Week 16 Word of the Week: Whispers

 Aloha, ahoj, and hello to each and every one of you!!

We will commence immediately and I will share a thought after. Cheehooo(I have no idea how to spell it but that's how Hawaiians say yay haha)

Whispers moments:

1) I was at the Polynesian Culture Center inviting people to ride the free tram that takes them to the temple and a lot of thoughts were on my mind :) I was doubting whether I was making a difference or whether I was doing a good enough job as a missionary. And in that moment, the Spirit whispered two things to me. First, I felt like I should make a goal to hand out all of my tram tour cards. And second, I felt a thought in my mind and in my heart that God said to me, you're doing a good job, Sister Call. I looked up at the sky and felt close to Him in that moment :)

2) Sister Kim and I had a lesson with a friend we're teaching named Jaron and his wife Teisa! They are so amazing, oh my goodness. They were sharing so many thoughts they had about the Book of Mormon and everything they're learning and it was amazing, but I felt like we should say something and lead the conversation towards a goal they can work towards, or something they can do with everything they're learning. And nothing was coming, haha. For some reason, I had no idea what to say. I thought, "Heavenly Father, I have no idea what to tell them. Please, please, please help me". And then! Nothing popped into my brain! But, I kept listening to what they were saying and trying to think of a good question. And I asked it and it turned out to be a wonderful way to redirect the conversation. God wants us to put in the work :)

Update on Sister Call:

I am doing very well :) Very healthy and very happy, sincerely. I got my flight plans to Czech Republic and I leave Nov 7th. WHAT! Honestly, equally terrified and excited :) But, very happy overall to be where I am and to be heading where I'm heading. 

I love you all! I finished The Book of Mormon yesterday, and it was a really sweet experience. I love with my whole heart that God invites us to ask for ourselves whether something is true. He doesn't expect us to take some girl's word for it, or to base our opinion off of the majority. He invites us to ask for ourselves. I've asked and I know The Book of Mormon is true :) and I LOVE that book. Honestly, sort of obsessed every time I read it. :) 

LOVE, with so much love, Sister Call

We went to a Buddhist temple!

My brother had a birthday this week!! 

We studied on the beach!! 

Sister Falepapalangi's first name is Talita which is my first name just in Tongan. She's also the 6th of 9 kids WHAT WE ARE TWINS. Well, she calls me her, "mini me" :) 

Sister Kim and I, with CRAZY hair! Just goofing around.

 

Week 15 Word of the Week: déja vue

 Some may say: Sister Call, silly goose, that's not how you spell that phrase.

To them I would reply: Indeed, it is due to the fact that Sister Giraud-Carrier is in my sister squad (meaning we all live together) and she's from France. Therefore, that is the correct spelling as she just informed me :) tell your friends, tell your families.

Déja vue moments!! Short disclaimer. I've grown up in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Both of my parents served missions, countless friends and relatives have served and I've heard many similar stories across the board, all my life and I'm just now internalizing.

1) There we were! Sister Kim and Sister Call and we had an appointment. Last minute, the lady canceled. Ouch. There we were hoping and praying that a friend we met would come to the Temple grounds so we could share a message of hope. He didn't come. That was really sad. So Here I am and all our appointments are falling through and no one seems to want these cookies we baked to meet more people and I think to myself, "oh my gosh, this must mean I'm a real missionary." And then I felt so grateful for everyone who has gone before me and has kept trying even on the hardest days. I felt so grateful for so many things in that moment. There's always moments of joy to be found :) 

2) there they were. Sister Kim and Sister Call and this time it was at the Visitors center and we met a little family. Veronica, Edwing, and Daniel. And they were amazing. They were so curious about everything in the Visitors center and asked questions and listened to what we had to say. They asked about The Book of Mormon and ACCEPTED a copy each and were so sincere and sweet and wonderful. I was amazed. So many missionaries have told me little stories about people who are so prepared. So ready to make Christ a bigger part of their life and honestly, I didn't know if I would have the privilege of that happening to me. And there we were, able to play a small part in their journey through life. I can't wait to talk with them again :)

I loved a talk this week called Faith to Act and Become from this last general conference. It reminded me that believing in God is intentional actions I make each day.

Miracles happen every day, I believe that more and more every second every hour that I'm a missionary. God is so good my friends :)

I hope you find moments of joy every day!

