Happy Thanksgiving!

Loved my exchange with Sis Withers!

Aloha Ohana! Happy (almost) Thanksgiving!! My invitation to you all for Thanksgiving is to only offer prayers of GRATITUDE that day. I know we get in the habit of asking for things through prayer (which is not a bad thing at all!), but it's good to occasionally have a day where you only give gratitude in your prayers😊 We'll be having a lunch at the PCC for Thanksgiving tomorrow, and a get together with the Sisters in the evening.

This week we set up the Christmas trees at the VC!🎄 It looks so good! The VC is magical around Christmas time😀 It's weird being one of the only ones who was here last Christmas. It's the most wonderful time of the year!!

Sister Wong and I😊 She is a cutie... and so loving

Last Thursday I went on an exchange with Sister Shirley from Washington. It turns out we are actually super similar, and we really connected well. We learned a lot together, worked hard, and really saw miracles! She reminded me to celebrate the little things--she got SO excited about the simplest things, and it really made me consider how much happier life is when we celebrate the little successes and joys. For Sis Shirley, she felt so excited to simply have someone accept a copy of the Book of Mormon, or even just give a phone number to stay in touch. We met a really neat family from California. The parents are Monica and Mike, and they've got two teenage sons. Monica wants to have a church that can help her boys rely on God their whole life, and surround them with good people. Monica really opened up and shared some of her concerns with their current Christian church because their pastor can't preach on certain topics like abortion or gay marriage due to a tax law (not sure I fully understood why exactly). She asked if our "pastors" were able to preach about those subjects, and we had the opportunity to explain the "lay ministry" concept, which she thought was REALLY cool. Sometimes I think I overlook how special the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is. I know that it really is Christ's church on the earth today. We helped Monica understand that the way she can know if this is Christ's church, and if it was restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith, is by reading and praying about the Book of Mormon. We gave her a copy and will be keeping in touch. I know the gospel of Jesus Christ blesses families💗

Sis Shirley from WA!

Monica and Mike and their family (with Sister Shirley on exchange)

On Saturday we had the AMAZING opportunity to hear Elder Quentin L. Cook speak to all of the missionaries in Hawaii. It was a meeting I will always remember. We also got to hear from Elder Kearon and Elder Klebingat. They shared incredible messages. The part that was most powerful for me was Elder Cook's final testimony and blessing to us. As he bore his special witness of the Savior, Jesus Christ became more real to me. The Holy Ghost bore witness to my heart that the testimony Elder Cook shared was true. Jesus Christ is our Savior. He DOES live today, and He DOES direct His Church through Prophets and Apostles. I can say more surely now that I know Jesus Christ lives. What a special thing--to have the Holy Ghost bear witness of something to your heart! I also think of the lyrics to the song we performed for the special musical number. We really do need the Savior every hour. 7 of us VC sisters sang "I Need Thee Every Hour" for the devotional. We prayed that angels would sing with us. It was a neat experience! 

Here's the group of us who sang and accompanied (piano and flute) for Elder Cook's song at the Devo

I met a distant relative at the VC on Saturday! Just kidding, I'm actually not sure if we are related or not, but her last name is also Flake! She is from Hungary, living in England, and on vacation in Hawaii. It's so cool to meet those people who you know God has placed in your path for a reason. She is traveling on her own, and she is trying to find out what she is supposed to do next in her life. I know I say this all the time, but it really is the neatest thing to meet someone and just instantly feel so much love for them. The love of Christ is able to make us instantly connected with people! This distant relative is really into family history work. She also wants to know more about what I meant when I told her that the Book of Mormon has brought me a lot of clarity about what happens after death.

Noemi Flake from Hungary

Sis Taufa had a dentist appointment in Kailua today, so we drove down with Sis Preslar and Boyce. The dentist apt took about 15 minutes (we weren't sure how long it would take), so we walked out to the car and called the other sisters to tell them we were done. They answered the phone, we told them we were done, and there was a pause on the other end of the phone, then a hesitant "...we're getting pedicures right now." WHAT?!!?! Sister Taufa and I couldn't help but roll our eyes and laugh that they decided to go and spontaneously pamper themselves with pedicures... oh brother. Those two crack me up. 

While we waited for their pedicures to be done..

Also, it turns out that we are actually in the Hauula THIRD ward haha... there has been a bit of confusion with some of the areas, but everything is resolved now. Guess what? William the tram driver is now in my ward!  It was fun to have a familiar face in the congregation. The Hauula 3rd ward is so awesome though, and we can't wait to love and serve the people there. We have a lesson with Tiana and Treasure tonight, their mom grew up in the Church but did not raise her Tiana and Treasure in the Church. We are pumped to meet them, and we feel like God is really preparing people for us to teach and help make covenants😊 Keep them in your prayers please! Brother Auna is our ward mission leader and he is AWESOME. He's lived here for 30+ years and is super hard working and outgoing. He's the guy for the calling for sure! 

Can you believe I've been out for 14 months? Crazy... time flies, especially when you're doing the Lord's work. This Thanksgiving week I'm especially grateful for the opportunity to be a missionary. I'm grateful for the growth I've seen in myself and others. I'm grateful that I get to share the gospel with everyone I meet! Most importantly, I'm grateful for Jesus Christ, my Savior. Life is happier when we keep Him at the center of our homes and our hearts. 

 

Love the pace He has given you this week!

Love, Sister Flake

 

The pumpkin spice milkshakes from 7 brothers are AWESOME>>>

Denny's lunch! A sweet family from Laie paid for our meal💕