Kia Ora Whanau!
It's been the longest week of my missionary life!
We started off driving to Hamilton. We stayed with the STLs for the night in Lakeward. Then we woke up at 3am to go on a bus to Auckland to see....*drum roll please*.... the Prophet! We were in the Redoubt Chapel that is right next to the MTC. We were waiting in the hallway when President Nelson arrived. The spirit was so strong as he entered the room. We took a picture with him as a mission, and then we all lined up to shake his hand. It was a beautiful experience, and his wife is beautiful too! (Along with Elder Gong and Sister Gong, Elder Haleck and Sister Haleck) He spoke to us about how we can become who Heavenly Father wants us to be, and how we are fulfilling a lot of prophecies today. He encouraged us to continue studying the Book of Mormon, "Joseph Smith translated about 9 pages everyday, how many pages are you Reading everyday?" He is so funny. Later on that day, he announced that the new temple will be built on Redoubt Rd., right next to the MTC and the chapel we where in! I loved Elder Gongs talk also. He encouraged us to listen with our ears, eyes, heart, and with the spirit.

Coming back to Taupo, I was having spiritual withdrawals. It just makes me think about how amazing it would feel being in the presence of our Savior! I can't wait for that glorious day.
In the meantime, we taught a lot of amazing women. We taught Marie (who's baptism is this Saturday) the Law of Chastity, I love teaching her. She asks so many thoughtful questions and I know she will be a huge influence on her family. She has grown so so much, we first started teaching her in February! I love her and I'm so thankful that Heavenly Father led her to us. We also taugh Raj, Rebecca, and a different Marie.

I know that President Nelson is the living prophet! His council is directly from Heavenly Father. God is good, He loves you more than you can ever imagine.
In the name of our loving Redeemer, Jesus Christ, Amen.

This week was overall spiritual and filled with miracles and tender mercies. Here are my favorites.

Miracle: Priesthood Blessings
When we arrived for our lesson with Sela, she was very distraught and stressed. She's been wanting to be baptized but she had to marry her less active partner first. But she doesn't want to marry him if he doesn't have a change of heart to live the gospel again. She was crying and saying "what should I do? What do I do?!" We then asked her if she should like a priesthood blessing. she agreed to it. The Elders then came to give her the blessing and she it was her first time experiencing this sort of thing. It was very powerful. The Elders left right after and we sat down with her. Her facial expression changed immediately. As we sat there letting her think, we can just see the cloudiness and stress just fade away. She looked at us and said, "I know what I have to do now." My companion and I were shocked and amazed! She is now set for baptism for the 1st of June. She is going to have the bishop marry her and her partner, and she will continue setting the example for him in Hope's that one day he will follow. I thanked Heavenly Father for giving her a clear mind and comforting her at this time! Glory to God! Heavenly Father needs worthy Priesthood holders to help him perform miracles and to help His children on Earth.

Tender Mercy: Hymn 193
I had to give a talk this Sunday and I can never get used to the nervousness that I get before public speaking. As always, during sacrament I said a little prayer to help me calm my nerves. And it turned out that one of the hymns we sang before my talk was Hymn 193, I Stand All Amazed . This is my favorite hymn. It was sung at my farewell, in the MTC before I gave a talk, and this Sunday before I gave a talk again. It's amazing to know that my Father in Heaven knows me so personally that he comforts me in this way. All my anxious feelings melt away as we sing about the love our Savior has for us. I knows He knows each and every one of you. He knows your likes, dislikes, desires, every single detail! I know He Lives! In the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

John 14:18
I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

Arohanui,
Sister Wihongi

Kia Ora Whanau!
We helped at a tangi (funeral) at the Turangi Marae. It was very cool to learn more about my culture and the traditions. I can definitely feel the spirit when I learn more about my heritage, because it's very important to know more about my ancestors and how they lived.
This week we focused on strengthening the members in our ward!
We had an impression to visit the Brother and Sister Davies, so we messaged them and they were surprised because they were thinking of us too! They had a less active friend (Arkades) stay with them from Singapore for the week, so we went over and had dinner and shared with them a lesson. We had them teach us the Plan of Salvation and the spirit was very strong. Arkades then said that he understood more about this plan than he did before. Heavenly Father loves us so much he provided a way for us to live with Him and our Families for Eternity! It's TRUE! I dont have a lot of time to write but I'll leave you on that thought. Christ lives and He is the light in this world!
Arohanui,
Sister Wihongi

