'Eua, exchanges, and meetings

This week was busy, but fun,and rewarding! We dealt with a few problems with the sisters (sicknesses, companion relationships, etc) this week. We went to 'Eua this week for just a day... the plane ride was 7 whole minutes! they claim its the shortest commercial flight in the world. 'Eua is really beautiful. It reminds me of an island version of molalla.... hahah there are a lot of trees there, so a lot of logging is done, and it's all just pretty rural. the "city" doesn't even have paved roads. I attached a few pictures. We did an exchange with some sisters there, and although they are facing many challenges in their areas, I know the Lord will bless them if they continue to use their time wisely. I am sooo happy to see when the sisters change their hearts and renew their desire to serve with all their heart, might, mind, and strength. It's kind of the same feeling i have when an investigator accepts the commitments we give them. Oh, speaking of  investigators, we taught Finau again this week and he is still working towards the 29th! Next week! He keeps his commitments, and I have a lot of faith that his baptism will happen, even if he is not yet 100% sure. 

One more experience with an investigator that I want to share--

Russel- He is a student at Liahona who is not a member. He is a very smart, good kid. We taught him during his seminary class the other day. He had been asking his teaching for a week for us to come, so he was just so prepared! We asked him questions and tried to teach him according to his needs, and it ended up being one of the best lessons we have had in a while. His friend, another Liahona student-member was there ( a 14-15 yr old boy), and he shared a powerful experience and testimony on the power of prayer, and the cute boy cried as he asked his buddy to accept the invitation to be baptized once he gets the answer to his prayers. We committed him to be baptized in the 5th of November, so we will work towards that date. He is currently reading the Book of Mormon.

Out of time.... but, I love you all. Look for a miracle in every day and I promise you will find one.

--

Sister Emily Bever

Tonga Nuku'alofa Mission

Lele holo 'i Tonga

Well, this was a wonderful , LONG week. We had many meetings, teachings, a baptism, exchanges, a flight scheduled and cancelled to go to 'Eua, too much to share all of it, but most importantly, I love this work.

With the short time i have, i will only share the most important things. We went to the temple on Thursday as part of our mission leadership conference. While there, i learned the importance of reporting everything to the Lord. I honestly hate reporting all of the numbers each night during planning (lessons taught, etc...) because i hate not meeting goals and I am too competitive, but it is IMPORTANT. When ever anyone does something on behalf of the Lord, that work needs to be reported to him. EVERYTHING missionaries do is done on the Lord's time. on his behalf, so it all needs to be reported. I really realized this week that I am on his clock and it is ticking by very fast, so from now on i will gladly report what i do on the Lord's time to help me remember how precious it is.  

I also learned an important lesson of humility this week. We were teaching our investigator named Finau and my companion and I were getting a little frustrated with him because he would never keep our reading assignments to find answers to his questions, he would just want to go ask someone who knows the bible- like a minister for another church... but we were deeply humbled after exercising some patience and listening closely to his answers... he can't read. he is in his mid- 50's and he is illiterate. We had a great lesson with him after that where we read carefully to him and he listened to us from the Book of Mormon. I felt how much Heavenly Father loves him even though he is stubborn and he can't read. He will be given a way to discover the truth of the gospel because this gospel is for EVERYONE. Finau told me at the end of the lesson that he feels like he is starting to believe the Book of Mormon. He still has a baptism date for the 29th of this month. 

I am out of time. I love you all very much, so I am inviting you all to take part in receiving the greatest blessings I have ever known. Share the gospel with everyone. It will bring you and them more happiness than anything else.

'Til Next week,

Sister Bever

I made a cake on Pday for Kalolo (investigator from Kolovai) because he finally got married to his girlfriend! I promised them a long time ago I would make them a cake... and we went to give it to them. Kalolo's mom now has a baptism date!

Sister Wunderlich went home. last picture of my and my trainer in Tonga.

We had a sweet MLC at the hotel by the airport! We tried to talk to all the hotel guests about the gospel. found an Australian Triathalon family, and a New Zealand traveling band. Good times.

Sister Fullmer from Maryland. One of the last palangi Sisters who cam after me

Week 1 in Matangiake

too much to write in one email. On monday i left Kolovai and left my little daughter, Sister Ramsay, and I came here to the office in Matangiake (Liahona). I have spent most days running around, dropping people off, picking people up, and fitting in a few teaching appointments here  and there. Who knew I would drive more on my mission in TONGA than I did at home?? 

I guess we are the Sister Supervisor training leaders or something. We get to do lots of excahnges and I guess half of my work now is toward the missionaries instead of the investigators.... indirectly helping investigators. We have two wards that we also serve in here. Matangiake and Liahona1. THe Liahona ward is an English ward which is definetly wierd. My companion promised to help me not to lose my Tongan, which i will really need to work for. She is Tongan from Tonga and New Zealand. English is her second language, so I am helping her with English too since she is more nervous to teach in English than I am to teach in Tongan. 

Fun fact- There is not a single non-member in the wards we serve in. There are 4 inactives, and that's it. Although, we do have 2 investigators who are fellowshipped by someone in our ward and we are working on encouraging the members more to invite their friends to hear the gospel in their homes, even if they don't live in Liahona. 

Finau- an older Catholic man who is making great progress...

Peni- another older man who has a baptism date for this next week!! 

Please pray for them :)

Apparently we will have opportunities in this new assignment to travel to the other islands!! Woohoo! I'll give more updates on that later, anyway, i attached a picture of my daughter and my granddaughter (Sister Petersen) and I in matching purple dresses. The other picture is of my comp and I driving all over the island. She is hilarious :)

Okay, out of time.

<3 Ofa Atu

--

Sister Emily Bever

Tonga Nuku'alofa Mission

a picture of my daughter and my granddaughter (Sister Petersen) and I in matching purple dresses.

my comp and I driving all over the island. She is hilarious :)

I finally got transferred!!

I loved my last area, but I had been there for a while, and although I am sad to leave my aborable, amazing trainee (sister Ramsay), I am excited to go where the Lord has called me, and unexpectedly, he has called me to serve in the office in Liahona-- as a sister Trainer to all the sisters in the Mission... ahhh!! I love my new companion as well, Sister Paletu'a, from New Zealand. 

I don't have a lot of time today either, but I think I'll be able to email again on Saturday because my new p-day will be Saturday. I have no idea what this new job entails, but I have a feeling that I will be here in Liahona until I am done with my mission. I will send more updates on Saturday. My old companion will be training a new sister after being here for just 6 wks herself. She is really nervous, but I know she will be GREAT. She will be training a Sister who I think is half-Tongan coming from Utah. 

Dad, I will ask around about Sister Hafoka's family since I am here now in Liahona. I am so excited to here about everyone's progress, especially Mom and Dad's missionary work in the old Molalla River Ward, and Ethan qualifying for the Boston Marathon!!! I have the best family and friends. 

Theme of the week- 1 Nephi 3:7. I know that scripture is used a lot, but it is sooo good! :) 

Ofa Lahi Atu,

Sister Bever

p.s. Kalolo's Mom, Fapiola, came to church again :) I know she will get baptized.