Week 3.0 - a non convert baptism... party 🥳

March 07, 2022

Everything keeps crashing on my phone today, so that's a rip 🤷‍♀️

Update for this week:

We found a super ELECT person this week.... but he speaks spanish lol. It's ok tho we taught him a little bit of the Restoration and he was like "I need to start coming back to church" and we were like "yes". And then we got his number and sent it to the Spanish Elders.

We actually found a couple spanish speakers this week, so that was fun.

WE ALSO FOUND A HOUSE WHERE TONGANS LIVE except the gate had like a chain on it and was locked so we couldn't knock on the door, and there was nobody outside we just know Tongans live there cuz there's a sticker on the side of the house that says "Mamata Ki Hevani", which means heaven on earth (pretty sure)

Lately we've been teaching this girl named Manaia. Her family is all members, but they're just inactive. They only come to church for baptisms and baby blessings apparently. But yeah, so Bishop was having us teach her to prep her for her baptism (she turned 8 a couple weeks ago) and she got baptized this Saturday! It was super sweet :)

Bishop had us both speak at her baptism and it was super fun! Afterwards they had "a light lunch" which, for Tongans, means a whole buffet it was awesome! It was also her birthday lunch since they had a lot going on in their family for her birthday, so we all sang Happy Birthday to her :)

This week they reorganized the counselors in the Bishopric too, and I discovered that one of our members has a twin brother who came up from West Jordan it was so weird cuz I 100% thought they were the same person for a minute until they were like nope

Scripture of the week:

John 14:26

"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."

This is one of the scriptures I shared at Manaia's baptism :)

The Holy Ghost is there to help us and guide us and he will never lead us astray. He gave me a pretty cool idea of a metaphor to use in my talk too, and was of.... a door XD

Imagine you are in a room with no way out... except there's a door! You can't open the door though. BUT when Jesus Christ sacrificed Himself for our sins and everything we would ever experience (aka the Atonement of Jesus Christ), He opened the door for us. So now we have a way out of the room.

Jesus Christ told us exactly what we need to do to follow Him, so that we can go through the door and reach the other side, which is exaltation and eternal happiness. He told us to have faith in Him, repent, be baptized, receive the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end. We have to take each of those steps to be able to go through that door, but if we follow Him faithfully we know we can make it!

Alternatively, if we ONLY have faith in Him and we don't choose to make covenants with God by HIS power and authority (#priesthoodpower) then we're stopping short of the door, as well as our potential.

Also aternatively, if we live a life as though we had made those promises with God, but we hadn't actually done it in the way God has asked for one reason or another, it's like we're walking next to that path Christ laid out for us... but "close enough" won't get you where God is. If you walk next to Christ's path, you're gonna hit the wall instead of going through the door.

I know that making and keeping covenants with God are so important, and I am SO grateful for Jesus Christ, who made it possible for us to do so. I am so grateful for His sacrifice that allows us to feel joy and peace beyond comprehension and I know that it is offered freely to everyone :))

Love y'all, and I hope you always follow Jesus

Funny Quotes:

• "How would I be described if I was being introduced into the Book of Mormon? Hmmmm.... probably prideful aaaannddd... weird? How would you say that? A woman of curiosity? No cuz that would mean I'm asking questions... a woman of curious workmanship" -me

• *us about to leave the car so we get ready to pray* Sister Perkins: *whispers super quietly*"dear heavenly-" *starts talking normally again* "WHOA hold on"

• *me hating the passive aggressive smiley face emoji* "You hurt its feeling so shush" -Sister Perkins

• *the Elders call us* Sister Perkins: "Hi! This is Sister Hale and..........." 3 seconds later...... "I just forgot my own name". (I died ) Towards the end of the call: "Is there anything we can do for you Elders?" Elder Shurtliff: "Remember your names!"

• "I was just wondering where Manaia's baptism reception is going to be? I'm here to put up the balloons" -lady

• "If this little piece of plastic had a head it would be a superhero" -me (see pic for context)

• "I feel like when you're younger you use your imagination more" "yeah, if you're an outside kid" -me and Sister Perkins

Fun Fact:

I am in need of some funny jokes. Can each of you please send me one of your favorites. Thank you