Happy Pioneer Day!

Happy Pioneer Day!!

 Aloha ohana!

 

-So to catch up on a few things from last week, the googly-eye head wrap is from Sister Takara. She's a sister from Japan I lived with last transfer, and her mom sent me a head wrap in her last package! It makes me smile😄 Soooo many Asian sisters use these to hold their hair back as they wash their face at night before bed. Most of the sisters have one that has a cute bow on it, rather than big Elmo eyes, but naturally I chose the Elmo eyes one. So I'm officially Asian now😉

 

-It was so fun to post my song "Patient With Progress" on Facebook and have it reach so many people. It's an answer to a prayer I said after the last musical fireside where I sang "Let Him Lead" with Sister Preslar that I'd be able to share my music with more people, and hopefully help them have hope and faith❤ Music is powerful. 

 

At church last Sunday Sister Morse and I sang "Where Can I Turn For Peace" in sacrament meeting, accompanied by me on the ukulele. It was so fun!

 

-funny: we had tram scouts on Monday (when we invite people to take the tram tours from PCC to the temple), and it was roasty toasty outside!! I wore a hat during our 2 1/2 hours out there, and when I took of my hat when we were done, it looked like I had some sort of weird comb over with the sweaty hair plastered across my forehead haha. Sis Morse and I got a good laugh out of it😂 Gotta love the sunshine and heat! In reality it is soooo pleasant weather-wise here. I'm lucky. 

 

Now that's some good lookin' hat hair... this is after a hot day of tram scouts at PCC 😂 I had a sunhat on from 12:30-2:45pm cooking like a rotisserie chicken😉

-Tuesday was Pioneer Day! Sister Boyce put together a super duper fun activity with all the missionaries in Laie. We had a potluck, outdoor games, and shared pioneer stories. She asked me to share about my pioneer heritage. I shared the story of Snowflake, Arizona being settled by my ancestors. The sisters thought it was super cool😊 I thought it was really neat to hear pioneer stories from a few of the asian sisters. Many of them and their parents are gospel pioneers. They are paving the way for future generations to receive the blessings of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. A pioneer is one who goes before, paves the way, or courageously makes changes in their life. I'm so grateful for the previous and modern pioneers in my life! In a way we are each Pioneers--paving the way for future generations, and bravely standing up for what's right. ...I got to pave the way in teaching the asian sisters how to play kickball too. It was a hoot haha😂 I sure love serving with so many sweet sister missionaries here!

 

This is the cake the sebrings brought! No, they did not make it😋

SPIKEBALL>>>

My plate was half sugar, but hey, happy Pioneer Day!

Fun Pioneer Day Celebration with all the Laie missionaries!!

-Like I mentioned last week, Sister Morse knows I get so excited about the gospel😃 It was a treat for me to get to see HER get more excited about the gospel this week, and specifically in letting other "in" on how exciting it truly is!! Being happy is a choice, and it's a no-brainer if you ask me! Even, and especially, on the hard days, choose joy😊

 

-I had exchanges with Sister Blake this week (my trainer). It was so fun to be back together! She's a goof, but also a super incredible missionary. I learn a lot from her ability to refer to the Restoration so quickly and simply in each conversation. We talked to a darling Laotian grandmother. She knew very little English. We got the Laotian teaching pamphlets for her, and shared simple testimony. She is Buddhist, but she said all of the Christians she knows have "soft" hearts, and are such good people. She kept pointing to her heart as she tried to describe in English her feelings and thoughts. The Holy Ghost speaks to the heart! 

