Sister Kamalani Kawaʻa: I Stand All Amazed at the Last 16 Months!

Alohaaaaaaaaaa

Howdy y'all! How y'all doing on this fine Monday mornin? I hope that everyone had a beautiful Easter cuz I know that I sure did. I'll explain more in a sec. First, can y'all believe that I've been out for 16 months now

Holy smokes!!! Time sure flies on by, when your having fun. The past 16 months have been nothing but a roller coaster. You've got the highs & you've got the lows but hey, all I can say is everything sure is worth it in the end. Bitter sweet moments. So, this week was a fast & busy one. We got lots of people to teach & find, find & teach. Ima just give y'all the run down & update y'all on all the beautiful souls that we're working with. Our newest investigators who are 9, little Chase & little Brandon. (I'm horrible & I think I may have forgotten his name but we'll call him Brandon). Anyways, both of their stories are kind of similar. Both come from pretty active families & both have expressed a desire to be baptized. A decision made all on their own. Our appointment with Brandon got rescheduled for this upcoming week, but we did get to meet with Chase. He's an awesome kiddo & I'm just in awe of his little desire to want to follow our Savior, Jesus Christ. His little example has touched my heart & I'm so grateful for him. Super excited & looking forward to continuing to work with both kiddos. The Tyler girls are doing well. We got to teach them & with the help of one of our ward missionaries, we were able to help them to stay focused & understand what we were teaching. One of them had lots of wonderful questions & you can just see the fire in her eyes when she understands the basics. It's definitely a faith builder for me.

The famous Mama Francom pose!

The boys with Alex!

We got to teach our sweet Sanchez family & they came to church again & stayed for class

They're doing so great. Maria (the mom), had lots of great questions for us & thank goodness our member fellowship speaks Spanish. It was really good. Also Jose (the father), said that we're definitely steering the pot for them. Things that they are learning are finally sinking in for them & to see them slowly grow is powerful. I just continue to be in awe of them. We're still planning on setting a date with them, all on the Lords time though. We taught good ol Alex. He's definitely feeling the Spirit. We had an awesome lesson with him about the gospel of Jesus Christ. He was super pumped & at the end of the lesson, we asked him if he would follow the example of our Savior & be baptized & he with a big huge smile on his face, he happily & eagerly said yes.

Such a happy moment for sure. He was surrounded by young men who love him & support him in his journey back to our Heavenly Father. We got to see Kenny! He didn't get baptized on Saturday but he isn't giving up & we aren't giving up on him. Good news, he still wants to be baptized & he is thinking of a new date so that's wonderful. We know that the Lord is definitely preparing him.

Matching Lula Roe fun!

Well, it's transfers again! Oh & I've got some news, Sister Eddington will be staying here in Mansfield & I will be transferred down south to Temple, Texas. I will be honest, I am both torn & excited all at once. In the words of one of our recent converts, "It's a sad but happy day. Temple will be getting a great Sister missionary & we will be losing one." It makes no sense but I need to remember that this is the Lords work & not mine. I am reminded that there is no comfort in the growth zone & no growth in the comfort zone & let me just say, I am very uncomfortable. Change is good. It's a time for us to grow & truly become who our Father intends us to become. There is so much to be thankful for. I am thankful for the precious 4 months that I was able to be here in Mansfield. I've truly met strangers who've become family. I'm still not good at this whole "goodbye" thing, so I'll say A Hui Hou instead, which means "until we meet again." This past week was truly a time of reflection as I took time to ponder the Saviors final days here in mortality. I truly do stand all amazed at the love that he has offered me. I can't help but be eternally grateful for his sacrifice. In Alma 7:11-12, we read that he took upon himself all of the pains & sins of the world so that he would know "according to the flesh, how to succor his people." I am amazed at the strength, faith & obedience that he had. There's nothing that I can do to repay him. All I can do is follow him, trust him, believe in him & allow him to help me through every step of this life. It's never easy to accept our Fathers will, but Christ reminds us that it is possible. After all, he was always about his fathers business.

We made Palms for Palm Sunday!

Well, this email is a short one. I'm kind of still in a shock mode but I know that everything happens for a reason. I'm reminded of one of the most powerful priesthood blessings, that I've received here in Texas. "You will cry more tears going home, then you did coming here." In the moment, I kind of chuckled & thought to myself, "yeah right", but that blessing becomes more real to me as I leave each sacred area that I've been assigned to labor in. The goodbyes get even harder & harder. To my Mansfield family, I love all of y'all SO much!!!!! It's a sad goodbye but I know I'll be back one way or another. I'm looking forward to hopefully getting back in the country. I'm assuming it's country in Temple.....we'll find out 🤠 Time to buckle up & enjoy these last 12 weeks here in Texas. Ima leave y'all with this quote that I've been pondering lately. "When you're involved in the work of the Lord, the power behind you is always greater than the obstacles before you." -Elder Dallon H. Oaks. We may never know the why to a situation, but let's not forget who's work this truly is. This is our Lords work & only he knows what's best for his children. Oh it is wonderful, wonderful to me! Well family & friends, I hope y'all have a good week. Remember that the Lord loves you & that I love you