Last week was packed with events! Sister Yun from Korea came, and Sister Belmonte arrived just two days ago (waited for her visa)! We had Missionary Leadership Council on Monday, Interviews with President Bekker yesterday, and Zone Meeting this morning. My new companion is Sister Lor, and we have so much fun together! She is such a loving person and always serving me and others. :) 

At MLC on Monday, the APs announced that the missionary schedule worldwide will have some changes. Instead of the rigid study schedule in the morning, we can have companion study at a later time, so that we can be out proselyting by 10 am. And daily planning in the morning instead of at 9 pm, so more time to sleep! Or write in our journals. This is super exciting because the First Presidency is preparing us to be "an agent unto ourselves," so after our missions, we can be flexible but still make time for the Lord. 

VC (so many wonderful experiences!):

1) My last day with Sister Allen, we met two men from Thailand, who came on the tram tour from the PCC. We were able to introduce the Book of Mormon to them, showed it in their own language (Thai), and gave them each a copy to take home. Their English was enough to get by, and we invited them to learn more from missionaries in Thailand and they eagerly filled out the Thai guest card! So cool! 

2) I talked to a mother and daughter named Marguerite and Alisha, from the tram tours, and Marguerite was so touched by the beautiful Christus, that she started crying! She was raised Baptist but is going through some hard times in life, so her daughter treated her a trip to Hawaii. She said hearing the Christus narration (90 seconds audio of Christ's teachings from the scriptures) was just what she needed. She actually listened to it twice! I don't meet people like her often, who are really appreciative of Jesus Christ, especially the role He is in their lives. I loved testifying of Jesus Christ as our Savior, and how it wasn't coincidence she was able to come and feel the Spirit here! Both her and her daughter were interested in learning more about the restored gospel. It was just 10-15 minutes of my day, but experiences like these make missionary work so so rewarding. To see her prayer being answered by Heavenly Father, through us. I don't know anything about her life's details, but Heavenly Father knows everyone perfectly, and our needs, and because of that, we were able to draw closer to Christ together. 

3) We also met a really sweet family visiting from Finland! The dad was really drawn towards the family history corner (probably the least popular area in the Visitors Center), and looked up some family names. Before we hopped back on the tram, he wanted to ask me why our church is interested in genealogy, so I taught him about eternal families and temple work. He was so attentive and felt really impressed! Not enough to leave info to keep in touch with us, but still learned a lot. :)

4) Maday, our online investigator from Florida, got baptized a week ago! She was raised in Cuba without much religious freedom, and was really prepared when the local missionaries started teaching her. I have such a testimony that Heavenly Father is preparing His children to receive the gospel everywhere!

5) I took my first Chinese chat on mormon.org. It was transferred to the Chinese queue... and Google Translate helped me for the first part. One cool feature is you can speak Chinese and it will type it out in characters for you (SO useful! and quick! And usually I can read it to make sure it's accurate). I eventually just told Jeff to call me so I can talk on the phone instead. He's from Las Vegas and recently divorced, but still lives with his ex-wife, been investigating the church for the last 6 months or so, and wanted some clarification about the commandments. Heavenly Father is always helping me to know how to teach in Chinese, because I have much to improve on, but I am so happy I was able to help teach him and promise Him blessings from following the commandments. He really desired to have a firm foundation for his testimony before he gets baptized.

6) I took a referral confirmation online for a woman named Dillie, from Japan. She is an English teacher in Kyoto, and wanted to learn more about the Book of Mormon from the missionaries. The miracle here was her reasoning, "I appreciated the principled stand that many Utah

Mormons took in the last US election. I'm very politically oriented and I was concerned by how many religious people in America were able to vote for a president whose actions and beliefs were so contrary to their faiths. From what I've heard, it seems like a belief system that encourages education, critical thinking, and charity which are all things I value highly." So many members and their voting decision/process left an impact on Dillie! How cool is that? I'm so excited for the missionaries in Japan to teach her, because I know it is so rare for people to have an interest over there.

First week of the new year started off so strong! 263 New Investigators from the Visitors Center just last week. When President Bekker trained on "teach repentance, baptize converts," I was reminded that in order for us to teach with power, we need to have been personally converted to the restored gospel. In order to teach the Atonement, we need to have applied it in our lives consistently. In order to find joy in our missionary efforts, we have to serve others and serve God with all of our energy. I testify that these things are true, and as I've served the other sisters, seen their struggles and trials, I've come to know that any problem we face can be solved through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, by turning outwards instead of focusing on ourselves, and by seeking Heavenly Father's guidance. All the miracles and successes we witness are gifts from our Heavenly Father. 

