Sister Flake's Mission Blog: Change brings growth!

I met Elder and Sister Holland and Elder and Sister Bednar!!! #missionarygoals

Here are some pics that a member took at the Elder Bednar/Holland event.

All missionaries serving on Oahu currently! WE ARE ZION!!

Aloha Ohana!

Wow, lots has happened since last pday! We had "transfer news," where we find out what will be happening the coming transfer, a week ago. There are a TON of changes! They are definitely inspired, and will help the Lords work move forward more effectively here. Change brings lots and lots of opportunities to grow! The changes are intended to allow proper and adequate time for both studies and proselyting. Aka, it will be easier for Sis Wu and I not to feel stressed about getting all of our studies in yayyyy!! Some days last transfer were tricky with all of the scheduled meetings and assigned shifts we were expected to be at. Last transfer was awesome, but I'm excited to see the work progress more effectively as our schedule allows us to use our time more effectively.
We no longer have "morning" or "evening" shift. Instead it's "A" or "B" shift. A shift is from 8-11 am and 2-5 pm. B shift is from 11am-2pm and 5-8pm. It's amazing how big of a [positive] difference this makes in our days! Also, the Sisters who have arrived the past three transfers who are ESL (English second language) sisters will no longer participate in TC before 6 pm. The shifts they are assigned to be a part of during 6-10 pm will be a time for them to observe and train with their companion. This will help prepare them to be on their own for TC in coming transfers. It will give them opportunity to practice understanding others speak English over the phone, practice speaking clearly into the phone, having proper grammar, etc. I'm excited about this change! I have 25 hours online at the teaching center each week this transfer! Yay!! I love TC, and I'm super excited to get to have more time interacting with God's children all over the world. During the TC time I have before 6 pm, I am assigned a temporary companion in the TC, and sis Wu is with a temporary companion on shift on the floor of the VC. The teaching center is being remodeled. It's super nice! Also, we have been assigned a car this transfer! Woohoo! It's a big responsibility, but also a huge blessing. There were Elders previously in charge of it, so it's not in as tip-top shape as the other cars here at the VC cared for by these sisters, but we'll get it there soon😉 Our pdays are on Saturdays this transfer, which will be really nice! Man, there's a lot more changes than what I've included, but I'll have to continue to share more in coming weeks. Let me know what questions you have!

-Oh, and it's always so funny to me when I hear comments from other sisters about how "healthy" I am. The other day Sister Wan saw me eating a green bell pepper in the guide room at the VC, and she said "every time I see you you're talking to guests, extending the guest card, or eating vegetables!!" hahaha I got a kick out of that.

-I learned this week that when Asians wear "doctor" face masks, apparently it's typically a fashion statement rather than a sanitary precaution! (according to Sister Kasamatsu and Takara from Japan). I've seen Asians wearing the face masks countless time as we've travelled, and I've always figured they're just super careful about germs when traveling. Maybe that's the case for some, but oftentimes it's a fashion statement!

-Madison is so awesome! We were able to teach her a second lesson this week. She is a referral from a senior sister missionary serving in our ward here, and it's the senior sister's granddaughter. She wanted to learn more through phone lessons first, so we've been calling her to teach her. She is such a sweetheart! She has a desire to know if she should align herself with any one particular religious sect, and if so, which one. She is willing to work to know the truth. For our lesson with her yesterday, I was on TC with Sister Preslar at the time, so she taught with me. She is a rockstar missionary, holy cow! We were able to establish some great expectations with Madison, and she said she would be baptized if she learns more and continues to feel that it's true. It's just so neat to get to teach someone in a different location around the world, but to still be able to feel the Spirit testify through me to them. The Holy Ghost is able to help God to communicate with each of us, and the Spirit is also able to communicate the truthfulness of our message from our words to Madison's heart, regardless of if we are in the same room or not. The Holy Ghost, the third member of the Godhead, is absolutely incredible. God's blessed us with technology for many reasons, and I think all of us can do a better job to use it for what it's intended to be used.

LOVE HAWAII

New Teaching Center!

-One TC investigator I'm super excited about is Evan from Virginia. He came on mormon.org chat on Saturday night. He is SO prepared! He has done a lot of searching and preparing on his own, and he came to chat wanting to set up a missionary visit somehow. He has an affinity for Joseph Smith, is searching for solace, and has incredible faith in Christ. We were able to chat with him and really build a neat friendship with him. Just like with Madison, he was able to feel of our testimony even though we are thousands of miles away. It was neat because Evan actually commented to us that he could feel our sincerity and testimony. He is very driven to learn more, and he now has a baptismal date mid-June! It's crazy how quickly we can help people receive the gospel now! It's been one week and he's already progressed along his conversion path so much. One thing I think is significant about Evan is that he felt especially impressed to learn more at this time because of a trial. Oftentimes we complain about trials, but it's through those trials that we experience needed change, growth, and blessings. Just like it says in Alma 36:27, "27 And I have been supported under trials and troubles of every kind, yea, and in all manner of afflictions; yea, God has delivered me from prison, and from bonds, and from death; yea, and I do put my trust in him, and he will still deliver me."

-Unfortunately we weren't able to set up a time to meet with Jennifer while she was back here in Hawaii for work. She was planning to come to the VC again, but something happened with a new program she was launching, and she had to keep working. She said she should be more available to meet with the missionaries back home in Georgia in a few weeks after her program is officially launched, so in the meantime she will continue reading the Book of Mormon!

Thanks again for all of the warm birthday wishes! I felt so loved and remembered on Sunday:) Thanks for making it such a special day! I still can't believe I'm two decades old, and no longer a teenager. Weird! So much of the time I still feel like I'm 16 haha... time goes too fast.
It's super neat for me to see how applicable the scriptures are to us TODAY! The Book of Mormon really is able to answer the questions of the soul. I'm excited to dive deeper into studying the Book of Mormon in response to questions about our purpose, repentance, why Jesus Christ is important, why "bad" things happen, agency, etc. I came across Alma 36 yesterday, and it applied to my interactions with so many different people! The end of verses 14 and 22 really struck me because of the stark change in Alma's feelings about being in the presence of God. He went from feeling inexpressible horror of being in God's presence, to longing to be there! What changed?? He remembered his father's prophesying about Christ to atone for the sins of the world, and his mind caught hold upon that thought, and he cried out for mercy. No one can simply make themselves feel these things... this mighty change comes from God. We are each able to experience significant and personal change through Jesus Christ as we humble ourselves and turn to Him for help.

Well, keep smiling!
Sister Flake

German Pancakes for my birthday #spoiled

...with strawberries😋

CHEESECAKE!! Happy 20 to me!

Happy Golden bday!!! No better place to be than at the temple😀

Thanks for the exercise bands!

Here's a cute older Laie local in the "welcome to Laie" video!

Faith Walk for district meeting! We laid our big rock burdens at the feet of the Savior. We're all holding our little rocks in our hands.

This describes our padmate personalities so well hahaha

Pday Seven Brothers picnic! Sis Lam, Cho, Boyce, Takara, Wu, me

I got the "crazy fries"... their yummy seasoned classic fries, but with nacho cheese, fry sauce, and grilled onions on top! SO GOOD>>>

Mālaekahana State Recreation Area

Sis Cho is Korean and Sis Lam is from Hong Kong!

HAHA here are all of the Senior companions laying out while the jr babies played... it's like taking our kids to play together at the park #futuremoms