Post-Christmas fun

Not a whole lot happening after Christmas. We are still working through the holiday season. We got to call home so that was nice. It was so great (actually beyond great) to hear from the family again. Skype didn't happen this time around but I'm hoping that it works out for Mother's Day.

The Casuga's helped me have an awesome birthday. Elder Seremai is doing better. His leg is still in recovery mode so we are running him through physical therapy at the pad.

Elder Cagilaba will be leaving this week but Elder Humpherys is staying so a little bit of good and bad news for us. The new transfer starts on Wednesday. I can't wait for what comes in the next couple of months. I've been called as a new District Leader so I'll be learning more and take on more responsibility. I don't feel like I'm ready for this challenge but I have faith that the Lord does not call those who are prepared; He prepares those who are called.

Love you all
Elder Matua

Injuries, Christmas parties and pics

Well last week was pretty crazy.

Elders and their own "Paper Christmas Tree" from home

Elder Seremai sprained his knee when we went hiking last Monday so he has been bedridden for the whole week. He goes in for another appointment tomorrow morning so keep him in your prayers. Since he has been out [injured] I have been working with the Waimea 1st Elders (Humpherys and Cagilaba) to do work in both areas so we have been driving a lot and working hard. Oh and then on Tuesday Elder Humpherys had a surprise dentist appointment to get his wisdom teeth out. So me and Cagilaba were dealing with an Elder with one leg and an Elder on drugs for awhile so that was fun.

Don't have too much else. People are using the excuse of being 'busy for the Holidays' so it's hard to see anyone but we keep trying.

We had our ward Christmas party on Friday which was fun. Not the Lehi 41st parties I'm used to but it was still fun. We had to sing for our supper, so our table had to sing "I saw mommy kissing Santa Claus" before we could eat so that was new.

We can tell it's the Holiday season here in Hawaii because we have no room in our fridge for anything. Food for days!

Pics: Hiking in Waipio valley, Santa Claus, Our Christmas Tree, Gettin buff, My new pday outfit(I found it all while cleaning out a closet in the pad;)

Love you all,
Elder Matua

Hiking - Waipio Valley
(Humphreys, me, Cagilaba)

Santa at the Ward Christmas party

Getting buff

My new P-Day clothes I found while
cleaning out a closet in our pad
FOBalicious

Yokwe!

My week has been good.

Teaching choke [lot's of] people from the Marshall Islands and finding new ones every day. There is definitely a need for Elder Seremai here. I'm just doin my best to keep up. I'm lovin it.

Nothing really new here other than an explosion of the work with my greenie. The training is going great and we had zone conference with Hilo on Friday so it was nice to see Pres and Sis. Warner. They are amazing leaders here in the Hawaii Honolulu Mission. Throughout the week we just work and work and have fun while doing it. I can't speak for Elder Seremai but I know that I am learning a lot.

A new thing we are doing for our numbers every week is QGC's (quality gospel conversations). It is hard to do in the small village where everyone is busy, but if it were easy everyone would be doing it so we just fight every day to hit our goal of 10 so I am praying for that everyday.

Today we went hiking in Waipio Valley and that was fun. Me and Elders Cagilaba and Humphreys got lost and were hiking forever but we found everyone else and had a good time on p-day.

Love,
Elder Matua

Thanksgiving fun and more teaching moments

Another delicious breakfast with
the Harris family

We have had a great week filled with service. We have been on fire with Marshallese lessons as well. My new companion is doing awesome, but he is having to go though some culture adjustments. Nothing wrong with that it will just take some time. We get along well and we are both learning lessons around every corner. It also helps that we have an amazing ward that backs us up all the time.

We go out with a few of our members that are Marshallese speaking and they teach the lessons with Elder Seremai. From what I can see the lessons go great and we are invited back every time. Elder Seremai is a great teacher and continues to help me improve my teaching with every lesson we teach.

I got to play in a pretty awesome turkey bowl tournament on Saturday. They painted the field and broke into 10 teams and we played for most of the day. It was super fun and there was a good amount of less actives and non members there.

Sorry for the late email today. Me, Elder Humpherys, Elder Christensen, and Ikaika McClure (A less active member) went golfing for most the day. I suck at golf but it was still great fun. There is an older couple in the ward, the McMillans, that is awesome; on the first P-day of every month they take us to breakfast at Hawaiian Style. They have some crazy good grinds and they take the whole zone so it's pretty fun.

For the most part we haven't really had any new progression with our investigators other than the Marshallese, which sucks but that's okay. We are going to keep being faithful and obedient and the Lord will bless us.

Love you all,

Elder Matua