Exchanges with Sister Blake!!! The legendary Blake and Flake were back at it again for a day😉

 

-A super neat experience Sister Morse and I had occurred yesterday at the VC during our evening shift. We met Maria, Lucero, and Eleazar. They are such neat individuals! We showed them the mural of the resurrected Christ's visit to the people of the ancient Americas that's in the Book of Mormon corner in the back. I testified of the power and divinity of the Book of Mormon, and the Spirit was so strong. Like Pres Nelson describes it, "spine-tingling"! Really, the Holy Ghost was witnessing to us all SO powerfully in that moment that the things we were telling them are true. I identified the Spirit to them in those moments, and invited them to pursue this feeling and learn more about the Book of Mormon, the message it contains, and the things we had shared with them. They accepted the invitation and will be meeting with missionaries when they return home. I'm so humbled and grateful that the Lord lets me be a part of these spectacular experiences as my fellow brothers and sisters become more converted to Christ. I love being a missionary!!!!! 

 

-Today marks 12 years of me following the example of Jesus Christ and being baptized by someone holding the priesthood authority of God. I'm so grateful for that covenant I entered into at that time, and the blessings that have overflowed my life from doing so!

 

12 years ago at my baptism!❤❤❤

-In my studies this week I learned a lot about light--what light is, how to gain more light, where light comes from, who has light, etc. It's interesting because I had multiple people tell me throughout the week that they can see a special light in my eyes and countenance. It's one of the best feelings EVER to feel the Savior's love and light radiating from you. It's so special! During those moments when I feel the Spirit so strongly, and I know other's can see the light in me, I really do just feel like "light." It's hard to describe. Neat stuff. The light of Christ is inside us ALL. That light is preparatory to us receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost really does guide, comfort, and teach us truth as we live worthy of His companionship. The Holy Ghost is who makes the Atonement of Jesus Christ REAL to you! What can you do to live worthy of His influence more consistently? 

 

It seems a transfer theme is unfolding of becoming more mindful, and understanding the scripture "Be still and know that I am God" Psalms 46:10. It's been a thoughtful transfer. God has helped me see improvements made in my capacity to recognize and understand promptings from the Holy Ghost. I'm slowly learning the language of the Spirit!

 

Man, there are so many stories I want to share, but I've gotta go.

Keep loving the pace of life God has given you! 😊😊😊
Sister Flake

 

This is the Lee Chip Sao's. They're in M2, he served in Hawaii and is from Tahiti. She is from the big island. They are so sweet, and had two referrals for us!👍

This was literally just on the ground beside a tree on our walk. It looks like someone CARVED IT! It's a beautiful work of art by mother nature❤

It always cracks me up seeing the sisters pushing EMPTY strollers up to the front for guests... I'm sure some ppl think we're crazy 😆 The best is when we get to drive old ppl scooters!

Fried poke... William got it for us

Sooo this little kid threw up all over the VC floor. Sis Morse and Hunkin cleaned it up and I took pictures lol ("I'm grateful for my mom bc she cleans up my throwup!"-3rd grade Ashley😆)

Here's our 4 checked boxes from yesterday woohooo day of MIRACLES!!!!!

This guy served in Utah with Tag Wagley! His fam is on vacation here. Small world.

A beautiful Hawaiian sunset☀❤

The Book of Mormon Brings Clarity

Aloha Ohana!

 

Holy guacamole, how have I already been on my mission for 10 MONTHS?!?!! It has gone by so fast. I'm trying to soak soak soak it in!! This transfer Heavenly Father has allowed me see so much of the growth and improvement I've made since beginning my mission. This time has really been a refining experience for me. 

 

-Funny highlight: We had interviews with President Bekker this week, and he asked us to bring our study journals. Sister Wong was having a mini panic attack because she rarely writes in her study journal. She kept going on and on about how scared she was, until Sister Yamaji, her respectful, well-mannered, keep-to-herself, sweet companion, said "it's not the final judgement!" I got a good laugh out of that haha, it was fun to see Sister Yamaji's personality come through a little bit😄 I sure love serving with sisters from so many places around the world!!

