One more transfer in Hau'ula

This week was pretty busy. We had a temple trip on Tuesday which is always great! Wednesday we had District meeting as usual. Friday we had Zone conference and Saturday we had a lot of service.

Zone conference is always fun. Since Laie is so big with the 30 Visitors Center sisters we only have our zone. President and sister Warner always give very good training's. President talked about the Doctrine of Christ, and how to address it in different ways with our investigators. Sister Warner talked about integrity, "What manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am." (3 Nephi 27:27). Sister Warner is really good at telling us straight up that we can always be and do better. The AP's gave a training on teaching simply. Good zone conference!

Funny story of the week: We were asked to go and see a family for the Ward Council. There are two girls in the home who aren't baptized yet so it is a great opportunity for us. We walk up to the house and the first problem that we encounter is that there is really no distinguishable front door (which is the case with most Hawaii homes). So we climb over some toys and holes in the deck to a side door and knock. One of the little girls comes to the door and we ask if mom or dad are home. She nodded and ran off. Well minutes goes by and she never comes back. We knocked some more and eventually left. Hopefully the WC can set something up for us because we seem to be having no luck contacting them.

I will be staying in Hau'ula for one more transfer so I will be here until October. I feel good about that. Me and Elder Shute are going another seven weeks together to go find some people to baptize.

We also had a good cottage meeting last night at a ward members house. We got a recent convert from Uarota Lima (5th Ward) to share her story. Her name is Nicole and she has been awesome to work with over the past four months. She can definitely see the gospel changing her life. We also got the chance to teach the restoration there.

Advice for Missionary Prep: If you don't listen to your parents' counsel and humble yourself, you are not going to make very many friends and you will struggle teaching. I find that Elders who rely on their own knowledge while teaching have a very hard time listening to what an investigator needs and the spirit is a lot harder to tap into. Which means that the gifts of the spirit (discernment, knowledge, love, etc.) are hard to feel. But if you do humble yourself quickly then the knowledge that you do have can be accessed by the spirit and you will do great.

Good for Dillon! He will always be someone I look up to.

That's all for this week! Alofa tele atu mo outou uma!
Elder Kingston Matua

Hurricanes, service, ants and Samoan lessons

I really hope that I will be able to serve in Kauai. I have already met some really great members from there and heard so many great things.

It is sad how many people do not have the knowledge that happiness can be eternal and that families can be eternal. So many people do not want to change their lives and live by the standards of Christs gospel. Sadly it takes the passing of a loved one sometimes to get people going. But sometimes it is the joy of a new child that lets people feel the light of Christ in their lives. I love being able to see people who are ready to make the change. It is rare and usually requires a lot of work, but it is worth it to try with everyone.

Don't send cash!! It always gets lost in the mail. I've seen so many elders never receive money that they are waiting for haha! Glad to hear you guys got home. The "hurricane" wasn't even as bad as the storm that we had a few weeks ago. After five hours in the pad we kinda saw the sun so we got out and drove. The roads were clear and everyone was back to normal. It only rained for like 45 minutes. No real flooding.

I have learned so much Samoan in the past two weeks though. Elder Young Yen has been teaching me everyday. I will really have to go visit some of these Samoan missionaries when we all get home. His family owns a rental car company so we have a discounted car on Savaii haha! I really hope that somewhere along my mission I get to serve with a Samoan as my comp but for now elder Shute is my man.

I am doing better at my journal. It isn't every night but it is pretty close. It is my year mark resolution to do better. I'm not a writer like dad so I don't think that my entries will be as inspiring, but I when my kids complain about companions I will be able to connect.

I got the first package. The P.O.S. thing is really cool. All my companions think I collect pez now haha! For the most part I do fine money wise. Dinner every night and leftovers for lunch, then protein and toast for breakfast, maybe and egg or two.

Another week in good ole Hau'ula. We got to go to Pearl Harbor and do some service this week which is always a good time.

Friday was a really good day. I went on exchange with Elder Young Yen (who's from Samoa) and contact a good group of less actives in the Samoan ward. He has really been helping me learn Samoan and when I am able to take him with me to teach, the people are very open to him. This ward would do great things with an elder from Samoa.

On Saturday we did some service with the Tongan ward on a huge garden (more like a farm). When we were just about done, we had to move some logs. I picked one up and put it over my shoulder. A few seconds later my whole shoulder started to tingle and then sting. I had about a million ants fall out of the log onto my shoulder. Was a very new experience haha! Gotta love service!

Crazy having a four week transfer. It is already that time again next week. Not sure if I will be staying in Hau'ula or not. Also crazy that I have hit my year mark. Time is going by so fast. I never really believed anyone when they told me how fast it goes by. But I do now. The next year will be one to remember. Sorry my emails aren't that great. My communication skills haven't really improved I guess. But I still love you all!


Love,
Elder Matua

Transfers, service, blessings and ward camps

With ward members at the temple

Transfer week was crazy as usual. We spent the first half of the week saying goodbye to people with Elder Choo and the second half of the week introducing Elder Shute. After we got back from transfer meeting we got Elder Shute settled in and then tried to figure out where to put a tripanionship of elders becuase their pad is like a closet and can't fit three guys.

I was able to give my first blessing to our neighbor (Teisa Ofahengaue). Usually I do the anionting and my companion does the sealing but I guess this time it was my turn. Thursday was a normal day visiting our normal people and getting Elder shute familiar with the area.

Friday we had a choir practice that my companion signed us up for, then a normal day. Saturday we sang in a missionary choir for a funeral of a man who has done a lot to help the mission and missionary work in general. the choir did really good. I kinda stopped singing and just listened because it sounded so good. Probably could give MoTab a run for their money. haha!

We had to rush back from to help with multiple service projects, moving and cleaning up after the flooding. Then finished off our night with a dinner at the Hauula 4th ward camp. Sunday we attended church and then went back to the Hauula 4th ward camp for dinner with the Falatea family and friends and then we were able to help with a Lehi's dream spiritual walk. Good Week!

It is just life as usually for missionaries here. Just trying to stay busy and stay out of trouble. The food is still the same, good and fattening. We had the Samoan ward feeding us this month so we ate a lot. Pretty close to throwing up at a couple of the houses. You really do have to eat everything that they give you and they just keep giving and giving.

Mom, the wards or stakes provide us with 72-hour kits, we have some, but some missionaries will crack them open when they run out of food and money. haha Some pads I've been in don't have them. They usually have two: one with food and one with survival stuff.

Not really any new people [to teach] they are very rare here in Laie. I am getting closer to a lot of the less actives that we have though. This week was a lot of packing for my companion and saying goodbye to people. Nothing else out of the ordinary.

Quinn, I see your buddies Vai and Keola every now and then I play basketball with them on Thursday sometimes. They said Hi.

I'm still working on taking more pictures. Its really hard... really hard. I miss rugby... miss you guys... but I love Hawaii and the work.

Love Elder King Matua

Latest Pictures from Hauula

Dream car at the temple parking lot

Enjoying P-Day

The zone

In the car

Some dude at PCC

Another one in front of the graffiti wall

The zone at the famous graffiti wall