The Best 18 Months

G'day family & friends.

Here we are. It's been 18 months. 

This mission means everything to me. The people I've loved, the message I've shared, the miracles I've seen, and the changes Christ has helped me make are too much for me to express my gratitude. 

As a missionary I have felt discouragement, I have oft times been stressed, and I have reached a state of perpetual exhaustion, I have felt the eternal weight of this work on my shoulders. I have faced, rejection, doubts, and disappointments. But I can honestly say, I have never in my life felt this much pure joy. Labouring in the work of God Himself, with the Saviour, Jesus Christ, as my guide, and the Spirit as my companion. What an honour! I am not worthy of this work, but the Lord has called and qualified me to do it. I used to think I was making a sacrifice for Him by serving, but now I'm more inclined to believe that He made a sacrifice for me by letting me be a part of the sweetest work under the heavens. 

The love that I've felt for my God, my Saviour, and my brothers and sisters has changed me to my core. The experiences I've had have sealed a sure witness of the reality of the living Son of the living God. The trials have refined me. The work has strengthened me. The love I feel for the people has softened and transformed my heart. 

The blessings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ are infinite and available to all who will come. And we must invite all to come. This is God's purpose and it needs to become ours. 

I can't believe my time to serve as a full time missionary is up in 2 short days. But I know I have no need to fear or to feel sad, because the same Saviour who got me on this mission and helped me for the last 18 months, will fly home by my side. He will continue to be my closest Friend and I will continue to labour with Him. 

I bear my witness that I know God lives. He is our Father. He hears our prayers and answers them in wisdom and love. I know our Saviour. You can know Him too. He is Jesus Christ. He has conquered all and lives this very day. I have seen Him heal and I know His Atonement is real and it is enough. I know the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been revealed by God to Prophets since the beginning and that God has never stopped reaching out to us in love. I know that Joseph Smith restored this Gospel, and that the Book of Mormon paired with the Spirit of God is tangible evidence of this. I believe in Priesthood power, temples, and families that last forever. 

Brothers and Sisters I love you and I am excited to continue to serve in this work with you.

WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS!

-My last district P-day was last Monday. My district leader tore a ligament in his foot playing rugby and then was dying in pain for an hour while we waited for the mission nurse. We took turns eating, distracting him from the pain, SR & I sprinted to the store and back to by him some pain killers, we sang, and laughed a lot. It was an unforgettable pday! 

-Said goodbye to my new Grandpa Pip. He made me try to play Estonian songs to him on the piano lol. He is not a member and is the most stubborn, hilarious old man. I only had a few chances to be with the Kaimur family, but it was such a special experience to be in their home. I believe that Pip and Loris will be an eternal family one day. I know I will see them again! 

-Serving in a ward with 6 missionary companionships and another 2 working the Mandarin ward has been heaps of fun. It's been awesome to be in such a united team doing the work here in Greenwich. #EnglishClass

-The work was so awesome this week. So many great people to meet. So many miracles. I got to do some door knocking too, which was like Disney world for me. I love the people here so much! 

-Sister Ruengurai has become my little sister. It's official. There is no one else I would have rather spent these last 2 transfers with. She is a firecracker. She is a hard worker. She loves the people and they love her! So grateful to have a friend like her as my companion.

-Game night was SO fun this week. I got to see the elder's investigator from Florida again which was awesome. And it's so good to see all the missionaries, investigators, and members having fun together. 

-Sarah got a temple recommend this Sunday! She was so excited. She also started her family history and is preparing to go to the temple next week. So amazing to see her soak up the Gospel. 

-I taught Relief Society for the first time in my life. So scary but I'm so grateful to be in such a great ward.

-It's just been awesome. This whole thing. Some days were hard, some days were easy, but every day was an adventure. Every day I felt the Spirit of the Lord and got see the His work move forward. I have given my whole heart to this. I know Heavenly Father will sanctify my imperfect efforts to bless as many of His children as He can through the mission I've served. It is never over! 

I love you all so much. Thank you for all the support you have given me in different ways throughout my mission.

God be with you till we meet again.

Sister Froemming

Two Elephants

Sawadeeka family & friends!

I hope you have all had a great week! Greenwich is as fantastic as ever!

