It's the final countdown...

 

Aloha Ohana!

This past week I realized I've been out for 16 months! Time flies. We have transfers again next week, so my pday may or may not change. Hopefully it will remain on Wednesday, but we'll see! We find out on Saturday what next transfer holds. It's the final countdown, though I'm really not counting down. I wish my mission here could last forever! 

Today for pday we hiked Hauula Loop Trail. I did that one a few months ago, but wanted to do one last hike on a pday while I'm still living in this tropical wonderland. I sure love Hawaii--the people, the places, the food, the culture... everything! I just love it

There I go, trekking away up front!

Sisters Spencer, Erickson, Roney, and I

Sister Roney and I. She's from Heber city, Utah. She is the coolest!

😍😍😍😍😍

On Thursday I was on an exchange with Sister C.Lee from Taiwan/Hong Kong. She is so incredible! I really respect her. When were were at the VC in the evening, we talked with a filipino couple living in California, Delilah and Eric. They were so prepared! They have four children. Delilah just seemed to soak in everything we said. They were so open and willing to receive the gospel! They want their kids to see that church is not a Sunday only thing, but rather it's a lifestyle. They wanted to check out a service for our church near them, and Delilah actually said that her grandfather was a member of the Church, and she'd gone to church with him once when she was very very young. When we walked up close to the temple, explained temple sealings, and testified of eternal families, the Spirit could be felt SO strongly. I sincerely told them of the blessings the temple could bring to their family, and I know that they took it to heart. They want those temple blessings! I just love the temple, and I know that it's through temples that we make essential covenants with God that bless us now and on into eternity. Sometimes it will just hit me how grateful I am to know that God has called a prophet today, and that He directs and guides His prophet clearly. It can be easy to be afraid of what may come in the future, but there's no need to fear because God has prepared a way for us to stay safe. Follow the prophet, he knows the way! Anyways, stepping down from my soap box and back to Delilah... she was so inspired by our service as missionaries. At the end of our time together she said "the best thing I could ever ask for is if my daughter chose to be a missionary like you are!" It was the sweetest thing😊I offered to talk with her 17 yr old daughter and tell her more about missionary work, and Delilah lit up. The whole time, Delilah just seemed to latch on to our words, testimony, and the Spirit we all felt together. She was so meek. They agreed to meet with the missionaries back home, so we are arranging for all of that currently. I'm so excited for them! 

This is Delilah and Eric from the Philippines, living in CA.

Lunch with Sister Lee! The power went out so we had brown rice with furukaki seasoning. yum!

Sis Lee made a fancy breakfast!

Funny highlight for the week: Yesterday on TC, Sister Spencer picked up a Bible Request from a woman. We called her, and when she answered she said she had requested for the free hand sanitizer. Of course we were super confused what on earth she was talking about. She insisted that she'd seen an ad for free hand sanitizer. We politely told her that we offer free copies of the Bible and the Book of Mormon if she was interested, and that we are missionaries in Hawaii. She said she'd wanted a Bible. At the end of our conversation with her she said "can I ask you one more question?" She then asked "can you send me some of them chocolate covered macadamia nut thingy's??" You'd think she was kidding, but she was dead serious! Haha! Sister Spencer and I thought that was pretty funny. 

Sister Spencer has been battling a persistent cold for about a week now. After VCTM on Monday, Sister Allen told her that she needed to go home and rest that day, so Monday was a day of recuperation for Sister Spencer. It was a great opportunity for me to catch up on some responsibilities, as well as finish up a song I've been working on called "Treasure What You Have". I'll try to share it soon! 

This Saturday Ciara from Iowa, and Michael from Ohio, are both going to be baptized! I'll try to share more about my experiences with them in next week's email. Both of them were referrals I had sent from the online teaching center:) I also Facebook video called Chas in Texas again, and found out that her daughter Amya is going to be baptized on February 2nd! I'm so excited for her! Chas herself is still working on things, but will hopefully get there soon too.

This week I was talking with Elder Allen about what might be meaningful to focus on for these final weeks in the mission field. I told him that I was feeling a bit of pressure to pick precisely the right goals/focuses for the final weeks. He told me that I just need to ENJOY this last transfer! Continue doing what I've done my whole mission, and just soak in every experience I have. I've picked some personal conversion goals, per Jaedon's suggestions (thanks!:), and will work on those among other goals that I feel impressed to work on, mostly focusing on finding joy in it all though (not going through the motions for anything). 

Well, keep smiling, and love the pace of life God has given you this week! 

Love you all.

Love, Sister Flake

Oh William...this was on my exchange with Sister Lee!

This girl was so sweet. She answered the door and said she moved in with her grandparents there (nonmember parents) and she was actually baptized last November! We challenged her to give a BOM away before the school year ends.

I can never take sis Spencer seriously.....