Friends and family, please pray for my good friends Daniel and Dante from back home. They were recently in a serious car accident and are slowly recovering/going through major surgeries. I'm so grateful for the knowledge of this gospel, and I know God has a plan for them.

Scripture of the week: Alma 27:17-18

"17 Now the joy of Ammon was so great even that he was full; yea, he was swallowed up in the joy of his God, even to the exhausting of his strength; and he fell again to the earth.

 18 Now was not this exceeding joy? Behold, this is joy which none receiveth save it be the truly penitent and humble seeker of happiness."

After MLC at the tabernacle :) Sister Training Leaders of the VC

​After dinner with Isaac and Jessica, one of the married couples in our married student ward! 

​For interviews with President Bekker, we evaluate everyone's planners. 7 am makes me laugh. Exercise is rough as a missionary...

​​Elder Andrus and the Finnish family! The son on the left has a friend serving as a missionary in Greece, so cool. This is the entrance to the Polynesian Cultural Center.

So this transfer has ended, and a new year has begun! 2016 was a big year for this Visitors Center, and for many of us serving here. But those changes have made it possible to share the gospel with many more people! 

I don't even remember this time last year very well, but I will be staying in the same area with my new companion, Sister Lor! We will still be sister training leaders together. I've been serving on campus and with the married students for over 8 months now! And I think I'll likely stay here until I'm done with my mission... haha (end of March). And tomorrow, we're receiving one new sister originally from Korea! Sister Yun.

I've been thinking about this past year and how serving a mission has changed me. I've gained such a stronger testimony of Jesus Christ and His Atonement, how Heavenly Father really does love us so perfectly, and is so merciful, and how our discipleship really does begin with our faith in Jesus Christ. The restored gospel is simple and beautiful, and changes our whole lives, but God won't force our agency to accept and live by its principles. Agency is a wonderful gift He's given us so we can learn and grow and experience opposition. We can be happy when we are living the gospel. We can learn wisdom from prophets of old and present. The gospel will always provide an answer to our problems, if not direct us to an answer. I know that this is true. I know that I've changed and t

This week has been pretty hectic because we discuss closely with Elder Swinton to make companionship recommendations for President Bekker, our mission president. Making the master schedule for the transfer, making sure there's language speakers on shifts, and preparing transfer news! We've spent a lot of time doing administrative/preparation this week, so I don't feel like I met a ton of people at the center...but there were still a few miracles! I realized they're pretty much all of Chinese tours haha.

VC:

1) Yesterday, on Sunday, the pace was pretty slow, and a lot of member families, but so many Chinese tour buses came! Sister Sicotte(still learning Chinese) and I were the only Chinese speakers on shift, so we we tried our best to help the guests. It was kind of rough because Sister Allen and I were fasting yesterday (meaning I didn't eat or drink water), so I was so thirsty from talking so much hahaha. But! I met a really awesome young woman about our age, who was intently flipping through the Book of Mormon. I said she could take it home with her, and taught the whole restoration to her! She was a Christian herself and understood how we need someone with proper authority, the prophet to help us understand God's will. I gave her the guest card and she was a little worried because she didn't live in China right now, but lived in Indianna! (who would've thought?). And was willing to learn more from local missionaries 😄 

2) Also yesterday, a Chinese young man came in, and actually lives in Honolulu. I introduced more about the temple and some of our basic beliefs, but he was pretty Athiest, and had some questions I couldn't answer (because I couldn't really understand what he meant, the struggle of hearing new Chinese vocabulary). He was doubtful that God can answer us or speak to man, and asked if I experienced God answering my prayers, and I confidently testified that He did! I think he found that amusing, but I felt completely happy about the truths I knew, and said he would never know God's reality if he didn't even try to know. This isn't really a miracle or anything, but talking to him reminded me of how the gospel is the best gift I could've ever received in my life, and I know without a doubt that God and Jesus Christ are real, and they love us so perfectly. 

3) So this whole transfer, Sister Allen and I have been pretty consistent at doing language study. And I can testify how much it's helped me to communicate better in Chinese haha. I explained to an old man how the gospel has blessed me in my life, and why it is so relevant to everyone today. And I don't remember all the things I've said to him, but I know it was through the Spirit I was able to share what he needed to know, and my testimony. He kindly said, "those are wise words." Yay! Reading the Book of Mormon in Chinese is so fun! (very very slowly)

4) I took a tour with Sister Au, from Hong Kong, and the family we talked to was friendly, but we could tell the parents didn't have an interest besides getting information about the temple. We were able to teach about the restoration and the Book of Mormon, and as a result of that, the son, who was 19 years old, took a Book of Mormon with him! I wish we were able to talk longer but they were short on time, but that seed is planted! 

