Courage to Have Faith

I feel like Satan was tempting everyone to anti us this week or maybe God was just trying to make us stronger, I don't know. Either way, it was a REALLY trying week. 

But.

I also grew a LOT.

 

Last Friday, there we were, sitting in the living room of a potential investigator and they and their friend are just going OFF about how religion isn't even a thing, we shouldn't believe in things we can't see, trying to tell US what WE believe when they didn't even know what the name of our church was until we told them, and questioning us about the most ridiculous stuff like how if we truly knew our church was correct, we should know how many books in the Book of Mormon there were without looking (15. thank you primary). 

Basically they were just shaming everything we hold dearest to us and being insane. 

Normally, in these situations I try to be very respectful and kind and whatnot.

But.

In this case, I felt something kind of snap that hot, Friday afternoon in that wacko's home. 

Now, these people were loud, and their speech was never-ending so I just start waving my hands around and going, "Hey! Hellooooooo!" and they're all like *talky talky talky louder louder louder* and I'm all like, "Actually, no. I'm going to stop you right there." 

And, surprisingly, they did. 

I was then able to bear my testimony about something really wonderful: 

F A I T H  I N  C H R I S T 

Did it matter to them?

Probs not.

Did they even hear a word I said?

Probs not.

But that measly testimony, in the middle of a contentious environment, by a little girl who still has no idea what the HECK she's doing, spoken with embarrassing, frustrated tears, meant everything to me.

People, I don't have a perfect testimony. 

I don't have proof and facts to back up every answer I feel to be right when it comes to the church.

I have things I question myself!

But let me share with you one of my all time FAVORITE scriptures: 

"And I said unto him: I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things." - 1 Nephi 11:17 

I don't know everything. 

And honestly, I don't even "know" that this church is true.

But, for the love, I have absolute, 100%, crazy, uber, F A I T H that it is! 

I have faith that Heavenly Father truly does love His children and that he doesn't want us to fail or be led astray. 

I have faith that He provided a Savior who loves and knows us in a way we will never understand. 

I have faith that He didn't send us to Earth to just potter around and kinda, sorta, maybe, be a good person and perhaps get back to Him someday. 

HECK NO.

He gave us His gospel! He laid out His plan for us! Because He WANTS us home and He WANTS us to be happy and have joy in this life and in the next and so, of course, He provided us a way to achieve that! 

I have faith that that SAME EXACT gospel Christ had on the Earth is restored. 

I have faith that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is wonderfully true. 

"And now I said concerning faith -- faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true." - Alma 32:21

Just because we may not KNOW, doesn't make it any less true. 

Sincerely, Sister Soloa'i 

I Believe in Miiiiraaaacles!

I don't know where that little jingle came from, but I remember Ashton always going around the house (like his usual freakiness) and singing it.

But truly, I believe.

I really do.

Remember last week's rant?

(sorry about that)

Well those investigators came back to church this week!!!!! 

I. KNOW.

And guess what??

We talked about temples.

Again.

Aaaaand the Sunday School lesson was supposed to be on Christ and we droned on about King David and his concubines for a solid 10 minutes until our homie, Elder Udy, raised his hand and went off on baptism and Jesus and every time the subject started straying again...

*hand raise* = one of the missionaries.

Currently l o v e  the missionaries that I serve with. 

Anyway, after all this craziness, our investigator still says after church, "This is the only church I've found that satisfies me." 

YAAAAAAAYYYY.

It just goes to show this is GOD'S work, and not ours. 

Another miracle that happened:

We have a daughter and a mother who have been on date to be baptized for AWHILE now and we've just been getting really discouraged and frustrated with their use of agency lately. 

Agency... is... the worst.

But you know, I'm still all for it and everything.

Anyway.

We know that making these covenants with our Heavenly Father will bless their lives ENORMOUSLY and it's really frustrating to see someone you love be sooooo close, but so far.

Well anyway.

The daughter hasn't been to church for over 2 weeks and so we technically had to take her off date and were pretty sad about it and then this past week she went out of town so we thought, "Well there goes trying to get her at church this week!" but we decided we would look up a church in the area she was visiting and text her the address anyway, thinking it was a long shot...

BUT THEN.

She texted us yesterday afternoon and said SHE HAD GONE TO CHURCH BY HERSELF IN A COMPLETELY UNFAMILIAR WARD AND LOOOOOOVED IT. 

ALL. THREE. HOURS. 

Insane. 

God is sooooooo good, people. 

Also, we have been teaching these two little twin girls Ashley and Zoey for a couple of months now and this past week they got baptized! 

They are the sweetest and the CUTEST.

I just love those two and every time they see us they'll come running with lots of hugs. 

Zoey always whispers to me: "You're my favorite sister."

Ugh.

It melts me. 

Life is good. The work is better!

Sincerely, Sister Soloa'i 

Our lovely STLs

The district... and Sister Burkhart.

