TRANSFER NEWS/ & FA SOIFUA

Just a Note Written Yesterday---

Sooo, we just got transfer news, and I am very sad to say that I will be leaving the Moanalua 2nd ward, and heading back to serve my last four transfer in the Visitors Center ....BUUUTTT....that being said...you can take the missionary out of the Moanalua 2nd Samoan Ward, but you can't take the Samoan out of the missionary! Looks my new companion is a Sister who just finished getting trained, so I will be her follow-up trainer...and we will be serving in....THE SAMOAN LAIE 9TH WARD!!!! CHEEEEEE-HOOO!! If I have to leave full-field, at least I get to stay in a Samoan Ward..and back to a ward I had previously served in, where the Bishop is actually my current Bishops' brother! My new companion is Samoan as well, her name is Sister Toleafoa! I have not met her, so it will be way exciting. 
Because Sister Saena and I will be busy with appointments today (yes on P-day) we will be sending a real e-mail tomorrow! But you can put this one on the blog if you want ;) 
Alright, family, I love you all SO much, thank you for your prayers!!

Fa Soifua

Family and Friends, Talofa!!!

Well, as I'm sure you've already seen, I am being transferred out of the Moanalua 2nd

Ward, and leaving my baby, all grown up now =/ It has definitely been a bittersweet past couple of days saying goodbye to the members whom we have drawn very close with; especially with Losa and her family. It warmed my heart when saying goodbye to them last night, they asked where I was going to be staying whenever I came back to visit. I told them I had no idea, and their mom then responded by saying, "I hope you will stay with us, then." I could not be happier knowing that I will get to continue serving the Lord in the Samoan Ward of Laie, as well as in the Visitors' Center. I know that the calling I have to serve in the Visitors Center is a special one, and one that the Lord needs me to fulfill. I know that many say that serving a mission is a "sacrifice," but I don't think I could ever look at it like that. Serving as a missionary is probably one of the greatest blessings I have received in my life. There is no greater joy than seeing the miracles we have every single day.

Miracle #1 

We hadn't been able to meet with Pauline for over a week, so we decided we needed to drop by.  She is actually living in the same house as our ward mission leader and his family, so it makes it really easy to make sure there is always a member at our lessons. Well, this week when we got there, we asked Pauline if Kanana was home (WML's niece).

She is really close with Pauline, and has been going to appointments with us to prepare for her mission in California. She willingly came and joined us as we taught about the Restoration. It was the best having her there!! We asked her if she would bare her testimony of how she knew that the gospel of Jesus Christ had been restored. She then, for the first time in her life, bore her testimony. We were all in tears. Kanana lives her testimony, but has never expressed or wanted to express it in words. When Pauline had first started investigating the church, she said that she would be baptized the day that Kanana shared her testimony. She was more confident than ever in the date that she had set for her baptism.

Miracle #2 
I mentioned a referral that we had met whose name is Alema (meaning Alma in English). For the past two weeks we have been knocking on his door at the times that he said he was home. No answer. OR, even sometimes, we would hear the TV or even music turn off the second we started knocking on the door, haha. We would wait to see if the music would ever turn back on, but we were pretty sure that they could see that we were still there. Finally, last week, we knock on his door again. And again. And, finally before knocking a third time, a woman (a friend) answers the door. We ask if Alema is home. She invites us in to sit down and then goes down the hall to get him.

Finally, he comes out, seeming as happy as can be to see us!! After talking story we started our lesson on the Book of Mormon. He admitted he had not read our assignment from last time, so we decided to read it with him (Alma 36). We went through and talked about it, but then the Spirit took over. Sister Saena and I  both shared our testimonies about this gospel and how it can bless our lives. I then received the strongest prompting to invite him to baptism! Bah, I was nervous, I don't know why. So I did, for the date of May 25th, and he said...he was scared. We asked why, and he said that he didn't want to be baptized and then go back to his old ways. We reassured him that as we meet with him and as he keeps the commitments we extend to him, that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ he would be ready for this day.

He then opens up and tells us how he had a best friend growing up, and how they would always give their friends rides to church and then go smoke, drink, do drugs, etc. He said that when they grew up, this friend met a girl who is LDS. He took all the lessons and was baptized, and has now changed his life around. He said he now always looks to him as an example. He sees how good his life has become, and wanted that for himself. We testified to him how much God loves him, and wants him to be happy, and that through baptism, he too would be able to have a joyous life and eternity. We then invited him again to baptism, and he said YES!! We asked him how he was feeling, and he said he felt weird...good, and happy! After pausing he then looked at us and exclaimed, "Can you feel that!?"  

