Happy Thanksgiving - Hawaii Style

Had a pretty exciting week and some pretty cool experiences. We got to do some really cool service the day before Thanksgiving and Thanksgiving morning. We helped the folks at Tita's Grill unwrap, prepare, and re-wrap in foil, 200 or so turkeys for a big 'umu that they were doing for the homeless and seniors.

Cooking turkeys in the 'umu for the homeless and seniors

After we got the turkeys all wrapped up we helped take them to another place where we helped move
the fire and get it ready for the turkeys. We put them all in and covered it up. We woke up at 5 o'clock on Thanksgiving morning to go and help take the turkeys out of the 'umu. They took most of the turkeys to Waianae side for the homeless shelter and the rest went to Tita's Grill for the Seniors and the missionaries. We went to play some football and rugby with at the PCC and had a fun meal with the Si'ilata and Te'o-Tafiti families. To finish off Thanksgiving we got together as missionaries and played some games at Laie Park.

On Friday we had to take Elder Gardner, Elder Young Yen's comp, to the airport for an early transfer to Hilo. So Elder Young Yen has been with us and will be with us until Wednesday when they have the regular transfers.

With the boys after another great temple trip

On Saturday we were able to be a part of Elder Young Yen's baptism. It was a Chinese lady, who got baptized in the Tongan ward that I actually got the chance to teach a while back. It was a great baptism and the spirit was there as always. After, we got to eat at their Bishops house. They gave "light refreshments" - Tongan for a whole meal. haha!

Sunday we had a long day of Church. After three Sacrament meetings and a couple of lessons later we were finally done with church. We then went to sing in a missionary choir in Kahuku for a missionary fireside. After that we finished the week with a great dinner with the Alaiasa family.

Last Christmas as Elder Matua (sad face)

Overall it was a good week. I also found out that I will be transferring. I have no clue where I am going yet but I will leave Hau'ula on Wednesday. I am so grateful for all the time that I have been able to spend here in Hau'ula and for all the experiences that I have had but a change will be nice now. By this point in my mission I know that everywhere we are put in our lives, we are put there for a reason. I have been able to see that in all of my areas and even here in Hau'ula. Now I can't wait to see what is next! Love you all!

Hope you get feeling better mom. Its crazy to think that I just spent my last Thanksgiving here in Hawaii. Next Thanksgiving I will be right back to freezing my butt off with you guys. Or maybe we can come spend a Thanksgiving here in Hawaii...

Love,
Elder Kingston Matua

Teaching and serving the Thanksgiving way

This week was pretty good. For Thanksgiving we are just planning to hit a couple of members houses who wanted us over for dinner, so we will be eating all day. Some guys at PCC invited us to come and play touch rugby over at BYU. The 4th ward invited us to their turkey bowl too. I love that you can do Thanksgiving stuff here and not have to freeze your butt off.

We did some service a few days ago where we moved these huge logs behind Reno Mahe's moms fruit stand. The logs were going over the umu that Titas Grill is going to use to make 250 turkeys for the homeless and senior couples. The hole was huge!

It has been getting colder here too (65 degrees) haha! I'm gonna be in some trouble when I get home. I have to wear a hoodie when it gets below 70.

I need to do better at journal writing...I am really no good at that at all.

Working on your health is good. It is now officially been said over the pulpit in General Conference so everyone should be doing it. I can testify that being healthy = being happy. Less stress when you are fit, I've seen both ends of that since I've been here.

I haven't had any confirmation that I am actually leaving (transfer) yet. I won't know until this Sunday. It is not likely that I will stay here but there is still a chance. I will miss a lot of the people that I have met here but at the same time I am ready for some change. It is not like being at home where you can be just fine staying in one area for a long time. Here we love the people and all but there is so much that we can't do in each area so we just want to get out of there and find a new place with new people. It is kinda hard to explain. But there is a reason missionaries don't spend two years in one area.

Me and Elder Young Yen went on a split again, which seems to be happening a lot. We taught a second lesson to this couple from the east coast. They are very open and the spirit is so strong in the lessons. They have gone through a tough time as a couple and are looking for something to help them be happy.