One of the great things that I've been learning here is that everything will always be eternally okay if we follow Jesus Christ. With Him, nothing is beyond healing. It may seem that a lot is required, but those who live the Gospel can attest that the requirements themselves are gifts from God. Happiness that goes soul deep, peace that lasts through any trial, strength to overcome human imperfections, forgiveness that leaves no trace of sin, and hope of eternal rest with those we love come in and through Jesus Christ and His Gospel. 

"A religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation;" - Joseph Smith

Let's rise up. Let's remember. 

Who are you? Why are you here? Where are you trying to go? 

Please, if you know the answers to these questions, live according to that knowledge. Please continually correct your course through eager daily repentance. Please forsake whatever distracts, dulls, or distances your relationship with God our Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ our Saviour. These relationships are worth any sacrifice. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is not an event or an organization, it is a way of life that makes us whole. 

WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS!

-Sister Ruengurai & I were in charge of the YSA FHE last Monday. We had a great lesson on the Book of Mormon and then got these suckers to play bobbing for apples.  #almostdrowned #byun&chaoMVPs

-A new girl came into English class this week. Her name is Yulia, she is from Taiwan and made me cry laughing because she is so cute. We taught her some English, got to know her, and taught her about the Gospel. She told us that she is moving (south mission) but wants to stay in contact. We said goodbye to her after games night on Friday as she was leaving Saturday. :( Then Saturday, as we were talking to one of our investigators outside the shops, I heard someone squeal and felt arms wrap around me. Yulia! I got to say goodbye to her once more and we're sooooooooo referring her to south missionaries.So blessed to get to meet the people here! 

-I had trade off this week with the lovely Sister Ihler! She is the sweetest person EVER! She follows the Spirit, she is easy for the people to love, and she works hard. She set a strong example for me and showed so much love! So happy to be able to learn from this sister. Also working in Sydney was amazing! So many people to find. We worked along Darling Harbour and China Town and had opportunities to teach so many people, almost every one of them were willing to meet us again! 

 

-Once again, my companion. We are both so stubborn and always fight to our point across lol, but ultimately we know we both understand and love each other unconditionally. There is never a time I am not grateful she is with me. We laugh all day every day, we have some of the deepest gospel discussions, we have a constant friend and support. She has become my family! I'm so grateful for the gospel that unites us. #lukemaaaauuuuw

-We finally got to meet David (our miracle investigator who contacted us) again. We read the Book of Mormon with him and he soaked everything up. He said "I believe this Book can bridge the gap between human nature and the teaching of Jesus Christ...This will help me to follow Him." We were like um wow. We taught him more about baptism and he agreed to be baptized in December as he reads more in the Book of Mormon. I love this work! 

Have a great week everyone!

Rak na!

S

Happy Halloween from GreenWITCH

Sawadeeka family & friends! It's been another great week here in Greenwich. SR & I are continually getting more guidance for the people we're working with here as well as how we can continue to reach more people!

I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Many people have tried to disprove us this week. It has been a wonderful experience for Sister Ruengurai and I to testify of what we know and how we know it. We will never argue, we will always listen and respect their opinions, we will even let their questions effect our Gospel study and personal prayers, but we cannot deny what we know and feel. The Church itself is not what our faith is centered on, it is the true Doctrine of Christ. And the Doctrine of Christ is our Saviour's Atonement. When our faith is built upon this sure foundation, we cannot fall! (Helamen 5:12)

We all need the Atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ to cleanse and heal us. We all need His divine mercy. But the only way we can truly receive His Atonement fully into our lives is by making promises or covenants with God. We promise to trust Him and to keep His commandments, and He promises never to give up on us, He allows us to receive His Son's grace. These covenants are made by us receiving ordinances (a sacred religious ceremony ex. baptism). This shows our willingness to follow God. To perform ordinances, we need God's true power and authority - the Priesthood. All of these things: ordinances, covenants, and Priesthood, can only be truly accessed through the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. This has been God's truth since the foundation of the world. These are the same principles that have always been taught to God's children to lead them to Salvation. This is God's purpose. And though I don't understand the meaning of all things, I trust God and know He loves us. 

