November 2014 - Willing servants

3 November 2014
Transfer 6 Week 1

Uhhhhhh Transfer 6? What the!!! End of this transfer will be my 9 month mark. I have definitely had a mid life crisis realising how short I have left. But it's all okay, because mid life crisis has brought increasing motivation/obedience which increases miracles/blessings/happiness.

 Elder Gulliver, who I was in the MTC with, dropped us off
some chocolate this morning... best DL ever!!!!

So increased miracles/blessings/happiness is a bajillion (ok like 3) have agreed to baptism, and are genuinely excited, and came to church... but do not a specific date for baptism. So we are working on that! They have some pretty big concerns to get through... marriage... disowned by family.. etc. BUT, we know through Christ all things are possible! We spoke with our rad Zone Leaders and they are coming to all our lessons for the week to try help us. As much as I hate admitting it, we need help, because we have the best ZL and they can solve the world... and we are going to save souls in November :)

The asian lady at the butter chicken shop (lol yep) gave
us some candy for halloween...

Church yesterday was interesting. Out of the many many testimonies given, only 1 mentioned Jesus Christ. It reminds me of the quote by some apostle.. it's not a thankamony, or a travelamony, or a cryamony.. its a testimony, where you testify of the spiritual truths you know to be true. I think I butchered that quote, but still. 

Decided to be matching today............ unity or?

Thanks to mah sister Sister Kuhn for the clothes :)

But since nothing else happened this week to write about I would just like to share with all you my testimony of Jesus Christ. No matter who you are or if you are religious or not, it doesn't even matter.. because Jesus Christ is your Saviour too. We are all at different levels in our relationship with Christ. I know that he is my brother, my Saviour and redeemer. We often talk about Him in some past tense (oh 2000yrs ago..) But that's not the case, He is present. Jesus Christ is a very real and living person. Right now everything you go through every small trial, hard day, challenge in life, heartache, feeling of inadequacy.. He has been through it all. Not just for you, but he goes through it WITH you.  Through Him you can become better than you ever dreamed possible. So open your heart a little wider, let Him in, and just see what will happen. If you allow it to the Atonement will carry you, and lift you high.

Sister Heal xxxxxxxx

10 November 2014

Transfer 6, week 2

Hecccttiiccc week this week!!! Honestly, such a good week :) One of the best on my mission!!!

Monday... So We had the genius idea to be real 'Sister Missionaries' and bake cookies for all our investigators and less actives. $30 and 3 hours later we have a wasted pday (missed out on lazer tag), broken oven and hardened cookie mix. Because of the egg, we HAD to cook it by Wednesday night.. so on Wednesday we had 3 members on the same street, so we went to one during dinner, then house/oven hopped (because of time limits at members houses we only got 2 bakes in at each house... had to remain obedient!) and then we made hand written cards and put it all together. TASK ACCOMPLISHED

Tuesday... we had tradeoffs with Sis Brown and Sis Van Zyl.  I was blessed to go to the promised land again (southside) and was with Sis Brown.  She has been my Sister Trainer Leader (STL) since my first area, so she has sort of been in it for my whole ride. We had really good chats about progression and my time so far as a missionary and what I believe to be my next step. It was perfect and exactly what I needed!!! Trade off was great, a few awkward moments.... we were teaching this tongan man and his wife comes out "no no no, he doesnt know what your saying or want to be baptised etc etc etc" (she is a less active member) and then it got real awkward real quick. Then he yells back "no you shoosh, I do want to listen bla bla bla". Anyway, domestics right there, and then he turns around and says he was baptised when he was 8, uhhh. Moral of the story is it was an excellent day and sister Brown is literally Jeffrey R Holland.

Wednesday... So in NZ there's a thing called "guyfawkes" and it's where for 3 days you can buy fireworks

and then every one lets loose on wednesday. It was nuuuttsss. We were at Bishops house playing with his daughter during lunch, but missionaries can't touch fireworks, so we had sparklers... but we watched her play around and it was pretty rad, then she chucked some at us, crackup! That night was the most annoying night of my mission, sounded like you were in a war. Fireworks going off everywhere!! It was cool but it has carried on the last few nights and the novelty has worn off. I feel sorry for hospital staff.. :)

Thursday.... one of our investigators is set for baptism on the 22nd and should be getting married on the 21st.. ITS A DREAM COME TRUE! Wedding and baptism!!! It was on my mission bucket list. But no celebrating until it actually happens sooo ill get back to you in 3 weeks on that one!!