Our most recent lesson with them was on the plan of salvation which was perfect for them. They really want to be a family forever. At the very beginning of the lesson we asked if they had any specific questions. The husband asked us this really long question where he voiced his frustrations and asked how we deal with our frustrations daily. I pointed at the Book of Mormon in front of him and told him read and pray. I love that I have gotten to the point where those kind of answers have become automatic. I know without a doubt in my mind that the Book Of Mormon is 100% true and that Heavenly Father wants to hear from us every day and He knows what we need most.

I hope you have another great week!

Alofa ia te oe!
Elder Kingston Matua

An honorary Hau'ula citizen

So as we were getting back from our temple trip I heard someone talking to my companion and asking me to come outside. I already knew who it was and what she wanted to talk about haha.

Sis Ofahengaue was asking me why I didn't email my mother yesterday. Haha! We have our P-day today because we had a temple trip and yesterday we did service for the visitors center. We set up Christmas trees.

The temple this morning was great, so grateful for the chance that I've had to go so much here in Laie.

The people here in the wards I serve in are telling me that I should just move my records into the ward since I've been here so long. They said it feels like I'm just another local. I have been here for seven months so I should be leaving around the first week of December.

This past week was pretty good. We had zone conference on Friday. Always nice to hear from our mission leadership. I was able to have another good lesson with the other elders. Went with Elder Young Yen to teach one of their investigators. They are a really solid couple who really likes the concept of eternal families. We had a very spiritual lesson on the restoration. and they really liked it and want to continue. Even though it wasn't in our area, it was great to help deliver the some of the message of the restored gospel with some great people.

Love,
Elder Kingston Matua

Choke Samoan food and failed appointments

Well this week was another rough one. We had most of our appointments fall through, but there was always something that came up right after the heartbreak of a missed lesson. Funny how that works.

I went on an exchange with Elder Young Yen to contact some of the Samoan families. They are a lot more open when there is someone there that is speaking their language - funny how that works too.

During ward council someone had jokingly brought up an older man who needed a blessing. The room went kinda quite and then we raised our hands and said that we volunteer. It was a less-active guy so it was a good way for us to get on his good side.

We spent time doing some service for the Eskaran family, I served in their sons ward in Kona. We were cutting that dang California grass, about 10-min after we finished I was destroyed by allergies. That was the first time in a long time. Not looking forward to that [allergies] when I get back to the cold dry place [Utah].

I ran into the Olers this week so that was yet another funny coincidence.

We have been getting choke Samoan food. The Samoan ward is feeding and Bishop Touli challenged everyone to feed us in their homes, and not just drop something off. Which is great, but every night ko'aga'i is a lot of food. But I can now say that I love taro, ulu, palusami, and all the other goods.

Another funny note - At almost every dinner there is either no salad, or the bowl of salad goes untouched all night haha! Them Samoans!

We have an Elder Iabeta here from Kiribati. Cool guy. You should ask the Wobel's and Nauluai's if they know his parents, Kokoria and Lita Iabeta.

Alofa atu mo matou uma! Faafetai lava mo lo outou lagolago mai ile galuega ma alolofa mai.

Alofa tele ia te oe!

Elder Kingston Matua

Working hard and praying harder

Me and Elder Young Yen

That is crazy that all those little ones (Pete, Morgan, Keanu) are getting baptized. That's pretty much how it is going to be now with all those little Kolowich kids growing up. They will all go through same phases we did as a family haha.

This will be the last Vegas trip that I miss haha, that is crazy! I think if United wants to continue to be a power in rugby they need to step back and remember why they are who they are. I can testify that a good youth sports program with the highest standards helped me to become the person I am today. Those boys should always have a chance to not only be their best but learn that there are things more important in life than just winning and recognition. I feel like my group was great in knowing that we were there for each other and as a result we did well and became better men. and now 90% of us are on missions.

For now I get to stay in beautiful Hau'ula. I find joy here everyday. When you put your problems behind you and show your love for the people, all problems tend to disappear. That is one of the greatest things that I have learned. People will be people, but when you can see them through the Lord's eyes, it is impossible not to love them. I'm sure you are having you own experiences with that at home and I'm sure I will experience it for the rest of my life.

