More Island Time

Another super slow week but we made it work. We have a lot of investigators that are scared to commit but with the help of ward members we should be solving those problems this week.

Our ward has really started to catch the wave of missionary work. In our ward council we are now setting goals and holding the ward council accountable for the member lessons and referrals. I think it will be really good because now we have a number to gauge the wards progress. They are wanting to do the work, they just aren't sure how to start with being a new ward.

While studying I came across a quote that has really helped me this week:

 "A sense of humor is an escape valve for the pressures of life." Elder Richard G. Scott. 

So remember to laugh and be happy. The Lord will bless us in our afflictions and make us stronger than we can imagine. (D&C 98:1-3 scripture of the month)


Love,
Elder Matua

A late P-Day note

Note: P-Day in Hawaii was late for our missionary due to the holiday. Small world - DeAnn Anderton's (the Anderton's are our dear friends and neighbors) sister and brother in-law were visiting Hawaii and ran into Elder Matua in the Kona Temple. They snapped the attached photo of Elder Matua and Elder Seremai in front of the temple.

We just got done at the temple. I'm glad to hear you guys are all doing well and staying busy. I'm missing rugby so much. I haven't been able to play here much lately.

It sounds like the ward is doing good. The mission is doing good. We just had interviews with President Warner. Mine was really good. I feel comfortable sharing things with him so it went really well. These last three months have gone by faster than the previous three months. I've almost been out for six months! Time is flying and I'm doing great.

I hope all goes well with the rugby games this weekend and I hope that no one gets hurt and that everyone has a good experience. I'm also hoping that Samoa can pick it up too. I hope that we [United Rugby] can go this year without any serious injuries but that is not likely.

I might be in Waikoloa one more transfer longer. Most of our investigators are Marshallese and they are doing really good. I just bare my testimony at the end in Marshallese so that's always fun. Even though I don't understand the language much the spirit really tells me what is being taught. It's an awesome experience.

Our investigator Lopaka is doing good as well. I wasn't at his last lesson because we were on exchange but from the report from my companion Elder Seremai, it went well and we should see him on Wednesday.

The Mission in general is doing a lot better.


Love you all,
Elder Matua

The work is progressing

It has been a pretty good week. We taught so many lessons in Marshallese. Now we just need to get them married and baptized and we will be on our way to a [new] Marshallese unit. The lessons are mostly taught by Elder Seremai but I'm there and I'm halfway there to learning my testimony in Marshallese.

Last Tuesday Bishop Casuga told us that we had an appointment at 11 am. We said shoots and went. We took Brother Kobeney from the bishopric and went to the lesson. It was awesome! His name is Lopaka and he is a super nice smart guy. He loved the lesson and committed to baptism. We had another lesson with him on Friday and he is still solid. We are going to meet with him every Wednesday, so hopefully he can be ready for his baptismal date on Jan 26th!

Things are really picking up. We do some physical therapy every morning with Elder Seremai so hopefully he will be walking normal soon. Our district consists of me and Elder Seremai, the Waimea 1st Elders (Humpherys), Sisters in Kohala and a Senior couple in Kohala. It's a lot of work but it's pretty fun.

I got your letters and the package. Thanks for the goodies and calender. I'll write you guys back sometime this week. Hope all is well with school and getting ready for rugby.

Love you all!
Elder Matua

Holiday's are over

Now that everyone is back to real life we are back in business. We hit the ground running (well Elder Seremai limped) and got right back to teaching. We encountered a new problem, most of our investigators need to be married. Fortunately the wonderful Waikoloa Ward has come across this before and can help us solve the problem. So the work moves on. There are many Marshallese here that are prepared to hear the word of the Lord and join the church.

Elder Seremai has gotten the all clear from the doctor now and its just a matter of physical therapy to get him walking normal. But we will work through it. Elder Cagilaba got transferred so our Flyin' Fijian is gone to Honolulu.

The days go faster and faster the more I get into it over here. I love every second of it. It still gets harder and harder with more responsibility, but the Lord doesn't call the prepared he prepares the called!

Nothing new other than that. We moved back into our pad. Still doing good and growing. Love you all!

Love,
Elder Matua