Cyclone

Hello Mom!! Yes i am ok!!! :D 

Our island was not affected directly. It just passed us. But it hit many other Islands that the missionaries are on. Luckily, my comp and i live in Sarakata and that is not pepsi. So pepsi is always full of mud and puddles. They did flood a lot because it was raining for more than a full day strait!! it was crazy! The wind was so strong as well. Anyway, a lot of the members in pepsi came and slept at the church for a few nights. Tuesday we just stayed in all day with the door wide open, feeling the wonderful cool breeze. I even used my blanket!

The other Islands that the cyclone actually hit im sure have so much greater damage! Crops being pulled out, flooding, and all. Everyone here in our area is safe though. Just a lot of work to clean up. Continue to pray for the families affected by the storm! But know that we are safe :) 

This past week wasnt the greatest for proselyting.. First the cyclone, then my companion dislocated her arm and was out for a day, then we were catching more sicknesses and just a bunch of things. So this week was more of a discouraging week for missionary work unfortunately. But yesterday at church, six of our investigators came! That was great. 

We really wanted to have a baptism this coming saturday but Suzy, the one we want to invite to be baptized, hasnt been home for the past few days. She left to her moms and hasnt come back. So that is a little disappointing for us. Transfers are next week and im really afraid that i might be transferred. I have been here in santo for quite a while. I really want to see our investigators baptized though!! 

Well, today we will go to a family house night with the Yunak family. They have 2 recently returned missionaries and one that is preparing to go. They are a wonderful family! And i am in charge of the activity. I will have many ideas when i come home for activities, so be prepared to have FHE every monday night!! ;) I hope you are doing it now though! Its a wonderful way to keep the family close. 

I dont have much else to say. i love you all so much! I know this gospel is true. I know our Savior lives and gives us strength to face our challenges. I love being a missionary!! Stay safe this week, my prayers are with you! Lavem yufala evriwan! 
Love, Sista Alfin



Our District leader baptized 2 families! 8 people total. It was such a wonderful experience to be there! The spirit was so strong. Our opening hymn was i am a child of God and all us missionaries were just tearing up. The spirit was testifying at that moment of how true this gospel is. it was so wonderful! I was so glad to have been there. I hope i get the chance at some point to baptize a family! 

Missionary Blessings

I've been pretty good. This week was alright. I have been sick since friday night. I have a cold so that isnt terrible but its also really annoying in the heat. But i also was having extremely bad back pain friday night, saturday, and sunday morning. It was so painful! I never have experience it like that before. It hurt just to breath. So saturday morning, we went to the other sister's baptism. After that, i just could not take the pain.. We went back to the house and Sis Tu'uefiafi (not my comp) tried to massage my back. Then they tried putting a hot water bottle on my back. Nothing was really helping. I was taking pain reliever too. So we just went back to the house and i lied on my stomach with the hot water on my back. It was a painful night. :P Then sunday morning, there was no change. I tried sitting every way possible to see which way would help me feel better. Then at 8am i began to get ready to go to church, still feeling a lot of pain. We get to church a little after 9 and we go sit down for relief society. My back was not bothering me. I was so glad that the pain was able to go away and we were able to go to church. Now this morning, there is a little pain still but it isnt bad. And my cold is just annoying but not painful. haha yesterday in church, Mangali was making fun of my voice. She goes, "Garrr voice blo yu..." haha Garrr is just an expression, like goodness. or something. Haha she says she wants me to teach it to my little brother (kaden) when i get home! Anyway, and every time i would sniff because my nose was running, she would make a noise and look at me. Haha she's funny. She always sits next to me in sacrament meeting. And often falls asleep leaning on my shoulder.. haha. And she loves to hold my scriptures and find paper she can draw on.
 Anyway, unfortunately none of our investigators came to church yesterday... it was really disappointing. it was really heavy raining all day (and still is) so that is why a lot of people weren't at church. We do have many investigators though and usually at least 5 come each week. I think we have 15 investigators right now and a couple referrals. 