I want to invite you all to find an opportunity to bear your testimony this week! There are so many who need to hear it. 

WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS!

-Service for the Kaimur family. They are an absolute delight. The wife Loris is 89 and Aussie. The husband Pip is 90 from Estonia. They treat us like royalty when we come do service for them. Pip makes heaps of Grandpa jokes that crack us up, and Loris gives us life tips. It's kind of like heaven. 

-I do impressions of the other missionaries in our area (who are all like hilarious cartoon characters) and it never fails to make Sister Ruengurai laugh SO hard. It's too easy and so funny. 

-Heaps of amazing finding! Our lessons are getting so much deeper. We are learning to help people open up to us and how to administer the Gospel in a way that they can understand. It's the best!

-Halloween party! So fun to see the ward together. 

-I just love the YSA here! We are pretty close with a lot of those who just recently got baptized. It's so amazing to see their journey and their faith. We had lunch with Telle this week and she's just the cutest. 

I hope you all have a great week!

Rak na!

SF

"This Country is Killing Me" -SR

Sawadeeka family & friends!

I hope you are all feeling fantastic and had a wonderful week! This week was challenging, but we saw so much progress! The coordination between the ward and the missionaries continues to tighten. The vision SR and I prayerfully gained at the beginning of our time here has been realised by the leadership in the ward. And the best part is, we have goals and plans of what we will do to actually achieve this vision. 

I'll try to keep my sermon short this week. I just love our Saviour. He has never failed me. His Atonement is more than enough for us, no matter how great our weakness, mistakes, or trials may be. He has conquered! Sin, death and whatever you are facing right now have all already been overcome by Him. I'm so grateful for the moments when I have felt hopeless, alone, or broken, because these are the times when I have seen a loving Saviour heal me. I testify that I have felt the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ relieve me from pain. This is a tangible experience that has ingrained my belief in Him into a part of who I am. But this experience is only made possible through initial Faith in Jesus Christ. I invite all of you to trust Him just a little more. Please let Him help you a little more fully. He wants to help. He is there. Give Him your load and He won't fail you either.

WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS! 

-We had an awesome lesson with Andrew this week! A member came (from another ward but has a class with Andrew) and we were able to all teach together in unity! I was the question ask-er, Dana was the question answer-er, and Sister Ruengurai was the testifier (along with the Spirit lol). It was a powerful lesson that allowed us to understand Andrew more. I'm not sure how long it will take, but I know he will be baptised one day. 

-My crazy companion. She is so lovely, so funny, so caring, so happy. I just love her! Funny story this week: We were walking to the train station from the chapel as a group of missionaries and investigators. I was walking a little ahead of SR talking to someone and she was behind me talking to Sister Chao. Up ahead, I could see two wild turkeys. Some of the missionaries began pointing them out. I know my companion loves turkey and is crazy. I sighed and said to the missionary next to me "She is going to chase that turkey." 

I literally slo-mo turned around to see my companion slo-mo beginning her run after this turkey. Sister Chao accompanied her of course. It was so funny. P.S. She did not catch the turkey. 

-One day this week Sister Ruengurai and I had a strong feeling to change our morning plan. We had a feeling we needed to stay in the flat and work on the crusty, old, former area book full of people who were taught years ago. We prayed about it a lot because we really would rather go outside haha, but our answer was clear. So we began to work on the area book and call people. It was mostly just cleaning up old records (ex. number disconnected, moved, STILL not interested, "will contact us"). 

After 3 hours of this, we reached an old teaching record for a Vietnamese man name Hue. We called and a woman answered saying no one by that name lived there. We felt like we should keep trying so we began listing off information we had from our teaching record trying to identify him. Finally after reading his wife's name which was listed on the record, she realised who we wanted to speak with and somehow connected us with Hue. 

He. was. so. excited. He doesn't speak English very well, and is 74. He said "wow thank you to remember me!". We asked when we could visit his family, and he said, "2 o clock today. I will wait for you." It was already 1 o clock so we quickly began travelling to his home. When we got there, he was literally waiting outside for us. It was so cute! We talked to him and it was difficult to teach because of the language barrier, but it was amazing to see that God is so aware of His children! He provided a way for us to visit Hue and be able to brighten his spirit and teach him the Gospel!