Other interesting things:

1) President Uchtdorf visited the temple grounds and also the Polynesian Cultural Center with his family! He is just the best. And loves people.

2) Last week, there were so so many visitors at the PCC, so we helped lining people up for our tram tours. And I think my ability to multi-task and control a crowd has increased hahaha. So many happy people came to see the temple and visitors center :)

Setting goals for 2017 is a little weird because I'm thinking about on my mission and after my mission. But I've learned that it's important to not stress unnecessarily about things I can't control, and to enjoy the little moments that make my mission amazing. I love sharing my testimony with others, and I love introducing God to Chinese people. I know that people are being drawn here to the temple because this is sacred ground. 

Talk of the week: The Virtue of Kindness (so so good!)

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2005/04/the-virtue-of-kindness?lang=eng

​We had dinner with two couples from our Married Student Ward! (from left to right: their friend, Sister Watanabe, Sister Allen, me, Brother Watanabe, Brother Kishi, Sister Kishi) I love serving in their ward!

​All the sisters on the evening shift one day :) With Sister Andrus on the left!

​We have blankets because it's cold...only to be used when we're not in the front haha.

I hope that everyone was able to have a great Christmas Day yesterday! We definitely enjoyed it. Church only included sacrament meeting, and then we had lunch with one our Bishops, Bishop Dunn, and his family. I ate eggs benedict for the first time, it was pretty good! In the afternoon, we Skyped our families, and I loved talking to mom haha. In the evening, we had a gift exchange with the other sisters, and watched the movie, "The Other Side of Heaven," which was based on a true story of Elder Groberg, who served as a missionary in Tonga many years ago. Elder Groberg visited us a few weeks ago, and we were privileged to hear of his testimony and his wife's testimony as well. 

It's fun to watch it as a missionary, because there's so many parts we can relate to(on an emotional level). I reflected on my mission experience so far, and how we really do love the people we meet so much! At the VC, we can't build the same strong relationships with investigators compared to other missionaries who stay in an area for months and months, but our purpose and our love is the same. We face different challenges in different environments, but we learn similar lessons. No efforts are wasted in the work of the Lord, trust is built on how people can feel your love, and the love you have for God and His gospel, and the blessings of living the gospel of Jesus Christ continues in eternity. Miracles happen when we trust in God, and do our very best.

This morning, we also had training from Elder Swinton's son, Dr. Swinton, who is a marriage counselor. What stood out to me was that you can't change personalities, and you can't expect others to change who they are, but what we can change is our own behaviors. How we react to things that bother us, how we communicate with love, how we can be kind instead of judgemental. "Value your relationship itself, not just your interest in it." I'm sure everything we learn in our missions will help us with all types of relationships throughout our lives. 😄

VC:

1) I met a really sweet Chinese couple(old) who came from the tram tour. They were really worried about the son-in-law because he worries about a lot of things outside of his own control, and wanted him to believe in a religion, that would give him surety and hope. Isn't that so sweet? I was able to share my testimony and about how God's plan really does give us purpose, and invited them to request missionaries online when their son-in-law feels ready for that. 

2) Yesterday, the VC was closed because it was Christmas, and there were 6 or 7 Chinese buses that came to visit the temple! Couldn't come inside the VC though - we were all Skyping home haha.

3) We met a lot of nice and polite people this week, which just felt really good. People that were willing to learn and listen, but not necessarily interested in keeping in touch. But that's okay!

4) I met a couple from New York, and was able to explain why family history is something the church invests a lot in. William's co-worker isn't a member of our church, but introduced him to the church websites for family history. So neat! I shared about the importance of temples and doing saving ordinances for our ancestors, and I'll have to follow up with him about the Book of Mormon he took too. 

What a year 2016 has been! Last year this time, I was pretty new to the mission, but this year, I'm so old! I love serving here, and I'm so grateful for all the tender mercies Heavenly Father's given me. All the things that trouble us in life, and what can help us be happy, is Jesus Christ and His restored gospel. What a blessing it is to know it and share it. Have a wonderful New Year's!

Scripture of the week: Alma 53: 20-21

"20 And they were all young men, and they were exceedingly valiant for courage, and also for strength and activity; but behold, this was not all—they were men who were true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted.

 21 Yea, they were men of truth and soberness, for they had been taught to keep the commandments of God and to walk uprightly before him."

We went on the Christmas Canoe Ride at the Polynesian Cultural Center! A treat from Elder Swinton. 

​Beautiful Christmas decorations and reflections on the water.

