Sister Flake's Mission Blog: Family is forever

Aloooooha ohana! I can't believe it's been another week! Time flies when you're on the Lord's errand (and when you're having fun... in my case I'm doing both!!😉

-This week was transfers! We have 7 new sisters that arrived from the missionary training center. They are so awesome😊 Three are from the USA, one from Hong Kong, one from Korea, one from Japan, and one from the Philippines. Every transfer we have a "give-and-take" where all of us sisters put clothes we don't want/don't fit for any other sister to take. It's awesome! I'm pretty sure my wardrobe has doubled since arriving in Hawaii haha. It's fun getting to switch up your wardrobe selection each transfer! I'm not sure how I'm going to adjust to having to actually BUY clothes after my mission hahaha... I'm spoiled here getting so many things for free. I love my mission!!

-HIGHILGHT #1: I'm allowed to wear my CHACOS on shift!!! I've got a piece of Julie Ann with me now. She's helping me help others take steps in their conversion... by bringing my feet good support!❤

-Food highlights: I got to try a really funky-looking fruit called "rambutan". It looks like how a bad hair day feels hahaha. It's pretty crazy-looking! It's all hairy/spikey on the outside, but then you take off the hairy peel, and it's basically a giant grape with a big seed in the middle. It's pretty tasty! It tastes a lot like a grape, but has a bit of a different texture. One of the Filipina sisters was telling me how much she loves this fruit back home. We also got to try the one and only Giovanni's shrimp truck in Kahuku!! Apparently it's pretty famous and people will drive all the way from Honolulu to try it. Sister Hunkin and I split a shrimp scampy--shrimp sautéed in garlic and lemon butter, served with rice. It was DELISH! I think driving all the way from Honolulu is just a bit extra, but I will say that it was dang good, and a must-try if you're near Kahuku!

Eye spy some "rambutan" fruit!!😉 hehe I'm so funny...

looks like a bad hair day feels...

The one and only "Giovanni's" Shrimp truck! This place is famous!! People drive from Honolulu to come here!

Shrimp Scampi. It made me think of Grandma Morgan haha SO YUMMY!

I also got to try a "half moon pie". It's a Samoan treat that Sister Hunkin was SOOOO excited to find at PCC today haha! She said her grandma makes them and she hasn't eaten one in forever! It was tasty as well! It's a pastry with shredded pineapple on the inside, and you eat it warm. It was yummy! I love getting to try so many different foods from places all over the world! I also tried some coconut bread from the Tahiti village at PCC today... yum!!

"half moon pie's" ...a Samoan treat that Sis Hunkin LOVES. She freaked when she saw they were selling them!
It's a pastry with pineapple in the middle. It's yummy!

Underground ovens beside me. Rebecca Todd welcome to your mission!

-spiritual: I LOVE PONDERING. I have had some really quality studies this week as I have given time to ponder on some questions. I particularly love the parable of the seed growing secretly. It helped me realize that I need to find more joy in ALL stages of others' growth! I need not be disappointed one bit when someone doesn't fully accept the gospel right when I tell them about it. Rather, I need to be patient as I witness the "blade grow first" and "then the ear". It's like the famous sayings "it's not about the destination, but the journey" and "life's not about waiting for the storm to pass but learning to dance in the rain". Find JOY in every stage of growth and development, whether that growth be in yourself or in others! I've also enjoyed diving into some talks on accessing the enabling power of the atonement of Jesus Christ daily. I love my Savior so much!!!

-It never fails to amaze me the countless prepared people that God leads to mormon.org to interact with us missionaries. Wase from Ireland and Tyler from Tennessee were two prepared people. Wase was doing some of her own research on what other religions could offer her, and she decided to order a free copy of the Book of Mormon! She is an independent learner and diligent truth-seeker. She has been prepared by God! Tyler received a pass along card on his door from missionaries. He called the number and he said he took the card he received as a sign that God wants him to learn more about this at this time! You never know what a seemingly insignificant act can do (like putting a pass along card on someone's door) in helping someone come closer to Christ. It's neat getting to see the fruits of other missionaries' labors through finding prepared people online! Raja has also been prepared. We got to teach Raja the first lesson over Facebook last night! Technology is a tool to hasten the Lord's work. It is not to replace face to face interaction, but it is a tool to help best meet investigator's needs! We are excited for Raja to continue working towards baptism and being sealed to his member girlfriend!

-MIRACLE DAY: On Saturday there was some sort of military conference held up on the north shore this year that is usually held down in Honolulu. All military personnel and family got into PCC for free all day Saturday! It was CRAZY busy at the PCC, and subsequently our tram tours were PACKED that day as well! It was SO AWESOME!!! We got to meet and visit with sooo many people whom God has prepared to learn more about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ at this time in their lives. We broke the record for the highest number of people who took the tram tour in one day. On Saturday 754 people total took the tram tour to the temple!! So cool, right?! Sister Hunkin and I had the chance to meet Valerie and Jesse. They were so prepared to accept the gospel! They live on base here in Hawaii. Valerie actually has some family connections with the church, and she said she feels a draw to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. We talked about the importance of continuing family relationships beyond this life. That is made possible through being sealed in a holy temple of the Lord by someone who holds God's priesthood and has been authorized to perform that sealing. I am so excited to help them learn even more! Families really are one huuuuge way that God shows His love for us. He truly intends for our family bonds to continue forever! No family is perfect, but as we strive to keep our covenants we are blessed with the Spirit in our homes. Our homes can be a holy place. I suppose that whole day was very family-focused. One non-LDS family we met had implemented "family night" into their family's schedule for several years during their children's growing up years. They loved it! We also met a darling hispanic family, the Gomez family, from Texas, currently living on base in Hawaii. They watched the video presentation "God's plan for His families", which always sets a special tone and gives us missionaries the opportunity to help the guests identify the Spirit's presence, as well as testify of God's love for each of them, and the importance of temples. We want the Gomez family to be sealed in the temple so they can be together forever!! Man, I love days like Saturday. Being a missionary is so fulfilling. It really is deeply satisfying.

Valerie and Jesse❤

-Also, this morning Sister Hunkin told me that she woke up during the night last night and I was sleep talking. She said most of it was actually understandable! (usually when I sleep talk it's straight mumbling). She said I was explaining the "six minute video about the history of Laie" hahahahaha!! I guess my mind is centered on my mission haha!

-I love that Sister Hunkin and I are so similar. We have fun and work hard every single day, and we see so many miracles! She is incredible. I feel so lucky to get to serve with so many awesome sisters here at the Visitors' Center! It really is the BEST mission ever😊

Keep smiling! Focus on the good that you DO do each day. Pray for eyes to see the hand of the Lord in your life.
Love, Sister Flake