-Telle got baptised!  It was such an exciting day! We have come to love her so much even if she's not our investigator. #wardunity. She was glowing and her testimony was so cute! I love watching people accept the Gospel here. It's such a leap of faith for those who were taught their whole lives that God is not real. She kept saying "I am a Mormon! Life is full of surprises." hahah, she is the cute girl in the red dress in the picture of all of us. 

I love you all so much! Have a great week.

Rak na,

SF

Hi From Heaven aka Eastwood

Sawadeeka family & friends!

I hope you are all doing well and had a great week! Honestly, every week I just fall a little bit more in love with Greenwich. Work with the ward is getting better and better! We are starting to understand more where our help is most needed. Also Sister Ruengurai & I are really getting the hang of working with the Spirit and teaching more effectively in our finding. SO FUN to improve with the Saviour's help. 

This week we had interviews with President Checketts. He taught me a principle that I would like to share with all of you. 

He said something like "Sister Froemming, if you want to help the people, you need to focus on more effective prayers. I don't necessarily mean you need to pray longer. Think of when you were a kid, and this mostly applies to Elders, but let's say you broke something and you need to admit what you've done to your parents. You will ponder what you are going to say before you approach them. You will plan how you will tell them, how you will apologise, you will try to map out how they will react. In a way, a similar principle applies with prayer. A 2 minute prayer that you've thought about for 5 minutes can be much more powerful than a 5 minute prayer that you've thought about for 2 minutes." 

I listened to President's council and pondered. It seemed very simple. So I made a decision to make a conscious effort to really ponder my prayers and what I wanted to talk to God about before I said them. 

I have been amazed at the effect it has had on me. Each day, especially in my nightly prayer, I review in my mind what I have done, what I am grateful for, where I need to improve, and who I would like to bless. I have found myself in tears before I have even addressed my Heavenly Father. A deeper understanding of Who I am talking to has begun to sink in to my heart. When we pray, we are literally addressing our Creator, our Father, our greatest Friend. The love I have felt from Him and for Him has grown so much. 

As our faith and love for God increases, it changes the way we approach Him. We don't care so much for the blessings we need or the eloquence of our speech. Prayer becomes more about just being with Him. It's like just sitting before a fire and feeling the warmth. Sometimes you don't have to say anything at all. 

I know God loves us. Please consider what that actually means to you and please consider the effort you are putting into your prayers. 

"And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." - John 17:3

WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS!

-Last week when visiting a less active, we walked by a man doing yard work in his back yard. We  had a prompting to go back and talk to him. He was friendly and open. He is from Uganda and is Christian. He graciously allowed us to teach him a bit of the Restoration over his backyard fence. A few days later, we received a call from him (first time a potential has called us first on my whole mission lol) wanting to set an appointment with us! At our appointment we taught him the message of the Restoration and he accepted it so well! We are so excited to keep working with this miracle. Please keep David in your prayers. 

-My crazy, wonderful companion. So thankful for her. The happiest girl I know. We laugh together all day as we work. 

                   

 --The Partons! An amazing family in Penrith Stake that I briefly met a year ago in my Claremont Meadows trio. I've been hearing about this family from missionaries I love pretty much my whole mission, and I didn't realize that they've also been following my mission blog. I got to see them this weekend at a baptism and it was such a great experience! I know how much they have blessed and brightened the lives of so many missionaries, and I got to receive the same blessing from meeting them again! 

-Going to the temple. It was probably the best experience I have had in an endowment session. Our Heavenly Father's Plan of Love is more than I can express my gratitude for. 

                   

-So fun celebrating Sister Chen's birthday with her this week!

-Sister Chao is the little sister I never had. She absolutely loves bugging me but is also the cutest person I know so she gets away with it. 

Have a great week everyone!

Rak na,

SF

Mandarin + Miralces + Bday = WOW

Sawadeeka family & friends!

I hope you all are having a great week! 

It's been another FANTASTIC one here in Greenwich. Sister Ruengurai and I are enjoying every moment here. We have adventures and meet wonderful new people everyday! It's amazing to see how Heavenly Father is preparing people and putting us in each other's paths.