​So Sheri Dew (CEO of Deseret Book)came a few weeks ago, and gifted all of us a copy of President Monson's biography, which Elder and Sister Swinton(who wrote it) hand-signed for us! So happy.

So many things happened this week, I can hardly keep track of it! Today, I turned 21 years old. I remember thinking as a teenager, once I'm in my 20s, I hope I have my life all planned out, and know who I am, and who I want to be. Somewhat true, but still a work in progress! I'm grateful to be here, to be healthy, to have the gospel in my life, to have loving parents and friends, and to be a missionary at this time. Thank you for all your support and love!

Last week we had a mission-wide conference with Elder LeGrand Curtis. His training was mostly on the topic of faith, and what that means to us. He talked about lasagna, and how our faith is layered one piece at a time, until it becomes the "perfect" lasagna. I just love that! Faith leads to action, and only through faith can we witness miracles in our lives. 

Area:

1) We had a really great lesson with Aldarma, from Mongolia, but it turns out she's actually in another companionship's area. So they walked with her to the VC yesterday, and started teaching her, and we just did a little teaching. We shared our testimonies with her, and the Christmas video as well. I was so touched by her willingness to read the Book of Mormon and want to apply all the teachings to become a better mother, and to become closer with God. We won't be teaching her, but we are so grateful to know her and see her grow!

2) Today, we went grocery shopping at Foodland. I was going to pay, but a kind man offered to pay for us. We tried to get out of it, but he insisted. Our bill was about $50, and Sister Allen and I were just in awe, for feeling so blessed. The two guys behind us in line were not members of the church, but still wanted to pay for the one thing Sister Allen was going to buy. We don't deserve this kindness but we are so grateful for this small act.

VC:

1) This week, I was kind of struggling and asked for a priesthood blessing from Elder Swinton. I've never asked for any type of blessings on my mission here, but Sister Evans said it would only help. And I am so grateful for that power, because I can always feel the Spirit, and the perfect love that our Heavenly Father has for me individually. I know that He knows all the details of our lives, and if we allow Him to, He really is our Comforter. 

2) Sister Allen and I drove Sister Evans to the Honolulu Airport on Thursday night and we got a little lost...but the miracle was, the GPS died but worked again, and we got home safely after two hours hahaha. We're always protected!

3) Sister Hernandez and I met an inactive 19 yr old guy who came to the VC with his parents and girlfriend. We shared the Christus narration with them, and just testified of how much peace comes in our lives because of Jesus Christ, and His Atonement for us. We could tell he wanted to feel that more, and his girlfriend wanted to learn more too, so we got their contact information! Miracles of being bold but loving.

4) Jenn got baptized last week! Her story is neat; she learned a good amount about our beliefs from a family on YouTube, and was really interested in applying those teachings in her life. I couldn't get ahold of her, but called the Bishop, and he confirmed the baptism and everything. Then she called me back, and was so so happy. 

5) Jannah also got baptized on Saturday! She's from Orillia in Ontario, and felt soo much peace after she started learning the gospel. So many miracles in her life too. So grateful for the missionaries who taught them, and I feel so happy to see another person receive the fullness of the gospel :) She had really bad anxiety, but ever since she read the Book of Mormon, it's significantly decreased, and a continuous peace has come into her life.

6) Sister Hernandez and I took an inbound call online, and talked to a man named Trevor. Basically, he was slightly argumentative, and didn't understand why we didn't teach one verse in the Book of Mormon literally. Can you imagine trying to interpret scripture without a living prophet? We taught and testified, and I realized how in order to understand and learn about our beliefs, you really have to be humble enough to pray about the Book of Mormon, with intention to act on your answer. It's not enough to just pray. The answer doesn't come if you're not ready to receive it.

Christmas is this Sunday! We had a neat opportunity to share the Christmas video with a small Chinese tour, about 10 people, and with each scene, they commented on how important it is to be kind, and reach out to others. It was a short moment, but I found myself tear up a little, because we live in a world where it's so easy to be caught up in our own problems, but even for a few minutes, they learned what it means to become like Jesus Christ. They also asked for the words to the Christus narration! (scriptures from the Bible and Book of Mormon) I said we only had it in English and they still wanted it. Soooo sweet.

We can be kind, we can love others, we can find more happiness and peace, because Jesus Christ showed us the way. When we are hurt, angry, sad, worried, or guilty, we can use the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and have Him lift our burdens. I love being at the Visitors Center as a missionary, and this week will get even busier because of Christmas! I know that Christ lives, and that He understands us perfectly, and because of who He is, and what His Atonement is, we can have eternal joy. "Without Christ there would be no Christmas, and without Christ there can be no fulness of joy." - President Ezra Taft Benson

Continue to #lighttheworld ! 🙌

Scripture of the week: 3 Nephi 22:10 

"For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee."

