Kia Ora Whanau!
Happy late Thanksgiving!
This week, Our district had a Light The World stand at the lake and gave away wrapped Book of Mormon presents, Light the World Calendars, and had people make Christmas cards for kids in the hospital. It was successful. We gave out all the wrapped Book of Mormons. We had our ward Christmas party and an investigator came. She stayed for a long time and even told us that she wanted to go to church. The members were a big help! Stake conference was awesome! They called a new presidency & we saw a lot of returning members!
Tomorrow we have our Christmas Devotional with the whole mission and we are going to be staying at Camp Tuhikaramea for 2 nights! I love this season to remember our Savior's miraculous birth! If you haven't seen the Christ Child video yet (it's at comeuntochrist.org) then I recommend you do! It's so authentic and very spiritual! ♡♡♡
I know Christ lives!
Ofa Atu,
Sister Wihongi

What an awesome surprise! Ran into Auntie Liz at Dinsdale store!

We had Zone Conference this week and Exchanges! I would just like to say that God is a God of Miracles. We taught a lot of people this week and met a new friend at church as well. It is getting really hot here which I enjoy! Lately there has been a lot of youth wanting to be baptized when their parents are not active, which is amazing because they will then set an example to their family. The youth at this time are truly special. Sorry I don't have much to say this week but I know our Savior lives and He is there in the happiest times as well as the hardest of times. He is even there in the in between.
Ofa Atu <3
Sister Wihongi

Bremworth Park and Tuhikaramea Wards, Hamilton

Kia Ora Whanau!
I sadly left Pukete ward and moved to Tuhikaramea!! I cover two wards now, Tuhikaramea and Bremworth Park. I have a new companion who is so hilarious and loving. Her name is Sister Perry and she is a loud, tall, tahitian beauty. Our double covers are the AP's (Assistants to the President) and I've never had so much fun while doing so much hard work, and I've only been here for about 5 days!
But I'm sad to leave Pukete, it was a great ward and we started having a lot of people to teach the last couple weeks there so when we heard the news that they are taking sisters out of Pukete again, I was a little upset and sad (that was the natural man's reaction lol) But now I know that they are in the Lord's hands now and He loves them beyond comprehension so I trust Him through these changes. It was sad to leave my little trainee too, Sister Raymond is amazing and I love her so much! Is this what it feels like letting go of your own daughter and watching her be free? Haha It's sad but exciting at the same time.
The first day in the area, actually within 10 minutes of arriving at the Tuhikaramea flat, the Assistants called us and said they need us to teach someone right then and there because there was a house that had no males and they couldn't enter. So I dropped off my suitcases and Sister Perry and I had our first teaching lesson together. It was amazing and two girls our age are wanting to strengthen there relationship with Christ. We are seeing them again this week.
I want to tell you more about my blunt and outgoing companion. We were contacting people on our ward list, and we came to a house with a big windowy screen door. Sister Perry's knocks match her personality. They are LOUD and obnoxious, but I love it so much. Anyways, after pounding on the door twice, we saw a woman in the home walk into the front room, stared at us for about 10 seconds, and then she just turned around and walked away. Clearly uninterested. So, like any normal missionary at this point, I started to turn around and carry on to the next house on the list but then I heard the thick tahitian (french) accent say, "OH NUH AH! SHE IS GOING TO HAVE TO SAY NO TO MY FACE! *POUND POUND POUND* LADY! DON"T IGNORE US! WE SAW YOU" I was just cracking up laughing and in shock of how bold my companion is. But the lady never came even though her screen door nearly cracked from the knocking. Haha. My companion is very good at connecting with people, we will visit less actives for the first time and she will act like they've been friends forever. Sister Perry finishes her mission at the end of this transfer.
I also went on a mini exchange and I was with a sister and an investigator who both spoke spanish. I was just there to testify and read the Book of Mormon. But the spirit was really strong even though I didn't understand some of it. The gospel is true and gives so much Peace. Trust in our Lord. He Lives!
Ofa Atu,
Sister Wihongi

Kia Ora Whanau!
This week we focused finding through the Ward List. We also had set 2 Family Home Evenings (We taught the Plan of Salvation) with less active families that had unbaptized children. They both went very well, and they want us to come back and keep teaching. It's been awesome because we know that the parents are learning and feeling the spirit as we are teaching simply to their children. One of the Family Home Evenings actually became more of a lesson for the parents, the kids soon became bored because of all the questions the father was asking. But it was a great time to bear testimony of Christ's Atonement and that it's never too late to make a change and come unto Him. And that they can make it to the Celestial Kingdom. We can't wait to see the families again this week!