All my clothes are fine other than I ripped a huge whole down the backside of one of my pants playing volleyball at a kids activity. The Sr. sister said she could fix it.

I loved the package thank you so much! Elder Young Yen was pumped to get something, he hasn't gotten anything since he's been here in Laie (4 months). It is too expensive for his family to send anything. He was very grateful and sends his love for you guys. I was praying for healthy stuff when I opened the box, but since it was Halloween I didn't think that was going to be the case. I allowed myself for some cheat time on that holiday. But I have decided that I really don't like Halloween or anything that it represents. Kinda lame.

I started cross-fit this morning. I will do it throughout Nov. until I get transferred. Me and and a couple of other elders will do it two times a week. The guy that runs it is pretty cool. I've just gotta get into some kinda shape here. I know I won't be great until after I get home and have a solid amount of time to workout, but I'll do what I can here.

Alofa tele mo outou uma
Elder Kingston Matua

No hurricane threat but lots of work

The Hurricane was just like the last one - just 24-hours of light rain. It would've been nice rugby weather. Everyone just went on like it was a normal day. They were so mad that the first one was nothing, that they just ignored this one. So I hope that there isn't another hurricane that will actually hit us, because I don't think that anyone will be ready. We will see what this "El Nino" year has in store for us. Everyone said the water is really warm though haha!

We talked about the fasting program that we would like to implement and wthe ard seemed all for it. They like the idea that it really works on "cleansing the inner vessel" as well as other aspects of missionary work. It seems like so many bishops are having a hard time committing too much time to finding new members because their own wards are giving them so much work already. We will give the ward council an official presentation on the program next Sunday.

Holidays for us aren't so special. We just get a set time that we stop proselyting and we will probably have like seven meals throughout the day haha! I like not having big things on holidays though because it reminds me of home too much. But this will be my last holiday season so thats pretty crazy. Next month I will only have single digit months left. Thats crazy!!

I'm so glad Calvin [Whiting] is getting out there on a mission already. He is going to be great! And it sounds like Chase is doing good as well.

You and dad are getting old though. I mean two sons on missions, and you will have a 20-year-old in two months..but hey you still look dang good! I love you guys so much and I am so grateful for all that you are for me. I have a really good friend out here in the field and his family actually disowned him when he got baptized. I was with him one time when he got a letter from his mom. He read it to me and it was pretty much hate mail telling him to that he is being lied to and he needs to come home. He is one of the strongest elders I know though.

On the other side it is hard for me to hear missionaries complain about their families. Pride is a huge problem with the young men of the church. It makes me look back on all the times I was just like that in my life and it makes my stomach turn. I now know the value of people, and more importantly family. Heavenly Father puts people in our path for a reason, and if we don't treat those people the way He knows we can, that will be on us. I see a lot of wasted potential, more often than not it is in myself. I want to do my best to take the talents the Lord has given me, even if it might be only one, and put them to use for Him. Then he will make my weaknesses strong.

We had a good week...haha! Mostly a generic week; we taught a lot of our usual visits. But we picked up two new investigators. The first is a Japanese girl named Raina. She is here kinda like an exchange student with a family in the ward. She has listened and to a few of the lessons and enjoys talking to us. She comes to church every Sunday so it is nice to see her there as well. The second, is a man named Mario. He is dating a member and the family set us up to teach him. He had some very good questions and was very interested in the church history. He seemed to like everything and we have another appointment with him the friday.

Other than that all is well here in Hawaii!

Love you all! Alofa tele!
Elder Kingston Matua

Doing a shift at the VC, Laie Temple

Chillin with the Elders at Laie Temple

We're in Red Raider Country - RR4L

Still in Hau'ula, the work moves forward

Talofa!

I'm so sorry about last week - we were very busy and only had about 25-min on the computers, but all is well. I will be staying in Hau'ula for another seven weeks. Things here are going good. We plan to propose a program for the wards that we used in one of my other areas. It should get them excited to do some work and also open the door for some miracles, which is kinda what we bank on here in the Laie Zone haha!

But everything is all good. We actually don't have very many changes in our Zone. Most everyone is staying the same and we are getting my old friend Elder Cagilaba over here haha!  It will be fun to serve around him again. Elder Young Yen says hi too!