One new investigator that we just met on wednesday, Andrea, is such a wonderful investigator! She was taking the lessons a couple years ago but then she moved to a different island in the bush. She just now came back and told her aunt, who is a member, that she wanted the missionaries over again. We go over there and we talk and get to know her. She shares with us her feelings of the missionaries teaching her. She says she believes everything they taught is true. She says she believes Joseph Smith is a true prophet and she shares other things. We go into the 3rd lesson, The Gospel of Jesus Christ, as she had mentioned she didnt understand faith and its difference from belief. Anyway, we go through the lesson, and at the end we invite her to be baptized. She accepted. At the end, we continue to story and she tells us that she remembers everything that the sisters taught her previously. She never forgot about it, all that time she was in the bush and away from a church or missionaries. She took all her books with her. She still continued to think about everything! I thought that was amazing! We are so excited to work with her and be there with her as she continues to develop her testimony in this gospel! She will have to get married before she can be baptized, but she is aware and was actually the one that told us thats why she never was baptized. We talked and hope to set a date for next month! I'll keep you updated, unless i transfer... 

Also, mama Antonia told us that she read through lesson 3 pamphlet and has decided that she wants to be baptized! She has a real desire to do it and become a member! My heart was so glad when she shared that with us. We will set a date for her when she comes back from visiting her sick sister on a different island. 

Well, i know this work is the work of our Father. Im so grateful to be here and to be going through the experiences i am. I love my Savior Jesus Christ and i know He died for each and everyone of my sins. Im grateful for this gospel in my life and for the testimony i have. It is strengthened each day by the people im privileged to serve among. 

I love you all so very much!! I miss you tons, but i pray for your safety and health. Mi lavem yufala evriwan!! Kasem wan gudfala wik! 

Lav, Sista Alfin 

Lessons are coming along

The missionary work is wonderful! Our area is great! We are working with our investigators and have one baptism date set. But we havent been able to see her for 2 weeks... she hasnt been home or she has been sick. her name is julie and she is 15. Another investigator, suzy, we will be inviting to be baptized this week! She is 14 and very sweet. She is also really smart and always remembers the things we talk about and keeps all her commitments.

Again yesterday we practiced for our musical fireside. I was trying to help the tenors with their part... we didnt have a piano or pianist. But i got the notes! haha. It was a long night... Lots of singing.

Im not sure what else to say. The week was good and we did our missionary work! Nothing super mountain moving this week. But i did give the first vision in one lesson and it was perfect! I didnt have any mistakes! That was the first time that i have dont it perfectly without having to look at the paper. I havent said it too many times either so that is why it has taken so long..

Dad:

Shaina, this day March 2nd many years ago in 1985 I took your mom to the Oakland temple to be married. I think that means it is our 29th anniversary. That means next year mom will have a good reason to plan a trip to celebrate our 30th.  She  is always looking for an excuse to plan a vacation.

Sister merrill bore testimony today and talked about dropping off their daughter. It is amazing to me to see how many sisters are leaving from our ward. You are all so strong. Brother Robenheimer commented in sunday school that we turn them over to the lord. I don't think anyone could know what this is like unless you go through it, and it will be slightly different for everyone. I will never forget the moments we had in the parking lot across from the MTC as you gave me a hug and you were trembling like I had never felt anyone tremble before. Perhaps you were cold and I took it as trembling when you were shivering. We are so grateful that you are blessing lives through your  service as a missionary. 

I hope all is well for you , love Dad

Shaina:

Happy anniversary to you and mom!! I always remember when i am at home but being away i forgot! Good thing you said something. And good thing you are a day behind me because today is the 3rd for me.
haha yes she will definitely plan something for next year then! One big trip.

Wow, the wall with all the missionary plaques must be getting very crowded! Did they have to use both sides now? I too will never forget the time in the parking lot. I was going through so many feelings and i knew they were the last moments i would have with you all for 18 months. haha i guess i was really nervous! I knew i would miss you so much! Im grateful for the time i have to be out here in the service of our Lord. Its a time that i will never get back and so i really need to work each day and always be striving to imporve myself as a missionary and a daughter of God. I dont want to come home with any regrets.

Dad i love you so much! Thank you for always writing me. 

Mom: Dad mentioned it was our anniversary and next year will be our 30th. Guess what? MARCH IS WHEN YOU COME HOME! We will have to plan our 30th to come to Vanuatu!! :-) I think the only way it would make sense for us to come, is if you can get released first.  Shaina: YEs that would be a perfect anniversary!!! But guess what... i come home april 7th..haha but close enough right?!