The Gospel Binds

In a recent Ensign article it shared a quote about pioneer sisters crossing the plains. "They found spiritual strength in each other's love and compassion... As they suffered trials of illness and death, they prayed in faith for each other and comforted each other. The love of God flowed from heart to heart till the wicked one seemed powerless in his efforts to get between us and the Lord, and his cruel darts, in some instances, were shorn of their sting."

We have sisters from America, Austrailia, France, and Tahiti, but despite these cultural backgrounds, there is a bond of strength and love. I'm grateful to have felt that bond more profoundly this week as we comforted each other in trials and delighted in success and the good choices of others.

The gospel binds.

Dancing and Laughter

Yesterday, I was laughing really hard because we were showing sister Tamahahe all of our lame American dances. Here in Tahiti at church dances everyone knows how to cha cha and waltz and fox trot. It's the real deal. And it was fun to laugh all together.

Jesus, Redeemer of mankind

We stopped to say a prayer and ask what the Lord wanted us to do, to find someone who needed Him in their life that day. After the prayer the word ''member'' came into our minds. Two seconds later, Sister Stastny saw a member of her ward leaving her house. She ran over to talk to her and ask for the info about the apartments. The member gave us a few names and then thought of a part member family, but she didn't know the exact apartment number... We decided to start trying and go knock some doors.

The first door we tried two people came out, shocked upon recognizing us as the missionaries. They asked, "how did you know we were here?" Kind of a scary first sentence. And then, "wow, even when you move to Babylon, the Lord doesn't forget you... we were actually in the middle of drinking...give us two minutes...." The brother and sister invited us inside and we started trying to talk to them, to find out their story. Sister Stastny shared a scripture about the Lord never forgetting us because we are engraven in the nailprints of His hands. The brother started to cry and left for the balcony to calm down. When he came back, he said, "I just have one question, if someone drinks, if someone smokes, if someone commits adultery, tell me, is there a redemption for them?" The Spirit was so strong as all of us bore testimony and shared experiences about redemption for those who have strayed off of the path. He left the room again.

When he came back and asked, "I have one more question... I smoke. I drink. I have broken the law of chastity. Tell me Sister Stastny, is there a redemption for me? Tell me Sister Spackman, is there a redemption for me? Tell me Sister Tamahahe, is there a redemption for me?" How strong and precious the Spirit as we, representatives of Jesus Christ, were able to say, yes, there is a redemption for him. Yes, that is why Jesus Christ suffered in the garden, why He died on the cross, because He is the Savior and the Redeemer of the world.

Sometimes we lose our way in this life, sometimes we are burdened down by our poor choices and we turn away from God, but I testify that this is not the end, that there is always a second chance, and that Heavenly Father cannot wait for us to turn to Him again. I love Jesus Christ. I love the Atonement. I love the warming embrace and hope that repentance brings. I know that Heavenly Father never forgets His children, and when they are in Babylon, there are people who are praying for them and searching for them to help bring them back.

12 Janvier 2015

Christmas Day

Sister's Sleepover

Tahiti Temple Visitor's Center

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.