​It's super small (taken on an Iphone), but this is thee group of all the missionaries on Oahu! With Elder Curtis on the left of President Bekker (above Sister Bekker, wearing the bright red in the middle)

​The children's choir here in Laie performed at our last musical fireside of the season! So talented.

​We tried to take fun pictures because I've always wanted to see the view here - Laie Point!

​This was taken on Sister Andrus's phone, but I met a member of the church from mainland China! She was part of a Chinese tour, so I had to take a picture!

This week was another wonderful week :)

We had MLC in town on Saturday and Elder LeGrand Curtis Jr. gave some training. He really focused on how Jesus Christ was the greatest of all, but also the biggest servant of all. A call to lead really is a call to serve those around us, as Christ did. "The church is like volleyball; we all have a chance to serve." 😋 No matter what our capacity is, Heavenly Father trusts us individually with callings to serve, and to be His hands. He does not love any one of us more than another, because like a parent, you love all your children. But just like Elder Christofferson said in his last talk, "God's love is infinite and will endure forever, but what it means for each of us depends on how we respond to His love."

Area:

1) I went on exchanges with Sister Elden in Hau'ula, and we were given a referral to visit Lea, without any background information. So we went in there blind, but prayed before we knocked on the door. Within minutes, she opened up to us about some deep struggles she's going through right now, and we were able to share how much Heavenly Father is wanting to bless and reach out to her. I could feel the Spirit of God as we listened and shared Mosiah 24 with her, when the Nephites had their burdens lifted. Sister Elden and Sister O'Brien have tried visiting previously but have never found her home. What a miracle that day, we were able to build that spiritual trust and meet her. As a missionary, sometimes I feel overwhelmed because so many people trust us to help them with their trials and the message of Jesus Christ we share can help them solve anything. But it anything we do, but everything that God does, to guide us.

2) Last time I talked about a student, who wanted us to meet her friend, who is at BYUH for an exchange. We got to meet her yesterday after church, and her name (in Mongolian) is really hard to pronounce...but it was neat introducing the gospel to her! She's married and has 4 daughters, and she said she's already feeling how this peaceful community and the temple, has helped her to be a more calm mother. She's already praying often and wants her family to know more about God, but I think Christianity is really uncommon in Mongolia, from what she's told us. Lots of potential here, and her experience is a testimony to me that there are so many ways for others to recognize God, and His love. We can be changed, and have more peace, through this gospel.

VC:

1) Sister Elden and I also talked to a man named Ben on chat (in his late 50s). He asked us what a sealing in the temple meant. Turns out his parents were converts to the church and got married in the Salt Lake Temple before he was born, and passed away only 6 months after he was born. On Christmas, he's reminded of the love they have for each other, and how the temple was one of their biggest goals. He's currently meeting with missionaries and learning more about what was so special to his parents. And we thought it was sweet that really, it isn't a coincidence he felt drawn towards our faith. He was born into a covenant that his parents made in the temple years and years ago! 

2) Earlier last week, Sister Allen and I met a member couple from Utah, and their friend named Mike. They talked to Elder Andrus (a senior missionary here) for a while, and then we were able to introduce the Christmas video with them! Mike had a strong Christian faith as well, and he loved the video. We saw that Elder Andrus already gave him the guest card, so we didn't really ask him to fill it out, but as they were about to leave, the good friend actually asked him if he'd like to fill it out and learn more, and he said yes! They've been friends for 20+ years and she shared her testimony with him as well. The power of member missionary work is real!

3) Online, I contacted a man named Martins, who lives in Italy. He's a member of the church from Nigeria, and is now in a refugee camp in Italy. He expressed how much he misses partaking of the sacrament(he hasn't been able to for 9 months), and how his spirit is really low, and really wants to connect with church in Italy. Reading his email made me really appreciate how blessed we are each week, to attend church, and partake of sacrament, and renew our covenants, and remember Jesus Christ. I'm so grateful for technology, which allowed us to send his info to the missionaries in Italy. And they can help him :)

4) Yesterday we chatted with Louise from Scotland, and she asked Sister Allen and I what we do when we face hard times in life. She said in the last few years, she's found the most comfort and peace from our beliefs, and wanted to learn more. I found that I could relate to her personal experiences, and Heavenly Father really is soo aware of our needs! We were online at that certain time, and was able to talk specifically to her. And she was so happy to know there were missionaries in Scotland! :)

5) Jannah from Ontario is planning to be baptized this coming Saturday! 