The WINNINGS. adore them. They're leaving in TWO weeks to go home. tears. so many tears.

The Twins' baptism!

God Bless America

Soooooo sorry for the lack of activity lately.

Sadly, this post is probs going to be mega boring because not much has been going on, but at the same time a ton of stuff has been going on.

Life is insane.

Can I make a suggestion to all those out there preparing for talks in sacrament meeting?

Please, for the love, PLEASE talk about Jesus. 

Yesterday, in sacrament meeting the topic was "Patriotism."

PATRIOTISM. 

So I'm thinking, "Okay. This could be good. Talk about the freedoms we enjoy in this land what a blessing from GOD." 

OH, no.

One kid gets up and starts talking about how America is the greatest and no other countries compare to it.

Over the pulpit.

Did I mention our two investigators came?

Did I mention it was there first time at church??

Did I mention they are from I N D I A ? ? ?

Coming from a family that has been blessed to know several different cultures, I was born and raised with the belief that no one is greater than another.

I mean, America rocks for sure.

God bless America.

But seriously though, people, we're all God's children here and his gospel is centered on LOVE and CHRIST.

Let's keep it centered there.

The day just gets better and better when we head to class and what are we discussing today?

Oh.

Temples.

Good.

Not, "I love to see the temple" kind of temple talk but, deep doctrine, "I swear if you bring up Kolob, I'll murder you." kind of temple talk. 

Being a missionary is stressful. 

The church is true.

The church is perfect.

The people aren't.

But that's okay.

Because you know what?

It's still the Lord's work and He's the head of it.

Also, miracles happen because even though it was probably THE WORST Sunday to take new investigators to, they still said they had a nice time and felt good aka THE SPIRIT (aaaaaaaaahhh!!) there.

God bless Hoosiers.

Sincerely, Sister Soloa'i

Not even the gnomes answered their doors that day

Shout out to my windy, underpopulated, dry aired (miss you), mountain-blessed Wyoming. You da one. 

You know you're in the hood when...

Mawrigge. Mawrigge is Wut Bwings Ussss Twwogetha Twwodey

So.

TIM AND DAWN got maaaaaarrrriiied this week!

Was the PDA strong?

Yes.

Was I extremely uncomfortable.

Best believe it.

I don't know if it's because I'm a missionary or if it's just my personality or (probs) a mixture of both, but if you are in love... Don't come near me with that. 

But. 

Still one of the happiest days of my life! 

Best part: Tim starts introducing us to all his blind friends, "These are my sisters." 

Wah. I love him.

Meanwhile, in drier (the HUMIDITY. it's suffocating me. or... like drowning.), windier Wyoming another wondrous wedding was taking place...

First of all, can I just say that whoever came up with this...

is the straight funniest human in all the land.

Ashty and Kim, you got married.

C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S.

This week we had to say goodbye to President and Sister Cleveland.

NOOOOOOOOOO.

I love them.

L O V E T H E M.

I don't think I'll ever be able to adequately explain how much they've influenced my life for the better and played such a huge role in my conversion to Christ. 

Plus, their selfie game... I mean. 

Mine on the other hand, is not as strong... obviously. #cantaloupeface

Sincerely, Sister Soloa'i 

P.S. Remember how I said it's humid? Well. It still is. BUT. The RAIN is cuhrayyyzeee.

P.P.S. Hoosiers do graffiti well tho.

P.P.P.S. Marriage selfie mid ceremony... We were too excited to wait until after.

'Cause You'll Always Be Muh Baaybaaayyyyy

Sing it Mariah.

Not much to report this week. 

At all.

Soooooooo.

Enjoy this posterity pic!

Aaaaaaand enjoy your upcoming week!

Sincerely, Sister Soloa'i

Momma, Baby, and Grandbaby.

Baby Come Back to Meeee

Sing it Vanessa.

This week was the last week with my dearest, (drive me) crazy, just-kidding-I-love-you, best, cutest, loudest, boldest, raddest, trainer.

*Ugly cry*

I don't remember if I ever told you this little tidbit about Sister Alexander and me...

But.

The reason why we ended up as companions is because in the MTC I fake taught (TRC investigator) one of Sister Alexander's old companions and she called President Cleveland and told him to put us together. 

Waaaa laaaaaaa! Our companionship was born.

Pretty cool how the Lord does things.

Preeeeeetty cool.

But really though. I am so grateful for her.

I debated writing a nice, sappy, paragraph about all the attributes and talents that I love about her and then I was like, "I wouldn't even be able to write them all."

Whoops. Accidental sap right there.

Just know that I  L O V E  H E R. 

So. 

Friends, family, fans (Jk LOL), and creepy strangers that may read my blaaawg:

Do me a favor and pray for me, yeah? 

Why you may ask?

I'll tell you.

Because tomorrow I meet the sister I will be training for the next 3 months.

