Sister Flake's Mission Blog: Choose to Believe!

THE MOUNTAINS HERE ARE SO BEAUTIFUL! Can't wait for you to see them in person. I live in a postcard 😊🌺

Aloha Ohana!
Can you believe I've almost been out a year?! Crazy. This is the last week of the transfer too, so I'm not sure when my next pday will be. It could be anywhere from a week from today, or next Wed, Thurs, or Sat. There are LOTS of changes coming up at the VC! It's exciting!

We drove to Kailua to the orthodontist for my companion today, and being in a place that is NOT Laie made me realize that missionary life for other missionaries is quite different than how it is at the VC haha. I also realized how unique/out of the ordinary it is for most people to have a conversation about God. I struck up a convo with a lady in the waiting room at the doctors office, and we had a lovely, spirit-filled conversation about faith. I know she'll remember the conversation for several reasons. I'm so grateful I have the opportunity to have so many Christ-centered conversations each day! Being a missionary is the best😊 With it being pday, I also know I could have been so focused on writing letters or doing things I wanted to do, but instead I put this woman first, and focused on helping her feel Christ's love and learn more about the restored gospel... AND we got to eat panda express afterwards, so I'd call the day a success😉

This week I felt a little piece of home as I met the Fords from St Cloud, Minnesota! We knew a few mutual people, and Sister Ford will be keeping an eye out for my family back home now. I just love getting to make so many little connections all the way out here in the middle of the ocean😀

Here is Sister Ford from St Cloud, MN!

During personal study one day, it occurred to me that I am here to light, reignite, or intensify the fire inside of each person I interact with. The light of Christ is given to everyone. I get to make contact with that light, and help it grow brighter. What a happy thing I get to do 24/7! Man, I'm so lucky😊

We got to Facebook video call Chas again this week. She LOVED the visit from the Sisters in Texas, and her kids were present and all loved it too. She said "it was so awesome!!!" over and over again😃 The local sister missionaries called and told us that Chas said the biggest thing she learned from us (Sister Morse and I), or rather felt and expressed to the sisters, was that she could really feel Heavenly Father's love for her through us. That just melted my heart! Everyone deserves to know their divine worth and potential❤

Dinner with Josie (she was a convert at age 17, none of her fam are members). She served a mission and is now married in the temple! Her friends in HS introduced her to the gospel❤

One thing I feel like I learned a lot about this week is seeking for, and receiving, inspiration through the Holy Ghost. I know that God hears and answers our prayers in His time and way!
One thing that I've learned a lot about over the past several weeks relates to gaining conviction and surety of gospel principles. Some people feel like they have to work for hours on end wrestling with every single principle or question in order to find an answer and gain conviction, and until they have that sure witness from the HG for each individual principle, they doubt that it’s true, or consider other religions/mindsets/ideas. They doubt their faith before doubting their doubts. They do not feel confident saying “I know” for hardly anything, thinking that it’s too bold to say you ‘know’ vs you ‘believe.’ I, however, am somewhat the opposite way. I told Elder Allen I feel like you don’t need to have a magnificent sort of experience to know something is true with surety. For me, I just know the gospel is true, and that includes ALL of it! It’s just simply true… because it is! The Holy Ghost has told my heart and my head that this IS the restored gospel and Church of Jesus Christ on the earth today. I’ve had spiritual experiences to build conviction about particular topics, and I’ve just felt an abundance of the HG all growing up that helps me know this is Christ’s church. I just don’t doubt it one bit! I know it’s true.😀
Choose to have believe! It's the best choice you'll ever make.

I know last week I wrote a ton about the Book of Mormon... but this week I had even more experiences confirming that it was written for our day! Not only that, but there are so many scriptures being fulfilled in our day...
The Book of Mormon and truths of the restored gospel will be "read upon the housetops". Elder Allen suggested that this is coming true. Look at all of the internet wiring, cables, and satellite dishes on top of homes. These things are bringing in all sorts of information, including access to learning about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ! (2 Nephi 27:11)
I also meet many sweet and sincere Christ-followers who decline the Book of Mormon and say "I've got my Bible, and that's what I'll stick with" in a kind, but firm, way. It's a literal fulfillment of the scriptures in 2 Nephi 29:3 where it says people will say "A Bible! A Bible! We have got a Bible, and there cannot be any more Bible." Interesting stuff.

I'm almost finished with the song I've been working on called "Unchanging Truths". Hopefully I'll be able to sing it with Elder Chandler before transfers. Here's a sneak peak of the chorus: You can find hope through the things that don't change--God is your Father, He knows you by name. His Son gave it all for your sake. His love never fails; it shows you the way [...] Hope for a better world will carry you through. Hold onto unchanging truths."🎶

Hold on to the simple truths of the gospel! Love the pace of life God has given you this week, and keep smiling😊 I love you all!

Sister Flake