Saturday.... so our lovely family that we met with the bajillion twins who we did service for a while ago... we did it again! This time, Bishops family came and also a couple of YSA. It was excellent. Had a team of 8 of us who mowed, whippersnipped, organised, built a chicken coop etc. The ward was excellent with fellowshipping and we are now TEACHING the family. Sooooooo excited. I honestly have so much love for them! The kids are the cutest!

Oldest boy is 5, then 3 sets of twins (4, 3 and 1yr)

Then we did our neighbours lawn as a surprise act of service, we had borrowed a lawnmower so figured, why not, the grass was knee high and it was fun engraving our name..

Then we had stake confrence. All about missionary work. How great is it being a missionary when they talk about missionary work? Talks were inspired and hilarious! The Mission Pres and his beautiful wife came and we had a good chat with them. I seriously want to loose my temple recommend just so I can have an interview with him - he is going to be an apostle one day!!!

Sunday.. stake confrence again was amazing. Then we went on splits with 2 sisters from our ward and covered a lot of ground. A less active who hasn't been keen on us coming opened up and said they decided they want to get married and come to church and for her daughter to be baptised. Miracle!

And that's the week. So much more happened but no time to write. In the words of Ammon.. MY HEART IS BRIM WITH JOY

Love you all!!

Sister Heal

ps. the reason why I'm wearing black in all the photos is my companion had a close relative pass away. Tongan culture is you wear black for a year.. but as she is a missionary she decided to do it for a week and I joined in for support. There has been a lot of deaths in this past month, I am grateful for the testimony and knowledge I have of the Plan of Salvation.  Christ broke the bands of death, so that death has no sting. 

17 November 2014

Transfer 6, week 3

Elders tried to fix my bike buuuuut made it worse haha

Despite it apparently being summer, it has poured and poured and poured this week. But we made the best of it and visited a lot of less actives. People took pity on us and invited us into their homes!! Honestly I am convinced there is a positive to everything!!! We have had 2 less actives come back to church recently and 3 part member families where the member spouse is taking the lead and coming back to church and trying to bring their family along!  Miracles all around in the great NZAM!

So heaps of awesome stuff happened this week, general missionary and all. But today there are 3 things I would like to talk about...........  The Book of Mormon, Pride and the Atonement.

Morning exercise. I rode home without shoes as
 they were so wet and heavy haha. Classy missionary!

This morning I finished reading the Book of Mormon again and as I do every time I finish it, I kneel down and ask if it's true. Every single time I receive that confirmation that the Book of Mormon is from God. Every single time!!!!! It is something that not only brings us closer to Him and his son Jesus Christ but it also brings a happiness like nothing else. 

So pride is the ultimate killer in so many things and I just feel like the world should read this talk and I can promise that you will grow somewhat from it!! (Thanks to Sis Kuhn for sending it to me.) https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1989/04/beware-of-pride?lang=eng

The Atonement.. there is this awesome japanese art where they take broken pottery and fix it with gold. So the broken plates/vases etc become more valuable than they originally were, despite being broken and repaired. This is like the Atonement. We make mistakes, we get cracks and chips and sometimes our life smashes into pieces. But if we allow Jesus Christ's atonement to repair us then we are worth more at the end of it.

Love Sister Heal

Got home drenched at 9pm to this sticky note on the door and chocolate on the floor.. that's Elders!!!

PS. In regards to the million people who have asked. Yes I have gotten fat but it's ok as I bought a new blender today and am doing nothing but drinking veggies for the rest of my life :) Thanks for pointing it out!!!!

PPS. .

We were so wet that during the dinner hour we decided to have some fun at the park near us. Well worth it. Closest thing youll get to swimming on the mish! Don't worry, there were no people watching and I wore my helmet for safety ;) I made my comp go first, just in case haha!!

24 November 2014

 Transfer 6, Week 4

THANKYOU SOOOOOOO MUCH SISTER BOADEN AND CHRISTIAN FOR THE PACKAGES!! Honestly I am SO blessed. I will send a pic next week of them and explanation. But they were so thoughtful and apprecited!!!

Not much time to write today folks! We are... GOING TO THE ZOO WITH OUR STL and having A ZONE PDAY (Which have been banned for the last year) So we are emailing for the shortest time possible so we can hit both up. We had a study with Sister Brown and Van Zyl this morning and they got permission for all of us to go to the zoo together, how cute. Plus our Zone Leader sprung a surprise zone pday so we have that at 2:30. Busy, busy pday for us! No time to shop... but hey, who needs food!!!