Scripture of the week: 1 Corinthians 3:5-7 (the apostles arguing who was baptized by who, and God reminds them that we are all servants in His process, and all the glory goes back to Him)

"5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?

 6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

 7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase."

Don't forget to keep sharing #lighttheworld! And ways that you can serve others this season :)

​Sister Elden and I behind beach pads (where this is right behind their backyard) :) She's so awesome! She's a convert of a year ago. 

​Lunch at MLC - Sister Lor, Sister Ng, Sister Swinton, Elder Swinton (VC Director), me, Sister Allen

​A beautiful sunset with a rainbow just peeking behind :) 

​We had lunch with the Swintons today, and Sister Swinton bakes the best homemade bread in the world! She is the author of President Thomas S. Monson's biography "To the Resue"

It's officially December! If you'd like a Christmas card from us, please let me know your address! We'll try to send out some this week. :)

And 20 days until Christmas! 

This past week was full of wonderful conversations and people. I love love showing the Christmas video to others because it just touches their hearts, and reminds all of us to think less of ourselves, and reach out to others. 

"How often have you intended to be the one to help? And yet how often has day-to-day living interfered and you’ve left it for others to help, feeling that “oh, surely someone will take care of that need”... My brothers and sisters, we are surrounded by those in need of our attention, our encouragement, our support, our comfort, our kindness—be they family members, friends, acquaintances, or strangers. We are the Lord’s hands here upon the earth, with the mandate to serve and to lift His children. He is dependent upon each of us." (quoted from President Thomas S. Monson). So continue to seek for opportunities and do them!

A few days ago, I bumped into some friends visiting from Toronto! So sweet. Peony and Jamieson were on the temple grounds so it was nice to see familiar faces and take pictures. 

VC:

1) One evening, an Indian family from San Francisco came to the Visitors Center, and we were able to show him the Book of Mormon in his language (Telagu). His daughter was about 7 years old and also asked us a few questions about Jesus Christ's mom, Mary. He was so amazed and touched to see scripture translated in his native language, and we were able to testify of how the gospel really does spread to the whole world. He apologized for his excitement and said said what a special moment it was for him, so he took a picture of it too. We handed him an English copy to take home and he filled out a guest card. What a neat thing to see, that so many people have worked hard to translate the Book of Mormon in the various languages today so anyone can learn the gospel of Jesus Christ! 

In relation to this, a student named Isaac shared his testimony in sacrament meeting on Sunday, and he was from Bangladesh, India. He learned of the gospel a few years ago, and prayed to know if he needed to serve a mission. Although he would lose his place in his school(you can't defer for two years), he still did it. And after his mission, he applied for schools abroad, and eventually came to BYU Hawaii. Heavenly Father always gives us blessings when we put our trust in Him and do all that we can. His cousin, who thought he was really stupid for going on a mission, learned the gospel too, and is about to serve a mission now as well! It always amazes me the faith of others; when you know the gospel is true, you just do all that you can to be a true disciple of Christ. There's just no question about it!

2) This is kind of a funny one. We met a small Chinese group that came in, and not surprisingly, a man asked me if we practiced polygamy. After I explained it to him, and no, we do not, he said to me, "if you don't practice polygamy, why do people still talk about it?" Good question. Yay for coming to correct sources and learning the truth!

3)  Recently, we've talked to a lot of prepared people online! The new Christmas video is drawing more people onto the church website, so we have more interactions to take than before. We talked to a few people on chat, who just wanted to learn more. A few Bible requests who were really seeking to change their lives and come closer to God. A few people who had member friends and want to learn more. The Lord is preparing His children to receive the gospel, all over the world! And we are so lucky to be a part of that great work. I wish I could write everything wonderful that happens here, but my emails are just a handful of those experiences!

I have no pictures yet with the new sisters on me, but I'll send them next week! They are awesome. I love the Christmas season. I am grateful for all my experiences that have shaped me today. I am grateful for the simple faith I have in God's plan for me, and in Jesus Christ. I love what Elder Christensen said in the First Presidency Christmas Devotional yesterday, "because He came, we have meaning in our lives." I know that's true, and with Jesus Christ, we know how to live fulfilling lives, we know how to find happiness in the hardest of times, and we know that life can be much more meaningful as we follow Him. 

Scripture of the week: Luke 4:16-18 (Jesus read the scriptures and so can you)

“16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.

17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,

18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.”

Pictures: (90% of all my pictures are in my muumuu hahaha)

The nativity set up by the VC!

Temple at night time.

​Ward Christmas brunch (on exchanges), this sister was a pro at omelet making. It was delicious!

