6 Months to Sexy!

Mele kalikimaka a me hau'oli makahiki hou!!!!!

To explain my heading, a funny missionary lingo thing is called "6 months to sexy" which basically means, the missionary has 6 months to get fit & prepare for the next ordinance  🏽🏽‍♀️

The Gallini ʻohana

Boy oh boy! Where has this week gone? We've been busy trying to get adjusted (still) & meeting lots & lots of awesome children of God. I love being able to cover 2 wards. It's so fun. The work here is going & it's going fast. This week was full of reminders, as every week seems to be haha. On Tuesday, we went & did service at a place called "living word". It was so awesome. We put together lots of food baskets, warm clothes & Christmas presents. At the very beginning, everyone comes in & gets a number, then they wait & talk & sing & have a little sermon from the pastor of this little church. I had the priveledge of meeting this sweet old lady name Debbie. We got to talking & had an awesome coversations about life as a missionary & the reason we celebrate Chritsmas. She just couldn't believe how strong we were for taking a little portion of our time & life, to fully serve the Lord. As she was leaving, she flagged  me down & we hugged each other. Then she said, "make sure you come back now & see us okay? It was a pleasure to meet you." When she said that, my heart was filled with so much gratitude & love. Her simple words touched me & I know the Spirit touched her somehow. Wednesday, we met a sweet family & made a super cool connection with their daughter & the father of the home who are both less active. Like Ammon, we built on common grounds. It was super sweet. 

My fabulous trio!

On Thursday, we had our Christmas Devotional. We watched two wonderful & pretty powerful movies.  One of them was about how serving others really does impact & make a difference in both the life of the one giving the service & the one receiving the service. It was so good!!! We also played some fun Christmas games & got to hear departing testimonies from such wonderful Elders & Sisters. Then we each got a special gift from the Office "staff" & from President & Sister Whitney. I just love Christmas & the spirit that comes with it. On Friday, we went on exchnages with one of our ward mission leaders & we got to see so may people. We got to meet some of his family & totally found a connection with his daughter in law. Long story short, we found out that I totally know the missionary that baptized her. It was a super awesome connection to make cuz after the visit, our ward mission leader said, "sister, you have a connection with her, she loves you. Now get her to church!" Another reminder that this is where the Lord needs me to be. Saturday. 

Nancy was baptized by the Elder I know - Elder Lilo!

My Matasoni (Sis. Matson) will be home in 5 weeks!

Christmas Eve, we were fed so well. We had breakfast, lunch & dinner appointments that day. It was so fun! Thanks to having a high metabolism, I don't have to worry about getting fat  We are so loved & cared for here in Mansfield. I couldn't be anymore grateful. We got to meet with our investigator named Alex who has a baptism date for January 14th. We're so excited for him & he's stoked too. He's progressing & keeping commitments but please keep him in your prayers. 

Christmas gifts from home!!!

Care packages!!!

Christmas day was a sweet day. We sang Christmas hymns, listened to the sweet voices of the primary & ward choir & we heard wonderful talks about the Savior & of his birth. The rest of the day went by fast. Anxiously waiting & anticipating the time for us to call home. My goodness!!! One minute I was saying hi & the next minute I was saying bye. 

Facetime with the ʻOhana on Maui!

Our Christmas tree and "Bobby" the investigator. LOL!

This week I am reminded of how much we are loved, supported & needed here.  On Sunday, one of the members came up to us & said, "sisters, I have to tell y'all this. When y'all left after dinner, my son (who's like 14) turned to me & said, man I love sister missionaries"  we just cracked up. Then we realized that we really are making a difference here. Its been about 2 weeks & with the help form on high, we are touching lives in small ways. I have been really working on putting on my eternal eyes & seeing things the way Heavenly Father & Jesus Christ see things. I continue to be reminded that the work here that I am doing is sacred work. It's not about me, its about him! Family & friends, I want each of you to know that you each touch my life. Every single one of you who read my emails, who send me letters, care packages, who pray for me, love me, support me, or just think about me, you, yes you, hold a special place in my heart. THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH!!! You will never know how grateful I am for loving me & encouraging me. As you all know, the life of a missionary is hard but it is worth it. Time & time again when things get hard, the words of one of my favorite primary hymns comes to my mind which says, "have faith, have hope, live like his son, help others on their way. What does he ask? Live like his son." I testify that God & Jesus Christ love us so much. As this new year comes around, let's set goals make plans to become better then we were yesterday. Try a little harder & be a little bolder. Love y'all!!! Have a fabulous week you beautiful people. Until next week...

Hurrah Israel!

With Love,

Sister Kawa'a