our opinion, and encouraged him to read to the end. I was so stressed out, but I'm glad we could talk to him because it strengthened my testimony about the Book of Mormon. God will choose the elect, who are prepared to accept the restored gospel, but if your heart isn't open, you'll never accept the Book of Mormon as truth.

I'm so grateful to have all the resources we have to testify of this restored gospel and to have my testimony strengthened every day!

Scripture of the week: Alma 31:38

"And the Lord provided for them that they should hunger not, neither should they thirst; yea, and he also gave them strength, that they should suffer no manner of afflictions, save it were swallowed up in the joy of Christ, Now this was according to the prayer of Alma; and this because he prayed in faith."