My Samoan is coming along but I will have another seven weeks to make it better since I will be staying in Hau'ula for another transfer. A little frustrated with that, but the Lord has a plan and I just have find where I fit in. I am going to try a program we set up in my previous area and see how it goes. I'm so grateful for the comps that I have had who taught me how to get things done and work hard.

We got to see the movie "Meet the Mormons" on the Wednesday before conference - we got the special screening! It is really good. You are going to lose it at the end so just be ready. I think most mom's in Utah will lose it at the end haha!

I'll see what I can do for Mica....He is the only one I haven't gotten any email from in the last six or so months....I will do what I can from here but you better believe, when I come home that boy better be ready for me to whip him into shape. I actually miss him a lot. He was always a person that took some work before he would do things and I loved the challenge of getting him to move.

It sounds like those youngest two are just the bestest and Chase is doing great - I saw that coming. When I looked at dad's pics of him going into the MTC, he [Chase] looked like a missionary - like a real life missionary. He is going to do great.

I can't tell you how excited I am to step onto a rugby field again. I will finish strong here for the rest of my time, but that day is one day that I am definitely looking forward to.

All for now

Manuia le feagai ai ma galuega! Alofa tele ia te outou uma!
Elder Kingston Matua

Workin the Laie Visitors Center

We have time to reflect on...something

My version of a 'missionary selfie'?

The Laie Zone

Being sick is not 'sick'

Well this week started good.

We went to the temple on Tuesday then had to take our car to Kaneohe for an oil change. I was able to help Sister Tamahari, an elderly Tahitian lady, when she needed a blessing. But on Wednesday I woke up with a sore throat which got worse by the end of the day and eventually turned into some kind of cold/flu bug. That wasn't very fun. I wasn't able to do very much Thursday and Friday. It seemed like everywhere we went all week there was at least one person in each household that had the same thing I did.

Saturday was better. I got to help Elder Young Yen give the missionary moment at a baptism in Kahuku. The kick is that we did it in 100% Samoan. haha Funny experience! I just read "O le Toefuataina" (The Restoration) pamphlet when it was my turn and then "Faasoa lau molimau." Haha I am really understanding the gospel language in Samoan very well. Even though I get the 'deer in the headlights' look when ever an auntie or uncle walks up to me and asks me something.. haha!

Sunday while my bro Chase was giving a talk (in our home ward, Lehi 41st), I was also giving a talk in the Hauula 4th ward. I spoke on member missionary work and feel pretty good about how it went. I feel that I have a good system for giving talks now.

Last night we also had the opportunity to have a dinner at a part member family's house. They feed students from BYUH every Sunday and have been wanting for us to come over ever since I've been here. Since we had an appointment fall through we were able to go. I talked to a lot of returned missionaries so that was fun.

Even though I got sick this week still turned out pretty good.

Love you all!
Elder Kingston Matua

My happy face with Elder's in our zone

Another p-day on the North Shore

Referrals and more service

So we got in all of our regular visits and contacted some of our referrals this week. We did a ton of service. There was an old couple who was in a time crunch in putting some finishing touches on their house so we helped them. We moved all their stuff, helped paint, and my personal favorite, scrub all the tile floors.

We also helped move a family (who was also in a time crunch) move stuff from one house to another. They are non-members from Brazil and they were very surprised that so many young men would be willing to sacrifice a beautiful beach day to come help them move. haha! There was also great support from the ward.

Dad, I'm doing great! It's always good to hear about you and uncle Eddie back in your glory days haha! Transfers will be on October 15th and I'm 98% sure that I am leaving Hau'ula. I have been here for a very long time but I love it.

Last nights dinner was hilarious. They knew Wayne and Kenra. The whole time it felt like was having dinner with you guys and the Tarawhiti's! They were so much like all of you guys. They were all making fun of each other and cracking Samoan and New Zealand jokes! It was the best. haha

Other than that nothing too new this week. Still love life and learning choke.

Love you all!

