Welcome Back Party

 

Mina is Home!

We had to wait for Mina in the parking garage because those without tickets can't be in the airport because of Covid 19.

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This week,
We had a lesson with Sione Finau. My companion teaches in Tongan and I say some phrases in tongan or teach in english and she will translate. But at the beginning of the lesson, she felt impressed to extend the invitation and I knew exactly what she was saying in Tongan! "Sione, will you follow the example of Jesus Christ and be Baptized."
"io."
"Will you be prepare yourself and be baptized on July 18th?"
"io."
At this point I was already balling my eyes out, it was unexpected and I just felt so much love for Sione. And the spirit helped translate what was going on so I don't miss out on this special moment. Oku ou fiefia lahi! Tangi lahi haha
The member fellowshippers always laugh at me because it just turns out that I cry at every single lesson we have with Sione and he probably is weirded out by it hahaha. I am so humbled to be a part of the tongan branch, they have taught me so much. They are always so giving and God is always put first. I will miss them so much, along with lu & poaka haha.
Oku ou ma'u ha 'ofa lahi kihe tau ki'i branch. Malo 'ofa kia mautolu kau faifekau.
This Restored gospel is true and brings so much joy. I see miracles that prove this is true every single day.
Ofa lahi atu
Sister  Wihongi

Kia Ora Whanau!
Kei te pehea koe? It's been a month since I last wrote... but this week was the most busiest, miraculous yet stressful week ever!!!! So I couldn't NOT write about it. And it's long....

My companion and I are STL in the Tauranga zone and for some crazy reason, we thought it was okay to go on 12/24 hr exchanges with the Greerton and the Fairy Spring Rotorua sisters, the same week of Kirara's and Quinton's baptism.... but as you know, anything is possible with the Lord ;) . Hahaha anyways, But I loved witnessing miracles on exchanges. And exactly a year ago, I went on exchanges in Rotorua and I met this lady who was in a really bad accident. She was bed ridden for a time and we would visit and read the Book of Mormon with her. I found out that her partners son was married to my aunty. And now exactly a year later, I visited her again and she was walking and in good shape! It was a joyful reunion and I'm so glad she remembered me. We found a new person to teach too! Then after Rotorua exchanges we went straightway to Greerton sisters. Oh, Sister Fineanganofo was in a trio with us but when new missionaries came (new reassigned missionaries have been coming every week ) she moved to Greerton. So on exchanges, she came with me back to Welcome bay. We had our last lesson with Quinton on his porch, and in the beginning his friend walked up and sat in and said "Hello ladies, may I sit in and listen too?" And so of course, the more the merrier. We went over the Restoration again and gave the Book of Mormon to his friend. Quinton also helped explain things which i am so proud of :")  afterwards we had our usual dinner with the Wiperi whanau♡

On June 20, 2020 Kirara and Quinton were baptized at 6pm ♡♡♡ Kirara is that little girl from the Kiribati family I wrote about in the previous letter. She is my new baby sis and I can't imagine my life without them. She is so giving to her Savior Jesus Christ, when we taught her the law of tithing I said, "Heavenly Father has given us so many things. He has given you your family, this earth, your home, food, everything! In return, He asks for help to spread His gospel and one of the ways we can do that is through tithing." And Kirara with her big eyes said, "I WILL GIVE HIM ALL MY MONEY" hahaha we laughed and said He only asks for 10% and she said "That's so small??" Haha soon she will be thinking the opposite... but I love her pure heart. I was also stressing out about her baptism and she noticed and said, "Don't worry. Remember what you told me? Anything is possible through Christ." Haha that was a slap in the face but I was also so proud of her. It just showed how much more faith she had than me haha♡

I get emotional as I think about the Lord giving me a second chance to stay. I only had 3 months left at the time I almost flew back home. But He allowed me to stay, and this week I found the reason 'why'. Kirara and Quinton are my 'why'. I love them so much, and I'm full of thanks for my God who trusted me enough to teach them. Their baptism was beautiful. I will never forget!

This week we also found 6 new people all in the Tongan ward, and they all came to church too! My companion is a trooper for leading those lessons in Tongan, I only know how to bear my testimony but I will add in sometimes and my companion will translate. We had a powerful lesson with Sione, the Restoration is my favorite lesson to teach because the spirit is the strongest as it confirms the truth about the Restored gospel through Joseph Smith.