Hah, we just smiled at him and told him that he was feeling the spirit testifying to him that these things are true! It was soooo cool. We asked him if he would like to say the closing prayer, after teaching him how to pray, and he did. It was such a beautiful prayer full of sincerity and humility. As we were about to leave, setting up our next appointment, he asked if we could meet 3 times as weekk! We just smiled again, and told him that of course we could. I don't know if that has ever happened to me on my mission!! Then as we step out the door, he expressed how grateful he was to meet us. He said that we will forever be his missionaries who changed his life, and that he will never pretend to not be home again, haha.

It was so hard because it was just an hour before that I had found out that I would no longer be serving in the ward. But, I know that I came to do what the Lord needed me to do.

I am so grateful for Heavenly Father and the chance He has given me to serve His children in Hawaii. I know that God lives, and I know that if we only taste of the fruit for ourselves we will be able to know of it's goodness. I have seen that for myself, and I have seen it in others. It's been really hard to leave this area, just as my area in Maui,

but I cannot wait to see the Miracles that are in store in Laie. I love you all SO much, and I am so grateful for your loving support! Have wonderful week.

Fa Soifua (Farewell),

Sister Moyes

HAWAIIAN ROLLER COASTER RIDE

Talofa Lava!

I definitely don't even know where to begin with this week. I am pretty sure I have never had a more bumpy week in my whole mission! Things were going up, then down, then up, then down, but then finally ended with too many miracles to count! I'll try to make them short so I can fit them all in, because there are a lot. The biggest thing I learned this week was in following the spirit. Every night at 9:00pm, you go through the goals you set and then accomplished that day (concerning # of lessons, etc.) and then plan for the next day. We always begin our planning with a prayer to know where we should go and who we should teach at specific times. But, just as life is, things don't always go according to our plans.

Monday night everyone we go to see is not home....and those that are, made sure we knew they were NOT interested. Tuesday. Every single person we planned to see was at least home for us to set up another appointment with for the upcoming week!! Yay! Wednesday, we felt so stuck. We visited every single person, knocking on their doors, multiple times throughout the day, and NO one was home. We had seen every person we possible could think of...and....nothing. Thursday. My favorite day of this week:

Miracle #1 

Sister Saena and I decided that we need more people in our teaching pool just as I mentioned last week. We felt inspired to go visit our former investigators! Three of them (Sweetie, Tilo Mai, and Fua Mai) were home and said that they wanted to pick up the lessons again!!!! Woot-woot!! Sweetie is amazingggggggg! We already love her SO much, and

          Miracle #1a 

          When we went to see another former investigator, she was very blunt in letting us                             

          know that we could come "talk story," but she was very set in her religion. We said 

          goodbye and headed out the door. We start walking down the hallway of the apartment 

          building and behind us we hear a "Sisters! Wait!" We turn around and it is a women  

          who was in the apartment we just left. She told us that she was actually a member of 

          the Mormon church, but had not been to church in over three years. She said that 

          every time the Elders would come by to see her mother-in-law, she could never get the 

          courage to tell the missionaries who she "really was" until she saw us. She said she 

          knew that she was ready to come back to church, and was so grateful that Heavenly 

          Father sent us to her door!! It was too perfect, but we knew that it was all because the 

          spirit had guided us there; just as it continued to that day.

Miracle #2 

We had planned to go see two of our investigators whom we hadn't been able to meet with in a while, but before we headed there Sister Saena and I sat in silence, waiting in the car. I had felt very strongly that we needed to go see one of the referrals that the Elders had given us the previous week, she said that she felt the same thing. We start the car and head on our way! The referral had been for a Samoan guy, whose name we did not know, so when we knocked on the door and a girl (Kahili) answered, we weren't exactly sure what to say! We introduced ourselves, and began explaining the situation. Before we finished, she stops us and says, "Wait, hold on, are you Mormon missionaries?" We of course told her that we were! She then admittedly and appologetically (is that a word?) explains to us that she had just been drinking, but really wanted to talk to us. She said that her 13-year-old son had joined our church and calls her every week to ask if she had tried going yet! She wanted to try it out, but had no one to go with, and had always wished that there female missionaries to teach her.She told us that she knew that God sent us! She was so cool, and we were able to just talk to her for so long. She told us her life story, and we were able to share how the gospel will be able to help bring her family back together. It was SOOOOO amazing. She wasn't sure when we could meet again, but continually told us to make sure we call her to set something up!! Love it.