-GUESS WHAT. I found out this week that there's ANOTHER SISTER FLAKE coming to serve at the visitors center here!!! She'll be here by the end of this year! The Flakes are taking over the Laie VC, next Hawaii, and then the world!😉 Jk, I'm super excited to come to love her though😊

 

-Okay, there were SO MANY prepared people I talked to online this week, but there's no time to talk about them all!😢 Just know they were all amazing💕 I just want to share a little bit about a 19-year-old girl from Michigan who I met in the VC. She said she got caught up in a lot of unimportant things in High School, and is trying to essentially figure out what life is all about now. She's been traveling lots, and has become a lot more spiritual--she's been naturally drawn to that in her seeking. She really opened up about questions she has, things she's learned, and how she felt at the temple. A large part of our conversation centered on the CLARITY the Book of Mormon brings! With all of her questions and concerns, I could sincerely promise her that the Book of Mormon can help her find clear answers and peace. She is so excited to read it now, and I'm so excited for her!!! It was a really special experience. It made me reflect upon the clarity that the Book of Mormon has brought me, and how thankful I am for it's guiding influence towards Christ. Also, either the Lord is sending cooler and cooler people to the VC, or else my capacity to love is increasing/expanding, because I felt so much love in my heart for this special girl. Sometimes I feel like the Grinch, and my heart has grown 3 sizes! I'm so thankful.

 

I love all the awesome people I get to meet!

-We got to do a BEAUTIFUL hike this morning. It was Hauula Loop, a 2.5 mile hike. It's SO COOL because throughout the hike we walked through what seemed to be at least 3 or 4 completely different countries/states because of how different the trees and plants are at various stages of the hike. Some were pine trees, some palm trees, some jungly-looking trees, and so on. I absolutely love getting to enjoy the beauty of Hawaii. This is one special place! Definitely is a hike we'll go on when we come back after my mission!

 

Pday group!❤ (see more hike pictures at the end)

-Zone conference yesterday was A M A Z I N G as always. It was very focused on how important our attitude is. Attitude is everything! Happiness really is a choice. It's entirely up to us. We are here to experience a wide range of emotions, yes, but only dwell on discouragement and imperfections long enough to be motivated by them👍 Choose happiness!😃😃😃

 

-I feel like many things in the gospel are counter intuitive. After all, we do know that God's thoughts are not our thoughts, and God's ways are not our ways. (Isaiah 55:8) The world says "how does thinking you're 'nothing' and an 'unworthy creature' allow you to always rejoice??" (see Mosiah 4:11) Well, when we fast, for example, we realize more clearly how weak we are. But there are so many scriptures that talk about how joyful fasting is. I don't know about you, but previously when I would fast I would mostly be focused on how hungry I was, rather than having it be a spiritual experience. On my mission I've learned much more about the purpose and power of fasting.  Fasting helps me remember that I can't do it on my own. This causes me to "greatly rejoice" though, when I remember that I have a Savior, and if I depend on Him, I can do anything! Who wouldn't be ecstatic to know they've got a Savior?! Like Sister Morse knows, I just get so excited about the gospel!!!! Get excited about it! Be happy! "Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured." 

 

Well, sorry for the somewhat jumbled email today, I didn't have as much time to organize my thoughts about the week. Know that I'm happy and well, and LOVING every day! 

 

Love the pace of life God has given you. Find joy in whatever circumstances you may be in! Keep smiling😊

Sister Flake

Aloha 'Oe to the Chongs💕💕💕

 

More hike pictures! So fun🙌

I LOVE HAWAII!!!❤❤❤

There were like a million different tree types on the one hike!!

Man, look at that sweat... ☀

Sister Soga from Japan😊 ft Sis Morse in the back lol #photobombing101theSasquatch

My Shimai from Japan... Sis Hamano!

Comps that hike together stay together😉

This is a great hike that our family could do! It's beautiful, and medium difficulty😊 Only took 1 1/2 hrs.