This week was an EXCELLENT week. Can I just say, Heavenly Father is blessing us abundantly? It was one of those weeks where things go according to plan. Yep - according to plan. What the, missionary work never does that! Appointments didn't fall through, we hit all our goals for finding and teaching, and we recognize that NONE of it was because of us. It's all because of Heavenly Father! This is his work not ours. There is nothing we did differently this week compared to every other week... other than telling Heavenly Father we are his willing servants and will go wherever he wants us to. We have had a massive mission wide focus on planning and really planning by the spirit. Even if things aren't convenient, do it anyway if the spirit directs. So we have been back and forth from one side of our area to the other and we are exhausted from so much bike riding, but it is sooooo worth it.

This week coming is full on... a ward missionary activity on Saturday in a park and HEAPS of people are bringing friends! Our members are the best. Then Sunday morning we have our special sacrament meeting and Sunday night we are having a ward fireside. Our Mission President is coming to speak! We are so blessed to have him come. So this will be a very missionary minded week.

Also, I got given some horse to eat last night, erm. Not too sure how I feel about that!!! Tongans ;)

Sorry for lack of photos, we are at a dodgy convenience store and I think it will tear our camera and USB to shreds, until next week. Also sorry for lack of stories, too many things to do and not just sit and think!

Sister Heal

Zone Pday pics:

Aussies at the zoo!

Sisters, united we stand!

Fun on the swing bridge

Our cool/lame ZL and Elder Faamau

October 2014 - Obedience

6 October 2014

Transfer 5 Week 3

MALO LELEI 

Let's be real, I am basically a Tongan now that I have a Tongan companion. She's teaching me so much :) But rest assured, she is teaching me much more than how to speak another language, she is an excellent missionary!!

So first things first... THANNKSS MMUUMM FFOORR TTHHEE PPAACCKKAAGGEE!! Everyone, my mum sent me the biggest package in the world, full of so much stuff. Just saying... also thanks to Em and James for the hand cream, it feels and smells so nice and the other Sisters were jealous :)

Ok! back to missionary work.. So the lady getting baptised on Saturday has been postponed 2 weeks as she is going to see her family and try get them involved etc. But it will still be during this transfer so its OK, I wont miss out! But she is so solid, read SO much of Book of Mormon and is loving every second of it!!

So, on Monday last week after emails we went to the park and played touch. (Hey brother, I now regret all the times you tried to teach me to throw a ball... because now I suck.. and I'm the silly little palagi girl who can't play!). We had a bunch of YSA come and then we invited some randoms who were starting to play so we had about 25 of us. So much fun!! But then we got home and.. I SNEEZED.. and tore my intercostal muscle again. This time it was much much worse. I screamed and fell to the floor and just started crying. Then my companion freaked out and kept making me laugh which hurt even more. So I would let out little yelps like when you step on a dogs tail. We got a hold of the Zone Leaders who rushed over. I couldn't move so they had to give me a priesthood blessing where I was. I was able to get up and they took me to the medical centre. The lady was like "yehhh you tore it pretty bad but there's no bleeding or swelling etc etc etc... this is very rare, but now  you've done it twice, you'll probs do it again". So that's awesome, I get a strike of fear every time I go to sneeze. But anyway we got home at 8pm and it was a mad rush to get changed out of sports clothes, pop on a dress and get on our way to an appointment. They called me crazy BUT we had to go to this appointment, it was one of those ones you just can't miss.  Anyway... I woke up the next day and I was basically fine. Not much pain, could breath normally and ride a bike. Last time it took a month to get to that point.. THE PRIESTHOOD IS REAL :) 

Riding bikes across random fields

And that story is a good analogy for how the rest of our week was. It was an interesting week here in the great NZAM.  And from what I have heard a lot of other companionships have had a similar week as well, even some of our leaders.  I reckon it's because of General Confrence. There are opposites in everything and Satan knows that this weekend we're going to be so strengthened and receive heaps of revelation so he is trying to knock us all down before hand. Luckily we all know... the good guy always win! There really are opposites in everything :)

Really, this week has been the hardest of my mission so far. BUT STILL AMAZING. Its interesting how even when things come crashing down around you, you are still happy. That's the joy the gospel brings. A true happiness. I could have everything taken away from me right now, and it would be hard, but I know I would still be happy. I never want to come home from my mission, it's seriously the best thing in the world. I am gutted I didnt get out sooner! BUT I know its all in the Lord's timing. And things have worked out for the best anyway.