​Sister Taylor and I on exchanges. Of course we had to take a picture with the cool reflection.

​Sister Allen putting on leggings because it's freezing in the VC...burr. 

It's almost December!

Now that Thanksgiving is over, we can show the Christmas video to everyone who comes to the Visitors Center :) If you haven't watched it yet, go on mormon.org/christmas !

I love the Christmas season because we can ponder on the influence of Jesus Christ in our lives, and what a gift He is, but the initiative is inviting all of us to become like He is, by actively serving others. Make sure you share this video with your friends! I believe it'll be available in other languages too!

Thanksgiving Day was really sweet this year. At lunch, all the missionaries, sister missionaries and senior couples, were invited to have lunch at the Polynesian Cultural Center (which was closed to the public that day). Later on we had a little gathering with all the sisters, and we prepared desserts and watched a movie together - Inside Out! Sister Allen can't really sit through movies but I loved it. I've been pretty grateful for companions who like to be healthy recently! We ran a mile for exercise one day, and that felt good. And now I have the privilege of drinking homemade smoothies in the morning too! And other meals we cook together 😋

Area:

1) On Thanksgiving Day, we also met Matt (student at BYU) and Linling (non-member) for their ward Thanksgiving Lunch. Basically, long story short, she works as a manager of a restaurant near Honolulu and loves coming to church, and came to the Visitors Center in the summer a few months ago. And it was a miracle we finally met with her! There were two other students, who served missions as well, and it was so cool when each of them taught and testified of how Jesus Christ's gospel can change her life, and by experimenting for herself, she can come to know that too. One member present is great, but talk about three! Member missionary work is the best because they are friends with her, and help her to understand things when we're not around. 

2) On Sunday, we attended a few ward councils, and changed our plans around last minute to attend a different Sunday School class. We have four different Young Single Adult Wards which we cover, so every week we go to different meetings. When we sat down in class, a Mongolian student named Una approached us and wanted us to meet with her friend(not a member) from Mongolia, who is staying here for a semester. We exchanged contact information and hope to hear from her later this week, but I'm amazed at how Heavenly Father literally hands us opportunities to share the gospel! If we stayed with our original plan, we probably wouldn't have been able to talk to her!

VC:

1) Yesterday we had our first Christmas Musical Fireside of the season! All the sister missionaries performed a few songs, and many musical numbers followed. Sister Lee played the bulk of all the music, and I played the piano for a few arrangements as well. Many families and students showed up and the music definitely invited the Spirit into the Christus room. Music is such a powerful way for others to feel something special. 

2) Sister Allen and I called someone who requested for a Bible, and we introduced the Book of Mormon to her, and she said, "so it's like they go hand-in-hand!" and we said "that's right!" She was so open and understood right away why we read both scriptures, and agreed to have the missionaries share more with her. We have such an amazing tool (teaching center online) to introduce the gospel to everyone, and this was a tiny miracle for us. :)

3) I met two Chinese couples from the tram tour, and the two men were childhood friends from Beijing. One of them actually went to free English classes the missionaries hosted when he went to school in Seattle! We talked some more about why Jesus Christ is important, and about the Book of Mormon, and he openly accepted meeting the missionaries in California, where he works now. Seeds were planted by those missionaries so he could be open at this time!

Looking ahead into next week, we're going to start exchanges for this transfer! For all the days in December leading up to Christmas, we will be reading scriptures in the Book of Mormon and the New Testament prophesying of Jesus Christ's life, and about the nativity, so we can be strengthened and ready to testify about the reality of Christ this Christmas season and every day.

Scripture of the week: Alma 33:14

"Now behold, my brethren, I would ask if ye have read the scriptures? If ye have, how can ye disbelieve on the Son of God?"

​Sister Training Leaders in action - making calls to make sure everyone can do online teaching on Thanksgiving Day. Sister Allen, Sister Lor, and Sister Ng. 

​Our Thanksgiving with member lesson with Linling(left of Sister Allen)! The girl with the football served in Vancouver with Marina! 

​Thanksgiving Potluck in the Married Student Ward - they really are one big family :)

​Lunch today with an ocean view 🙌 (Sister Lundgren took this picture)

Another transfer complete, and a new one to come. I can't believe how fast it's gone!

Sister Evans will be with Sister Nunez for her last three weeks (she's living mid-transfer so she can be home for Christmas), and my new companion will be Sister Allen! She's from Provo, Utah, and she served for half her mission in the Japan Sendai Mission, and was re-assigned to the VC after she had a surgery. She's a really sober and consecrated missionary so I'm excited to be sister training leaders together with her!