Love, love, love, Sister Call

My hair was getting combed by Sister Escalona and a pic was taken.

Beautiful little rainbow.

Sister Kim is very amused by Halloween toys hehe.

We gave Sister GC (no one can pronounce Giraud Carrier so that's her name to us) a carriage in celebration of 9 months on her mission....not actually :)

dinner as a district!! (From left to right! Sister Fisher, Sister Kim, Sister GC, yours truly, Sister Dewaal, Sister Escalona, Sister Kaufusi),

Sister Kim taught me how to use chopsticks!!! 

Week 14 Word of the Week: Believe :)

 My dearest, most wonderful family and friends. Hello, hello, hello :) 

I must say that this week. Was magnificent. Not because we found a million people who want to learn about God, not because nothing discouraging or bad happened, but I guess I just chose to change my attitude and be present.

Believe moments from this week:

1) ok so I teach online at this teaching center where people call in to answer calls. There were a BUNCH of missed calls that I have been working through over the past three weeks. Literally probably over 200 of them, my friends. 

Nobody was answering :) I got really good at speaking the same voicemail! Anyways, I was on the LAST TEN calls and I said to Heavenly Father: ok. Please let someone pick up the phone. I believe You can make that happen. 

Two people did. Not just one, but two :) were they interested in hearing a message about God??? In fact, they were not! HOWEVER, they answered and God answered my little prayer at the same time. Because I chose to ask and believe that He would :)

ONE MORE YAY!
2) Me and Sister Kim met a man named Nick at the visitors center and only talked to him for a moment. A few days later we saw him AGAIN and showed him a video and talked a lot and I just felt so strongly that he was soaking up all the good things we were sharing. We didn't get his contact info but we prayed that we would be able to somehow see him again. 

A FEW DAYS LATER: (uber long story, my bad)

We are having a lesson in our area that we work in and are then searching for another old lady that needs some service and love. We are standing on the street corner looking up her address and BAM. Nick is sitting on the porch of the house right in front of us. He lives in our area. What. We talked to him and he's been a member his whole life but hasn't been to church in over a year. He wants to go back really badly and it was amazing talking to him.

I want to testify that God is a God of miracles. Sometimes they're big, like Nick, and many, many times they're small, like two answered phone calls. But, they are always there if we choose to look for them :) I love you all and encourage you to look for moments of joy in your week. Thank you for all you're doing. Don't give up on yourself or on God. Just believe :)

Love, Sister Call

p.s. I got an email saying that November 10th my assignment changes back to Czech! I have no idea what it means, but there is the information. I'm making the most of my time here for the next month, though. ALOHA!

My bishop from back home surprised me with his wife!!! Me and Sister Fisher who lives in the apartment toooo, me and my sister, Priscilla's roommate from Arizona, Sister Kim and I at acai bowls, yummy food with Sister Kim, cookies we tried to make with old flour and old vanilla that melted in the oven, we have no idea what happened 

Week 13 Word of the Week: Whoa, I'm running late

 I created Word of the Week therefore it is alright if I deviate and choose a sentence instead! How are you doing?? 

This week has been one filled with so much learning and wonderful things :) but, as stated, I am running a bit late so I will give some information then bid farewell.

Running late moment

1) me and Sister Kim were late to an appointment to meet with a Mom and her six kids. We showed up and she had actually forgotten and the kids were sort of crazy and all over. She still invited us in and offered us water and tried to calm everyone down. It was so crazy and at first really awkward as this frazzled mom tried to get things under control. In a minute though, I started to feel some empathy. I wished I could help this mom and fix her problems somehow. I loved her and hurt for her pain in that moment. I know I can't fix people's problems. But I also know that Jesus Christ heals all wounds. He understands all pain and can lift any heavy burden. He feels more empathy than I can even comprehend. I am so grateful for that :) 

Another little miracle!!! My mom gave me a CTR (Choose the Right) ring and I lost it the first day I got here and I FOUND it today!!! I feel so blessed. Seriously. 

I love each of you! I know God loves you EVEN MORE! Have so many moments of joy this week :)

Love, Sister Call

We are lunch!! My shoes got wet in a random rain shower!! SUNRISE HIKE! Sister Kim and I :)