I am just so happy :)

Love Sister Heal!!

xxxxxxxxx


13 October 2014
Transfer 5 Week 4

Heyyyyyy all :)

Firstly, #GENERAL CONFERENCE

Soooooooooooo amazing. I personally loved Saturdays sessions. But they were all fantastic!!! Loved... Christofferson, Uchtdorf, Klebingat, Gavarett, Holland and Bednar! I am currently watching the Priesthood session.. Soooo good!!  We had an investigator come with her family on the Sunday afternoon session which was great. I received so much personal revelation and also for our current investigators... there was a talk to address each of their concerns!! I loved some of the rebuking..  I feel like they were more bold this time around? 

Secondly, #TRADEOFFS

Sister Smith, Sister Heal & Sister Van Zyl after Conference.

So Sunday we fasted for direction in the area and purpose,  Come Monday night and we got the call for Tradeoffs.  Sister Brown came to my area and I went with Sis Van Zyl to Mangere. THE PROMISED LAND! Honestly, every single conversation (bar one) we got a return appointment for.  Plus we spoke to a lot of people about baptism who want that as a goal in their life. We taught and testified for hours on end and I had forgotten what that felt like (sadly).  We usually have 3 or so scheduled lessons a day but this was different.  Sis Van Zyl is such an incredible missionary, she is very sharp and loving.  True example of Charity!  I was able to receive a lot of direction from her.  Plus she is a crack up and I have been working on my south african accent "ya" is now apart of my vocabulary.  Also Sister Brown, the bossest, boldest missionary I know! She was able to give counsel on exactly what we need to do/change etc. As we followed counsel we have seen many miracles :) The flat they live in in Mangere is pretty much the ghettoest thing in the world, but 6 sisters live there in total. It brought back the memories of Henderson days, I love being with other Sisters!!  Sis van Zyl loves singing, therefore we spent the day singing... haha sadly my voice hasn't improved in the 6 months I have been here and I'm pretty sure when I sing, the spirit leaves ;)

Oh sad/funny story, Elder Basson in our district was cruising down the road on his bike and a car pulled out of the driveway and he went flyyinnnggg... poor guy, miraculously he only has bruising but still, so much pain!

Thats pretty much the highlights of the week, nothing else is in comparison :) Still loving every day!

Sister Heal




20 October 2014
Transfer 5 Week 5

Heyyyyyyy!!!!!!

So, crazy story to start with. On Friday, I GOT HIT BY A CAR!!! Ok, so the story goes like this.. I was happily minding my own business riding down the street and this car comes out of a driveway (front first so not even reversing) and she wasnt paying attention and hit me smack on and knocked me off my bike!!!!! It all happened so fast!! She pokes her head out the door "um are u alright?" and I was like "uhh I think so" as I was stumbling to the side... AND THEN SHE DROVE OFF and in the process cut off a car doing 60km and almost caused another accident. Crazy driver. So this random lady saw the whole thing happen as she was driving past and she reversed down the road (with a very concerned mother look) and was like "are you ok? anything broken? that looked bad, want me to call police? etc etc." She was SO nice. She got the numberplate of the lady and the address and explained how she was going to report it etc. I spoke to Mission President and he counseled the same, so today it's off to make the official report. But yeah that's my fun story! But nevertheless, the work still carries on!!!

ALSO. Another fun mission story. Saturday night all the members went to a baptism andd.... we forgot it was on.... so noone was home. 2 hours riding in the rain! picture is attatched. Never been so wet!! When im soaked I feel like a true missionary should..

Now to the spiritual things. INTERVIEWS WITH MISSION PRESIDENT. He is seriously the best person! Interviews were great and I was able to get a lot of good advice, especially about the atonement and about being a leader. I wish I brought my journal with me to emails so I could explain it all, but moral of the story is he is going to be an apostle one day, I am sure of it!

Also, about the 'come and see' fireside last night. It was so great to see all our other missionaries and meet their investigators. It was all about the Book of Mormon. It's soooo simple.. all you need to do is pray about it!! Why do we complicate things so much? "just pray bro".. its a quote written on the STL wall and it is so very true!!  ALSO I saw SISTER AISA. Well shes not sister Aisa anymore... Lusila Aisa. But so good to see her :) She is back in NZ for a holiday!!

Alllssoooooooo. Miracle after miracle this week. We have just been in the right place at the right time on SO many occasions. I know I shouldn't, but sometimes I forget how much Heavenly Father's hand is in this work!! We have been so blessed with the lessons we have taught and people we have met. Transfers are this week, I hope I stay in this area one more transer!!!

P-Day from about 7 weeks ago at Huia Point, with Elder Gulliver, Sister Eze, myself and Elder Pennington

Lots of love.. Sister Heal



27 October 2014
Transfer 5, week 6

TRANSFERS! Ok so, I am staying in Avondale.. and I have the same companion! 

