Week 84 - Malo's Baptism

Hello everyone, my quick note and highlight for this week is that our friend Malo Mauinatu got baptized! She is so awesome. Her story?

Back in November her niece, Sister Alailima reached out to her. She is serving in the temple Square mission. We'll over the past few months they have been teaching her over zoom and the sisters in our zone reached out to her as well. She attended church a few times and heard about the Samoan ward and wanted to attend. We had the opportunity to teach her these past few weeks, and be part of her spiritual journey. The day was really special for her family, her 18 year old daughter will start meeting with us these coming weeks so she can be baptized as well.

This part amazes me. 

Some other missionaries met this man named Justin Lee a few weeks ago. He attended the baptism and is getting baptized this Saturday. He left his family and home in search of himself and the Savior. One late night he ran into the missionaries on the street and everything clicked for him. At the baptism he said, "I'm so grateful that my first baptism is all in Samoan. Since I can't understand the words, I can only focus on the spirit and how I feel." truly amazing, he is so faithful and all the members just wrapped him up after the baptism. 

Truthfully, baptisms are such special events. When someone has committed to follow the savior, despite how unsure they may be, and go down into the water I am always amazed. Discipleship is a journey. So fun to have the chance to start people on the path to temple covenants and finding how much joy walking this path can bring.

Our friend and returned missionary Roy, Elders Perez, Wilson, George, Carpenter and Bullock.

Elders Nash, Kennerly, Ballard, Wilson and George. P-Day at Red Robin.

Also, spiritual thought:

I've dedicated a copy of the Book of Mormon to highlighting on every page anything that describes the savior, His names, His gospel, His atonement. Haven't found a page yet without several highlights of His name (or reference to). It's been different to not have my personal copy with all my highlights and annotations in the margins, but this read through has been inspiring, giving me an opportunity to witness that every page testifies of our savior. 

Love you all!

Elder George 

He Loves You Enough!

We wanted to share this video, we had fun putting it together 🤣 

2 Nephi 1:15 But behold, the Lord hath redeemed My soul from hell; I have beheld His glory, and I am encircled about eternally in the arms of His love.

Week 83 - SNOW and more SNOW

This week was filled with appointments that were cancelled by the snowstorm! We weren't able to drive so we headed out on foot. No miracles today but joy though obedience and effort.

Had another great lesson with the Tauilili Family 

Headed up a district activity to build unity

We Love Snow!

Lunch on Pday... Elders Barrett and George on the left,
Elders Knapp and Wilson on the right. We love Red Robin!

                                  

Tradition! A snow angel must be done on the first snowstorm of the year...

No matter how cold!

We discovered Elder Wilson Collects Wolf Shirts!
Guess who else Collects Wolf Shirts...
One more thing in common!!!

  

On a Sad note:

 Elder Kendell (my MTC companion in the picture at the top of the blog) has been serving faithfully on Guam and has survived the many months of quarantine and the Covid-19 pandemic. Just as restrictions are lifting a parasite has seemingly won the battle for now. Unable to heal on the island he will return home and hopefully find answers to be made well here in the states. Life is not fair and we know we will all face challenges, trials and sometimes unknown sicknesses even while on the Lord's errand.  Enduring to the end means trusting in our Heavenly Father's will, plan, and timing. Well done Elder Kendell, God be with you until we meet again.

Week 82 - Beast Mode

The week was incredible! There's more work to be done than time in the day and having a trainee who's willing and good at working makes it so fun. I'm glad no more quarantine. It was go, go, go back knocking doors! Our Zone goal was 2500 and we got 2736.

Elder Wilson - fresh out of Home MTC and ready to GO!

Elder McCarthur and I went on splits on the Island town of Vashon.
There are no apartments but only houses, really far apart.
We hiked a quarter mile down to this house just to find no one home.

Yep, what comes down must go all the way back up!
It was a good workout for the thighs :)

Service day at the oat packaging facility 

I look forward to every Saturday and our lessons with the Tauilili family.
They are my favorite! They ask such great questions. Elder Kennerly joined us on splits.

Working on our Spidey moves...

Eating like Kings in Samoa!

   

One door opens... another door...

We actually knocked this door but it didn't look quite

right so Elder Wilson did a little investigating.

Week 81 - Welcome Elder Wilson!

 I picked up Elder Wilson Tuesday morning January 26th, and we got right to work! 

We have quite a few things in common so it should be great.

He was raised in Fruit Heights and went to Davis High

We both thought it was a good idea to jump out of plane...right out of high school :)

so there's that....He loves music, singing (I can accompany)  

hiking, camping and Ping-Pong so we are in for an adventure and I'll be able 

to prepare him to serve in Micronesia when more islands open up! 

So Let's GO!

I am also helping him prepare for constant bugs... 

I think we found the source of out pesky lit critters!