My heart feels so full being a part of this great work. The world would love to dim our feelings of love and gratitude and thwart our promise of the Spirit as our constant companion. But if we can remember who we really are, if we can trust God, if we can have faith in Jesus Christ, we can give our hearts to God and experience real happiness. That is what I know. Happiness, sacrifice, and service are eternally intertwined. The happiest moments of my life have been spent in the service of God and fellowmen. I have begun to cherish every opportunity I have to speak Christ's holy name and to testify of His reality and divinity. 

I invite you all to be a part of this in anyway you can. Please just look for someone to love and serve today. I know that God wants you to be His hands. For their gain and for yours. 

WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS!

-Sister Ruengurai's birthday was this week! It was super fun to surprise her with little things but the best part was the work! We set some really fun goals and just went for it! We talked to heaps of people and saw some awesome miracles: finding an investigator that the elders hadn't been able to contact in weeks and inviting her to come back to church, having TWO people ask US for OUR number. One even asked "Would it be okay for me to invite you to my house for dinner to teach me and my wife?" 

-Sister Ruengurai and I literally meet the world's best people everyday. We have too many funny, amazing, miraculous stories for emails. 

-I learned like two sentences in Mandarin and now when we meet Chinese people who speak no English, we teach them with Chinese pamphlets and these two sentences and they literally begin to glow and be the happiest people in the world. It is so fun! 

-Casually seeing the Harbour Bridge while visiting less actives. #impromtuphotoshoot 

-I SAW SISTER SPAINHOWER AND IT WAS THE BEST! Crazy miracle:

One year ago, in Emu Plains, I left my quad (scriptures) engraved with my name on the bus. I spent another 4 months in that area after losing them and never found them. When Sister Spainhower arrived to our flat for trade off, she whipped open her suitcase and pulled out what else but my QUAD FROM ONE YEAR AGO. I immediately fell to the ground in shock and starting laughing/crying. "HOW DID YOU GET THIS!!?!?!" 

She said that while she was on a trade off in Penrith, as she was getting off the bus, a bus driver pulled out my scriptures and said "These have been on my bus for one year, do you know who's they are?" It was the funniest, craziest miracle. Of all people, this bus driver gave it to Sister Spainhower....Heavenly Father has a sense of humour for sure. 

-We finally had a lesson with Daisy! She is an investigator who comes to church. She is so wonderful. Sister Ruengurai and I could feel so much love for her. Not quite a miracle but also worth mentioning, Daisy took us to get drinks and I accidentally ordered black tea. Good thing my comp is a convert and stopped me from drinking it after she tried it. But only after I also gave a sip to our investigator who is trying to keep the word of wisdom. Oh, Sister Froemming. #RepentanceisReal

I love you all and hope you have a wonderful week!

Rak na,

SF

Miracles as Plentiful as the Rice I Eat!!

Sawadeeka family & friends!

It has been wonderful here in Greenwich! (Which I feel the need to tell you is pronounced gren-ich not green witch). 

Sister Ruengurai have had some transformation moments this week! Each day we are trying to break through the barriers and become more effective. We are getting a lot bolder in our approaches to talking with people. We are learning how to contact in a way that allows the person we are meeting to feel comfortable, to teach doctrine that is relevant to them personally, and to extend invitations that are tailored to their needs/interests. 

For the past two weeks, a simple scripture has been running through my mind: "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." -Philippians 4:13.

 I believe wholeheartedly that this is true. There is no commandment, task, or situation that cannot be kept, completed, or overcome with Jesus Christ. My love for Him deepens continually. I know He loves us for who we are, but sees us for who we can become. He's always urging me to try a little harder, to be a little better. Not because He needs me to do His work, but because He wants me to experience the joy of His work. Because He wants me to see miracles, because He knows that the things He asks me to do will help me to become like Him. 

I bear my witness of His reality and of the perfect love He has for you. 

WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS!

-Sister Ruengurai found a few really fantastic, really prepared people this week! We are in the follow up process, but we are so excited to see people progress! 

-We had an awesome lesson with our investigator Andrew Houseman! Before our lesson, he met a member at school who was so excited to fellowship Andrew and come to our lesson. Turns our this member was also a RM who's mom is an investigator who I taught in Winston Hills!!! 