So every week we email our Mission President. I am going to copy and paste, word for word, the email I sent him. This sums up my week.. well last 2 weeks. I have learnt a lot, which is why I feel the need to share this with the world, despite it making me look bad! So we had interviews last week and every time President asks "are you obedient" and this time my response was "I try to be".  Not acceptable :)

The last 2 weeks have been some of the hardest of my mission, not for any crazy huge particular reason, maybe I am going through a midlife crisis? Who knows, but they have been hard, and I have gotten slack. Worrying more about myself then the people I am here to serve. Worrying more about fearing man then fearing God. I LOVE my ward and the members here, but when they insist after meetings to take you for icecream on the way home to dropping you off... I get scared to offend them so I just agree. But, in that 10minutes, who could I have met on the street? What other good could I have accomplished? I always thought I was a good missionary, but recently I have had a bit of a reality check. I am in no way saying I am a bad, disobedient missionary. I try my best!! But my 'best' has decreased these last 6 weeks. So time for that to change.

President Balli,

To be honest, this week I have had to check myself a lot. I know I have issues with pride that I need to work out and my obedience needs a check also. I thought about it long and hard since interviews and I am genuinely ashamed that I wasn't able to look you straight in the eye and say "yes President I am obedient".
I want to assure you it's nothing major and in no way do I need to be sent home :) Its the small things that get you... lessons going for 50 minutes not 45, ice cream after MCM, etc etc etc. Those 'small things' aren't small things. Because those 'small things' is what is keeping me from qualifying for miracles, and for the spirit more and for becoming more like Jesus Christ. 
I thought about the question "what sort of missionary do I want to be?" Which led to "what sort of missionary does HEAVENLY FATHER want me to be?" And then I came up with a bunch of qualities and attributes from the scriptures/pmg. One thing that stuck out to me is that I need to be someone Heavenly Father can trust. Trust me to hear and follow the spirit, trust his precious children in my hands to teach and guide and be an example to them. 
I have done a lot of repenting recently, but president I want to say sorry to you also. I am sorry that I have only been giving 95% of myself to the mission and I am sorry if I am a missionary you feel like you can not trust. 
But it is going to change. Next time we meet I will look you in the eye and say with confidence "yes, President, I am obedient".

ps. in regards to the work, we had a couple of investigators at church today and 3 less actives. Which was a miracle!

"when obedience ceases to be an irritant and becomes our quest, in that moment God will endow us with power"

- Ezra taft Benson

So thats me. A few other cool things happened this week... like a fireside with the Temple President where Sid Going came and spending time with members, and the tongan sisters, which is all in the photos. 

Oh and last pday we had a water fight which was pretty rad. And there's this awesome $5 butter chicken place and the lady knows our order off by heart. 

Celebrated some rad Indian Lights festival and had so much food. Fireworks have kept me up and not sleeping but so much fun to watch. Oh and had terrential down pours which was fun, legit it was hilarious! 

We found some kittens in a flowerpot as well. 

Finally I found a, cool as, poncho that makes me look like a bat. 

Sister Heal

September 2014 - a 'Peculiar People'

1 September 2014

Transfer 4 week 4

Sooooooooooooooo much rain here in the land of the long white cloud!! I can't even explain the point of my wetness. If you squeezed my skirt water dripps out. BUT, it's all part of the parcel. People driving past think we're slightly mad but hey, we need to live upto the expectation of being a "peculiar people" ;)

We went out for lunch to.. DENNYS.. some cool as diner
thing $6 for a large pizza and L&P!

We had a ward missionary fireside.. and somehow we had more people at the fireside than at Sacrament! We have been planning it for a month and everyone had their assignments buuuut at 3pm (3 hours before it starts) we get told that those singing have pulled out, and there is no video to share.  As a missionary you become pro at last minute pulling-it-off.  My lovely companion has the voice of an angel (unlike me, turns out im basically tone deaf and sing at one flat tone the whole time, eek) so she got up there and belted out some primary song and blasted us all away :) As missionaries, for anyone who doesn't know, you must be in sight and sound of your companion at all times.  So I called up some YSA in the afternoon ward and were like "hey, want to go on exchanges with us.... at 5pm..... in the chapel?" haha so whilst my companion was singing in the chapel I was in the office on lds.org looking up videos to do with eternal families.  Considering that's one of our main principles - there is very little on it! But through prayer and faith and a lot of scrolling through videos we found 3x 3minute ones to share. Got it onto a USB and had everything sorted about 5min before the it was about to start!  Sisters saved the day ;) So many people turned up and supported, and we had a few non members there....and people brought food, which was awesome as we skipped dinner to organise everything... the Lord provides... ohhh happy days!!!