Creating the new transfer schedule for the visitors center, and creating transfers news, requires more thought processing than I'm ever used to haha. Here at the Visitors Center, to reveal new companionships, areas, and callings, we make it fun for the sisters somehow. I am so not creative in that area, so thankfully we had 4 brains to brainstorm! Usually in any other mission, you would just get a call/text to inform you of the news. This time we played a game :) Every sister will have a new companion this transfer, and I'm so excited for 5 new sisters to come! Sister Lin is from Mainland China, is a convert and helped her parents join the church, Sister Elden is a convert of a year and a half, Sister Langner is a German sister who's been waiting for her visa, Sister Belmonte is a Filipina from Alberta, and Sister Au is from Hong Kong. Today we sang Aloha Oe to Sister Walker, who has been such an example to all of us, and has server her mission well. 

Area:

1) Recently for our dinner appointments, we've been sharing the message of the restoration with the married couples, and I love their insights, and one brother commented how different we, as faithful members, are from your average person ages 20-28. "we willingly go to church every Sunday, for three whole hours, participate in sunday school classes, willing to take on a calling (a volunteer responsibility), read scriptures daily, etc - most 20-28 yrs olds are focused on other things." While I'm serving a mission, I tend to forget that our choices clearly differentiate us from many people in the world, but our choices relating to discipleship always lead to eternal rewards. So awesome.

2) On Sunday, in the YSA wards, the students spoke about gratitude. I just wanted to share Jerry's story because it was hilarious but meaningful too. Jerry is a convert of a few years from Taiwan, and just got here to BYU Hawaii two weeks ago. The past week, he's had to bus down to Honolulu at least 3 times because he had to get a social security card, but he went on a holiday (which he didn't know), it was so frustrating for him, and a kind girl actually paid a taxi ride for him (he was lost, and she paid through her phone, unbeknownst to him). When the bishop asked him to speak on gratitude, he thought, "It's a little hard to be grateful when I had such a rough week." But he recognized that despite those circumstances, Heavenly Father showed His love still! He never felt like he was alone, although he's never been to downtown, he finally was able to get what he needed, and he's gone to Costco because of a kind couple reached out to him. Although the holiday of Thanksgiving is this week, we can live in thanksgiving daily, and count our blessings. I know that no matter what happens, our Heavenly Father loves us enough to have a perfect plan for us.

VC:

1) It's been slowing down in the afternoon sometimes at the VC, but online work is pretty steady flowing! Min Zhu, who came here to the VC, had two lessons already with the local missionaries in Vancouver! He even went to church :) So exciting!

2) I met a man named Jay from Seoul, Korea, and he asked me some really great questions, like how I've seen God answer me, and I was able to share a meaningful experience I've had with prayer and reading the Book of Mormon. He actually lived in Toronto about 20 years ago, and his English was fluent. I loved testifying to him just how real God is, and how the fullness of Jesus Christ's gospel has been restored, and God can answer us through the Book of Mormon. I know that He felt the Spirit and was touched, because I could feel the Spirit too. He ended up taking a Book of Mormon and has a desire to know more about God himself. He also commented how my English has a familiar tone, since Canadian English is different from American English (sometimes haha).

3) I'm so excited for the Christmas season! Decorating Christmas trees and even setting them up (all 15 or so trees) is so tiring! Trees are heavy. And there is an art to decorating, but it'll be worth it!

The church came out with a new Christmas initiative! It's called "Light The World," and you can see the video they've launched after November 25th on mormon.org/christmas 

The focus is "25 ways in 25 days" to be a light, or to serve others, as a way to follow Jesus Christ's example. So if you haven't already, I invite you to think of ways you can be a light this Christmas season, and every day!

If you want to know why the Laie Hawaii Visitors Center , this article was recently published on Meridian Magazine:

http://ldsmag.com/the-sweeping-missionary-power-of-laie-hawaii/

Scripture of the week: D&C 78:17-19

"7 Verily, verily, I say unto you, ye are little children, and ye have not as yet understood how great blessings the Father hath in his own hands and prepared for you;

 18 And ye cannot bear all things now; nevertheless, be of good cheer, for I will lead you along. The kingdom is yours and the blessings thereof are yours, and the riches of eternity are yours.

 19 And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more."

We didn't get any pictures last time after the temple, so we took some today haha.

We began to set up the Christmas decorations, and trees and it was hard work! But really fun.

​We made homemade sushi and it was yummmmy! 

Amelia's baptism in Florida! (excuse the quality, it's a picture she sent me). She is literally one of the kindest people I've met.

Lunch at Kahuku Farms Cafe! One of my favorite places to eat, with everything locally grown, fresh, and so delicious.