Miracle #3 

We went to go visit a family who we thought was a part member family. Turns out it wasn't, but it couldn't have been more perfect. Bah, Heavenly Father's timing is perfect! We get there and only Sister Seuli is home. As we are talking with her, her daughter daughter and grand-daughter come walking in. We continue conversation, but then Sister Seuli gets up and leaves to go somwhere, haha. Then the daughter who is mid 20's comes in and says that she guesses they are switching spots! So she begins talking with us, getting to know us, and we all clicked so fast. The more we get talking, the more we find out that she has been less-active for the past year because of some major trials in her life. She also tells us that the young single adults rep, who is also one of her good friends, had just stopped by the day before. She said she knew it was not a coinsidence that we were there. We were able to share a message with her and made sure she knew she had a seat saved right next to us on Sunday!! She couldn't come this past Sunday, but said for sure this coming Sunday. We absolutely love her, and we could feel how much Heavenly Father does too.

There are so many more I want to share, but time wins again! I know that if we are willing to follow the promptings of the spirit, we will always be lead to cross in someone's path. I know that Heavenly Father loves us, and loves each of His children. He knows us so individually, and we can be His instruments to answer someone else's prayer! Never be afraid to share what you know, or to follow the direction that the spirit gives you! If it is a prompting to do good, never walk away. I am so grateful for the roller coaster ride we had this week, because without the bad days, we would never truly know how to appreciate the good days. Have another miraculous week!

Alofa,

Sister Moyes

P.S. 

This is the last week of the transfer!!! I have never stayed in a ward more than one transfer, so I hope that I will be able to stay at least another 6 weeks in the Samoan ward!!

SEKIA SAMOA

TALOFA!!

Ahh, another amazing week in Hawaii!! This one was definitely one to remember for so many reasons! General conference was amazing, of course, but I cannot express my gratitude to Heavenly Father for blessing me to be in this ward. We are seeing so many miracles, not only in our area but from our ward. BUT, first and foremost......

Miracle #1

LOSA WAS BAPTIZED!!!!!

Bah, it was the best baptism ever! SO many of our members in the ward came to support her and congratulate her. There is nothing like it, standing there on the side, watching the person entering in the water, knowing that the life they start as they come out of the water is a new one, a clean one!!

Losa was radiating as she came out of the water. There was just a peace that was felt. Hah, typical Losa....I asked her how she felt, and her first response was, "...hmm, Hungry!" Haha. We love her so much!! Don't worry, afterwards she told us how good she really felt. It was perfect. Just as everything about this gospel is.

Miracle #2 

So this kind of goes along with Miracle #1, but I wanted to put Losa's baptism first =) When we were at Losa's, planning the baptismal program, her Sister and Sister's husband (whom she lives with) were sitting there with us. I asked Losa's Sister if she would like to speak, and she admitted she would rather not. Then we asked the husband, and he immediately said, "No, I want YOU to speak."

I turn to Losa, and she just starts laughing, and then I look back, and he says that he is serious! Then stating that he has never let any missionaries teach Losa the gospel, but the way he saw us interact with Losa, he said he knew that Sister Saena and I were the missionaries to teach her.

So, yes, I once again, gave a talk in Samoan at her baptism. I butchered so many words, but could not have felt more blessed than I did when the Bishop gave His last remarks saying how blessed the ward is to have Sisters to teach Losa, and saying that he wished that "Sister Moe" could stay in the ward forever!! Bahhh, of course I started crying.

I've become such a baby!! It was just one of those moments where you can truly feel Heavenly Father's love in knowing that you are doing what He needs you to be doing.

Miracle #3

We committed Pauline to a baptismal date of May 4th !!!

Miracle #4 

Although things are going very well in the ward, and we have been able to see many less-actives come back, our teaching pool has been struggling a bit. The first few weeks we were in this area we were able to find many new investigators! It was awesome! But, one of the hard things about here in the area is that everyone works to support their family. We have set appointment after appointment with them, and they continue to not be home when we go over or calling asking to reschedule; the cause being getting called into work for extra hours. SO, Sister Saena and I decided that we needed to fast. I love fasting. My testimony of it has become so strong as I have been serving the Lord. He truly answers our prayers and blesses us for the sacrifices that we strive to make. That night we received a call from some Elders in another zone (one that we cover as well). They said they tracted  a man whose name

is......Alma. Hah, yeah! Apparently his grandparents were the first people to be baptized into the church in Samoa. He was interested to know where his name came from as well. The Elders said that Sister Saena and I would love to come by and teach him and his wife more...AND he said yes!! We cannot wait to begin teaching him, and the great significance that his name has.

Back in Maui

I love this work so much! I love my companion and baby, Sister Saena. She teaches me SO much every day, and I could not ask for a better companion at this time. She is so full of love and patience, and I know that those we teach can feel it when she she teaches. I am so grateful the scriptures and the opportunity I have to read them and study them each and every day! I know that by reading the Book of Mormon my testimony of Jesus Christ is strengthened, and I can truly feel the armor of God around me! I know that it is because of your prayers that I am able to do this work. I love Hawaii, I love being in the Samoan ward, and I love my Savior Jesus Christ! I know that as you look for the tender mercies in your life, you will have another wonderful week! SEKIA SAMOA!