So with the chatterbox I spoke about last week we also have one for friend shares (visiting with members)... and on it there are words and certain challenges.. and a scripture also:

fireside - bring a friend to next ward fireside

book - give someone a book of mormon with your testimony

preach - come out with missionaries for an hour

church - bring someone to church

share - share a mormon message on facebook.

Invite - invite a friend to hear a missionary discussiojn

Family - invite a family to your next family home evening

fast - Fast specifically for a missionary opportunity

Anyway. We have done this with a few families so far (each person has a different challenge) and one family is so 'boss' at it, they brought someone to church this week AND we went to their house to have a lesson with their other flat mate. So we have new investigators and great teaching appointments. Members are KEY to missionary work!!!!!! Making things happen :)

And a picture of a really fat cat (this pictures a slimming angle of it)
 which goes along with the picture i sent months
 ago of a fat cat on a fence.... love fat cats here in NZ

Also, I was supposed to go on tradeoffs with the Sister Brown and Kofford and I was SO excited as I was going to their area which means.,.. BACK TO MY OLD FLAT! So I would have seen everyone, including Sister Daynes. I was so excited but the night before, but poor Sister Taylor got sick so, it was cancelled.. fingers crossed for this week :)

Wow this got long, sorry about it everyone! Have a swell week..

Sister Heal

PS... CONGRATS TO SISTER FOSTER ON COMING BACK FROM HER MISH :)

8 September 2014

Transfer 4 Week 5

WOOOWWWWWWWWW.

Ok so, craziest story ever peoples :) But i will tell you at the end so you read the less crazy stuff first and your mind will be blown!!!

Companions - last day of church!

TRANSFERS!!!! My beautiful companion Sister Ezekiela is going to Otara and I am staying. No idea about who my companion will be, I didn't sleep a wink last night thinking about it. I am so excited but so terrified. I feel like I have had the best Sisters so far in the mission and there are none left... haha but I have confidence in my Mission President so whoever it is will be inspired. Sister Daynes has had a new companion EVERY transfer on her mission.. other than being my trainer.. I'm starting to wonder if that will be me? Which is an awesome blessing because I get to learn so much from so many different people :) So my rap sheet is as follows... 5 transfers, 4 companions, 3 areas. Not bad :) I will be hitting my 6th month mark this week coming... time to burn an ugly skirt (it's tradition)

We went on tradeoffs on.... Friday. We only got to go from 1-5pm though which was super short and super sad but awesome we got too do it!!  I went to the other area with Sis Kofford in Henderson... It felt weird being so close to my old area but also cool :) I challenged myself to actually 'come seeking' with some things I had been pondering and praying over... and waddaya know... I received answers for everything I was seeking for.  Seeking works.. time to apply that into everyday life.. church.. conference calls.. meetings. Nothing beats personal revelation! Well maybe a guaranteed spot in the Celestial kingdom like Alma received (reading in Mosiah this morning) but hey, revelation = awesome!

Sunday was fast sunday so we went to the park
for our lunch break to study :)

OK CRAZY STORY TIME. We walked in to the chapel to sit down whilst I see this man in the back wearing a tracksuit. Went and chatted to him and it turns out he is a member (less active by the seems of it). He tells me how he is going to bear his testimony at the pulpit and i thought "wow, good on him!" anyway he handed me a few pieces of paper and said "read this, this is my testimony". The second I grabbed it I felt the Spirit inside me tense (it's so cool looking back that before I even realised, my spirit did!). It was a weird feeling. I looked down at the paper and the opening line is "I know the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true..." and I thought well.. this seems normal.. but it still felt wrong, my chest was tight. So I investigated further, read a little bit more and had a chat to him.

He started to tell me how no one has the Holy Ghost, and went on to share some very negative experiences and intentions etc etc etc and he ended with "people have to know the truth, so I am going to share this here and then go to Blockhousebay Ward and share it there and do this every fast and testimony meeting".

So here I am, 2minutes before sacrament, and this crazy (but lovely) guy tells me of his plans.  Between us and the Elders we have 10 investigators and a few less actives at church... not a good time for someone to preach false doctrine. I quickly went up to the Elders and told them and as I was returning, told Stake President and Bishop... and we all braced ourselves.

So the sacrament gets passed and Bishop introduces the meeting. He then bares a very, very, VERY powerful testimony.. hitting all the points this guy was going to say.. and the Spirit was just so thick you could cut it with a knife.  Elder Burgess and I had the plan that if the guy got up to walk to the front we were going to jump up infront of him and just spend 30min on our testimonies, not give him the time to get up... everyone would of been confused but someone had to take a hit ;) haha anyways he stands up. Elder Burgess stands up, the guy looks at him and walks out.