We went to go see a mother who just had a baby. She's a member and has a strong belief in God and Jesus Christ but hasn't been coming to church for a long time because her Husband is having a faith crisis. He saw something about aliens on the internet and has become confused ever since. He said he would pray to God asking if aliens are true and never got his answer, and now he is questioning if there is a God. He was very honest with us and we were able to commit him to pray and know if God is real and to forget about aliens for a second. We ended up singing I am a Child of God to them as their 3 yr old boy was dancing gracefully to it. The mother felt the spirit and was crying, and we believe the father was also. We left immediately after that. Hopefully they will ponder as the spirit was there.

We meet new friend named Sandy. We actually found her from the finding fast! We were planning to teach her the Restoration and invite her to church. She mentioned her friend would join us, so we were excited. It turned out that her friend was also Christian but he started telling us how our beliefs are wrong and we are prideful. And telling us that Joseph Smith is a false Prophet & that adding to the Bible is a sin (He just made a lot of false assumptions). The spirit was not there and it was a little awkward. But then I started talking to Him about our similarities and how Jesus Christ is the center of our message. As we talked about our Savior, the spirit came back. While I was talking to him, Sister Raymond was talking quietly to Sandy and teaching her. Really, I was distracting him while my companion was having the lesson with Sandy. There was s point We all got on the subject to how we came to know these things are true. We read Moroni 10:3-5, and her friend agreed to the scripture! We are seeing Sandy again to have a proper lesson. Her friend won't be there again though....

I know this church is true! Not because I was raised in this belief, but because I prayed and asked God with Real intent if these things are true. "Real intent" meaning I wasn't praying to know the truth because that's what we are told to do, I wasn't praying just out of obedience, I was praying to sincerely know. And by the power of the Holy Ghost, it was revealed unto me. I love you family! Christ Lives!

Arohanui,
Sister Wihongi

Scripture of the week: Alma 30:44
"The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and call things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator."

Kia Ora Whanau!
We had a Triward Trunk or Treat and it was a Success!
Sister Raymond and I came up with the idea of doing a "Good Better Best" theme for our Trunk with our district. We had a sign that said:
"Choose your -Trick- for missionary work and get a -Treat- !"
Then we listed "Good" ways to do missionary work such as telling someone you're a member of this church or hand out a pass along cards. If they did one of missionary tricks in the Good section, they'd get a candy.
Then there was the "Better" ways such as inviting a friend over for FHE or give our number to a friend. If they did a missionary trick in the Better section, they would get a cookie!
Lastly, the "Better" ways such as giving out a Book of Mormon, giving us a referral, or inviting a friend to church. If they did a Best option, they would get to smash a pie in a missionaries face. It was fun and busier than expected!! 12 Book of Mormons were handed out that night. And a lot of cookies and candy. I got a pie in my face and there was an Elder in our district who got 5 pies in his face. I've never seen so much enthusiasm and hype to do missionary work from little kids just so they can splatter whip cream all over us. The things missionaries do for referrals... haha! We even had someone we are teaching come! It was great! President Golder was able to talk to our friend and even shared his small testimony that was needed. Thankful for him!

We had a lady from Salt Lake come train us sisters at the Online Training Center for three days. Her name was Julia and let's just say, I am doing missionary work a whole lot differently because of her amazing counsel. She was a blessing.

We have been more focused on planning with the Holy Ghost, Sister Raymond and I prayed more fervently on who we needed to see during daily planning. And trusted the spirit more to direct us. Amazingly, we ended up getting return appointments from 3 partmember/less active families in one day. What a blessing it was. I thank God for every good thing! I know that God lives and He can direct us in all that we do! Nothing feels better than knowing that you are being led by the spirit and accomplishing what the Lord wants. I love Him and my Savior Jesus Christ. I'm thankful for Christ's Atonement to help me for when I fall short. In His Sacred name, Amen!

Arohanui,
Sister Wihongi

Kia Ora Whanau!

