Never Underestimate the Lordʻs Love for You! 💙

Ke Aloha nui iā 'oukou pākahi a pau!!!

What's up y'all? How's everyone's week been? I hope everyone is alive & well. I know y'all are busy but shoot a girl an email sometime  haha. I really do wanna hear from each of you lovely people. Before I start to worry y'all with the picture you'll see, I guess I should probably explain  Well, this week has been tough health wise. As most of you know, I've had stomach issues my entire life. The last 2 weeks have gotten really bad. None of the over the counter meds were working & my pain level was high. Well, our lovely mission nurse told us to go to an urgent care & as we were making our way over, she called back & said, "you know what? They're going to send you to the ER so, just go directly to the ER instead." Well, as obedient missionaries as we are, or strive to be, Sister Eddington & I made our way over to the ER. We informed both of our bishops & ward mission leaders. Long story short, all of the test that they ran came out great. I am perfectly healthy & they just couldn't seem to find out what is causing the pain. We ended up being there from about 1pm till about 8:30pm. At this point, I was so frustrated, tired & to be honest, all I really wanted was my mom & my dad, but that's not allowed on the mission. I said a silent prayer & not long after, one of our sweet Relief Society Presidents came walking in to the room. The first thing she says is, "why didn't you guys call me?" & we responded with, "we didn't wanna worry you?" Fact of the matter is, she stepped in to be the "mom" that I needed at that moment. We also received lots of love & support & a little worry, from our loving bishops & Ward mission leaders who stepped in to be the "fathers" that I needed. Never ever underestimate the Lords love for you. I have a personal witness that he is very much aware of each of his children. Don't ever doubt that! I'll come back to this at the end of my email. 

"Smile", she said

Cool lesson we did at the park!

I also have a testimony, that God knows the needs of those we teach as missionaries. I can testify to that by the many difference experiences that I've had, where the Spirit has directed me to help my lost brother or sister come back to him. Here's a great example for you. We got to meet with the sweet Sanchez family this past week. As my companion & I were preparing to teach them, I had a thought come into my head that the lesson we needed to teach had to be about faith. The reading assignment we left with them was Jacob chapter 1. At first I thought to myself, "how are we going to tie faith into this chapter?" Nevertheless, we did as we were told & prepared to teach them about faith. After we opened the lesson with a prayer, Jose (the father), explained to us that he had gone on to LDS.org & downloaded the Book of Mormon app. Then he thought, "well, I have it downloaded, I should do the reading assignment." Mind you, this guy doesn't read. He never liked reading & so, he never was going to do it on his own. Guess what? He ended up reading the scriptures  such a huge miracle in itself. He also said that he's been listening to the "Christian" radio in the mornings, side note, he thinks it could be an lds station, anyways, while he was listing to the radio that morning, the radio guy was talking about faith. Particularly, the faith that Abraham had when he was commanded by God, to sacrifice his only son, whom he longed to have for such a long time. Jose went on to explain that having that faith in God is so important. He said that if we act on the faith or desire that we have, God will help us. Just like how he saved Issac from death & knew that Abraham was willing to do whatever the Lord commanded. It was such a powerful, Spirit driven lesson. Heavenly Father & Jesus Christ really does know the desires of our hearts. They know what we need & they also know how we can help those around up. If we are willing & if we ask, they will lead us & guides to those that we can help. Isn't that so awesome or what?  miracles are happening all around.

The Sweet Sanchez Familia!

Hector and I

A special visit from the Ahaus - they were on Maui and met up with my Mommy!

Another tender mercy, was the fact that we finally got a text back from both Rocky's mom & also the Tyler girls parents. We finally were able to get in contact with them at set up appointments for this coming week. That was a blessing. Guess what? We also have 2 new investigators. Both come from part member families. Not only do I have a testimony of the fact that God knows & loves his children, but I also can testify that everything happens on his time & in his own unique way. One example comes from the Blaine family. They have been really sick lately, the flu has been going around their home & it seemed impossible to set up a good time & day for us to come over. We finally got to see Sister Blaine, (the mother), at church yesterday & so we asked her if she still would like us to teach her 9 year old son. She then said, "oh yes. Recently, he's been telling me, 'mom, I need to do my baptism, but not on my birthday'. He's been talking a lot about his baptism lately & so y'all need to come over." The faith & desire that this little boy has strengthened my testimony. Perfect example that God knows & loves his children & his timing is perfect timing. Reminds me of a quote from President Eyring, (one of the brethren from our church), which says, "although his time is not always our time, we can be sure that Lord keeps his promises." Also reminds me of one of my favorite scriptures found in the Book of Mormon, in 1 Nephi chapter 3 verse 7, when Nephi testifies that he knows that, "the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them." Aren't we grateful for that promised blessing. The Lord will always provide a way for his work to be fulfilled. We may not know & we probably can't tell how or when he'll have us do something, but the question is, will we be ready? Will we be ready to do whatever he commands whenever he commands it? Definitely something I consider worth pondering  

We love our youth!

This week has yet again been a week full of miracles & bumpy rides. I need to share this cool analogy that my mom shared with me, this is a good one, especially for all y'all hula people. Like the scriptures say, this life is a time to prepare to meet God. We also know that their must be opposition in all things. Some may question this & say, "well why do I have to struggle?" Or "why do bad things happen to good people?" Well, I'll tell y'all something, I'm not perfect & I too have asked myself these exact questions. My mom helped me understand this by telling me this, "Opposition, challenges and difficulties help us rebuild our lives and become even better." (You think I would know that by now. Nope, still learning lol) anyways, she goes on to say, "Makes me think of 'ili'ili." For you none hula people, 'ili'ili are little rocks that the hula dancer use as an instrument to dance with. She continues by saying, "They (the 'ili'ili) start off as just regular pōhaku (rock), but as the waves hit and beat upon them they begin to change. With each wave the 'ili'ili becomes smoother, shinier and more and more beautiful. Until eventually, one day, the 'ōlapa (hula dancer) comes and is attracted by its Beauty, she picks it up and names it and makes it her hula instrument. The 'ili'ili comes alive and has a purpose. The beautiful Kani (sound) that makes the hula (dance) so attractive could only come because of the waves that reshaped and refined it. And such it is with life and with each of us. Let your trials reshape and refine you." Don't I have an awesome mom or what?  talk about inspired. This is so true! As we let our trials reshape & refine us, we will grow to have an even deeper conviction of the love that our Heavenly Father & Savior, Jesus Christ has for each of us. Like I said, never underestimate the Lords love for you. I testify that he does care & because he cares, you also matter. Yes, YOU matter to him! He has his arms stretched out & he's ready to help us. We just need to ask for it. "Ask & ye shall receive, knock & it shall be open unto you." I love you each of y'all so much!!!!! I invite each of us to take time this week, to remember the final moments of our Saviors life here on earth. Be grateful for the free gift & sacrifice that enables & allows ALL to return & live with him again. Ponder it, read it, study it. "As your understanding of the Atonement of Jesus Christ grows, your desire to share the gospel will increase. You will feel, as Lehi did, the “great … importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth” (2 Nephi 2:8)." Have a great week fam  Until next week! 

My Aunty Evette and cousin Layson were baptized back home!

Hurrah for Israel! 

P.S. Go & watch the new Easter initiative found on Mormon.org. It's super awesome!!!! #PrinceOfPeace 🏽

With love, 

Sister Kawa'a 🤙🏽