End of story. Happy days :) 

One more story:

Locked out of the flat!!

So Tuesday morning we were being good little missionaries and planned to take the rubbish out early as we always forget it. Well.. we walked outside... in our PJs... and THE DOOR SHUT BEHIND US. We were locked out. No phone no keys no nothing. We said a little prayer.... but the door didn't unlock (worth a shot lol). So we went 
to a members house down the road.. not looking very missionary-like. She welcomed us in and we had to call Bishop, to get the Elders number, to get to our zone leaders, to call the mission office. We get instructed to go to the tongan sister missionaries flat and wait there for a few hours. So we had a blast with them taking photos etc etc and eating all their food (the tongan missionaries get given so much food) and then at 9:25 get picked up by some lovely office ladies.  

We jump out the van to get into the house the Elders rock up to pick us up for our meeting.. so they catch us in our PJs with crazy hair.  

Got in and out in 5 mintes, never gotten dressed so quickly in my life :) Got to our meeting on time and became the laughing stock of everyone :)

Fun times with the Tongan Sisters   

I thought I'd share this, it's awesome

https://www.lds.org/bible-videos/videos/unity-of-the-faith?cid=HPTH090414350&lang=eng

Thats all my news. Such a long one again.. sorry kids!!

Love Sister Heal

15 September 2014

Transfer 4 week 6

SO to start this off awesomely... here's a sweet as quote from the "4th missionary talk""Every challenge you face, every hard thing you confront, every bad thing that happens too you, every unfairness, every conflict, every sadness, every disappointment and heartache, every temptation and every opposition happens for one purpose only: To give you opportunity to respond by applying in your life the teachings of Christ. As you do so you are changed to become more like him"BAM :)

Last day with Sister Ez

Cooking dinner for an investigator -  a tick off the bucket list!

Ok sooooo... Sister Ez is gone down south.. Otara.. and I am still in lovely Waterview with my new companion.. SISTER FAIVAKIMOANA!!!! All right, here's her background... Grew up in AUCKLAND in WATERVIEW STAKE (yep the place I'm at now), her Dad was Bishop of the Tongan ward, then she moved to Sydney for 5 years and got called back here. Poor lass!! She was trained by Sister Judd (most legendary missionary to walk the earth) and then got transferred here.  So I am her follow up trainer! Which is new, and exciting :) Soooo she went to Avondale College which is in our area, so she knows heappssss of people. Was hilarious, we walked down the street and first 3 people we spoke to she knew!! haha so good. She is trying to stay focused on the work (which would be hard being around fam and friends) but after some advice from President she will be sweet :)

My new companion Sister Faivakimoana

Transfers was on Thursday.. Sis Daynes, Remington and Bonilla were ALL THERE. So I got to see all my fave people in the one place - SO MUCH JOY :) 

Sister Broaden from Australia!!

I spent the first half of the week visiting all the members so Sister Ezekiela could say goodbye.. and the second half of the week visiting all the members so Sister Faiva could say hello. So I have been given so much hot chocolate and biscuits I'm about to burst! Members here are so nice, they take care of missionaries :)

Also funny story for the week: I fell of my bike (this happens too often).  I had a plate on the handle bars and it smashed under my hand so now it's all cut. Sad times. But as missionaries we carry on.. even if blood is dripping down my hand :)

Also split my tooth in half so I have a dentist appointment tomorrow!!!

That's it for my week. A week with members!!!!!!!!

Love Sister Heal

22 September 2014

Transfer 5 Week 1

Wooowww... Well I hit my 6 month mark. What the crazy? Too quick! Slow down life!!

Being Tongan!

Time flies when your having fun? I think so! Alright, my week:

So we had a 'Come and See' fireside last night.. it's the one for all missionaries to bring their investigators to. We had 2 investigators and a less active come. The first 2 speakers were amazing, and then SAMMY J performed, such a perfect voice that guy. Then Mission President gets up to speak and is all spontaneos and is like "can all the full time missionaries please come to the front, we're going to sing a song".  So we all get up (there's about 800 people and 100 missionaries) and we're all up there going "what song are we singing?" and the the piano starts and it's the intro to "As Sisters in Zion" and we realise were doing the TFY medley. Everyone got quickly sorted, pulled it together, and smashed it. I think we got more out of it than the people watching.. but the Spirit was strong. Those that came with us said how much they loved it all! So happy days :)

