It was indeed a holy night

Merry Christmas everyone and Happy New Year! I hope you all had an amazing Christmas.

I would like to start out today by talking about a special experience I had this Christmas... We didn't have much to do as missionaries leading up to Christmas because everyone is busy preparing for the parties and the feasts, so as a zone we decided to do a lot of service. Christmas evening was spent in the hospital, caroling for little children and their families that weren't able to be home for Christmas. That was a special experience, to be among the sweet spirits of children and to feel of their purity.

Later that night, we departed en ville (downtown Pape'ete) to give food and sing again for persons without homes. I will never forget looking back down at a street with young and elderly Tahitians sitting among cardboard boxes with a little morceau of chocolate tarte in their hands, some cookies and a small bag of turkey, because that is all we had to give. This Christmas was different than any other Christmas we have ever lived. It was hard to be away from our families, not to be in snow or participating in familiar Christmas traditions, but all of us are extremely blessed to have walked the path of Jesus Christ this Christmas, to do the things that He lived to do. It was infinitely precious.

My dad this week asked me a lot of questions about my life here in Tahiti and so here are a few answers.

We live in a little apartment with two other sisters and just down the street are the other group of four sisters in our zone, we live in the area of Taunoa.

My area is in Pirae and we cover the ward of Pirae 2, in the zone of Pape'ete. We have about three mountains valleys in our secteur, so it's really quite large, about 10% of the people in the ward boundaries are active members. In the valleys, there are the people who live in poorer circumstances and on the mountains are the people who are wealthy. It's a broad scope to work with.

Another awesome opportunity the sisters in the zone of Pape'ete have is to serve in the visitor's center just next to the temple. There we give a presentation of lessons using the Plan of Salvation as the main focus and including the Restoration and Gospel of Jesus Christ. Let me tell you how much I love the center... So much. It's like our very own Temple Square in Tahiti!!!

We teach all of our lessons in French right now and every once in awhile, we come across someone who speaks only Tahitian, it is much more common to speak Tahitian in the outer islands. I told myself at nine months, I'm going to really start to try to learn Tahitian, but right now, French is the dominant language.

Welcome to 2015! It's gonna be great!!!

22 Decembre 2014

Something I learned this week that I love, if trials are not a consequence of disobedience, it is a sign to you that the Lord feels you are prepared to grow.

I have become so aware this past month of just how much Heavenly Father's hand works in our lives. And it's our choice if we are going to allow Him to do it, or resist. I love it!!

Joyeux Noel!‏

Bonjour Toute le Monde!

I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the Christmas season. Has is snowed yet? I hope so!

Things are going really well. This week has been full of adaptations, the new secteur, the new companion, and the new house, but it has been a good week. Mostly because it was maybe one of the hardest weeks of my life spiritually. A lot of growth and turning towards God. Heavenly Father reached out to strengthen me many many times. And you know what? Fasting works. Priesthood blessings work. Reading the scriptures works. Praying, yes, praying works. I am so grateful for this week!

I love my Heavenly Father. I love the opportunites He gives us for growth. I love that He never leaves us alone. He is ALWAYS there with reach. And He speaks to us, even if we aren't listening. And how sweet the message when we finally allow it to penetrate through to our spirits. What is He trying to tell you today?

I wish you all a Merry Christmas Season! Thank you for your prayers and support, they help us a lot.

01 Decembre 2014

Me and Rauana

Happy December to Everyone!
I hope all days this month are merry and bright!

At the beginning of this past week, my companion came down with Chikungunya (a mosquito transmitted illness) so we stayed at the house for most of the days because she couldn't walk. Pas grave, I was able to have some loooong studies. Haha!

Wednesday we received transfer calls and I have been transferred to serve in Pirae 2 in Pape'ete. My companion is Soeur Tamehahe from Tahiti and we will be in a car. Really excited for the new adventure but also a bit sad to leave our investigators and members in Tuauru.

Me and Maina

I would like to share another miracle that happened this week with Maina. Monday she and Tumunui decided to get married and Friday, Tumunui found a job! The miracle of faith is that Maina recognized it as a blessing from Heavenly Father that came from a righteous decision and what's more, she shared her testimony with Tumunui.

We were also able to recontact a couple, Ayou and Vanina, who have started to take the lessons again. They have two children and pose a lot of questions during the lessons which is awesome. We are excited to see their progression.

The stake had a fun activity this week with the youth. We did a faith walk in the pouring rain where each team was attached and had to pass through 4 trials all the while protecting their faith (keeping the coconut seed white). It was too much fun... and wet.

I hoped you all passed a wonderful Thanksgiving and took some pounds, but not too many. And I hope you all continue to take the time to be grateful for small blessings and tender mercies we are granted everyday.

God is everywhere.