-Sister Money's constant baking/life saving advice/amazing stories/laughter.

-David Li! His number was in the phone but missionaries hadn't been able to contact him for a while. We gave him a ring last week and he set an appointment with us! We were able to teach himon Friday and he recognised that our meeting was from God. We found out he lives in the City sisters area, but we are so grateful for the lesson we had with him. 

-One of the other companionships in the ward (there are 6 companionships total. SR & I are the only sisters) had a baptism! One of our favourite people, William, got baptized as well as the adorable Stephanie! Such a wonderful day. 

-My lovely companion. Honestly I am so blessed with this sister! She helps me more than I can say.

-This one #neverbored

-Life is great! The work is moving. People are prepared. We are always tired lol. & the food here is always good. 

I hope you all have a great week!

Rak na,

SF

Nihao From Down Under

Sawadeeka family & friends!

I hope you all had a fantastic week! It's been an adventure here in Greenwich. The area is SO different than anywhere I've ever served. Majority of the people here a Asian, mostly Chinese. Hardly any white people. And heaps of Uni (College) students! The work moves fast here because these people are prepared. It's such a fun area to work! And what I love is that there is always, always, always something to do and somewhere to be. Honestly, I feel so inadequate working in this kind of area.That is why Heavenly Father blessed me with an incredible companion! 

Sister Ruengurai from Thailand! She is energetic, open, friendly, caring, and hard working! I can't explain how much her example helps me. I am so blessed with this one! I know that there are big things that need to happen in this area. Heavenly Father has put both of us here for a reason. Because we both need to learn, and because He has given us gifts and skills that the people here need too.

Challenges are gifts from God. How grateful I am to have opportunities to be out of my comfort zone each day! It is such a blessing to have weaknesses, they tether us to Christ. They remind us of our dependence on His grace. I testify that when we acknowledge our weaknesses and turn to our Saviour, we can be made strong. 

WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS!

-My two day trio adventure with Sister Money & Sister Chao. Two of my new most favourite human beings in the world who I now live with.

-Andrew Houseman!!!! He is an incredible investigator! He is Chinese but he speaks with a British accent. He loves everyone and is fellow shipping the 5 other missionary companionship's investigators haha. He has such real intent and fantastic questions! He is working towards baptism but feels he needs time. 

-Our area is beautiful and exciting! Asian shops, chic buildings, the occasional city views. It's pretty fantastic.

-The past sisters who served here have done such great work. They have made it so much easier for Sister R & I to come in and pick up where they left off. We are so grateful for their diligence and sacrifice! #dorman #koi #ballif

-I eat delicious Thai food courtesy of my companion for basically every meal. So blessed.

 

Chinatown

-The fantastic ward! We were welcomed warmly. It's a small ward. A mix of older, established Aussie families, young Asian recent converts, and American immigrants lol. Also one of the coolest chapels I've seen.

-The work here is so wonderful. 

I hope you all have a great week! 

Rak na, 

SF

You're Invited!!

Malo lelei family and friends!

How are you all? I hope and pray that you are all well and happy!

Winston Hills is doing well! We have been praying hard and realising that we are working hard, but not working smart enough. We have so much work to do. This area is absolutely amazing. Being some of the first missionaries to work it since the boundary change is such a blessing. But it's going to require not just a lot of physical work, but a lot of mental and spiritual work. Please, please keep Winston Hills in your prayers. This ward is fantastic! 

I just want you all to know that each day I come to believe more and more that we truly are all brothers and sisters. We are really family. We are really children of the almighty God. We have been created in His image, and His every breath is spent labouring for us. His work and His glory is you and me. How can we keep that to ourselves? 

I pray each of you will accept one of these invitations.

1. Pray for a name of a family member or friend who you can reach out to, serve, uplift, or share the gospel with.

2. Invite the missionaries to teach your family the message of the Restoration, and then ask them to help you with your missionary work. They are there to help!

3. Go out with the missionaries or invite them to teach someone if your home. 

4. Go and visit someone/give someone a call/give some service. Whether they be active, inactive, less active, or not a member. Either way, they are your brother or sister and if they need help, please give it to them.