Love,

Sister Moyes

Pictures from Maui at Oliver Decano's Baptism

HAPPY EASTER

Family and friends, Talofa!

I have so much to say about this week!! Sister Saena and I were really nervous because of my getting a lame cold, but it was still one of the best weeks of being in this ward. Just some house keeping business:

• Thank you EVERYONE for the birthday wishes; especially my mom&dad and siblings! You all are the best!! There is no greater feeling than knowing you are loved, and I especially felt that from you all on my birthday. So thank you!
• I think I'm becoming a pro at Volleyball! Haha, every Tuesday our ward gets together after Mutual acitivites and meetings and such and plays volleyball! It's been so fun, not only because it's volleyball, but because we have gotten so close to the members here, and we feel like we truly have their trust now!!
• I got an update as for my investigators in Maui!! Alll five are officially baptized!!!! Ahhh, I started crying when I found out! There is no better feeling than being able to teach Heavenly Father's children and seeing their lives change as they enter into those waters of Baptism! Being a missionary is the BESTTTT!!

On that note:

Miracle#1 

This is Losa on my right, and Victoria on my left =)

We had another lessons with our investigator Losa, who is best friends with Victoria! We committed her to being baptized on April 7....this Sunday!! It has been so amazing teaching her. At first she was very very closed off to us, and didn't want to answer questions we would ask occasionally througout our lessons. Then as the lesssons went on we started doing different things with her outside of just the lessons, such as playing volleyball, and as a result have all become so close! She explained to us that she was really closed off because she felt like she was being forced into taking the lessons. Well, time after time, we told her how much we loved her, and how much Heavenly Father loves her and wants her to return to Him again. She of course knew all of that, but we then explained that although baptism is essential in entering the kindgom of Heaven, it will do no good for her if she is just doing it because everyone is telling her to. We both wanted to make sure that she was ready to make this sacred covenant, and she did, too. She has expressed to us that she knows this gospel is true, and finally feels ready. SO April 7th is that day =) Sister Saena and I cannot wait!!

 Sister Saena and me
When our food went everywhere in the car!!!
We get way too much food!!!

Miracle #2 

This past weekend was Youth Conference for the youth of ages 14 and up in our stake! It was a really great turnout! Sister Saena and I, along with our Zone Leaders Elder Hall & Elder Carrell, would do a workshop on Missionary Work. We started out not exactly sure what was expected of us. We knew that the coordinator wanted the youth to write their testimonies for us to place inside copies of The Book of Mormon, but with the remaining 20 minutes we weren't sure. We had about 7 sessions each a half our long. As we collaborated we decided to talk simply about what exactly a testimony is, and give the youth confidence in sharing it with others! It sounded good...but then it was really hard to get their participation. There were always the select few who would raise their hands for in response to every answer, but we wanted to make an impact, and get the youth involved. We were doing out best, and hoped that would be enough. Well, this past Sunday, for Fast and Testimony meeting, four young men, probably about 14 or 15 years old, got up to bare their testimonies. One of the spoke and said, "At youth conference I went to a workshop that really inspried me. They taught us about sharing our testimony and taught that we can gain one and strengthen it by sharing it, and I really wanted to be able to do that." He then continued by sharing his testimony!!! It was so awesome. It was something so simple, but I always love thinking about the power of one. There will be so many times in our lives when we do our best, and try to be a good example, and might feel like it didn't make an impact. Well, I can testify that even if you help one person, it is so worth it!!

This transfer I am reading the New Testament. I decided that if I wanted to be a great teacher and missionary, who better to learn from than our Savior Jesus Christ? My testimony of Him grows stronger and stronger each and every day as I read about Him and the life that He lead focused on serving others. He not only served them, but He taught so powerfully and yet so simply! He was not afraid to proclaim the truth and that He was the very Son of God sent on the earth to redeem us from our fallen state. Easter had a different meaning to me than it did before, this time around. I am so grateful for Jesus Christ. He lives, and I know that!! I know that if we follow Him, and walk in His footsteps we will truly receive everlasting joy. I am so grateful that He died for us, but more importantly that He rose again! I am so grateful that His church has been restored upon the earth once more. Live by it, and see if it does not only bless your life! I can testify that you will see the fruits that come from your labors of following Him. As a representative of Him, I testify of these things, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen. I love you all, and know that God does, too! Have a great week!

Alofa,

Sister Moyes