VC sisters tryna be thugs... 😂

#VCAngels

Comp unity!😄

We were able to go to the temple this morning!❤

Something EVERYONE needs

 

Lunch with the single senior sisters! Sis Currit is next to me, then Sis Nield, then Sis Day (not in our ward, but lives with Sisters Currit and Nield). They are the sweetest! They are so faithful to the Savior.💕

Aloha Ohana! 

It's been another fabulous week! It's been a pretty warm one too. 

We'll start with some funny highlights: I love living in such a cultural melting pot. On our ward facebook page, someone (from the Philippines) asked if anyone had extra "powdered cheese" in their house. Someone else (from from Hawaii) replied "is that the same as shredded cheese??" In my mind I figured it was parmesan cheese lol. It's funny to see how certain phrases or ideas translate from other languages into English in people's minds. 

 

Also, I found a Disney cruise bowl!!! A member in our ward didn't want it anymore, so I took it! It's the same bowls we bought when we were on the Disney Cruise years ago. Those bowls are my childhood!!! It brought back good memories😊

 

GUESS WHAT I FOUND?! Crazy huh! A member in our ward was getting rid of it so I decided to take it. Oh the Disney cruise mems... 💜

Another thing that brought back good memories was our night bike ride. We exercised at night instead of in the morning on Tuesday last week. Sis Morse ran around BYU for 30 minutes and I biked happily behind her (she's super speedy). It was so refreshing!! It was getting dark, the air was breezy and fresh, not many people were out, it was nearly silent except for the wind blowing the palm trees. I realized that the last night-time bike ride I'd been on was in Paris with mom last year. We rode our bikes along the river Seine and gawked at the Eiffel tower--it was magical. It was fun to be reminded of those memories. Aside from mom not being with me, the biggest difference was that I was gawking at the light of the Laie Temple instead of the Eiffel tower! 😍

Well, so far I've had two consecutive companions ask me where I find my consistent motivation and energy. It's made me ponder where I do get my enthusiasm and zeal from. During studies yesterday, I realized I think the motivation partially comes from such a strong desire to become better, to improve, and to change. It comes as I worry less about HOW to do something, and just DO it! You can't learn how to do anything without trying (and consequently succeeding, failing, growing, etc). Additionally, I have a firm belief that the gospel of Jesus Christ as restored through the prophet Joseph Smith is what EVERYONE NEEDS--it's not just a nice religion, it's what enables and prepares us to live with God and progress eternally, and find the greatest happiness and peace on earth (and forever!). What message could possibly be more important?! NONE! Even for those people who feel content in their religion, the restored gospel can help them take necessary steps further in their conversion to Christ (through studying the Book of Mormon, preparing to make promises in the temple, guidance from a living prophet for families and individuals, etc). I know it. 

I'm learning that the Lord has a tendency of preparing miracles for me to be a part of for the END of our shifts to see if I'll endure and be diligent to the very end😉 A woman approached the front desk with 5 minutes left of our "shift," and a conversation began between her and Sis Morse. It turns out that Leanne is a member of the church, but she hasn't been in years, and married a strict Baptist who thinks we're a cult :/ (I've never understood how people can genuinely think the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is a cult, but I guess I don't understand a lot of weird/twisted things about the world). Her family had left the church when she was younger. However, when Leanne came here to the temple, she was reminded of the things she truly knows deep down inside. She didn't know there was a temple in Hawaii, nor that she would get to visit it and feel the Spirit again. She expressed her special experience of being sealed to her family at age 12. She kept saying "I know the things I know, and nothing can change that" as she was reminded of the beautiful truths of the restored gospel. The most tender part for me was when she opened up to tell us her story, and her emotions were very close to the surface. A few sentences in, she opened her arms wide and we embraced. It was in those moments of embracing that I felt like I was literally standing in Christ's place, doing exactly what He would do if He were personally ministering to Leanne. I truly felt like I was standing in His place, doing what He wants done, and saying what He wants said (see "My Missionary Commission" by Bruce R. McConkie). It was a very powerful and special feeling. This is probably the moment in my whole mission that I have most strongly felt that I was standing in the place of the Savior and loving someone for Him. I felt so much love for Leanne. 