Elder Kingston Matua

Some photo's from the Saints in Hau'ula:

With the Moea'i family

Meeting auntie Julia Purcell-Ah You for the first time

Dinner with the Alaiasa family

Dinner with the Tapu & Liava'a families

Being in Hau'ula has truly been a blessing for Elder Matua and for us, his family. No matter where he goes in Laie and Hau'ula we know that he is being cared for. Mahalo and faafetai lava to all of our dear families, friends and all of the lovely people of Hawaii ~ The Matua's

Less actives, tracting and a prospective Elder

Another week gone by in sunny Hau'ula!

We had a really good week and got to meet some really good people. Along with our normal visits to our less active and elderly friends where we were able to meet another less active family and a less active man whose wife is not a member. With the family we got a very warm welcome...with the older man not so much. haha!

On Saturday we got some help from a YSA ward that want to do some missionary work in our area. They broke up into companionships and each covered a road and tracted out pretty much our whole area. We got a huge chunk of referrals and spent the rest of the day Saturday contacting them.

While the sisters were tracting our area we actually went into the next area over into Ka'a'awa to go out with some guys. Me and elder Shute got the only prospective elder who is getting his papers ready. It was a neat experience to see a younger guy, who is Chase's age, anxious and willing to give tracting a try. I love being able to share missionary experiences with those people who are getting ready to go on missions, especially when I think of Chase who will be leaving in a few short weeks. That is crazy to think that he is in the same place I was a year ago! He is going to be a great missionary, the people of Taiwan are lucky.

We are being fed very well by the Samoan ward. I leave dinners with a very, very, very full stomach.

That's all for today!

Love you all!
Elder Kingston Matua

Stake conference, farming and Samoan lessons

We did a whole lot of the same old same old this week. Visited all of our normal less-actives and were introduced to some new families with the ward mission leader. It was stake conference this weekend so we had a pretty fun and spiritual weekend. On Friday the stake had a family night where we ate tons of food and met some really cool members. Of course there were some Samoan members who knew the Matua's somehow and also an interesting lady from Australia who was the casting director for the old Hawaii Five-0 and Magnum PI. She was telling us all kinds of stories and talked our ears off while we were trying to get our last bites of taro and palusami.

Sunday we had stake conference at the BYU CAC. There were some really good talks from leadership and the Laie temple president and his wife.

We just got done helping this sweet old Hawaiian auntie clear out a patch of land and plant some new taro. I have done so much farming since being here I think I am ready to start my own taro and banana plantation. I love helping the elderly over here. They teach us a lot about the land and do everything old fashion.

Last night before we went home, I got to go on an exchange with Elder Young Yen to see a Samoan family. I loved sitting there and listening to them speak to see what I could pick up. I'm getting better at listening and can answer simple questions, but I hope I can continue to improve. I have loved being so close to the Samoan culture over here in Laie. I'm learning so much and hearing so many great things about the Matua family (mostly just how good dad and uncle Eddie were at basketball).

Love,
Elder Kingston Matua

Learning Samoan and doing work

Nothing too crazy happened this week. Our district leader was actually sick all week so we were helping them out with exchanges to teach all their lessons. I got to go with the Samoan elder a few times. He has taught me a ton of Samoan. I can get the gist of most conversations, but I'm still very far from really speaking. I really understand now the reasons why FOBs talk the way they do, hahahaha. They speak English with Samoan grammar haha!

I got the chance to go and teach a young girl that is getting ready for baptism and has less-active parents. That is the majority of our teaching opportunities. I will be with this comp for the rest of the transfer, so 'til about the middle of October. He is a good companion for me right now.

President told me that next transfer I will be training so I'm preparing myself for that. It should be interesting in comparison to the last time I trained. I was still so new - I still feel so new. But at the same time it feels like missionary work has just become a part of me. I feel so much more confident in anything that I do. At the same time I knew how to act mature about it and approach the situations in a correct manor. I think a lot of it has to do with the spirit so I'm hoping to be able to carry a bit of that home with me in my carry-on.

It is crazy that Chase is leaving and I'm on the down hill slope...such a weird feeling.

