50 DAYS GUYS

50 DAYS! (Well, 49 but close)...

It is so crazy how fast it is all happening. I felt like I had been waiting forever (& I probably was compared to others) but once I got assigned… everything started becoming a blur! It’s gone oh so fast!

L - R: Eternity, Leata, Sophia, Siuni & Muah!

Victor. N

The girls that I love!

So Sunday came & me & my 5 sisters went to a Multistake YSA fireside. It was good, although we were late I enjoyed being able to see old faces & meet new ones. The face I was probably the most excited to see was Victor’s.

Victor is an old friend from EFY who served in Guatemala. I was very happy to see him because I knew that I wanted to hear his experiences on the mission field. Although they were experiences I probably shouldn’t of asked to hear, I think they will prepare me for what may come & what I may face. He said that he was held up TWICE by thieves who wanted money. He also told me that one of his companions & his companion were robbed & left to walk home in only their garments, he said that two sister missionaries were kidnapped for a WEEK & then were returned (phewwww), he didn’t ride or drive his whole mission – he WALKED everywhere & the list goes on… But then after all of those experiences, he said “he’d do it all again, & that he loved it!”…

I don’t think it matters what I hear or will continue to hear before I leave. I choose to serve! It will be daunting at times, but it will be so worth it & I am ready! I know that everything happens for a reason & that I am meant to be going on my mission. I will admit though, I’m on a rollercoaster of emotions right now…

I’m nervous, excited, scared, anxious, happy, tired, homesick, overjoyed, thrilled, worried, ready to serve my mission!

I know my purpose and it is to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ & His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, & enduring to the end. And that's what I will do!

Anything that could make me feel this happy, can’t be wrong. I love the Gospel with all of my heart! I am most definitely blessed!


Sister Loli ;-)

I ACCEPT

I am overwhelmed by my call to serve in the El Salvador San Salvador West / Belize Mission. I am thankful for the opportunity that I have been given to be able to do the Lord's work in serving the people of El Salvador and Belize. I accept this call wholeheartedly.

While preparing for my mission I faced many trials, which I'm sure many preparing missionaries do, and at times thought that it would be easier just to give up and not try anymore. But I knew that a mission was something that I was meant to do, something that I'd known I was meant to do since I was a child in Primary. Although my testimony was not as strong or sure as it is now, being a missionary was so vivid in my mind. The Gospel is the most real thing that I've ever known and I know that without it, I would be lost.

I know that without a shadow of doubt that my Heavenly Father is real, that His love for me is unfathomable and that He knows me by name. I know that Jesus Christ is our Saviour and Redeemer and that He came to Earth to die for us so that we may live again. He was also a prophet and came to earth to minister. I know that this is true. I am so grateful for the Atonement and I know that it is real, that there would be no other way to return to our Father in Heaven were it not for it. I am so grateful for the Holy Ghost and for the comfort that He is to me and for His friendship. I am grateful for this gift because I know that I am never alone and will always have a guide. I am so thankful for prayer, I know that it is real, I know that without prayer my life would be in ruins. Nothing in my life would make sense were it not for the Gospel. It is the centre of my life and I couldn't imagine life without it. There is not a doubt in my mind and heart that the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the truth on this earth. That it is the restored Gospel.

I am thankful for the scriptures and for the truth that they breathe into me everyday as I study. I have a strong testimony of the Book of Mormon and I know that the words written by the Prophets in this book are true. I know that Joseph Smith saw what he said he saw, and I know that he was a true prophet of God. I know that our living Prophet today, Thomas S. Monson, is a true prophet of God in these latter days and that if we heed his teachings, we cannot go wrong.

More than anything, I am grateful for my Family. I am grateful for the love that we have for each other and the bond that we share. I am grateful that we can continue this bond in the next life as well. I know that families are forever through our Heavenly Father's plan. I am very grateful for the plan of Salvation, it truly is the plan of happiness. I know that the Gospel is real, it is true and I love it with all of my heart, with everything that I have.

I want to say how thankful I am again for this opportunity, I don't think I can say it enough. I leave you with my short, yet sure testimony. In and through the sacred name of our Saviour Jesus Christ, Amen.

Sister Loli ;-)

THE CALL

ITS HEREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

No need for an essay... It is what you think it is: MY CALL IS HERE!!!!!

Tuesday, 30 December 2014 at 10:22am is when it finally came! I'm flooded with so many different emotions right now.. I don 't know where to start. I have to wait until I go home to open it. So I'll finish work and go to Blacktown to get uni and then we'll train it back to Newcastle together so I can open it.

THIS IS IT!!!!

Sister Loli ;-)

WAIT NO MORE

Well, actually, its not what you think. You should keep waiting because my call isn't back yet. BUT, it will be here soon soon soon. I spoke to my President who told me that it should be here either the week of Christmas or the following week. Christmas was Thursday which means... You know what it means. I am on top of the world, excited as ever! I cannot wait to open my call and see where I am to serve. This calls for celebration... No, not a party but something like: a cupcake, a movie, cruise to the beach... You know something like that. Hahahaha! A bit off topic but yes I am very excited!!

While I was preparing to serve my mission, I found it extremely difficult. I was on an emotional roller coaster and I couldn't understand why it seemed so easy for others. It honestly looked like a piece of cake for them whilst I was suffering to do the simplest things in preparation for this. One day I would be so full of hope and determination. And then the very next second, I would be at my lowest.. struggling to keep afloat. One day, I had had enough and decided to throw in the towel (because lets face it, nobody is perfect). I text my President and told him I was done, to which he replied: "Esther read Ecclesiastes 3:1. Don't doubt this time as part of your purpose." I grabbed my scriptures and scavenged for this reference in search for hope, I read:

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:"

I cried, cried and cried. And prayed, I prayed to ask for forgiveness, forgiveness for doubting that this was my purpose and I asked for strength, strength to overcome any trials that were to come. Any trials that were to try and take me off the path I was currently on. I spoke to my President the next day and I thanked him for his text and assured him that I was fine and well and truly back on the path I was meant to be on.

I have such a strong testimony of the Gospel, I believe with all of my heart that it is the truth on this earth. If I didn't believe it, I wouldn't be sacrificing 18 months to share it with strangers because that would just be a waste of time for everybody. I am grateful for the truthfulness of the Gospel, I am grateful for our living Prophet today, Thomas S. Monson. I love this Gospel with everything I have! I can truly say that I would give my life for it. I love missionaries and missionary work. And I am so very grateful for their hard work and selflessness. I love our Father in Heaven, our Savior Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost and I'm so very grateful for their presence in my life. Through and in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Sister Loli ;-)

MY SAMOAN SISTERS

Sister Sopo & Sister Agavaa-Faanoi

SISTER AIONO

One of our very best friends, Noa left to serve her mission yesterday. She has been called to serve in the Atlanta Georgia Mission. There aren't enough words to explain how proud I am of her - Sister Aiono, whilst preparing for her mission, went through trials very similar to mine. And so being able to see her off at the airport and see that she finally reached her goal to serve, brought tears to my eyes and hope to my heart. I know that I can overcome these trials that I'm facing, if I do it with Heavenly Father, then I have nothing to fear. No matter what comes my way, I will push on because this is something that I've always wanted to do. I cannot wait to join her on the field. I know that I will. 

I will always keep the faith! 

Sister Loli ;-)