*stress. sobb.*

I am really excited and feel really blessed to have the opportunity aaaaand I'm pumped about the miracles that I will undoubtedly see from this new companionship...

But I'm preeeeeeeeeeeeetty nervous.

But guess what??

"Whom the Lord calls, He qualifies." - President Thomas S. Monson 

Have a WONDERFUL week everyone!

Sincerely, Sister Soloa'i

Ignore my mega awk arm. I have hyper-extended elbows, okay?? Don't judge.

Meet my veeeeeeerrryyy best friends here. And everywhere. I love them

I have absolutely no idea. but hey, here's my district.

Meet the Winnings. The cutest senior couple in aaaaaaalll the land.

So We Uhhhh... Broke Your Swing.

If you don't know what Tiwi is, consider yourself #blessed.

It's this little device that's in our car that tells us when we are speeding and driving aggressively and whatever. It's actually a really great tool that helps us stay obedient, but it talks to you when you're doing something wrong and it can get rather frustrating. 

Weeeeell, we were driving a member to a lesson this past week and we kept accidentally going over the speed limit and so Tiwi is all like, "Check your speed" over and over again. 

Well, finally after the like fifth "Check your speed" the member just yells from the backseat, "Oh shut up! I know we all hear the Holy Ghost differently, but what is that??!" 

Probably one of the funnier things that has happened during my mission.

TIIIIIIMMMMM WENT TO THE TEEEEMMMPPPLEEEE THIS WEEEEEKKK!!! 

SO amazing. SO SO amazing. 

Ugh. We love that man.

We started teaching this one kid (okay, he's like 27) this week. 

His name is Wale and he's from Nigeria and he is soooo solid. 

Our first lesson with him went SO well and he asked so many great questions and accepted our baptismal invite and everything was just going GOOD. 

But then.

We get this text from him later that night saying he read a bunch of anti-church literature on the internet and wasn't so sure about meeting anymore. 

Nooooooooooooo.

Well, we ended up getting to have another lesson with him and teach about the Book of Mormon and answer some of his concerns, but he still felt a little uneasy.

We were practically devastated because Wale is SO cool and he was so excited at first. It was just really sad to see all that excitement and joy just get replaced with fear and uneasiness. 

I once heard this quote that said, "If you wanted to get to know Jesus, you wouldn't interview Judas." 

Anyway, we decided to fast for him yesterday and let me tell you, fasting is POWERFUL, you guys. Every time I've ever fasted on my mission, answers have come SO clearly. 

So there we are, standing outside the chapel, greeting people, when out of the blue, Wale texts us and says: "I would very much like to come to church today." 

*Que reverent, missionary version of a freakout*

Wale's living situation isn't ideal and it's a BIG sacrifice for him to come to church and so the fact that he even wanted to, was just incredible. 

It was an AMAZING day at church with him. He kept saying how he felt so welcome and at one point he said, "I think I'm going to like it here. Actually, I know I'm going to love it here." 

He'll be attending the YSA ward so we sadly have to let those sisters take over his lessons, but we are just SO excited and happy for him! 

The gospel brings joy, people! 

Quick funny side story:

In the MIDDLE of sacrament (like the middle. like. dead silent, Spirit is strong kind of middle) Wale's phone goes off.

Not just any ringtone either, oh, no.

But this really trashy rap song.

With swear words.

In the middle of sacrament.

And he cannot for the life of him shut it off.

I literally almost busted a gut laughing (quietly, of course) so hard.

After about a good, solid 30 seconds of failed attempts to shut it off, he gets really frustrated and just riiiiiiips out the battery. 

HA HA HA HA HA HA.

Okay, last story:

So last night we were over at a member's house having dinner and at one point we were out with their kids and teaching the new member lessons because some of their grandchildren are recently converted. 

Aaaaaand we were actually in their neighbor's yard (their yards are so close together that it's practically theirs) and Sister Alexander, me, and these two other kids were sitting on this bench swing.

You know, talking about Jesus.

When all of a sudden, the bar that holds the swing up, the METAL bar that holds it up, just bends and the swing comes crashing down.

Remember when you were like 10 and you accidentally hit a baseball through your neighbor's window?
Yeah that was me.
As a 19 year old missionary.

We decided to go over and knock on the door and explain ourselves.

Oh my gosh.

I've never felt fear and anxiety like that since I hit the neighborhood girl (she had it comin') when I was 8 and had to fess up to her mom when she started crying.

The neighbors were SUPER nice though and we're going back tomorrow to bring them cookies and hey, gospel discussion anyone? 

Moral of the story: don't eat that second helping of mac and cheese during dinner.

Love you all! Thank you for all your emails! Have a great Memorial Day weekend!

Sincerely, Sister Soloa'i

Have I mentioned how much I LOVE President Cleveland?

When no one answers when you tract: f a m i l y  p i c t u r e

The very swing that died.