Manuia le Eseta!
Manuia le Eseta! I am almost positive that is how you say Happy Easter...
So, here is some of what happened this week:
We found some new investigators through our Ward Mission Leader and his family. They have two palagi mates that have been coming to activities for a while, and last week our WML's fam set up a family home evening (FHE) that we hope to make regular. They are awesome! They obviously do not speak Samoan, but the YSA (young single adult) class and young men's speak English at church, and they love our ward already, because they have been to so many activities. They responded well to our teaching about modern revelation. The activities during our FHE helped us to get to know them on a personal level, so they are comfortable with us, and now are willing to hear the gospel. Hopefully we will have updates next week!
The hardest Samoan word to pronounce
In response to some of the questions you asked me. What is the hardest Samoan word to pronounce? That's easy! Fa'aipoipo. That means married. It is so difficult to pronounce! Sometimes for me it comes out "faapopo" Which I have no idea whether or not it is a word. Seriously. Try and pronounce it, remembering that the pronunciation is the same as Spanish, and every letter is pronounced, and then say it 5 times, fast. Hahaha, hard isn't it?
All Samoan people cry when the prophet speak
What is my favorite Elder Tuua moment of the week? Probably yesterday. We found out about General Conference and how some people didn't sustain the Prophet and church leaders. Elder Tuua was so angry at that! How could anyone not support the literal representative of Our Saviour on the earth? Hahaha he went off about Americans, and kept teasing me that they were probably from California:). But he was seriously not happy, and he kept saying "The Samoan people, they respect the prophet. All Samoan people cry when the prophet speak. Leaga America!" Hahahaha!
A favorite experience with our investigators: one of our investigators has a daughter that was just fascinated with my American accent, so she asked to record me saying something so she could prove to her friends that she met an American. Hahaha! So funny! With the same family, it was pretty cool to Open my mouth and use the Samoan that I know. They were impressed that a palagi would take the time to learn their language. I definitely believe that it will soften hearts in the future. Blessings of learning a language!
I cherish every moment
Some of the things that I like most about being a missionary: I love the Spiritual nourishment that we get, constantly, every day. There will be no other time in my life where I am able to have continual spiritual experiences like the experiences that I have here as a missionary. I also love that my testimony is able to grow so much! Another really great thing about being a missionary is that I am able to meet so many different people with so many different backgrounds. What a blessing!
Before my mission, I found it hard to study for great lengths of time. Now I cherish every moment, and have a great desire to study more and more! I am also able to open my mouth and talk to people that I don't know comfortably. I was heaps more shy before my mission, but now I know how to talk to people, I know that there is nothing to worry about!
April Fools - Missionary Style!
Our flat also pulled a pretty great April Fools joke on the other Elders of our zone:). So, it goes like this. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 12-14 elders meet up in Campbelltown at 6am to play touch rugby (which I have grown to love). I will tell you about our prank from the perspective of the pranked. So, Elder Tuua, Elder Larsen, and Elder Withers showed up to touch a few minutes late (notice anything wrong yet?) They got out of the car and ran to the field to warm up and get ready to play. Elder Samuela, one of our zone leaders asked Elder Larsen how things were going.
"Not good", was the response. "Our flat mates got in an argument last night. They even threw punches, before we split them up." Elder Samuela "Serious?" "Yup, it was pretty bad. They haven't talked to each other all morning."
"Man.... That's not good. Where is Elder Janes?"
"What do you mean?" Elder Larsen looks around. Elder Janes is nowhere to be seen.
"Didn't he come with you this morning?" says Elder Samuela. No answer, Elder Larsen runs around the field, looking at each of the Elders in the face to see if any of them is Elder Janes. Nope.
"What's going on?" is the general murmur among the Elders. All of the sudden, Elder Larsen starts sprinting to the car, gets in, starts it, and takes off----alone. (note: a missionary rule is that missionaries are never to be alone, without a companion). Elder Samuela and Cederlof (one of the other Elders in the zone) take off running to go to the rescue with Elder Larsen; then Elder Larsen leaves without them.
There is confusion. What the heck is Elder Larsen doing? They ask Elder Withers where his companion is, and the response is "Go ask him." What? More confusion. Elder Tuua tells them that Elder Withers and Janes got in a fight the night before, and apparently Elder Janes didn't get in the car this morning. Missionaries start a search party for both Elder Larsen and Elder Janes, driving around different places.
Meanwhile, Elder Larsen looks to the backseat of the car and says to Elder Janes "You okay?" (Elder Janes is climbing out of the boot of the car to the backseat by putting down one of the seats.)
"All is well!" Hahahahahahahahahaha. We got them good. Let's just say they were not happy when they found out it was a prank. I have their reactions on camera:) (See below for the selfie of Elder Larsen and Janes in the car as they make their get-away:).
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| Elder Janes in the boot of the car. |
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| Selfie of Elder Larsen and Janes in the car as they make their get-away:). Nice double chin. |
That's pretty much my week! I am really excited for today, because we get to go to Wollongong to the beach with the Elders of the Zone to play touch and sport on the beach. Our assistants, Elder Wu and Pedersen are coming too! So that will be a fun reunion! I will send pics next week:)
I love you all heaps! I have to leave in like 5 min, so I may not get to chat much more
Alofa atu!
Elder Loseni
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