Try Try Try!

💗family

Aloha Ohana!
Wow, what a week! Guess what??! Chas has a baptismal date for the end of October!! Woohoooo!!! I'm so so so excited for her and her family. I know that this covenant of baptism will provide needed strength as she raises her kids in today's world.

This week I talked to Joseph, who requested a copy of the Bible on mormon.org. I called him and had a wonderful conversation. He said he hasn't been particularly religious throughout his life, but recently he's had several conversations with a friend of his who is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He said whenever he talks to her about God, something inside him seems to compel him to learn more. I was able to teach him about how we lived with God before our life on Earth, the purpose of life, and why gospel truths have felt familiar to him as he's conversed with his friend. He'll be meeting with missionaries soon to help him learn more beautifully simple, and simply beautiful, restored gospel truths! Yipee! Another man we met in the VC, Robin, mentioned to us that he hadn't talked this much about religion in 10 years. He said it with a twinge of peaceful relief/content in his voice, and I know the conversation we had is something he'll remember for a long time. This temple here is a place of healing and refuge for all.

I got to see the Widmers this week! It was special to feel love from home through them. Colleen reminds me so much of my grandma Morgan, so I just felt extra loved and special. Damon received his endowment at the Laie temple, so I got to see much of the Widmer crew that all went to the temple together! Man, I sure love my family. We got to visit for a few minutes, and then back to work I went, and off to play they went!

Their muumuus match ours!!

It was so fun to see the Widmers!!!!!

This week on exchanges with Sister Lee, I was reminded of how unifying it is to focus on someone's strengths and express gratitude to them for the good things they DO do. Everyone has weaknesses, and most of the time we are TOO aware of our own individual weaknesses, and let ourselves get discouraged. The Savior doesn't want us to feel discouraged though, He wants us to rely on Him for strength!

Lunch with Sister Lee, Sister Flake style! #salad

The one and only Sister Lee from Korea!

Sunghee Lee... whata cutie. Arms open wide!

Yesterday I had a solid, several-minute long conversation with a group of Chinese-speakers. While I couldn't understand everything, I was able to understand and speak enough to have a great introductory conversation until other Chinese-speaking sisters could be found. I told Sister Wu about it and she was so proud of me😉

General Conference was a HUGE highlight (find the messages here: https://www.lds.org/general-conference?lang=eng). I noticed several themes. I felt that we were reminded on multiple occasions to "fear not", but move forward with faith. Things will turn out alright as you trust in the Savior and strive to do your best. The key is to try try try! Never give up. I also felt impressed to purify my intentions/heart. Sometimes I still do things out of "duty" or because of selfish desires. Heavenly Father knows we'll be happiest, and become like His Son, if we have a sincere desire to help people, spurred by the love we have for Him. We must do things from our heart! I'm reminded of Helaman 3:35 "35 Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God." I also am so excited for all of the temples that were announced. The Lord knows we need the strength that comes from temple covenants and worship to survive spiritually in today's world.
I'm looking forward to rereading the conference messages over and over and over again. How blessed we are to have direction from the Lord through a living Prophet and Apostles today! This is Christ's church, preparatory for His second coming. This home-centered, church-supported philosophy is inspired! 2 hour church will be an adjustment, but a good one I believe😃

I am just in awe at the faith of the people here. This morning a kind woman paid for our groceries. She told us with tears in her eyes that she "needs the blessings". I felt so much love and gratitude for her, and I know that Heavenly Father will care for her, just as she cared for us missionaries. 

We've got Zone conference this week. I'm super excited for it! We've been preparing a training with the Zone leaders about doing things from your heart. Stay tuned next week for more!

Keep smiling, and love the pace of life God's given you this week! Appreciate the little things😊
Love you all!
Sister Flake

This was at a members house while we waited for dinner.

hehe...Happy October!🎃

Thanks for the card Bryson!

Yummy Polynesian meal of fish, chicken, and beef!

Hamano Shimai thought it was so funny that she saw 'this' Sister Flake... I just woke up form a nap so I had sleep lines and a messy bun... so un-Sister-Flake-like I guess! 😂