Sis Morse and I chatted with Gavin on mormon.org. He's a super genuine guy living in Northern Ireland. He said he's Presbyterian, but just feels like he wants/needs more. By the end of our conversation, he said he felt like a weight had been lifted. We will be helping him get in contact with local missionaries, get to church on Sunday, and potentially teach him some over the phone. More to come on Gavin! 

Here is our skype in to meet Sis Morse's recent convert in Maryland, Rose! She's so cool! and guess what? One of the sisters in the trio there is Sydney Smoot from Centerville! Small world!

I picked up a request for a free copy of the Book of Mormon from Mohamad in Texas yesterday. He said he's wanting to learn more about the Mormon religion, and understand what we advocate. He said he grew up skeptical of Islam. However, he felt something different when he was touring around the church buildings in Salt Lake City. He felt a "wave of spirituality as if a higher being was influencing" him, which is something he'd never felt practicing the religion he grew up with. It reminded Sis Morse and I how powerful the Spirit is at temple grounds. Temples really are the house of the Lord, and I'm so grateful to be serving at one. God sends people here to the Laie temple who are prepared to have their heart touched and moved by the Holy Ghost here.

This transfer we've got a companion goal of unity. We do a "confidence routine" every morning and I looove it! My personal goal deals primarily with prayer. I want prayer to become more meaningful, and less of a checklist item. 

I sent a referral to a Sister Flake in North Carolina a few days ago! We connect through William Jordan. So cool! 

This week as I've begun my scripture studies with a sincere prayer, given time to listen/ponder, and approached studies with a specific question (or 2) I have learned SO much more. It has been incredible! When I study with a specific question in mind, the Lord helps me find and feel answers as I study. I have found so many answers to questions, and I've also realized a small portion of how much growth I've experienced on my mission. Like it talks about in Alma 5:9, I've felt my soul "expand"on my mission! Try it out this week... and if you feel you can't think of a question, ask God to bring a question to your mind! Then, believe that you'll actually receive/find an answer, and YOU WILL! 

Your homework this week is to go read the Ricciardi Letter (google it, it should be the first thing to pull up). It's a letter written by a returned missionary to the son of his friend. It is life changing!! Sorry I don't have time to explain it much, but Sis Morse showed it to me and IT IS AMAZING. 

Something big I've been reminded of this week is that I'm sure grateful I tend to be an optimist! It's fine to have questions, but when you turn into a skeptic, the Spirit leaves, and you just feel sad and grumpy haha. It's so much better to choose to have faith and be happyyyyyy!!!!! :) :) :) 

Love the pace of life God has given you! and keep smiling😊

Love, Sister Flake

We're a quack-i-lackin companionship! hahaha.

 

The boy is Elder Logan Flake's trainer! All three of them served in Logan's mission and know him. They said he is the most energetic and zealous missionary... he had ENDLESS energy haha! I said I guess it's a Flake thing!😄

 

Land of the Free

 

Sisters Chong, Wu, Lee, Morse, and Flake wishing you a Happy 4th!

Aloooooha ohana! 

WOW lot's has happened this past week! First off, it's a new transfer! This is transfer number 7 for me... can you believe that?! My new companion is Sister Morse. She is really great! She's from South Carolina, is 5'9", looooves to run (wants to run at BYU-Provo in the future if possible), eats lots of veggies, lived in Germany for 3 years, and is willing to work hard! We are both really excited to grow during our time as companions. I know that God has placed us together for a reason, and I'm excited to learn from Sister Morse! I am in Married Student 2nd Ward still (going on 6 transfers now!). I moved to a new pad (the same pad as my first transfer), and our padmates are Sister Wong from Hong Kong, and Sister Yamaji from Japan. It's definitely a different dynamic than my last pad, but it's been so good. 

My new companion, Sister Morse!