Anyways, thats enough for now. Also thank you grandpa and aunty for the package! I love yous so much! Laue tohi tapu pea ke lotu ma'u pe, pea ke o tupu! Pea ke kai vegtabolo pea ke o tupu! Hehe siasi mo'oni.

Ofa Atu!
Sister Wihongi

This week was great!!!
Within the first week of being in Tauranga:

We are already teaching a little 9yr old girl the Restoration, her family are returning members . After reciting the first vision, we asked her "How do you feel knowing that God and Jesus appeared to a little boy name Joseph Smith?" And we weren't expecting this answer... but she said it reminded her of a dream she had LAST YEAR. (She would have been 8 at the time) She was in a lake or a river, she remembers being in the water and immersed, and when she came out, she saw Heavenly Father and said "Kirara, keep going!"
HOW AMAZING IS THAT?? My companions and I just sat there for a few minutes with our mouths open. I think Kirara is the key to help bring her family back into the church. And she really wants to be baptized. We also met a past investigator who wants to be baptized. He is reading the book of Mormon and told us how he felt the spirit so strongly with the elders who were teaching him before lockdown. We are going to try our best to help him reach his goal! Also, we had sacrament at a tongan members home and had a mean feed afterwards. The spirit was so strong as we all beared out testimonies. I love this area and my companions!!!♡♡♡♡♡ i am definitely getting fat... SIASI MO'ONI
Ofa Atu!
Sister Wihongi!

Tauranga

7 weeks later ...*spongebob guy voice*

Kia Ora Whanau!!!! So much has happened during lockdown... and now I am free and out working again!

So during isolation, I stayed in Nawton area with Sisters' Kei and Folaumahina (my past companion that I trained). We also had Sister Tuwai staying with us for a while but she went back home to fiji after 2 weeks of isolation.  It was an interesting time, lots of free time that we tried to fill with walks and stuff. There's only so much we can do as missionaries haha we would have devotionals a lot on zoom with our president thought haha. but the bright side was that I was able to join lessons with people online and read the book of mormon with them too! One of them lives in Gisborne and she wants to be baptized! So we set her on July 16th!!! Miracles still happened and the Lord's work still pressed forward even though we were stuck inside! Haha I've learned to be more independent spiritually and physically during this lockdown. Which I am grateful for.
Now.... I AM IN TAURANGA!!! I have two new tongan companions, Sisters Fineanganofo and Eliesa. We cover Welcomebay Ward, Mt. Maunganui Ward, and the Tongan Branch. We have been able to go out and work normally for 3 days now and there is SO MUCH to do here, so many people to contact and people who used to be set for baptisms pre lockdown. We've already met incredible members and I also was able to partake of the sacrament for the first time in 7 weeks! I was filled so much with love as I was able to renew my covenants and remembered our Savior's selfless sacrifice. ♡ I hope I can fulfill my purpose and help as many people come unto Christ here♡ i hope you are all safe, sorry i dont have much time to write but HEAVENLY FATHER IS AWARE OF YOU! And loves you!
Ofa Lahi Atu Famili!
Sister Wihongi

Kia Ora Whanau♡
I come before you to share the things of my heart and soul, for my heart ponders continually upon the things which I have seen and heard as a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Each day, the Lord has shown me His Hand. Even on days when I feel so undeserving, I feel His love and mercy. I feel His love especially when I read The Book of Mormon. I can hear Him speak to me as I read His words, it has helped me draw closer to my Savior and because of that, I know that the book is true. The Book of Mormon has also confirmed to me that I have a loving Brother Jesus Christ, who has felt all my pains, struggles, & mistakes.(He has felt yours too♡) Because He felt and suffered these things, I can be forgiven and I can feel peace because He can take them away. This book also is a second witness to the Bible, which also testifies of Our Savior's Crucifixion & Resurrection. He died on the cross and rose from the dead three days later, so that you and I may have the same gift, to live again with Him and with our Families forever. Death has no sting. This Easter, I plead with you to know of these things yourself. To kneel and ask if Christ Lives and then listen and notice what you feel afterwards. I promise you, you will receive an answer. I want you to take my words seriously, for I've never been so serious in my life. You are loved, you are a Child of a Loving Heavenly Father, You are never alone. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Ofa Atu,
Sister Wihongi