We had zone confrence.. where 4 zones get together (like 60 missionaries) and have training for the day. Was way fun and informational! The focus was on Family History... Wowwww it's so important. I always pushed it aside as a thing to do when I'm older, but on Tuesday I went to the Family History library and had the best hour ever. The Spirit of Elijah is real people. Get onto it! And then on Wednesday it's exactly what president Balli taught us, how to use Family History in finding, retaining and reactivating.  Such a spiritually uplifting day.  Plus we all had lunch together and in this mission you rarely get to spend time with other missionaries so that was good :)

Ok so, the weather has been crazy, crazy. The other day we were walking down the street and it was raining hard out.. next thing you know.. hail... and this is like hard hail just started pelting down, so we ran and hid behind some random's house and hid under the umbrella. Got soaked still. Went to a member's down the road and when we walked in they ran to give us towels and then made hot chocolates.  So nice of them!!

Also.. MEMBER MISSIONARY WORK. With the chatterbox thing I spoke about a few weeks ago.. we have had heaappss of people bring friends/family to church/activities/giving out Books of Mormon etc... Everyone is starting to get excited about it. Members are key.. anyone reading this.. help your missionaries.. complete challenges.. I dare you :)

OH ALSO. One of our members made us Pulitassis or however it's called.. Looks so good :)

ALSO. We drew the Plan of Salvation on the pavement on Saturday.. it worked a treat, heaps of people stopped to talk and asked questions etc :)

The Plan of Salvation or the Plan of Happiness, a wonderful message!

Love you all!!

Sister Heal


29 September 2014
Transfer 5 Week 2

KIA ORA :)

So this has been a week of miracles. Story time!!!

Riding bikes across a random field!

I don't know if I ever mentioned it, but a few weeks ago we got a random phone call from a lady saying she is interested in learning about the church.  Phone calls like this don't happen often! After a week of complications we were able to see her.  I vaguely remembered her - just a lady we tried to talk to passing by and we insisted she took the "Restoration" pamphlet.  Well, she read it, she loved it, has now read half the Book Of Mormon and.. is getting baptised this Saturday!!  I look forward to the 1000 more calls I will one day receive from all the other pamphlets I have given out.. if only!! But you NEVER know who is prepared.... 

Speaking of prepared people, we had a lesson this week with one of our investigators. He is Samoan and lives with his daughter and grandchildren.  Sometimes you forget the power of the 'First Vision'.  As we shared it - the Spirit could have been cut with a knife it was so strong.  After the lesson he bore his testimony of how he knows it's true because he feels it deep within his heart. Miracle! He should be getting baptised on the 25th October.

We also had 2 people we have worked with for over a month agree to baptism. 

Where is all this coming from??

LOVE IT!! Sent to me from Sis Broaden's mum

INVITING!!! We have a challenge to invite someone to be baptised every single day.  We accepted the challenge and followed the guidance of the Spirit as to who was prepared and who wasn't. Last time we were given this challenge I was in Hibiscus on the Nth Shore at the start of my mission.  I thought it was a dumb challenge "its not all about baptism now is it" was my frequent response.  BUT something I learnt this time. No it isnt all about baptism, but, baptism is the start.  It's the gate, the door opening, that leads to eternal life.  Someone can't be baptised unless you first invite them.  When you invite someone, you get 2 responses... YES - Awesome, fantastic! Or... NO - which is just as awesome. People always have a reason why they say no. So you find out their concerns and follow the spirit to help them resolve them. Love it.

ALSO

Then came Saturday night and we were planning for Sunday and we realised that to hit our weekly goals we needed... 3 more lessons with a member present, 1 more friendshare (challenges to members), 1 more less active visit, 45 TWE (talking to randoms on street) and one more new investigator. We looked at each other and thought "all right, let's do this".  There was a lot to accomplish but with Heavenly Father's help everything is possible. Only through him were we able to accomplish all this, plus more. It was the busiest Sunday of my mission, and we accomplished everything except sacrament attendence 1/4 and other lessons 5/10. But other than that.... Happy Days :)

My study desk.
A HUGE picture of Christ staring at me,
with Mosiah 14 (Isaiah's messianically writing
about Christ - the best) and Alma 26 on the wall

I can't even remember the rest of the week. I am still buzzing about the baptisms and accomplishing goals. I just want to point out - It is NOTHING that we did.  So many things we planned fell through and didn't work out how we wanted. Why? This isn't our work, it's Heavenly Father's work.  His hand is in it and we need to just relax and stop trying to force things to happen but seek His will through prayer and follow that. That is my new way to live life!!

Sister Heal xx