God is in the details

Happy New Year everyone!!! I can't believe it's already 2018... this is a special year coming up! Always remember that "your future is as bright as your faith"😊 (Pres. Monson).

This week was totally awesome. Being a missionary in Hawaii is the GREATEST thing EVER! This week at the Visitors' Center we broke our tram record... TWICE!!! (Tram record is the highest number of people who have come to the VC from the PCC Tram Tour in one day) On Thursday we broke it by hitting 593 people, and on Saturday we broke it again by hitting 631 people! Just from the tram tours! (So there were even MORE people who came in on their own to the VC). The Lord really is hastening His work, and Visitors' Centers are the prime finding locations for missionaries. It really is amazing the work that goes on here.

I feel like there's sooo much that went on this week, but I'll try to just pick a few highlights:
Food: Sis Lin and I went and got musubi for lunch this week so I got to eat it again...I actually really enjoy it! It's 2 bucks for a decent sized musubi, and we bought it at a little shop right next to Hukilau Cafe.

Musubi!

Today after our hike we went to Angels Shaved Ice and Ice Cream shop and I got a suuuuper delicious shaved ice. It's by far the fanciest and most delicious shaved ice I've ever had in my entire life (it even trumps Italian ice). I got the "Angel's Halo" I think it was called... it had a scoop of vanilla ice cream on bottom, then freshly shaved ice flavored mango, pina colada, and coconut, then sweetened condensed milk drizzled all over it, and whipped cream to top it all off. It was most definitely more sugar than one person should eat in one sitting, but hey, when in Hawaii as a missionary you've got to do SOMETHING semi-crazy sometimes😉😂

Angel's Shaved Ice❤❤🍧

Nature: we went on a hike this morning and it was BEAUTIFUL!!!! Holy cow, it was a legit hike too... we climbed through some intense branch-structures, crossed a river like 8 times, walked by banana trees, bashful grass, and plants of all varieties, and ended up at a beautiful waterfall/water hole! (Don't worry, we didn't go swimming #obediencebringsblessings;)) It took us a little over 2 hours and it was worth every minute! Hawaii really is so gorgeous... AND tick-free!!! Hahaha😉 It was fun to finally get to go on a hike here. I'm grateful I get one day a week to explore this beautiful place!

Pretty gnarly hike🌄

Here's the waterfall/waterhole!❤

Just chillin' on a tree in Hawaii!!

Cool plants everywhere!

My phone arrived this week! I'm super excited to see how the Lord will hasten His work even more with this technology. I'm also really looking forward to setting some good technology habits for after my mission. Technology is inspired, that's for sure!

A highlight this week was definitely New Years! We had a gathering at the VC (of course haha... we are so spoiled;). We had dinner all together and watched "Trail of Hope", a documentary written by Sister Swinton about the history of the Mormon Pioneers. It was so great! I have a renewed appreciation for the Pioneers' faith and sacrifice, and was reminded of my wonderful experience on Trek in Wyoming a few summers ago.

Happy New Years!!! Taco salad and pioneer documentary😊

Sister Swinton!! (and my new U-H shirt) ❤

Right before the movie, Denise Allen walked into the VC and found Sis Lin and I and gave us Christmas gifts! Any time is a good time to get a Christmas gift... it was fun to have Christmas extended! She is so so so sweet, and brought hugs and love from Jaedon in Logan.

Thank you Jaedon and Denise!!🎄

Denise (very right) and her daughters! The Allen girls😊

Go Aggies!

New years eve we had a mini-celebration (Sister Lin and I) at 10 pm. We did a countdown and said "happy new year!!!" There were a bunch of fireworks at the park next door too, so we had front row seats for those! We still went to bed at 10:30 though... or at least we attempted to go to bed then😂 I put in earplugs and was thankfully able to sleep until a few minutes before midnight when it sounded like a war had broken out at the park next door! Seriously it was SO LOUD🎆🎆 So instead of trying to sleep through the noise, I just sat and watched the fireworks for a few minutes until they were done, and then went back to sleep.😊

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2018!🎆

One of my new years resolutions is to give the Lord all fear and anxiety. Too often we as humans carry around burdens/loads that aren't meant to be carried alone by us! I tend to be a very independent and an I-can-do-it-all-myself type person, but it often cripples me. Sister Lin taught me something really valuable about fear this week--on large part through her example. It's something I've been taught on many occasions before, but seeing Sister Lin be a living example of this every single day has helped me really internalize it. I asked her if she ever feels afraid and she said no. She said her trainer taught her to think about it this way (which I've been taught this before on multiple occasions, but again, it's starting to sink in now): When we invite people to act and come closer to Jesus Christ, the very worst outcome is that they say "no" and give us a critical/rude look/reaction. The very BEST outcome is that they accept our invitation to come closer to Jesus Christ and better prepare themselves to meet God again one day! When you look at it that way, it's pretty clear that being bold and fearless is the way to go... but it's easier said than done! I'm excited to practice it each day and improve😊

Being at a VC is so cool. I know I say it a lot, but I love getting to testify of simple truths to people every single day, on grounds that have been dedicated, and with so many awesome resources all around us (literally) to help people learn the truth and feel of God's Spirit. There are so many connections that I find and make each week with people who come in here too! It's crazy how small the world seems to be here in Laie.

Temple trip! Hawaii is beautiful😍

People: The highlight I'll include this week is from online work! A few weeks ago I picked up an inbound call to mormon.org and it was a member who wanted to give a member referral to someone. Minte (the one who called) had met Chelsea (person interested in knowing more) at the store because Chelsea was checking out Minte and her daughter at the cash register. They were buying a dress for church, and when Chelsea asked what the dress was for, they explained it was for church. They got talking about church, and how Chelsea has been looking for a church lately. Minte invited her to attend the LDS church and that the missionaries could go with her. Chelsea accepted the invitation and gave Minte her phone number. Minte called in to mormon.org to give us Chelsea's info and have local missionaries sent asap! I tried calling Chelsea right away, but was unable to reach her. A few weeks had gone by with no returned phone call and no text reply, and I almost lost hope, but decided to call once more. Chelsea answered the phone this time, and she said she was still interested! Anyways, it's just crazy to me how God's hand is in everything. There are so many pieces that play into each person's story, and God is really in the details! I love Elder Rasband's talk from last general conference about divine design. https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2017/10/by-divine-design?lang=eng  It's neat being a part of His masterpieces!

Well, gotta get going, but I hope you all have an amazing week! Remember that God is in the details of your life, and He is aware of everything you experience. Trust in Him and turn to Him for help!

Love, Sister Flake

Christmas Tree takedown time

Christmas trees takedown crew!🎄

Ringing in the new year with chacos😉