Sister Flake's Mission Blog: Bittersweet farewells and Strength to burst bands!

VC missionaries with Tram--January 2018

Alooooha! Happy new year! Well this week was another awesome week:) I absolutely love being on the Lord's errand. It's one of the most joyful and rewarding and fulfilling things ever! I can't believe that it's already the last week of the transfer... this transfer FLEW by! I'll have pday on Saturday, January 13th, and then no pday the next week. We will have 'transfer news' on Saturday night revealing our companions, areas, and pads for the coming transfer. The Allans (the new Visitors' Center directors) will arrive late Saturday night, and the Swintons leave on Sunday. I am really going to miss the Swintons. It will be hard to see them go. They are spiritual giants and have really taught me so much about seeing the miracles that happen in our lives, genuinely loving and serving others, and that God really does call a prophet TODAY to lead and guide us, His children! I feel honored to have served here with them.

I will sure miss the Swintons❤

Here's the famous "Swinton bread and cookies"!

Well, I'm sure you are all well-aware that the prophet, President Thomas S. Monson, passed away this past week. He will be dearly missed, but I am so excited for the reunions going on in heaven for him! What a joyful life he lived:) It was neat to get to know him through the eyes of Sister Swinton (she wrote his biography). He was so genuine, loving, selfless, spiritually sensitive, and really reached out to the one. He truly emulates our Savior! I'm grateful for the guidance from the Lord we received through Him to read the Book of Mormon daily, that decisions determine destiny, your future is as bright as your faith, learn to cultivate an attitude of gratitude, and so much more. I know he truly was a prophet of the Lord, Jesus Christ! I feel so blessed to have the knowledge of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. God loves us each so much!

I feel like literally all of my pictures home this week deal with something food-related hahaha, but what can I say, the food here is so great! Especially at a VC where we constantly have goodies made for us. I am more clearly seeing how it's a "40 lb mission" as the time goes by haha. We went to Seven Brothers for lunch today (the one at the Fijian market instead of next to Foodland) and there were members of the church in front of us in line (from Utah) who wanted to pay for our food! So much kindness and love for the missionaries here<3

#reasonsILoveBeingaVCMissionary... Sister Goo (from Laie) made us all cinnamon rolls one morning ❤
Yes, they were even still warm

Seven Brothers! We went with Sisters Hemming and Huang.

Garlic Shrimp😍

Man, I loooove that I get to see sooo many miracles here every week! One miracle was on Wednesday. We had Gateway (inviting people to come on the tram tour from the PCC), and returned back to the VC on the last tram. Usually we just head home to finish studies, dinner, TC, etc, but that day Sis Lin asked if we wanted to go help with the people at the VC since there were so many that had come. We headed out, and began talking with a family from California, Dan, Sydney, and Erik. They had several Mormon friends/acquaintances/coworkers but didn't know much about the church. We were able to get to know them, teach them a few gospel principles, and invite them to learn more! One of my New Years Resolutions is to have a "year of no fear"--to confidently and boldly invite and help others come closer to Christ. Towards the end of our conversation with this family, I felt I should specifically invite them to meet with local missionaries. I did so, and it felt totally natural and I wasn't nervous at all as I extended a genuine and honest invitation of having the missionaries back home stop by, visit, and share more. They agreed and left me with their information. I'm so excited to see how they continue progressing in their conversion. Come to find out that the father's grandpa was actually a member of the church! His kids didn't even know that haha. Anyways, my point is that as we set goals and ask the Lord for help, He really will help us! He wants us to succeed in the righteous goals we set. I'm grateful He helped me to see that He IS answering my prayers for help and strength, and that it is liberating to live with no fear! It's up to us to choose between faith and fear.

Another miracle was meeting two young adult girls from Denmark, Emily and Sandra. It's neat to see how the Lord is really guiding this work. We briefly spoke to these two girls right after they got off the tram, but then spoke with another family as the Denmark girls headed up to walk around the temple. I really felt like I needed to speak with them again before they left the temple to return to the PCC. (15-20 minutes at the temple goes by too fast! Sometimes it's like a timed game almost haha) We spoke with a couple different people, but all the while these two girls from Denmark stayed in my mind. A few minutes before the tram returned, they came down from their walk around up to the temple and Sis Lin and I were able to speak with them. They had so many really great questions for us, and they were super open and receptive to learning more. When we showed them the Book of Mormon in Danish, Emily TOTALLY lit up! She was so excited! They were both really impressed with it. We had the opportunity to explain and bear testimony of the Book of Mormon, and they gave us their information to stay in touch and have the local missionaries visit them when they return home. They had sooo many good questions, and we simply ran out of time to teach them more! I'm so thankful for modern technology that allows us to continue conversations even when we are in various places around the world.

hiBISQUEus!🌺

It's different being here in Laie because there are so many members of the Church. We still see miracles in our area though! This week a couple attended church who don't regularly attend. They usually come every fast Sunday for Sacrament Meeting, but this time they stayed for all 3 hours. We visited them a few weeks ago and committed them to read the Book of Mormon every day. In Relief Society, the wife raised her hand during the discussion and mentioned how important daily scripture reading is, and that "the sisters got me back on track for reading the Book of Mormon every day". She was very grateful. It's neat to see that even though everyone is a member of the church in our area, we can still make a difference and lift the members!

Okay, last cool story bc I'm out of time... we took a tour with a set of sister missionaries and their investigator, Kui, and her boyfriend (who is a member), Calvin. They wanted to watch a film we have here, and talk about temples and the Plan of Salvation. Kui has been attending church for several months with Calvin, and just recently had the restoration lesson from these sisters. She is so prepared! I think my favorite part of the whole hour+ lesson with them was when Calvin asked me to share my testimony. I don't think I've ever felt the spirit so strongly from bearing my testimony than I did at that moment! It was like the Spirit was tangible as I testified of the things I know to be true. I don't remember it all, but I know I testified of Jesus Christ as our Savior, the Book of Mormon as the word of God, and this church as the restored church of Jesus Christ again on the earth in these latter days, complete with the proper priesthood authority that allows us to perform sacred ordinances in God's name and with His power. It was a powerful moment, and I know everyone there felt it. The sisters let us know yesterday that after our time with them at the VC, the four of them went to lunch together and Kui decided to be baptized on January 20! So exciting!

Kui and Calvin (Kui is getting baptized Jan 20!!!!)

Well, lastly I'll just say that this week I feel like I've focused a lot on 1 Nephi 7:17. With all of our New Years Resolutions, this is a perfect verse to focus on. "17 But it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord, saying: O Lord, according to my faith which is in thee, wilt thou deliver me from the hands of my brethren; yea, even give me strength that I may burst these bands with which I am bound." Just like Nephi, we can pray for strength to burst the bands that bind us--whether they be physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual. The Lord will give you the strength you need! All we need to do is ask and be willing to act:) Try it out this week! Pray for strength to burst bands that have bound you in the past. Just trust in the Lord and remember that His timing is perfect (so much better than the timing WE think is 'best').

Aloha! Much love,
Sister Flake

My padmates and the Chongs

Yo quiero Taco Bell

There was a tree at the VC decorated by the Marshallese branch. They wanted us VC missionaries to each have an ornament to keep!
They are all handmade by the Marshallese people here❤