It has been an eventful week
We had exchanges and Sister Low and I were in Chartwell. Sister Low told me about all the appointments we had but when we got to them, they all fell through. Not knowing what to do or where to go finding, Sister Low suggested that we say a prayer and ask God what we should do for the hour that we had left. I said the prayer and asked for a specific name of a person or a street. After finishing, we sat there for a few seconds and the name Michael came to my head and I remember seeing a Michael street somewhere in Hamilton. I told Sister Low, "Is there a Michael street somewhere?" And she said "No. But there's a Michael! We usually just do service for him but haven't introduced the gospel formally yet!" So we ended up going to see Michael. He just got home from the mall and we caught him sitting in his car. He was a bright and joyful man! We gave him a Book of Mormon and he was really receiving. He even mentioned if they could come and study a chapter with him sometime. That was our miracle on exchanges. If you ask God a specific question, He will give you specific answers.

We met a lot of people this week because of not having a car (it broke down in Paeroa last Monday, sorry President :( ...) but walking has been awesome, we invited a lot of people to our ward activity. Met a Filipino family that just moved in a month ago. We invited them and gave a pass along card. They said they always see missionaries back in the Philippines from our church.

We had a ward member pass away from cancer this weekend. It was a young husband to our Young Women's President. He has two kids, a 9 yr old and a 13 yr old. His name is Rawz Pahuru. We straightway biked to our chapel and helped make the kai for the service. I met a lady there named Mel, she is a new mother. She brought her 4 month old baby. She came alone which was nice because when quickly formed a bond and she stayed with us the whole night. She's a nonmember and stays with her partner. She was very sweet we were able to give her our number on a pass along card. The service was beautiful and the spirit was so strong. We sang the church College Missionary Medley.

It was Diwali!!!
We celebrated with the family whose kids we are teaching. The Raj's invited us to Diwali, which is an Indian Festival of Lights holiday. The family dressed up so beautifully! And we are many delicious homemade Indian sweets and food! We also met a friend of their's that we gave a pass along card to and invited him to our Ward's Trunk or Treat! He's coming! We love the Raj's so much and their kids are so amazing and shine so much light!

Apparently, a famous Rugby League star came to our sacrament this Sunday. Will Hopoate. Also, the streets bled red as the Tongans won a game I believe. Ma te Ma'a Tonga! Poor All Blacks though. Anyways,  Heavenly Father answers prayers and He is truly a God of Miracles. I know that, I've witnessed it many times that I cannot deny it. Christ lives and His Atonement has given me strength and comfort everyday. This church is True.
Arohanui,
Sister Wihongi

We had a cool and funny experience. We invited an inactive member to a Fireside on Temple/Family History work earlier this week. He didn't look interested when we extended the invitation but an hour before the Fireside, he called us and asked what the address was! He even said that his girlfriend would be joining too. He arrived, and I felt terrible at first.  He said "... Where's the fire? And roasting sticks?" And he was sincere and confused when he saw a choir and speakers up at the pulpit, people dressed up in church clothes, and pamphlets. But I was excited for him to be there with us. We sat next to them and I was pleading to Heavenly Father that he and his girlfriend would feel the spirit at this Fireside. Whanau, it was a loooong 2 hours of pleading.very long. And many of the speakers would speak about things that would just fly over their head. But at the end, they thanked us and they enjoyed it. They were lovely. It turns out that he was baptized as a child and never came to this church after that. He was even baptized in a Pentecostal and another Christian church. We will be seeing him again.

We did a lot of finding this week. A lot! But had no success as New people wise. There was a day when we walked from one end of our area to the other end. I got blisters but we met a whole lot of people. We met someone and asked for missionaries to share a message with him and his family because he lives in Chartwell and he accepted.  We had our finding fast and we knocked in many doors. During the last hour, we took a ukulele with us just to lighten the moods for people when they answer the door in the dark. We didn't have much success until around 8:30. We knocked and asked if we could share a song and a message. We met Sandy. And the first thing she ever said to us was "You know, today was one of the worst days of my life. I just arrived here at my friend's house one minute ago, crying and having an awful day. And it seems like every single time I feel sad, Christian's show up out of no where." We told her "God is really looking out for you. These are not coincidences!" we sang her a song and prayed for her and taught God is our Loving Heavenly Father.  She is from the Sikh religion.  A very kind lady. She is in the middle of finding a house and jumping from place to place so it'll be hard to catch her. But we are hoping things will settle down for us to have a lesson.
We taught the Raj's again. They are amazing and I love them so much. It's a 16 yr old girl and a 12 yr old boy. They have been set for baptism before but the father didn't approve. Please pray for them. And for a heart to soften. There's a lot I learned from these experiences but I'll leave it up to you to see what you learn from them. I love you and I love my Savior and Lord.

Arohanui,
Sister Wihongi