Ia i ai le atua ia oe male galuega faapea valaauga!
(May the Lord be with you at work and in your callings)

Love you!
Elder Kingston Matua

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

A visit to Pounders, catching crabs and Nela Otuafi

This week was business as usual. Monday night we went to go visit a recent convert and they weren't home but earlier that day we had seen them by Pounders beach so we went to see if they were still there. We saw their car so we parked and walk down to look for them. They were sitting by the river just talking and playing games so we sat down to talk to them. They told us that they had been crabbing all day. They showed us how they were doing it with these nets and they caught some pretty big crabs. One of the crabs got stuck in the net so we took awhile to help them get it out.

That same family came with use to a fireside at the visitors center last night. It was a musical cottage meeting and our recent convert loved it. We also got to go to a fireside where the speaker was Nela Otuafi who is a song writer who wrote a song called "How Can I Be". He talked about how music can be used to hasten the work.

Yesterday after church we also had a training with Elder Auna and Pres. Warner. They trained our Stakes Bishops, Ward Mission Leaders and ward missionaries. Good training so hopefully our wards can catch a vision on how they would like to use us as missionaries.

We got to go to the temple on Friday. Brother Butler and his family were in our session so that was pretty cool. It has been nice to see him at church for the past couple of weeks.

Saturday night we had some crazy thunderstorm action. The whole house was shaking a couple of times. I fell asleep through it but Elder Choo didn't get to bed until late. Some families had some flooding in their homes but I don't think anything too bad.

This week we will be looking for place to serve to help clean up. They are anticipating more rain so people are going to get some sand bags up. I will try and send more pictures, I have been hearing from a lot of people that there is some crazy lady in Utah that is desperate for pictures. I guess I'm just not a picture guy. Sorry mom. But I will TRY and do better haha!

Love you all!
Elder King Matua

North Shore life

Picked up a good amount of lessons this week with a lot of good people. Most of them were less active or recent converts but it is nice to teach and do service where we can.

We had another car fast on Friday so Elder Choo and I did a lot of walking. Nothing too new or exciting just another good week here in good ole Hau'ula.

I've learned that I can be saved a lot of pain by listening to my companion. He had some Korean noodle packs and I asked him if I could have one. He said yes but I probably wasn't going to like it cause it was really spicy. Me thinking that I know spice tried to eat it anyways. Four bites in my tongue was on fire! It didn't help that I had burned my tongue earlier that week when I bit into some pizza that was fresh out of the oven. Yes my companion told me not to eat that too. haha! So lesson of the week, listen to what your companion says ... sometimes he knows what he is talking about.


Love,
Elder Matua

Independence Day - Hawaiian Style

Last week was pretty good. I was able to have a good 4th of July evening and watch some cool fireworks at Turtle Bay. Not to much noise here though, I don't think that people on Oahu are allowed to do any fireworks at home so its pretty quiet.

We also had interviews with president Warner which were good. We had to give a 2-3 min talk on obedience to sister Warner and she gave us a report card and gave us some pointers on public speaking.

Me and elder Choo are doing good.

Love you all!

Survived another transfer

Well we made it through the transfer! We had a difficult but we kept working through the challenges and finished another transfer. We got some good new elders and sisters in the zone and we are ready to work here in Laie in the next couple of weeks.

This past week we were just getting elders ready to transfer and preparing areas for the new elders coming in. But we were still able to teach some good lessons and do choke service. On Saturday we were helping at the temple weeding some of the spots on the temple grounds. Then we went over to Sunset to help with a Mormon Helping Hands project and clearing more weeds. Finally we were able to help an elderly couple in the Samoan ward paint part of their house. Other than all that it was just a normal week.

It sounds like Mica and I are going to have some good times playing rugby when I get home. I've been waiting and hoping for one of my brothers to fall in love with rugby so that we can go to work together. Can you believe that in a year I will be back and playing again? Time goes so fast! Every time someone asks me how long I've been out it takes me awhile to think about it and when I can come up with a number I feel like there is no way I've been out that long. Then I get scared because that means that I'm almost done. All of my really good mission friends who were my leadership and stuff at the beginning of my mission are starting to go home. I feel like it all goes so fast. I love it though.

I feel bad because I was going to put a postcard in the mail for auntie Lisha and I looked at her address and it said 830 W 720 W so I didn't know which was which LOL. Can you give me the correct one so that I can send it to her?


Love you all!
Elder Matua