I testify that this is true happiness. This kind of work is what heals us. You are not entirely too busy. I know it may feel like it but you are probably not the most tired person in the world. Maybe your screaming kids can help somehow! No excuses okay? I love you all. I hope you take this challenge, not because I like pressuring people, but because I want you to experience more joy.

"The best antidote I know for worry is work. The best medicine for despair is service. The best cure for weariness is the challenge of helping someone who is even more tired."- Gordon B Hinkley

WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS!

-We had an amazing lesson with Marilyn this week (Recent convert preparing for the temple). She had a really rough week. She knew God was trying to tell her something, she just didn't know what it was. We told her to keep a question in mind and that we would say a prayer, start reading the Book of Mormon from wherever she left off and then we would let the Spirit answer our questions. As we read from the scriptures, it was amazing to see her face light up and she received answers and guidance from the source. 

Sister Taholo and I both had ideas on how we could address her concerns, but we were so grateful we allowed her to read the scriptures and just guide her to find the answers for herself. Before we left her countenance completely changed. I'm so grateful for the Spirit and the Book of Mormon!

-HEAPS of Tongan food this week! #tapuaki #kaikemate

-One of our lovely sisters, Celia, who is less active came to church on Sunday! We were so excited to meet her there and spend sacrament meeting with her. (Luke 15:4-5)

-Instead of helping the 3 second language learners I live with to speak better English, my English is worsening each day ahahaha. 

-We're back in contact with Elizabeth!! YAY! She is the investigator from Iran. After weeks of not being able to contact her, we finally caught her at home. She was having a really hard day and recognised that we had been sent from God to help her. 

No pictures this week so here's some more shots from the temple!

Baulkham Hills Zone! (minus Quakers Hill elders)

 

Have a great week!

Ofa atu,

SF

#malitemipalekiai

Malo lelei family & friends!

I hope you are all doing great! :)

Today I went to the temple. I know it is the house of God. I love the Plan of Salvation. I love learning everything I can about it. I know that it is what's real. It is true. I know it's true because it is us. It's our story. He's our Saviour. 

What I am learning right now is that opposition is so important. Remember how last week I wrote how we can always choose to be happy? This week my companion and I were humbled haha. We had some hard days. But oh how they taught us! Oh how they brought us to our knees. Oh how they sweetened the miracles we saw. I am so grateful for opposition. Even if it sometimes seems unrelenting. I know that when I am experiencing opposition, I'm getting the most out of my Earthly experience! Opposition is central to our Plan. It's only through opposition that we came into this world, and it's only through opposition that we'll make it to our Father's presence again. If you are struggling, I invite you to look heavenward and smile. Pass through this trial. Rely on the Saviour and not your own strength. If we do it with Him, we will grow. 

I am reminded of when I used to take ballet lessons from Marina Medvetskya. A lovely but harsh Russian woman who often visited my dance studio. I used to tell my mom "She picks on me! She's always correcting me. She singles me out and makes me work harder then everyone else!" And my mom would say "She wouldn't do that unless she saw potential for you to become better." I feel something similar sometimes happens with our Heavenly Father. But in a more loving, less Russian kind of way.1 Nephi 20:10.

WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS!

-Trade off with Sister Wilson. She is AMAZING! She makes me laugh, her testimony makes me cry. She can talk to everyone. She speaks 4 going on 5 languages. She is so dear to me! I learned so much with her. "You get out of life what you put into it."

my comp teaching the exotic bird who
landed during studies

-My companion is a gift. She is helping me and this area so much! I have a strong testimony that when missionary companionships are aligned with each other and with the Saviour, hell shakes. Relationships take work but we truly need each other. 

#fakasiosio

-The work can be frustrating, but we have seen so many miracles. Just when we feel like giving up the miracles come. And when I step back and look at how blessed I am, I realise that miracles are truly EVERYWHERE! 

-We had an amazing lesson on the Book of Mormon with a GENUINELY INTERESTED PREPARED PERSON! Wow. It was amazing. He is moving to Queensland in a few days, but it was still such a miracle. I have just really been savouring teaching the gospel lately. It is a privilege. 

-I love being alive, I love being a disciple of Jesus Christ.

I hope you all have a fantastic week!

Ofa atu,

SF