First off, a quick birthday shout out to the greatest older bro, Jaedon! Love you so much!

I got to see the Hansens this week! It was so wonderful getting to interact with family and feel love from home. They are such loving people! Beau is growing up so much, holy cow. Jason and Heather were willing to do a fireside for the VC sisters, and we tried to make it work, but with transfers being this week things were too busy. Darn! I'm so grateful I got to see them though. Jason had some stories from when he and dad were college-age together... apparently dad is super good at the running man??? I think there's some stories that we need to hear dad😉

The Hansens!💕

Family love❤

Also, happy 4th of July! I'm so grateful to live in the land of the free. We had a Laie Zone celebration. We had a BBQ at the Allens house, and then got to watch the PCC firework show from the field by the temple. My favorite part was hearing all of the Asian sisters "ooo-ing" at every single firework that went off hahaha. It was all so exciting!😀 Sister Preslar, Elder Valle, Elder Allen, Elder Chandler (from Meridian, knows Shaylin), and I sang the national anthem in parts for everyone. Thankfully we sang the national anthem so many times in VSC that I could remember the entire alto part (thanks Mr Beyer!). It actually sounded pretty good! I'm so grateful for our freedoms. The religious freedom gained here in America opened up the doors for the Restoration of the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ to come about. I pray we can always remember our Savior, who frees us from sin and death. Live in thanksgiving daily!

We sang the National Anthem!

I made easy cheesecake for our BBQ! (and salad of course)

We've been thinking of some possible companionship themes to focus on this transfer. We've already seen some miracles of confidently following spiritual impressions and being bold. Another focus/theme is to "expect miracles." On Tuesday, our first day together as companions, we were setting goals for our time with online teaching. We set a goal for 1 "miracle baptism," meaning we would find out that a referral we had previously sent was baptized. Lo and behold, it happened!!! I was looking back on the online records of people I've sent to local missionaries who have been baptized, and I found out that Estelle from Kentucky was baptized in March! CRAZY huh?! She was a Bible request I had picked up and contacted when I was in THE MTC!!! It may have even been my first time online EVER! We had the most basic text conversation ever, but the Lord works through small and simple things. I got to call and talk to Estelle. It was wonderful to connect with her!

Comic relief: I've got two. Last week I bought some super tasty-looking teriyaki sauce to try in some recipes, but then I looked at the ingredients after I got home and noticed it is a sauce to put on meat during the last 10 minutes of grilling and contains WINE haha. Soooo I returned it this week and bought some NON-alcohol-containing katsu sauce to try. Secondly, I can officially say I've cleaned the outside of a car with Clorox wipes. LOL. We had to clean it up the car we were using last transfer last-minute, and all we had were Clorox wipes, so that's what I used to clean the outside! ...AFTER which I noticed the hose conveniently located 10 feet away that would have significantly eased the job I had just completed hahaha. Whoops! Talk about living beneath my privileges... https://www.mormonchannel.org/watch/series/mormon-messages/your-potential-your-privileges-1

Well, I'm out of time (sorry), but I hope you all know how much I love you! I wish you were all here with me😊 I've been slowly coming to realize how special Laie is. Not only is it the place you hear "I know surfing is hard and the church is true," but the sacrifice of past generations to live their faith has made this place sacred. Everyone can feel it when they come here. I'm so lucky to get to serve here! 

Well, keep up the great work! Trust in the Lord, and learn to love the pace of life God has given you!

Sister Flake

Angels! I had a taro bubble drink with coconut gels😍

 

Here's my district for the transfer!

Padmate Party!

Sis Wu wanted to be silly 😂😂

Dinner with Mocodompis's (he's from Indonesia)

Mataalii lunch on pday😊

Taiwanese raw ramen!!

 

Bye Sister Wang (Taiwan)

Bye Sister Jensen (Sandy UT)

Bye Busenbarks! (Logan, Utah)

Bye Sister Lam (Hong Kong)

Sheet music for Aloha Oe❤