Luau's and Life-long Learning

Hale Aloha Luau!

Aloha Ohana!

Well, it's been a whoppin' three days since I last emailed haha... my new pday this transfer is Tuesday. We enjoyed a super yummy lunch at the Thai food truck at Fijian market down the road. The Pad Thai is fab>>>

Lunch at the Thai food truck at Fijian market! Sis Wu and Kasamatsu are new companions😀

Well on Saturday night Sister Morse and I got to go to a Luau at PCC! I've always wanted to go to one, especially because we hear them going on all the time as we do tram tours from PCC. William, one of the tram drivers, got us discounted tickets (so it was only 20 bucks each instead of 45 each haha). Members of our ward actually gave us money for dinner tonight, and it covered the expenses perfectly. What a tender mercy! The luau was so cool (again, may I just say I have the best mission ever). They made a big deal unveiling the Imu pork (it's cooked underground in a pit for hours). It was pretty good! Again, all of the students and community members in Laie treat missionaries like rock stars. We are spoiled! The Luau is a buffet-style dinner, and they have a show going on at the same time. They have live music, including the special Hawaiian steel guitar. They had lots of island dancers performing, as well as a fire dancer. Mad respect for people who can do fire and knife performances! 

Lots of yummy yummy food. and I mean LOTS...

Here's Jenny, a sweet student and PCC worker from the Philippines😊 We missionaries are treated as rock stars!

We had Aloha 'Oe for Sister Domingo (going home) and Sister Soga (going back full-field). They will be missed! I got to debut my self-taught Aloha 'Oe pick-strum ukulele part. Music is the bomb.com.

Bye Sis Domingo!

Sis Soga is going back full-field.

Sis Wong wouldn't let us get a pic without her photobombing haha, oh Sis Wong...

Holy guacamole summer vacation went fast! The kids here are already back in school. When we go for our runs in the morning, we run by the chapel and see all the high school students getting out of early morning seminary. Oh, the mems of early morning seminary!😊 Mom, and Colby too, you are so blessed for your hard work brightening flames of faith each morning at 6 am!

We learned that we'll be getting another Senior missionary couple at the VC in September! We'll also be getting 8 new sisters at that time. Then, the following transfer, we'll be getting 13 new sisters (as of right now... the number could still increase).

Sister Morse and I will be hard at work as TCT's starting this week! We're excited to get to work one on one with the Sisters. One principle Elder Allen gave us to consider was this: Do we want to hold people accountable, or teach them to be accountable? Food for thought.

I like to think of the VC as a "miracle magnet." We see so many little miracles here each day! On Sunday we met a super cool Saudi Arabian couple. They practice Islam, but were so open to learning and discussing faith. We got to watch "God's Plan for His Family" with them, and they loved it. They took a copy of the Book of Mormon in Arabic and are looking forward to reading it. It was neat for me to get to have a meaningful interaction with someone from that part of the world. The Savior loves them. We are ALL children of God. One reason I love serving at the VC here is because I am really coming to believe that statement. It doesn't matter where you are from, what language you speak, your personal upbringing, current religious beliefs, economic standing, or any other worldly factor... you are a child of a loving Heavenly Father. How special is that??! ...SUPER special!!

I thought I'd include one of Sister Morse's favorite "Sister Flake quotes" haha😛 One of the first days we were together as companions I told her that I was excited to learn from her this transfer. I explained that the way I see it is this: each of the Sister missionaries here has about 20 years of life experience. They've learned important lessons, and grown in unique ways from one another. If I can learn the "golden nuggets" or highlights from each Sister missionary's life, it's like gaining hundreds of years of meaningful insights and learning! There is so much to learn from the people around us. Seek to learn from everyone, including those who at first appear less qualified or capable than yourself--that's what meekness is! I'm grateful I was taught to be a life-long learner.

Well, love the pace of life God has given you this week :)

Love you all!
Sister Flake

I love my Asian sisters!! Sis Wan (Hong Kong), me, Sis Tagawa (Japan), Sis Hamano (Japan), Sis Morse, Sis Yamaji (Japan).

Sister Wong gives fab back massages