This week has been awesome! We found 3 new potential people we can teach! This Saturday was our ward activity, Taupos Got Talent. My companion and I did our best to invite as much people, but it was a small group who came. It was still very fun and spiritual. Nonmembers came and they enjoyed themselves as well. We performed with the Relief Society, doing a simple Hawaiian piece. The Elders did a comedic act, ventriloquism. And the Tokoroa Elders did Napoleon Dynamite dance, all though no one got the reference because no one knows who Napoleon Dynamite is here Haha. This week we really worked on strengthening the members in the ward while receiving referrals from them, we also went through old areabook record papers from past Elders 2 years ago. We were able to find more people to teach by doing so. I've been able to see the Lord's hands more and more, especially this week. He has softened many hearts and prepared people to accept our message. I'm forever grateful for him. Hope all is well wherever you are. Oh it was also Anzac day! We were poppies and where able to speak to more people because of the holidays!
Arohanui,
Sister Wihongi

Kia Ora Whanau!
This past week was transfers! Guess what? I'm still in beautiful Taupo.. but Sister Toi left me and was replaced by another Tongan companion, Sister Sapoi! All my 3 companions so far are Tongan. Which is amazing because I get to continue drinking otai and eating Chopsuey. And I get to continue learning the Tongan language. Fefehake eh? Saipe, Malo opīto. Ofa lahi atu eh! Haha! Sister Sapoi is very sweet and calm, unlike Sister Toi who did most of the talking with spazz. So Sister Sapoi and I will definitely improve on our conversation skills this transfer, we have no choice haha.

We stayed the weekend in Turangi and helped out in the Branch's Easter Program. I loved it, the spirit was so strong. I love our Savior and celebrating His Atonement. We are so blessed to know what happens after death and how we can return to live with Him. He is amazing. One of the people we are teaching, Marie, sang in sacrament as part of the program. The spirit was very strong, she just needs help recognizing the spirit. We also did an Easter egg hunt for a less active family, in the chapel! Just so they can feel the spirit there and we shared a message on Christ also.

For pday today we went on a walk to see a huge tree and bought a whole bunch of groceries because my tongan companion says "why is there no food in this flat" but we have food. But not enough apparently Haha. Stay warm, I love you all!

Arohanui,
Sister Wihongi

Sister Sapoi

Kia ora whanau!
This week we had exchanges. My companion went to Rotorua, and I stayed in Taupo with a different sister, Sister Tuwai. Sister Tuwai is from Fiji and she is hilarious. Her nickname is Sister Stories because she tells so many stories from her village in Fiji, like riding on banana trees or getting hidings with all her cousins. We visited a Fijian woman, Bubu Viri and ended up doing service for her (gardening). Bubu Viri also had her great nephew, Jack, staying with her who's from England which was really cool because he had never met missionaries before. I love doing service because we are teaching by example and it's a great finding opportunity. It also can soften hearts for them in the future if they aren't ready to hear the gospel now. We were able to share a little bit with Jack and hopefully when he meets missionaries back in England, he'll accept the message they share. Christ served wherever he went; healing, ministering, raising the dead, etc. He said in 3 Nephi:
     
 "..verily, I say unto you, this is my gospel; and ye know the things that ye must do in my church; for the works(service) which ye have seen me do that shall ye also do; for that which ye have seen me do even that shall ye do; Therefore, if ye do these things blessed are ye, for ye shall be lifted up at the last day."

So I challenge you this week to go out of your way to serve someone, let them see and feel the pure love of Christ!

Anyways, this week we also met a bulldog named Milo who had puppies, hiked on pday to Taranaki Falls, and got a tshirt from my Chickfila family back in Utah! It says This girl runs on Jesus and Chickfila! I love it!

Arohanui,
Sister Wihongi

Sister Tuwai

Milo the Bulldog

Taranaki Falls

Kia Ora Whanau,

  We taught Sela the law of chastity this week, the next day she told us that she wants to get married to her partner! We were so happy! We also taught her the Word of Wisdom and she understood and is committed to keep it. She said she is ready to be baptized but wants her fiance to baptize her and he needs to sort out some things first. So now we are trying to help him get back on track, he's less active. I love seeing them change and come closer to Christ!
 Jodie had been reading these Book of Mormon and has been progressing a lot. She loves the stories and learning more about faith. We read with her Ether 12 and some of Alma 32 and she loved it. She wants to be baptized, but wants to learn more first!
  I fixed my 'sleepy' problem. I just get up and go straight in the shower, and then I'm just awake for the whole day. I usually shower at night. But I always had a problem of feeling tired throughout the day, so this little change actually helped a lot. I dont know why it took me two transfers to figure this out. Heavenly Father answers prayers so simply.
I can't wait to listen to General conference! It's like Christmas for missionaries. I know this church is true! Anyways, I love you all!

  Arohanui,
  Sister Wihongi